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Abstract
This autoethnography examines my experience of the diagnosis and treatment of anorexia nervosa. Drawing on memory and personal and medical documents relating to inpatient admissions in an adult specialist eating disorder unit, I narrate and analyse my experience in terms of my relationship to the diagnosis of anorexia and the constructions of it I encountered. I show how I came to value an identity based on anorexia and how I learned ways of 'doing' the diagnosis in treatment. This involved me valuing medical markers of illness, including signs of poor health, which became crucial to how I performed my diagnosis and retained the diagnostically-informed sense of self that I valued. I suggest that, ultimately, these diagnostic-dynamics, alongside other effects of long-term inpatient treatment such as detachment from 'normal life', prolonged my struggles with self-starvation. The insights from this autoethnography shed light on potential iatrogenic impacts of diagnosis and treatment for anorexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren O’Connell
- Lauren O’Connell, Independent
researcher, Sociology department, Colchester campus, UK.
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Taboada C, Delia J, Chen M, Ma C, Peng X, Zhu X, Jiang L, Vu T, Zhou Q, Yao J, O’Connell L, Johnsen S. Glassfrogs conceal blood in their liver to maintain transparency. Science 2022; 378:1315-1320. [PMID: 36548427 PMCID: PMC9984244 DOI: 10.1126/science.abl6620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Transparency in animals is a complex form of camouflage involving mechanisms that reduce light scattering and absorption throughout the organism. In vertebrates, attaining transparency is difficult because their circulatory system is full of red blood cells (RBCs) that strongly attenuate light. Here, we document how glassfrogs overcome this challenge by concealing these cells from view. Using photoacoustic imaging to track RBCs in vivo, we show that resting glassfrogs increase transparency two- to threefold by removing ~89% of their RBCs from circulation and packing them within their liver. Vertebrate transparency thus requires both see-through tissues and active mechanisms that "clear" respiratory pigments from these tissues. Furthermore, glassfrogs' ability to regulate the location, density, and packing of RBCs without clotting offers insight in metabolic, hemodynamic, and blood-clot research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Taboada
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Corresponding author.(C.T.);(J.D.);(J.Y.)
| | - Jesse Delia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA,Division of Vertebrate Zoology and Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding author.(C.T.);(J.D.);(J.Y.)
| | - Maomao Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chenshuo Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xiaorui Peng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Laiming Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Tri Vu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Qifa Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA,USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Junjie Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Corresponding author.(C.T.);(J.D.);(J.Y.)
| | | | - Sönke Johnsen
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Canfield CF, O’Connell L, Sadler RC, Gutierrez J, Williams S, Mendelsohn AL. Not built for families: Associations between neighborhood disinvestment and reduced parental cognitive stimulation. Front Psychol 2022; 13:933245. [PMID: 36312120 PMCID: PMC9606826 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.933245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infants learn and develop within an ecological context that includes family, peers, and broader built and social environments. This development relies on proximal processes—reciprocal interactions between infants and the people and environments around them that help them understand their world. Most research examining predictors of proximal processes like parent-child interaction and parenting has focused on elements within the home and family. However, factors like the neighborhood built environment may also exhibit an influence, and may be particularly critical in infancy, as socioeconomic disparities in cognition and language emerge early in life. Moreover, influence from the built environment could independently exacerbate these disparities, as research indicates that neighborhood impacts may be especially relevant for families living in neighborhoods that have experienced disinvestment and therefore have been under-resourced. The current study examines these questions by determining the association of neighborhood vacancy rate and observed physical disorder—indicators of poverty, residential stability, and long-term structural discrimination—with parental cognitive stimulation among predominantly Black/African-American families in Flint, Michigan. Flint is particularly salient for this study because vacancy rates and disinvestment vary widely across the city, driven by its long-time status as a city struggling economically. Regression analyses controlling for caregiver education, mental health, and social support indicated that vacancy rate and physical disorder negatively predicted parental cognitive stimulation. Moreover, there were significant interactions between the built environment and social support, indicating that, particularly for parent-child shared reading, vacancy rate and physical disorder predicted reduced shared reading only when parents had limited social support. These results have important implications for public policy around vacant property demolition and neighborhood reinvestment programs, as they indicate that the neighborhood built environment is associated with parenting behaviors that have important impacts on infants’ learning and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin F. Canfield
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Caitlin F. Canfield,
| | - Lauren O’Connell
- Division of Public Health, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Flint, MI, United States
| | - Richard C. Sadler
- Division of Public Health, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Flint, MI, United States
| | - Juliana Gutierrez
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shanna Williams
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, Flint, MI, United States
| | - Alan L. Mendelsohn
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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Olli KE, Rapp C, O’Connell L, Collins CB, McNamee EN, Jensen O, Jedlicka P, Allison KC, Goldberg MS, Gerich ME, Frank DN, Ir D, Robertson CE, Evans CM, Aherne CM. Muc5ac Expression Protects the Colonic Barrier in Experimental Colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2020; 26:1353-1367. [PMID: 32385500 PMCID: PMC7441107 DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mucus gel layer (MGL) lining the colon is integral to exclusion of bacteria and maintaining intestinal homeostasis in health and disease. Some MGL defects allowing bacteria to directly contact the colonic surface are commonly observed in ulcerative colitis (UC). The major macromolecular component of the colonic MGL is the secreted gel-forming mucin MUC2, whose expression is essential for homeostasis in health. In UC, another gel-forming mucin, MUC5AC, is induced. In mice, Muc5ac is protective during intestinal helminth infection. Here we tested the expression and functional role of MUC5AC/Muc5ac in UC biopsies and murine colitis. METHODS We measured MUC5AC/Muc5ac expression in UC biopsies and in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis. We performed DSS colitis in mice deficient in Muc5ac (Muc5ac-/-) to model the potential functional role of Muc5ac in colitis. To assess MGL integrity, we quantified bacterial-epithelial interaction and translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes. Antibiotic treatment and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to directly investigate the role of bacteria in murine colitis. RESULTS Colonic MUC5AC/Muc5ac mRNA expression increased significantly in active UC and murine colitis. Muc5ac-/- mice experienced worsened injury and inflammation in DSS colitis compared with control mice. This result was associated with increased bacterial-epithelial contact and translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes. However, no change in microbial abundance or community composition was noted. Antibiotic treatment normalized colitis severity in Muc5ac-/- mice to that of antibiotic-treated control mice. CONCLUSIONS MUC5AC/Muc5ac induction in the acutely inflamed colon controls injury by reducing bacterial breach of the MGL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Olli
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Caroline Rapp
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Lauren O’Connell
- School of Medicine, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colm B Collins
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Digestive Health Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eoin N McNamee
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Department of Biology, Maynooth University, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Owen Jensen
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Paul Jedlicka
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kristen C Allison
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew S Goldberg
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mark E Gerich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Daniel N Frank
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Diana Ir
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Charles E Robertson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Christopher M Evans
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Carol M Aherne
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Mucosal Inflammation Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- School of Medicine, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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Termignoni-Garcia F, Louder MIM, Balakrishnan CN, O’Connell L, Edwards SV. Prospects for sociogenomics in avian cooperative breeding and parental care. Curr Zool 2020; 66:293-306. [PMID: 32440290 PMCID: PMC7233861 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
For the last 40 years, the study of cooperative breeding (CB) in birds has proceeded primarily in the context of discovering the ecological, geographical, and behavioral drivers of helping. The advent of molecular tools in the early 1990s assisted in clarifying the relatedness of helpers to those helped, in some cases, confirming predictions of kin selection theory. Methods for genome-wide analysis of sequence variation, gene expression, and epigenetics promise to add new dimensions to our understanding of avian CB, primarily in the area of molecular and developmental correlates of delayed breeding and dispersal, as well as the ontogeny of achieving parental status in nature. Here, we outline key ways in which modern -omics approaches, in particular genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and epigenetic profiling such as ATAC-seq, can be used to add a new level of analysis of avian CB. Building on recent and ongoing studies of avian social behavior and sociogenomics, we review how high-throughput sequencing of a focal species or clade can provide a robust foundation for downstream, context-dependent destructive and non-destructive sampling of specific tissues or physiological states in the field for analysis of gene expression and epigenetics. -Omics approaches have the potential to inform not only studies of the diversification of CB over evolutionary time, but real-time analyses of behavioral interactions in the field or lab. Sociogenomics of birds represents a new branch in the network of methods used to study CB, and can help clarify ways in which the different levels of analysis of CB ultimately interact in novel and unexpected ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Termignoni-Garcia
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Matthew I M Louder
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | | | - Lauren O’Connell
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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O’Connell L, O’Connell RM, Ahmed O, Mealy K. Audit of PPI Prescribing Practices: A Risk to Patient Safety? Ir Med J 2019; 112:911. [PMID: 31241278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aim Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently prescribed to surgical patients (50-60%) to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding. However, most surgical patients are at low risk of significant bleeds. The aim of this audit was to identify inappropriate PPI prescribing, if any, in a cohort of surgical inpatients. Methods This was a prospective analysis completed over a 4 month period. Data was collected via review of clinical notes and drug charts. The audit standard was the consensus guideline on indications for PPI use issued by Scarpignato et al (2016). Results In total 89 patients were included (n = 89). 73% were on PPI therapy. 30% had a documented indication for therapy which was concordant with recommendations. However, the majority of PPI prescriptions (70%) were inappropriate. Conclusion PPIs are frequently prescribed to surgical patients without an appropriate indication. Indiscriminate use of these drugs has implications in the form of costs and potential complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- L O’Connell
- Department of General Surgery, Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland
| | - R M O’Connell
- Department of General Surgery, Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland
| | - O Ahmed
- Department of General Surgery, Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland
| | - K Mealy
- Department of General Surgery, Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland
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O’Connell L, Gao S, McCorquodale D, Fleisher J, Lopez JV. Fine grained compositional analysis of Port Everglades Inlet microbiome using high throughput DNA sequencing. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4671. [PMID: 29761039 PMCID: PMC5947159 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Similar to natural rivers, manmade inlets connect inland runoff to the ocean. Port Everglades Inlet (PEI) is a busy cargo and cruise ship port in South Florida, which can act as a source of pollution to surrounding beaches and offshore coral reefs. Understanding the composition and fluctuations of bacterioplankton communities ("microbiomes") in major port inlets is important due to potential impacts on surrounding environments. We hypothesize seasonal microbial fluctuations, which were profiled by high throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and analysis. METHODS & RESULTS Surface water samples were collected every week for one year. A total of four samples per month, two from each sampling location, were used for statistical analysis creating a high sampling frequency and finer sampling scale than previous inlet microbiome studies. We observed significant differences in community alpha diversity between months and seasons. Analysis of composition of microbiomes (ANCOM) tests were run in QIIME 2 at genus level taxonomic classification to determine which genera were differentially abundant between seasons and months. Beta diversity results yielded significant differences in PEI community composition in regard to month, season, water temperature, and salinity. Analysis of potentially pathogenic genera showed presence of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. However, statistical analysis indicated that these organisms were not present in significantly high abundances throughout the year or between seasons. DISCUSSION Significant differences in alpha diversity were observed when comparing microbial communities with respect to time. This observation stems from the high community evenness and low community richness in August. This indicates that only a few organisms dominated the community during this month. August had lower than average rainfall levels for a wet season, which may have contributed to less runoff, and fewer bacterial groups introduced into the port surface waters. Bacterioplankton beta diversity differed significantly by month, season, water temperature, and salinity. The 2013-2014 dry season (October-April), was warmer and wetter than historical averages. This may have driven significant differences in beta diversity. Increased nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations were observed in these dry season months, possibly creating favorable bacterial growth conditions. Potentially pathogenic genera were present in the PEI. However their relatively low, non-significant abundance levels highlight their relatively low risk for public health concerns. This study represents the first to sample a large port at this sampling scale and sequencing depth. These data can help establish the inlet microbial community baseline and supplement the vital monitoring of local marine and recreational environments, all the more poignant in context of local reef disease outbreaks and worldwide coral reef collapse in wake of a harsh 2014-16 El Niño event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren O’Connell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States of America
| | - Song Gao
- Division of Natural Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Donald McCorquodale
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States of America
| | - Jay Fleisher
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL, United States of America
| | - Jose V. Lopez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States of America
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Murray DP, Foley R, Whelton MJ, Moriarty KJ, Brooks S, Loft D, Mpoko N, Gardner V, Marsh MN, Stevens FM, Kearns M, Moran B, Sutton G, Taylor M, Karran SJ, Courtney MG, O’Brien M, McPartlin JM, Gibney MJ, Scott JM, Weir DG, Suzuki Y, Tobin A, Quinn D, Whelan A, O’Morain A, Waldron R, O’Riordan M, Kirwan WO, Ryan T, Lennon J, Crowe J, Shinkwin C, Kirwan W, Mackle EJ, Parks TG, O’Keefe L, Lanigan D, O’Donnell M, Harte P, O’Sullivan G, Foley DP, Dunne P, Dervan P, Crowe JP, O’Callaghan T, Chua A, Kennedy NP, MacMathuna P, Keating JJ, Weir DG, Keeling PWN, Leen E, McKenna D, Gilligan D, Ward R, Casey E, Tobin A, Hutchinson L, Sweeney EC, O’Morain C, Collins JSA, Sloan JM, Watt PH, Hamilton PW, Love AHG, Chua A, Kennedy NP, MacMathuna P, Keating JJ, Maxwell WJ, Brennan DP, Huang J, McDonald G, Weir DG, Keeling PWN, Brennan DP, Kennedy NP, Keeling PWN, McKenna D, Ward R, Gilligan D, Tobin A, Sweeney EC, O’Morain C, Ryan T, Lennon J, Crowe J, Diamond T, Rowlands BJ, Keating J, O’Reilly E, Burke P, McDonald GSA, Monson J, Stephens R, Corrigan O, Keeling PWN, Carey PD, Darzi A, Monson JRT, O’Morain C, Tanner WA, Keane FBV, Darzi A, Monson JRT, Carey PD, O’Morain C, Tanner WA, Keane FBV, Rogers E, McAnena OJ, Given HF, Keeling P, O’Sullivan G, DeMeester T, Skinner DB, Collins JK, O’Sullivan G, O’Donoghue M, O’Brien F, O’Donovan T, Corbett A, Hahnvaganawong C, Nolan S, Collins J, O’Sullivan G, Murray J, Hogan B, Sullivan M, Doyle JS, Butler P, Walker F, Murray J, Doyle JS, O’Dwyer PJ, Minton J, Enright H, Patchett S, O’Connell L, O’Donoghue DP, Afdhal NH, Collins JSA, Cattey RP, Hogan WJ, Helm JF, Ash R, O’Briain DS, O’Malley F, Courtney G. Irish society of Gastroenterology. Ir J Med Sci 1991. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02947651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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