Pulmonary Hypertension in Sickle Cell Disease: Novel Findings of Gene Polymorphisms Related to Pathophysiology.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and potentially fatal complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), affecting 6-10% of adult SCD patients. Various mechanisms and theories have been evaluated to explain the pathophysiology of this disease. However, questions remain, particularly regarding the clinical heterogeneity of the disease in terms of symptoms, complications, and survival.

Prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy according to different diagnostic criteria: alterations in ultrasonographic parameters of both left and right ventricles before and after stress.

Background: We estimated the frequency of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) using all of the proposed diagnostic criteria, to describe the whole spectrum of cardiac alterations, and to investigate the role of stress in unmasking latent cases of CCM.

Methods: Ninety consecutive patients were recruited. CCM was evaluated using the Montreal, the American Society of Echocardiography 2009 criteria, and the 2019 modified criteria of the CCM consortium.

Utilization of industrial hemp by-product defatted seed flour: effect of its incorporation on the properties and quality characteristics of 'tsoureki', a rich-dough baked Greek product.

Background: A rich-dough baked Greek product named 'tsoureki' was prepared using non-gluten hemp seed flour at ratios of 0:100, 10:90, 30:70, and 50:50. The effects of hemp flour addition on the properties of 'tsoureki', including physicochemical properties (moisture content, water activity, sorption phenomena), structural properties, textural properties, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and sensorial characteristics, as well as the macroscopic structure and morphological characteristics, were studied.

Results: Hemp flour addition affected dough rheology, showing tan δ values < 1, a decrease in both G' and G″ values, while both flow behavior and consistency indices were also significantly affected, which might have an influence on the final baked goods.

The impact of cardiovascular comorbidities associated with risk for left heart disease on idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: Data from the Hellenic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (HOPE).

Whereas younger female patients were diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in 1980s, it is now frequently encountered in elderly patients with cardiovascular comorbidities (CVCs) associated with increased risk for left heart disease. We present data until November 2019 regarding specific features and clinical outcomes of IPAH population from the Hellenic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (HOPE). Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of ≥ or <3 CVCs, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, presence of coronary artery disease, or atrial fibrillation.

A real-world, non-interventional, prospective study of the effectiveness and safety of apremilast in bio-naïve adults with moderate plaque psoriasis treated in the routine care in Greece - the 'APRAISAL' study.

Background: Real-world data in patients with moderate psoriasis treated with apremilast is limited.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of apremilast in bio-naïve patients with moderate psoriasis in real-world clinical settings.

Methods: This was a 52-week multicenter, observational, prospective study of adult outpatients with moderate psoriasis {[10% < body surface area < 20% or 10 < psoriasis area severity index (PASI) < 20] and 10 < dermatology quality of life index (DLQI) < 20} initiated on apremilast ≤7 days before enrollment.

Exploring the predictors and prognostic significance of exercise-induced cardiac troponin release in master athletes following a 28 km mountain race. The Vamvakou research project.

Background/objective: Aetiology and significance of exercise-induced troponin release remains a contentious issue. We investigated the effect of a 28 km mountain run on cardiac troponin I (cTnI), in relation to training, performance, nutritional, biochemical and echocardiography variables, in a group of 25 recreational male master athletes.

Material And Methods: A comprehensive list of variables related with nutrition, training, performance and echocardiography, was collected pre- and post-race.

Epidemiology and Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension in Greece. Real-World Data from the Hellenic Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (HOPE).

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare disease with poor prognosis if left untreated, characterized by pulmonary vascular bed obstruction due to unresolving thromboembolic material. The Hellenic pulmonary hypertension registry (HOPE) was launched in Greece in early 2015 and enrolls patients from all pulmonary hypertension subgroups in Greece. In total, 98 patients with CTEPH were enrolled from January 2015 until November 2019.

Effectiveness and safety of apremilast in biologic-naïve patients with moderate psoriasis treated in routine clinical practice in Greece: the APRAISAL study.

Background: Apremilast is an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor indicated for patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of apremilast on Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and nail, scalp and palmoplantar involvement, when administered prior to biologics.

Methods: This 52-week real-world study included biologic-naive adults with moderate psoriasis (psoriasis-involved body surface area 10% to <20%, or PASI 10 to <20 and DLQI 10 to <20).

Acute Encephalitic Syndrome Induced by Scleromyxedema.

Dermato-neuro syndrome is a potentially fatal neurological complication of scleromyxedema consisting of fever, seizures, and coma. This is an overlooked scleromyxedema case of a 62-year-old female patient from 2-years ago. She was admitted to our ICU because of high fever, colloid speech, muscle ache, and nausea.

Severe iatrogenic hypoglycaemia requiring medical assistance is associated with concurrent prolongation of the QTc interval.

Aims: Hypoglycaemia has been shown to exert arrhythmogenic effects. Herein, we explore the association between severe hypoglycaemia requiring medical assistance and the length of the QT interval in patients with diabetes.

Methods: Data from a prospective study, conducted in eight tertiary hospitals, which recorded cases of hypoglycaemia from patients with diabetes seeking treatment at emergency departments (ED) were analyzed.

The impact of financial crisis on coronary artery disease burden in Greece.

Background: Economic crisis poses an immense threat to public health worldwide and has been linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Greece is facing a distinctive recession over the recent years. However, the exact impact on coronary artery disease (CAD) burden has not been adequately addressed.

An Atypical Case of Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Absence of Giant T Waves in spite of Extreme Apical Wall Hypertrophy.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an uncommon variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with hypertrophy mainly affecting the apex of the left ventricle. We hereby describe a case of an octogenarian female patient who was randomly diagnosed with AHCM due to other comorbidities.

Diastolic cardiac dysfunction is a predictor of dismal prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background And Purpose: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) constitutes the prominent characteristic of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, but its relevance on the clinical course of cirrhotic patients has not been clearly defined. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship of LVDD with the severity and etiology of liver disease and to investigate whether it affects the outcome of cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Cardiac function of 45 cirrhotics was studied by a tissue Doppler imaging echocardiography.

Frequency and severity of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and its possible relationship with bacterial endotoxemia.

Background: The cardiac dysfunction presented in cirrhotic patients is already known as cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The pathogenesis of this entity is not fully understood.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and to investigate the possible role of bacterial endotoxemia on its aggravation.

Thoracic fluid content and impedance cardiography: a novel and promising noninvasive method for assessing the hemodynamic effects of diuretics in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a reliable, noninvasive method allowing the assessment of the hemodynamic profile in hypertensive patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential hemodynamic effects of diuretics with ICG and examine whether the empiric administration of diuretics actually has a substantial impact on thoracic fluid content (TFC).

Methods: The study population included 248 hypertensive and 68 healthy subjects (35-87 years old) and was divided into 4 groups: group A comprised hypertensive patients under treatment including diuretic; group B consisted of hypertensive patients under treatment without diuretic; group C included untreated hypertensive patients; and group D included healthy subjects.

Free leptin is associated with masked hypertension in nonobese subjects: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether diverse clinical blood pressure phenotypes are associated with free leptin surrogates, as reflected by plasma leptin, human soluble leptin receptor, and their ratio (ie, free leptin index) in nonobese normoglycemic subjects. Three separate clinic blood pressure measurements and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were implemented to divide 494 subjects (aged 44+/-5 years; 272 men; body mass index: <30 kg/m(2)) into hypertensives (n=166), white-coat hypertensives (n=82), masked hypertensives (n=66), and normotensives (n=180). Participants underwent echocardiography, while, from fasting venous blood samples, metabolic profile, plasma leptin, and its receptor levels were assessed.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in systemic sclerosis. A report of two cases.

We describe two patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) where the echocardiogram revealed asymmetric hypertrophy of the interventricular septum with signs of subaortic obstruction consistent with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with the human lymphocyte antigen (HLA DR3), and this may provide a possible link with SSc, as this HLA phenotype is common in the latter condition. However, further studies should examine whether a true association exists.

Background diet influences the anti-inflammatory effect of alpha-linolenic acid in dyslipidaemic subjects.

Long-chain n-3 PUFA from fish oils are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the effect of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), precursor of n-3 fatty acids, on serum inflammatory markers and soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sCAM) of dyslipidaemic males, relative to their background diet. Participants were assigned to two groups, based upon food intake patterns: (a) twenty-one dyslipidaemic subjects who habitually ate a Mediterranean-Cretan-type diet; (b) nineteen dyslipidaemic subjects who normally ate a Westernised Greek diet.

The effect of diet enriched with alpha-linolenic acid on soluble cellular adhesion molecules in dyslipidaemic patients.

Background: Leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration, the critical pathogenic components in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, are largely mediated by cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs). We examined whether dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) affects the levels of soluble forms of CAMs in dyslipidaemic patients.

Methods: We recruited 90 male dyslipidaemic patients (mean age=51+/-8 years) following a typical Greek diet.

Dietary alpha-linolenic acid decreases C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in dyslipidaemic patients.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. We examined whether dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) affects the levels of inflammatory markers in dyslipidaemic patients.

Methods: We recruited 76 male dyslipidaemic patients (mean age=51+/-8 years) following a typical Greek diet.