UCC Journals (Univ. College Cork)
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Predictive markers for treatment response in metastatic KRASmutant non-small cell lung cancer
No full textBackground: Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represents 85% of all lung cancer cases, with Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Virus (KRAS) being the most commonly detected mutation. This study retrospectively reviews patient charts and databases to identify specific markers linked to favorable and poor responses to treatment in a tertiary care setting.
Methods: Pre-treatment hematological, pathological, and biochemical data were gathered from 70 patients diagnosed with KRAS-mutant NSCLC at Cork University Hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Patients were categorized by radiological response to treatment and progression-free survival (PFS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v29, with parametric data expressed as mean (SD) and nonparametric data as median [IQR]. T-tests, Chi-squared tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed, with a significance level of p <0.05.
Results: The average age of patients was 66 years (10.2), with an age range of 36-86 years. The median PFS was 36 weeks [74.5], and overall survival (OS) was 55.6 weeks [88.3]. Patients with progressive disease (PD) had higher levels of neutrophils (p = 0.015), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p = 0.04), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (p = 0.026) compared to those with partial response (PR) to treatment. Patients with poor PFS showed increased platelet counts (p = 0.047, 95% CI [-112.3, -0.796]), NLR (p = 0.001), and PLR (p = 0.004), as well as reduced serum albumin (p = 0.022, 95% CI [1.06, 13.25]) and lymphocytes (p = 0.010, 95% CI [0.121, 0.879]) in comparison to those with good PFS. KRAS mutation subtype and tumor pathology had no significant effect on treatment response. Chemotherapy treatment was associated with significantly longer PFS compared to other treatment types (p <0.001).
Conclusion: Certain patient-specific biomarkers were associated with poorer radiological response to treatment and reduced PFS. These biomarkers could be useful for clinicians when assessing treatment plans and for prognostication of these patients
Generative AI’s performance on emergency medicine boards questions: an observational study
No full textBackground: The evolving field of medicine has introduced ChatGPT as a potential assistive platform, though its use in medical board exam preparation remains debated [1-2]. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a custom-modified version of ChatGPT-4, tailored with emergency medicine board exam preparatory materials (Anki deck), compared to its default version and previous iteration (3.5) [3]. The goal was to assess the accuracy of ChatGPT-4 answering board- style questions and its suitability as a tool for medical education.
Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted using a random selection of 598 questions from the Rosh In-Training Exam Question Bank [4]. The subjects of the study included three versions of ChatGPT: the Default, a Custom, and ChatGPT-3.5. Accuracy, response length, medical discipline subgroups, and underlying causes of error were analyzed.
Results: Custom ChatGPT-4 did not significantly improve accuracy over Default (p>0.05), but both significantly outperformed ChatGPT-3.5 (p<0.05) (Table 1). Default produced longer responses than Custom (p<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference across medical sub-disciplines (p>0.05). ChatGPT-4 had a 99% probability of passing, while ChatGPT-3.5 had 85%.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that while newer versions of ChatGPT exhibit improved performance in emergency medicine board exam preparation, specific enhancements do not significantly impact accuracy. The study highlights the potential of ChatGPT-4 as a tool for medical education, capable of providing accurate support across a wide range of topics in emergency medicine
Immunosuppression, a double-edged sword: sepsis, skin cancer risk, and potential Multiple Sclerosis stabilization
No full textBackground: Immunosuppression remains an essential component in post-transplant care but carries significant risks, including infection and malignancy. However, post-transplant immunosuppressants may have a role in stabilising multiple sclerosis (MS), despite not being first-line therapy.
Case Presentation: A 65-year-old female with a history of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and associated polycystic liver disease underwent a deceased-donor renal transplant in 1998. Her long-term maintenance immunosuppressive regimen included tacrolimus, low-dose prednisolone, and azathioprine (discontinued in 2024). She was diagnosed with MS in 1990. In July 2024, she was hospitalised for sepsis, with an enhancing hepatic cyst being the presumed source. Blood cultures grew Enterococcus faecium, which was treated with IV vancomycin. This occured on the background of recurrent gram-negative bacteraemias and non-melanoma skin cancers since 2020. These complications were attributed to long-term immunosuppression. Nonetheless, her MS has remained clinically stable for over 20 years. She reported no relapses or neurological deficits, and an MRI in September 2024 showed no new demyelinating lesions.
Discussion: This case highlights the double-edged nature of immunosuppressive therapy. While tacrolimus and azathioprine are associated with increased risk of infections and malignancies, particularly skin cancers, they may also modulate autoimmune neuroinflammation. Although evidence for tacrolimus use in MS treatment remains limited, some studies suggest possible neuroprotective effects. Conversely, while azathioprine has shown potential benefits in relapse reduction in controlled trials, further research is needed to establish its full utility in MS management. Short-term high-dose prednisolone is effective in acute exacerbations but lacks evidence for long-term MS stabilisation.
Conclusion: This is a unique case of long-term immunosuppressants resulting in recurrent severe infections and malignancies, yet coinciding with sustained MS stabilisation. This raises the hypothesis that certain non-first-line agents may contribute to MS modulation, warranting further investigation
An Overview of the History of Counselling and Psychotherapy and its Training in Ireland and the UK-Implications for Future Development
No full textDespite being in existence for the past century as a mental health treatment, counselling and psychotherapy continue to represent an ill-defined therapeutic field. Research identifying the core characteristics of effective therapy and the qualities of effective therapists have been well evidenced. There is, however, a dearth of literature examining the training and development of trainee therapists, leaving a space wherein it is difficult to determine whether current training practices of therapists are fit for purpose. Given the quality assurance role of counselling training in nurturing the establishment of best practice therapy and ensuring that therapists are appropriately skilled to deliver it, research into and conversations on what is optimal and effective in this domain are central to the profession as a whole.
Ireland is currently transitioning its governance of the discipline, away from voluntary governing bodies to the establishment of state regulation. This brings renewed emphasis on how the profession is understood and the expectations placed upon those practicing and training within it. This article identifies the context in which the discipline has developed. It offers an understanding of the current empirical base of counselling and psychotherapy training and makes recommendations into what is required to progress this base.
Ethics and dissemination : This study raises no ethical issues. The findings will be disseminated through presentations at professional conferences and publications in a peer- reviewed journal.
From Reflection to Action: The Role of Retrieval Practice in Deepening Learning and Instruction
No full textThis article responds to the persistent disconnect between educational research and classroom practice by examining retrieval practice as a reflective and actionable pedagogy. Drawing on cognitive science, it explores how retrieval practice, defined as the act of recalling knowledge from memory, can strengthen learning by activating prior knowledge and promoting long-term retention. The article positions retrieval practice as a timely response to educational systems dominated by summative assessment and superficial engagement, offering an alternative grounded in evidence and cognitive theory. It outlines the theoretical principles underpinning retrieval practice, including cognitive load theory and the concept of desirable difficulties, while critically reflecting on their limitations, particularly in their application to complex learning and real-world settings. Drawing on recent critiques, it argues for a more situated and responsive use of cognitive science in education. The article considers why retrieval practice remains underused despite strong empirical support. Barriers identified include misconceptions about effort and learning, task complexity, student anxiety and a lack of reflective implementation. Policy interventions, such as those in England, can encourage action but risk superficial adoption if divorced from professional reflection. This tension underscores the need for teachers to interpret evidence critically, adapt it thoughtfully and embed it meaningfully into their practice. In response, the article proposes evidence-informed strategies to support reflective action, which includes using feedback to motivate students, teaching learning strategies directly and supporting teachers through dialogue and professional communities. These approaches position both teachers and students as active agents in shaping learning environments that are responsive to research. Retrieval practice exemplifies how educational practice can be transformed when research engagement moves beyond passive awareness to active interpretation and application. This article calls for continued collaboration among researchers, practitioners and policymakers to sustain reflective educational cultures that act on evidence while remaining attentive to context
2025 Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) Annual Conference
No full textEvent: 2025 Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) Annual Conference 2025 Venue: University College Cork Date: 8th to 9th May 202
2025 SOFEIR Annual Conference “Ireland and Transnational Solidarities” Report
No full textEvent: 2025 SOFEIR Annual Conference: “Ireland and Transnational Solidarities” Venue: University College Cork Date: 21st to 22nd March 202
UCC Bookends Conference 2025
No full textEvent: UCC Bookends ConferenceVenue: University College CorkDate: 2nd May 202
