/library/oar/handle/123456789/39530 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 01:58:57 GMT 2025-11-11T01:58:57Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/965 Title: The Brucellosis Museum in Valletta Authors: Wyatt, H. V. Abstract: The booklet Sir Temi Zammit’s laboratory celebrated the opening of the restored laboratory in the Department of Health building in Valletta, It was published by the Maltese Government and is no longer available although an occasional copy has been offered on e-bay. This booklet and its companion about the transmission of brucellosis2 have no ISBN code and may not even be covered by copyright. It would be a fitting memorial to Dr. Paul Cassar for them to be reprinted – if published as a supplement to the Malta Medical Journal, they would be available again. The museum in the Castellania Palace in Valletta commemorates the work of the Mediterranean Fever Commission (MFC) and Sir Temi Zammit in particular. As suggested by Paul Cassar, it should be visited by all medical and nursing students, to hear a talk about the work of Zammit, Malta’s most famous doctor. Public access to the museum is difficult, but might be arranged for small groups on announced days and times.. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/965 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/964 Title: Sir Themistocles Zammit : his medical and scientific career Authors: Wyatt, H. V. Abstract: Soon after graduation, Zammit and a colleague founded a review journal for which he prepared most of the abstracts, thus keeping up with recent literature of bacteriology. On appointment as Bacteriologist, he visited eminent practitioners in Paris and london. Based in Valletta, he became active in the local branch of the BMA, becoming Secretary and meeting senior British service doctors as well as young recent graduates. His first papers were based on his work and his early interest in brucellosis resulted in a slide test. Because of his interest in insects, he began corresponding with scientists in Britain. When the Mediterranean Fever Commission was formed, he was an obvious choice as his work was already known to Colonel Bruce FRS. At first he believed that transmission of brucellosis might be made by mosquitoes. However, he infected two goars and noted their continued inapparent infection and showed the presence of bacteria in their rine, blood and milk. Bruce and Horrocks did not wish him to continue with this experiment, but he persuaded them to allow him to buy a further six goats. He tested the goats and found that they were probably the source of infection through their milk. He devised a test for the bacteria in milk and continued research into the disease. He made significant contributions to other aspects of medicine in Malta. He was Professor of Chemistry, a lecturer to naval surgeons and a world renowned archaeologist. Later he was Rector of the University of Malta. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/964 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/963 Title: Collagenous gastritis : a rare cause of anaemia in childhood Authors: Vella, Cecil; Pullicino, Edgar; Fearne, Christopher Abstract: We report a thirteen year old boy presenting with severe iron deficiency anaemia. Initial extensive investigation failed to reveal an obvious cause. Subsequently a diagnosis of collagenous gastritis was made. To our knowledge this is the first report of a patient with this rare condition in the Maltese Islands. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/963 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/962 Title: Success and complication rates of trabeculectomies augmented with MMC in the management of glaucoma Authors: Sciriha, Gabriella M.; Mercieca, Franco Abstract: Glaucoma unresponsive to medical treatment is managed by surgery. Augmentation with mitomycin C (MMC) is considered in patients at high risk of surgery failure. Aim: In this paper we assess and compare the success and complications of this procedure performed in the local state hospital with those of larger international centres. Methods: A retrospective study of the surgery performed between 2003 and 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital by one surgeon (FM) was conducted. The total number of eyes considered in this analysis was 32. Intraocular pressures and complications up to one year post-operatively were recorded. Results: The mean intraocular pressure decreased from 30mmHg pre-operatively to 18mmHg post-operatively. The mean IOP drop registered was 42%. Of the 32 eyes that underwent trabeculectomy augmented by MMC, 23 were classified as a complete success with IOP remaining below 21mmHg at 1 year post-surgery. Six eyes were considered as a partial success since they had an IOP under 21mmHg but this had to be kept under control with the administration of medications. Failure of surgery was classified as uncontrollable UOP, although also on medications. This was seen in 3 eyes. Using the central limit theorem, the significance of the difference in means and difference in percentages of IOP drop and complication rates, between the local state hospital procedures and international centres were calculated. Conclusions: Incidences obtained from this analysis compare very favourably with results from international studies showing no significant differences. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/962 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z