Adults with Crohn's disease exhibit elevated gynoid fat and reduced android fat irrespective of disease relapse or remission.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a debilitating inflammatory bowel condition of unknown aetiology that is growing in prevalence globally. Large-scale studies have determined associations between female obesity or low body mass index (BMI) with risk of CD at all ages or 8- < 40 years, respectively. For males, low BMI entering adult life is associated with increased incidence of CD or ulcerative colitis up to 40 years later.

Biomarkers in delirium: A systematic review.

Background: Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric disorder associated with prolonged hospital stays, and increased morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is frequently missed due to varying disease presentation and lack of standardized testing. We examined biomarkers as diagnostic or prognostic indicators of delirium, and provide a rational basis for future studies.

Proposed hypothesis and rationale for association between mastitis and breast cancer.

Breast cancer is amongst the most common forms of cancer, is predominantly a woman's illness, and is the most frequently reported invasive cancer in women worldwide (Bray et al., 2018). Varying risk factors have been identified, including genetics, family history, lifestyle, age and the use of hormone replacement therapy.

Management of bacteraemia (SAB) in the oncology patient: Further evidence supports prompt removal of central venous catheters and shorter duration of intravenous antimicrobial therapy.

Background: bacteraemia (SAB) is associated with relatively high risk of complications and high levels of mortality. Internationally, SAB management guidelines lack consensus and especially so regarding oncology patients. This is likely a reflection of insufficient randomised control trials (RCT) and the diversity of SAB patient populations.

Clustered interventions to reduce inappropriate duplicate laboratory tests in an Irish tertiary hospital.

Background: There is increasing emphasis on understanding the rate, and avoidable costs, of inappropriate laboratory testing in hospitals, especially associated with duplication of tests following transfer of patients from one hospital to another. While studies of inappropriate testing have been reported previously, there are no published data relevant to Ireland.

Aims: To determine the baseline rate of inappropriate testing for a subset of clinical parameters, specifically, full blood counts (FBC), biochemistry profiles (Bio) and coagulation (Coag) screens for geriatric patients transferring to and from University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

Benefits of post-operative oral protein supplementation in gastrointestinal surgery patients: A systematic review of clinical trials.

Aim: To evaluate published trials examining oral post-operative protein supplementation in patients having undergone gastrointestinal surgery and assessment of reported results.

Methods: Database searches (MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Cochrane Trials, Cinahl, and CAB), searches of reference lists of relevant papers, and expert referral were used to identify prospective randomized controlled clinical trials. The following terms were used to locate articles: "oral'' or "enteral'' and "postoperative care'' or "post-surgical'' and "proteins'' or "milk proteins'' or "dietary proteins'' or "dietary supplements'' or "nutritional supplements''.

What Do Users of Generic Medicines Think of Them? A Systematic Review of Consumers' and Patients' Perceptions of, and Experiences with, Generic Medicines.

Background And Objective: Considerable emphasis is placed on the use of generic medicines because of the potential economic benefits associated with their use. The objective of this systematic review is to compile and collate published research regarding patient/consumer perceptions and attitudes in relation to generic medicines, aiming to describe such views and detail patient experiences with generic medicines.

Methods: Literature published between 2005 and July 2015, indexed in PubMed, Scopus and EMBASE, on the topic of consumer or patient opinions of generic medicines were collated, using systematic searches, and appraised.

What do people really think of generic medicines? A systematic review and critical appraisal of literature on stakeholder perceptions of generic drugs.

Background: Considerable emphasis is presently being placed on usage of generic medicines by governments focussed on the potential economic benefits associated with their use. Concurrently, there is increasing discussion in the lay media of perceived doubts regarding the quality and equivalence of generic medicines. The objective of this paper is to report the outcomes of a systematic search for peer-reviewed, published studies that focus on physician, pharmacist and patient/consumer perspectives of generic medicines.

A qualitative assessment of practitioner perspectives post-introduction of the first continuous professional competence (CPC) guidelines for emergency medical technicians in Ireland.

Background: In November 2013, the Irish Regulator for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) introduced the first mandatory requirement for registrants to demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development (CPD)/continuous professional competence (CPC). This qualitative study assessed the experience of practitioners with CPC-related materials provided to them by the Regulator in addition to identifying perceived or encountered practical challenges and suggested improvements six months following introduction of the requirement.

Methods: Five fora were utilised, comprising two distinct groupings: a group of student EMTs (n = 62) and four discrete groups of qualified EMTs (total n = 131) all of whom had commenced the newly-introduced CPC process.

Perceptions and attitudes of community pharmacists towards generic medicines.

Background: Following the enactment of legislation in June 2013, generic substitution and reference pricing of medicines has been introduced, for the first time, in Ireland. This novel study is the first assessment of the perceptions of community pharmacists in Ireland towards generic medicines completed in the period immediately prior to the introduction of generic substitution and reference pricing. 

Objective: To determine the perceptions towards generic medicines among community pharmacists.

Beliefs, perceptions and behaviours of GPs towards generic medicines.

Background: To benefit from cost-savings associated with generic medicine use; in June 2013, Ireland introduced generic substitution and reference pricing. The attitudes and behaviours of health care professionals may influence successful implementation of such changes.

Objectives: To assess perceptions of GPs in Ireland regarding generic medicines in the time leading up to the enactment of the new legislation and for the first time in at least the prior decade.

Physician and pharmacist perceptions of generic medicines: what they think and how they differ.

Introduction: This study is the first comparative assessment, internationally, of perceptions of generic medicines between general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists in at least the last decade.

Methodology: One-to-one semi-structured interviews were performed with 34 GPs and 44 community pharmacists in Ireland. Interviews were transcribed and qualitative analyses were performed using NVivo (version 9).

Patient perceptions of generic medicines: a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: In an attempt to benefit from the cost-savings associated with use of generic medicines, in June 2013 Ireland introduced generic substitution and reference pricing for the first time. However, perceptions of Irish patients towards generic medicines have not been published previously. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess how generic medicines were perceived amongst patients in the time leading up to the enactment of the new legislation.

Generic medicines: an evaluation of the accuracy and accessibility of information available on the Internet.

Background: Internationally, generic medicines are increasingly seen as a key strategy to reduce healthcare expenditure, therefore awareness and knowledge transfer regarding generic medicines are valid areas of research. Although the Internet is a frequently used source of medical information, the accuracy of material found online is variable. The aim of this study was to evaluate information provided on the Internet regarding generic medicines in terms of quality of information and readability.

A method for the design and development of medical or health care information websites to optimize search engine results page rankings on Google.

Background: The Internet is a widely used source of information for patients searching for medical/health care information. While many studies have assessed existing medical/health care information on the Internet, relatively few have examined methods for design and delivery of such websites, particularly those aimed at the general public.

Objective: This study describes a method of evaluating material for new medical/health care websites, or for assessing those already in existence, which is correlated with higher rankings on Google's Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

The first survey of attitudes of medical students in Ireland towards termination of pregnancy.

Background: Since the UK Abortion Act (1967), women have travelled from Ireland to the UK for legal abortion. In 2011 >4000 women did so. Knowledge and attitudes of medical students towards abortion have been published, however, this is the first such report from Ireland.

A review of the differences and similarities between generic drugs and their originator counterparts, including economic benefits associated with usage of generic medicines, using Ireland as a case study.

Generic medicines are those where patent protection has expired, and which may be produced by manufacturers other than the innovator company. Use of generic medicines has been increasing in recent years, primarily as a cost saving measure in healthcare provision. Generic medicines are typically 20 to 90% cheaper than originator equivalents.