{"title":"Beyond the Bones: Reflections on Paediatric Orthopaedics Past and Present: An Elective in The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.","authors":"Medha Sridhar Rao, Sandra Van Schaeybroeck","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"26-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278051/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Royal Victoria Hospital Annual Oration, 3rd October 2025.","authors":"Pascal P McKeown","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"29-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Curiositas - Medicine in the Kitchen.","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"46-47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278050/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sir Benjamin William Rycroft: Reflections on Character and Career.","authors":"Debra R Milamed, John Hedley-Whyte","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ophthalmologist Sir Benjamin W. Rycroft was a key figure in John Hedley-Whyte's early education and experiences at the RAMC's 31<sup>st</sup> General Hospital, later Harvard's 5<sup>th</sup> General Hospital at Musgrave Park outside Belfast, 1940-1942. Rycroft later served with distinction in the Mediterranean Theatre and was honored with the O.B.E. After his return to the UK post-war, he advanced reconstructive treatment of burns, corneal grafting, and the establishment of tissue banks. He was a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London, gifted organist, enthusiastic gardener, and close associate of the Royal Family. In 1964, Rycroft returned to Belfast to give the Craig Memorial Lecture at Queen's University, Belfast, titled \"Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology\".</p>","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"38-45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"THE CAPSULE SPONGE: A NOVEL TEST FOR EARLY DETECTION AND RISK STRATIFICATION IN BARRETT'S OESOPHAGUS.","authors":"David N Johnston, Richard C Turkington","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278052/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Ethics of Authorship.","authors":"Lauren Venning, Emma Keelan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"20-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278054/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Thrombosis and Survival after Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Use to treat Oral Anticoagulant Associated Haemorrhage.","authors":"A O'Kane, R Cullen, P Toner, G Benson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recent trials for treatments of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) related acute haemorrhage have highlighted incidences of post treatment thrombosis. Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is widely used for reversal of anticoagulant associated bleeding, yet thrombotic risks following PCC administration, particularly for DOACs, remain incompletely characterised in real-world settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective observational study analysed thrombotic and survival outcomes in 682 patients that received PCC for OAC associated haemorrhage in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust between 2015-2021. Patients were categorised by OAC type (warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban). Primary outcome was thrombotic event rate at 30 days, while secondary outcomes included 30- and 90day mortality and anticoagulation resumption rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort comprised 393 warfarin patients, 55 rivaroxaban, 221 apixaban and 13 edoxaban patients. Intracranial haemorrhage predominated (47-69% across DOAC groups vs. 49% warfarin). Thrombotic event rates were significantly higher in DOAC patients (rivaroxaban 13%, apixaban 8%, overall DOAC 8.7%) compared to warfarin (5%). Thirty-day mortality rates ranged from 13-23% across oral anticoagulant groups. Anticoagulation was resumed in only 29-47% of patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings suggest that PCC may be as effective as specific antidotes for DOAC reversal. In the absence of universal access to specific reversal agents, PCC continues to serve an important role in managing life threatening anticoagulant associated haemorrhage. Systematic pathways for post reversal anticoagulation resumption should be implemented to optimise patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"3-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278053/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alison Galea, Suzanne Cauchi, Lara Miruzzi, Martina Sciberras, Pierre Ellul
{"title":"Investigating Iron Deficiency Anaemia in the Elderly.","authors":"Alison Galea, Suzanne Cauchi, Lara Miruzzi, Martina Sciberras, Pierre Ellul","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is often attributed to gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss and warrants thorough investigation. In elderly, endoscopy carries increased risk, especially in those with multiple comorbidities and poor functional status. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of elderly patients with IDA, identify underlying causes, and assess one-year mortality.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Patients ≥75 years referred to gastroenterology for investigation of IDA were recruited. Demographics, comorbidities, antiplatelet/antithrombotic use, investigations performed, and one-year mortality were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>92 patients were recruited. Mean patient age was 81.2 years (SD: +/- 4.02) with a female preponderance (70.7%). Mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 5.96 (SD +/- 1.93). Frailty precluded any investigation in 13% of patients. 26% underwent upper and lower GI assessment (14% had bidirectional endoscopy and 12% had oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) + computed tomography (CT) colonography). Malignancy was diagnosed in 6.5%. Overall, one-year mortality rate was 28% (CCI mean score: 6.7). Mortality was statistically significantly higher for patients living in care homes (p=0.03). Higher CCI was associated with increased risk of one-year mortality, and each additional CCI point increased odds of dying within one year by 40% (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.10-1.79, p=0.007).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Elderly patients referred for investigation of IDA frequently have a high CCI score, making endoscopy a high-risk procedure. A high CCI score and living in a care home are independent risk factors for one-year mortality. Alternative strategies including trans-nasal endoscopy and CT colonography, should be considered as first-line tests to balance diagnostic yield, prognosis and procedural safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"11-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Avoiding Prescribing Pitfalls to Tackle Problematic Polypharmacy and Adverse Drug Reactions in Northern Ireland.","authors":"P Toner","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94250,"journal":{"name":"The Ulster medical journal","volume":"95 1","pages":"23-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13278057/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}