/library/oar/handle/123456789/40938 2025-12-24T01:21:29Z 2025-12-24T01:21:29Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/102502 2022-10-11T04:45:01Z 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z

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 /library/oar/handle/123456789/77241 2021-10-15T15:12:27Z 1975-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Haemoglobin abnormalities in the Maltese Abstract: The mean of haemoglobin concentration in 335 cord blood samples was 16.0 g/dl 2.6 S.D. The haemoglobin concentration was lower from the mean by more than 2 S.D. (10.8g/dl) in 10 (2.9%) neonates. Extra-corpuscular factors are the main cause of anaemia in the newborn. a-Thalessaemia is absent or extremely rare in the Maltese. Haemoglobin F Malta I was was detected in 1.6 percent of 2600 cord bloods screened by starch gel electrophoresis. One child had the double heterozygozity for haemoglobin F Malta I and 8-thalassaemia. So long as Haemoglobin F Malta I is not detected in these cases, the G locus must be assumed to be suppressed in 8-thalassaemia. Description: M.PHIL.

1975-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/77240 2021-06-15T06:06:37Z 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Studies on the N-oxidation of heterocycles of pharmacological importance : the N-oxidation of indoles Abstract: Hepatic microsomal oxidation on the nitrogen on the indole ring has been investigated with 2-phenylindole as substrate. N-hydroxy-2-phenylindole has been isolated following incubation of different concentrations of substrate and co-enzymes with whole liver homogenates and microsomal preparations from rabbit and guinea-pig, with and without inducer pretreatment. The hydroxy metabolite has been shown to be identical with N-hydroxy-2-phenylindole, obtained by chemical synthesis, through its TLC and GC behaviour and its IR and NMR spectral characteristics Description: M.PHIL.

1977-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/41021 2020-11-10T14:09:29Z 1975-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A study of some factors involved in the aetiology of diverticular disease of the large intestine in Malta. Abstract: Factors involved in the aetiology of diverticular disease in Malta have been studied and compared with those of other countries by reviewing the relevant literature. The incidence of diverticular disease was investigated by carrying out a retrospective radiological survey over an 8 year period (1967-1974), and a prospective necropsy survey, over a 2 year period. The age and sex incidence and the anatomical distributing of diverticula in both series were studied. The incidence was similar to that of western communities on a predominantly low residue diet. However certain peculiarities have been noted, namely a predominance in males and a high incidence of right-sided diverticula. The urban-rural distribution of patients diagnosed radiologically was investigated and a predominance of urban cases found. The natural history of the disease was studied by reviewing hospital records and by personally interviewing patients. A detailed dietary history revealed that most patients had been and were still on a relatively refined diet; a high residue diet had rarely been advised. Although rarely fatal, diverticular disease had a high morbidity rate. The characteristics of colonic carcinoma were also studied by reviewing the ‘Tumour Register’ records over the period 1969-1973. Certain similarities were found with diverticular disease in the sex and anatomical distribution, and in the clinical picture. The two conditions occasionally coexisted. Intestinal motility studies were carried out. In vitro perfusion studies were performed on a guinea-pig and human taeniae and differences noted in the motility exhibited by taniae of normal patients and those with diverticular disease. Transit times were carried out on patients undergoing gastro-intestinal radiological investigation on no prescribed diet, to obtain indirect information on the habitual amount of roughage ingested. Average daily stool weigh, moisture and ash contents were estimated. Fasting blood samples were obtained from the same patients and blood glucose and plasma cholesterol levels performed an interesting correlation was found between transit times and plasma cholesterol levels. Description: M.PHIL.

1975-01-01T00:00:00Z