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C Kelleher

Publications and source records attributed to C Kelleher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The genome of black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa (Torr. & Gray).

We report the draft genome of the black cottonwood tree, Populus trichocarpa. Integration of shotgun sequence assembly with genetic mapping enabled chromosome-scale reconstruction of the genome. More than 45,000 putative protein-coding genes were identified. Analysis of the assembled genome revealed a whole-genome duplication event; about 8000 pairs of duplicated genes from that event survived in the Populus genome. A second, older duplication event is indistinguishably coincident with the divergence of the Populus and Arabidopsis lineages. Nucleotide substitution, tandem gene duplication, and gross chromosomal rearrangement appear to proceed substantially more slowly in Populus than in Arabidopsis. Populus has more protein-coding genes than Arabidopsis, ranging on average from 1.4 to 1.6 putative Populus homologs for each Arabidopsis gene. However, the relative frequency of protein domains in the two genomes is similar. Overrepresented exceptions in Populus include genes associated with lignocellulosic wall biosynthesis, meristem development, disease resistance, and metabolite transport.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2006

Overactive bladder: The importance of new guidance.

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects an estimated 49 million people in Europe, but only a minority receive appropriate treatment. Others are bothered by unacceptable levels of symptoms that severely impair their quality of life and represent a significant financial burden to themselves and to their healthcare providers. Recently updated guidelines from the International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI) and the European Association of Urology (EAU) take account of important new developments in the management of bladder problems in both primary and secondary care. However, local implementation of previous guidance has been variable, with many patients with OAB and other bladder problems failing to gain full benefit from current clinical and scientific understanding of these conditions. The recent expansion of the range of treatments available for OAB and stress urinary incontinence makes it especially important that physicians become aware of the differential diagnosis of these conditions - the questions they need to ask, and the investigations which will help determine the most appropriate course of action.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Five year follow up of laser in situ keratomileusis for all levels of myopia.

AIMS: To assess the long term refractive and visual outcome of patients who have laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of visual and refractive outcome of patients who had LASIK surgery performed in 1998 and 1999. All levels of myopia were included in the study. 49 patients attended for follow up. The main outcome measures were safety, predictability, efficacy, and stability. Postoperative complications and aberrations were also recorded. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -4.85. RESULTS: At 2 months postoperatively 67% of eyes were within plus or minus 0.5D of attempted correction with 81% within plus or minus 1.0D. At 5 years postoperatively 60% of eyes were within plus or minus 0.5D of attempted correction with 83% within plus or minus 1.0D. 88% of eyes had a vision of 6/12 or better at 2 months compared to 89% of eyes at 5 years. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was unchanged or improved in 51%. No eye lost more than one line of BSCVA. Overall, there was regression towards myopia with a mean change in refraction of -0.5D over the 5 years. As expected, severely myopic patients regressed more with a mean change of -1.06D. However, there was a high level of patient satisfaction with the surgery. CONCLUSION: LASIK surgery offers predictable results in terms of refractive and visual outcome with mild regression in refraction over time.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Nocturia: morbidity and management in adults.

Nocturia is an increasingly prevalent and bothersome urinary symptom associated with considerable impact and morbidity in later life. Nocturnal frequency is associated with a number of underlying pathologies, both related and unrelated to the lower urinary tract. Following careful assessment, diagnosis and management, the condition is amenable to amelioration, if not complete cure in the majority of cases. This paper outlines the epidemiology, underlying pathophysiology and diseases associated with nocturia and reviews current treatment strategies.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2002

Impact evaluation of an oral health intervention amongst primary school children in Ireland.

A pilot oral health programme was developed which aimed to improve dental health knowledge and behaviour amongst Irish school children aged 7-12 years. The programme comprised two integral components: a television campaign, run over a 6-week period, was incorporated into the children's programme 'Den TV' on national television, with video clips of a member of the music band Boyzone promoting key oral health messages; and a Smile of the Year contest. Concurrently, a dental nurse delivered an interactive talk with pupils, showed a video of the Den TV oral health programme and distributed posters and leaflets. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the overall intervention on school pupils' dental health knowledge and reported behaviour. Thirty-two primary schools in two health board regions in the Republic of Ireland participated in the study. At baseline and after 6 weeks, 1534 school children completed specially developed questionnaires. There was a positive net effect of the dental nurse intervention in all but one question. The percentage of children who reported using the recommended amount of toothpaste and brushing for 3 min appeared to have been further increased having observed the television campaign. These results are in line with the argument that mass media campaigns work to supplement the one-to-one activities of health professionals in order to effect knowledge and behavioural change.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Indicators of deprivation, voting patterns, and health status at area level in the Republic of Ireland.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine what relation, if any, exists between mortality patterns, indicators of deprivation, general lifestyle and social attitudes, as exemplified by general election voting pattern, in the Republic of Ireland. A relation has been demonstrated previously between voting and mortality patterns in the United Kingdom. DESIGN: Cross sectional ecological study using three data sources. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were based on mortality rates at county level and 1996 census data from the Central Statistics Office, 1997 general election first preference voting data in all 41 constituencies were aggregated to county level. Selected reported measures of health status, lifestyle and social circumstances are from the first ever National survey on lifestyles, attitudes and nutrition (SLAN). This study comprised adults over 18 years sampled by post using the electoral register from 273 representative district electoral divisions. Univariate inter-relations were examined at individual level for the dataset as a whole, adjusting for age and at aggregated level for 26 county borough areas, which included the two largest cities and for 22 county areas, which afforded correlation with voting pattern, using the method of Pearson's correlation coefficient. PARTICIPANTS: 1,806,932 votes were cast nationally at the 1997 general election, representing a voter turnout of 65.92 %. There was an overall response rate of 62% to SLAN comprising 6539 adults (47% male). The demographic pattern of survey respondents was consistent with that of the general population over 18 years. MAIN RESULTS: At individual level there was a large number of highly significant inter-relations between indicators of deprivation, various measures of self rated health status and lifestyle factors. Aggregated at 26 county level percentage unemployed (r=0.408, p=0.038), and level of education (r=0.475, p=0.014) related significantly to SMR and inversely to both fruit and vegetable consumption (r= -0.672, p=0.001) and excess alcohol consumption among men (r= -595, p=0.003). Those rating their health as fair or poor were more likely to report a poor quality of life (r=0.487, p=0.022), to have none or primary school education only (r=0.428, p=0.047), or to have a means tested medical services card (r=0.428, p=0.047). There was no significant relation between SMR and voting pattern for the two main political parties (67.28% first preferences) but a significant relation with left wing voting (r=0.446, p=0.037). Fianna Fail voting pattern was inversely related to level of dissatisfaction with health (r= -0.59, p<0.05). There was a positive significant relation between left wing voting and dissatisfaction with health (r=0.51, p<0.02) and rate of smoking (r=0.47, p=0.03). Smoking pattern also related positively to rates of voter abstention (r=0.526, p=0.12). CONCLUSIONS: These data are consistent with those in other countries in showing a relation between deprivation indicators and lifestyle, but differ in that no relation with SMR and the votes cast for the main parties was seen in a country with a mainly centre right voting pattern. The relation between left wing voting pattern and some indicators of deprivation and lifestyle suggest that party political voting patterns and affiliations could be a useful indicator of vertical social capital. However, its variability as a measure across countries suggests that the inter-relation between sociocultural and economic factors and the consequent influence on health status is not straightforward.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Perceived quality of life and mental health status of Irish female prisoners.

Mental health status and quality of life of female prisoners, the majority of whom are drug-users, was examined as part of a larger, cross-sectional, general healthcare study of the Irish prisoner population. Comparisons were made with drug using and non-drug using male prisoners and females from the general population. Instruments include the GHQ-12 and the WHOQOL-BREF. While their quality of life profile was closer to drug-using male prisoners than other comparison groups, female prisoners still had significantly poorer physical and psychological Quality of Life scores. While poorer quality of life scores may be associated with the more severe drug use patterns of female prisoners it is likely that other factors also contribute. Before resorting to drugs/crime women may have already experienced adversity. There may also be gender differences in response to the combined dimensions of environmental distress. If women are to be imprisoned appropriate comprehensive mental health promotion approaches must address their specific needs.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Human telomerase contains two cooperating telomerase RNA molecules.

Telomerase uses a short stretch of its intrinsic RNA molecule as template for telomere repeat synthesis. Reverse transcription of the RNA template is catalyzed by the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein subunit. We demonstrate that human telomerase reconstituted from recombinant TERT and telomerase RNA runs as a dimer on a gel filtration column and that it contains two telomerase RNA molecules. Significantly, a telomerase heterodimer reconstituted from wild-type and mutant telomerase RNA is barely active when compared with the wild-type homodimer. We conclude that the telomerase RNA templates in the active enzyme are interdependent and functionally cooperate with each other. We discuss models that may explain the biological and enzymatic roles of telomerase dimerization.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

A national general practice census: characteristics of rural general practices.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to describe, using a national census, the characteristics of rural general practices and compare these with city and town general practices. METHODS: A previously piloted, anonymous but linked, questionnaire was issued to all GPs in Ireland. A liaison network covering the country was developed to increase the response rate. Respondents were asked to designate the location of their main surgery as being city (>20 000 population), town (>5000) or rural (<5000). Each responding practice was asked to nominate one partner to complete a specific section on practice information. RESULTS: Completed individual questionnaires were returned from 2093 GPs (86% response rate). Information on 1429 practice centres was provided; 488 (34%) of these were designated as city, 405 (28%) as town and 536 (38%) as rural. Rural practices reported fewer private patients (P < 0.001) and more socio-economically deprived patients (P < 0.001) than those in towns or cities. The mean number (SD) of total scheduled hours per average week per GP was 77.95 (37.0) for city practices, 80.6 (35.9) for town and 103.6 (39.0) for rural (P < 0.001). Rural practices are more likely, in comparison with those in cities and towns, to have attached staff working from purpose-built premises which are publicly owned. Rural practices also have more contacts with members of the primary care team such as Public Health Nurses, and the quality of these contacts is described more positively. The range of available services is broadly similar, with emergency medical equipment being available more frequently in rural practices. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that rural practitioners and their practices differ from their urban counterparts in many important aspects. Consideration should be given to the development of formal under- and postgraduate rural general practice programmes to prepare new, and continue to enthuse present, rural GPs.

Censuses↗
PubMed2001

A comparison of the objective and subjective outcomes of colposuspension for stress incontinence in women.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of colposuspension for stress incontinence on the symptoms and quality of life of women undergoing both primary and repeat surgery for genuine stress incontinence and in addition to assess the use of a condition specific quality of life questionnaire as an outcome measure following surgery. DESIGN: Prospective case series: videocystourethrography performed before and between six and twelve months after surgery. Validated condition specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaires completed by women before and six to twelve months after surgery. SETTING: A tertiary referral Urogynaecology Unit in a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive series of 83 women undergoing colposuspension between March 1995 and December 1997. Pre-operative assessment and surgery was performed by, or was under the direct supervision of, the unit director. INTERVENTION: Modified Burch colposuspension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Objective results of surgery assessed with videocystourethrography. Subjective results evaluated using a condition specific QoL tool, the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Symptom severity was evaluated as a component of the condition specific QoL questionnaire. RESULTS: Objective cure was demonstrated in 92% of women undergoing primary surgery with an 8% incidence of de-novo detrusor instability and a 10% incidence of voiding difficulties. In the group of women having repeat surgery the objective cure rate was 81% with no de-novo detrusor instability and a 6% incidence of post-operative voiding difficulties. QoL scores improved in 95% of women. Improvements of over 25% were seen in 70% of women and of over 50% in 28%. However, 2.4% of women recorded a deterioration in QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Colposuspension performed in this setting, assessed using both objective and standardised subjective measures, completed by women themselves, appears to produce good objective and subjective results and leads to enhanced quality of life in the great majority of women.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Methodological issues using household budget survey expenditure data for individual food availability estimation: Irish experience in the DAFNE pan-European project. DAta Food NEtworking.

OBJECTIVE: Irish participation in the EU-supported DAta Food NEtworking (DAFNE) project required compliance with the overall aims and objectives. The Irish Household Budget Survey (HBS) expenditure data had to be transformed into a format compatible with the collaborative effort, by converting them into quantities of foodstuffs available per person per day. SETTING: The Irish 1987 HBS expenditure data on all commodities for 7705 households in the Republic of Ireland, collected using a 14-day diary kept by all members of the household aged 15 years and over. DESIGN: Following identification of 188 food items in the HBS dataset, retail prices per unit weight were sought for each food. Adjustment of prices, collected from a number of different sources, was made to those of 1987 using the Consumer Price Index. Simple models were used to estimate household food availability through application of the adjusted retail prices per unit weight to the expenditure data. The household level data were converted to food availability per person per day. An internal validation of quantities estimated using the retail prices was made using the 12 foodstuffs for which the Irish HBS collects expenses and quantities. RESULTS: The comparison of quantities published by the Irish Central Statistics Office for 12 foodstuffs in the Irish 1987 Household Budget Survey with the quantities estimated using equivalent expenditure data and corresponding retail prices showed agreement, with less than a 10% margin of error for 10 of the foods. CONCLUSION: In spite some difficulty in converting HBS food expenditure data into food availability per person per day, the DAFNE approach is potentially useful for Irish nutrition surveillance purposes and for facilitating comparisons of the Irish HBS food data with those of other European countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Carrying on the legacy of Lillian Wald. Partnership with the Henry Street Settlement and the Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University.

The Lienhard School of Nursing (LSN) at Pace University and the Henry Street Settlement (HSS) developed a partnership to bring nursing back to the HSS founded by nursing leader, Lillian Wald. Through this partnership HSS and LSN faculty and students explored how they could accomplish the goal of providing nursing care to a diverse urban population. Struggles to understand the community and the role of nursing in this kind of setting provided students with unique and complex community and leadership experiences. Students learned not only from the nursing care they provided but also from the behaviors of the stakeholders in the partnership. The partnership has provided an ongoing opportunity for continuing the legacy of Lillian Wald.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed2000

Hypertension in older adults.

Isolated systolic hypertension and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension are clinical problems affecting significant numbers of older adults (>65 years). Preventing the complications of hypertension, including stroke and coronary artery disease, may potentially impact not only an individual's sense of well-being, but also their functional status and ability to live independently in the community. Despite the increased absolute risk for cardiovascular events associated with hypertension in older adults compared with younger adults, significant numbers of individuals remain untreated or inadequately treated. There is clinical data to show that treating both isolated systolic hypertension and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension results in a significant reduction in cardiovascular events in older adults. Although there is a growing body of literature on treatment of hypertension in the 60- to 80-year-old, the data on individuals greater than 80 years old is lacking. The challenge becomes to treat hypertension safely in the presence of multiple medications and other diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Quality of life and urinary incontinence.

Quality of life assessments have become increasingly important for the assessment of urinary incontinent women. The advent of validated condition-specific questionnaires with proven reliability and sensitivity to clinical change has encouraged their inclusion in clinical trials of continence care. Only by fully understanding the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life of women can we hope to improve its treatment.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of the Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact and suitability of a pilot dietary educational programme for primary school pupils. The Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme aimed to build awareness of the benefits of healthy eating, induce positive behaviour change and increase the children's knowledge. DESIGN: A comparative quasi-experimental study with follow-up after 3 months. SETTING: Eight primary schools in the Eastern and North Western Health Boards and three control schools in the same board regions. SUBJECTS: Data were used from 821 Irish school children aged 8-10 years old. METHODS: The education programme comprised 20 sessions over 10 weeks including circular worksheets, homework assignments and an aerobic exercise regime. At baseline and after 3 months pupils completed food diaries and a validated food pairing questionnaire on food behaviour, knowledge and preferences. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the intervention children's behaviour and preference levels after the NEAPS programme (P < 0.01 in both sections). Knowledge levels were very high at baseline and though some individual items improved, average change overall was not significant. Rural children appeared to benefit more in behaviour and preferences from the programme (P <0.01). The NEAPS programme appeared to be less effective in pupils in disadvantaged areas (P < 0.01 for each of the sections: behaviour, preference and knowledge). One hundred and eighty-seven children completed food diaries. The intervention children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increased, and they consumed less salty snacks after the programme. Rural children were confirmed to have healthier diets at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Following the NEAPS pilot programme positive changes were seen in the school children's eating behaviour and preferences for healthier foodstuffs. This suggests successful development of a culturally sensitive nutrition education programme for school children aged 8-10 years.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Household budget survey nutritional data in relation to mortality from coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer and female breast cancer in European countries. DAFNE I and II projects of the European Commission. Data Food Networking.

OBJECTIVE: We have undertaken a study to examine whether Household Budget Survey (HBS)-derived nutritional patterns are related to mortality from diseases with strong nutritional components, namely coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer and cancer of the female breast. DESIGN: Ecological correlation study. In the context of the Data Food Networking projects of the European Union, raw data from the national HBS of 10 European countries were provided. For each of the 10 participating countries, daily food availability per capita around 1990 was calculated. Individual foods were aggregated into 12 major food groups that were linked with the diseases under consideration. Mortality data were available from a World Health Organisation database. We have used a composite score to summarise the postulated influence of diet. SETTING: Ten European countries circa 1990. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients between the composite score and the age-adjusted mortality from each of the studied diseases were: + 0.51 (P approximately 0.14) for colorectal cancer; +0.72 (P approximately 0.02) for female breast cancer; and +0.60 (P approximately 0.07) for coronary heart disease, after adjustment for tobacco smoking. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that dietary information from HBS is sufficiently reliable to reveal correlations with mortality rates from chronic diseases with fairly strong nutritional roots. HBS data could be used, with little cost, for monitoring secular trends in dietary patterns with a view to their health implications.

Animals↗