Is COVID-19 finally just a bad flu? Follow-up study comparing disease severity among COVID-19 and seasonal influenza hospital in-patients across pandemic waves in Ireland.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a more severe illness than seasonal influenza in hospitalised cohorts during the early phase of the pandemic. This study's aim was to determine if COVID-19 severity, relative to seasonal influenza, evolved across subsequent disease waves.

Study Design: Retrospective population-based cohort study.

Varicose Vein Education and Informed coNsent (VVEIN) Study: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Feasibility Study.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of introducing a digital health education tool (dHET) for varicose vein surgery.

Methods: This randomized, feasibility study allocated 40 patients, into dHET (n = 20) or standard consent (SC) (n = 20) groups. Primary outcomes were related to feasibility.

Association Between Household Location (Urban versus Rural) and Fundamental Care Provided to Domestic Dogs (Canis Familiaris) in Northern Ireland.

This study aimed to generate information regarding living conditions (e.g. indoors and outdoors, living space available), fundamental care (e.

Infectious mononucleosis: new concepts in clinical presentation, epidemiology, and host response.

Purpose Of Review: Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is an infectious disease that presents clinically in only a small percentage of individuals despite almost universal infection with the causative agent. Here, we review the latest concepts in the clinical presentation, epidemiology, and host response of this disease.

Recent Findings: Several recently published papers/reviews describe IM as a condition caused by one of several etiologic agents including, cytomegalovirus (HHV-5), Roseola virus (HHV-6) and Toxoplasmosis amongst others; this review focuses on IM as solely caused by the human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4).

Microbial Biosurfactants: Antimicrobial Activity and Potential Biomedical and Therapeutic Exploits.

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens worldwide has raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. This can be observed in ESKAPE pathogens, among others, whose multiple resistance mechanisms have led to a reduction in effective treatment options. Innovative strategies aimed at mitigating the incidence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens encompass the potential use of biosurfactants.