Histoplasmosis : a pilot survey

In view of the presence of the histoplasmosis disease along the Southern shores of nearby Italy where the fungus was cultivated from the soil, it was considered worthwhile to carry out a pilot survey to ascertain the local histoplasmin reactivity, even though so far no case of histoplasmosis has been diagnosed in Malta. The population chosen to be tested consisted of a selected group according to certain characteristics, whereby a Histoplasmin Skin Test was carried out by the Mantoux method in 461 persons. All tests gave negative results. Systemic primary fungal infestation is rare in Malta. The findings of the present pilot survey indicate that one is unlikely to come across endogenous histoplasmosis, yet, in view of the rapid increase in travel throughout the World, the possibility of meeting with imported disease has to be seriously considered.peer-reviewe

Report on a survey of the terrestrial ecological resources of the Qawra/Dwejra area, Western Gozo, commissioned by Nature Trust (Malta)

The present survey of the terrestrial ecological resources of the Qawra/Dwejra area, Western Gozo has been commissioned by Nature Trust (Malta). The report describes the late dry-season terrestrial environment within an area that follows the boundaries of the proposed Qawra/Dwejra Heritage Park and evaluates the ecological and conservation significance of the biotic assemblages present within this area. The present study is being carried out in the context of the Dwejra LIFE project, awarded to Nature Trust (Malta) under the LIFE-Third Countries component of the European Union’s LIFE programme (Commission Reference: LIFE03 TCY/MT/000047). The Project was awarded to Nature Trust (Malta) in 2003 and runs from 1st April 2004 to 31st March 2007. Project partners include the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and Associazione Italiana per il WWF. The general aims of the project are as follows: Development of a restoration / conservation and management plan. Establishment of a framework for environmental management. Strengthening of current administrative and enforcement capacities. Implementation of environmental education programmes through the creation of an eco-tourism and environmental education site. Use of the project as a demonstration for the creation of further coastal nature reserves. Creation of a Coastal Nature Reserve which conforms with the objectives of the Coastal Zone Management Subject Plan, as well as the Structure Plan for Malta and Gozo.peer-reviewe

Erectile dysfunction in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) seems to be a widespread sexual issue in men affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Multiple causes appear to be involved such as hormonal imbalance, smoking habit, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, chronic hypoxia, psychiatric disorders (depression and anxiety), and medications. ED can have a significant impact on COPD men and consequently on their quality of life, which is usually already compromised. Given this situation, however, pneumologists usually do not properly care for the sexuality of COPD patients especially because men can be reluctant to talk about their intimate issues. The aim of this narrative review is to briefly summarize the evidence emerging from literature and to provide a wide point of view about sexual dysfunction in COPD men

Effects of maintenance lithium treatment on serum parathyroid hormone and calcium levels: a retrospective longitudinal naturalistic study

Objective: The aim of this retrospective longitudinal naturalistic study was to evaluate the effects of maintenance lithium treatment on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal naturalistic study design was used. Data were collected from the database of a tertiary psychiatric center covering the years 2010\u20132014. Included were bipolar patients who had never been exposed to lithium and had lithium started, and who had PTH, and total and ionized calcium levels available before and during lithium treatment. Paired t-tests were used to analyze changes in PTH and calcium levels. Linear regressions were per- formed, with mean lithium level and duration of lithium exposure as independent variables and change in PTH levels as dependent variable. Results: A total 31 patients were included. The mean duration of lithium treatment was 18.6\ub111.4 months. PTH levels significantly increased during lithium treatment (+13.55\ub114.20 pg/mL); the rate of hyperparathyroidism was 12.9%. Neither total nor ionized calcium increased from baseline to follow-up; none of our patients developed hypercalcemia. Linear regressions analyses did not show an effect of duration of lithium exposure or mean lithium level on PTH levels. Conclusion: Lithium-associated stimulation of parathyroid function is more common than assumed to date. Among parameters to be evaluated prior to lithium implementation, calcium and PTH should be added

Phantom membrane microfluidic cross-flow filtration device for the direct optical detection of water pollutants

The diffusion of autonomous sensing platforms capable of a remote large-scale surveillance of environmental water basins is currently limited by the cost and complexity of standard analytical methods. In order to create a new generation of water analysis systems suitable for continuous monitoring of a large number of sites, novel technical solutions for fluid handling and detection are needed. Here we present a microfluidic device hosting a perfluorinated microporous membrane with refractive index similar to that of water, which enables the combination of filtration and label-free sensing of adsorbing substances, mainly pollutants, in environmental water samples. The cross-flow design of the microfluidic device avoids the clogging of the membrane due to particulate, whereas molecules with some hydrophobic moiety contained in the crossing flow are partially retained and their adhesion on the inner surface of the membrane yields an increase of light scattering intensity, which can be easily measured using a simple instrument based on Light Emitting Diode illumination. By cycling sample water and pure water as a reference, we demonstrate the detection of 0.5 \uce\ubcM of a model cationic surfactant and regeneration of the sensing surface. The optical response of the membrane sensor was characterized using a simple theoretical model that enables to quantify the concentration of target molecules from the amplitude and kinetics of the measured binding curves. The device was tested with real water samples containing large amount of environmental particles, without showing clogging of the membrane, and enabling nonspecific quantification of adsorbing substances in a few minutes