Seasonal trends in the prevalence of hypospadias: Aetiological implications.

The aim of the present study was to examine the seasonality of hypospadias in Greece in an attempt to elucidate the aetiology. All boys born between 1991-1998, who underwent hypospadias repair at 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens (n=542) were analysed. All Greek live-born males during the same period (population at risk; m=421,175) served as the controls.

Management and postoperative outcome in primary lung cancer and heart disease co-morbidity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Co-morbidity of primary lung cancer (LC) and heart disease (HD), both requiring surgical therapy, characterizes a high risk group of patients necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study is the review of available evidence guiding the management of these patients.

Methods: Postoperative outcome of patients operated for primary LC (first meta-analysis) and for both primary LC and HD co-morbidity (second meta-analysis), were studied.

Mortality from cancer and other causes in commercial airline crews: a joint analysis of cohorts from 10 countries.

Background: Commercial airline crew is one of the occupational groups with the highest exposures to ionising radiation. Crew members are also exposed to other physical risk factors and subject to potential disruption of circadian rhythms.

Methods: This study analyses mortality in a pooled cohort of 93 771 crew members from 10 countries.

Diet and cataract: a case-control study.

We conducted a case-control study to assess the association between diet and risk of cataract in Athens, Greece. Totals of 314 cases and 314 frequency-matched controls of both sexes, aged 45-85 years and attending the ophthalmology department of a major teaching hospital in Athens, Greece, were included in the study. All participants were interviewed using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire, covering the average frequency of consumption of about 120 food items.

Intratympanic and systemic steroids for sudden hearing loss.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of intratympanic dexamethasone combined with systemic prednisolone in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).

Study Design: Prospective, quasirandomized, multicenter clinical trial.

Setting: One university hospital and 2 affiliated hospitals.