Publications by authors named "I R Sweeney"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the safety and effectiveness of intradiscal steroid injections (IDSI) for treating axial low back pain originating from the anterior column, focusing on patients with degenerative disc changes.
  • A retrospective review of 66 patients showed a significant reduction in their pain levels, with statistical analysis confirming the effectiveness of the injections.
  • The results indicated that 71.4% of patients experienced clinically meaningful pain relief post-injection, suggesting IDSI could be a valuable short-term treatment option for chronic low back pain related to disc degeneration.
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As 3 billion pounds of herbicides are sprayed over farmlands every year, it is essential to advance our understanding how pesticides may influence neurological health and physiology of both humans and other animals. Studies are often one-dimensional as the majority examine glyphosate by itself. Farmers and the public use commercial products, like Roundup, containing a myriad of chemicals in addition to glyphosate.

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Aims To review the evidence regarding the possibility of fetal vertical transmission in COVID-19 positive pregnant mothers by diagnosing through placental swabs. Methods The search terms 'pregnant COVID-19 positive mothers', 'fetal vertical transmission' and 'placental swabs' were used. 20 papers were selected.

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Collagen type I, in various physical forms, is widely used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. To control the mechanical properties and biodegradability of collagen-based devices, exogenous cross-links are introduced into the 3D supramolecular structure. However, potent cross-linking methods are associated with cytotoxicity, whilst mild cross-linking methods are associated with suboptimal mechanical resilience.

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Various chemical, natural, or synthetic in origin, crosslinking methods have been proposed over the years to stabilise collagen fibers. However, an optimal method has yet to be identified. Herein, we ventured to assess the potential of 4-star poly(ethylene glycol) ether tetrasuccinimidyl glutarate, as opposed to glutaraldehyde (GTA), genipin and carbodiimide, on the structural, physical and biological properties of collagen fibers.

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