Irish journal of medical science
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality. However, the causal relationship between TBI and atherosclerosis is unclear. ⋯ Moderate-to-severe TBI patients have more prevalent insulin resistance than healthy controls. Evaluation of insulin resistance in these patients, who currently have limited participation in life activities and healthy lifestyles, may be useful to prevent cardiovascular diseases caused by insulin resistance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of concentrated beetroot juice consumption on glycemic control, blood pressure, and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes patients: randomized clinical trial study.
While the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is growing worldwide, dietary intake plays a remarkable role in the management of disease complications. Evidence suggests that beetroot has health-promoting potentials, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. Therefore, the present clinical trial aimed to investigate the effects of concentrated beetroot juice (BJ) supplementation on anthropometric measures, glycemic control, blood pressure (BP), and lipid profile in T2D patients. ⋯ Our study showed that daily consumption of 24 ml concentrated BJ did not affect the levels of glycemic measures, blood pressure, and lipid profile. More studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
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Dental services in Ireland are delivered in a mixed public-private system but the majority of dental care is paid for out-of-pocket by individuals. Ireland is not unusual in the global context where public subsidisation for oral healthcare is limited in many countries. This is despite the fact that oral health plays an important role in well-being and despite international evidence on the negative impact of user fees on utilisation of beneficial healthcare. However, there has been little up-to-date assessment of the prices faced by individuals for a range of non-acute care services in Ireland, including dental care. This paper presents an up-to-date assessment of private dental prices in Ireland for a range of preventive, primary, and complex services based on a nationally representative survey. ⋯ Results showed that in addition to there being an uneven supply of dentists across the country, dental prices also vary with some notable variations by region and type of service. In particular, dental practices located in border counties, and those in rural areas typically show lower mean prices relative to non-border counties and urban areas. These factors need to be considered when planning how to reduce inequalities in access to oral health services in Ireland.
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Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor is widely utilized in advanced-stage carcinomas including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while its neoadjuvant application plus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HCC remains unexplored. Thereby, the current study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TACE plus PD-1 inhibitor as neoadjuvant therapy bridging to surgical resection in intermediate-stage HCC patients. ⋯ Neoadjuvant TACE plus PD-1 inhibitor realizes a satisfying downstaging rate, acceptable survival profile, and tolerance in intermediate-stage HCC patients.
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The direct to audiology via ENT referral pathway was designed to enhance patient access to audiology services. The pathway is recommended in the Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery: a model of care for Ireland report, published in 2019. ⋯ The direct to audiology initiative has proven effective at reducing waiting times for ENT patients solely in need of audiological intervention. Approximately one-third of these referrals to the ENT service can be assessed comprehensively in the audiology clinic, thereby reducing the demand for ENT clinics, enhancing service provision and expediting onwards referral for amplification.