/library/oar/handle/123456789/31869 Thu, 25 Dec 2025 20:00:56 GMT 2025-12-25T20:00:56Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/140656 Title: Cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis-infused edibles in Malta Abstract: After Malta’s legalisation for the recreational use of cannabis in 2021, the local market has seen an increase in the accessibility of edibles in cannabis shops. While the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is permitted if it does not exceed 0.2 percent, there is no set limit on the amount of cannabidiol (CBD) permitted in recreational products. The rising demand, has led to this in-depth investigation, to ensure consumer safety and promote transparency, in the labelling of CBD edibles. Thus, this study aimed mainly to investigate the presence or absence of CBD in edibles, and to then compare it with the labelling of the samples. The technique used to detect CBD and any other additional components in edibles, was gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Samples of six different edibles (gummies, chocolates, sleep candies, a muffin, and cookies) were bought from a local shop. The samples underwent several preparatory procedures, including crushing, methanol dilution, vortexing, sonication, and filtration, along with supplementary steps of centrifugation, dilution, and vortexing prior to the filtration of gelatinous edibles (sample 6). These preparatory procedures were done to ensure that samples were well prepared, before the analysis by the GC/MS. The analysis uncovered significant inconsistencies in the labelling precision of CBD edibles. While four of the six samples contained CBD, Sample 2 was mislabelled, as it contained CBDA instead of CBD due to incomplete decarboxylation, highlighting misleading labelling practices. Sample 3 was particularly problematic due to its packaging, which failed to disclose the presence of CBD and Δ9-THCH, and omitted caffeine, thereby raising concerns regarding regulatory compliance. Similarly, Sample 5 omitted both CBN and CBD from its ingredient list, implying the potential presence of CBD, indirectly through the labelled “organic hemp extract”. Caffeine was also detected in sample 4 without appropriate disclosure. Moreover, sample 4 was marketed by sellers as a CBD product, but it lacked CBD. These findings underscore a deficiency in transparency and the possible dangers linked to mislabelling. Samples 1 and 6 exhibited precise CBD labelling, signifying their reliability. This study emphasises the necessity for more stringent regulations and standardised practices within the commercial cannabis sector, particularly concerning accurate labelling. This research reveals significant consumer safety concerns, highlighting the need for regulatory measures to ensure quality and transparency in products, to ultimately protect the public’s health. Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/140656 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/140568 Title: Reprogramming regulatory T cells to effector T cells for enhanced antitumour responses : a study on non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines Abstract: Introduction: Current therapeutic approaches for lung cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are often limited by significant side effects and suboptimal long-term outcomes, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies, particularly within the field of immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role in maintaining immunological homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity, however, their immunosuppressive properties can also hinder effective antitumour responses by promoting an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. This effect is especially pronounced in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where increased Treg infiltration is strongly associated with poorer prognosis and decreased treatment efficacy. Given their functional plasticity under inflammatory conditions, recent research has turned to the potential of reprogramming Tregs into proinflammatory effector-like cells—such as Th1-like cells—capable of producing cytokines that support antitumour immunity and counteract tumour-mediated immune suppression. Aim: This research project aims to investigate the potential reprogramming of Tregs into Th1-like effector cells by assessing both their phenotypic and functional shift. Specifically, the study evaluates whether Tregs exposed to pro-inflammatory conditions can adopt Th1-like cells characteristics, and whether these reprogrammed cells exhibit anti-tumour activity specifically on NSCLC. Method: The CellXVivo Human Treg Cell Differentiation Kit was used to polarise CD4⁺ T cells into Tregs after they were isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, via negative magnetic selection. In order to encourage Treg reprogramming toward a Th1-like phenotype, treatment with high and low doses of IL-12 was done. After treatment, H460, a NSCLC cell line, were treated with different concentrations of conditioned media in order to evaluate the supposed anti-tumour functions of the reprogrammed Tregs, using CFSE-based proliferation assays. Results: Phenotypic analysis revealed that in some cases, Tregs expressing FOXP3 were not generated in the first place, which could be attributed to donor-to-donor heterogeneity, and thus, the direct impact of IL-12 on the phenotype of Tregs was inconclusive. Treated Treg also retained high CD25 expression typical of Treg. The conditioned media from IL-12-treated Tregs at concentration 80% reduced H460 proliferation relative to cells cultured in complete RPMI media, however unexpectedly this reduction was not as much as those cultured in untreated Treg conditioned media, suggesting IL-12 alone may be insufficient to cause the treated CD4+ cells to acquire effective effector cytokine production with anti-tumourigenic effects. Conclusion: While IL-12 has some influence on Treg plasticity, the results suggest that it is insufficient on its own to drive complete reprogramming into Th1-like effector cells, as CD25 expression was still retained and the suppressive activity of the conditioned media from IL-12-treated Tregs was not as significant as the conditioned media of untreated Tregs. These results underscore the complexity of Treg plasticity and highlight the need for additional signals to effectively achieve Tregs and convert these cells into functionally potent anti-tumour effector T cells with anti-tumourigenic properties Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/140568 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/140567 Title: HHC products in Malta Abstract: Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, has recently gained attention in the evolving cannabis market due to its legal status as an alternative to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in many jurisdictions. Although HHC was synthesized decades ago, its presence in consumer products has increased significantly in recent years. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of HHC containing products available in Malta prior to the enforcement of the Drugs (Control) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations in September 2024. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), six commercially available products claiming to contain HHC were analysed to identify HHC and related cannabinoids. GC/MS was selected due to its ability to separate complex cannabinoid mixtures and provide compound identification with high sensitivity and specificity. The analysis revealed discrepancies between product labels and actual cannabinoid content, highlighting concerns regarding product quality and labelling accuracy. While GC/MS was effective in detecting the (9R)-HHC isomers, limitations were noted due to certain instances where structurally similar compounds produced similar quality scores, making it more difficult to confidently distinguish between the different isomers. These limitations suggest that additional techniques, such as quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (qTOF-MS), could improve analytical accuracy in future studies. Statistical analysis of the GC/MS results revealed that (9R)-HHC was consistently present, in contrast to (9S)-HHC across the tested samples. The study revealed a considerable amount of labelling inaccuracies and discrepancies between the product labels and the compounds identified through GC/MS analysis, raising significant safety concerns for consumers. These findings emphasise the urgent need for further research into HHC’s pharmacological effects, safety, and therapeutic potential. The study faced some limitations, including a small sample size mainly due to the legal prohibition of HHC products during the research period of the study, and the fact that each sample was analyzed only once, which reduced the statistical strength of the findings. Future studies with larger sample sizes and more advanced analytical techniques are crucial to ensure consumer safety and to provide a clearer understanding for the regulation of emerging synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC. Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/140567 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/140566 Title: Assessing the awareness of sports doping among University of Malta students Abstract: The use of performance enhancing substances not only violates the spirit of fairness and integrity of sport, but may also result in negative health effects. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sets the standards of antidoping legislation and also carries out many initiatives to increase awareness internationally. This project aimed to evaluate the level of awareness about doping in sports among University of Malta students studying in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Dental Surgery, and Institute of Physical Education and Sport. This was done by using a questionnaire adapted from the WADA Play-true quiz, which is a short online quiz developed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to test the knowledge of sportspersons on anti-doping regulation and had been used in similar studies. Overall, the students who replied (N=120) obtained a mean knowledge score of 14.65 or had 58.6% of questions answered correctly. A statistically significant difference in knowledge level was found between students who practise a sport and those who do not (p=0.037). No differences in knowledge were found between males and females, or between different courses of study. In general, the students were found to have negative and intolerant attitudes towards performance-enhancing substance [PES] use. Males were found to have a statistically significant increase in positive attitudes compared to females (p=0.045), while no differences in attitude were found between sportspersons and those who did not practise a sport, or between different courses of study. There was no association found between the participants’ knowledge and their attitude towards doping in sport. These results indicate that, similar to previously published studies, these students can be considered to possess a moderate level of anti-doping knowledge. The study had several limitations, mostly due to the overall poor response rates. However, it reiterates the need for further education in the subject among university students, both as part of university curricula, and as part of extra-curricular educational initiatives. Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/140566 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z