https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/34873 2026-04-14T23:17:48Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13988 Title: Imaging inflammatory bowel disease Authors: Vassallo, Pierre Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of idiopathic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, the most common of which are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Approximately one in every four to six patients with IBD presents in childhood or adolescence. The incidence of IBD has been increasing over the past 40 years. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13963 Title: The Synapse : the medical professionals' network : volume 13 : issue 3 Editors: Galea, Wilfred; Ellul, Ian C. Abstract: Apart from the normal articles regarding medicine, this issue contains also the following: Editorial : European Parliament Elections - Quo Vadis ?- Ian C. Ellul; A day in the life of a ... physiotherapy student - Yimeng Zhang (MMSA); The newly elected Executive Team - Matthew Zarb (MPSA); Keeping a family medical tradition going (Francesca Chircop) - Marika Azzopardi 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13962 Title: Oncogene addiction might be the Achilles heel in cancer : part 1 Authors: Grech, Alfred; Baldacchino, Alexandra Abstract: Multiple and complex genetic and epigenetic abnormalities underlie the multistage transformation of normal cells into cancerous ones. Among these abnormalities are the activation of oncogenes and loss of function of tumour suppressor genes. Besides these abnormalities, it is becoming evident that specific cancers are dependent on one or a few genes for their malignant phenotype, and this could be their ‘Achilles heel’. This survival dependency of cancer cells on an activated oncogene or inactivation of tumour suppressor gene is called ‘oncogene addiction’ and may well be a potential way to provide more rational molecular targeted therapy. This strategy needs to integrate new approaches into the clinical setting in order to characterise the state of oncogene addiction and accordingly, apply more effective and selective anti-cancer therapies. Description: Part 2 of the article can be found through this link: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/13958 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13961 Title: New modalities for cancer therapy Authors: Cauchi, Maurice N. Abstract: The classical ways of combating cancer have included surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. More recently, immunotherapy has been added to this armamentarium on the premise that cancer cells differ antigenically from normal cells, and therefore can become the target of immune cells or specifically (mono-clonally) engineered antibodies. Apart from surgery, which aims to remove as much of the tumour as technically possible, all other therapies assume that tumour cells are destroyed preferentially compared to normal tissue, that is, the therapeutic ratio is acceptable, and that in spite of side effects, which can often be not inconsiderable, the benefits derived from these therapies are significant. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z