Irish journal of medical science
-
Sedation uptake rates for oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) vary greatly. Issues concerning adequate information and consent have been raised. Additionally, patient comprehension of sedation options is inconsistent. ⋯ The decision to undergo gastroscopy with or without sedation is not a sufficiently informed one. This study highlights the need for the widespread dissemination of good quality information to inform patients better regarding sedation prior to OGD.
-
Nutritional risk impacts outcome in developmental delay. The main objectives were to identify the incidence and factors contributing to growth faltering. ⋯ Developmental delay predisposes to nutritional deficits which influence outcome. Screening, assessment and timely interventions are warranted to prevent poorer developmental outcomes.
-
At University College Dublin, teaching in psychiatry includes clinical electives, lectures, small-group and problem-based teaching, consistent with international trends. ⋯ Students' preference for OSCEs may reflect the closeness of OSCE as a form of learning to OSCE as a form of assessment: OSCEs both focus on specific clinical skills and help prepare for examinations. Future research could usefully examine the extent to which these findings are university-specific or instructor-dependent. Information on the consistency of various teaching, examination and modularisation methods would also be useful.
-
Review Case Reports
Novel antibody associations in immune-mediated necrotising myopathy without inflammation.
The patient presenting with proximal muscle weakness, elevated serum creatinine kinase and myopathic electromyography and biopsy findings has a wide differential diagnosis that includes toxic, autoimmune, paraneoplastic and congenital myopathies. Autoimmune myopathies are important to identify because they may respond to immunosuppressive therapies. ⋯ The identification of myositis-specific antibodies is important because they are associated with distinct clinical phenotypes and may guide the physician in terms of treatment strategies.
-
Review Case Reports
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) associated with liquorice consumption.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a medical emergency but prompt recognition, early institution of supportive care and identifying and removing potential triggers are associated with a good clinical outcome. We report an unusual case of PRES associated with liquorice consumption. ⋯ Liquorice contains a biologically active compound glycyrrhizic acid which inhibits 11β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Excessive liquorice consumption can cause mineralocorticoid excess and has been recently reported to cause PRES. We propose that in the absence of other triggers, frequent liquorice consumption precipitated the development of PRES in our patient and should be considered as a possible cause of this condition.