https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/33593 2026-04-10T07:57:57Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2059 Title: Nicotine addiction : a review Authors: Vella, Jacob; Di Giovanni, Giuseppe Abstract: Nicotine, the major psychoactive compound in tobacco, acts as a potent addictive drug in humans. The addictive nature of nicotine leads to more than 6 million deaths a year. Evidence indicates that nicotine and other drugs of abuse act on central dopaminergic pathways and modulate their neurophysiological mechanisms. Nicotine stimulates dopaminergic pathways and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), inducing enhanced reward perception and increased cognitive function, respectively. These findings are consistent with the fact that nicotine binds to different subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors present on the neurons found in the PFC and ventral tegmental area of the midbrain. The latter, being the area most involved in addictive behaviour, projects on the limbic system, particularly the nucleus accumbens, and receives afferents from the prefrontal cortex and brainstem. Although dopaminergic pathways and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are the protagonists of nicotine addiction, several minor pathways and their constituent receptors have been indicated as being either directly or indirectly affected by nicotine. These include serotonergic pathways and central cannabinoid receptors. Despite the scarcity of approved drugs and partial efficacy of approved treatment, insight into nicotine neurophysiological modulation led to better appreciation of nicotine-seeking behaviour and subsequent improved design of pharmacological and behavioural approaches to smoking cessation. Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world today. Better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction will ultimately lead to more effective treatments of both nicotine dependence and nicotine rewarding effects. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2057 Title: Optical Glauber Modeling in high-energy nuclear collisions Authors: Mifsud, Jurgen; Kollegger, Thorsten Abstract: The Optical Glauber Model is used in this study in order to understand the initial conditions in heavy-ion collisions and at the end understand the relationship between the particles produced after the collision. In the first part of this study, the initial geometrical features of the collision as a function of the impact parameter, such as the number of participating nucleons and the number of collisions between nucleons are obtained. Then, after obtaining numerical values for the number of participating nucleons, the study was focused on two distinct particles being produced after the collision and the relationship between them is also determined from the correlation as a function of the impact parameter. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2055 Title: Proceedings : interdisciplinary chemical approaches for Neuropathology CM1103 : 4th Neuroscience Day at University of Malta Abstract: The ChoSci and its Physiological Society (MPS) hosted the International Annual meeting of COST Action CM1103 “Interdisciplinary Chemical Approaches for Neuropathology” in association with the “4th Neuroscience Day @ Malta University” in Valletta at the Old University this October. Dr Rona Ramsay, the Chair of the Action from the University of St Andrews, UK, and Prof. Di Giovanni put together an exciting program that covered a full range of interests, promoted the exchange of expertise between the various areas of structural-based drug design, synthetic chemistry and neuropathology that can all contribute information to diagnosis and treatment methods. This conference brought together international experts and Maltese scientists, fostering collaborations and dissemination of the work done in Europe. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2053 Title: Webcast courses in Medical Genetics and next generation sequencing Authors: Borg, Isabella Abstract: The European School of Genetic Medicine organised the 26th Course in Medical Genetics and the 2nd Course in Next Generation Sequencing, between the 12th and 20th May 2013. Both courses were webcast live from the Bologna University Residential Centre, Bertinoro, Italy. Participants in Malta attended these courses at the University’s Medical School. The course in Medical Genetics covered various aspects of this rapidly developing field of Medicine. The different methodologies used in human genome analysis, an introduction to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), approaches to clinical and molecular genetics, complex genetic disorders, therapy and gene regulation, were covered. The second course provided a comprehensive insight into NGS technologies, from the basics to the new world of disease gene identification by hand-held devices. It also covered insights into bioinformatics challenges, sample preservation and trans-omic studies, and new frontiers including the investigation of single cells and of the non-coding genome. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z