Assessment of Burden in Family Caregivers of Chronic Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients During the Pandemic Period of COVID-19.

Introduction: In Greece, patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) usually go to dialysis centers two or three times a week for three/four hours per session because the treatment for home is unavailable; therefore, caregivers should perform supportive transportation and care functions.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the burden and quality of life in caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to record their attitude toward Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Methodology: We studied caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Review of Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be an invaluable asset in the healthcare domain, where massive amounts of data are produced. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous chronic condition with multiscale manifestations and complex interactions that represents an ideal target for AI.

Objective: The aim of this review article is to appraise the adoption of AI in COPD research, and more specifically its applications to date along with reported results, potential challenges and future prospects.

Rapid Test Ag 2019-nCoV (PROGNOSIS, BIOTECH, Larissa, Greece); Performance Evaluation in Hospital Setting with Real Time RT-PCR.

Introduction: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are convenient for SARS-CoV-2 detection because they are simpler and faster than nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). This study aimed to assess the accuracy of a locally manufactured test; Rapid Test Ag 2019-nCoV (PROGNOSIS, BIOTECH, Larissa, Greece) in a clinical setting and during mass screening.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples from 624 individuals were analyzed.

von Willebrand factor and procoagulant imbalance predict outcome in patients with cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia.

Background & Aims: Several lines of evidence suggest that the hemostatic disorders of cirrhosis may have a significant clinical impact. We investigated the independent predictive value of components of the hemostatic system on the occurrence of ascites, variceal bleeding (VB), and survival.

Methods: One hundred and two patients with thrombocytopenia (Child-Pugh class A/B/C: 34/34/34) were enrolled.

Thrombin generation measured as thrombin-antithrombin complexes predicts clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis.

Aim: Hypercoagulability has been detected in patients with cirrhosis yet its clinical significance remains unclear. We investigated the association of hypercoagulability with clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: Thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes as thrombin generation (TG) marker, D-dimer, antithrombin (AT), protein C, protein S, international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, Child-Pugh class and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) were evaluated.