Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Coffey

Publications and source records attributed to S Coffey.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Urban ozone measurements using differential optical absorption spectroscopy.

In order to improve the air quality in Europe the European Commission has issued a number of directives with regard to acceptable levels of a range of gaseous pollutants, which includes ozone. Therefore, monitoring of this compound is necessary to comply with EU legislation, to provide improved pollution warnings for those who are sensitive to air pollutants as well as providing valuable data for environmental planning. Open-path spectroscopic techniques, such as differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), are ideal for monitoring pollutants because of the advantages they offer over classical methods and point-source analysers. A DOAS system has been installed in Dublin city centre to monitor a range of criteria pollutants including ozone. Observations of urban background ozone concentrations are presented. The measurements are compared with those obtained using a UV point-source analyser and are presented in the context of the current EU directive. The influence of trans-boundary pollution from mainland Europe leading to ozone episodes is also discussed. Observations of high ozone during this measurement campaign coincided with the influx of photochemically polluted air masses which originated over continental Europe. For the analysed time interval, the data suggest that the ground ozone level in Dublin might be significantly influenced by long-range transport from the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

The effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on health-related quality of life.

This article reviews current literature regarding polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as well as examining how some of the manifestations of PCOS affect HRQoL. The only quantitative study was performed in adolescent girls. It used a well-validated instrument and showed that HRQol was worse in those with PCOS in the areas of general health perceptions, behavior, physical functioning and family activity. No comparable study exists for adults with PCOS. However, qualitative psychological studies have demonstrated higher levels of depression, psychological and psychosexual morbidity and an increased response to stress in women with PCOS compared with controls. Low self-esteem, decreased social activity and less romantic contentment were reported in women with PCOS. Weight and hirsutism consistently caused more concern than menstrual problems or infertility. The symptoms associated with PCOS, namely hirsutism, acne, diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were all reported to reduce HRQoL in separate studies. Encouragingly, treatment for acne and OSAS improved the HRQoL, although treatment for hirsutism did not. Quantitative studies on the effect of PCOS on HRQoL and the benefit of treatments need to be conducted.

Female↗
PubMed1996

Predicting perceptual defense.

Perceptual defense as a phenomenon was proposed by McGinnies in 1949. His findings were, in main, replicated by York, et al. in 1984 and extended by Perroncel, et al. in 1990. The present purpose was to assess whether four independent variables, one related to emotional arousal (GSR) and three, related to connotative word meaning (Evaluative, Potency, and Activity scores from Semantic Differential words used in the Perroncel, et al. study), could predict the perceptual defense phenomenon. The multiple correlation coefficient (R) was .19; however, the percent variance accounted for by the four independent variables was 3%. Clearly, further research is necessary to specify what factors predict the perceptual defense effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Potential aluminium toxicity in infants fed special infant formula.

Aluminium was measured in samples of plasma and samples of feed obtained from 74 infants with normal renal function established on various feeds (breast, whey-based, fortified whey-based, preterm, soy, and casein hydrolysate). All infants were bolus fed, and blood samples were collected midway between feeds. Aluminium was measured using electrothermal atomization and atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean aluminium concentrations in milks were as follows: breast, 9.2 micrograms/L [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.6-12.7]; whey-based, 165 micrograms/L (95% CI, 151-180); fortified, 161 micrograms/L (95% CI, 143-180); preterm, 300 micrograms/L (95% CI, 272-328); soy, 534 micrograms/L (95% CI, 470-598); casein hydrolysate, 773 micrograms/L (95% CI, 632-914). Mean plasma aluminium concentrations in infants receiving different milks were as follows: breast, 8.6 micrograms/L (95% CI, 5.6-10.6); whey-based, 9.2 micrograms/L (95% CI, 7.4-11.0); fortified, 10.3 micrograms/L (95% CI, 8.3-12.3); preterm, 9.7 micrograms/L (95% CI, 5.3-17.1); soy, 12.5 micrograms/L (95% CI, 5.0-20.0); casein hydrolysate, 15.2 micrograms/L (95% CI, 10.7-19.8). Mean plasma aluminium concentration was significantly different in infants fed casein hydrolysate formulae than in those fed breast milk (difference, 6.7 micrograms/L; 95% CI, 2.8-10.5; p = 0.028). We conclude that infants may be at risk from aluminium toxicity when consuming formula containing > 300 micrograms/L--in particular, casein hydrolysate formulae. We speculate that the aluminium compounds found in breast milk are more bioavailable than those found in other milks and that some constituents of infant formula affect aluminium absorption from the gut lumen.

Aluminum↗