Queen's University Research Articles

Anatomic-Functional Correlates in Lesions of Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PurposeTo evaluate anatomic–functional associations at sites of retinal lesions in retinal vein occlusion (RVO).MethodsThis pilot, prospective, observational study was conducted at the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility (NICRF) of Queen's University and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland, between August 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. The study included 10 treatment-naïve patients with RVO (10 RVO eyes and 10 fellow eyes). There were 81 points/sites assessed for each eye at baseline; six patients were re-assessed 6 months after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy at the same locations. We investigated associations between retinal sensitivity and presence of structural RVO lesions, including retinal ischemia, hemorrhages, intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid outside the foveal/parafoveal regions. Comparisons were made between RVO eyes and fellow eyes at baseline, and between RVO eyes at baseline and at 6 months after treatment. Regression models were used to investigate anatomic–functional associations.ResultsAt baseline, strong associations were found between reduced retinal sensitivity and presence of ischemia (estimate = −2.08 dB; P < 0.001), intraretinal fluid (estimate = −7.82 dB; P < 0.001), and subretinal fluid (estimate = −8.66 dB; P < 0.001). Resolution of subretinal fluid but not intraretinal fluid was associated with improved function (estimate = 2.40 dB [P = 0.022]; estimate = 1.16 dB [P = 0.228], respectively). However, reperfusion of ischemic retina, observed in 31 of 486 points (6%) 6 months after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, was associated with a further decrease in retinal sensitivity (estimate = −2.34 dB; P = 0.035).ConclusionsRetinal sensitivity was decreased at sites of RVO lesions. Decreased function at sites of retinal ischemia did not recover after treatment, even when reperfusion occurred.

Development of a Risk Calculator for Major Mood Disorders Among the Offspring of Bipolar Parents Using Information Collected in Routine Clinical Practice

Background: Family history is a significant risk factor for bipolar disorders (BD), but the magnitude of risk varies considerably between individuals within and across families. Accurate risk estimation may increase motivation to reduce modifiable risk exposures and identify individuals appropriate for monitoring over the peak risk period. Our objective was to develop and independently replicate an individual risk calculator for major mood disorders among the offspring of BD parents using data collected in routine clinical practice. Methods: The longitudinal Canadian High-Risk Offspring cohort study was used to develop a 5 and 10-year risk calculator using parametric time-to-event models with a cure fraction and a generalized gamma distribution. The calculator was then externally validated using data from the Lausanne–Geneva High-Risk Offspring cohort study. A Time-varying C-index by age in years was used to estimate the probability that the model correctly classified risk. Bias corrected estimates and 95% confidence limits were derived using a jackknife resampling approach. Outcomes: The primary outcome was age of onset of a major mood disorder. The risk calculator was most accurate at classifying risk in mid to late adolescence in the Canadian cohort, and a similar pattern was replicated in the Swiss cohort. Specifically, the time-varying C-index indicated that there was approximately a 70% chance that the model would correctly predict which of two 15-year-olds would be more likely to develop a bipolar spectrum mood disorder in the future. Interpretation: Findings suggest that this model may be a useful clinical tool in routine practice for improved individualized risk estimation of bipolar spectrum disorders among the adolescent and offspring of a BD parent; however, accurate risk estimation in younger high-risk children is less precise reflecting the evolving nature of psychopathology at this early developmental stage. Funding: Funding: The Canadian High-Risk Study has been funded by consecutive operating grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, currently CIHR PJT Grant 152976 The Lausanne-Geneva high-risk study was and is supported by five grants from the Swiss National Foundation (#3200-040677, #32003B-105969, #32003B-118326, #3200-049746 and #3200-061974), three grants from the Swiss National Foundation for the National Centres of Competence in Research project “The Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases” (#125759, #158776, and #51NF40 – 185897), and a grant from GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Genetics. The funders had no involvement in any aspect of this study. Declaration of Interest: MISSING Ethical Approval: The two studies have been approved by respective research ethics boards at each site: the Ottawa Independent Research Ethics Board (Pro00011514), the Queens University Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board (PSIY-561-17) and the Ethics Committee for Clinical Research of the Canton de Vaud.

Attitudes of medical students to electroconvulsive therapy

AimsThis study explores the different attitudes among fourth year medical students in Queen's University Belfast to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and investigates whether these are influenced by teaching and exposure to ECT during their undergraduate psychiatry placement. In particular we sought to determine firstly, correlates of baseline attitudes to ECT and secondly, whether specific forms of ECT teaching improved attitudes to ECT during their placement.MethodThis study was conducted in Queen's University Belfast and agreed with their ethics committee. Participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning of their psychiatry placement and another questionnaire in the second half of their placement. The first questionnaire captured background information and baseline attitudes. The second questionnaire recorded the educational and clinical experience gained on ECT during placement (for example lectures, tutorials, informal teaching, observing ECT and interacting with ECT patients), in addition to attitudes to ECT at this timepoint. Attitudes to ECT were assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. A positive attitude to ECT was defined as scoring agree/strongly agree on a 5-point Likert scale to the statement “I would recommend ECT for a patient if clinically indicated”.Result187 students were interviewed at both time points. At the outset of the psychiatry placement 66% of students reported a positive attitude to ECT. Positive attitude was associated with age: 72% of students under 24 had a positive attitude to ECT vs 58% of students over 24 (χ2 = 3.5; P &lt; 0.05). Of students who had previously attended a lecture on ECT (n = 117) 83% had a positive attitude to ECT vs 42% of those who had not previously attended a lecture (χ2 = 33.5; P &lt; 0.001).Attitudes to ECT significantly improved during the placement (66% vs 94% positive; t = 7.97; P &lt; 0.001). Students who attended a lecture on ECT during the psychiatry placement were more likely to have a positive shift in attitude (67% vs 49%; F = 6.0; P = 0.01). No other specific teaching modality was associated with a positive shift in attitude.ConclusionWe conclude that undertaking a Psychiatry placement and particularly having a lecture on ECT significantly improves attitudes of medical students to ECT. It is therefore important that lectures on ECT are included in the medical undergraduate curriculum to allow students to be accurately informed about this essential treatment for a number of psychiatric disorders.

Controlling cross‐contamination by food allergens

Controlling cross‐contamination by food allergens

Food Decisions of Low-Income Families in the Era of COVID-19: A Qualitative Exploration

ObjectivesThe first lockdown enforced in the United Kingdom to limit the spread of COVID-19 had serious financial consequences for some lower-income households, which were already at risk of suboptimal food choices. Particularly in Northern Ireland, where 10% of the population live in food insecure households, the pandemic has potentially further exacerbated the nutritional challenges experienced by low-income families. This paper aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on food-related decisions as experienced by economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland, UK.MethodsA qualitative study collected data through online individual interviews. Participation was open to parents of children 2–17 years old who self-identified as living on a tight budget in urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland. A sampling matrix enabled equal representation of single- and two-parent households, as well as younger(<12 y) and older children (>12 y). Photovoice and participatory mapping techniques were employed to capture participant data. A thematic approach was utilised for data analysis.ResultsA total of 12 interviews were conducted. Five distinct themes were found, reflecting families’ food-related decisions that were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown: 1) food planning; 2) food purchasing; 3) meal preparation; 4) eating and feeding behaviours and 5) eating food prepared outside the house. Changes included an increase in home food preparation, but also in unhealthy snacking. Fear of being exposed to carriers of the virus led to infrequent food shopping and greater reliance on supermarket home deliveries. Long waiting times in-between food shops encouraged food planning but were also a barrier to providing daily fresh foods including fruit and vegetables to their families. Financial constraints were exacerbated during lockdown and led to a search for new ways to budget when food shopping. Food donations from the community and the government were important to maintain food security, particularly in single-parent families.ConclusionsThis study highlights that the COVID-19 lockdown influenced a broad range of dietary decisions of economically disadvantaged families and offers an insight into the nutritional challenges they experienced.Funding SourcesThe work was completed with financial support from internal funds of Queens University Belfast.

Peter M Neumann OBE (1940–2020)

The history of mathematics has lost one of its major champions and a great scholar and personality in the death on 18 December 2020 of Peter M Neumann, Emeritus Fellow of The Queen's College, Oxfor...

Discrepancies Between Preceptor and Resident Performance Assessment: Using an Electronic Formative Assessment Tool to Improve Residents' Self-Assessment Skills.

Accurate self-assessment is a critical skill for residents to develop to become safe, adaptive clinicians upon graduation. Physicians need to be able to identify and fill in knowledge and skill gaps to deal with the rapid expansion of medical knowledge and unpredicted novel emerging medical issues. Residency training to date has not consistently focused on building these overarching skills, nor have the burgeoning assessment data that competency-based medical education (CBME) affords been used beyond their initial intent to inform summative assessment decisions. Both are important missed opportunities. The Queen's University Family Medicine Program adopted CBME in 2010. In 2011, it added the capacity for residents to electronically self-assess their daily performance, with preceptors reviewing and modifying as needed before submitting. In 2018, it designed software to report discordance between residents' self-assessment and preceptors' assessment of performance. From 2011-2019, 56,585 field notes were submitted, 11,429 by residents, with 28% of those (3,200/11,429) showing discordance between residents' and preceptors' performance assessments. When discordant, residents assessed their performance as less competent (undercalled) than their preceptor did 73% of the time (2,336/3,200 field notes). For the 864 field notes (27% of 3,200 discordant notes) where residents rated their performance higher than their preceptor did (overcalled, for 162/1,120 [14%] residents), 6 residents overcalled performance to a dangerous extent (2 or 3 levels of supervision higher than what their supervisors assessed them at) and 26 repeatedly (greater than 5 times) overcalled their level of performance by 1 supervisory level. Inaccurate self-assessment (both overcalling and undercalling performance) has negative consequences. Awareness is a first step in addressing this. Discrepancy reports will be used during regular academic reviews with residents to discuss the nature, degree, and frequency of discrepancies, with the intent of fostering improved self-assessment of performance.

551 The Relationship Between Canal Diameter and the DORR Classification - Presented by Dr John Vincent and Dr Ryan Doherty of NIMDTA, formerly Queen's University Belfast

Abstract Background Particularly in broach-only uncemented total hip arthroplasty, a narrow femoral canal presents a technical challenge. Traditionally such femurs have been considered to be Dorr A. To our knowledge, however, no study has reported on the relationship between isthmus width and the Dorr classification. Method We reviewed 500 high-quality, hard copy radiographs. Dorr classification and isthmus canal width were measured using an electronic caliper by 5 independent observers with intraobserver and interobserver error calculated. For this study, we defined a narrow canal as being 10 mm at its narrowest point (isthmus). Results Eight percent (40) were Dorr A, 85% (424) Dorr B, and 7% (36) Dorr C. With respect to isthmus width for Dorr A, 63% (25) were 10 mm compared to just 13% (55) of Dorr B. However, overall because there were more Dorr B femurs, 69% of those with an isthmus of 10 mm were Dorr B. Conclusions In this population, almost 70% of patients with an isthmus 10 mm were Dorr B, with only 30% being Dorr A. When using a broach-only technique, isthmus width should be routinely measured on the preoperative anteroposterior radiographs so as to alert the surgeon to potential problems.

Commentary: A Scoping Review of Burnout in Neurosurgery.

Commentary: A Scoping Review of Burnout in Neurosurgery T Forcht Dagi, MD, DMedSc, DHC, FRCSEd T Forcht Dagi, MD, DMedSc, DHC, FRCSEd Correspondence: T. Forcht Dagi, MD, DMedSc, DHC, FRCSEd, Queen's University Belfast and the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute, 423 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton Centre, MA 02459, USA. Email: tfdagi@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0344-1384 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Neurosurgery, Volume 88, Issue 5, May 2021, Pages E379–E380, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyaa575 Published: 27 January 2021 Article history Received: 12 November 2020 Accepted: 15 November 2020 Published: 27 January 2021

The Integration of Virtual Simulation Gaming Into Undergraduate Nursing Resuscitation Education: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

BackgroundResearchers at Queen's University developed a virtual simulation game to serve as a presimulation preparation tool for students learning to perform cardiac resuscitation. MethodsA pilot randomised controlled trial compared nursing students who received traditional presimulation preparation to those who received a virtual simulation game in addition to traditional presimulation preparation during a resuscitation-oriented clinical simulation. Student performance was evaluated using a 12-item performance checklist. ResultsStudents provided with the virtual simulation game outperformed those provided with only the traditional presimulation preparation. ConclusionVirtual simulation gaming could serve as an effective presimulation preparation tool and should be explored further.

ICRE Abstracts: Quality Improvement

ICRE Abstracts: Quality Improvement

Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis

Book Review| April 01 2021 Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis Christensen, Thomas. Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis. University of Chicago Press, 2019: xvi +359 pp. ($55.00 cloth, $10.00 e-book). Daniel K. S. Walden Daniel K. S. Walden Daniel K. S. Walden is a junior research fellow in music at the Queen's College, University of Oxford. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Journal of Music Theory (2021) 65 (1): 171–183. https://doi.org/10.1215/00222909-9124774 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter Email Permissions Search Site Citation Daniel K. S. Walden; Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis. Journal of Music Theory 1 April 2021; 65 (1): 171–183. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/00222909-9124774 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter Books & JournalsAll JournalsJournal of Music Theory Search Advanced Search THE BELGIAN MUSIC theorist François-Joseph Fétis, subject of countless tales in Thomas Christensen's Stories of Tonality, might easily be mistaken for a fictional character. Would a real music theorist dare to “correct” the dissonance in Mozart's “Dissonance” quartet (Fétis 1829), smear Pythagoras as “a charlatan, indeed, probably the most dishonorable one that ever lived” (Fétis 1828: 468n1), or deplore the entire history of the field as “the constant and almost always barren efforts of a vast number of erudite men” (Fétis 1840: iv)? Did the general public really pack the halls of the Conservatoire for his blockbuster lectures on theory, forcing luminaries such as Liszt to sneak into the auditorium through the back door? Was he actually the author of a sham Stradella and a counterfeit Cavalieri? Would a serious academic have the audacity to claim “the honor of... Copyright © 2021 by Yale University2021 Issue Section: Review You do not currently have access to this content.

Interview with Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin

Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin is the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism. She was initially appointed to this position by the UN Human Rights Council in 2017 and was re-elected by member States for a further three-year term in 2020. In this capacity she works closely with States and UN entities to advance human rights protections in some of the most difficult contexts globally. She is also a University Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, and a Professor of Law at the Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.In this interview, Ms Ní Aoláin discusses her duties as Special Rapporteur and illustrates the current challenges to the humanitarian space in the context of counterterrorism (CT) regulation.

CORRELATION BETWEEN DURATION SPENT IN FITNESS CENTER AND VO2 MAX LEVEL AMONG ADULTS

VO2 max or oxygen consumption maximum value is a gold standard indicator towards cardiovascular and aerobic endurance because it refers to the maximum amount of oxygen used by an individual in one minute during maximum physical activity. The study's purpose was to see the correlation between duration spent in the fitness center and VO2 max value among adults. This study used the analytical study method, cross-sectional type. We chose the participant from members of Gold’s Gym fitness center at Cihampelas, aged 18-45 years old, with 3 months minimum of activity, and exercise frequency around three times per week. Theparticipants who had cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, serious physical injury, had already exercised during the time of observation, or professionally trained athletes were excluded. We used the Queen College step test for the instrument. There were 47 participants in this study. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated to measure the correlation between duration spent and VO2 max, and the result was 0.77(95% CI 0.64; 0.85), p&lt;0.001 which is categorized as a strong correlation. From this study, we found that with the increase of duration spent in the fitness center, the VO2 max level is also increasing, and vice versa. This result is supported by a study from the United States which finds a correlation between VO2max and performance times of recreational triathletes. In conclusion, there is a positive correlation between duration spent in the fitness center and VO2 max level among adults.

Feasibility and potential significance of rapid in vitro qualitative phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli with the ProMax system.

The emergence and evolution of antibiotic resistance has been accelerated due to the widespread use of antibiotics and a lack of timely diagnostic tests that guide therapeutic treatment with adequate sensitivity, specificity, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) accuracy. Automated AST instruments are extensively used in clinical microbiology labs and provide a streamlined workflow, simplifying susceptibility testing for pathogenic bacteria isolated from clinical samples. Although currently used commercial systems such as the Vitek2 and BD Phoenix can deliver results in substantially less time than conventional methods, their dependence on traditional AST inoculum concentrations and optical detection limit their speed somewhat. Herein, we describe the GeneFluidics ProMax lab automation system intended for a rapid 3.5-hour molecular AST from clinical isolates. The detection method described utilizes a higher starting inoculum concentration and automated molecular quantification of species-specific 16S rRNA through the use of an electrochemical sensor to assess microbiological responses to antibiotic exposure. A panel of clinical isolates consisting of species of gram-negative rods from the CDC AR bank and two hospitals, New York-Presbyterian Queens and Medical College of Wisconsin, were evaluated against ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and meropenem in a series of reproducibility and clinical studies. The categorical agreement and reproducibility for Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 100% and 100% for ciprofloxacin, 98.7% and 100% for gentamicin and 98.5% and 98.5% for meropenem, respectively.

Protecting children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

British Journal of NursingVol. 30, No. 5 CommentProtecting children during the COVID-19 pandemicJulie Brown, Pauline CarsonJulie BrownLecturer (Education) Children and Young PeopleSearch for more papers by this author, Pauline CarsonLecturer (Education), Children and Young People, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University BelfastSearch for more papers by this authorJulie Brown; Pauline CarsonPublished Online:18 Mar 2021https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.5.264AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Bain M. Young People losing hope for the future, warns NI mental health champion. Belfast Telegraph. 4 February 2021. https://tinyurl.com/yd7fdpf9 (accessed 2 March 2021) Google ScholarDepartment for Communities. Northern Ireland: poverty bulletin 2018/2019. Northern Ireland Statics and Research Agency. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/ykr35z8 (accessed 2 March 2021) Google ScholarDepartment of Education. Phased return of pupils to start in March. 2021a. https://tinyurl.com/545wevnu (accessed 2 March 2021) Google ScholarDepartment of Education. Children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing in education framework. 2021b. https://tinyurl.com/3hn9s857 (accessed 4 March 2021) Google ScholarDepartment of Health. Cross-departmental actions for vulnerable children and young people during the Covid-19 pandemic period. 2020a. https://tinyurl.com/4p6nhenb (accessed 2 March 2021) Google ScholarDepartment of Health. Mental health action plan. 2020b. https://tinyurl.com/2n9knnkd (accessed 2 March 2021) Google ScholarGibson J. Domestic violence during COVID-19: the GP role. Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(696):340. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X710477 Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarUnited Nations. Policy brief: the impact of COVID-19 on children. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/399t6jt9 (accessed 2 March 2021) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 11 March 2021Volume 30Issue 5ISSN (print): 0966-0461ISSN (online): 2052-2819 Metrics History Published online 18 March 2021 Published in print 11 March 2021 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Transformation

AbstractThis brief paper is an account of Peter Fitzpatrick's appointment to the Faculty of Law at Queens University, Belfast, and his consequent transformation, personally and professionally, during his short tenure at Queens.

Citizens by Design: A Learning Community–Based Strategy for Building Civic Engagement into General Education

Abstract Between historic changes in American undergraduate student demography and increasing stresses on civil society, institutions of higher education face mounting pressure to help their students foster strong civic skills and practices. At Queens University of Charlotte, the authors leveraged a curriculum revision process to create a general education–civic engagement partnership that features a required academic civic engagement component for all undergraduates, including traditional, transfer, and post-traditional students. The authors embedded this experience by combining two high-impact practices as we locate it within a learning community framework featuring cross-disciplinary examinations of “wicked” problems. As a result of this approach, they have faculty working in civic engagement from a great diversity of disciplines. After reviewing successes and challenges from the first several years of this program, they found that their program used some consistent pedagogies that they have organized into four distinct but related civic engagement types: (a) bridging to the community, (b) problem-based, organizational engagement, (c) the constructs of community, and (d) deliberative skill development. This exploratory framework for civic engagement can assist programs seeking to support faculty at varying levels of civic engagement teaching experience and different disciplinary perspectives.

Reimagining The Internet With Edge Computing

Abstract Blesson Varghese, Associate Professor in computer science at Queen's University Belfast and Flavio Bonomi, Founder of Nebbiolo Technologies and Board Technology Adviser for LYNX, explore how edge computing could foster a more ethical and fairer internet.

Keeping perspective as a nurse amid a pandemic

A registered nurse on the coronary care unit, and now completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Practice Nursing Cardiology at Queen's University Belfast, Charlotte Quinn reflects on the importance of nursing care, particularly amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.