Algal substratum preferences of the alien foraminiferan Amphistegina lobifera in shallow water

The Lessepsian foraminiferan Amphistegina lobifera is particularly numerous on algae in shallow water. We sampled foraminiferans from three algae (Cystoseira spp., Padina pavonica and Halopteris sp.) within the 0.75 - 2.0 m depth zone from five different sites around the island of Malta. There was a significant difference in the population density of live Amphistegina between the algae studied with Halopteris being preferred to Padina and with very sparse populations on Cystoseira.peer-reviewe

Congenital malformations survey : a preliminary report

A congenital malformation may be defined as any developmental defect which is present on clinical examination at the time of birth or within the first few months of life. The purpose of this paper is to give a preliminary report on the congenital malformations, major and minor, found in the first 1000 consecutive deliveries at St. Luke's Hospital, Malta over a period of one year. This preliminary survey indicates that the incidence of major and minor congenital malformations in babies born at St. Luke's Hospital is in the region of 2% (20 out of 1016 total births) and 10% (106 out of 1016 total births) respectively. This is similar to that reported from other countries. It is concluded that in spite of alleged inbreeding in a relatively small island population, there is probably no greater incidence of major and minor anomalies in the Maltese islands.peer-reviewe

ETHICAL AND ORGANISATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN SCREENING FOR DEMENTIA

The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UKNSC) defines screening as “the process of identifying individuals who may be at higher risk of a disease or condition amongst large populations of healthy people”. Building on foundations laid by Wilson and Jungner in the landmark paper in 1968, the UKNSC states that “Once identified, those individuals can consider further tests, and healthcare providers can offer them interventions of benefit. A screening programme needs to offer more benefit than harm, at a reasonable cost to the NHS” (gov.uk 2014). We will consider the ethical issues surrounding some of the UK’s screening programmes and other methods used to assess and communicate patients’ risk of disease. We will discuss the appropriateness of candidate dementia biomarkers in order to inform research into developing such a biomarker or series of biomarkers

ETHICAL AND ORGANISATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN SCREENING FOR DEMENTIA

The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UKNSC) defines screening as “the process of identifying individuals who may be at higher risk of a disease or condition amongst large populations of healthy people”. Building on foundations laid by Wilson and Jungner in the landmark paper in 1968, the UKNSC states that “Once identified, those individuals can consider further tests, and healthcare providers can offer them interventions of benefit. A screening programme needs to offer more benefit than harm, at a reasonable cost to the NHS” (gov.uk 2014). We will consider the ethical issues surrounding some of the UK’s screening programmes and other methods used to assess and communicate patients’ risk of disease. We will discuss the appropriateness of candidate dementia biomarkers in order to inform research into developing such a biomarker or series of biomarkers

Chemical determinants of occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Background: Workplace inhalational exposures to low molecular weight (LMW) chemicals cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) as well as the more common manifestation of respiratory hypersensitivity, occupational asthma (OA). Aims: To explore whether chemical causation of HP is associated with different structural and physico-chemical determinants from OA. Methods: Chemical causes of human cases of HP and OA were identified from searches of peer-reviewed literature up to the end of 2011. Each chemical was categorised according to whether or not it had been the attributed cause of at least one case of HP. The predicted asthma hazard was determined for each chemical using a previously developed quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model. The chemicals in both sets were independently and ‘blindly’ analysed by an expert in mechanistic chemistry for a qualitative prediction of protein cross-linking potential and determination of lipophilicity (log Kow). Results: Ten HP causing chemicals were identified and had a higher median QSAR predicted asthma hazard than the control group of 101 OA causing chemicals (p < 0.005). Nine of ten HP causing chemicals were predicted to be protein cross-linkers compared to 24/92 controls (p<0.0001). The distributions of log Kow indicated higher values for the HP list (median 3.47) compared to controls (median 0.81) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that chemicals capable of causing HP tend to have higher predicted asthma hazard, are more lipophilic and are more likely to be protein cross-linkers than those causing OA. Key words: hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational chemicals, occupational respiratory disease, toxic inhalatio

A possible hazard of splenectomy

The first case of splenectomy in St. Luke`s Hospital of a four months old infant is described. The infant died from a fulminating septicemia just over six weeks after splenectomy. Similar case studies indicated that fulminating infection occurs after splenectomy, particularly in infancy which could result fatal. In this regard, this study recommends that splenectomy should not be performed in the preschool child. Furthermore a careful follow-up of all splenectomised patients is advisable, by also treating any infection no matter how minor it may appear to be.peer-reviewe

Jaundice in a newborn : a diagnostic problem

Neonatal jaundice and hyperbilirubinaemia are usually associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn due to rhesus incompatibility; that other causes have to be kept in mind in reaching a diagnosis is illustrated by a case study. A male child weighing 7 lb: 7 oz. was born in hospital and discharged in good condition. He was readmitted when 15 days old because of increasing jaundice of about one week's duration. On examination the baby was moderately jaundiced, with a temperature of 99.4 Fahrenheit, and a pulse rate of 120/min. From the findings it was concluded that the baby was suffering from a hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency inherited from the mother. Jaundice in the newborn often presents diagnostic problems. A practical classification depending on the time of first appearance of the jaundice is given in Table 2. As the condition is being recognized more frequently, one should think of G6PD deficiency in places like Malta where the incidence of the deficiency is fairly high whenever a case of jaundice not due to rhesus-incompatibility arises. The avoidance of drugs and other substances that are known to cause hemolysis may then prevent fatal kernicterus and other complications of severe jaundice of the newborn.peer-reviewe

Ocular toxoplasmosis: a report on a case discovered in Malta

This article was the first to report a case in Malta diagnosed by ocular toxoplasmosis. In this regard the author presents useful information about this anomaly, describing how it is manifested clinically, also highlighting the most important ocular signs and symptoms. Moreover, a description of how the infection proliferates in the part of the eye is provided, mainly within the retina and choroid. The case report mentions the way ocular toxoplasmosis is manifested in the patient and the examinations implemented.peer-reviewe

A case of anorectal agenesis : postoperative complications

An analysis of the postoperative complications of a case of ano-rectal agenesis is here presented. The multiplicity of factors involved, with special emphasis on protein-calorie malnutrition, together with the importance of team-work in the management of this case, is emphasised. The postoperative care of a seriously ill child who has undergone major surgery and may be suffering from multiple complications, necessitates close liaison between the surgeon, the pediatrician and the laboratory and nursing staff. It is clear from the comments about this case that the utmost attention to detail is crucial in the management of such casespeer-reviewe