Irish journal of medical science
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Colorectal cancer is a common cause of cancer-related deaths. About 1/3 of all cases present with distant metastasis, with the liver as the leading site and the lung as the most common extra-abdominal site. ⋯ Local interventions that are applied to highly selected patients may improve the survival of metastatic colorectal cancer patients. A close follow-up after local therapies is important to diagnose recurrent disease because repeated local interventions may be possible to achieve better outcomes.
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People with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) lose the ability in backward walking which is an important part of mobility in daily life. The 3-m backward walk test (3MBWT) evaluates backward walking; however, its reliability and validity have not been examined in PwPD yet. ⋯ The 3MBWT is a reliable, valid, and easy to administer outcome measure to assess backward walking performance in PwPD, indicating it to be used in practice and research.
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The centralisation of rectal cancer management to high-volume oncology centres has translated to improved oncological and survival outcomes. We hypothesise that individual surgeon caseload, specialisation, and experience may be as significant in determining oncologic and postoperative outcomes in rectal cancer surgery. ⋯ Despite improved outcomes seen with centralisation of rectal cancer services at an institutional level, surgeon caseload, experience, and specialisation is of similar importance in obtaining optimal outcomes within institutions.
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Slow gait speed (GS) is a marker of functional decline and overall poor health status and could be considered as possible sarcopenia. Early detection with modified treatable causes is likely to lessen adverse health outcomes in older adults. ⋯ Slow gait speed was frequent among older patients in an outpatient setting indicating of a high prevalence of patients with poor physical performance and impending frailty. Increasing age, presence of CVA, and cognitive decline were associated with slow GS. Interventions concentrating on the amendable factors might help to reduce unfavorable health consequences.
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Food production sites have been a high-risk location for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks worldwide since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland has a high population rate of COVID-19 vaccination, but reports from food production sites suggest uptake is lower amongst workers despite prior outbreaks at these workplaces. ⋯ There is an observed lower-than-national vaccination rate in food production workers. Rates are lowest amongst those workers born overseas; targeting these groups with information responding to their concerns may increase uptake and reduce current and future health inequalities.