Serological Screening and Risk Factors Associated with Positivity in Newly Diagnosed HIV Patients in Greece.

A serological screening was conducted to detect IgG antibodies against () in newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in Greece. The study also examined potential risk factors and the agreement of commercially available serological methods. IgG antibodies against were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and Western blot (WB).

A Machine Learning-Based Web Tool for the Severity Prediction of COVID-19.

Predictive tools provide a unique opportunity to explain the observed differences in outcome between patients of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to associate individual demographic and clinical characteristics with disease severity in COVID-19 patients and to highlight the importance of machine learning (ML) in disease prognosis. The study enrolled 344 unvaccinated patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Charting achievements: a two-year retrospective of the society for environmental geochemistry and health (SEGH) and the evolving strategies.

Emerging from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time to ground ourselves and retrospectively assess the recent achievements of SEGH over the past years. This editorial serves as a comprehensive report on the progress made in comparison to the aspirations and goals set by the society's board in 2019 (Watts et al., Environ Geochem Health 42:343-347, 2019) (Fig.

Seroprevalence of among HIV Positive Patients under Surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units: A Screening Study with Comparative Evaluation of Serological Methods.

This study aims to screen for IgG antibodies against () in the sera of 155 newly diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients under surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units. Additionally, risk factors based on patient demographics were examined, and a comparative evaluation of commercially available serological methods was conducted. Three methods were employed to detect IgG antibodies against : Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), and Western Blot (WB), which was used as a reference here.

Impact of drinking water hardness on carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness: Insights from the "Corinthia" study.

Background: Several investigations have highlighted the role of water quality in cardiovascular health. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of drinking water hardness on atherosclerotic burden in carotid arteries and arterial stiffness.

Methods: "Corinthia" study was conducted in the homonym region in Greece from 2015 to 2017.

Efficacy and safety of early soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor plasma-guided anakinra treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia: A subgroup analysis of the SAVE-MORE randomised trial.

Background: The SAVE-MORE trial demonstrated that anakinra treatment in COVID-19 pneumonia with plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator (suPAR) levels of 6 ng/mL or more was associated with 0.36 odds for a worse outcome compared to placebo when expressed by the WHO-Clinical Progression Scale (CPS) at day 28. Herein, we report the results of subgroup analyses and long-term outcomes.

Interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) for the early prognosis of the risk for severe respiratory failure and death in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objectives: Elevated concentrations of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) predict progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) or death among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and guide early anakinra treatment. As suPAR testing may not be routinely available in every health-care setting, alternative biomarkers are needed. We investigated the performance of C-reactive protein (CRP), interferon gamma-induced protein-10 (IP-10) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) for predicting SRF or death in COVID-19.

Estimating remobilization of potentially toxic elements in soil and road dust of an industrialized urban environment.

The mobility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is of paramount concern in urban settings, particularly those affected by industrial activities. Here, contaminated soils and road dusts of the medium-size, industrialized city of Volos, Central Greece, were subjected to single-step extractions (0.43 M HNO and 0.

Development and validation of SCOPE score: A clinical score to predict COVID-19 pneumonia progression to severe respiratory failure.

Most patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) experience mild, non-specific symptoms, but many develop severe symptoms associated with an excessive inflammatory response. Elevated plasma concentrations of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) provide early warning of progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) or death, but access to suPAR testing may be limited. The Severe COvid Prediction Estimate (SCOPE) score, derived from circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, D- dimers, interleukin-6, and ferritin among patients not receiving non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation during the SAVE-MORE study, offers predictive accuracy for progression to SRF or death within 14 days comparable to that of a suPAR concentration of ≥6 ng/mL (area under receiver operator characteristic curve 0.

Identification of sources and transformations of nitrate in Cr(VI)-impacted alluvial aquifers by a hydrogeochemical and δN-NO and δO-NO isotopes approach.

A coupled methodology of nitrogen isotopes, hydrogeochemical characterization, multivariate statistical analysis, and SIAR Bayesian modeling has been employed to identify the sources of NO and N transformation processes in three alluvial aquifers (Schinos, Thiva, and Central Evia) located in central Greece where geogenic Cr(VI) co-occurs with agricultural activity and rural development. Hexavalent chromium concentrations exceed 50 μg/L in many sampling stations of the studied groundwater bodies, while nitrate contamination is evident in all three study areas with concentrations well over 50 mg/L. The mean δN-NO and δΟ-NO values are 6.

Do humans take good care of their offspring as animals do…! the Lavreotiki and Lavrion 'sagas', Hellenic Republic-Part 2: hazard and risk assessment and remediation.

A number of geochemical and epidemiological studies verified that the Lavrion urban and suburban area is highly contaminated and has affected to a variable degree the health of the inhabitants, presented in the first part of review on the Lavrion 'sagas'. In the second part of this review, emphasis is given to the challenge environmental scientists faced in communicating the scientific results to environmental managers and the public and state officials in order for them to understand the benefits of prioritising public health over wealth. Imminent remediation actions have been developed and proposed in order to secure a healthier life for the local population.

Editorial: The society for environmental geochemistry and health (SEGH): 50 years and beyond.

When the SEGH international board released a short editorial paper back in 2019, we described an aim to increase the membership offering, whilst improving the diversity of input regionally, by scientific discipline and to ensure greater and more regular contact across the regions from 2020 onwards. Wider aspirations described in 2019 (Watts et al. 2019) are discussed within this short communication at the end of 2021 to evaluate progress made.

International Analysis of Sources and Human Health Risk Associated with Trace Metal Contaminants in Residential Indoor Dust.

People spend increasing amounts of time at home, yet the indoor home environment remains understudied in terms of potential exposure to toxic trace metals. We evaluated trace metal (and metalloid) concentrations (As, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and health risks in indoor dust from homes from 35 countries, along with a suite of potentially contributory residential characteristics. The objective was to determine trace metal source inputs and home environment conditions associated with increasing exposure risk across a range of international communities.

Do humans take good care of their offspring as animals do…! The Lavreotiki and Lavrion 'sagas', Hellenic Republic-Part 1: Historical outline and mapping of lead contamination.

The Lavreotiki-Lavrion area, situated in the south-eastern tip of mainland Hellas, has one of the longest mining, ore beneficiation and smelting legacies worldwide. With a history of over 5000 years of argentiferous Pb-Zn ore exploitation, Lavrion is a place that shaped human civilisation by being a major wealth producing centre of the ancient world but also represents one of the few significant industrial developments of the modern Hellenic Republic, since the second part of the 19th century. The long history of mining, ore beneficiation and smelting activities produced a vast amount of potentially toxic wastes.

Early treatment of COVID-19 with anakinra guided by soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor plasma levels: a double-blind, randomized controlled phase 3 trial.

Early increase of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) serum levels is indicative of increased risk of progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to respiratory failure. The SAVE-MORE double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of anakinra, an IL-1α/β inhibitor, in 594 patients with COVID-19 at risk of progressing to respiratory failure as identified by plasma suPAR ≥6 ng ml, 85.9% (n = 510) of whom were receiving dexamethasone.

Molecular Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Greece Reveals Low Rates of Onward Virus Transmission after Lifting of Travel Restrictions Based on Risk Assessment during Summer 2020.

The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly during the first months of 2020 and continues to expand in multiple areas across the globe. Molecular epidemiology has provided an added value to traditional public health tools by identifying SARS-CoV-2 clusters or providing evidence that clusters based on virus sequences and contact tracing are highly concordant. Our aim was to infer the levels of virus importation and to estimate the impact of public health measures related to travel restrictions to local transmission in Greece.

Assessing the contamination level, sources and risk of potentially toxic elements in urban soil and dust of Iranian cities using secondary data of published literature.

Research in urban geochemistry has been expanding globally in recent years, following the trend of the ever-increasing human population living in cities. Environmental problems caused by non-degradable pollutants such as metals and metalloids are of particular interest considering the potential to affect the health of current and future urban residents. In comparison with the extensive global research on urban geochemistry, Iranian cities have not received sufficient study.

Development of a novel risk score for the prediction of critical illness amongst COVID-19 patients.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is associated with various clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic infection to critical illness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 patients and construct a predictive model for the discrimination of patients at risk of disease progression.

Methods: A single-centre cohort study was conducted including consecutively patients with COVID-19.

Chest CT severity score and radiological patterns as predictors of disease severity, ICU admission, and viral positivity in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) is a useful tool for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), although its exact value for predicting critical illness remains unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy of chest CT to predict disease progression, pulmonary complications, and viral positivity duration.

Methods: A single-center cohort study was conducted by consecutively including hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Transmission Clusters and Containment Measures in Ten European Regions during the First Pandemic Wave.

Background: The spatiotemporal profiling of molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) using viral genomic data can effectively identify transmission networks in order to inform public health actions targeting SARS-CoV-2 spread.

Methods: We used whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences derived from ten European regions belonging to eight countries to perform phylogenetic and phylodynamic analysis. We developed dedicated bioinformatics pipelines to identify regional MTCs and to assess demographic factors potentially associated with their formation.

Tracing the sources of bioaccessible metal(loid)s in urban environments: A multidisciplinary approach.

Understanding the links between sources of magnetic particles and bioaccessibility of metal(loids) in environmental sampling media is crucial for better evaluating human health risks, although relevant information in the scientific literature is scarce. Here, soil, road and house dust samples from a heavy industrial area in Greece were characterized in a multidisciplinary study combining magnetic measurements, SEM/EDS analyses, bioaccessibility measurements and Pb isotopic analyses of bioaccessible Pb. The oral and inhalable bioaccessible fractions of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were assessed by applying simulated gastric and lung solutions.

Hexavalent chromium leads to differential hormetic or damaging effects in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants in a concentration-dependent manner by regulating nitro-oxidative and proline metabolism.

Chromium has been proven to be extremely phytotoxic. This study explored the impacts of increasing Cr(VI) exposure (up to 10 mg L KCrO) on the growth and development of alfalfa plants and adaptation responses employed, in an environmentally relevant context. The threshold concentration of KCrO in irrigation water beyond which stress responses are initiated is 1 mg L.