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Biomedical subjects

G Bourke

Publications and source records attributed to G Bourke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Trends in medical student use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in an Irish university, 1973-2002.

Questionnaire surveys of medical students in an Irish university were carried out in 1973 (n=765), 1990 (n=522) and 2002 (n=537), with differentiation of western students (e.g., from the Republic of Ireland, the UK, or Australia) and non-western students (e.g., Malaysia). We report on changes in tobacco smoking, drinking and drug-taking over three decades, and we note that, among western students, estimated prevalence of being a current smoker has declined overall from 28.8% in 1973 to 15.3% in 1990 to 9.2% in 2002 (p<0.001), falling in both males (p<0.001) and females (p<0.01). Ex-smokers rose from 5.9% to 15.1% between 1990 and 2002, corresponding with the decline in current smokers. The prevalence of current drinkers has risen over the period, to 82.5% among western students in 2002 (p<0.05); female drinking has increased steadily since 1973 (p<0.001), and the overall proportion of CAGE-positive drinkers has risen since 1990 (p<0.001). The mean weekly alcohol consumption has risen in both sexes since 1990 (males 14.3 units to 19.4, p<0.01; females 6.0 to 9.5, p<0.001). There was an increase in the proportion of students ever offered drugs between 1973 and 2002 (p<0.001). Although smoking rates have fallen, our findings show a marked increase in alcohol and drug consumption between 1973 and 2002. Personal misuse of addictive substances by doctors may mean that doctors will fail to take misuse by patients seriously. A need for preventative and ameliorative action during the medical school years is clear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Free phalangeal transfer: donor-site outcome.

The role of non-vascularised free proximal phalangeal transfer in digital reconstruction in children remains controversial. Significant cosmetic and functional deficits can result in the donor foot. We compare the donor-site outcome following a new technique of reconstruction using a cylindrical iliac-crest bone graft (n = 11) with the outcome following the technique previously described by Buck-Gramcko (n = 18). We have found better preservation of toe stability and length following the bone-graft technique.

Bone Transplantation↗
PubMed1997

Pelvic distraction to improve exposure in radical surgery for pelvic tumours in children.

We describe one patient who had pubic osteotomy and three who had symphysiotomy as an aid to radical tumour resections over the last 7 years. In each it was possible to distract the pelvis so improving access to the tumour. All four patients had pelvic rhabdomyosarcomata, three primarily in the prostate and lower bladder and one was a large tumour filling the pelvis, probably of bladder origin. No immediate or long-term complications of the procedure occurred, and in the two patients who died (2.5 years and 1 year post-surgery) or in the two survivors.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1994

Hepatitis C in liver transplantation: preliminary study of prognostic factors.

At the University of Miami liver transplantation for chronic liver disease in HCV-positive patients has shown good results, with a 92% patients survival rate (follow up 8 to 57 months, median 21). None the less, we found that a large number of patients are expected to develop serious histological graft damage and may need retransplantation, which may place a further strain on the already scarce donor resources. We have conducted a preliminary investigation on the importance of parameters which may correlate with the prognosis of HCV grafts. We found no impact of HLA match or typing. An interesting hypothesis, which deserves further investigation, is that some HCV strains could be more virulent than others and play a role as an independent risk factor. We have identified six strains among our patients and the BK serotype shows a trend to be associated with a worse outcome. We have found that patients developing and maintaining higher liver enzyme levels (ALT and GGT) after transplant and those with higher levels of viremia may be at risk to develop serious damage to their grafts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Histological comparison of the third interdigital nerve in patients with Morton's metatarsalgia and control patients.

This study compares the histology of the plantar-digital nerve supplying the third web space in asymptomatic patients with those who have clinically diagnosed Morton's metatarsalgia. Despite several studies concentrating on the histological changes in the interdigital nerve, the relevance of these changes is a matter of contention while the exact pathological process responsible for the symptoms has not been determined. The histological findings in control patients were identical to Morton's patients with the exception of demyelination, which was more common in the Morton's group. This suggests that the characteristic nodule and fibrotic changes seen in the interdigital nerves of patients with Morton's neuroma cannot account for the symptoms and that the changes seen in the neurovascular bundle are degenerative in origin and are found in asymptomatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Diet and 20-year mortality from coronary heart disease. The Ireland-Boston Diet-Heart Study.

In a prospective epidemiologic study of 1001 middle-aged men, we examined the relation between dietary information collected approximately 20 years ago and subsequent mortality from coronary heart disease. The men were initially enrolled in three cohorts: one of men born and living in Ireland, another of those born in Ireland who had emigrated to Boston, and the third of those born in the Boston area of Irish immigrants. There were no differences in mortality from coronary heart disease among the three cohorts. In within-population analyses, those who died of coronary heart disease had higher Keys (P = 0.06) and modified Hegsted (P = 0.02) dietary scores than did those who did not (a high score indicates a high intake of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol and a relatively low intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids). These associations were significant (P = 0.03 for the Keys and P = 0.04 for the modified Hegsted scores) after adjustment for other risk factors for coronary heart disease. Fiber intake (P = 0.04) and a vegetable-foods score, which rose with increased intake of fiber, vegetable protein, and starch (P = 0.02), were lower among those who died from coronary heart disease, though not significantly so after adjustment for other risk factors. A higher Keys score carried an increased risk of coronary heart disease (relative risk, 1.60), and a higher fiber intake carried a decreased risk (relative risk, 0.57). Overall, these results tend to support the hypothesis that diet is related, albeit weakly, to the development of coronary heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Social networks, attachments and support in minor affective disorders: a replication.

Significant deficiencies in personal social networks and social support in non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients have been reported by Henderson ad his colleagues. In a replication study, 50 non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients were compared with 50 matched controls. Patients reported spending less time in social interaction, but more time in unpleasant interaction during the previous week; they also had fewer attachment figures, close relatives and good friends and fewer social contacts than controls. However, the separate analysis of Neurotic and Retarded depressives (using the Present State Examination) failed to replicate all these findings in the Retarded depressives. It is concluded that these associations are confirmed in neurotic patients, but that the more severe depressive disorders require further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Trends in cigarette smoking among coronary patients between 1961 and 1975.

Between 1961 and 1975 the proportion of cigarette smokers among male patients with acute coronary heart disease showed a progressive decline from 87.1 to 66.1%. There was a corresponding increase in the proportion of ex-smokers and non-smokers. Factors which might have accounted for this trend were examined. Changing diagnosis, altered prevalence of other risk factors and social class changes in patient referral would not appear to have accounted for the observed smoking trends. It is suggested that the observed trends in cigarette-smoking habits may be real and that they may represent a change in the epidemiological pattern of coronary heart disease in Ireland.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1981

The treatment of obesity with a new liquid formula diet.

The effect of a liquid formula diet (330 kcal) was studied in 23 moderately obese male and female patients at the hospital outpatient clinic. All subjects had a Quetelet index of at least 285 at entry. The patients (60.8 per cent) who appeared to adhere to the diet for a 4-week period had a mean loss of 7.9 kg (men) and 5.2 kg (women). Over the 8 weeks of the study, nine (19.1 per cent) patients continued to attend the clinic, with further weight loss. No serious adverse effects of treatment were recorded.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Outpatient treatment of obesity with a very-low-calorie formula diet.

Moderately obese male and female patients were treated with a very-low-calorie formula diet at the hospital outpatient clinic. All 23 subjects had a Quetelet index of at least 285 at entry. Sixty per cent of patients adhered to the diet for a four week period with a mean weight loss of 7.9 kg. Over eight weeks, 40 per cent had continued with the diet with continued weight loss. No serious side effect was noted.

Adult↗