https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/175 2026-04-16T20:31:04Z 2026-04-16T20:31:04Z Cuschieri, Paul https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/860 2020-06-04T11:42:04Z 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Malta Authors: Cuschieri, Paul Abstract: E coli O157:H7 infection causes a wide spectrum of disease ranging from asymptomatic carriage to severe disease leading to death. Typical disease includes a non-bloody diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis, HUS and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura. While the incubation period is commonly 3-4 days, it can range from one to eight days. In this article the author describes the epidemiology, the clinical features and the microbiology of the infection, whilst giving a short view of the local situation.

1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Cassar, Paul https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/843 2020-06-16T09:43:14Z 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Two judicial post-mortems that went awry 1870 & 1908 Authors: Cassar, Paul Abstract: The first instance of an exhumation of a cadaver for a judicial post-mortem took place in 1870 in connection with a murder case. Knowledge, on the part of the pathologist, of the scene of the crime and of the events leading to the murder are important as they may suggest to the pathologist what to look for in the corpse, but only a thorough autopsy may reveal the cause of death. This is possible even after exhumation of a decomposed cadaver.

1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Ebejer, Martin J. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/842 2020-05-26T15:04:26Z 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Tuberculosis in Malta in the 21st century Authors: Ebejer, Martin J. Abstract: The World Health Organisation dedicated the 24th of March 1996 as World TB Day in a bid to promote its publicity campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the deteriorating situation as regards the treatment and control of tuberculosis. Today’s world population is about 5,700 million and TB is by far the major cause of death from infectious disease in persons over five years old. WHO estimates that one third of the world’s population, that is, about 1,900 million are already infected and we know that approximately 10% of these will develop the disease. The real concern, however, is that current drugs may become useless. Indeed, it is estimated that more than 50 million people are infected with drug-resistant strains. On a global scale, the main cause of drug resistance is poorly managed TB control programs.

1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Parascandalo, Raymond Felice, Alex Rizzo, M. Vassallo Agius, Paul https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/718 2021-10-15T15:07:12Z 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Maltese newborns using cord blood Authors: Parascandalo, Raymond; Felice, Alex; Rizzo, M.; Vassallo Agius, Paul Abstract: Routine screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) has been introduced because clinical features of CHT may not be evident before the baby is a few weeks old and treatment at this stage may already be too late. Since a newborn testing programme employing liquid cord blood for other conditions had already been developed in the University of Malta and the Department of Health, we explored the possibility of implementing newborn thyroid testing using liquid cord blood. A similar programme had been implemented successfully in Finland and Philadelphia. Between September 1989 and August 1995 around 32,000 newborns were tested. This is nearly complete ascertainment. Preliminary testing was by radioimmunoassay for TSH. The sera of those with TSH levels more than 13mU/l were further tested for free T4. If the free T4 level was below 12 pmol/l, the babies were recalled for clinical evaluation and repeat testing. Other babies were recalled for technical reasons, giving a total recall rate of 3.88%. CHT was identified in seven newborns and treatment started within 3 weeks of delivery. One baby was reported normal on screening but was suspected to have CHT on clinical grounds at 3 weeks of age, confirmed biochemically. The incidence of CHT in Malta is therefore 1 in 4500.

1996-01-01T00:00:00Z