Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Raman Micro Spectroscopy For The Characterisation Of Cervical Cancer., Nosheen Rashid

Doctoral

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of FTIR and Confocal Raman micro spectroscopy (CRM) in elucidating the biochemical changes occurring in different layers of the cervical epithelium including basal, superficial and the underlying connective tissue known as stroma during the progression of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) to cancer. Initially the two techniques were compared and Raman was chosen based on its higher spatial and spectral resolution. The sample preparation and spectral measurement procedures were optimised and all samples were formalin fixed paraffin processed, dewaxed using xylene, and measured on calcium fluoride windows. Raman spectra were …

Visual Performance, And It's Response To Intervention, In Subjects With Age-Related Macular Degeneration., Sarah Sabour-Pickett

Doctoral

Abstract Objectives: 1. To explore visual performance status through a range of psychophysical methods beyond corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), in subjects with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 2. To investigate the effects on these visual performance parameters in subjects with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nv-AMD) and in subjects with early AMD undergoing anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy and macular carotenoid supplementation, respectively. 3. To understand the role of a supplement containing meso-zeaxanthin (MZ; the third, and currently least explored, macular carotenoid) on the augmentation of macular pigment (MP), on visual performance and on disease progression (graded according to the …

The Effect Of Genetic Background And Dose On Non-Targeted Effects Of Radiation, Sarah Irons, Virginia Sierra, Deborah Bowler, Kim Chapman, Stefania Militi, Fiona Lyng, Munira Kadhim

Articles

Purpose: This work investigates the hypothesis that genetic background plays a significant role in the signalling mechanisms underlying induction and perpetuation of genomic instability following radiation exposure.

Materials and methods: Bone marrow from two strains of mice (CBA and C57) were exposed to a range of X-ray doses (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 3 Gy). Different cellular signalling endpoints: Apoptosis, cytokine levels and calcium flux, were evaluated at 2 h, 24 h and 7 d post-irradiation to assess immediate and delayed effects.

Results: In CBA (radiosensitive) elevated apoptosis levels were observed at 24 h post X-irradiation, and …

Towards Leaner Healthcare Facility: Application Of Simulation Modelling And Value Stream Mapping, Waleed Abo Hamad, John Crowe, Amr Arisha

Conference Papers

Recently, the application of lean thinking in healthcare has grown significantly in response to rising demand caused by population growth, ageing and high expectations of service quality. However, insufficient justifications and lack of quantifiable evidence are the main obstacles to convince healthcare executives to adopt lean. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology that integrates lean tools with simulation to enhance the quality of patient care in healthcare facilities. This enables healthcare organisations to dedicate more time and effort to patient care without extra cost to the organisation or to the patient. Value stream mapping is used to identify value-added and …

Weaning Onto Solid Foods: Some Of The Challenges, Annemarie E. Bennett, Annalouise O'Connor, Nicola Canning, Alice Kenny, Edel Keaveney, Katherine Younger, Mary Flynn

Articles

Weaning - the transition from milk to solid food - influences life-long health. Dietary challenges during weaning include providing sufficient critical nutrients such as iron with minimal added sugar and fat and no added salt. This study assessed the inclusion of iron-containing red meat in infant diets before age one year, and the Irish commercial baby food environment. Of mothers with an infant under 30 months of age who were surveyed in shopping centres in Ireland (n195), 82% (n159) reported wanting more weaning information. A quarter (n24) of infants over age 12 months ( …

Clinical Applicability Of The Macular Degeneration Detection Device (Mdd-2): A Novel Photostress Recovery Measurement Device, James Loughman, Ciara Hewitt, Claire Judge, Louise Martin, Claire Moulds, Peter Davison

Articles

Background: Diseases affecting the macula, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and central serous retinopathy can result in impaired photostress recovery time (PSRT) despite normal visual acuity and fundoscopic appearance. The MDD-2 Macular Degeneration Detection Device is a novel flash photostress recovery device. In this study, we examine the repeatability of the MDD-2 in a normal population and its suitability for incorporation into routine clinical practice. Methods: One hundred (60 female) subjects (mean age 35+-8 years; range 18 to 66 years) were recruited to partake in this study. The photostress recovery time was measured using the MDD-2 on …

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 …

Impact Of Macular Pigment On Visual Performance, James Loughman, Peter Davison, John Nolan, Stephen Beatty

Articles

PURPOSE. To investigate changes in macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and visual performance following supplementation with different macular carotenoid formulations. METHODS. Thirty-six subjects (19 male, 17 female; mean 6 SD, age 51 6 13 years) were recruited into this single-masked placebo-controlled study, and were randomly assigned to one of the following three intervention (supplementation) groups: (1) group 1 (20 mg lutein [L] and 2 mg zeaxanthin [Z]); (2) group 2 (10 mg L, 2 mg Z, and 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin [MZ]); and group 3 (placebo). Outcomes measures included visual performance and MPOD response. Data were collected at baseline, at 3 …

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 …

Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Nanoparticle Cytotoxicity, Oxidative Stress, Caspase Activation And Infammatory Response: Experimental Observation And Numerical Simulation, Sourav Prasanna Mukherjee, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Mechanisms underlying the in vitro cytotoxicity of Polyamidoamine nano-dendrimers in human keratinocytes are explored. Previous studies demonstrated a systematic, dendrimer-generation-dependent cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity. The emerging picture is of dendrimer endocytosis, endosomal rupture and subsequent mitochondrial attack and cell death. To understand the underlying mechanisms, the evolution of reactive oxygen species, intracellular glutathione, caspase activation, mitochondrial membrane potential decay, and inflammatory responses have been examined. Early-stage responses are associated with endosomal encapsulation, later-stage with mitochondrial attack. In all cases, the magnitude and evolution of responses depend on dendrimer generation and dose. The early-stage response is modelled using a rate …

Fire Safety In 17 Irish Nursing Homes, John Moore, Victor Hrymak

Reports

Fire risk assessments were carried out in 17 Nursing Homes in Ireland. The results show that fire safety management needed to be improved. The recommendations include the need for improved training, management and regulation for fire safety in nursing homes.

Student Experience In Optometry Education In Mozambique: Initial Challenges In An International Collaborative Program, Kajal Shah

Conference Papers

Purpose:

One of the solutions to creating sustainable eye care structures is education of personnel. Mozambique currently has only 17 ophthalmologists for a population of 21 million and 34 trained Ophthalmic Technicians, the only two providers of refraction services within the local health system. There are no optometrists. The Mozambique Eyecare Project is funding the training of the country’s first optometrists at the University of Lurio in Nampula, Mozambique. Their core competencies will be evaluated with a view to creating best practise in education in a developing world environment.

Method:

This is a longitudinal evaluation of the refraction competencies …

Faculty Requirement For A Portuguese Language Optometry Program: Experience And Challenges Of The Mozambique Eye Care Project, Diane Wallace

Conference Papers

Faculty recruitment for a Portuguese-language optometry program: experiences and challenges of The Mozambique Eye Care Project

Ms Diane Wallace BOptom, MPA

University of KawZulu Natal, South Africa

Purpose

The Mozambique Eyecare Project (MEP) is a unique institutional collaboration in a programme for the development, implementation and evaluation of a regional optometry training model for Portuguese-speaking Africa. The Project was initiated in February 2009 with the first cohort of undergraduate students beginning classes at Lúrio University in Northern Mozambique. This is the first Portuguese-language optometry program in Africa, and with no professionally qualified optometrists locally, faculty had to be recruited from …

Primary School Vision Screening Involving Teachers In Nampula, Mozambique., Aoife Phelan

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. Furthermore, the prevalence and incidence of refractive error, visual impairment (VI) and child blindness (CB) in Mozambique is unknown. VI and CB have devastating personal, developmental, economic and other implications for the child, the family, the community and indeed, the nation. This study aims to design, implement and evaluate a school based paediatric vision screening service, to identify those in need of eye health services, among Mozambique’s 11,561,000 children.

Methods

Primary School …

The Impact Of Modern Soft Contact Lens Wear On Corneal Curvature And Thickness And On The Outcomes Of Refractive Laser Surgery, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Veronica O'Dwyer, Luisa Simo Mannion

Other

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Modern Soft Contact Lens Wear On Corneal Curvature And Thickness & On The Outcomes Of Refractive Laser Surgery, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Veronica O'Dwyer, Luisa Simo Mannion

Other

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Refraction Skills And Competencies Of Ophthalmic Technicians:Providers Of Refractive Services In Mozambique, Kajal Shah, James Loughman

Conference Papers

Purpose

Approximately 314 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness.145 million people's low vision is due to uncorrected refractive errors¹.One of the solutions to creating sustainable eye care structures is education of personnel².

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 system³. …

Impaired Clearance And Enhanced Pulmonary Inflammatory/Fibrotic Response To Carbon Nanotubes In Myeloperoxidase-Deficient Mice, Aidan Meade, Anna Shvedova, Alexandr Kapralov, Wei Hong Feng, Elena Kisin, Ashley Murray, Robert Mercer, Claudette St. Croix, Megan Lang, Simon Watkins, Nagarjun Konduru, Brett Allen, Jennifer Conroy, Gregg Kotchey, Bashir Mohamed, Yuri Volkov, Alexander Star, Bengt Fadeel, Valerian Kagan

Articles

Advancement of biomedical applications of carbonaceous nanomaterials is hampered by their biopersistence and proinflammatory action in vivo. Here, we used myeloperoxidase knockout B6.129X1-MPO (MPO k/o) mice and showed that oxidation and clearance of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) from the lungs of these animals after pharyngeal aspiration was markedly less effective whereas the inflammatory response was more robust than in wild-type C57Bl/6 mice. Our results provide direct evidence for the participation of MPO – one of the key-orchestrators of inflammatory response – in the in vivo pulmonary oxidative biodegradation of SWCNT and suggest new ways to control the biopersistence of …

The Positive Role Of Breastfeeding On Infant Health During The First 6 Weeks: Findings From A Prospective Observational Study Based On Maternal Reports, Roslyn Tarrant, Margaret Sheridan-Pereira, Katherine Younger, John Kearney

Articles

This study aimed to report on adverse infant and maternal clinical outcomes, and investigate the relationship between infant feedingpractice and such adverse clinical outcomes in infants during the first 6 weeks postpartum. From an eligible sample of 450 motherterminfant pairs recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin, 27.1% of infants (n=122) werematernally reported to have had an illness during the first 6 weeks that necessitated the provision of prescribed medication ± generalpractitioner/paediatrician attendance ± hospitalisation. Of these, 90 infants had ≥1 episode of infection ± viral ± gastro-intestinalrelatedcondition. After adjustment, ‘any’ breastfeeding to 6 weeks was …

Refraction And Prescribing, Claire E. Mcdonnell

Articles

Refraction and prescribing are two different concepts and often a prescribed correction is not the same as the error found in the testing room. This article explores the reasons why the results of a refraction may not necessarily be identical to the correction the patient needs to wear.

Assessment Of An Osteoblast-Like Cell Line As A Model For Human Primary Osteoblasts Using Raman Spectroscopy, Lindsay Mcmanus, Franck Bonnier, George Burke, Brian Meenan, Adrian Boyd, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Raman spectroscopy is employed to determine the suitability of the U20S osteoblast-like cell line for use as a model for human primary osteoblasts, with emphasis on the ability of these cell types to replicate their tissue of origin. It was found that both cell types demonstrated early stage mineral deposition that followed significantly different growth patterns. Analysis of the growth pattern and spectral data from primary cells revealed increasing bone quality ratios and a high crystallinity, consistent with previous reports. Conversely the investigation of the U20S osteoblast-like cell line provided evidence of dense multilayered mineralised regions that corresponded more closely …

Use Of Colour Duplex Ultrasound As A First Line Surveillance Tool Following Evar Is Associated With A Reduction In Cost Without Compromising Accuracy, C. Gray, Patrick J. Goodman, C. C. Herron, L. P. Lawler, M. K. O'Malley, M. K. O'Donohoe, C. O. Mc. Donnell

Articles

CT scanning remains the postoperative surveillance imaging modality of choice following EVAR. Concerns regarding cost, exposure to ionising radiation and intravenous contrast have led to a search for a less expensive, equally efficacious and safer method of monitoring EVAR patients after endograft deployment. This study evaluated the cost saving obtained if CDUS was employed as a first line surveillance tool following EVAR, as well as comparing the two entities in terms of efficacy. Patients & methods: Postoperative surveillance CTs and CDUS scans in the 145 patients who have undergone EVAR from 1st June 2003 to 1st July 2010 were compared …

Quantitative Reagent-Free Detection Of Fibrinogen Levels In Human Blood Plasma Using Raman Spectroscopy, Kelvin Poon, Fiona Lyng, Peter Knief, Orla L. Howe, Aidan Meade, James Curtin, Hugh Byrne, Joseph Vaughan

Articles

Fibrinogen assays are commonly used as part of clinical screening tests to investigate haemorrhagic states, for detection of disseminated intravascular coagulation and as a predictor of a variety of cardiovascular events. The Clauss assay, which measures thrombin clotting time, is the most commonly used method for measuring fibrinogen levels. Nevertheless, inconsistencies are present in inter-manufacturer reagent sources, calibration standards and methodologies. Automated coagulation analysers, which measure changes in optical density during the prothrombin time (PT-Fg), have found use in many hospitals. However, the PT-Fg method is found to give falsely elevated values due to varying choices of calibrants, reagents and …

The Importance Of Serum Serotonin Levels In The Measurement Of Radiation-Induced Bystander Cell Death In Hacat Cells, Fiona Lyng, Maxine Desplanques, K.K. Jella, Amaya Garcia, Brendan Mcclean

Articles

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of serum serotonin levels in the measurement of bystander cell death. The study was undertaken as part of an intercomparison exercise involving seven European laboratories funded under the European Union Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Non-Targeted Effects (NOTE) integrated project. Materials and Methods: Three batches of foetal bovine serum were tested; serum with high and low serotonin content from the intercomparison exercise as well as serum from the home laboratory. Three sets of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) were cultured in DMEM:F12 medium supplemented with serum with high or low …

Analytical Strategies For Drug Residues In Various Matrices In A Regulatory Laboratory., Geraldine Dowling

Dissertations

Abstract

Today, in modern farming practices veterinary drugs are given to food-producing animals. The generic term “veterinary drugs” covers a broad variety of classes of chemical compounds and the list of drugs is enormous and it is a significant analytical challenge in regulatory control to provide monitoring programmes. The major concerns in veterinary drug usage are the presence of harmful residues that may be introduced into the human food chain. The aim of this research is the development of analytical methods capable of screening and confirming increased numbers of these residues in target matrices by Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry …

Vision, Falls And Fear Of Falling In An Older Irish Population: Findings From The Irish Logitudinal Study On Aging (Tilda), E. Duggan, C. Finucane, H. Cronin, G. Savva, James Loughman, R. A. Kenny

Other

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Participating In Continuing Optometric Education: A Pilot Study, Claire E. Mcdonnell, Martina Crehan

Other

Purpose: To determine whether participation in two different post graduate optometry workshops resulted in a change in practice for the participants, in their subsequent practice.

Methods: 38 optometrists, who had attended a continuing professional development (CPD) workshop on punctal plugs and lacrimal syringing, were surveyed by email and telephone, between four and thirteen months post workshop, to ascertain if they had made a change to their practice. A second group of 32 optometrists, who had attended a continuing education and training (CET) workshop on binocular vision, were surveyed by email, telephone and postal mail between six and nine months post …

Addressing Uncorrected Refractive Error Through Human Resource Development In The Context Of Mozambique, Stephen Thompson, James Loughman, Prasidh Ramson, Luigi Bilotto, Kovin Naidoo

Conference Papers

This paper presents results from a national situational analysis. An International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) tool was used to map current eye care services recorded including human resource and equipment. Data was analysed against VISION 2020 Human Resource targets.

Analysis Of Human Skin Tissue By Raman Microspectroscopy: Dealing With The Background, Franck Bonnier, Syed Mehmood Ali, Peter Knief, Helen Lambkin, Kathleen Flynn, Vincent Mcdonagh, Claragh Healy, Thomas Lee, Fiona Lyng, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Raman microspectroscopy is widely used for molecular characterisation of tissue samples. Nevertheless, when working in vitro on tissue sections, the presence of a broad background to the spectra remains problematic and its removal requires advanced methods for pre-processing of the data. To date, research efforts have been primarily devoted to development of techniques of statistical analysis to extract the relevant information contained in the spectra. However, few attempts have been made to understand the origin of the background and to improve the protocols used for the collection of Raman spectra that could lead to the reduction or elimination of the …

Occupational Noise Exposure Of Nightclub Bar Employees In Ireland, Gary Henehan, Aoife Kelly, Sara Boyd, Gordon Chambers

Articles

Due to the transposition of the EU Directive 2003/10/EC into Irish Law, the entertainment sector was obligated to comply with the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Chapter 1 Part 5: Control of Noise at Work since February 2008. Compliance with the Noise Regulations was examined in 9 nightclubs in Ireland. The typical daily noise exposure of 19 bar employees was measured using 2 logging dosimeters and a Type 1 fixed position sound level meter. Physical site inspections identified nightclub noise control measures. Interviews and questionnaires were used to assess the managers and …