12 research outputs found
The need for increasing the retrieval of organs : doctors’ attitudes towards opting-out
Some countries have introduced the opting-out system of organ donation as a way of increasing the number of available organs for transplants. Public opinion is divided on this issue and so are medical recommendations. While some claim that opting-out is the only way forward to increase the harvesting of organs and transplants, others claim that the decision whether or not to donate the organs of a dead relative should be a voluntary decision taken by the next of kin. In this paper, five doctors who are directly involved in organ donation or transplantation in Malta were interviewed on the issue of the harvesting of organs. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed. The interviewees concur that since the rate of refusals is still low in Malta, the opt-in system which is currently in practice should be retained.peer-reviewe
Charged Cylindrical Black Holes in Conformal Gravity
Considering cylindrical topology we present the static solution for a charged
black hole in conformal gravity. We show that unlike the general relativistic
case there are two different solutions, both including a factor that when set
to zero recovers the familiar static charged black string solution in
Einstein's theory. This factor gives rise to a linear term in the potential
that also features in the neutral case and may have significant ramifications
for particle trajectories.Comment: 8 page
Applying quality systems to computerised stock management systems
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of applying
quality systems to an established computerised stock
management system of a local pharmaceutical wholesale
dealer.
METHOD: An established computerised stock
management system was analysed to determine the
compliance of recorded data with actual stock. A risk
assessment of all the steps for each parameter was carried
out and a risk management plan was established as
necessary following risk evaluation. After a one-year period,
the same parameters were re-evaluated using the same
methodology and compared with baseline.
KEY FINDINGS: All parameters showed an improvement
from baseline at the end of the study.
CONCLUSION: The application of quality systems
to computerised stock management systems should be
a mandatory requirement to ensure data reliability in line
with Good Distribution Practice (GDP)1 ensuring batch
traceability and reconciliation throughout the storage,
distribution and recall procedures and other GDP-related
activities.peer-reviewe
Exact Static Cylindrical Solution to Conformal Weyl Gravity
We present the exact exterior solution for a static and neutral cylindrically
symmetric source in locally conformal invariant Weyl gravity. As a special case
the general relativity analogue still can be attained, however only as a
sub-family of solutions. Our solution contains a linear term that would thus
result in a potential that grows linearly over large distances. This may have
implications for exotic astrophysical structures as well as matter fields on
the extremely small scale.Comment: 8 pages, Physical Review
Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and cortisol levels on admission to intensive care as predictors of outcome
Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of glycosylated haemoglobin and cortisol on admission, in critical care patients.
Design: Prospective, observational, single centre study.
Setting: 14 bedded Intensive care unit of a tertiary-level university hospital.
Patients: 124 consecutive emergency medical and surgical patients.
Methods: Data collected on admission included patient demographics, medical history, medication, diagnosis, type of nutrition, TISS28 score, serum blood glucose, Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), cortisol, mean arterial blood pressure, and the use of inotropes in the first 24hrs.
Daily baseline tests included complete blood count, urea and electrolytes, creatinine, twice weekly liver function tests.
The primary outcome measure was intensive care unit mortality. Secondary outcome measures were ITU stay, days of ventilation, peak urea, peak creatinine, lowest platelet count, peak bilirubin, lowest Pa/FiO2, and the number of transfusions.
Measurements and results: 124 patients (mean age 56.2 years SD 23.2) were included. Regression analysis was used to identify any potential predictors of outcome: HbA1c levels on admission were not found to be significantly associated with mortality (p=0.51), or any other secondary endpoints listed above. However, subgroup analysis revealed a predictive role of HbA1c with regards to length of ITU stay (p= 0.01) and number of days of ventilation (p=0.007) in those patients with a history of diabetes. Glucose level on admission emerged as an independent marker of mortality (p=0.009).
Conclusions: This study suggests that HbA1c may not be a predictor of outcome in the general ITU population but may be of predictive value in diabetic ITU patients. On the other hand, blood glucose levels on admission emerged as a predictor of mortality, whilst no association was found between HbA1c and cortisol levels on admission.peer-reviewe
Totarol content and cytotoxicity varies significantly in different types of propolis
Propolis is a complex honeybee product deposited in the beehives, where it protects the hive and its occupants from microbial infection. Propolis has several reported medical applications in view of its numerous bioactive properties. The water insoluble fraction of crude Maltese honeybee propolis was extracted in methanol. Analysis by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed the diterpenoid totarol to be the predominant constituent in all samples. The evaporated methanol residue was dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and used for cytotoxicity testing on human cancer cell lines using standard 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Results obtained show that the propolis collected from Malta has cytotoxic activity in cancer cells in vitro. However, propolis collected from different sites, only a few miles apart and at different times of the year, showed marked variations in the cytotoxicity, which correlated clearly with totarol content. This reflects the differences in the species of plants, on which the bees had foraged and indicates the importance of collection site and season of collection on the bioactivity of propolis products.peer-reviewe