Steroid use for established bronchopulmonary dysplasia: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Postnatal steroids during the first few weeks of life have been demonstrated to be effective in decreasing the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a serious chronic respiratory condition affecting preterm infants. However, this preventive option is limited by the concern of neurological side effects. Steroids are used to treat established BPD in an attempt to reduce mortality, and length of stay and home oxygen therapy, both of which associated with high levels of parental stress and healthcare costs.

Delirium Item Bank: Utilization to Evaluate and Create Delirium Instruments.

Introduction: The large number of heterogeneous instruments in active use for identification of delirium prevents direct comparison of studies and the ability to combine results. In a recent systematic review we performed, we recommended four commonly used and well-validated instruments and subsequently harmonized them using advanced psychometric methods to develop an item bank, the Delirium Item Bank (DEL-IB). The goal of the present study was to find optimal cut-points on four existing instruments and to demonstrate use of the DEL-IB to create new instruments.

Early supported discharge for older adults admitted to hospital with medical complaints: a protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Early supported discharge (ESD) aims to link acute and community care, allowing hospital inpatients to return home and continue to receive the necessary input from healthcare professionals that they would otherwise receive in hospital. The concept has been researched extensively in the stroke population, showing reduced length of stay for patients and improved functional outcomes. This systematic review aims to explore the totality of evidence for the use of ESD in an older adult population who have been hospitalised with medical complaints.

A comparison of undergraduate teaching of psychiatry across medical schools in the Republic of Ireland.

Objectives: To examine the delivery and assessment of psychiatry at undergraduate level in the six medical schools in the Republic of Ireland offering a medical degree programme.

Methods: A narrative description of the delivery and assessment of psychiatry at undergraduate level by collaborative senior faculty members from all six universities in Ireland.

Results: Psychiatry is integrated to varying degrees across all medical schools.

Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism following superficial endovenous treatment: A UK and Republic of Ireland consensus study.

Objectives: Venous thromboembolism is a potentially fatal complication of superficial endovenous treatment. Proper risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis could mitigate this hazard; however, there are currently no evidence-based or consensus guidelines. This study surveyed UK and Republic of Ireland vascular consultants to determine areas of consensus.

In vivo assessment of cervical movement in surgeons-results from open and laparoscopic procedures.

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is commonly described in surgeons. Research suggests that 21-60% of at-risk physicians may experience significant work-related pain in their back, shoulders, neck or upper extremity and the consequences of this may impact negatively on patient care. Laparoscopic surgery in particular has become increasingly associated with musculoskeletal pain, especially in the cervical spine.

Surgical treatment of intestinal stricture in inflammatory bowel disease.

Fibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition result in structural changes in the bowel wall, and lead to strictures in intestinal inflammatory disease. While strictures can also occur in other contexts, such as malignancy, this review focuses on the surgical treatment of stricture secondary to inflammatory bowel disease. Distinguishing between predominantly inflammation vs established fibrosis as the cause of a stricture can be challenging.

The clinical utility of three visual attention tests to distinguish adults with ADHD from normal controls.

Background: Adult patients with ADHD may go unrecognised and undiagnosed. This can result in psychosocial and functional decline.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical use of three objective computerised tests in the diagnosis of adult patients with ADHD.

An analysis of childhood consultations in general practice: a multi-practice study.

Background: The majority of illnesses in children are managed by general practitioners (GPs) and there is a need for up to date data on consultations with children in order to improve healthcare service planning and allocation of resources.

Aims: To investigate the presenting symptoms, diagnoses and actions taken by the GP at consultations with children in general practice.

Methods: Senior medical students on general practice placement and their GP supervisors used practice management software to collect data on 100 randomly selected patients aged between 12 months and 14 years of age in each practice.

Early prosthetic valve endocarditis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation using St Jude Medical Portico valve.

An 87-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 2-week history of progressively worsening shortness of breath, fever and generalised myalgia. She underwent a transcatheter Portico aortic valve implantation for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis 3 months prior to this presentation. Examination revealed a temperature of 40°C and a systolic murmur in the aortic area.

A snapshot of type two diabetes mellitus management in general practice prior to the introduction of diabetes Cycle of Care.

Background: Diabetes is associated with complications, including coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation, and ultimately is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. Adherence to best practice guidelines is limited in unstructured diabetes management in primary care settings.

Aims: This study aims to establish what data was being collected in general practice prior to the introduction of the Cycle of Care, which is a proactive model of diabetes management introduced in Ireland.

Adherence to COPD management guidelines in general practice? A review of the literature.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive illness that is mostly managed in the general practice setting. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines are the international gold standard, and it is important to understand how these are being applied in general practice.

Aims: This review aimed to assess the current level of adherence to international best practice guidelines among general practitioners in relation to COPD.

Increasing detection of significant prostate cancer in younger men - ten year trends in prostate cancer risk profile in the Mid-West of Ireland.

Introduction: Although PSA (prostate specific antigen) based screening for prostate cancer (PCa) is controversial, an increasing number of men are undergoing Transrectal Ultrasound Guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB) through primary care-based PSA testing and referral to hospitals. The aim of our study was to investigate presenting risk profiles of PCa over the last decade in a cohort of men in Ireland and to examine any change in the same over this time period.

Material And Methods: The hospital patient administration system was analysed for patients who underwent TRUSPB from January 2005 to December 2015.

Sleep-wake cycle disturbances in elderly acute general medical inpatients: Longitudinal relationship to delirium and dementia.

Introduction: Sleep disturbances in elderly medical inpatients are common, but their relationship to delirium and dementia has not been studied.

Methods: Sleep and delirium status were assessed daily for a week in 145 consecutive newly admitted elderly acute general hospital patients using the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R98), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5, and Richards-Campbell Sleep Quality Scale measures. The longitudinal relationship between DRS-R98 and Richards-Campbell Sleep Quality Scale sleep scores and delirium, also with dementia as a covariate, was evaluated using generalized estimating equation logistic regression.

Are Adults Attending GPs Able to Check Their Own Weight?

Studies have shown self-weighing behaviour is associated with weight loss and maintenance of previous losses. In this cross-sectional survey of 151 patients, 98 (65.0%) participants were overweight or obese, and 59 (31.

Subsyndromal delirium compared with delirium, dementia, and subjects without delirium or dementia in elderly general hospital admissions and nursing home residents.

Introduction: Subsyndromal delirium (SSD) complicates diagnosis of delirium and dementia, although there is little research comparing their symptom profiles.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 400 elderly patients' admission to a general hospital or nursing home diagnosed with delirium, SSD, dementia, or no-delirium/no-dementia (NDND). Symptom profiles were assessed using the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R98).

Development of a novel computerised version of the Month Backwards Test: A comparison of performance in hospitalised elderly patients and final year medical students.

Background And Aims: The Months Backwards Test (MBT) is a commonly used bedside test of cognitive function, but there is uncertainty as to optimal testing procedures. We examined performance among hospitalised elderly patients and cognitively intact young persons with verbal and computerised versions of the test.

Participants And Methods: Fifty acute elderly medical inpatients and fifty final year medical students completed verbal (MBTv) and computerised (MBTc) versions of the MBT and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Educational interventions: equipping general practice for youth mental health and substance abuse. A discussion paper.

Background: Youth mental health issues and substance abuse are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Ireland. General practice is a frequent point of contact for young people, however, reluctance amongst this population group to disclose mental health issues and a lack of confidence amongst GPs in dealing with them have been reported. Focussed training interventions with formal evaluation of their acceptability and effectiveness in achieving learning, behavioural change and impact on clinical practice are needed.