Irish journal of medical science
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Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is a recent treatment for Dupuytren disease, which is a fibroproliferative disorder that leads to progressive, persistent digital flexion contracture that interferes with basic daily activities. While CCH has changed the treatment of this hand disorder, numerous concerns have to be analyzed. ⋯ Currently, the administration of this treatment is promising although long-term studies are necessary to see the real role that this drug can play in both Dupuytren's disease and other fibrotic disorders.
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In the management of bilateral fetal hydrothorax where the fetus is non-hydropic and apparently otherwise normal, we wished to determine if pleural-amniotic shunt insertion was better than conservative management in terms of mortality. ⋯ There is insufficient data available to determine whether the outcome is improved by pleural-amniotic shunt insertion compared with conservative management in cases of bilateral fetal hydrothorax where the fetus is non-hydropic and otherwise normal.
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To describe the impact of a nurse-led telephone self-management support (SMS) service for people with asthma and COPD in Ireland. ⋯ Roll-out of SMS should include staff training to promote positive service user experience and should include routine monitoring and evaluation to assure equitable reach and quality of key evidence-based care processes.
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A feature of contemporary obstetrics in wealthy countries has been both the continuing increase in caesarean section (CS) rates and the emergence of high levels of maternal obesity. ⋯ The study found that although the prevalence of being overweight or obese changed little over the period, the odds of having a CS if a woman is obese have increased for multiparas. For nulliparas, increasing CS rates were found to be strongly associated with an increase in maternal age over the period which is important because of the evidence that Irish women are choosing to defer having their first baby until later in life.
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Vitamin D status may play a role in the development of atopic diseases due to its action on lung development and immune system development and function. ⋯ The development of childhood atopy may be associated with maternal vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy among a cohort of women at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Further research is required to explore the relationship between vitamin D and atopy, particularly among women with poor vitamin D status, and whether supplementation should be prioritised in early pregnancy to reduce childhood atopy.