In a population based study of the prevalence of Wilson's disease in the Republic of Ireland from 1970-89, 26 definite and probable cases were ascertained. The adjusted birth incidence rate was 17-0 per million live births (95% (confidence interval 9*9 to 27.2)) for the 20 year period 1950-69. The gene frequency was 0-41% (95% (confidence interval 0-31% to 0-52%) indicating that one in 122 of the population was a gene carrier. Allowing for a maximal degree of consanguinity, the gene frequency is reduced to 0-36% and the proportion of heterozygotes to one in 139 of the population. The consistency of the adjusted birth incidence rates over the decades 1950-59 and 1960-69 suggests a high degree of ascertainment of diagnosed cases of Wilson's disease.

A historical cohort study was carried out in an agricultural research institute in the Republic of Ireland to investigate a perceived excess of cancer deaths among employees. The objectives of the study were (a) to confirm whether or not total or cause specific death rates among selected employees were higher than expected based on national figures, and to quantify any excess, and (b) to identify centres and employee grades associated with any excess risk. The cohort comprised all administrative, research, and technical staff employed for at least two years between 1960 and 1980, giving a final total for analysis of 1323 employees.Employment history was categorised by place of work and employment grade. Deaths among the cohort were identified and causes of deaths verified. Overall the cohort had a lower than expected mortality compared with national rates (OlE = 0.67). Female deaths were too few for analysis but, among the male employees, there was an excess of all cancers (OlE = 1-24; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.8-1.9), in particular brain cancer (OlE = 4-69; 95% CI 1.2-11-4) and bladder cancer (OlE = 9-31, 95% CI 1-9-27-2). The pattern of brain tumour deaths was consistent with an occupational aetiology but it was not possible to identify specific exposures associated with the excess. All four cases occurred among research workers in the plant and soil science area. The pattern of bladder cancers was difficult to interpret. The authors are at present participating in a multicentre study to further investigate cancer risk in laboratory workers.

As a result of the positive outcome of the evaluation, the Cholesterol Information Session is continuing as a service to patients. It provides a facility outside the usual hours of outpatient services and can readily accommodate accompanying people. The information session uses the group format, which may be applicable to other specialist areas of the Nutrition and Dietetic service in the future, such as diabetes management.

Obesity in children is an important health problem in Europe. It has been linked to adverse psychological, social and health consequences in childhood and later in life. Prevention is an important way to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. Even though literature seems clear on some factors that are related to childhood obesity, results regarding other factors including dietary factors are still inconsistent. (1,2) The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was established in 2008 to measure systematically childhood obesity in the European region. Ireland is one of the countries that contribute to COSI. (3) In the Irish study, data of 1885 (894 boys, 991 girls) Irish primary school children attending first class in 2010 or 2012, who underwent anthropometric assessment and whose parents filled out a family survey were included (response rate: 62·1% of all children whose parents gave consent to fill out a questionnaire). The aim was to determine contributing factors, including several dietary factors, of childhood obesity.Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were standardised by age and sex. For BMI, overweight (including obesity) was classified using the International Obesity Taskforce cut-off points. For WC, British 1990 data was used to compute z-scores and overweight was defined as a z-score≥1·33 (91 st centile). Parents filled out a questionnaire on several factors including the child's dietary intake frequency of several food items, physical activity/inactivity pattern of the child, and family's socioeconomic characteristics. Backward stepwise elimination in the logistic regression was used to identify factors related to childhood obesity, using BMI in one model and WC in a second model as the outcome variable. These variables were dichotomised as normal versus overweight and obese combined. The STATA survey commands were used to adjust for sampling design.Overweight and obesity combined using BMI as the outcome, were more likely in girls (OR 1·47, 95%CI 1·07-2·03), children who were heavier at birth (kg: OR 1·56, 95% CI 1·09-2·24), not breastfed (OR 1·66, 95%CI 1·14-2·42), not living in detached houses/ bungalows (semi-detached house/ bungalow: OR 1·74, 95%CI 1·30-2·32; apartment/shared/other: OR 3·53, 95%CI 1·67-7·45). When using WC as the outcome, results were similar with overweight and obesity combined being more likely in girls, children who were heavier at birth and not living in detached houses/bungalows. Child's frequency of intake of dietary factors such as fruits, vegetables, soft drink (both sugary and diet), sweet snacks, salted snacks and fast food items as reported by the parent, were not associated with the outcomes. These findings might, however, be explained by other factors such as the possibility of self-report bias.In the current study, early life factors and socio-economic status were associated with overweight and obesity, whereas dietary factors were not predictive in 6-7-year-old Irish children.

Obesity amongst children and adolescents is a growing problem worldwide. (1) Sport participation has been shown to increase physical activity amongst youth, and is thus a possible route to combat obesity. (2,3) The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was established in 2008 to systematically measure childhood obesity in the European region. Ireland is one of the countries that contributes to COSI. (1) In the Irish study, data from 979 Irish primary school children who attended third class in 2010, who underwent anthropometric assessment and whose parents filled out questions on sports participation were included (response rate: 57•3 % of all children whose parents consented to the study). The objective was to identify what factors are associated with sport participation. Parents filled out a questionnaire on several factors including the child's intake frequency of several food items, physical activity/ inactivity patterns, and family's socioeconomic characteristics. Backwards stepwise binary logistic models were used to determine predictors of sport participation (no vs yes), and number of days participating in sport per week (<3 days vs ⩾3 days). All variables that were significant up to a p-value of 0•10 in Chi-square analyses were included in the regression models. Most of the children participated in sports (89•8 %) and over half did so for 3 days or more in a week (52•5 %). There was no statistically significant difference in sport participation based on gender. Children who participated in sports were statistically significantly more likely to spend ⩾2 hours playing outside over weekend days (OR[95 %CI]:1•95[1•10-3•45]), and less likely to live in rented accommodation vs owned accommodation (OR[95 %CI]:0•14[0•08-0•24]). Children who participated ⩾3 days in sports were also more likely to spend ⩾2 hours playing outside over weekend days (OR[95 %CI]:2•00[1•32-3•00]), were less likely to live in rented accommodation (OR[95 %CI]: 0•27[0•15-0•51]), less likely to live in rural areas (OR[95 %CI]:0•56[0•38-0•81]), and less likely to watch TV for ⩾2 hours per week day vs never (OR[95 %CI]:0•36[0•18-0•75]). In the current study, both physical activity and socioeconomic status factors were associated with sport participation.