Irish journal of medical science
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The aim of this article is to revisit the multivariate causes of drug use. From the initial drive to experiment, to a progression towards dependence, this review endeavours to extrapolate the aetiology of causation. ⋯ Drug use and dependence are embedded within a complex interplay of invidual, genetic, cultural, and socio-economic components. By exploring the aetiology of drug use in a holistic sense, this will not only aid the therapeutic quality of intervention from clinicians, but enable the development of more comprehensive and tailored intervention plans in supporting recovery.
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The occurrence of p53 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is a common genetic event in malignancy. LOH occurs when a heterozygous locus loses one of its two parental alleles, becoming homozygous at that locus, by either copy number loss (CNL-LOH) or by becoming copy number neutral (CNN-LOH). A role for CNL-LOH (cnLOH) has been postulated in cancer aetiology. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) results in irreversible genetic loss. ⋯ The results reported herein endorse the value of utilizing FFPE DNA in identifying LOH as a prognostic factor in LMS. The results have implications for tumour biobanking and precision medicine in patients with sarcomas.
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Total hip replacement (THR) is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. The controversy surrounding the relative merits of a cemented composite beam or cemented taper-slip stem in total hip replacement continues. Our aims primarily were to assess the 10-year outcomes of cemented stems using Charnley and Exeter prostheses with regional registry data and secondarily to assess the main predictors of revision. ⋯ There is no significant difference between cemented Charnley and Exeter stems; they both perform well above the international average. The decline in the use of cemented THA is not fully supported by this regional registry data.
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Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended by international guidelines prior to initiation of systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT). In practice, CGA is limited by time constraints, lack of resources and expert interpretation. ⋯ Our study has several limitations but suggests that the majority of older adults with cancer would qualify for formal CGA assessment. The risk of high-grade toxicity from SACT is substantial in this cohort. Chronological age was not found to negatively impact pts' frailty, cognition, or risk of toxicity.
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Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) comprises patients with both radiographic and non-radiographic features. Previous studies have shown similar burden of disease between these two groups. ⋯ This study provides evidence to suggest that the burden of disease is less in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis than radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.