ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2861-7665
Current Organisations
Atlantic Technological University - Galway City
,
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 24-08-2017
DOI: 10.1136/BMJSPCARE-2017-001370
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an approaching cancer death on end-of-life aspirin use, a frequently prescribed medication for cardiovascular disease prevention. This study was conducted using linked cancer registry and prescribing data. Breast (n=1151) and colorectal (n=1859) cancer decedents were matched to cancer survivors and the probability of either initiating aspirin, or continuing established aspirin use, was estimated in consecutive periods over the 5 years approaching a cancer-specific death (decedents) or matched index date (survivors). Using the linked data sets, we identified patients who died of their cancer (decedents) between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2009. In the 5 years prior to death, we compared (1) the probability of initiating aspirin use for the first time, and (2) the probability of continuing aspirin use. In comparison to matched cancer survivors, an approaching cancer death was not associated with a reduction in aspirin initiation by breast or colorectal cancer decedents. However, the probability of continuing established aspirin use declined considerably in the 24 months approaching death and at the time of a death was significantly lower for breast (risk difference (RD) −0.26, 95% CI −0.33 to −0.20) and colorectal (RD −0.38, 95% CI −0.46 to −0.30) cancer decedents versus matched survivors. A significant proportion of patients discontinue their aspirin in the time approaching a breast or colorectal cancer-specific death. The safety and benefits of this are unclear and empirical data are needed to guide decisions about aspirin use in the end of life.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-08-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S11160-022-09720-Z
Abstract: Chemical analysis of calcified structures continues to flourish, as analytical and technological advances enable researchers to tap into trace elements and isotopes taken up in otoliths and other archival tissues at ever greater resolution. Increasingly, these tracers are applied to refine age estimation and interpretation, and to chronicle responses to environmental stressors, linking these to ecological, physiological, and life-history processes. Here, we review emerging approaches and innovative research directions in otolith chemistry, as well as in the chemistry of other archival tissues, outlining their value for fisheries and ecosystem-based management, turning the spotlight on areas where such biomarkers can support decision making. We summarise recent milestones and the challenges that lie ahead to using otoliths and archival tissues as biomarkers, grouped into seven, rapidly expanding and application-oriented research areas that apply chemical analysis in a variety of contexts, namely: (1) supporting fish age estimation (2) evaluating environmental stress, ecophysiology and in idual performance (3) confirming seafood provenance (4) resolving connectivity and movement pathways (5) characterising food webs and trophic interactions (6) reconstructing reproductive life histories and (7) tracing stock enhancement efforts. Emerging research directions that apply hard part chemistry to combat seafood fraud, quantify past food webs, as well as to reconcile growth, movement, thermal, metabolic, stress and reproductive life-histories provide opportunities to examine how harvesting and global change impact fish health and fisheries productivity. Ultimately, improved appreciation of the many practical benefits of archival tissue chemistry to fisheries and ecosystem-based management will support their increased implementation into routine monitoring. Graphical abstract
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-12-2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-09-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-08-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S10995-016-2178-7
Abstract: Objectives Maternal nutrition during pregnancy plays an important role in predisposing offspring to the development of chronic disease in adulthood, including osteoporosis. Our aim was to investigate maternal dietary intakes during pregnancy, with a focus on nutrients important for skeletal development in the offspring. Methods In this case-control study, cases were pregnant women recruited for the Vitamin D in Pregnancy Study (n = 350, age 20-40 years) and controls were non-pregnant peers participating in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study (n = 305, age 20-40 years). Dietary intakes of nutrients were quantified using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Results Compared to controls, cases consumed more energy [median (interquartile range): 7831 (6506-9461) vs. 7136 (6112-8785) kJ/day] median intakes for cases were greater for carbohydrates [206.2 (172.5-249.9) vs. 188.2 (147.7-217.5) g/day], fat [77.9 (60.3-96.6) vs. 72.1 (53.3-87.4) g/day], potassium [2860 (2363-3442) vs. 2606 (2166-3442) mg/day] and calcium [1022 (819-1264) vs. 918 (782-1264) mg/day] (all p ≤ 0.05). However, pregnant women were not consuming greater amounts of those nutrients which had an increased demand (protein, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc). Similarly, this translated to the likelihood of achieving national recommendations for corresponding nutrients. Conclusions for Practice Compared to their non-pregnant peers, pregnant women were more likely to meet dietary recommendations for calcium and potassium however, this was not the pattern observed for protein, magnesium and zinc. Future public health messages should perhaps focus on increasing awareness of the importance of all these nutrients during pregnancy.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 25-04-2018
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.K1315
Abstract: To estimate the association between the duration and level of exposure to different classes of anticholinergic drugs and subsequent incident dementia. Case-control study. General practices in the UK contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. 40 770 patients aged 65-99 with a diagnosis of dementia between April 2006 and July 2015, and 283 933 controls without dementia. Daily defined doses of anticholinergic drugs coded using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale, in total and grouped by subclass, prescribed 4-20 years before a diagnosis of dementia. Odds ratios for incident dementia, adjusted for a range of demographic and health related covariates. 14 453 (35%) cases and 86 403 (30%) controls were prescribed at least one anticholinergic drug with an ACB score of 3 (definite anticholinergic activity) during the exposure period. The adjusted odds ratio for any anticholinergic drug with an ACB score of 3 was 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.14). Dementia was associated with an increasing average ACB score. When considered by drug class, gastrointestinal drugs with an ACB score of 3 were not distinctively linked to dementia. The risk of dementia increased with greater exposure for antidepressant, urological, and antiparkinson drugs with an ACB score of 3. This result was also observed for exposure 15-20 years before a diagnosis. A robust association between some classes of anticholinergic drugs and future dementia incidence was observed. This could be caused by a class specific effect, or by drugs being used for very early symptoms of dementia. Future research should examine anticholinergic drug classes as opposed to anticholinergic effects intrinsically or summing scales for anticholinergic exposure. Registered to the European Union electronic Register of Post-Authorisation Studies EUPAS8705.
Publisher: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT)
Date: 10-2007
Abstract: Exploratory and reliability study. Shoulder dysfunction is common and often difficult to diagnose and treat. The trapezius muscle is an important stabilizer and primary mover of the scapula. The potential use of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) to evaluate scapular muscle function warrants investigation. To establish a procedure for imaging the thickness of the lower trapezius muscle and to examine reliability within and among investigators. In 16 asymptomatic subjects (12 female, 4 male), aged 20 to 41 years, 3 investigators used RUSI to measure the thickness of the left lower trapezius muscle with the subject at rest in prone. Investigator 1 took 3 images on each of 2 days, while the other 2 investigators took 2 images each on the second day. All measurements of lower trapezius muscle thickness were made off-line, at a point 3 cm lateral to the lateral edge of the spinous processes. To also obtain within-scan reliability, 1 image taken by investigator 1, once displayed on the scanner's screen, was measured 3 times. Investigator 1 also measured lower trapezius muscle thickness 1 cm medial to this site. Reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the Bland and Altman plot. The intrarater within-scan reliability at the lateral site was ICC3.3 = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98 to 1.0). The intrarater between-scan reliability (within-day) at the lateral site, medial site, and combined sites (mean of medial and lateral) were ICC3.3 = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.90 to 0.98), ICC3.2 = 0.90 (95% CI: 0.78 to 0.96), and ICC3.2 = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99 to 1.0), respectively. Intrarater (between-day) reliability was good for the lateral site and combined sites (ICC3.3 = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.96, and ICC3.3 = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.96, respectively) and moderate for the medial site (ICC3.3 = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.96). Interrater reliability (among investigators) was also moderate (ICC2.2 = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.96). Mean lower trapezius muscle thickness was approximately 3.1 mm (SD, 0.8 mm). Thickness of the lower trapezius muscle can be measured reliably with RUSI.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-08-2016
Abstract: It is recommended that demersal elasmobranchs be managed using spatial proxies for Maximum Sustainable Yield. Here we combine escapement biomass—the percentage of the stock which must be retained each year to conserve it—with maps of predicted Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of four ray species [cuckoo (Leucoraja naevus), thornback (Raja clavata), blonde (Raja brachyura), and spotted (Raja montagui)], created using Boosted Regression Tree modelling. We then use a Decision Support Tool to generate location and size options for Marine Protected Areas to protect these stocks, based on the priorities of the various stakeholders, notably the minimisation of fishing effort displacement. Variations of conservation/fishing priorities are simulated, as well as differential priorities for in idual species, with a focus on protecting nursery grounds and spawning areas. Prioritizing high CPUE cells results in a smaller closed area that displaces the most fishing effort, whereas prioritizing low fishing effort results in a larger closed area that displaces the least fishing effort. The final result is a complete software package that produces maps of predicted species CPUE from limited survey data, and allows disparate stakeholders and policymakers to discuss management options within a mapping interface.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 27-03-2019
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWZ073
Abstract: Previous estimates of whether long-term exposure to benzodiazepines increases dementia risk are conflicting and are compromised by the difficulty of controlling for confounders and by reverse causation. We investigated how estimates for the association between benzodiazepine use and later dementia incidence varied based on study design choices, using a case-control study nested within the United Kingdom’s Clinical Practice Research Datalink. A total of 40,770 dementia cases diagnosed between April 2006 and July 2015 were matched on age, sex, available data history, and deprivation to 283,933 control subjects. Benzodiazepines and Z-drug prescriptions were ascertained in a drug-exposure period 4–20 years before dementia diagnosis. Estimates varied with the inclusion of new or prevalent users, with the timing of covariate ascertainment, and with varying time between exposure and outcome. There was no association between any new prescription of benzodiazepines and dementia (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00, 1.07), whereas an inverse association was observed among prevalent users (adjusted OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.95), although this was likely induced by unintentional adjustment for colliders. By considering the choice of confounders and timing of exposure and covariate measurement, our findings overall are consistent with no causal effect of benzodiazepines or Z-drugs on dementia incidence.
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Date: 28-12-2012
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Kathleen Bennett.