Adult congenital heart disease training in Europe: current status, disparities and potential solutions.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the status of training of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cardiologists in Europe.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to ACHD cardiologists from 34 European countries.

Results: Representatives from 31 of 34 countries (91%) responded.

Attitudes of women with gestational diabetes toward diet and exercise: a qualitative study.

Objective: Gestational diabetes (GDM) refers to glucose intolerance of varying severity first occurring in pregnancy. Following a diagnosis of GDM, exercise and dietary modification has a positive effect on improving glycemic control. Lifestyle changes affected in pregnancies affected by GDM have beneficial effects on long-term health if continued following birth.

Metabolomics: A New Tool in Our Understanding of Congenital Heart Disease.

Although the genetic origins underpinning congenital heart disease (CHD) have been extensively studied, genes, by themselves, do not entirely predict phenotypes, which result from the complex interplay between genes and the environment. Consequently, genes merely suggest the potential occurrence of a specific phenotype, but they cannot predict what will happen in reality. This task can be revealed by metabolomics, the most promising of the "omics sciences".

A report from the Irish women in cardiology survey, exploring Europe's largest gender gap in cardiology.

Aims: In Ireland, 8% of public cardiology consultants are female; this is the lowest proportion in Europe. We sought to understand perceptions amongst Irish trainees and consultants regarding aspects of working in cardiology in order to identify areas that can be targeted to improve gender equality.

Methods And Results: In September 2021, the Irish Cardiac Society distributed a questionnaire to trainees and consultants in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Should We Be Screening for Ischaemic Heart Disease Earlier in Childhood?

Ischaemic heart disease is the most common cause of death in males and the second in the female gender. Yet we often only focus on identification and treatment of this foremost cause of death in adulthood. The review asks the question what form of coronary disease do we encounter in childhood, what predisposing factors give rise to atherosclerosis and what strategies in childhood could we employ to detect and reduce atherosclerosis development in later life.

Medical students' attitudes towards the teaching of cervical and ovarian cancer screening protocols in Ireland: a qualitative study.

Background: Screening programmes decrease the incidence of colorectal, breast and cervical cancer. As such, it is imperative that medical health professionals are educated on the screening programmes available and are aware of the research basis justifying them.

Aims: To establish the attitudes of final-year medical students to a gynaecological cancer screening teaching session, provided as part of their core Obstetrics and Gynaecology module.

Concurrent Diagnoses of Cutaneous Sarcoidosis and Recurrent Metastatic Breast Cancer: More than a Coincidental Occurrence?

Sarcoidosis is a rare, chronic, multisystem disease of unknown aetiology, characterised by non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas. Its association with internal malignancy, in particular haematological cancers has been strongly documented in the literature, while its link with solid organ malignancies is less extensively reported. We present an atypical case of cutaneous sarcoidosis occurring in association with breast cancer recurrence in a 49-year-old female.

Assessment of the effectiveness of group education on knowledge for women with newly diagnosed gestational diabetes.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is identified in pregnancy and resolves following delivery. It increases maternal and foetal morbidity and may increase risk of future type 2 diabetes. Women diagnosed with GDM need high-quality multidisciplinary education in order to apply necessary changes to their diet and lifestyle.

The Metabolic Role of the Microbiome: Implications for NAFLD and the Metabolic Syndrome.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has rapidly emerged as one of the most prevalent liver diseases worldwide and is set to achieve virtually epidemic proportions if current trends in obesity continue. A considerable volume of data from animal experiments has revealed the magnitude of the metabolic contribution of the gut microbiome and how a disordered microbial population could contribute to the development of obesity and its complications, including NAFLD. Although considerable progress has been made in developing a role for the microbiome in NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatosis (NASH), there are still many issues to be resolved, including the nature and location of the altered microbiome (i.

Common polygenic variation in coeliac disease and confirmation of ZNF335 and NIFA as disease susceptibility loci.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated disease triggered by the ingestion of gluten. It has an estimated prevalence of approximately 1% in European populations. Specific HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles are established coeliac susceptibility genes and are required for the presentation of gliadin to the immune system resulting in damage to the intestinal mucosa.

Prevalence, management and outcomes of traumatic brain injury patients admitted to an Irish intensive care unit.

Background: Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability among young people. However outcomes from traumatic brain injury can be improved by use of parameters such as intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) to guide treatment, early surgical intervention and management of these patients in a neurosurgical centre.

Aims: To examine the incidence of traumatic brain injury, compliance with best practice guidelines and outcomes in patients admitted to an intensive care unit in a major teaching hospital in Ireland.

Ultrasound in obstetric anaesthesia: a review of current applications.

Ultrasound equipment is increasingly used by non-radiologists to perform interventional techniques and for diagnostic evaluation. Equipment is becoming more portable and durable, with easier user-interface and software enhancement to improve image quality. While obstetric utilisation of ultrasound for fetal assessment has developed over more than 40years, the same technology has not found a widespread role in obstetric anaesthesia.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of myocardial ischaemia or sudden death, predominantly affecting young women with no known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The case described emphasises the benefit of early diagnosis and the need to individualise management based on patient response to treatment.

Rosacea and the pilosebaceous follicle.

The pathophysiology of rosacea remains unknown. A leading theory suggests a vascular basis; however, clinical observations and histopathologic studies suggest that inflammation of the pilosebaceous follicle may be central to the pathogenesis of rosacea. Demodex folliculorum is a frequently seen commensal in the follicles of facial skin.

A new drug free technique for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations.

Five cases of anterior shoulder dislocation are reported. The dislocations were reduced quickly, painlessly and without the use of drugs using the 'Cunningham technique.' The practice and theory of the technique are described.

Virtual colonoscopy.

Computerized tomographic colonography (CT colonography) is a new, non-invasive technique that has been developed over the last few years; it looks at the large bowel in detail. In this chapter we look at how the examination is performed and we consider how the images are displayed. We describe the normal features of the colon, as seen using this technique, as well as the features of common pathological conditions.

The "dependent viscera" sign in CT diagnosis of blunt traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

Objective: The objective of our study was to describe the "dependent viscera" sign and determine its usefulness at CT in the diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture after blunt abdominal trauma.

Materials And Methods: The study sample consisted of 28 consecutive patients (19 men, nine women) between 17 and 74 years old (mean age, 31 years) who had undergone abdominal CT and subsequent emergency laparotomy after a blunt trauma. Ten patients had a diaphragmatic rupture (six, right-sided; four, left-sided) at laparotomy.

Glutathione depletion-induced neutrophil apoptosis is caspase 3 dependent.

Resolving inflammation is a vital step in preventing the persistence of inflammatory disorders. Neutrophils play a major role in tissue damage associated with an inflammatory response. Their death by apoptosis is central to the final resolution of this response.

Verification of the dose distribution for 192Ir mould treatments using radiochromic film and LiF:Mg,Cu,P TLDs.

Radioactive moulds are an effective way of treating skin lesions. The aim of the study was to verify the dose distribution in a low dose rate 192Ir hand mould treatment using radiochromic film and LiF:Mg,Cu,P TLDs. Measurements were compared with two computerised treatment planning systems--Theraplan VO5B and ADAC Pinnacle3 V4.

A case of ocular neuromyotonia with tonic pupil.

A 48-year old woman with hypertension experienced painful oculomotor nerve palsy. After surgery for a giant aneurysm of the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus, phasic constrictions of the pupil developed. Two years later, this phenomenon disappeared and was replaced by intermittent involuntary cyclic spasms elevating the ptosed lid.

General anaesthesia for thyroplasty.

A new anaesthetic technique is described for thyroplasty. Thyroplasty was performed to restore the voice in unilateral vocal cord paralysis. After skin incision and dissection down to the larynx, a window was cut in the thyroid ala and a silastic wedge used to displace the vocal cord medially.