Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

To Investigate The Foveal Avascular Zone In A Young Healthy Population Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography, Susan O'Shea

Masters

Introduction/Aims Inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can alter the size and shape of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Macular pigment (MP), a powerful antioxidant, located at the macula can protect the eye from oxidative stress damage. This study aims to investigate possible factors affecting the FAZ, such as vessel perfusion and overweight/obesity, in association with MP status in a young, healthy population. Normative values for FAZ size/shape and vascularity will also be proposed.

Methods One hundred and fifty-four subjects aged 18-35 years old were recruited. Superficial FAZ area, diameter, ganglion cell layer, central macular …

Design Of New Azole Molecules To Prevent Metal Leaching From Medical Implants, Ronan Mcateer

Masters

The aim of this project was to develop new coatings for titanium based implants, most particularly stents, incorporating heterocyclic functional groups in their structure that will have the potential to bind to a titanium surface and prevent or reduce metal corrosion. Many of the current coatings are chemically bound onto metallic surfaces, but this project looks at electropolymerising the coatings onto the surface of the Ti6Al4V stents. Hence, polymerising functional groups have been incorporated with azoles in the structure of the synthesised compounds. Additionally, surface characterisation and preliminary corrosion studies have been carried out on a series of coated TI6Al4V …

Investigating The Role Of Schizophrenia-Associated Gene Expression In The Developing Human Brain Using Machine Learning, Katie Kelly

Masters

Schizophrenia is a debilitating condition that affects 1% of the population, causes significant hardship and though there are treatments available they are characterised by several limitations. It is a complex mental disorder where some individuals show mild subclinical cognitive symptoms before psychosis onset in adolescence. The treatments available only target a portion of the symptoms and although extensive research has been conducted, a comprehensive understanding of the nature of schizophrenia remains elusive. Unlike other neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia symptoms do not typically present themselves until adolescence. This study aimed to discover gene co-expression networks at multiple developmental stages to identify candidate …

An Investigation Into Employee Exposure To Environmental Tobacco Smoke Within Designated Smoking Areas In The Hospitality Industry, With An Analysis Of Legislative Compliance Of Said Designated Smoking Areas, Hannah Byrne

Masters

Background: Occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is still occurring in the hospitality industry and the instance of non-compliant smoking areas required investigation. A designated smoking area covered by a roof where more than 50% of the perimeter of that part is surrounded by one or more walls is deemed a non-compliant smoking area. This study aimed to gather evidence of non-compliances across Dublin, determine current employee exposure whilst also measuring PM2.5 concentrations within smoking areas as well as providing insight into possible immediate health effects of ETS exposure.

Methods: Seventy-five smoking areas (41 located in high, 27 in …

The Effects Of Nutritional Aids On Exercise Performance In A Fed State, Simon Devenney

Masters

Previous research has shown that mouth rinsing with a carbohydrate solution (CMR) can improve cycling performance while caffeine supplementation (CAFF) can improve power output in bouts of repeated sprints in a low carbohydrate availability state. The aim of the current thesis was to identify the effects of nutritional, in the form of CMR, CAFF supplementation & CAFF rinse, on exercise performance while athletes were in a fed state. A total of 32 recreationally active males (aged 22 ± 3yrs, body mass 71.5 ± 10.1kg, stature 173.5 ± 7.6cm, skinfolds 75.6 ± 19.3mm) participated across three studies, looking at time trial …

The Prevalence Of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Found During Screening Of A High-Risk Cardiovascular Population, Sorcha Amond Murray

Masters

Introduction: The effectiveness of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has been debated for many years. An AAA is defined as a focal dilation of the abdominal aortic artery exceeding 1.5 times its normal size (Kent, 2014). Risk factors associated with AAA are similar to those of peripheral vascular disease, thus the population attending a vascular laboratory are ideal candidates for AAA screening. AAAs are more common in males, in smokers, with increasing age, and more likely with a family history of AAA (Chaikof et al, 2009). Currently the UK National Screening Committee recommend one time AAA screening by ultrasound …

Modulation Of Primary Amine Oxidase By Phytochemicals, Padraig Shanahan

Masters

Primary Amine Oxidase (PrAO) is an enzyme with a variety of physiological roles. It catalyses the oxidative deamination of primary amines to the corresponding aldehydes. PrAO converts amines such as methylamine and aminoacetone to reactive compounds that can damage small blood vessel proteins. It also acts as a vascular adhesion protein (VAP-1) where it is essential for the migration of leukocytes through the vascular endothelium. Inhibitors of PrAO have been reported to have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory action. In this study we explore the interaction between dietary phytochemicals and Bovine PrAO. Methylxanthines (MXs) are food alkaloids having a positive association …

Validation Of A Focused Basic Transthoracic Echocardiography Training Programme For Irish Critical Care Doctors, Roisin O'Mahony

Masters

Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) is a technique for scanning the human heart using ultrasound. It enables us to acquire vital information about the size, structure and function of the heart. This test is a crucial cardiac diagnostic test. Historically TTE was used only in cardiology departments, undertaken by trained personnel called cardiac physiologists or cardiology doctors. More recently, TTE has been recognized to be very useful in the management of critically ill patients in the intensive care and high dependency units of our hospitals. Currently bedside TTE on these patients is performed by cardiac physiologists who are generally only available during …

The Aging Human Heart. Doppler Echocardiographic Assessment Of The Resting Adult Heart Across The Age Bands., Anthony Ryan

Masters

Objectives: To determine the influence of aging on measured left ventricular (LV) diastolic parameters using healthy subjects aged 40-79 years. To propose age-related reference values for LV filling pressure, LV isovolumic relaxation time (LV IVRT) and myocardial stiffness index for each decade using pulsed waved tissue Doppler.

Background: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler parameters have been used for over a decade in the clinical setting as an aid to the evaluation of diastolic function and filling pressures, however there is limited information on normal reference ranges especially in middle age and the older person.

Methods: Subjects with no …

The Regulation Of Hpv Late Gene Expression And The Potential Role Of Inkt Cells In Cervical Cancer, Patrice Nolan

Masters

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are ubiquitous, sexually transmitted viruses present in 99.7% of all cervical cancers, the second most common cancer in females worldwide. Expression of HPV L1 and L2 late genes is found only in terminally differentiated epithelial cells. As L1 and L2 proteins are highly immunogenic, it is suggested that their suppression may prevent detection of the virus by the immune system, thus acting as a prerequisite for persistence of infection. Therefore, if expression of these proteins in the lower cervical layers was induced, it could lead to clearance of the virus. One aim of this thesis was to …

Child Eye Health In Nampula, Mozambique And Ireland, Aoife Phelan

Masters

To examine child eye health, in particular, visual impairment (VI), uncorrected refractive error (URE) and strabismus in two targeted cohorts of children in Mozambique and Ireland.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth In Post Oesophagectomy And Gastrectomy Patients, Melissa Dooley

Masters

A review of patients who underwent a hydrogen breath test for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, following an oesophagectomy or gastrectomy was carried out in the Gastrointestinal Function Unit, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin. The aim of this research was to look at the incidence of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and create an optimal protocol for Hydrogen Breath Testing with the hope of improving patient compliance and reducing clinic waiting times. Factors such as lifestyle, multimodal therapy, tumour morphology, and gender were analysed in relation to positive Hydrogen Breath Test results in this patient group. Patients were selected following a referral from …

Vitamin D Supplementation Practices During Pregnancy And Infancy Among A Sample Of Muslim Women In Ireland And Saudi Arabia, Imann Khadrawi

Masters

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone, a group of fat-soluble pro-hormones, which encourages the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. The requirement for the nutrient is high at particular stages of the lifecycle especially during pregnancy and infancy. Severe vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing preeclampsia and gestational diabetes in pregnancy and rickets in the child. While vitamin D supplementation has been a policy recommendation in Ireland since 2007, at the time of this study, it was not a policy recommendation in Saudi Arabia. The present quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the …

Evaluation Of Smoking Cessation Services In Ireland: Design And Pilot Of A Smoking Cessation Treatment Database, Sheila Keogan

Masters

A reduction in tobacco use is one of the stated aims of the National Health Promotion Strategy
(2000-2005) (Department of Health and Children, 2000a) as well being the core activity of
membership for all health promoting hospitals (HPH).
AIMS OF THE STUDY

1. To develop a database of smoking cessation services in Ireland.

2. Do a census of the smoking cessation services in Ireland and evaluate the range and
availability of them.
3. Develop a database for use in smoking cessation treatment services which would schedule
consultations with patients and gather all relevant demographics, treatments and their outcomes,
(cessation treatment …

The Nutritional Status Of Patients With Clostridium Difficile Associeated Disease And Dietetic Practices Concerning The Management Of These Patients, Yvonne Hickey

Masters

Background: Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of noscomial infection and is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality (Hookman & Barkin, 2009). There are limited data available on the nutritional status and dietetic management of these patients. Aims: 1. To carry out an observational study to assess the prevalence of the risk of malnutrition in patients with Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) and compare it to a group of patients in the same hospital. 2. To investigate dietitians’ beliefs and recommendations of probiotics in CDAD and determine the probiotic products and strains being used in this patient group. To assess …

Assessment Of Fire Safety And Evacuation Management In Nursing Homes, John Moore

Masters

Methodology Seventeen nursing homes in Ireland were recruited to take part in this research.Ownership varies with seven private homes and ten Health Service Executive (HSE) administered homes involved. The homes were surveyed between May 2007 andNovember 2008. The methodology consisted of the following three elements: A building survey to establish fire safety facilities: An analysis of fire related documentation: Interviews with staff to establish existing fire safety procedures. Results None of the seventeen nursing homes showed an adequate ability to prevent fire or evacuate residents to a place of safety. None of the nursing homes carried out adequate fire risk …

Insight Into Animal Cloning And The Food Chain: A Qualitative Examination Of Key Opinion Leaders And A Cross Section Of The Irish Public., Cathal Murphy

Masters

The ability to clone elite breeding animals, aimed at addressing the needs of modern food production, had been earmarked as a possibility for the agricultural sector since the birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996. A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States in 2008 that permits under-license, the commercial cloning of agricultural animals has seen this possibility realised. No such ruling exists here in Europe, but the FDA policy not to label cloned-derived products, and a history of wariness to food biotechnology in Europe may expedite this debate. With the plethora of issues that cloning …

Is There A Benefit To Screening For Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm In The Irish Male Population Between The Ages Of 55 To 75 Years; An Ideal Opportunity Group For Evaluating Cardiovascular Risk Factors?, Mairead Brosnan

Masters

Introduction: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programmes have been carried out worldwide on males between the ages of 65-75 years. The results of such programmes show AAA screening to be beneficial and cost effective. In the Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study conducted in the United Kingdom, the incidence of AAA was 4.9%. Early diagnoses of AAA’s have reduced AAA related deaths by 42%. This study investigated the incidence of AAA in Irish males between the ages of 55-75 years and incorporated an assessment of cardiovascular risk factors. A younger group of males were screened to see if there was any benefit …

Role Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Placental Growth Factor And Cytokines On Outer Blood Retinal Barrier Breakdown., Sangeetha Sukumaran

Masters

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of the VEGF family of growth factors and
cytokines TNF- α and IL-1β on oBRB function. The human RPE line ARPE-19 was
employed as an in vitro model of the oBRB. Two-Dimensional gel electrophoresis was
employed to study the effect of growth factors on the RPE proteome. The barrier properties of
the oBRB were evaluated by expression of the TJ proteins occludin or Zo-1, or claudins-1, 2,
3 and 4, determined by western blotting analysis. Claudins 2, 3 and 4 were found to be
significantly up-regulated by TNF-α, while interleukin …

Differential Control Of Tgm2 Expression By Oestrogen Receptor/Serms., Damian Lally

Masters

Breast cancer is a malignancy of the epithelial cells comprising the mammary gland. As the ER is necessary for the growth of pproximately 70% of breast cancers, pharmaceutical efforts have focused on uncovering modulators of the ERα such as antiestrogens and Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulator (SERMs). SERMs differ from pure ER antagonists in their capacity to display tissue-selective and C promoter dependent agonist-antagonist activities. Tamoxifen (TAM) is a SERM that is used in the treatment of hormonally responsive breast cancer. TAM is the most commonly used treatment for patients with ERα positive breast cancer. In this study we examined the …

Sv40 Infection In Human Lymphocyte Cell Lines, Aoife Kelly

Masters

The oncogenic DNA virus Simian virus 40 (SV40) was introduced into the human population as an inadvertent contaminant of polio vaccines that were prepared in cultures of primary monkey kidney cells. It is estimated that, as a result, millions of people worldwide were exposed to SV40 between the years 1955-1 963. Research indicates that the virus is still present in the human population today, based on the finding of neutralising antibodies and viral DNA sequences in children and adults. Of concern is that SV40 has also been detected in human tumours including primary brain cancer, malignant mesothelioma, bone tumours and …

Functional Characterization Of Nuclear Receptor And Co-Activator Binding Loci In The Human Genome, Kim Maguire

Masters

Steroid hormones, such as oestrogen, mediate their effects via activation of oestrogen regulated genes using nuclear receptors. Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as Tamoxifen, are used to treat oestrogen responsive breast cancers, hctioning to act as oestrogen antagonists, preventing the oestrogen receptor biding DNA and blocking gene expression. However, Tamoxifen has been identified as an oestrogen agonist in other tissues which can often lead to secondary tumors in the years following the treatment. Identification of the genomic regions where SERMs can act as oestrogen agonists can possibly lead to the development of gene targeted therapies or other alternatives to …

Investigation Of A Metal Complexing Route To Arene Trans-Dihydrodiols, Crystal O'Connor

Masters

In this work, a route for the conversion of arene cis-dihydrodiols to their trans isomers was examined. Arene trans-dihydrodiols are potentially important chiral building blocks in synthetic chemistry and are more stable than their cis analogues. While the cis-arene dihydrodiols can be produced on a relatively large scale by fermentation, their trans isomers cannot. The principal aim of this work was to carry out studies in tandem to inform the development of the synthetic pathway to convert arene cis-dihydrodiols to their trans isomers by (a) the synthesis of organometallic intermediates and (b) investigation of their reactivity by means of kinetic …

Synthesis, Characterisation And Anti-Candida Activity Of Inorganic And Organic Derivatives Of 1,10-Phenanthroline, Ruth Cogan

Masters

This thesis reports results in three areas: (i) the synthesis, characterisation and biological activity of simple metal salts incorporating 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 1,10 phenanthroline- 5,6-dione (phendione) ligands, (ii) the synthesis, characterisation and biological activity of three different organic derivatives of phendione, and (iii) the synthesis or attempted synthesis, characterisation and biological activity of phendione-amino acid conjugates.

Investigation Of The P13k/Akt/Foxo And The Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk Signalling Pathways In Ovarian Development, Claire Wynne

Masters

The formation and development of ovarian follicles is regulated by the interactions of germ cells and somatic cells, intraovarian growth regulatory factors and the pituitary gonadotrophins, FSH and LH. Despite the fact that granulosa cells of large follicles are highly proliferative, granulosa cell tumours are rare suggesting that potent regulatory mechanisms, including apoptotic factors, control proliferation and differentiation of these cells. Two critical pathways that intercommunicate to influence ovarian cell proliferation and differentiation are the PI3K1AKT/FOXOI pathway and the Ras/Raf/MEKIERK cascade. As FSH can stimulate both pathways, a super-ovulatory regimen of hormones PMSG/hCG (FSHlLH analogues) administered to immature wildtype mice …

Synthesis Of Novel Targeted Drug Delivery Systems For Cancer Therapy, Antonio Clementi

Masters

One of the most important goals of pharmaceutical science is local izing the pharmacological activity of the drug at the site of action. Drug delivery systems - are. molecular tools which without undesired interaction at other sites target a specific drug receptor. In this work a· novel folate-cyclodextrin conjugate was synthesised for potential use as a drug delivery system in cancer therapy. Folate was directly covalently bound to an amino derivative of p-Cyclodextrin with a view to decreasing the polydispersity of the carrier system. Ultimately the cyclodextrin cavity will be used to transport drugs to the site of action. This …

Ocular Aberrations Wavefront Sensor In Clinical Application, Matthew Sheehan

Masters

A versatile Hartmann-Shack (HS) wavefront sensor (WFS) was designed and constructed. Its advantages include simultaneous pupil centre determination, off-axis capability, realtime data displays, and efficient lenslet sampling orientation. The instrument is compact and transportable, making it convenient for use in a clinical setting. Subject alignment is achieved by the use of a parallel channel that is recombined with the sensing channel to simultaneously image the external eye and the HS spots onto a single charge coupled device (CCD). The pupil centre is determined using this image of the eye, rather than the HS spots. Off-axis measurements are possible throughout an …

Ovarian Signalling:Insights Into The P13k/Pkb/Foxo And The Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk Pathways, Nicola Cahill

Masters

The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive organs that are involved in the production of gametes “oogenesis” and the production of hormones “steroidogenesis” to mediate the oestrous cycle, preparation of the uterus for pregnancy and the preparation of the breast for lactation www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/femaleRepro). The oestrous cycle is controlled by the release of the pituitary gonadotrophins, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenising hormone (LH). The physiological responses of ovarian steroidogenesis, oogenesis, folliculargenesis, ovulation and lutenisation to the gonadotrophins are accomplished by the activation of greater than one hundred ovarian target genes (Hunzicker-Dunn et al 2006). These processes are dependant on …

Making Sense Of Men's Workout Practices: The Body, Age And Identity, Andrew Dunne

Masters

Background: Within sociology it is generally accepted that the body has become an object or “project” that is worked on and transformed as a central part of self-identity (Baudrillard 1998; Corrigan 1997; Featherstone 1991; Giddens 1991; Turner 1995, 1992; Shilling 2003). An alternative to such arguments, Leder (1990) conceptualizes the body as an “absent presence”. He argues that, while the body plays a central role in shaping our experience of the world, we are frequently oblivious to our own bodies. For Leder, bodywork is sporadic. He contends that specific social and/or physiological experiences cause the body to “dys-appear”, or enter …

Ecotoxicological Investigations Of Pharmaceutical Compounds On A Battery Of Freshwater Test Species., Elaine Minagh

Masters

Currently interest in pharmaceuticals as potential environmental contaminants has increases significantly. This is due to the awareness of the possible adverse effects to human health and the environment caused by such contaminants. Within the past few years, the highly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), have received attention as their occurrence in the environment has been recently documented. Prior to this, there was very little known about the ecotoxicity of SSRIs, and in particular sertraline hydrochloride. Similarly the cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins are among the most frequently prescribed agents in Ireland and worldwide for the treatment of coronary …