/library/oar/handle/123456789/39383 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:21:32 GMT 2025-11-11T20:21:32Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/794 Title: Congenital malformations : a historical perspective in a Mediterranean community Authors: Savona-Ventura, Charles Abstract: Many important discoveries have been made in the last five decades in the field of hereditary mechanisms, environmental teratogenesis, prenatal diagnosis and medical/ surgical management of affected individuals with congenital malformations. The Maltese group of islands occupies a central position in the Mediterranean, being only 93 km away from Sicily and 290 km from Northern Africa. This location made the Islands an important meeting place for the various Mediterranean cultures throughout the ages. The history of malformations in the Maltese Islands reflects the cultural links with the mainland Mediterranean. The attitude towards congenital malformations can be divided into two periods - the Period of Superstitious Belief which reflected primitive man’s concepts and prevailed to at least the 17th century; and the Period of Modern Thought which began during the 18th century but made the most progress during the twentieth century. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/794 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/793 Title: Atopic eczema Authors: Formosa, Marie Claire Abstract: A distressed mother attends the clinic with her three year old daughter, who developed an itchy rash. The rash is reddish and affects her face and wrists. The child is restless and has been scratching all night. On close inspection atopic eczema is diagnosed. How would this case be managed and what issues may arise? Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/793 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/792 Title: The use of K39 test in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis Authors: Sciberras, Robert Abstract: From time to time patients admitted with fever of unknown origin prove to be a diagnostic dilemma. While textbooks describe typical symptoms and signs, and also diagnostic tests, these are not always helpful. The following are two case reports of patients who were eventually diagnosed to be suffering from visceral leishmaniasis. It is apparent that the usual diagnostic tools at our disposal were not enough to identify the disease and new tests were needed. The case reports have some similarities; both patients are male, diabetic, resident in Gozo but not of Gozitan stock. These factors could have reduced their immunity to visceral leishmaniasis, making them more susceptible to the disease. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/792 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/791 Title: Dopa-responsive dystonia and hyperprolactinaemia : a novel association in two sisters Authors: Galea, Janabel; Cachia, Mario J. Abstract: Dopa-Responsive Dystonia (DRD) is a rare hereditary condition of childhood-onset dystonia which responds dramatically to treatment with levodopa. It was first described in 1971 as a "hereditary progressive basal ganglia disease with marked diurnal fluctuation". We describe a novel association between DRD and hyperprolactinaemia occurring in two sisters at the onset of puberty. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/791 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z