Irish journal of medical science
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To evaluate the short-term effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (avastin) injection on visual outcomes of patients with diabetic macular oedema. ⋯ Treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab injection produces short-term improvement in vision and reduction in central macular thickness in African patients with diabetic macular oedema.
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Apnea-related hypoxia, hypercapnia, and blood pressure fluctuations cause production of various proinflammatory cytokines and trigger a vicious cycle that results in vascular endothelial damage and systemic inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Endothelial function is frequently impaired in OSA even in the absence of significant cardiac or vascular disorders. ⋯ We have demonstrated that elevated endocan and serglycin levels are predictors for OSA. Furthermore, we have showed for the first time in literature that serglycin is correlated with OSA and is an independent predictor for OSA.
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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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Measuring and monitoring safety (MMS) is critical to the success of safety improvement efforts in healthcare. However, a major challenge to improving safety is the lack of high quality information to support performance evaluation. ⋯ There are a wide range of methods of MMS in Irish hospitals. It is suggested that there is a need to identify those methods of MMS that are particularly useful in reducing harm and supporting action and improvement and do not place a large burden on healthcare staff to either use or interpret.
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Current evidence about the low-acuity ED visits of old patients has been generated in various healthcare systems; however, this is not a well-researched area in middle-income countries by patients' perspectives. ⋯ Old individuals have unique healthcare needs, and the motives behind this group of patients with low-acuity problems to apply to the ED is complex. As one of the key objectives of healthcare policies is to make sure that patients are assessed at proper time and place, studies that consider patient perspectives might lead to accurate conclusions for this aim.