2,845 results match your criteria: "University of Malta[Affiliation]"

Robson ten group classification system for Caesarean sections across Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol

December 2024

Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Institution of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö and Lund, Sweden. Electronic address:

Unlabelled: The aim of this systemic review and meta-analysis was to examine the differences in caesarean section rates across European regions and at a country level by utilizing the Robson classification system. The study has compared caesarean rates across European regions using the Robson classification to identify the drivers of caesarean section use. This review shows significant variations in caesarean section rates across European regions, ranging from 16.

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Cancer treatments have continued to improve tremendously over the past decade, but therapy resistance is still a common, major factor encountered by patients diagnosed with cancer. Chemoresistance arises due to various circumstances and among these causes, increasing evidence has shown that enzymes referred to as protein methyltransferases (PMTs) play a significant role in the development of chemoresistance in various cancers. These enzymes are responsible for the methylation of different amino acids, particularly lysine and arginine, via protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) and protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), respectively.

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Flexibility and Stability in Lexical Tone Recalibration: Evidence from Tone Perceptual Learning.

Lang Speech

December 2024

Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands.

Listeners adjust their perception of sound categories when confronted with variations in speech. Previous research on speech recalibration has primarily focused on segmental variation, demonstrating that recalibration tends to be specific to individual speakers and situations and often persists over time. In this study, we present findings on the perceptual learning of lexical tone in Standard Chinese, a suprasegmental feature signaled primarily through pitch variations to distinguish morpheme/word meanings.

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: Thoracolumbar and lumbar spine injuries account for 30-60% of spinal fractures, especially at the thoracolumbar junction. Conservative treatment is recommended for stable fractures without neurological symptoms, but studies suggest surgical intervention may offer better outcomes. However, there is no consensus on the best stabilization method.

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Background And Objectives: "Successful aging" concerns the process of growing older while maintaining physical, cognitive, and social wellbeing, emphasizing independence for overall satisfaction and quality of life. We investigate the impact of e-health literacy on reducing loneliness and sustaining wellbeing during the pandemic, comparing middle- and high-income countries.

Research Design And Methods: Online surveys were conducted between April 4, 2020, and September 30, 2021, collecting responses (N=2091) from medium- and high-income countries in Europe, Asia, and North America.

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The different definitions of multimorbidity and their implications for research, surveillance, and policy.

Eur J Public Health

December 2024

Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, French Public Health Agency (Santé Publique France), Saint-Maurice, France.

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Background & Aim: Perinatal mental health disorders are common complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period. The value of screening for their early detection is well-recognized, but to-date, research-validated mental health measures for postpartum women in Malta are lacking. In this prospective cross-sectional study, we assessed the validity of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), an EPDS subscale (EPDS-3A), and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 item (GAD-7) as screening measures for postpartum depression and anxiety.

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Cross-Modal Cues Improve the Detection of Synchronized Targets during Human Foraging.

Multisens Res

November 2024

Department of Cognitive Science, Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.

In two experiments, we explored whether cross-modal cues can be used to improve foraging for multiple targets in a novel human foraging paradigm. Foraging arrays consisted of a 6 × 6 grid containing outline circles with a small dot on the circumference. Each dot rotated from a random starting location in steps of 30°, either clockwise or counterclockwise, around the circumference.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aspergillus westerdijkiae, known as 'golden mould,' can grow on dry-cured meats and produce the harmful mycotoxin ochratoxin A, posing health risks to humans.
  • The study explored how different temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C) and water activity levels (0.85 to 0.99) affect the growth and ochratoxin production of two A. westerdijkiae strains over 28 days.
  • Optimal growth occurred at 20-25 °C and high water activity, while strain S1 produced the most ochratoxin A at certain conditions, indicating that even under ideal growth, mycotoxin production can be significant, highlighting the need for better
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Overall coloration, size and thoracic morphology have formed the basis for taxonomic differentiation of taxa within the genus Eugaster at specific or subspecific levels over the years. The present study employs a range of methods to examine the morphology of 58 specimens (18♂♂ and 40♀♀) from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, collected from altitudes varying between 10 and 1795 metres AMSL. Moroccan sampling sites include localities on both the north and south of the High Atlas and from either side of the Middle Atlas, i.

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Article Synopsis
  • Gynaecological cancer is rare in children and prepubertal girls, but treatments can significantly risk their future fertility.
  • This review focuses on how to manage cancer treatment in young girls while prioritizing fertility preservation.
  • It discusses the latest fertility preservation techniques for gynaecological cancers, highlighting the associated risks and the need for further research in this area.
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Hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds are a challenge to wound care professionals, a burden to the health service and negatively impact affected individuals' quality of life. They also consume a great deal of healthcare resources globally and are found in all settings, including prisons. Therefore, the evaluation of wound care services is essential in order to develop an awareness of where improvement can be made.

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The prevalence of threatened miscarriage in Malta.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X

December 2024

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Malta.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Malta to assess the prevalence of threatened miscarriage. The study focuses on cases managed at a local state hospital over a 12-month period. Currently, data on pregnancies prior to 22 weeks' gestation are not publicly available, which hampers understanding of the frequency and impact of threatened miscarriage.

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Determination of strain variability and kinetics of food-associated microorganisms following ultrasound treatment.

Food Res Int

November 2024

Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta; Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • - Ultrasound (US) is being studied for its potential to kill harmful bacteria, but previous research hasn't fully explored how different strains of bacteria respond to this treatment.
  • - In this study, researchers tested ten different strains of common foodborne microbes and found significant differences in their resistance to US, particularly noting that some Listeria strains were more resistant than others.
  • - The results highlight the importance of understanding how various strains react to US treatment, which is crucial for food safety and can lead to improved strategies for managing microbial risks in food products.
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As online video and streaming platforms continue to grow, affective computing research has undergone a shift towards more complex studies involving multiple modalities. However, there is still a lack of readily available datasets with high-quality audiovisual stimuli. In this paper, we present GameVibe, a novel affect corpus which consists of multimodal audiovisual stimuli, including in-game behavioural observations and third-person affect traces for viewer engagement.

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Progress in the management of critical care syndromes such as sepsis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and trauma has slowed over the last two decades, limited by the inherent heterogeneity within syndromic illnesses. Numerous immune endotypes have been proposed in sepsis and critical care, however the overlap of the endotypes is unclear, limiting clinical translation. The SUBSPACE consortium is an international consortium that aims to advance precision medicine through the sharing of transcriptomic data.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to develop quantitative structure-pharmacokinetics relationship (QSPKR) models for a group of xanthine derivatives with proven pharmacological activity and to investigate its applicability for the prediction of the pharmacokinetics of these compounds.

Methods: The SYBYL-X, KowWin, and MarvinSketch programs were employed to generate a total of fourteen descriptor variables for a series of new compounds: 7- and 7,8-substituted theophylline derivatives (GR-1-GR-8) and three well-known methylxanthines. Pharmacokinetic profiles of all compounds were determined after intravenous administration of studied compounds to cannulated male rats.

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Lactation in dairy cows implies comprehensive endocrine and metabolic changes including a systemic electrolytic reaction. Previous studies have rarely considered these specific demands due to the influence of lactation periods. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of early, middle, and late lactation phases on the dynamic changes in serum concentrations of progesterone (P4), 17β-oestradiol (E2), cortisol, and some electrolytes (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, Pi) and biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), total bilirubin, urea, and iron (Fe) in 10 Holstein, 10 Brown Swiss, and 10 Modicana multiparous healthy dairy cows (4.

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Modulation of Biological Membranes Using Small-Molecule Compounds to Counter Toxicity Caused by Amyloidogenic Proteins.

Membranes (Basel)

November 2024

Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta.

The transition of peptides or proteins along a misfolding continuum from soluble functional states to pathological aggregates, to ultimately deposit as amyloid fibrils, is a process that underlies an expanding group of human diseases-collectively known as protein-misfolding disorders (PMDs). These include common and debilitating conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and type-2 diabetes. Compelling evidence has emerged that the complex interplay between the misfolded proteins and biological membranes is a key determinant of the pathogenic mechanisms by which harmful amyloid entities are formed and exert their cytotoxicity.

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Stroke knowledge in Malta: A mixed methods study.

Neuroradiol J

November 2024

Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Malta.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advances in acute treatments, timely intervention remains crucial. This study assessed stroke knowledge in Malta to identify gaps that could contribute to treatment delays.

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