Health research produced by staff and affiliates of the University of Galway.

Recent Submissions

  • Foreign accent syndrome post tonsillectomy: A case report.

    O'Shea, John; van den Berg, Nadia; Lang, John; Corbett, Mel (2022-06-02)
  • Current and Possible Future Therapeutic Options for Huntington's Disease.

    Palpagama, Thulani H; Kwakowsky, Andrea; Faull, Richard; Waldvogel, Henry; Kennedy, Connor; Ferguson, Mackenzie (2022-05-21)
    Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by an excessive number of CAG trinucleotide repeats within the huntingtin gene (HTT). HD patients can present with a variety of symptoms including chorea, behavioural and psychiatric abnormalities and cognitive decline. Each patient has a unique combination of symptoms, and although these can be managed using a range of medications and non-drug treatments there is currently no cure for the disease. Current therapies prescribed for HD can be categorized by the symptom they treat. These categories include chorea medication, antipsychotic medication, antidepressants, mood stabilizing medication as well as non-drug therapies. Fortunately, there are also many new HD therapeutics currently undergoing clinical trials that target the disease at its origin; lowering the levels of mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT). Currently, much attention is being directed to antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies, which bind to pre-RNA or mRNA and can alter protein expression via RNA degradation, blocking translation or splice modulation. Other potential therapies in clinical development include RNA interference (RNAi) therapies, RNA targeting small molecule therapies, stem cell therapies, antibody therapies, non-RNA targeting small molecule therapies and neuroinflammation targeted therapies. Potential therapies in pre-clinical development include Zinc-Finger Protein (ZFP) therapies, transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) therapies and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated system (Cas) therapies. This comprehensive review aims to discuss the efficacy of current HD treatments and explore the clinical trial progress of emerging potential HD therapeutics.
  • Presence of comorbidities alters management and worsens outcome of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: insights from the LUNG SAFE study.

    Laffey, John; Rezoagli, Emanuele; McNicholas, Bairbre; Madotto, Fabiana; PHAM, Tài; Bellani, Giacomo (2022-05-21)
  • Guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a systematic search, screening and quality assessment as part of the ADAPTE process

    Wuytack, Francesca; Devane, Declan; Conway, Aislinn; McDonnell, Melissa; McDonnell, Tim; McCarthy, Bernard (Department of Health, NUI Galway, NCEC, 2016-12)
  • The setting of pulmonary rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a systematic review

    Wuytack, Francesca; Devane, Declan; Stovold, Elizabeth; McDonnell, Melissa; Casey, Michelle; McDonnell, Tim; Gillespie, Paddy; Raymakers, Adam; Lacasse, Yves; McCarthy, Bernard (Department of Health, NUI Galway, NCEC, 2016-10)
  • Renal Denervation as a Complementary Treatment Option for Uncontrolled Arterial Hypertension: A Situation Assessment.

    Eustace, Joseph; O'Connor, Stephen; McCreery, Charles; Wall, Catherine; Matiullah, Saijad; Wagener, Max; Dolan, Eamon; Arnous, Samer; Galvin, Joseph; Murphy, Andrew; et al. (2023-08-29)
  • Prioritising Informed Health Choices Key Concepts for those impacted by cancer: a protocol.

    Duffy, Austin G; Li, Mengqi; Devane, Declan; Beecher, Claire; Duggan, Caitriona; Dowling, Maura; Grimes, David Robert; Kennan, Avril; McLoughlin, Sarah; Nsangi, Allen; et al. (2022-08-04)
    Background: Few areas of health have been as insidiously influenced by misinformation as cancer. Thus, interventions that can help people impacted by cancer reduce the extent to which they are victims of misinformation are necessary. The Informed Health Choices (IHC) initiative has developed Key Concepts that can be used in the development of interventions for evaluating the trustworthiness of claims about the effects of health treatments. We are developing an online education programme called Informed Health Choices-Cancer (IHC-C) based on the IHC Key Concepts. We will provide those impacted by cancer with the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically about the reliability of health information and claims and make informed choices. Methods: We will establish a steering group (SG) of 12 key stakeholders, including oncology specialists and academics. In addition, we will establish a patient and public involvement (PPI) panel of 20 people impacted by cancer. After training the members on the Key Concepts and the prioritisation process, we will conduct a two-round prioritisation process. In the first round, 12 SG members and four PPI panel members will prioritise Key Concepts for inclusion. In the second round, the remaining 16 PPI members will undertake the prioritisation based on the prioritised Key Concepts from the first round. Participants in both rounds will use a structured judgement form to rate the importance of the Key Concepts for inclusion in the online IHC-C programme. A consensus meeting will be held, where members will reach a consensus on the Key Concepts to be included and rank the order in which the prioritised Key Concepts will be addressed in the IHC-C programme. Conclusions: At the end of this process, we will identify which Key Concepts should be included and the order in which they should be addressed in the IHC-C programme.
  • Measurement and monitoring patient safety in prehospital care: a systematic review.

    O'connor, Paul; Lydon, Sinéad; Lambe, Kathryn; Oglesby, Anne Marie; O'Malley, Roisin
  • Development and Implementation of an Online Education Program on Advanced Breast Cancer for European Cancer Nurses: ABC4Nurses Project: a Brief Report.

    Erdem, Sema; Aroyo, Violet; Dowling, Maura; Shewbridge, Amanda; Ryan, Claire; Clancy, Caroline; Meade, Elizabeth; Sheehan, Sarah; Diez de los Rios de la Serna, Celia; Bagcivan, Gülcan; et al. (2023-06-19)
  • The Potential Role of Gastric Microbiology in Respiratory Disease.

    Murphy, Desmond M; Walsh, Laura; Griffin, Mike; Jones, Rhys; Pearson, Jeffrey; ward, chris; Al-momani, Hafez; mcdonnell, melissa; Mac Sharry, John; Forrest, Ian; et al. (2023-06-22)
  • Sharing space at the research table: exploring public and patient involvement in a methodology priority setting partnership.

    Tierney, Theresa; Smith, Maureen; Elliott, Jim; Devane, Declan; Burke, Nikita; Stewart, Derek; Worrall, Andrew; Beecher, Claire; Biesty, Linda (2023-05-02)
  • Social and occupational recovery in early psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions.

    Cowman, M; Donohoe, Gary; Frawley, Emma; Lepage, Martin (2021-09-03)
    In total, 31 studies involving 2811 participants were included, focusing on: cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp), family-based therapy, supported employment, cognitive remediation training (CRT) and multi-component psychosocial interventions. Across interventions, improved function was observed (SMD = 0.239; 95% confidence interval 0.115-0.364, p < 0.001). Effect sizes varied by intervention type, stage of illness, length and duration of treatment and outcome measure used. In particular, interventions based on CRT significantly outperformed symptom-focused CBT interventions, while multi-component interventions were associated with largest gains.
  • Management of acute aortic syndrome with evolving individualized precision medicine solutions: Lessons learned over two decades and literature review.

    Hatem, Mohamed; Veerasingham, David; Sultan, Sherif; Acharya, Yogesh; Chua Vi Long, Keegan; Hezima, Mohieldin; Soliman, Osama; Hynes, Niamh (2023-03-28)
  • Patient-Reported Enablement After Consultation With Advanced Nurse Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study

    McConkey, Robert; Murphy, Louise; Kelly, Therese; Dalton, Rachel; Rooney, Geraldine; Coy, Donna; Healy, Michelle; Meeker, Melinda; O'Loughlin, Marie; Dowling, Maura (Elsevier, 2023-10)
  • Counter-narratives for the prevention of violent radicalisation: A systematic review of targeted interventions.

    Carthy, Sarah; Doody, Colm; Cox, Katie; O'Hora, Denis; Sarma, Kiran (2020-08-12)
    In the field of terrorism research, the violent radicalisation of individuals towards perpetrating acts of terror has been the subject of academic enquiry for some time. One core focus by social scientists has been the role of narratives in this process. Narratives have the ability to present a socially constructed version of reality which serves the interest of the narrator(s). In the context of terrorism, by depicting violence as a viable antidote to individual vulnerabilities, the narratives purported for propagandistic purposes have the potential to thwart perceptions of instrumentality (a key characteristic of violent radicalisation). In order to prevent this from happening, researchers and counter-terrorism practitioners have increasingly sought to explore the potential for counter-narratives; targeted interventions that challenge the rationalisation(s) of violence purported in dominant narratives which, in turn, reconstructs the story. However, there is overwhelming consensus in both government and academic spheres that the concept of the counter-narrative is underdeveloped and, to date, there has been no synthesis of its effectiveness at targeting violent radicalisation-related outcomes.
  • Defining palliative wound care: A scoping review by European Association for Palliative Care wound care taskforce.

    Sezgin, Duygu; Geraghty, Jemell; Graham, Tanya; Blomberg, Karin; Charnley, Karen; Dobbs, Sharon; McElvaney, Aideen; Probst, Sebastian; Beeckman, Dimitri; Grocott, Patricia; et al. (2023-07-19)
  • Hyperbaric Oxygen as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Venous Ulcers: A Systematic Review.

    Keohane, Colum; westby, daniel; Nolan, Fiona; Twyford, Mark; Tawfick, Wael; Walsh, Stewart (2023-03-08)
  • Protocol Development for a Qualitative Methodological Study Within a Trial (Qual-SWAT): The KARMA-Dep-2 Trial.

    McCaffrey, John; Hunter, Andrew (2023-05-10)
    Background: Despite methodological improvements in clinical trial design and conduct more generally, methodological limitations persist in trials concerning mental health care. A qualitative Study Within A Trial (Qual-SWAT), embedded in the KARMA-Dep-2 host trial, will be undertaken to explore and gain an understanding of two methodological questions in randomised trials specific to mental health care: (1) what are the key barriers and enablers of participation in randomised trials in mental health; and (2) how can randomised trials become part of routine mental health care. These issues will be examined from patient-participant and clinician- / researcher-participant perspectives, in alignment with PRioRiTy research themes. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study design will be used. Data will be collected via one-to-one semi-structured interviews, conducted via Microsoft Teams. The interview data will be analysed using Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis approach. One-to-one interviews will be conducted with three participant groups ( N = 60): 1) host trial patient-participants ( n = 20); 2) eligible host trial patient-participants who refused enrolment in the host trial ( n = 20); and 3) clinician- / researcher-participants who are associated with work on the host trial ( n = 20). Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been granted by St. Patrick's Mental Health Services Research Ethics Committee, Ireland (Ref: Protocol 09/20). When the study is completed, a report will be prepared and submitted to the Health Research Board (HRB). Findings will be shared with the host trial team and study participants and submitted for publication. Host trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04939649 ); EudraCT ( 2019-003109-92). Official title: Ketamine as an Adjunctive Therapy for Major Depression - A Randomised Controlled Trial: [KARMA-Dep (2)].

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