https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/641 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:45:59 GMT 2026-04-08T07:45:59Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/746 Title: Petitions by medical practitioners 1632-1732 Authors: Bonello, Giovanni Abstract: The very humble suppliche or petitions addressed by subjects to the Grand Masters constitute a major source of information about everyday life in Malta at the time of the knights. Seventeen large volumes of them have been preserved,1 ranging from the year 1603 to the end of the Order's rule. Rarely do they deal with matters of great historical import, but rather document private matters which have, at most, a social relevance. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/746 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/745 Title: Reducing the expense of ear wax Authors: Gatt, Andre Stefan; Borg Xuereb, Hermann K. Abstract: Ear wax is one of the commonest presenting complaints both in Ear Nose and Throat surgery and in General Practice. The commonest treatment by far given for this condition is Arachis oil (Cerumol®). Results from various studies however show that this appears not to be the most effective treatment and that cheaper options exist which may drastically reduce the costs incurred by the Health Department in this respect. We hereby outline the advantages of the use of 0.9% saline drops in the treatment of ear wax. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/745 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/744 Title: Effects of chronic buproprion and nicotine administration on cell genesis and DNA fragmentation in adult rat dentate gyrus Authors: Scerri, Charles Abstract: Previous experiments have shown that chronic subcutaneous administration of nicotine dose-dependently inhibits the acquisition and retention of a spatial task in the Morris water maze and reduces cell genesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult rats.1 In the present study, the effects of nicotine and buproprion, an atypical antidepressant used in smoking cessation, on dentate gyrus cell genesis and DNA fragmentation were investigated. The results show that nicotine, chronically infused for 21 days, suppressed cell genesis and enhanced DNA fragmentation in the DG, an effect not attenuated by co-administration of buproprion. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/744 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/743 Title: Effectiveness of opportunistic screening for cancer of the cervix uteri Authors: Busuttil, Roderick; Dalmas, Miriam; Cilia Vincenti, Albert Abstract: The incidence and mortality of uterine cervical cancer in the Maltese Islands has remained relatively constant in medical records of the last few decades. The aim of this study was to determine the cervical cancer screening history and other characteristics of the invasive cervical cancer cases diagnosed in Malta between 1992 and 2002, from a review of their medical records. Only 5% of the cases reviewed had had regular cervical smears prior to the diagnosis of the invasive lesion. Well organised national cancer screening programmes overseas indicate that if less than 70% of the target population (ages 20 to 65 for cervix) is regularly screened, the incidence and mortality will not decrease.1 In Malta, cervical screening is opportunistic and the percentage and sectors of the target population being screened is unknown. A national study is needed to quantify the number of women undergoing cervical screening and to assess how much of the relevant target population is being screened. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/743 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z