Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Clinical Coverage Of An Archetype Repository Over Snomed-Ct., Sheng Yu, Damon Berry, Jesus Bisbal

Articles

Clinical archetypes provide a means for health professionals to design what should be communicated as part of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). An ever-growing number of archetype definitions follow this health information modelling approach, and this international archetype resource will eventually cover a large number of clinical concepts. On the other hand, clinical terminology systems that can be referenced by archetypes also have a wide coverage over many types of health-care information.

No existing work measures the clinical content coverage of archetypes using terminology systems as a metric. Archetype authors require guidance to identify under-covered clinical areas that may need …

The Role Of Colour Duplex Ultrasound In The Surveillance Of Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aneurysm Repair, Cleona Gray

Doctoral

No abstract provided.

Work Placement Blogs To Harness Diverse Learning Experiences And Foster A Community Of Practice, Julie Dunne

Conference papers

Students on work placement will have very different experiences from each other, however they are generally not connected to their peers, but working with professionals under the guidance of a college tutor. Therefore during placement they are not formally supported by peers and cannot learn from the diverse range of activities their peers will experience. An active learning community and a sense of connectedness to others are critical to real learning (LaPointe, 2008), while learning through participation in a community of practice involves sharing experiences and discovering how to improve by regularly interacting with peers (Wenger, 2002). The aim of …

Cessation Of Soft Contact Lens Wear Prior To Refractive Laser- Is Two Weeks Long Enough?, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Luisa Simo Mannion, Linda Moore

Other

No abstract provided.

Cessation Of Soft Contact Lens Wear Prior To Refractive Laser:Is Two Weeks Enough?, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Luisa Simo Mannion, Linda Moore

Other

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Ophthalmic Technicians, Refractive Service Providers In Mozambique, Kajal Shah

Conference Papers

Background

One of the solutions to creating sustainable eye care structures is education of personnel.The Technological University Dublin (DIT) with ICEE (International Centre of Eyecare Education) is developing and implementing a sustainable model for optometric education and eye care service delivery in Unilurio in Mozambique.The Mozambique Eyecare Project aims to train Mozambique’s first professional optometrists who will provide a sustainable and comprehensive eye-care system as an integral part of the national health system. Mozambique currently has only 15 ophthalmologists for a population of 21 million and 34 trained Ophthalmic Technicians the only providers of refraction services within the local health …

Antiviral Trims: Friend Or Foe In Autoimmune And Autoinflammatory Disease?, Caroline A. Jefferies, Claire Wynne, Rowan Higgs

Articles

The concept that viral sensing systems, via their ability to drive pro-inflammatory cytokine and interferon production, contribute to the development of autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease is supported by a wide range of clinical and experimental observations. Recently, the tripartite motif-containing proteins (TRIMs) have emerged as having key roles in antiviral immunity — either as viral restriction factors or as regulators of pathways downstream of viral RNA and DNA sensors, and the inflammasome. Given their involvement in these pathways, we propose that TRIM proteins contribute to the development and pathology of autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions, thus making them potential novel targets …

Mathematical Methods For Biosensor Models, Qi Wang

Doctoral

A biosensor is defined as a compact analytical device incorporating a biological sensing element integrated within a physico-chemical transducer whose aim is to produce optical or electronic signals proportional to the concentration of an analyte in a sample. Biosensors offer enormous potential to detect a wide range of analytes in health care, the food industry, environmental monitoring, security and defence. The beneficial impact on society as a result of the availability of such systems is immense, therefore investigating any strategy that could reduce development times and costs and reveal alternative designs is of utmost importance. In particular, mathematical modelling and …

Factors Associated With Duration Of Breastfeeding In Ireland: Potential Areas For Improvement, Roslyn Tarrant, Katherine Younger, Margaret Sheridan Pereira, John Kearney

Articles

There is a need to comprehensively examine why mothers in Ireland discontinue breastfeeding early and to explore thefactors influencing duration of breastfeeding during the first 6 months postpartum. Findings from this study provide valuabledirection for future strategies and interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration rates in Ireland.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced Release Of Signalling Factors In Irradiated Cells Triggers Membrane Signalling And Calcium Influx In Bystander Cells., Fiona Lyng, Orla L. Howe, Brendan Mcclean

Articles

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the sequence of very early bystander signalling events and to determine the role of the different signaling molecules in both the production of the bystander signal and the response to this signal.

Materials and Methods: Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) were irradiated (0.005, 0.05 and 0.5 Gy) using a cobalt 60 teletherapy unit, the medium was harvested one hour post irradiation and transferred to recipient HaCaT cells. Membrane permeability and levels of calcium, reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide were measured in the recipient cells immediately after the addition of irradiated …

Weaning Onto Solid Foods In Ireland: Some Of The Challenges, A. E. Bennett, A. O'Connor, N. J. Canning, E. M. Keaveney, Katherine Younger, M. Flynn

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Maternal And Infant Nutritional Supplementation Practices In Ireland: Implications For Clinicians And Policymakers, Roslyn Tarrant, Margaret Sheridan-Pereira, Roberta Mccarthy, Katherine Younger, John Kearney

Articles

This prospective Irish observational study examined maternal and infant nutritional supplement use. From an initial sample of 539 mothers recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin (during 2004-2006), 450 eligible mothers werefollowed up at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Only 200 women (44.4%) complied with peri-conceptional folic acid at therecommended time with strong social patterning associated with its uptake. Almost 10% of the sample (n=44) consumed acombined multivitamin and mineral supplement during pregnancy. A vitamin D-containing supplement was provided to only 5 (1.1%)and 15 (3.3%) infants at 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. A national …

Primary School Vision Screening Involving Teachers In Nampula, Mozambique, Aoife Phelan, Lisa O'Donoghue, Kathryn Saunders, Stephen Thompson, Vivien Ocampo, Kevin Naidoo, James Loughman

Conference Papers

Purpose: There is no plan for a national child eye care programme or existing human resource infrastructure to address the immediate challenge of child eye health in Mozambique.This study aims to design, implement and evaluate a school based pediatric vision screening service, to identify those in need of eye care services, among Mozambique’s 11,561,000 children.

Methods: Primary School Screening took place in three schools in Nampula, Mozambique in September 2010 and March 2011. The children’s vision was screened by an optometry student, optometrist or teacher with Log MAR ETDRS letters at 4 Meters. Ophthalmoscopy was performed on all children by …

Making Sense Of Health Care Planning In Ireland; The Street Level Public Organization (Slpo)., Vivienne Byers

Conference Papers

One of the central mechanisms of the Strategic Management Initiative (SMI) (Government of Ireland 1996) is the devolution of accountability and responsibility from the centre to executive agencies. Service planning was introduced in the Irish health care sector as part of this strategic planning ethos. This paper reports on a study that examined both the intent and the consequences of implementing legislatively mandated planning in the Irish health services, in the context of significant organizational change. In an effort to draw broader lessons, a comparison is drawn with the Canadian experience of service planning.

The choice was made to study …

Numerical Prediction Of The Haemodynamic Impact Of Coronary Stent Implantation, Jonathan Murphy

Doctoral

Arterial restenosis limits the effectiveness of coronary stenting. Restenosis is caused by excessive tissue growth which is stimulated by arterial injury and alterations to the arterial WSS. The altered WSS results from stent-induced disturbances to the natural haelnodynamics of the artery. Recent numerical studies have predcted only minor digerences in altered WSS between different stent designs using a commonly employed threshold assessment technique. While it is possible that there are only minor differences, it is more likely that the assessment technique is incapable of fully elucidating the altered WSS created by stent implantation. This thesis proposes a methodology that involves …

Comparison Of Subcellular Responses For The Evaluation And Prediction Of The Chemotherapeutic Response To Cisplatin In Lung Adenocarcinoma Using Raman Spectroscopy, Haq Nawaz, Franck Bonnier, Aidan Meade, Fiona Lyng, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Confocal Raman Micro spectroscopy (CRM) is employed to examine the chemical and physiological effects of anticancer agents, using cisplatin and A549 adenocarcinoma cells as a model compound and test system respectively. Spectral responses of the membrane and cytoplasm of the cell are analysed independently and the results are compared to previously reported spectroscopic studies of the nucleus. Moreover, Raman spectra from the proteins extracted from the control and exposed samples are acquired and analysed to confirm the origin of the molecular changes of the cell membrane and cytoplasm of the A549 cells. Multivariate data analysis techniques including Principal Component Analysis …

Development And Validation Of Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (Lc-Ms/Ms) Methods For The Analysis Of Veterinary Drugs In Various Biological And Feed Matrices Utilizing Efficient Extraction Protocols, Mark Cronly

Doctoral

The transfer of farming practices from low intensity farming systems for livestock production to commercial enterprises which employ intensive practices has resulted in the use of veterinary drugs becoming a critical component of food production. Resulting residues of veterinary drugs occurring in food of animal origin may give rise to potential health risks to consumers. The aim of this research is the development of analytical methods capable of screening and confirming increased number of these residues in more target matrices by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Its focus is the analysis of nitroimidazole residues in food of animal origin …

Correlation Of P16ink4a Expression And Hpv Copy Number With Cellular Ftir Spectroscopic Signatures Of Cervical Cancer Cells, Kamila Ostrowska, Amaya Garcia, Aidan Meade, Alison Malkin, Ifeoluwapo Okewumi, John O’Leary, Cara Martin, Hugh Byrne, Fiona Lyng

Articles

Cervical cancer, a potentially preventable disease, has its main aetiology in infection by high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Approaches to improving cervical cancer screening and diagnostic methodologies include molecular biological analysis, targeting of biomarker proteins, but also exploration and implementation of new techniques such as vibrational spectroscopy. This study correlates the biomarker protein p16^INK4A expression levels dependent on HPV copy number with the infrared absorption spectral signatures of the cervical cancer cell lines, HPV negative C33A, HPV-16 positive SiHa and CaSki and HPV-18 positive HeLa. Confocal fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that p16^INK4A is expressed in all investigated cell lines …

Maternal Health Behaviours During Pregnancy In An Irish Obstetric Population And Their Assocations With Socio-Demographic And Infant Characteristics, Roslyn Tarrant, Katherine Younger, Margaret Sheridan-Pereira, John Kearney

Articles

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and combined occurrence of peri-conceptional folic acid (FA) supplement use, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy in a sample of women in Dublin, and determine the factors associated with these health behaviours.

Subjects/Methods: A prospective observational study (2004-2006) involving the recruitment of 491 pregnant women from antenatal clinics in a Dublin maternity hospital, with postpartum follow-up of 450 eligible mothers. Data on FA use, maternal smoking and alcohol consumption patterns during pregnancy were collected from the antenatal patient-administered questionnaire, which was completed by participants, and returned to the investigator on the day of recruitment. …

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 …

Intelligibility Of Electrolarynx Speech Using A Novel Hands-Free Actuator, Brian Madden, Mark Nolan, Ted Burke, James Condron, Eugene Coyle

Conference Papers

During voiced speech, the larynx provides quasi-periodic acoustic excitation of the vocal tract. In most electrolarynxes, mechanical vibrations are produced by a linear electromechanical actuator, the armature of which percusses against a metal or plastic plate at a frequency within the range of glottal excitation. In this paper, the intelligibility of speech produced using a novel hands-free actuator is compared to speech produced using a conventional electrolarynx. Two able-bodied speakers (one male, one female) performed a closed response test containing 28 monosyllabic words, once using a conventional electrolarynx and a second time using the novel design. The resulting audio recordings …

Augmented Control Of A Hands-Free Electrolarynx, Brian Madden, James Condron, Eugene Coyle

Conference Papers

During voiced speech, the larynx acts as the sound source, providing a quasi-periodic excitation of the vocal tract. Following a total laryngectomy, some people speak using an electrolarynx which employs an electromechanical actuator to perform the excitatory function of the absent larynx. Drawbacks of conventional electrolarynx designs include the monotonic sound emitted, the need for a free-hand to operate the device, and the difficulty experienced by many laryngectomees in adapting to its use. One improvement to the electrolarynx, which clinicians and users frequently suggest, is the provision of a convenient hands-free control facility. This would allow more natural use of …

Prognostic Indicators And Outcome Measures For Surgical Removal Of Symptomatic Nonadvanced Cataract, Sofia Charalampidou, James Loughman, John Nolan, Jim Stack, Lorraine Cassidy, Konrad Pesudovs, Stephen Beatty

Articles

Objectives:

To report changes in perceived visual functioning after surgery for symptomatic cataract with pre-operative corrected distance visual acuity [CDVA] of 0.4 logMar or better (Snellen equivalent, 20/50) and to investigate the relationship between any observed changes and preoperative physical characteristics and psycho-physical consquences of the lens opacity and any changes in psychophysical findings after the procedure.

Psychophysical Impact And Optical And Morphological Characteristics Of Symptomatic Non-Advanced Cataract., James Loughman, S. Charalampidou, J. Nolan, J. Stack, G. Higgins, L. Cassidy, S. Beatty

Articles

To investigate whether psychophysical, morphological, and/or optical characteristics of symptomatic non-advanced cataract are complementary to, or more appropriate than, visual acuity (VA) for the purposes of recording visual data that reflect subjective visual difficulty in patients with cataract that exhibit relative sparing of high contrast acuity (0.4 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) scale or better). Methods Eighty-two patients with symptomatic non-advanced cataract and no other ocular pathology were asked to complete a validated questionnaire, and to perform a series of visual function assessments including: corrected distance VA (CDVA); photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity; photopic and mesopic glare disability …

Community Gardening, Motivation And Health Benefits., Noelle Corrigan

Students Learning with Communities

community gardens have been described as locally organized initiatives where land is used to produce food, flowers or both in an urban environment (Glover, 2003)' community gardens are diverse and may vary enornously in what they offer, according to local needs and circumstance (Ferris, Norman & Sempik, 2001)' Garden size is dependant on many factors, including location, land available gardening, demand, physical and time limitations of the gardeners and thus standard community garden size exists' community gardening is widespread in Britain and the united states' In Britain' the Federation of city Farms and community Gardens is the representative organization for …

Urban Community Gardening The Impact On Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Christina Purcell

Students Learning with Communities

Urban community gardens are local projects managed for and by members of the local community. They may be run in partnership with local authorities or as part of community development or regeneration schemes (Hale et al., 2011). The gardens exist primarily in urban areas and are often established in response to a local community's lack of open green space (Viljoen et al., 2005). The scale and format of the gardens may vary. Depending on the available land and support, urban community gardening projects can be relatively small and in Dublin they range from small disused residential gardens (Cabra Park, See …

Addressing The Burden Of Uncorrected Refractive Error In Mozambique, Stephen Thompson, James Loughman, Prasidh Ramson, Luigi Bilotti, Geoff Harris, Kovin Naidoo

Conference Papers

A situational analysis indicates a lack of eye health personnel who can and do refract. The logical course of action would be to train more eye health personnel. A conservative estimated annual burden of URE in lost productivity in Mozambique is $14,486,692. To achieve the V2020 target ratio, an extra 184 workers are needed in six provinces analysed.The analysis assumes the existing personnel are well trained and dedicate time to offering a refraction service. It also assumes that the patient receives the care they require. Other aspects of the situational analysis suggest this is currently not always the case. A …

An Optimisation-Based Framework For Complex Business Process: Healthcare Application, Waleed Abo Hamad

Doctoral

The Irish healthcare system is currently facing major pressures due to rising demand, caused by population growth, ageing and high expectations of service quality. This pressure on the Irish healthcare system creates a need for support from research institutions in dealing with decision areas such as resource allocation and performance measurement. While approaches such as modelling, simulation, multi-criteria decision analysis, performance management, and optimisation can – when applied skilfully – improve healthcare performance, they represent just one part of the solution. Accordingly, to achieve significant and sustainable performance, this research aims to develop a practical, yet effective, optimisation-based framework for …

Raman Microscopy: Complement Or Competitor, Hugh Byrne, Ganesh Sockalingum, Nick Stone

Books/Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Type 2 Diabetes On The Dynamic Response Characteristics Of Leg Vascular Conductance During Exercise, Oscar Mac Ananey, H Reilly, D O'Shea, M Egana, S Green

Articles

Abstract

In this study we tested the hypothesis that type 2 diabetes impairs the dynamic response of leg vascular conductance (LVC) during exercise. LVC (leg blood flow/mean arterial pressure) responses were studied during intermittent contractions of the calf muscle in subjects with type 2 diabetes (n = 9), heavy controls (n = 10) and lean controls (n = 8) using a biexponential function and an estimate of the mean response time (MRT). The time constant of the second phase of LVC was significantly greater in type 2 diabetes (66.4 ± 29.2 s) than the heavy (22.2 ± 13.4 s) and …