/library/oar/handle/123456789/22960 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:21:43 GMT 2025-11-06T15:21:43Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/22989 Title: Ultrasound of the inguinal canal : part 2 Authors: Vassallo, Pierre Abstract: During the embryological period, a testis that fails to reach its scrotal destination is referred to as an undescended testis. An undescended testis may lie anywhere along its path of migration, but is most commonly located in the inguinal canal. Statistically, 30% of premature male neonates have an undescended testis. At normal mature birth, the frequency falls to 2.7-5.9%, whereas at 1 year of age this is seen in 1.2-1.8% of cases. Normally, after 1 year of age, the testis will not descend any further. Ninety percent of undescended testes are associated with a patent processus vaginalis and 50% with an indirect inguinal hernia. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/22989 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/22987 Title: Yo olde apothecary in Rabat Authors: Azzopardi, Marika Abstract: There was a day and age when medicines were not mass produced, but handmade to doctor's orders by none other than the village pharmacist. Marika Azzopardi rekindles some memories during a visit to Malta's only pharmacy museum. She interviews Mr Michael Bonnici. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/22987 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/22980 Title: New safety information on Azithromycin Authors: Sultana, Janet Abstract: In the last few years the scientific community was debating the safety of the widely used macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin, which is commonly prescribed for respiratory and urinary tract infections. Previously published observational studies examined the risk of cardiovascular outcomes with azithromycin use, but these studies had conflicting results. The first such study to be published, a cohort study using U.S. Medicaid data, found an increased risk of cardiovascular death with azithromycin use. This led the Food and Drug Association to issue a warning on the safety of azithromycin use, although the European Medicines Agency did not take a position on this issue. Subsequent studies, both in the U.S. and in Europe did not always observe a risk of cardiovascular adverse events. This was likely due to several factors. Some studies investigated the link between cardiovascular death and azithromycin use. However, cardiovascular death can be considered a rather ambiguous outcome .given that the concern with aZithromycin use should be ventricular arrhythmia specifically, based on the effect of macrolides on QT- interval prolongation. Cardiovascular death may be due to conditions unrelated to ventricular arrhythmia. It is therefore possible that the cardiovascular impact of azithromycin is over-estimated by using this general clinical outcome. Another important factor leading to variation among the published studies is the diversity in the underlying study populations. For example, a study conducted among persons with a lower socioeconomic status such as Medicaid beneficiaries may show a comparatively higher cardiovascular risk than a European population. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/22980 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/22978 Title: Elearning vs traditional face-to-face interactions Abstract: In a 1980 interview, Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011), an American entrepreneur, businessman, inventor and industrial designer once stated that 'Equal opportunity to me more than anything means a great education.' This proves to be a most convenient introduction to this editorial which will discuss the relevance of continuing medical education and eLearning for healthcare professionals. Let's face it. Educators face a number of key challenges in the provision of continuing medical education programmes. To name a few, the World Federation of Medical Education [http://wfme.org/] mentions inadequate leadership, insufficient resources, lack of programme supervision and resistance to change. In essence, one might well say that the main challenge is the development of modules which are easily accessible [including cost], of good quality [including ease-of-use], and yet, flexible enough to fit in the lifestyle of prospective participants. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/22978 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z