Browsing Journal articles & published research by Subjects

Now showing items 1-3 of 3

    • Dental experience of cleft affected children in the west of Ireland.
      Hewson, A R; McNamara, C M; Foley, T F; Sandy, J R (2001-04)
      To investigate caries experience and initial access to dental services in a group of children with cleft lip/palate in the west of Ireland.

    • A RCT evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of academic detailing versus postal prescribing feedback in changing GP antibiotic prescribing.
      Naughton, Corina; Feely, John; Bennett, Kathleen; UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. corina.naughton@ucd.ie (Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 2009-10)
      The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of academic detailing (AD) plus postal prescribing feedback versus postal prescribing feedback alone in reducing: (i) the overall rate of antibiotic; and (ii) proportion of second-line antibiotic prescribing. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of an outreach prescriber adviser service versus a postal prescribing feedback service was evaluated.

    • The risk of arrhythmias following coronary artery bypass surgery: do smokers have a paradox effect?
      Al-Sarraf, Nael; Thalib, Lukman; Hughes, Anne; Houlihan, Maighread; Tolan, Michael; Young, Vincent; McGovern, Eillish; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. trinityq8@hotmail.com (2010-11)
      Smoking is reported to increase the risk of arrhythmias. However, there are limited data on its effects on arrhythmias following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This is a retrospective review of a prospective database of all CABG patients over an eight-year period. Our cohort (n=2813) was subdivided into: current (n=1169), former (n=837), and non-smokers (n=807). Predictors of arrhythmias following CABG in relation to smoking status were analysed. Atrial arrhythmias occurred in 942 patients (33%). Ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 48 patients (2%) and high-grade atrioventricular block occurred in five patients (0.2%). Arrhythmias were lower in current smokers than former and non-smokers (29% vs. 40% vs. 39%, respectively P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed 30% arrhythmia risk reduction in smokers compared to non-smokers [odds ratio (OR) 0.7, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.5-0.8] and this effect persisted after accounting for potential confounders while former smokers had the same risk as non-smokers (OR 1.04, CI 0.9-1.3). There were no significant differences in mortality. Smokers are less prone to develop arrhythmias following CABG. This paradox effect is lost in former smokers. This effect is possibly due to a lower state of hyper adrenergic stimulation observed in smokers than non-smokers following the stress of surgery.