Mario Vassallo | University of Malta (original) (raw)

Papers by Mario Vassallo

Gut, 2014

Introduction For individuals with gluten-related disorders (GRD) eating out has traditionally bee... more Introduction For individuals with gluten-related disorders (GRD) eating out has traditionally been difficult, and socially impacting, due to concern over the lack of public awareness regarding GRD and a gluten-free diet (GFD). However, the recent rise in media coverage highlighting these conditions may have altered knowledge amongst community members. Aims To assess whether there has been a change in awareness of GRD, and a GFD, amongst the general public and chefs over a ten year period. Methods A face-to-face questionnaire survey about coeliac disease (CD) and gluten sensitivity (GS) was performed on the general public and chefs based in Sheffield, United Kingdom. The assessment was first conducted in 2003 and repeated in 2013. Chefs were also asked about their workplace (takeaway or restaurant) and whether or not they had formal qualifications. Additional questions for the 2013 cohort included correct recognition of the cross-grain symbol to identify gluten-free products and whether they displayed a notice/sign for gluten-free products. Results Public survey: 513 public members in year 2003 (mean age 49.2, 62% female) were compared to 575 public members in year 2013 (mean age 37.8, 57% female). Adjusting for age and sex, there was a significant rise in the awareness of GRD from the years 2003 to 2013; CD (44.2 to 74.4%, OR 3.94 [CI: 2.99-5.19]) and GS (58.2 to 89%, OR 7.09 [CI: 5-9.98]), p value < 0.0001. Chef Survey: 322 chefs in year 2003 (mean age 37.6, 15.2% female, qualified 51.2%, restaurant chefs 50%) were compared to 265 chefs in year 2013 (mean age 27.1, 38.1% female, qualified 93.2%, restaurant chefs 83%), p < 0.0001. Adjusting for age, sex, workplace and qualifications, there was a significant rise in the awareness of GRD from the

Case Reports, 2011

BACKGROUND Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare genetically heterogenous primary immunod... more BACKGROUND Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare genetically heterogenous primary immunodefi ciency disorder. About 20% of patients are affected by granulomatous colitis mimicking Crohn's disease. Although the infl ammatory process in the gut in CGD may be different from that in Crohn's, the clinical, endoscopic, radiological and histological features may be indistinguishable. Management of this granulomatous colitis can be a challenge in view of the high risk of sepsis on introducing immunosuppressant drugs.

Digestive and Liver Disease, 2006

... Mario Vassallo. Christiane Ellul. No abstract is available. To read the body of this article,... more ... Mario Vassallo. Christiane Ellul. No abstract is available. To read the body of this article, please view the Full Text online. St. Luke's Hospital, Malta. St. Luke's Hospital, Malta. Primary Health Care Department, Harper Lane, Floriana, Malta (EU). PII: S1590-8658(06)00184-8. ...

Blood transfusion = Trasfusione del sangue, Jan 9, 2018

Fibrinogen is produced in the liver and tends to be reduced in liver cirrhosis. Quantitative and ... more Fibrinogen is produced in the liver and tends to be reduced in liver cirrhosis. Quantitative and qualitative tests exist to measure fibrinogen. We aimed to validate the functional fibrinogen thromboelastography assay (FF-TEG) and propose a new model to estimate fibrinogen levels via the Clauss method (Clauss) using data from a prothrombin time-derived fibrinogen assay (PT-Fg) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Clauss, PT-Fg, fibrinogen antigen (Fib-Ag) and FF-TEG were studied in 55 patients with liver cirrhosis (26 with Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP]-A disease, 14 with CTP-B and 15 CTP-C) and 20 healthy individuals. The results of all four assays correlated strongly with each other, but gave significantly different mean levels in all cohorts. PT-Fg gave the highest levels whereas the Clauss gave the lowest levels. The FF-TEG performed well with results which were in between the Clauss and the PT-Fg. Significant differences were only observed between CTP-A and CTP-C for the Clauss, PT-Fg a...

INTRODUCTION: PEG feeding is an effective means of providing long-term enteral nutrition to patie... more INTRODUCTION: PEG feeding is an effective means of providing long-term enteral nutrition to patients with neurological dysphagia. 30-day mortality rates varying between 4 and 26% have been described in different studies.1 Adequate patient selection may influence mortality. AIMS & METHODS: In a retrospective study on PEG tubes inserted in our centre between January 2008 and June 2010 we analysed the indications, poor prognostic factors (PPF) and mortality figures for PEG insertion. RESULTS:…

INTRODUCTION: The recent guidelines on the provision of a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PE... more INTRODUCTION: The recent guidelines on the provision of a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) service were published in view of the NCEPOD report which revealed a 1 week mortality of 43% after PEG insertion.1,2 Enteral feeding in patients with swallowing impairment can consist of nasogastric (NG) feeding or feeding via PEG tube. AIMS & METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of PEGs inserted in our centre between January 2008 and June 2010. Our primary aim was to compare the incidence…

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of azathioprine has been well established in the treatment of Inflamma... more INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of azathioprine has been well established in the treatment of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main concerns relating to its use are serious drug adverse events and long term complications. In our centre TPMT enzyme activity is not checked prior its initiation. AIMS & METHODS: Aim:To assess the occurrence of azathioprine related side-effects(SE).Method: Patients(pts) with IBD who were either having or had been prescribed azathioprine and attended our clinic …

Introduction: Radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging of the small bowel is common in Crohn`s ... more Introduction: Radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging of the small bowel is common in Crohn`s disease (CD) patients. Increased risk of malignancy has been associated with radiation exposure. For solid cancers this follows a linear-no-threshold model. Current data (BEIR VII) demonstrates that exposure to 100 mGY to population of mixed ages, the life time attributable risk (LAR) of solid organ malignancy is 8 per 1000 of exposed persons for males and 13.1 per 1000 for females. This varies according to age of exposure – exposure to 100 mGY at age 10 confers a risk of 1.33% for males (2.53% for females); at age 30 this is 0.6% for males (1% for females) and at age 50 it is 0.51% for males (0.68% for females). 100 mGY exposure confers a LAR (in a linear-quadratic model) for leukaemia of 1 per 1000 for males and 0.72 per 1000 for females. This varies from 1.2 per 1000 exposed males at age 10 (0.86 for females) to 0.84 per 1000 males exposed at age 30 (0.49 for females). The risk remain...

Background The reported incidence of adverse reactions following an infliximab infusion is 9% - 2... more Background The reported incidence of adverse reactions following an infliximab infusion is 9% - 23%. Although the recommendations suggest an observation period of 1–2 hours following each infusion1, the optimum observation time is yet unknown. We previously reported a higher number of reactions occurring at one hour post- infusion rather than in the first half hour in patients with Crohn’s disease2. Any reactions occurring after the first hour were not studied. Objective To assess the incidence of adverse reactions occurring during and in the first 2 hours following infliximab infusion in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Malta. Methods 25 patients who were receiving infliximab infusions at the Medical Investigations and Treatment Unit, Mater Dei Hospital during the period September 2011 and December 2011 were recruited. Each patient received 1 infusion during the study period and all were naïve to any pre-medication treatment. Temperature, pulse and blood pressure were re...

Minerva gastroenterologica e dietologica

ImmunoGastroenterology, 2013