Skin grafts : local quest for viable alternatives to autologous grafts using silk and acellular dermal matrices

The gold standard with regards to skin transplantation is the use of the patient’s own skin obtained from a healthy donor site. Such grafts can be either full thickness skin or more commonly nowadays, split thickness skin. Various materials, having either natural and or synthetic origins, have been used in the engineering of skin substitutes to-date and these grafts are then confronted against autologous skin grafts. If proven to be successful, such matrices could be utilised in clinical applications such as in the treatment of burn wounds and in cases of skin ulcers amongst others. In this study the primary cells used, keratinocytes and fibroblast, were obtained from donor skin and cultured. Scaffolds of xenogenic (raw silk) as well as of allogenic (acellular dermal matrices) origins were obtained via low-cost methods and seeded using the fibroblasts and keratinocytes so as to determine which gave the closest mimic to skin grafts. Out of the matrices assessed, the raw silk matrix allowed the best colonisation with skin cells in our hands. The ADM matrice also showed some cell colonisation, but will need further experimentation.peer-reviewe

Bronchography

This is a review of bronchography as practised in St. Luke's Hospital, Malta, over the years 1969 and 1970. A case study involving 40 patients who were investigated by bronchography, 26 cases had a definite bronchial or lung lesion, 14 cases had a normal bronchogram. The advantage of bronchography in the investigation of a lung or bronchial lesion it that demonstration of the lesion is clear cut with good definition. The amount of exposure to X-Rays is minimal and is equivalent to 3 exposures for a chest X-Ray which are of minimal duration. This is in contrast to tomography where the different cuts at different levels are taken with each exposure lasting between 1 and 3 seconds. The disadvantage, relative to tomography, is that the procedure is more uncomfortable for the patient. Neither bronchography nor tomography will supersede each other as a means of investigating a lung lesion. Bronchography and tomography are complementary.peer-reviewe

Evaluation of the first three years of a revised biomedical sciences curriculum

In 2009, the University of Malta Medical School embarked on a process of curricular reform starting with Years 1 and 2 of the basic biomedical sciences curriculum. Each semester since then, we have collected anonymous feedback from each cohort of Year 1 and year 2 students regarding whether 1. The study unit materials matched the learning outcomes; 2. The amount of independent work was compatible with the credit value; 3. There was close agreement between the stated objectives and what was actually taught; 4. There was repetition of content across study units; 5. The clinical relevance of the subject matter was emphasized; and 6. The time devoted to each study unit was adequate to meet the learning outcomes. Apart from that, data was collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching methodology within the new curriculum - be it practical session, lecture or small group session. All Year 1 and 2 study units were evaluated for each academic year. Between 2009 and 2011, 1281 students completed the questionnaires (35% of the study body). Analysis of this data shows that in general the revised curriculum has been well received. Students have commented favourably on the new integration of academic disciplines of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology into system-based modules. Concerns have been raised about some of the learning outcomes and the time allocated to certain topics. These data have been utilised by curriculum planners to amend several of the study units, which changes will take effect in October 2012.peer-reviewe

Preliminary data on bathymetric and temporal changes in the morphology of a Maltese Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadow

Preliminary data on the morphology of a local Posidonia oceanica meadow were obtained as part of an ongoing study on the community structure and composition of the vagile fauna associated with this seagrass. The values for Shoot Density, Leaf Standing Crop and Leaf Area Index obtained appear to be higher than those reported for meadows of this seagrass in other parts of the Mediterranean.peer-reviewe