Control of globin gene expression by Kruppel-like factors

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are a family of seventeen proteins designated KLF1 to KLF17. KLFs are transcriptional factors that bind GC-rich sequences such as CACCC elements. The DNA binds to KLFs via three carboxyl-terminal Cys-2/His-2 zinc fingers. KLFs control cell differentiation and embryonic development. They are also implicated in a number of cellular functions such as erythropoiesis, proliferation and tissue development. This review will focus primarily on KLFs that are involved in haemoglobin control. These include KLF1, KLF2, KLF3, KLF8 and KLF10. The connection between human KLF1 and elevated foetal haemoglobin was first identified in a study done by Borg et al (2010) on a large Maltese family with Hereditary Persistence of Foetal Haemoglobin (HPFH) where a nonsense mutation in the Erythroid Kruppel-Like Factor 1 gene (KLF1) was identified as the main cause of HPFH. KLF2 is a positive regulator of mouse and human embryonic beta-globin genes and it overlaps with KLF1 in embryonic erythropoiesis. KLF3 and KLF8 expression is driven by KLF1 while together KLF3 and KLF8 participate in the silencing of embyronic globin expression during development. KLF10 expression was also shown to be associated with high foetal haemoglobin levels in beta-thalassaemia patients undergoing hydroxyurea treatment.peer-reviewe

The holy infirmary of the Order of St. John

When the Knights came to Malta on the 26th October, 1530 and settled at Borgo, they erected there in 1531 a very large hospital with a small church adjoining dedicated to St. Anne. When they crossed over to the new City of Valletta in 1571 they also constructed between 1574 and 1575, during the rule of the French Grand Master Fra Jean Levesque de la Cassiere (1572- 1581), a very fine hospital "The Holy Infirmary", which was enlarged and improved by the Spanish Grand Master Fra Raphael Cotoner (1660-1663). On completion the "Sacra Infermeria" was one of the earliest organized hospitals in the world. Patients took their meals from silver dishes, drank from silver bowls and ate with silver spoons, forks and knives. The food of all the patients was better and more carefully cooked than that of the Knights who served them.peer-reviewe

The effects of a marine fish-farm on the species richness and abundance of molluscs, decapods and echinoderms associated with a "Posidonia oceanica" meadow in Malta (Central Mediterranean)

The composition of the echinoderm, mollusc and decapod assemblages associated with a Posidonia oceanica meadow located close to a fish-farm varied with distance from the cages Three ecological zones were identified. The intermediate zone II (40-160m from the cages) had a higher species richness and abundance than either zones I (nearest the cages) and III (320m from the cages), probably due to the higher production resulting from a moderate level of nutrient enrichment at intermediate distances from the source of pollution.peer-reviewe

The Libyan civil conflict : selected case series of orthopaedic trauma managed in Malta in 2014

Aim: The purpose of this series of cases was to analyse our management of orthopaedic trauma casualties in the Libyan civil war crisis in the European summer of 2014. We looked at both damage control orthopaedics and for case variety of war trauma at a civilian hospital. Due to our geographical proximity to Libya, Malta was the closest European tertiary referral centre. Having only one Level 1 trauma care hospital in our country, our Trauma and Orthopaedics department played a pivotal role in the management of Libyan battlefield injuries. Our aims were to assess acute outcomes and short term mortality of surgery within the perspective of a damage control orthopaedic strategy whereby aggressive wound management, early fixation using relative stability principles, antibiotic cover with adequate soft tissue cover are paramount. We also aim to describe the variety of war injuries we came across, with a goal for future improvement in regards to service providing.Methods: Prospective collection of six interesting cases with severe limb and spinal injuries sustained in Libya during the Libyan civil war between June and November 2014.Conclusions: We applied current trends in the treatment of war injuries, specifically in damage control orthopaedic strategy and converting to definitive treatment where permissible. The majority of our cases were classified as most severe (Type IIIB/C) according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification of open fractures. The injuries treated reflected the type of standard and improved weaponry available in modern warfare affecting both militants and civilians alike with increasing severity and extent of damage. Due to this fact, multidisciplinary team approach to patient centred care was utilised with an ultimate aim of swift recovery and early mobilisation. It also highlighted the difficulties and complex issues required on a hospital management level as a neighbouring country to war zone countries in transforming care of civil trauma to military trauma.peer-reviewe

Role of Posidonia oceanica bed structure in determining the diversity of associated macroinvertebrate assemblages

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2481 on 06.20.2017 by CS (TIS)Seagrass beds are highly productive shallow-water marine ecosystems and serve as a habitat for numerous invertebratesa nd fishes, some of which constitute important fisheries species.S eagrassb eds play an important role in physical coastal dynamics, since they stabilise soft bottoms, while their leaf canopy attenuates strong wave action and currents, thereby, reducing coastal erosion. However, seagrass habitats are undergoing a decline worldwide, hence, there is an urgent need for data on the influence of bed fragmentation and changes in plant architecture on the diversity of associated biota. In the Mediterranean Sea, the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica forms extensive beds that have a high structural complexity and support a high biodiversity, making them one of the most important marine habitat types in the region. The present study investigated the influence of P. oceanica bed structure (seagrassb ed morphology and within-bed architecture) on the diversity of associatedm acrofauna.P ilot surveys were made to map the occurrence and spatial distribution of different types of P. oceanica beds present off the northeastern coast of the Maltese Islands, to enable selection of four appropriate study locations. A quantitative sampler, which samples the total macroinvertebrate assemblages of P. oceanica beds, was designed and tested to determine the appropriate area and number of sampling units required to achieve given levels of accuracy and precision. Using data gathered from the pilot survey, studies were made to examine for differences in P. oceanica plant architecture, and in the species richness and abundance of motile macroinvertebrates between continuous (non-fragmented) and reticulate (fragmented)b eds of the seagrassa, crosst hree different spatial levels: (a) large (severalk m), (b) medium (circa 100 in) and small (tens of metres). A separate study examined differences in the species richness and abundance of associated motile macro invertebrates between living matte (bearing living shoots) and dead matte (without living shoots) of P. oceanica. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that there was no consistent pattern of significant differences in plant architecture,a nd in the speciesr ichnessa nd abundanceo f associatedm otile macroinvertebratesb etween the two P. oceanica bed types. Significant differences in macroinvertebrate species richness and abundance were detected between P. oceanica beds at the large spatial level that were significantly related to seagrasse piphytesa nd mean sedimentg rain size. Significant differences in macroinvertebrate species richness and abundance were detected between P. oceanica beds at the medium spatial level that were significantly related to shoot biomass. Significant differences in the assemblage composition of macroinvertebrates associated with P. oceanica beds were detected by multivariate analysis at the large and small spatial levels, with the best explanation for the multivariate assemblage structure being a combination of environmental variables that included epiphytes and sediment grain size. The results of the study comparing the motile macroinvertebrates of living and dead matte showed that dead matte supported significantly higher species richness and abundance of associated motile macro invertebrates, and had a significantly different macroinvertebrate assemblage structure, compared to living matte. Furthermore, a greater number of species occurred exclusively in dead matte than in living matte. It was concluded that natural fragmentation of continuous to reticulate P. oceanica beds does not lead to changes in plant architectural differences, or to a reduction in diversity of associated macroinvertebrates, nor does complete loss of the foliar canopy necessarily lead to a reduced diversity of macrofauna. Local factors, including nutrient levels in the water colunm (which enhanced epiphytic growth on the seagrass), sediment grain size and the hydrodynamic regime, were more important in influencing the diversity of macrofauna associated with P. oceanica beds, than bed type, leading to significant spatial variation in the associatedm acroi nvertebrate assemblagesT. he study concluded that the relative importance of different factors in influencing the diversity of macro invertebrates associated with P. oceanica beds varied, depending on scale. The results are discussed in the light of the available published data on fragmentation of seagrass habitat and on current Euro-Mediterranean proposals for the conservation of different bed types of P. oceanica. Attempts to classify different bed types of P. oceanica in categories according to value should be based on adequate ecological data. Different bed types of P. oceanica all form part of a dynamic heterogeneousla ndscapew here transformation from one bed type to another may occur, but which does not necessarily lead to loss of biodiversity. Hence, equal effort should be directed at conserving and managing different bed types of P. oceanica

Baseline marine benthic surveys in the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

Extract from: MEDCOAST 97 : Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment, Qawra, Malta / E. Ozhan (editor), (1997)During the period 1991 to 1997, extensive baseline studies of the submarine geomorphology, infralittoral habitats, macrobenthic assemblages, and demersal fish fauna, were carried out in 14 different sites around the Maltese Islands, using conventional SCUBA diving techniques. These were made as part of assessments of the environmental impact of existing or proposed projects, or in order to produce an inventory of coastal resources. In total, these surveys covered a sea-bed area of ca. 7.55Km² and a coastline length of ca 24 km, and represent the most extensive biological surveys of the marine environment carried out to date in the Maltese Islands. The results of these surveys have been presented as maps showing the type, location, and spatial extent of these physical and biological features. The Peres & Picard (1964) scheme, as adapted by Pen~s (1967; 1982) was used to classify and characterize the benthic assemblages recorded during the surveys. Our results show that, in tenus of spatial extent, the most important macrobenthic assemblages are the communities of photophilic 'algae on hard substrata, meadows of the sea-grass Posidonia oceanica and communities of bare well-sorted sand. For all these, many subtypes and facies exist, depending on the light intensity, hydrodynamic conditions, microtopography, sediment granulometry and other edaphic factors, and anthropic influences, including pollution. Other assemblages with a limited spatial distribution include meadows of the sea-grass (vmodocea nodosa and of the Lessepsian immigrant Halophila stipu/acea on sandy bottoms, the assemblages of boulder fields which are complexes of photophilic and sciaphilic communities, and those of marine caves. Our maps are supplemented by descriptions of the different habitats and macrobenthjc assemblages, species lists, and semi-quantitative data on percentage cover for the dominant macroalgae, shoot density counts for sea-grass meadows, and population density counts for the main macrofaunal species. These maps and data-sets are intended to be used (i) for assessing the status of habitats, species assemblages, and individual species, around the Maltese Islands in order to recommend appropriate measures for their conservation, including inclusion in red data lists; (ii) for designation of marine protected areas; and (iii) as baselines against which future monitoring studies and surveys can be compared.peer-reviewe