/library/oar/handle/123456789/20239 2025-11-14T06:06:44Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/20384 Title: Monoclonal antibodies search out disease Abstract: When monoclonal antibodies were first developed just over ten years ago, the inventors had no idea how useful they would be. Even five years ago few could have predicted the explosion in monoclonal technology that is now taking place. This is partly illustrated by the fact that Dr Cesar Milstein and Dr Georges Kohler, inventors of the technology, were not awarded a Nobel prize for their work until 1984, nine years after the event. Now laboratories and commercial companies are making up for lost time. The particular qualities that monoclonal antibodies (MABs) possess are revolutionising the fields of diagnostics and purification, and every day inventive researchers are finding more ways of using them, for example, in cancer therapy. Antibodies are normally made by white blood cells or lymphocytes and act like the immune defences' alarm system. They are large molecules designed to recognise foreign material in our bodies and, when they encounter something like bacteria, they notify the rest of the immune system that there is an intruder. 1987-11-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/20382 Title: Clinical teaching in Malta fifty years ago : a personal view Abstract: Our training in clinical practice was based on accurate history taking and a thorough physical examination of the patient. The importance of semeiotics was drilled into our heads by such leading clinicians and experienced teachers as Professors Edgar Ferro, Peter Xuereb, Joseph Edward Debono and that daring surgeon Peter Paul Debono - a quartette of medical men who graced our profession and who are still affectionately and gratefully re- membered by my generation. 1987-11-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/20381 Title: Observations on dental-oral health conditions of Gharb schoolchildren Abstract: The village of Gharb affords a colourful glimpse into the past. Gharb is Gozo's westermost parish and the origins of the village date back to ancient times. Gliarb was inhabited since early times. This corner of Gozo, fairly distant from all the better landing places was perhaps a relatively safer area in which to live during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The village was granted parish status just over three hundred years ago, when by a decree dated August 29,1679, it ceased to form part of the parish of Rabat. A petition with this request in the name of about 500 villagers who lived in eighty houses and farms at Gharb and its environs had been sent to the Bishop of Gozo on August 11,1679. A general glance at old records shows that death was a common occurrence and infant mortality was very high. One wonders what their general and dental-oral health was like at that time. 1987-11-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/20379 Title: New developments in anaesthesia Abstract: Anaesthesia is now a rapidly developing medical speciality which is acquiring new skills and a wider sphere of influence. This is apparent with the involvement of anaesthetics in the field of intensive care; the setting up of clinics for the management of chronic pain; and increasing moves towards greater independence of anaesthetists' specialist organisations. In Britain, an increasing amount of surgery is being performed on a one day hospital stay basis and this has been helped by the recent development of new British drugs allowing rapid patient recovery. High technology microprocessor systems are being put to use to improve post-operative pain relief, and to ease methods of administration in order to prevent lack of oxygen occurring during an anaesthetic. In contrast to this, another problem receiving increasing attention is that of awareness that occurs during general anaesthesia. Interest in this has been expressed in the country, not only by anaesthetists but also by the courts, which are prepared to award large sums in compensation. Intravenous induction of anaesthesia is the normal method in Britain, with hangover effects lasting hours and are not ideal when fast recovery is desired. 1987-11-01T00:00:00Z