The Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Workforce.

Importance: A core component of delivering care of head and neck diseases is an adequate workforce. The World Health Organization report, Multi-Country Assessment of National Capacity to Provide Hearing Care, captured primary workforce estimates from 68 member states in 2012, noting that response rates were a limitation and that updated more comprehensive data are needed.

Objective: To establish comprehensive workforce metrics for global otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) with updated data from more countries/territories.

Patterns in Oral Hygiene and Dietary Habits in School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Aim: To assess oral hygiene and dietary patterns in school children participating in a school-based preventive oral health program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an anonymous questionnaire exploring oral hygiene and dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic was completed by parents of school children. Data were compared among different schools, school years, and between genders using nonparametric tests.

Exploitation of a Type 1 Toxin-Antitoxin System as an Inducible Counter-Selective Marker for Genome Editing in the Acetogen .

Targeted mutations in the anaerobic methylotroph have previously been obtained using CRISPR-based mutagenesis methods. In this study, a RelB-family toxin from was placed under the control of an anhydrotetracycline-sensitive promoter, forming an inducible counter-selective system. This inducible system was coupled with a non-replicative integrating mutagenesis vector to create precise gene deletions in B2.

Dental Public Health in Action: Experiences and Responses of Oral Health Care Professionals during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malta.

Initial impetus for action: Maltese Oral Health Care Professionals (OHCP) experienced changes to clinical practice and redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early stages, there were few data on the resultant changes to the provision of dental services or their impact on the wellbeing of dental professionals. Solutions Suggested: Two questionnaires were designed to explore different domains in OHCP working on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in other areas/sectors.

Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth?

Introduction: Studies have shown that long-term positive behavioural and physiological changes are induced in connection with vaginal, physiological birth, and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and babies. Some of these effects are consistent with the effect profile of oxytocin. This scoping review explores whether epigenetic changes of the oxytocin gene and of the oxytocin receptor gene (OTR) are involved in these effects.

Self-reported dental student stressors and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To compare the influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the student reported outcomes among dental students reading/studying different courses offered in the only dental school in Malta.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 13 closed-ended and open-ended questions was sent to all students (n = 97) at the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the University of Malta. Emergent themes from open-ended questions were identified and tallied.

European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020.

The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 is the update of similar evidence based position papers published in 2005 and 2007 and 2012. The core objective of the EPOS2020 guideline is to provide revised, up-to-date and clear evidence-based recommendations and integrated care pathways in ARS and CRS. EPOS2020 provides an update on the literature published and studies undertaken in the eight years since the EPOS2012 position paper was published and addresses areas not extensively covered in EPOS2012 such as paediatric CRS and sinus surgery.

Cows fed hydroponic fodder and conventional diet: effects on milk quality.

The technology of green fodder production is especially important in arid and semiarid regions. Hydroponics improves on average the amount of crops in the same space, as traditional soil-based farming and can reduce water consumption compared to traditional farming methods. Limited research has been carried out on the use of hydroponic fodder and milk quality.

Intact Perineum: What are the Predictive Factors in Spontaneous Vaginal Birth?

Introduction: Perineal trauma at birth is distressing for women and can cause serious short and long term morbidity.

Aim: Investigate the prevalence and predictive factors of intact perineum after normal vaginal birth among Portuguese women who had spontaneous vaginal births.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out among pregnant women who had spontaneous vaginal births, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, in a single birth centre in Portugal.

Undergraduate students' evaluation and reflections on a gerodontology programme.

Introduction: Many societies have observed a steady increase of many older adults living longer due to advancements in health and standard of living. The dental team requires specialised training in gerodontology to better prepare for the future needs of the elderly patients. It is the aim of this study to report the undergraduate students' activities and perspectives on their work experience in a geriatric residence.

Undergraduate peer assisted learning tutors' performance in summative anatomy examinations: a pilot study.

Objectives: To compare summative anatomy examination results of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) tutors and learners in the same undergraduate classroom.

Methods: Comparative study of Year-1 medical students who did/did not serve as PAL tutors. PAL tutors gave six hours of teaching in lower limb anatomy.

Dataset of coded handwriting features for use in statistical modelling.

The data presented here is related to the article titled, "Using handwriting to infer a writer's country of origin for forensic intelligence purposes" (Agius et al., 2017) [1]. This article reports original writer, spatial and construction characteristic data for thirty-seven English Australian writers and thirty-seven Vietnamese writers.

Using handwriting to infer a writer's country of origin for forensic intelligence purposes.

Forensic science has traditionally focused the majority of its resources and objectives towards addressing Court-related questions. However, this view restricts the contribution of forensic science to one process and results in a loss of information as the investigative and intelligence roles are largely neglected. A forensic science discipline suffering from this imbalance is handwriting examination, which may be characterised as a time consuming and subjective process that is mostly carried out towards the end of the investigation for the purpose of judicial proceedings.

Perceptions of first-year medical students towards learning anatomy using cadaveric specimens through peer teaching.

During the last decade, global interest in the multiple benefits of formal peer teaching has increased. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of first-year medical students towards the use of peer teaching to learn anatomy using cadaveric specimens. A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective survey was carried out.

An update on the genetics of pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a progressive multisystem disorder that is exclusive to human pregnancy and defined as new hypertension presenting after 20 weeks with significant proteinuria. It is a multifactorial condition with a strong genetic component and several genes have been linked with this disorder. The main players implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia include immune maladaptation, hemodynamics, endothelial function, thrombophilic disorders, oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

The use of handwriting examinations beyond the traditional court purpose.

Traditionally, forensic science has predominantly focused its resources and objectives on addressing court related questions. However, this view restricts the contribution of forensic science to one function and results in lost opportunities as investigative and intelligence roles are often overlooked. A change of perspective and expansion of the contributions of forensic science is required to take advantage of the benefits of abductive and inductive thought processes throughout the investigative and intelligence functions.

The effectiveness of psychosocial assessment in the detection and management of postpartum depression: a systematic review.

Introduction: Perinatal mental disorders remain a public health concern. A psychosocial assessment gives a comprehensive understanding of a woman's circumstances by identifying risk factors that affect the overall mental state and function of the woman. The aim was to evaluate the current international evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychosocial assessments in the detection and management of postpartum depression.

European consensus-based (S2k) Guideline on the Management of Herpes Zoster - guided by the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) in cooperation with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), Part 1: Diagnosis.

Herpes zoster (HZ, shingles) is a frequent medical condition which may severely impact the quality of life of affected patients. Different therapeutic approaches to treat acute HZ are available. The aim of this European project was the elaboration of a consensus-based guideline on the management of patients who present with HZ, considering different patient populations and different localizations.

European consensus-based (S2k) Guideline on the Management of Herpes Zoster - guided by the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) in cooperation with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), Part 2: Treatment.

Herpes zoster (HZ, shingles) is a frequent medical condition which may severely impact the quality of life of affected patients. Different therapeutic approaches to treat acute HZ are available. The aim of this European project was the elaboration of a consensus-based guideline on the management of patients who present with HZ, considering different patient populations and different localizations.

The co-existence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the perinatal period: A systematic review.

Objective: to identify and appraise the current international evidence regarding the presence and prevalence of the co-existence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the antenatal and post partum period.

Methods: using a list of keywords, Medline, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science and the Index of Theses and Conference Proceedings (Jan 1960 - Jan 2015) were systematically searched. Experts in the field were contacted to locate papers that were in progress or in press.

Rhinogenic and nonrhinogenic headaches.

Purpose Of Review: To review the present knowledge and the recent publications on the cause, characteristics, course and treatment of chronic and recurring facial pain and headaches. Facial pain is amongst the commonest complaints in ear, nose and throat clinics. Recent articles have presented important evidence-based approach to this common problem.

Is 'sinus' pain really sinusitis?

So-called 'sinus pain' is a common complaint in GP and ear, nose and throat clinics, and patients often receive treatment with antibiotics and decongestants. Recent evidence suggests that facial pain may not be related to the sinuses at all and that doctors may have to rethink their prescribing strategy.

Prospective three-year follow up of a cohort study of 240 patients with chronic facial pain.

Background: Patients often present with facial pain ascribed to sinusitis, despite normal nasal endoscopy and sinus computed tomography. Facial pain is increasingly recognised to be of neurological origin.

Method: A cohort of 240 patients with chronic facial pain was followed up for 36 months at an otolaryngological practice in Malta.

Serial blood serotonin levels in a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of low-dose amitriptyline, amitriptyline with pindolol and surrogate placebo in patients with chronic tension-type facial pain.

Background: Patients often present with chronic facial pain despite normal nasal endoscopy and sinus computerized tomography. Such pain has increasingly been recognized as being of neurological origin with one of the commonest underlying causes being mid-facial segmental tension-type pain (MFP) which is a version of tension headache in the face. Descending serotonergic neuronal projections are known to modulate pain and intra-platelet serotonin levels are an accepted model reflecting central intra-neuronal serotonin.

A Randomized Controlled Trial comparing the efficacy of low-dose amitriptyline, amitriptyline with pindolol and surrogate placebo in the treatment of chronic tension-type facial pain.

Background: Patients often present to otolaryngologists with chronic facial pain, presumed to be of sinus origin despite normal nasal endoscopy and sinus CT. This pain has increasingly been recognized as being of neurological origin with one of the commonest underlying causes being mid-facial segmental tension-type pain (MFP) which is a version of tension-type headache affecting the midface.

Primary Outcome Measures: 1.