Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Revitalisation, Rigour And Relevance: The Citizen-Client And Planning In The Health Services., Vivienne Byers

Conference Papers

Whereas, in many OECD countries strategic planning in health care has been in evidence since the 1970s, in Ireland the emergence of strategic management processes in health care planning didn’t occur until the 1990s.

This paper reports on part of a comparative study of health services planning in Ireland and in Canada. How can the strategic management of the Irish health services in the form of service planning be implemented? The focus of this paper is the identification of two key stumbling blocks to success in this endeavour. These include the limitations of the control mechanism, the legislation, underpinning service …

Strategic Change In The Irish Health Services: Comparative Case Studies In Planning, Vivienne Byers

Conference Papers

This paper reports on a study of the implementation of service planning in the Irish health services in the context of significant organisational change. One of the central mechanisms of the Strategic Management Initiative (SMI) is the devolution of accountability and responsibility from the centre to executive agencies. Service planning in the Irish health care sector is seen as part of this strategic planning ethos.

This study in examining the function and implementation of the service plan in the Irish health care system drew comparisons with the Canadian experience. A multiple case study design was utilised. Key research questions were …

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 …

Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Project Report, Liam Mccarton, Sean O'Hogain, Anna Reid, Niamh Mcintyre, Jenny Pender

Reports

The rainwater harvesting pilot project was commissioned by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee in 2005 to assess the feasibility of supplementing treated mains water used for non-potable purposes. The project involved the design, installation, commissioning and monitoring of rainwater harvesting facilities in a rural housing development in County Carlow and in a 250-acre livestock farm in County Meath. Construction was carried out between 2005-2007.

Archetype Alignment: A Two-Level Driven Semantic Matching Approach To Interoperability In The Clinical Domain, Damon Berry, Jesus Bisbal

Conference Papers

Semantic interoperability between electronic health record systems and other information systems in the health domain implies agreement about the structure and the meaning of the information that is communicated. There are still a number of similar but different EHR system approaches. Some of the newer approaches adopt the two-layer model approach where a generic reference model is constrained by archetypes into valid clinical concepts which can be exchanged. The meaning of the concepts that are represented by an archetype can be conveyed by embedding codes from a commonly recognised terminology at appropriate points in the archetype. However, as the number …

Convergence In Human Dialogues Time Series Analysis Of Acoustic Feature, Spyros Kousidis, David Dorran, Ciaran Mcdonnell, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

Convergence of acoustic/prosodic (a/p) features between two speakers is a well-known property of human dialogue. It has been suggested that this particular aspect of human interaction should be implemented in spoken dialogue systems, so that they can be perceived as more “humanlike”. This paper presents a quantitative analysis method that can provide information required for modeling the phenomenon of convergence. The analysis is a combination of TAMA, a previously introduced data extraction method, and bivariate time series analysis. Results show significant correlation of a/p features between speaker dyads in the recorded dialogues analyzed, and indicate a significant,amount of feedback, which …

Tril, A Functional Component Of The Tlr4 Signaling Complex, Highly Expressed In Brain, Susan Carpenter, Thaddeus Carlson, Jerome Dellacasagrande, Amaya Garcia, Sharon Gibbons, Paul J. Hertzog, Anthony Lyons, Lih-Ling Lin, Marina A Lynch, Tom P. Monie, Caroline Murphy, Katherine Seidl, Christine Anne Wells, Aisling Dunne, Luke O'Neill

Articles

TLR4 is the primary sensor of LPS. In this study, we describe for the first time TLR4 interactor with leucine-rich repeats (TRIL), which is a novel component of the TLR4 complex. TRIL is expressed in a number of tissues, most prominently in the brain but also in the spinal cord, lung, kidney, and ovary. TRIL is composed of a signal sequence, 13 leucine-rich repeats, a fibronectin domain, and a single transmembrane spanning region. TRIL is induced by LPS in the human astrocytoma cell line U373, in murine brain following i.p. injection, and in human PBMC. Endogenous TRIL interacts with TLR4 …

Factors Associated With Breastfeeding Among A Sample Of Chinese Mothers Who Gave Birth In Ireland, Qianling Zhou, Katherine Younger, John Kearney

Conference Papers

Rationale & Objectives: The factors influencing breastfeeding rates are complex, and the socio-cultural environment has an important influence on how women choose to feed their infants. The present study sought to determine factors affecting breastfeeding practices of Chinese mothers who gave birth in Ireland. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional survey (written in Chinese). Questionnaires were distributed to Chinese mothers in Chinese markets and language schools in Ireland. Results & Findings: Analyses was conducted on 236 completed questionnaires from Chinese mothers who had given birth in Ireland. Breastfeeding prevalence among the participants was 71%. Univariate analyses indicated that mothers who lived …

Monitoring Convergence Of Temporal Features In Spontaneous Dialogue Speech, Spyros Kousidis, David Dorran

Conference papers

This paper presents ongoing research on convergence of speech features in human dialogues, in view of simulating this behaviour in spoken dialogue systems. The TAMA method (time-aligned moving average), previously used on monitoring convergence of acoustic prosodic (a/p) features, is applied to temporal properties of speech (between-turn pauses and overlaps). The results are compared to those of an older study on the same features.

Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding Among A Sample Of Chinese Mothers Living In Ireland, Qianling Zhou, Katherine Younger, John Kearney

Conference Papers

In recent years, breastfeeding has become the focus of public health in Ireland. Previous research has reported significant differences in breastfeeding initiation rates among Irish mothers (47.1%) and non-Irish mothers (79.6%) living in Ireland(1). While attitudes towards breastfeeding among Irish mothers have been previously described(2), such information on non-nationals is lacking, particularly among Chinese residing in Ireland. This study was undertaken to fill this information gap, describing the maternal attitudes towards breastfeeding among Chinese mothers living in Ireland. A cross-sectional self-administrated survey was conducted. Questionnaires (written in Chinese) were distributed to the Chinese mothers, mainly via Chinese supermarkets and Chinese …

Breastfeeding Practices In China And Ireland: The Chinese Mothers In Ireland Survey., Qianling Zhou, Katherine Younger, John Kearney

Conference Papers

Rationale & Objectives: Migration to another country may contribute to some changes in breastfeeding practices. This study explored the breastfeeding practices of immigrant Chinese mothers in China and following migration to Ireland, where breastfeeding is far less prevalent (43% initiation).

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving Chinese mothers who had given birth in Ireland (CMI) or in China (CMC).

Results & Findings: Analyses was conducted on 285 completed questionnaires. 72 % of the sample breastfed their infants with no differences between CMI (71%) and CMC (78%) (P>0.05). However, breastfeeding rates at three months (62%) and six months (32%) …

Application Of Discrete-Event Simulation In Health Care: A Review, Michael Thorwarth, Amr Arisha

Reports

The acceptance of applying process simulation in health care has significantly increased during the last decade, leading to an increase of publication in this area. Health care managers and researchers that are attracted by the idea of applying simulation in their field, desire to view methodologies and results of different simulation projects, yet may be overstrained by the large volume of the diverse literature. Thus, this paper, structured as a quick reference guide, presents a comprehensive review of process simulation applications in healthcare areas, which summarises projects applied in health care facilities like hospitals, emergency departments, intensive care units, surgical …

A Generic Approach To Computer-Based Clinical Practice Guideling Management Using The Eca Rule Paradigm And Active Databases, Bing Wu, Kudakwashe Dube

Articles

The increasing demand for reduced cost and improved quality of service in healthcare has prompted the call for better management of medical knowledge. The main emphasis has been on knowledge that is acquired through experience and medical research and then formalised into Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). This paper presents a generic approach to CPG information and knowledge management that uses the Event-Condition-Action (ECA) rule paradigm and active databases within a unified management framework. The paper focuses on an approach for facilitating the use and management of CPGs by clinicians through delivering the CPGs at the point-of-care by a computerised mechanism.

Macular Pigment And Its Contribution To Spatial Vision, James Loughman, Peter Davison, Grainne Scanlon, Veronica O'Dwyer

Conference Papers

Purpose:The optical properties and anatomic distribution of macular pigment (MP) are such that it may theoretically contribute to visual performance by attenuating the effects of chromatic aberration and light scatter. The Collaborative Optical Macular Pigment Assessment (COMPASS) study is a placebo-controlled, randomized and double-blind clinical trial designed to assess whether MP optical density (MPOD) influences spatial vision by attenuating short wavelength light. Preliminary analysis of baseline findings, prior to supplementation, is presented here. Methods:119 young (mean=29+/-6 years) healthy subjects were recruited. The spatial profile of MPOD was assessed by customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. Visual performance was assessed by psychophysical tests …

Second-Hand Smoke Exposure In Cars And Respiratory Health Effects In Children, Patrick J. Goodman, Z. Kabir, L. Clancy, P.J. Manning, J. Holohan, S. Keogan

Articles

We examined potential associations of ever asthma, and symptoms of wheeze (past 12 months), hay fever, eczema and bronchitis (cough with phlegm) among school children exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS) in cars, using a modified Irish International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. 2,809 children of 13–14 yrs old and who selected randomly from post-primary schools throughout Ireland completed the 2007 ISAAC self-administered questionnaire. Adjusted OR (adjusted for sex, active smoking status of children interviewed and their SHS exposure at home) were estimated for the associations studied, using multivariable logistic regression techniques. Overall, 14.8% (13.9% in young …

Hmgb1 Mediates Endogenous Tlr2 Activation And Brain Tumor Regression, James Curtin, Naiyou Liu, Marianela Candolfi, Weidong Xiong, Hikmat Assi, Kader Yagiz, Matthew Edwards, Kathrin Michelsen, Kurt Kroeger, Chunyan Liu, Akm Ghulam Muhammad, Mary Clark, Moshe Arditi, Begonya Comin-Anduix, Antoni Ribas, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor that carries a 5-y survival rate of 5%. Attempts at eliciting a clinically relevant anti-GBM immune response in brain tumor patients have met with limited success, which is due to brain immune privilege, tumor immune evasion, and a paucity of dendritic cells (DCs) within the central nervous system. Herein we uncovered a novel pathway for the activation of an effective anti-GBM immune response mediated by high-mobility-group box 1 (HMGB1), an alarmin protein released from dying tumor cells, which acts as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling …

Adenovirus E4orf4 Induces Hpv-16 Late L1 Mrna Production, Monica Somberg, Margaret Rush, Joanna Fay, Fergus Ryan, Helen Lambkin, Göran Akusjärvi, Stefan Schwartz

Articles

The adenovirus E4orf4 protein regulates the switch from early to late gene expression during the adenoviral replication cycle. Here we report that overexpression of adenovirus E4orf4 induces human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) late gene expression from subgenomic expression plasmids. E4orf4 specifically overcomes the negative effects of two splicing silencers at the two late HPV-16 splice sites SD3632 and SA5639. This results in the production of HPV-16 spliced L1 mRNAs. We show that the interaction of E4orf4 with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is necessary for induction of HPV-16 late gene expression. Also an E4orf4 mutant that fails to bind the cellular …

The Tracking Of Dietary Intakes Of Children And Adolescents In Sweden Over Six Years: The European Youth Heart Study, Emma Patterson, Julia Wärnberg Julia Wärnberg, John Kearney, Michael Sjostrom

Articles

The stability of dietary habits through various life-stages is not well understood. A better understanding of the tracking of diet over time could have implications for health promotion as well as for the planning of nutritional epidemiology studies. We examined the stability of dietary intakes of children and adolescents over six years. As part of the European Youth Heart Study, in 1998-9, a 24-h dietary recall was performed on over one thousand 9- and 15-year-olds in Sweden. In 2004-5, 40% returned to the follow-up study. These 452 subjects (273 15- and 179 21-year-olds) were assigned to age- and gender-specific tertiles …

Editorial: Nutrition Research Reviews, Katherine Younger

Articles

Cognitive performance in children and whether this can be improved by nutritional means is an area of investigation fraught with experimental challenges, making it difficult to draw useful conclusions. Hoyland et al. (1) have here provided a much-needed systematic review of the evidence on the specific question of the effects of breakfast on children’s cognitive performance and, unsurprisingly, have concluded that the effects are generally positive, most clearly shown for memory and attention tasks and most easily demonstrated in nutritionally vulnerable children. However, the benefits of food before schoolwork are not necessarily purely, or even mostly, physiological; they could be …

An Analysis Of Drug Dissolution Rates In The Usp 24 Type 2 Apparatus, David Mcdonnell, Brendan Redmond, Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Anne Marie Healy, Owen Corrigan

Articles

This paper applies boundary layer theory to the process of drug dissolution in the USP 24, Type 2 Apparatus. The mass transfer rate from the top flat surface of a compact in various positions within the device is evaluated by means of a Pohlhausen integral method.

When Every Drop Counts: The Public Health Impact Of Drought, Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Planning and Policy

No abstract provided.

Perception Of Dietary Change And Attitudes Towards The Irish Diet Among Non-Nationals In Ireland., Qianling Zhou, Phensiri Asawasirisap, John Kearney

Conference Papers

Rationale & Objectives: Cross-cultural attitudes to diet differ significantly. This study examined attitudes towards the Irish diet and their perceived dietary change among a random sample of non-nationals living in Ireland. Materials & Methods: A self-administered cross-sectional survey was distributed to a randomly selected sample of English language students in Dublin. Results & Findings: 473 students from four geographical regions (Asia, Africa, South & Central American, and Europe) (response rate: 84%) completed the survey. Marked cultural differences between geographical regions were found with South & Central Americans being the most likely to indicate a decrease in fruit and vegetable intakes …

Antitumour And Antimalarial Activity Of Artemisinin–Acridine Hybrids, Michael Jones, Amy Mercer, Paul Stocks, Louise La Pensee, Rick Cosstick, B. Kevin Park, Miriam Kennedy, Ivo Piantanida, Stephen Ward, Jill Davies, Patrick Bray, Sarah Rawe, Jonathon Baird, Tafadzwa Charidza, Omar Janneh, Paul O'Neill

Articles

Artemisinin–acridine hybrids were prepared and evaluated for their in vitro activity against tumour cell lines and a chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum. They showed a 2–4-fold increase in activity against HL60, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells in comparison with dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and moderate antimalarial activity. Strong evidence that the compounds induce apoptosis in HL60 cells was obtained by flow cytometry, which indicated accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Editorial: Nutrition Research Reviews, Katherine Younger

Articles

The diverse nature of the reviews included in this issue of Nutrition Research Reviews highlights a problem that is becoming increasingly acute for journal editors, namely that of finding suitable reviewers (especially for the more esoteric manuscripts) who are prepared to devote some of their time and expertise to this crucial task. Peer-review underpins the whole ethos of scientific journal publishing as we currently know it. Without it, readers have little guarantee that the published material is credible, which in turn casts the authors in a dubious light, and with them the editors and publishers of the journals; the whole …

Minority Stress And Health: Implications For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Questioning (Lgbtq) Young People, Cathy Kelleher

Articles

Historically, the pathologisation of LGBTQ orientations shaped research and professional practice, while the impact of stigma was not considered. Within a minority stress conceptualisation however, stigma-related prejudice and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ people constitute chronically stressful events that can lead to negative health outcomes. Minority stress has been linked to psychological distress among gay men and lesbians and may contribute to elevated rates of distress frequently observed among LGBTQ youth. This study explored the impact of minority stress on psychological distress among LGBTQ youth in Ireland. Measures assessing three components of minority stress (sexual identity distress, stigma consciousness, and heterosexist …