When months matter; modelling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnostic pathway of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Background: A diagnosis of MND takes an average 10-16 months from symptom onset. Early diagnosis is important to access supportive measures to maximise quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant delays in NHS pathways; the majority of GP appointments now occur online with subsequent delays in secondary care assessment.

The Role of Preoperative Imaging in the Detection of Lateral Lymph Node Metastases in Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Diagnostic Test Meta-analysis.

Background: Different techniques exist for the imaging of lateral lymph nodes in rectal cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of pelvic MRI, 18 F-FDG-PET/CT, and 18 F-FDG-PET/MRI for the identification of lateral lymph node metastases in rectal cancer.

Data Sources: Data sources include PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar.

Acute appendicitis management during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study from a large UK centre.

Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic, non-operative management for acute appendicitis (AA) was implemented in the UK. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and outcomes of conservative versus surgical management of AA during the pandemic.

Materials & Methods: We conducted an observational study in a tertiary referral centre.

A comparison of outcomes according to different diagnostic systems for delirium (DSM-5, DSM-IV, CAM, and DRS-R98).

ABSTRACTStudies indicate that DSM-5 criteria for delirium are relatively restrictive, and identify different cases of delirium compared with previous systems. We evaluate four outcomes of delirium (mortality, length of hospital stay, institutionalization, and cognitive improvement) in relation to delirium defined by different DSM classification systems.Prospective, longitudinal study of patients aged 70+ admitted to medical wards of a general hospital.

A comparison of delirium diagnosis in elderly medical inpatients using the CAM, DRS-R98, DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria.

Background: The recently published DSM-5 criteria for delirium may lead to different case identification and rates of delirium than previous classifications. The aims of this study are to determine how the new DSM-5 criteria compare with DSM-IV in identification of delirium in elderly medical inpatients and to investigate the agreement between different methods, using CAM, DRS-R98, DSM-IV, and DSM-5 criteria.

Methods: Prospective, observational study of elderly patients aged 70+ admitted under the acute medical teams in a regional general hospital.

Diagnostic and treatment practices of delirium in a general hospital.

Background: Despite the increase in research on delirium, it remains underdiagnosed and difficult to manage, and the outcome is poor especially in older people.

Aims: To identify the clinically diagnosed rates of delirium, the possible aetiologies, to describe treatment, number and type of psychotropic medication used and to investigate the reasons for referral to a liaison psychiatric team.

Methods: Retrospective study of medical records of inpatients admitted to Sligo Regional Hospital during an 18-month period.

Zopiclone misuse: an update from Dublin.

The prevalence of zopiclone misuse in clients attending a methadone maintenance programme in Dublin through detection of its degradation product, 2-amino-5-chloropyridine (ACP) on urinalysis is outlined. Urine samples from all 158 clients were tested for the presence of ACP, opiates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, alcohol and cannabis. Of the 37 (23%) clients who tested positive for ACP, 23 (62%) were interviewed.

Home-based treatment in Monaghan: the first two years.

Objectives: To describe a home-based treatment (HBT) service. To profile the patient population using HBT. To determine why HBT was used and to record disposal.

Differences in the quality of life of two groups of drug users.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare aspects of the quality of life of drug users on a methadone maintenance programme to drug users on a harm minimisation programme.

Method: Thirty-six clients attending the harm minimisation programme in the National Drug Treatment Centre, Dublin, were matched for age and sex to 36 clients on the methadone maintenance programme. All were interviewed with the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire to measure health related quality of life and with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) to measure psychological morbidity.