OAR@UM Collection:
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/22280
2024-03-29T15:28:10ZEditorial [Malta Medical Journal, Vol.29(2)]
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/22295
Title: Editorial [Malta Medical Journal, Vol.29(2)]
Abstract: The United States (US) population is 323 million (as of 2016), and health care provisions are important not only to the populace but also to politicians who seek election or re-election. Historically, US administrations have experienced tremendous difficulties when attempting to institute a national health insurance system. Obstacles included opposition from the American Medical Association, the insurance industry and pharma/medical business.1-2 The spectre of socialized medicine and ailing foreign health systems were typical cautionary tales utilised by opposition to and vested interests against a nationalised health service.1-2 President Lyndon B. Johnson first managed to introduce a modicum of basic national health insurance in 1965 with Medicare and Medicaid.1-2 These were crucial for certain population subgroups as uninsured patients are required to pay at point of care.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZA case of Hallermann-Streiff-Francois syndrome : an ophthalmological perspective
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/22293
Title: A case of Hallermann-Streiff-Francois syndrome : an ophthalmological perspective
Authors: Vassallo, James
Abstract: Hallermann-Streiff-François syndrome is a rare condition which offers multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The difficulty in dealing with these cases is compounded by the presentation at a very young age. The ophthalmologist has an important role in helping to establish a diagnosis and to recognize the need for early treatment to minimize amblyopia. This is a short report of the first documented local case which demonstrates many of the characteristic features of this syndrome and who has been followed up over three decades. A brief literature review is also presented.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZAsthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome : a review of current knowledge and future directions
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/22292
Title: Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome : a review of current knowledge and future directions
Authors: Mallia, Patrick; Johnston, Sebastian Lennox
Abstract: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are common diseases both characterised by airflow obstruction. Over recent decades the prevailing belief was that asthma and COPD were distinct diseases that can be easily distinguished and require different treatments. This stimulated basic scientific research aimed at obtaining a better understanding of both diseases, particularly COPD that had been neglected. The downside of this approach was that it resulted in the exclusion of patients from clinical trials that exhibited features of both diseases. However, it has been increasingly recognised that these patients are common in everyday clinical practice and that their exclusion from clinical trials meant that therapeutic decisions were not evidence based. The concept of the asthma COPD overlap syndrome is an attempt to develop diagnostic criteria for patients with features of both asthma and COPD. This is a necessary starting point from which to design studies to investigate the clinical features, aetiology, pathophysiology and prognosis of these patients, and ultimately determine treatment strategies. However, from the outset the concept of asthma COPD overlap syndrome has been controversial and has not gained universal acceptance. In this review we will describe current definitions and concepts of the asthma COPD overlap syndrome and explore how our understanding of this syndrome may develop in the future.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZPersistent recalcitrant hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy : a management challenge
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/22291
Title: Persistent recalcitrant hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy : a management challenge
Authors: Ballal, Devesh Sanjeev; Tejaswy, Kapil; Shetty, Deviprasad; Rodrigues, Gabriel
Abstract: Hypocalcemia is the most common complication following total thyroidectomy and could be due to direct injury or ischemic damage to parathyroid glands during surgery. Hypocalcemia adds significantly to hospital stay and cost of hospitalisation. While there are numerous proposed treatment algorithms for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, there are no universally accepted standard guidelines or treatment algorithms available. We present a case of prolonged recalcitrant hypocalcemia post-total thyroidectomy, requiring hospitalisation for more than a month, to illustrate the practical problems we faced during management of this patient.2017-01-01T00:00:00Z