Irish journal of medical science
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To evaluate changes in radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT) among patients undergoing liver transplantation in our unit over a 10-year period. ⋯ Radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging has increased among liver transplant recipients at our institution over the last decade. This appears to be due to an increase in the number of CT scans performed, and a shift towards higher dose scan protocols.
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Dietary supplement use has continued to rise. In addition to supplement-drug interactions, it is prudent to consider how dietary supplements may interact with a patient's specific pharmacogenetics. Variations in genes associated with CYP 450 enzymes have evidence of impacting drug metabolism and adverse effects. ⋯ CYP P450 activity is an important consideration for any patient but becomes increasingly critical if patients have certain CYP P450 phenotypes that impact metabolism. These popular supplements have the potential for changes in supplement exposure, and adverse effects based on pharmacogenetic profiles. Furthermore, these sites of metabolism are shared with many medications, setting the stage for possibly more profound interactions between medications and supplements. This paper highlights the mechanisms in which dietary supplements may constitute a risk for patients with certain CYP P450 phenotypes. Further research is needed in the area of dietary supplements and their pharmacogenomic implications.
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We wished to pilot a survey of volunteers at the annual Watersports Inclusion Games regarding benefits and barriers to participation. We collaborated with community partners regarding the impact of the event, which invites individuals across physical, sensory, intellectual and learning ability spectrums and those experiencing barriers accessing mainstream sport to participate in watersports. ⋯ Our plot data supports previous evidence of the value of volunteerism in inclusive watersports, for the event and for volunteers. It is the first article on inclusive watersports volunteers in Ireland we are aware of, and the largest cohort of inclusive watersports volunteers surveyed internationally.
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This research attempted to assess whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as adjunctive therapy can be useful in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). ⋯ These preliminary data support experimental findings showing that NAC supplementation is able to improve heart function.
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Autonomic dysfunction is commonly observed in patients with long-standing type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have confirmed the value of both subjectively assessed symptoms and objective measurements of autonomic nervous system function in diagnosing cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. However, the head-up tilt test (HUTT) has been rarely used to investigate cardiovascular autonomic responses in subjects with high risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (nT2D). ⋯ Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, expressed as blunted BEI, is the only abnormal autonomic nervous test detected in nT2D, and it was independently associated with fasting glucose and HbA1c values.