/library/oar/handle/123456789/33421 2025-11-15T08:28:12Z 2025-11-15T08:28:12Z Grech, Ryan Borg, Charles Joseph Micallef Eynaud, Stephen /library/oar/handle/123456789/23371 2022-03-10T07:09:08Z 2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Trans-oral resection of Nasopharyngeal Pleomorphic Adenoma : a case report Authors: Grech, Ryan; Borg, Charles Joseph; Micallef Eynaud, Stephen Abstract: Introduction: Around 80% of all salivary gland tumours are pleomorphic adenomas, most commonly found in the parotid gland. This case report regards the rare finding of a pleomorphic adenoma in the nasopharynx. Case Presentation: a 29 year old lady presented to the ENT department with a 4 month history of worsesning and non-resolving nasal obstruction, change in voice, snoring and right aural congestion. A smooth mass pushing the uvula forward was seen on oral examination, and flexible nasoendoscopy revealed an exophytic mass from the right nasopharynx. CT and MRI showed a non-erosive mass in the right nasopharynx. Incisional biopsy was carried out which showed features of pleomorphic adenoma. Lesion was excised using transoral technique to remove the tumour with an intact capsule. Literature Review and Discussion: A PubMed search found only 12 previously reported cases of pleomorphic adenoma from 1970 to 2015. The treatment of choice was surgical in all cases, one case reports the use of radiotherapy, without affect. The trans-oral technique used in this case ensured that the tumour was removed with the surrounding capsule intact, thus reducing risk of recurrence. Conclusion: This is the first reported case of nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma from Malta. Diagnosis was made by the triple assessment – examination, radiology and histology. The tumour was excised completely and the plan is for the patient to have regular follow up.

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z Farrugia, Beatrice Gauci, Charmaine /library/oar/handle/123456789/23370 2017-11-07T02:27:57Z 2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A review of the effectiveness of interdisciplinary services for the treatment of overweight and obese children in the community Authors: Farrugia, Beatrice; Gauci, Charmaine Abstract: The alarming rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity in recent years justifies an interest in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment interventions in the primary care setting, where they can be more accessible to the general population. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness multidisciplinary team interventions in this setting, in view of increasing recognition of the important role that such teams play in the treatment of childhood obesity. A search of the Pubmed database was carried out based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. 26 studies from 18 different journals were included in the review, these being mainly behavioural, parenting and lifestyle interventions or combinations thereof. 18 of the studies reviewed reported on interventions that led to statistically significant changes in waist circumference, BMI or BMI-derived scores such as BMI percentiles and BMI z-scores. Assessing the clinical significance of the reported changes presented difficulties due to lack of explicit reporting of clinical significance and lack of widely-accepted weight-loss goals for such interventions in children. The most successful interventions tended to feature standardized training of professional staff in the intervention and use of tailored educational material. While the exact formulation of the multidisciplinary team varied, the teams regularly feature professionals trained in the fields of nutrition, physical education/exercise therapy and psychology and often did not involve doctors beyond the participant referral stage. Low-intensity interventions where contact was made on a one-off, 3-6 monthly or monthly basis were generally ineffective.

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z Fenech, Thomas Fenech, Matthew T. /library/oar/handle/123456789/23369 2022-03-10T06:50:48Z 2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessing the analgesic benefit of phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia using pre-operative nepafenac 0.1% Authors: Fenech, Thomas; Fenech, Matthew T. Abstract: Background: To compare the intra-operative analgesic benefit of cataract surgery under topical anesthesia with and without pre-operative NSAIDs, namely nepafenac 0.1% (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Nevanec® , Fort Worth, TX, USA) Method: In a study carried out at Mater Dei Hospital, Ophthalmic department, Malta, 199 patients with a cataract were divided into two groups. 100 eyes received nepafenac 0.1% pre-operatively while 99 eyes did not. Intra-operative discomfort was judged by assessing facial grimacing, restlessness, irritability and distress and the results were noted. Patients were divided into refractive error groups, namely myopic, hypermetropic and emmetropic. Results: Pre-operative nepafenac 0.1% produced significantly more pain free cataract surgeries, resulting in a discomfort rate of 9% vs 28% in the group where pre-operative nepafenac 0.1% was not used. Pain was also most evidently observed on insertion of the phaco handpiece. This may be said for patients in all refractive errors groups. Conclusions: The analgesic efficacy of nepafenac 0.1% pre-operatively is significant in reduced intra-operative discomfort during cataract surgery repair under topical analgesia.

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z Gatt, Miriam Muscat Baron, Yves Lautier, Elaine Claire Calleja, Neville /library/oar/handle/123456789/23368 2019-10-11T07:42:05Z 2017-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Folic acid : recommendations and interventions to increase women’s peri-conceptional intake of folic acid Authors: Gatt, Miriam; Muscat Baron, Yves; Lautier, Elaine Claire; Calleja, Neville Abstract: Folic acid is known to be beneficial in pregnancy and has been shown to prevent severe and devastating birth defects including neural tube defects. Health Authorities and Governments around the world have taken several initiatives in order to increase women’s peri-conceptional folic acid intake, varying from issuing guidelines, undertaking extensive health promotion campaigns to mandatory food fortification of staple foods with folic acid. These interventions have had varying success in preventing neural tube defects. This paper is a comprehensive review of the current literature, putting together and summarizing the various initiatives undertaken by different countries and their success or otherwise in increasing women’s peri-conceptional folic acid intake and preventing neural tube defects.

2017-10-01T00:00:00Z