/library/oar/handle/123456789/39243 2025-11-12T02:06:30Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/515 Title: A National Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting System for Malta Authors: Bonett, Michael; Arthur, Niamh; Vella Bonanno, Patricia Abstract: The mission of the Medicines Authority (MA) in Malta is to contribute to protection of public health through regulation of the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines for human use on the local market and to ensure that healthcare professionals and patients have access to accurate and up to date information about medicines. In order to disseminate information regarding safety of medicines, the MA publishes guidance notes for healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. The MA also publishes information on its website: http://www.health.gov.mt/mru/ On the 4th of May, 2004 the MA held a seminar to launch a national adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system involving the co-operation of doctors, dentists and pharmacists, as well as the pharmaceutical industry. The ADR reporting system will form part of an overall pharmacovigilance system within the Authority and this will be the primary means of collecting information useful in the surveillance of medicinal products. 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/514 Title: Radiology Authors: Vassallo, Pierre Abstract: Radiology is the fastest developing field of medicine and these unprecedented advances have been mainly due to improving computer technology. Digital imaging is a technology whereby images are acquired in a computer format, so that they can be easily stored and recalled for display on any computer workstation. Digital image acquisition has been used in ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the start. The use of digital imaging in conventional X-rays, known as Computed Radiography, has only recently become possible. Supercomputers now provide the speed required to rapidly process digital image data, while terabyte level storage media allow digital archiving of both radiological images and data. Ultrasound, CT and MRI have also improved immensely as a result of faster computing, which allows shorter exam times, higher image resolution with improved quality and new exam techniques including large field and realtime imaging, noninvasive angiography and dynamic motion studies. Other recent advances in radiology include new contrast agents, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning and novel interventional techniques. 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/513 Title: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Authors: Sciberras, Stephen C.; Aquilina, Andrew Abstract: The anaesthetist has seen his role steadily expand and it is hard to think of one medical specialty in which anaesthetists are not involved at least to some extent. We present a range of papers which demonstrates the breadth of anaesthesia: from its traditional realm in the operating theatre to critical care and resuscitation onto chronic pain and obstetric analgesia. 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/512 Title: General practice Authors: Abela, Jurgen C. Abstract: The remarkable rate of development of medical knowledge and pharmacology affects all medical specialties and in particular general practice, since the latter embraces various aspects of different medical fields. Certain areas of medical practice, such as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), hypercholesterolaemia and drugs affecting the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) feature in a vast amount of literature which is constantly being updated. The increasing awareness of the previously unknown effects of HRT on one side, and the widespread prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the case of hypercholesterolaemia and drugs affecting the RAS have contributed to this large amount of studies. On the other hand, certain areas of practice such as atopic eczema and anti-thrombotic therapy have been rather quiescent as far as developments are concerned, but revolutionary treatments have recently been introduced in both areas, namely the calcineurin antagonists and ximelagratan. The latter is a very promising drug which can replace warfarin, while the former are the first steroid-sparing medications which effectively control atopic eczema. Keeping abreast with recent developments is a further hurdle which the modern general practioner has to contend with in order to offer valid treatment options, and to be able to answer questions by increasingly well-informed patients. 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z