Cigarette smoking across three Maltese generations

Cigarette smoking, currently the single most preventable cause of disease and death, is very common in the Maltese Islands. Various aspects of smoking among three different Maltese generations were investigated using a standardized questionnaire among 200 randomly chosen subjects from each of three age groups (16-21yrs, 40-45 yrs and 60-65 yrs). They were asked to answer questions regarding duration, amount, mode and effects of smoking and their attempts at quitting. They were also asked to undergo spirometry and expired CO measurement. 66.1% of 16-21 yr olds, 59% of 40-45 yr olds and 75% of 60-65 yr olds chosen participated in the study. 27.7% of the participants were smokers - this comprised 31.1% of the 16-21 yr olds, 34.8% in the 40-45 yr olds and 19.2% in the 60-65 yr older age subset. (p = 0.0105). As a total study population 35 % of the males and 21% of the females (p = 0.0013) were regular smokers. In the 16 ­21 year olds 43.6% of the males smoked vs 20% of the females, while the gender differences for the other two groups were 32.7% males vs 36.5% females in the 40-45 year olds and 28.1% males vs 6.5% females in the oldest age group. The mean cigarette consumption in the 16-21 yr olds was significantly less than the other two age groups studied (p=0.0076). Females were more likely to be heavier smokers in the 40-45 yr olds. There was no significant geographical distribution in smoking and the less skilled workers and unemployed were more likely to be smokers (p=0.0001). 43.9% of the 16-21 year olds tried to stop smoking while 73.2% and 82.8% of the two older age groups tried even harder (p=0.0013). Only 5.3 % of smokers sought medical help to try and stop smoking. Smokers had more chest symptomatology (p<0.0001) but only the oldest age-group of smokers had decreased PEFR 19% of smokers suffered from asthma, 29% from ischaemic heart disease and 16% were diabetics. The Maltese are quite heavy smokers across all ages and gender and most are not seeking medical help to try and stop the habit.peer-reviewe

Reverse engineering applied to a lumbar vertebra

Bone studies can be made in vivo or in vitro. However, disadvantages of both traditional techniques call for a compromise between the two. Reverse engineering allows in vitro bone samples to be simulated and analysed in a virtual in vivo environment thus offering a middle ground solution and a sound foundation on which biomechanical studies of bone could develop.peer-reviewe

The pharmacist’s response to the needs of patients undergoing treatment with psychotropic medication

The usage of psychotropic (Table 1) medication is considerable world wide. In Malta, this can be attested to by the numerous studies that have been conducted by the University of Malta Department of Pharmacy (in conjuction with other institutions and individuals).peer-reviewe

The Solent Capital Compass Model of Employability

This four page presentation holds the current Solent Capital Compass Model used for embedding employability in our curriculum, along with simple definitions aimed at students. It also holds version four of the Solent Student Employability Journey, reflecting the Solent Capital Compass model. A bibliography page is also available. The model is up to date as at May 201

Comparison of body mass index of a national cohort of Maltese children over a 3-year interval

Aims: To compare body mass index (BMI) at 7 years and at 9 years of age in a national cohort of children in Malta, born in 2001, and to compare the results with an earlier study carried out in 2007 in this same cohort. Methods: BMI measurement of all children in the second year of formal school and again in the fourth year. Results: In 2008, data was collected from a total of 3435 children (girls 48.9%, boys 51.1%) with a mean age of 6.8 years. The same procedure was carried out in 2010 on the same cohort of children. A total of 3090 children participated in the second round of data collection (girls 49.5%, boys 50.5%). Based on WHO criteria (using the 2007 WHO Child Growth Reference BMI-for-age 5-19 charts), over a quarter of Maltese children aged 7 years were found to be overweight or obese in 2008. This proportion rose to just over 40% when the same cohort was measured in 2010 at the age of 9 years. A significant prevalence of overweight and obese boys was found in Gozo for both studies. Children attending Independent (fee-paying) schools were the least overweight and obese. Discussion: Obesity in childhood in Malta is increasing despite efforts to curb this disease. More emphasis must be made on prevention strategy in childhood as this is a key factor in reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality of childhood disease.peer-reviewe

Potential Benefits of Bt Brinjal in India — An Economic Assessment

The potential economic benefits of Bt brinjal hybrids in terms of yield gain, reduction in insecticide-use, and increase in net returns per hectare have been reported in this study. Results have shown that adoption of Bt brinjal hybrids would provide yield gain of 37 per cent and reduction in total insecticide-use of about 42 per cent over non-Bt hybrids. Other benefits like increase in additional brinjal production (30 thousand tonnes), savings from insecticides (` 47 crore) against Fruit and Shoot Borer (FSB), increase in net returns (` 11029/ha), and reduction in price of brinjal output (3%), etc. would be at 15 per cent adoption level. With increased adoption level of 60 per cent of Bt brinjal hybrids would provide, additional production of 119 thousand tonnes, savings from insecticides against FSB Rs 187 crore, increase in net returns ` 44117/ha and likely reduction in brinjal price by 15 per cent. Simulation of gains adopting Bt brinjal hybrids has shown that country may gain aggregate direct economic benefits between ` 577 crore and ` 2387 crore annually at 15 per cent and 60 per cent adoption levels of bt brinjal hybrids, respectively. The major gains will accrue to consumers (66% of total) and rest would go to the farmers. In brief, Bt brinjal offers a large scope to increase income of farmers, reduce its cost to consumers, improve food safety and reduce health hazards and environmental pollution. The results of study may be helpful in policy decision on Bt brinjal adoption in the context of smallholders agriculture.GM food crop, Bt brinjal hybrid, Fruit and shoot borer, Economic benefits, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q11, Q16, Q15,

Aphasia and psychiatric disturbances in cerebrovascular accident patients

Aphasia is a condition in which there is a defect or loss of the power of expression by speech, writing, or signs, or a defect of loss of the power of comprehension of spoken or written language. 21-24% of patients admitted to hospital with acute stroke are aphasic shortly after their stroke and in the long-term it is likely that 10-18% of survivors are left with significant aphasia. Among these patients, a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms arise as a complication of stroke but their diagnosis is often delayed by the presence of speech and language problems.peer-reviewe