The expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone family peptides in premalignant and malignant vulvar lesions.

Objectives: To examine the relation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family peptides with inflammatory processes and oncogenesis, emphasizing in vulvar inflammatory, premalignant and malignant lesions, as well as to investigate the possibility of lesion cells immunoescaping, utilizing FAS/FAS-L complex.

Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of CRH, urocortin (UCN), FasL and their receptors CRHR1, CRHR2 and Fas was studied in vulvar tissue sections obtained from patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of lichen, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). The patient cohort was selected from a tertiary teaching Hospital in Greece, between 2005 and 2015.

The Gestational Effects of Maternal Bone Marker Molecules on Fetal Growth, Metabolism and Long-Term Metabolic Health: A Systematic Review.

Fetal exposure in adverse environmental factors during intrauterine life can lead to various biological adjustments, affecting not only in utero development of the conceptus, but also its later metabolic and endocrine wellbeing. During human gestation, maternal bone turnover increases, as reflected by molecules involved in bone metabolism, such as vitamin D, osteocalcin, sclerostin, sRANKL, and osteoprotegerin; however, recent studies support their emerging role in endocrine functions and glucose homeostasis regulation. Herein, we sought to systematically review current knowledge on the effects of aforementioned maternal bone biomarkers during pregnancy on fetal intrauterine growth and metabolism, neonatal anthropometric measures at birth, as well as on future endocrine and metabolic wellbeing of the offspring.

The Gestational Effects of Maternal Appetite Axis Molecules on Fetal Growth, Metabolism and Long-Term Metabolic Health: A Systematic Review.

Increased maternal food intake is considered a normal pregnancy adjustment. However, the overavailability of nutrients may lead to dysregulated fetal development and increased adiposity, with long-lasting effects on offspring in later life. Several gut-hormone molecules regulate maternal appetite, with both their orexigenic and anorectic effects being in a state of sensitive equilibrium.

A case report of psoriasis flare following immunotherapy: Report of an important entity and literature review.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 and anti-programmed death-1, are a type of cancer immunotherapy approved for late-stage malignancy treatment. However, such therapies often induce immune-related adverse events. During anti-programmed death-1 blockade therapy, the most commonly reported adverse effects are skin toxicities, such as psoriasis-a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder affecting the skin.

Combined EGFR/ALK Expression Analysis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) acts as an oncogene in malignancies. Our aim was to examine the role of combined EGFR/ anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression as molecular markers in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients.

Materials And Methods: Fifty (n=50) tissue sections derived from twenty-five (n=25) primary LSCCs were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

The prevalence and treatment patterns of diabetes in the Greek population based on real-world data from the nation-wide prescription database.

Aims: Epidemiological data regarding diabetes in Greece are based on regional, small-scale studies. We aimed to identify all citizens with prescribed pharmacological treatment for diabetes, to further explore type 1 diabetes prevalence and describe pharmacological treatment patterns in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The electronic prescription database of the National Organization for Health Care Services Provision was used to identify individuals who received at least two prescriptions with an ICD-10 code relevant to diabetes, dispensed between June 1st, 2014 and May 31st, 2015.

Estimating the Fiscal Effects of Public Pharmaceutical Expenditure Reduction in Greece.

The purpose of the present study is to estimate the impact of pharmaceutical spending reduction on public revenue, based on data from the national health accounts as well as on reports of Greece's organizations. The methodology of the analysis is structured in two basic parts. The first part presents the urgency for rapid cutbacks on public pharmaceutical costs due to the financial crisis and provides a conceptual framework for the contribution of the Greek pharmaceutical branch to the country's economy.

Access to Care for Multiple Sclerosis in Times of Economic Crisis in Greece--the HOPE II Study.

Background: While there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment with biologic disease-modifying drugs (bDMDs) can reduce the impact of the condition on the lives of patients. In Greece, the regulatory change in the distribution system of bDMDs, limited their administration through the designated pharmacies of the National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) or the National Health System (ESY) hospitals, thus potentially impacting access to MS treatment. In this context, the aim of this paper was to assess the barriers to bDMDs, by recording MS patients' experiences.

Cardiac echo-lab productivity in times of economic austerity.

The present study attempts to offer insight into the volume, cost, and productivity of the operation of a cardiac echocardiographic laboratory (echo-lab) in a major public hospital of Greece and thus to contribute, on a practical level, to the widening of knowledge in the strategic field of secondary and tertiary healthcare management. The conducted research includes the basic step of the deployment of a primary data registry in the echo-lab and unfolds in three levels, i.e.

Barriers to accessing biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Greece: the unseen impact of the fiscal crisis--the Health Outcomes Patient Environment (HOPE) study.

The latest regulatory change in the distribution system of biologic disease-modifying, antirheumatic drugs limited their sale only through the designated pharmacies of the National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) or the National Health System (NHS) hospitals, adding to the complexity of access to effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Greece. The aim of this paper was to assess the barriers to access RA treatment, by recording patients', rheumatologists' and EOPYY pharmacists' experiences. One twenty-three patients, 12 rheumatologists and 27 pharmacists from Athens and other urban areas in Greece participated in the study.