Irish journal of medical science
-
Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) plays vital roles in inflammatory and auto-immune diseases, but its correlations with disease risk and clinical features in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) need further investigation. The present study intended to explore the correlation of ITIH4 with disease activity and inflammation, as well as its change after treatment in IBD patients. ⋯ ITIH4 correlates with IBD susceptibility, active risk, inflammation level, and its elevation after treatment relates to clinical response in IBD patients.
-
Nutrition is a basic need and is crucial for the persistence of good health. This awareness has increased since December 2019 during the pandemic that the world is still facing. The importance of nutrition in infectious diseases was emphasized but the relationship between the severity of symptoms and nutrition status of individuals was not examined. ⋯ Based on the nutrition status of the 337 patients included in the study, 87.2% (294) of the patients were in the low-risk group while 12.8% (43) were in the high-risk group in terms of malnutrition. In the analysis conducted to examine the effect of nutrition on the severity of disease, the relationship between NRS 2002 and dyspnea, cough, weakness, fever, and other symptoms was statistically significant. It was concluded that healthy nutrition is crucial during the pandemic, and it is necessary to consider nutrition improvement as a way to cope with emerging viral infections.
-
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in many Western countries, but its incidence has never been studied in Northern Ireland. ⋯ Northern Ireland had the lowest incidence of lung cancer in the UK, but its overall rate was still 40% higher than that observed in the Republic of Ireland which had the lowest rate in the British Isles. Across regions, the pattern of incidence by age and sex was complicated, but a linear logistic model fitted all of the Irish data and the female data in Scotland, satisfactorily.
-
Involving medical students in research in their undergraduate careers may increase the likelihood that they will be research active after graduation. To date, there has been a paucity of published research of students doing research in general practice. ⋯ We found this audit initiative feasible and useful in helping students learn about audit skills, patient safety and real-world prescribing. GPs and students would benefit more if it were linked to a substantial clinical placement, focussed on a topic of interest and given protected time. Separate research projects may be needed to develop research skills confidence.