407 research outputs found
Interhemispheric epidermoid cyst
A 44-year-old man presented following a tonicclonic seizure. Intracranial epidermoid cysts
account for approximately 1% of primary intracranial tumours. They are benign slow growing
tumours derived from ectodermal inclusions during neural tube closure.peer-reviewe
The Malta experience : a retrospective study of two types of peritoneal dialysis catheters
Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the one year and two year survival rate of the double cuff coiled Tenchkoff catheter (TC) and the double cuff coiled Swan Neck (SN) catheter. The incidence of the following complications in the two groups were assessed: exit site infection (ESI), tunnel infection (TI), peritonitis (P), flow problems (FP), catheter tip migration (CTP), hernia development (H) and leakage (L). Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study of peritoneal dialysis catheters inserted between January 2003 and December 2008 by one surgical team at Mater Dei Hospital. Results: The one year catheter survival rate was TC 88.5% and SN 90%. There was no statistically significant difference in catheter survival rate between the two cohorts. The survival rate at 2 years post implantation of the TC catheters was 82.6% and 88.8% for the SN catheters. Conclusions: Equally good results were obtained with the two types of peritoneal dialysis catheters studied. There was no significant difference in 1 and 2 year survival between the two types of catheters. In our local experience the catheter survival rate and episodes of peritonitis per year at risk are in line with the recommendations of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD).peer-reviewe
Primary fallopian tube carcinoma presenting with a solitary metastasis in a Spigelian hernia
Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare gynaecological tumour. Histologically, this type of tumour resembles other tumours of the female reproductive tract, predominantly serous tumours. These cancers are often difficult to distinguish from ovarian cancers and are generally treated with the same standards of surgery and chemotherapy. Diagnosis of PFTC is rarely made preoperatively. Very often, the diagnosis is made either at the operating table or by the pathologist. In this report we present a rare case of PFTC with a solitary metastatic deposit in a right Spigelian hernia, the latter being the initial presenting complaint.peer-reviewe
Low back pain : a comparative study on the value of core training versus traditional strengthening exercises
This randomised controlled trial (RCT) employed a
pre-test/post-test design to compare the effects of core training
(Pilates method) and traditional back exercises on a population
with low back pain (LBP). Therapeutic intervention related to
the Pilates method has recently become popular, but there is
little evidence to prove it works. In this study, 120 individuals
with LBP were allocated to three different groups. Group A
was the control group, Group B was given modified Pilates
intervention and Group C received traditional back exercises.
All three groups were given a posture re-education session and
back-care advice. After the initial session, the control group had
individual sessions on posture re-education. The other groups
undertook a six-week course of either modified Pilates or general
back exercise classes. The modified Pilates group was taught
how to use the core muscles, incorporating stabilisation with
increasing functional movements. The back exercise group did
similar exercises without learning to specifically stabilise. The
Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) and
the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used as measures for
pain and functional disability. Post-test ODQ readings showed
no significant difference for pain-related function whilst VAS
readings revealed a significant improvement in pain levels in all
three groups, with the control group showing the best scores.
However, the six-month follow-up scores showed that only the
modified Pilates group continued to improve. At this stage, the
control group was beginning to regress and the back exercise
group was almost back to baseline measures. It was therefore
concluded that core stability exercises have better long-term
effects than traditional back exercisespeer-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
Structural changes in a Posidonia oceanica meadow exposed to a pollution gradient from a marine fish-farm in Malta (Central Mediterranean)
Posidonia oceanica morphological parameters where measured at increasing distance from a marine fish-farm that has been operational for 7 years. Most parameters changed significantly with increasing distance from the cages, the greatest change occurring in the first 50 m.peer-reviewe
Living deep-water Lophelia and Madrepora corals in Maltese waters (Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea)
The occurrence of living deep-water corals, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, from stations 21-42 km
off the southern and south-western coast of Malta is reported. Fragments of living colonies of both species, as well as some
large pieces of Lophelia frameworks were recovered from depths of 390-617 m together with the solitary coral
Desmophyllum dianthus (= cristagalli). The accompanying biota included the barnacle Pachylasma giganteum, the
gastropod Coralliophila richardi, the bivalves Asperarca nodulosa and Spondylus gussonii, and the polychaete Eunice
norvegicus, all of which are frequently associated with deep-water corals. The occurrence of the Lophelia-Madrepora-
Desmophyllum triad, the large pieces of coral frameworks consisting predominantly of live, healthy polyps, and the
associated biota, suggest that coral patches may be present in at least some of the investigated localities, rather than just
fragmented remains or isolated colonies.peer-reviewe
Spatio-temporal variation in the structure of a deep water Posidonia oceanica meadow assessed using non-destructive techniques
The Malta-Comino Channel (Maltese islands, central Mediterranean), supports
extensive meadows of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica that in some places
extend to a depth of around 43 m, which is rare for this seagrass. To assess
spatial and temporal variation in the state of the deeper parts of the P. oceanica
meadow with time, data on the structural characteristics of the seagrass meadow
at its lower bathymetric limit were collected during the summers of 2001,
2003 and 2004 from four stations (two stations within each of two sites)
located at a similar depth, over a spatial extent of 500 m. Shoot density was
estimated in situ, while data on plant architecture (number of leaves, mean leaf
length, and epiphyte load) were successfully obtained using an underwater photographic
technique that was specifically designed to avoid destructive sampling
of the seagrass. Results indicated that P. oceanica shoot density was lower than
that recorded from the same meadow during a study undertaken in 1995; the
observed decrease was attributed to the activities of an offshore aquaculture
farm that operated during the period 1995–2000 in the vicinity of the meadow.
ANOVA indicated significant spatial and temporal variations in meadow structural
attributes at both sites during the 3-year study; for example, shoot density
values increased overall with time at site A; a indication of potential recovery
of the meadow following cessation of the aquaculture operations. Lower shoot
density values recorded from site B (compared with site A) were attributed to
higher epiphyte loads on the seagrass, relative to those at site A. The findings,
which include new data on the structural characteristics of P. oceanica occurring
at depths >40 m, are discussed with reference to the use of the nondestructive
photographic technique to monitor the state of health of deep water
seagrass meadows.peer-reviewe
Age, growth and reproduction of Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Maltese waters, Central Mediterranean
Age, growth and reproduction of the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758 collected from the Central Mediterranean in the period 2004-2010 by the traditional Maltese fish aggregating devices (FAD) and surface longline fisheries were studied. The a and b parameters of the length-weight relationship for fish 11-142 cm fork length (FL) (n = 4042) were determined as a = 0.018 and 0.022 with b = 2.85 and 2.79, for males and females respectively. The counting of annual increments from dorsal spines of >65 cm FL dolphinfish at X25 magnification (n = 47) permitting an age reading resolution in years, and the counting of daily increments from sagittal otoliths of <65 cm FL dolphinfish at X400 magnification (n = 583) permitting an age reading resolution in days, were estimated; the von Bertalanffy growth model applied to these fish gave the following parameters: L∞ = 107.8 cm FL and 120.2 cm FL, and K = 1.9 yr-1 and 1.56 yr-1, for males and females respectively. The maximum age observed was 2 years. Size at 50% maturity for fish 10-131 cm FL (n = 1376) was 58.9 cm FL and 62.5 cm FL for males and females, respectively. The sex ratio for the fish sampled from the FAD fishery (10.5-131 cm FL) was 1:1.54 (M:F) and for dolphinfish sampled from the surface longline fishery (91-130 cm FL) was 1:0.76 (M:F). Back-calculated hatch dates from age-0 dolphinfish (n = 518) suggested that spawning occurs from June to September with the highest levels in June. This study is the first to use dorsal spines to determine the age of adult dolphinfishpeer-reviewe
Vaccination approaches for the prevention of urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infectious diseases of humans, with approximately 150 million cases estimated to occur globally every year. UTIs usually start as a bladder infection (cystitis), but can develop into acute kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and even infection of the bloodstream (urosepsis). The high frequency of UTIs in community and nosocomial settings places an enormous burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Multiple different pathogens cause UTI, with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) the most common etiological agent. UTIs caused by these pathogens are increasingly associated with antibiotic resistance, thus severely reducing treatment options and significantly increasing UTI-associated morbidity and mortality. In this review we present an overview of the recent advances in vaccine research targeted towards the prevention of UPEC-mediated UTI. In the context of multidrug resistance, we conclude that vaccination represents a viable approach for the prevention of chronic and recurrent UTI
- …