Health reform : partners in health care?

Reforming a public health service is a difficult proposition under the best circumstances. Attitudes of health workers and the expectant public have become entrenched over the years and major change is bound to produce reaction and resistance. The public has come to expect an unlimited service for free. What is not available in Malta is expected to be made available by referral to other centres abroad. In this article the author illustrates the lack of communication the Maltese Government has with the Maltese Medical Association with regards to the health reform.peer-reviewe

Supraclavicular node metastasis presenting with internal jugular vein thrombosis

A case of internal jugular vein thrombosis secondary to compression by a metastasis in Virchow’s node and the investigations leading to the diagnosis is described. Internal jugular vein thrombosis was not an uncommon complication of fulminant sepsis in the head and neck in the pre-antibiotic era. The commonest causes are now iatrogenic usually secondary to central venous catheterisation or related to intravenous drug abuse. Thrombosis commonly complicates superior vena caval obstruction secondary to malignancy in the chest but isolated internal jugular vein thrombosis is rare and usually secondary to obvious tumour in the neck. Infection related to head and neck malignant disease may also cause venous thrombosis.peer-reviewe

Multimodality management of soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumours arising from connective tissues of mesenchymal origin. By definition sarcomas arising from bone or cartilage are excluded though they have much in common in their behaviour as well as in the approach to their management. A retrospective study of all cases of soft tissue sarcomas diagnosed and notified in the Maltese Islands over the period 1.1.87 to 31.10.89 was carried out. Information was obtained from the cancer registry, the patient’s hospital files and radiographic records. When there was reasonable doubt about the diagnosis a review of histological material submitted was carried out.peer-reviewe

Recurrence of rectal cancer : a study on patients with rectal cancer referred to Sir Paul Boffa Hospital during 2001-2003

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment of rectal cancer. One third of all treatment failures are secondary to local recurrence usually leading to a painful and distressing death. Radiotherapy has been shown to decrease local recurrence rates and overall survival. The results of a local retrospective study are discussed, identifying and describing the recurrence rates in rectal cancer. Our management pathways are also reviewed and compared to current evidence-based medicine and published clinical trials.peer-reviewe

Photometric observations of main-belt asteroids 1637 Swings, 10498 Bobgent, and (25980) 2001 FK 53

Photometric observations of asteroids 1637 Swings, 10498 Bobgent and (25980) 2001 FK 53 were acquired from Flarestar Observatory (MPC171) and Znith Observatory in 2017. The observations were made during a favourable apparition for each asteroid.peer-reviewe

A new binary star system of EA type in Perseus : UCAC4 735-019611

Discovery of a new binary star system (UCAC4 735-019611 = USNO-B1.0 1469-0068570 = 2MASS J01561032+5657563) in the Perseus constellation is presented. It was discovered during asteroid photometric work. The shape of the light curve and its characteristics (period of 2.12701 ± 0.00001d, amplitude of V=0.55 mag, initial minimum period epoch HJD 2457363.37784) indicates that the new variable star is an eclipsing binary of Algol (EA) type. We registered this variable star in the International Variable Star Index (VSX) and its AAVSO UID is 000-BLW-283.peer-reviewe

Health and the Economy : a statement of concern

The relationship between health and the economy is an intimate and complex one. The economy of health and the apportioning of funds to different medical services and health care programs are issues that depend on the health profile of a given community as well as the expectations of its members. Decisions ultimately depend on available resources and political priorities. Health and the economy cannot be isolated and contrasted, as the integrity of a given economic system clearly depends on the state of health of the community both at an individual level as well as at a population level.peer-reviewe

The reclassification of NSV 1586 from a suspected Cepheid star to a UG class system

On 2018 August 9, a contribution to the VSNET mailing list suggested that due to certain photometric attributes, NSV 1586 could possibly belong to the Dwarf Nova (DN) class. Hence, the initial classification of this star as a Cepheid variable star was put into question. This prompted the authors to investigate NSV 1586 in detail. The data obtained through our campaign suggest that the original classification of NSV 1586 as a Cepheid star is inconsistent with our findings. We determined the nature of NSV 1586 as a UG-type DN that exhibits peculiar photometric features in its light curve to possibly pertain to the UGZ/IW sub-type variable star classification. However, standstills that are indicative of this class remained undetected. The amplitude of this star was found to be of 2.9 magnitudes in the V-band, with a primary cycle period of 13.9 days. We found the color index during its cyclic permutations can range from an apparent CI of 0.5 to 1.0, corresponding to a temperature change of around 1300 K. Further research is suggested to determine the nature of this star.peer-reviewe

Photometric observations of main-belt asteroids 1968 MEHLTRETTER, 2681 OSTROVSKIJ & 3431 NAKANO

Lightcurves for three mid-belt asteroids were obtained from Flarestar Observatory (MPC171) and Znith Observatory in 2017 and 2018. These asteroids were selected from the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) website. No reported observations were available to deduce their rotation periods prior to this research.peer-reviewe