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A comparison between the 12-lead electrocardiogram and hand-held spectral waveform doppler ultrasound in the detection of atrial fibrillation (Master's dissertation).

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: A comparison between the 12-lead electrocardiogram and hand-held spectral waveform doppler ultrasound in the detection of atrial fibrillation (Master's dissertation). Abstract: Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a leading cause of thromboembolic stroke. Early detection is essential to initiate timely intervention and reduce associated morbidity and mortality. While electrocardiography (ECG) remains the gold standard for AF diagnosis, its routine use in community settings is limited. Pedal Doppler ultrasound (US) is already widely utilised in podiatric practice for vascular assessments, offering a potential opportunity for opportunistic AF screening during routine foot care. However, evidence quantifying the accuracy of pedal Doppler US for arrhythmia detection is limited. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of pedal Doppler US in identifying atrial fibrillation when compared with ECG findings, to determine its potential role as an opportunistic screening tool within podiatric practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 112 participants aged 65 years and older. Pedal Doppler US was used to classify peripheral pulse patterns as regular, partially regular, or irregular. ECG served as the reference standard to confirm the presence or absence of arrhythmias. Chi-square analysis was employed to assess the association between Doppler findings and ECG results, and Cramér’s V was calculated to estimate effect size. Results: A strong, statistically significant association was found between Doppler-detected irregular pulses and ECG-confirmed arrhythmias (χ²(1, N=112)=52.42, p<0.001, Cramér’s V=0.68). Doppler US reliably identified all cases of irregularly irregular rhythms indicative of AF but failed to detect regular arrhythmias such as first-degree atrioventricular block and sinus bradycardia. Conclusion: Pedal Doppler US shows considerable promise as a rapid, non-invasive, and accessible preliminary screening tool for irregular arrhythmias in podiatric settings. With appropriate training to standardize interpretation, podiatrists could play a pivotal role in opportunistic AF detection, facilitating timely ECG referral and potentially reducing stroke incidence in at-risk populations. Larger-scale, multi-center studies are recommended to validate these findings and inform future clinical guidelines. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

Dihydropteridine reductase deficiency accounts for all phenylketonuria in the Maltese population

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Dihydropteridine reductase deficiency accounts for all phenylketonuria in the Maltese population Authors: Farrugia, Rosienne; Dianzani, I.; Attard Montalto, S.; Felice, A. E. Abstract: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare disorder of phenylalanine metabolism, generally with an occurrence of 1 in 1000 live births. Dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) deficiency is a rare form of PKU found in 2% of hyperphenylalaninaemia patients. In the last five years 3 probands have been identified. All are under 4 years of age and are not in any way related. The aim of this study was to identify the causative mutation in the probands and their family members, and use the information obtained to investigate the occurrence of QDPR deficiency in the Maltese population.

Assessment of DNA sequencing, antibiotic sensitivity, and resistance in yeast cells and human skin microbiome isolates post-space travel and cosmic radiation exposure

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Assessment of DNA sequencing, antibiotic sensitivity, and resistance in yeast cells and human skin microbiome isolates post-space travel and cosmic radiation exposure Abstract: Background: The Maleth research program involved three consecutive spaceflight missions in which tissue samples from diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), containing both polymicrobial bacterial populations and the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were sent to the International Space Station (ISS). Each mission exposed these bacterial cells to low Earth orbit conditions—including microgravity and heightened radiation for approximately 30 days. Method: Upon return to Earth, the bacterial communities were carefully recovered, cultured and subsequently identified using MALDI-TOF©. To assess potential alterations in antibiotic resistance profiles, all recovered bacterial isolates were cultured and then were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing via the VITEK® 2 automated system. In parallel, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were evaluated for genomic changes through targeted sequencing and comparative genetic analysis against Earth-based controls at Singleron Germany. Results: The results showed that Proteus mirabilis was among the most significantly impacted bacterial species, with its post-spaceflight counts showing statistically significant differences compared to ground controls. Moreover, the isolates of Proteus mirabilis exhibited increased resistance to antibiotics, suggesting that space conditions may exert selective pressure conducive to resistance development. In contrast, analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae demonstrated no detectable genomic changes across any of the space-exposed samples, under the tested spaceflight conditions although there is the possibility that the duration in space was short and not sufficient to bring changes in the genome. Conclusion: These findings suggest that exposure to space can induce antimicrobial resistance characteristics of bacterial pathogens, such as in Proteus mirabilis. The implications of this study highlight the potential risks posed by altered microbial behaviour during long-term space and their effects on AMR in patients. Description: M.Sc. Biomed. Sc.(Melit.)

The preanalytical phase starts before blood collection

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The preanalytical phase starts before blood collection Authors: Attard, Ritienne; Farrugia, Rosienne; Bezzina Wettinger, Stephanie Abstract: Background: Large biological collections are be ing set up for biobanking, epidemiological studies and in the search of biomarkers. A number of vari ables could play an important role in determining levels of analytes in blood even before blood is collected and can result in contradictory outcomes of studies, particularly when levels are compared between groups of individuals. There is a lack of guidelines and standardised instructions that need to be followed prior to phlebotomy.