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About the Journal

The UCC SMJ provides students with an opportunity to connect with the greater research community at UCC. This is a platform for students to showcase their work, as well as introduce them to the peer reviewing process. Our goal is to create a space for students to ask critical questions, with the ultimate aim of fostering more well-rounded future healthcare professionals.

Current Issue

Vol. 5 (2025): UCC Student Medical Journal
View Vol. 5 (2025): UCC Student Medical Journal

We are so pleased to present the Fifth Edition of the Student Medical Journal! Another year's hard work by UCC's medical students is on display, with an impressive array of abstracts, ethical discussion, reviews and original research. This year's special edition focuses on diversity and cultural differences in medicine, interpreted through the unique lenses of UCC's medical societies. This edition also boasts several SMJ firsts, including the publication of conference abstracts from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland's Neurovision Conference, as well as UCC's own Student Research Conference! As the SMJ continues to grow, we are always grateful for the dedication and support of our editorial team, our faculty and peer reviewers, and the authors who make these editions possible! Happy reading!

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025
Published: 2025-10-17

Address

  • UCC Student Medical Journal 5th Edition

    Shobha Mehta, Pádraig Cronin
    1-120
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1

Articles

  • Aortic valve replacement via mini-sternotomy versus full sternotomy: a single centre retrospective cohort study

    Joey Harrington, Dr. Seán Barrett, Dr. Eileen Duggan, Mr. Kishore Doddakula
    9-14
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.1

  • Indications and quality of care of warfarin at King Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Ahsa

    Yazan H Mustafa, Hani Mustafa, Mohammad Al Shuaibi, Ayman Soliman
    17-21
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.2

  • Diversity and cultural differences in preeclampsia beliefs and management practices: a narrative review

    Aqsa Shoaib
    22-27
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.3

  • Evaluating the efficacy and safety of MDMA for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: a systematic review

    Megha Kodancha, Houssein Chahrour, Cassandra Carey, Hiva Fazeli, Anahita Azadian, Sten Hiroshi Kajitani
    28-37
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.4

  • LTBP2: Bridging our understanding of the extracellular matrix in cardiac fibrosis

    Ahsan Rashid, Scott P. Heximer
    39-44
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.5

  • General anesthesia for a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder and postoperative respiratory failure: a case report

    Zaineb Hamza
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.6

  • Public and patient involvement - a moral obligation in medical research

    Padraig Cronin, Tate MacDonald, Jacqueline Jefferies , Emmy Racine
    50-52
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.7

  • Analgesic efficacy of a single dose intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP)

    Erika Wolff, Gabriella Iohom
    54
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.8

  • Rethinking Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: is obesity the primary driver of hypoventilation?

    Peter Macilwraith, Dr. Liam Doherty, Mr. Colm O' Boyle, Derbrenn O' Connor
    55
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.9

  • A Bone's Triumph: the battle against osteomyelitis

    NOORALHUDA ALSHAMI
    56
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.10

  • Purple Scrubs

    Zaineb Hamza
    57
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.11

Special Feature

  • Cultural and ethical considerations in Obstetrics and Gynaecology - a narrative review

    Emma Wilson, Hannah Whibbs, Alyssa Belfiore, Hoyang Seo, Faith Sumastre, Irene Lau, Lauren Birchenough, Vivienne Wang
    59-63
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.12

  • The impact of cultural biases and language barriers in emergency care

    Mayah Cousens, Carina Lam, Hio Weng Chu, Houssein Chahrour, Fallan Curtis
    64-67
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.13

  • Cultural impacts on psychiatric care for pre- and post-diagnosed patients and their respective health outcomes

    Carina Lam, Marim Ibrahim, Houssein Chahrour, Aqsa Shoaib, Muhammad Muiz-uddin Ghauri
    68-71
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.14

  • From bias to better care: cultural competency in primary care

    Houssein Chahrour, Sanjeevan Mathialagan, Marim Ibrahim, Arman Azad, Marissa Singh
    72-75
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.15

  • Cultural neuroscience and its implications in healthcare - a narrative review

    Shobha Mehta, Muskan Sait, Marissa Singh, Akshita Malhotra, Noor Al-Shamaa, Aqsa Shoaib, Colin Ransom, Gabriel Orhadje, Aine Watson, Aoife Hartnett, Katherine Rasper
    76-80
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.16

  • Breaking Barriers: Addressing stigma and cultural taboos in global health initiatives by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

    Zaineb Hamza, Nooralhuda Alshami, Andrea Young Zi Yi
    82-85
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.17

  • Exploring the biopsychosocial impact of recalcitrant eczema - a case report

    Dermatology Society, Ghufran Bander, Alexander Johnson, Nora Skurdina, Maheen Junaid
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.18

Conference Proceedings

  • A rare case of paediatric meningioma

    Judith Esther Linares Gomez
    92
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.19

  • Visualizing facial distortions In Prospometamorphopsia

    Rhieya Rahul
    93
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.20

  • Intracranial Vein of Galen Malformation and its management

    Jubran Al-balushi
    94
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.21

  • A Rasmussen Encephalitis in an adolescent girl

    Shreya Sankar
    95
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.22

  • A retelling of the first successful treatment of Total Posterior Craniopagus

    Aura Ilovan
    96
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.23

  • Amusement park rides and cardiac devices: heart dropper or device stopper?

    Alexander Johnson, Mia Kassab, Dania Kallas, Sonia Franciosi, Jeffrey Bone, Sakethram Saravu Vijayashankar, Shubhayan Sanatani
    98
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.24

  • Predictive markers for treatment response in metastatic KRASmutant non-small cell lung cancer

    Emily Ryan, Dearbhaile Collins
    99
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.25

  • Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and cognitive outcomes in childhood and adolescence

    T Das, As Khashan , M Hanrahan
    100
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.26

  • Reaching the 6-hour target: a comparative analysis of patient characteristics and outcomes in the emergency department

    Kelsey Timoney
    101
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.27

  • Understanding the impact of palliative and ablative radiotherapy (RT) on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in patients with metastatic disease

    Kimya Ghaffarian, Bojan Macanovic, Micheal O’Cathail, Seamus O’Reilly, Orla Monaghan, Karen O’Meara, Eoin O’Carroll, Aisling Barry
    102
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.28

  • Differences between the clinical manifestation of adult-onset and childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

    Rithvik Karthikeyan, Grainne Murphy
    103
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.29

  • A rare cause of otalgia - Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis case report

    Ahmad Albakri, Claudine Murphy, Sebastian McWilliams, Eadoin O’Cathain
    104
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.30

  • Lithium-induced cardiotoxicity mimicking Acute Coronary Syndrome: a case report

    Anahita Azadian, Houssein Chahrour
    105
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.31

  • A case study on suboptimal asthma control in a pediatric patient: addressing adherence and caregiver concerns

    Manvir Duhra, Houssein Chahrour, Anahita Azaidan, Carina Lam
    106
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.32

  • A re-audit of polypharmacy recognition in older patients on admission to an acute hospital

    Matthew Cronin, Ivanna McMahon, Ahmed Ibrahim, Nurul Azizan, Rizwan Aziz
    107
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.33

  • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome misdiagnosed as Bell’s Palsy: a case report

    Houssein Chahrour, Madeleine Smee, Anahita Azadian, Manvir Duhra, Nav Jalan
    108
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.34

  • Proton Pump Inhibitors as chemoprophylaxis against the progression of Barrett’s Esophagus: a literature review

    Touqa Abdelsamad, Ally O’Brien Davis
    109
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.35

  • Melatonin as a reactive treatment for post-operative delirium in patients in the cardiac ICU: a retrospective cohort study

    Andres Clarke, John Hinchion
    110
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.36

  • Impact of opioid-free anaesthesia on postoperative opioid consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Hannah Anderson, Noor Alshami, Anahita Azadian, Gabrielle Iohom
    111
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.37

  • Hyperlipidaemia in primary care: management challenges for GPs and patients

    Jagatjit Garha, Diarmuid Quinlan
    112
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.38

  • Generative AI’s performance on emergency medicine boards questions: an observational study

    Sten Kajitani, Mila Pastrak, Anthony Goodings, Audrey Nguyen, Austin Drewek, Andrew Lafree, Adrian Murphy
    113
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.39

  • Research on antibiotic-producing bacteria in Irish soil

    Jone Martinez, June Naravaite, Conor Shanahan
    114
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.40

  • Management of neonatal abdominal immature teratoma in a resource-limited South African hospital: a case report

    Sten Kajitani, Anna Feore, Tyaag Desai , Keston Kajitani, Daniel Hall, Mahomed Hoosen Sheik Gafoor
    115
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.41

  • When STEMI isn’t STEMI: a case of severe aortic stenosis masquerading as Acute Coronary Syndrome

    Nooralhuda Alshami , Zaineb Hamza
    116
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.42

  • Immunosuppression, a double-edged sword: sepsis, skin cancer risk, and potential Multiple Sclerosis stabilization

    Mihika Mull, Ileesha Singh
    117
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.43
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