https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/35097 2026-04-14T03:37:45Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/105713 Title: Some aspects of acute anterior poliomyelitis in the Maltese islands in 1950 and 1951 Abstract: Small islands, since their populations are more static, lend themselves more readily to the study of the Epidemiology of disease than do land-bound territories where movement in and out of the country is more frequent. The islands of the Maltese Dependencies in this respect are particularly interesting since there is always a considerable movement of foreigners coming to and going from the islands yet, the islanders themselves seldom journey abroad unless emigrating permanently to other lands. Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis has been notifiable in the Maltese Dependencies since 1921 and up till 31st May, 1951, a total of 841 cases had been notified. 237 of these cases occurred between 27th May 1950 and the end of May 1951. It is the purpose of this dissertation to comment upon the habits and customs of the people, the topography, water supply, sewage disposal and other Public Health aspects in the Islands and to ascertain whether any feasible explanation can be found for the progress of the disease on the islands during the year under study. 1953-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/102502 Title: The structure and histochemistry of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the mouse Abstract: Morphological and histochemical studies using light and electron microscopy have been carried out on the olfactory and vomeronasal organs of albino mice during development in adult life. At 10 days gestation, the earliest morphological evidence of differentiation of olfactory receptors from the cells of the olfactory placode is the outgrowth of centrally directed axonal process, followed at 11 days by differentiation of olfactory dendrites ending in ciliated knobs at the epithelial surface. Further morphological changes leading to the maturation of the olfactory receptors occur in the receptor perikaryal after the 17th day of gestation. During development, olfactory receptors are situated in juxtaposition to one another but become isolated by supporting cells in the adult. Morphological differentiation of supporting and basal cells and of Bowman’s glands is first evident on the 17th day of gestation. In the adult vomeronasal sensory epithelium the receptors are incompletely separated from one another by supporting cells, cilia are not present on their terminal knobs and typical basal cells and Bowman’s glands are absent. The histochemical distribution of enzymes alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, Ca++ adenosine triphosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase and non-specific esterase in the adult olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia and the changes in their pattern of distribution during development have been investigated. The levels of activity of the first four enzymes at various developmental ages have been compared using microdensitometric methods. The presence of a neutral mucosubstance within the olfactory and vomeronasal receptors has also been described. The olfactory surface fluid and the secretions of Bowman’s glands have been characterised histochemically and found to contain a sulphated mucosubstance, in contrast to the secretions of the other nasal glands which contain either a neutral mucosubstance or sialomucins. The morphological and enzymatic characteristics of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs are discussed in relation to their possible functions. Description: PH.D. ANATOMY 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100503 Title: Impiego del sevofluorano in anestesiologia veterinaria = Use of sevoflurane in veterinary anaesthesiology Abstract: Sevoflurane was first synthesized in 1968, and immediately after studies started to be carried out by various researchers, in order to investigate its useful characteristics and properties. This was followed by authorization for its use in the 1990's, especially in the pediatric field. Contemporary, studies started to be carried out by veterinary researchers to study its possible use in veterinary anaesthesia. This studies have notebly increased in the last 5-10 years. This thesis, after briefly considering the properties in common to all volatile anaesthetic agents, looks at the physical and chemical properties of sevoflurane, its effects on the Central Nervous System, on the Cardiovascular System, and on the Respiratory System, its metabolism in the liver, its clinical use, its collateral side effects, its pharmacokinetics, and its interaction with other therapeutic drugs (especially other anaesthetic agents, such as nitrous oxide and propofol), in reference to the results of important studies carried out in the last years and clinical observations in both humans and animals (especially the dog), but also compares the characteristics and properties of sevoflurane with the classical halogenated volatile anaesthetic agents presently used in veterinary anaesthesia, i.e. halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane. This thesis concludes that sevoflurane has important advantages with respect to other volatile agents, and therefore it seems probable that sevoflurane will eventually substitute other volatile anaesthetic agents presently utilized for veterinary anaesthesia, in the near future. Description: PhD 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99606 Title: Development of pharmaceutical care in Malta Abstract: The research presented in this thesis examined the development of pharmaceutical care in Malta with a focus on asthma. The public's views were sought regarding services provided by community pharmacists and the pharmacist's extended role. The perceived importance that pharmacists placed on various aspects of pharmaceutical care was also assessed. Skin testing of asthmatic patients revealed comparatively high levels of atopy, sensitisation trends which were similar to other populations reported in the published literature, and a high level (29%) of sensitisation to the mould Altemaria alternata. A total of 152 asthmatic patients participated in a randomised, controlled, community based phannaceutical care study for 12 months. When compared to controls, intervention patients reported a significant improvement in health-related quality of life, a significant improvement in inhaler technique and significantly lower levels of wheeze and chest tightness on waking. Focus group interviews, which were utilised to determine health-related issues of importance to asthma patients, revealed that asthmatics lacked sufficient knowledge and skills to assume more independence and responsibility in the management of their condition. Asthma imposed several limitations on lifestyle, it had a negative impact on the quality oflife of the entire family, generated negative feelings and caused concern to patients over their future. A survey of the Maltese general public regarding the services provided by community pharmacists yielded encouraging results from the pharmaceutical profession perspective, showing strong support for the extended role of the community pharmacist. The survey results, however, indicated that community pharmacists need to be more active in giving advice in the treatment of minor ailments and when dispensing OTC products. An assessment of the importance that pharmacists placed on pharmaceutical care showed that while they recognised the importance of various aspects of this model of practice, they placed greater emphasis on the more traditional practice roles. Description: B.PHARM. 1998-01-01T00:00:00Z