Childhood central nervous system tumour mortality and survival in Southern and Eastern Europe (1983-2014): Gaps persist across 14 cancer registries.

Aim: Childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumour registration and control programs in Southern and Eastern Europe remain thin, despite the lethal nature of the disease. Mortality/survival data were assembled to estimate the burden of malignant CNS tumours, as well as the potential role of sociodemographic survival determinants across 14 cancer registries of this region.

Methods: Average age-adjusted mortality rates were calculated, whereas time trends were quantified through Poisson and Joinpoint regressions.

History of Maternal Fetal Loss and Childhood Leukaemia Risk in Subsequent Offspring: Differentials by Miscarriage or Stillbirth History and Disease Subtype.

Background: Despite the putative intrauterine origins of childhood (0-14 years) leukaemia, it is complex to assess the impact of perinatal factors on disease onset. Results on the association of maternal history of fetal loss (miscarriage/stillbirth) with specific disease subtypes in the subsequent offspring are in conflict. We sought to investigate whether miscarriage and stillbirth may have different impacts on the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and of its main immunophenotypes (B-cell and T-cell ALL), as contrasted to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Childhood leukemia and lymphoma: time trends and factors affecting survival in five Southern and Eastern European Cancer Registries.

Purpose: Within Europe, incidence and mortality rates of childhood leukemia and lymphoma are rather heterogeneous. The present study comprising data from five Southern and Eastern European Cancer Registries aims to compare time trends and examine whether sociodemographic variables, clinical parameters, and proxies of efficient care affect survival.

Methods: Data spanning 1996-2010 were obtained for a total of 3,041 newly diagnosed childhood leukemia and 1,183 lymphoma cases reported by the Greek Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies, Bulgarian National Cancer Registry, Moscow Region and Turkey (Antalya and Izmir) Cancer Registries.

Chemotherapy plus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in patients with inoperable colorectal liver metastases.

Aim: To access the efficacy of chemotherapy plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as one line of treatment in inoperable colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: Eligible patients were included in three Phase II studies. In the first study percutaneous RFA was used first followed by 6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan combination (FOLFIRI) (adjunctive chemotherapy trial).

Is birth weight associated with childhood lymphoma? A meta-analysis.

Several risk factors have been identified for childhood lymphomas. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to synthesize current evidence regarding the association between birth weight with primarily the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), given its similarity to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and any category of lymphoma. Two cohort (278,751 children) and seven case-control studies (2,660 cases and 69,274 controls) were included.

Evaluating the impact of a school-based helmet promotion program on eligible adolescent drivers: different audiences, different needs?

The school environment has been often identified as a prosperous venue for public health improvement. This study is a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of a school-based helmet promotion program on knowledge, attitudes and practices of eligible adolescent drivers. Four public, four private and four vocational high schools situated in Attica, Greece, were sorted by type and randomly assigned to receive a 1-month intervention, based on the concepts of the Health Belief Model, or serve as controls.

Childhood leukaemias and lymphomas in Greece (1996-2006): a nationwide registration study.

Background: Monitoring time trends in the incidence of childhood leukaemias and lymphomas requires efficient and continuous data collecting systems. In countries without official cancer registries, such as Greece, ad hoc nationwide registration of incident childhood leukaemias and lymphomas could help elucidate the underlying aetiology and monitor socioeconomic differentials in health care delivery.

Methods: We registered all cases and produced age, gender, type and immunophenotype specific figures and overall crude and age adjusted annual incidence rates and secular trends for 863 leukaemia and 311 lymphoma incident cases diagnosed in children <15 years of age across Greece during 1996-2006, namely the first 11 years of the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies.

Correlation of nm23-H1 gene expression with clinical outcome in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Background: Conflicting results exist regarding the significance of the metastasis suppressor gene nm23-H1 in cancer patients. Initial results from a study done by our group were more indicative of its negative prognostic role in breast cancer. Our aim was to examine further its significance in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Patterns of injuries and motor-vehicle traffic accidents in Athens.

The extremely high cost of motor-vehicle accidents in public health leads to the necessity of a better injury data collection in the Accident and Emergency Hospital Departments. The 'Asclepeion' of Voula Hospital covers the southeastern suburban areas of the greater Athens area (1,000,000 population). The aim of this study is to present information on the pattern of injuries in Athens, in order to understand the magnitude of the problem and develop rational prevention programmes.

A maternity hospital-based infant car-restraint loan scheme: public health and economic evaluation of an intervention for the reduction of road traffic injuries.

Aims: The results of an infant car-restraint loan scheme and evaluate its cost-effectiveness are presented.

Methods: The intervention programme was initiated in 1996. Car-restraints, donated by manufacturers, were lent for a six-month period to eligible prospective parents for a modest fee.

Neonatal leptin levels are strongly associated with female gender, birth length, IGF-I levels and formula feeding.

Objective: To investigate predictors of circulating leptin in healthy full-term newborns and to explore the relationship with anthropometric variables, serum levels of adiponectin and the major components of the IGF system at birth. To explore whether leptin levels are regulated by breastfeeding vs. formula feeding.

Estimating the population burden of injuries: a comparison of household surveys and emergency department surveillance.

Background: Injuries represent an important public health problem but their incidence is difficult to estimate.

Methods: We conducted a population-based household survey in Greece covering 4079 interviewed individuals. The interviewees reported, for themselves and for cohabitating adults (age 15 years and older; n = 7157), injuries that occurred during the preceding year.

The mosaic of equestrian-related injuries in Greece.

Background: This study aims to estimate the burden and describe the profile of equestrian injuries in Greece, where horses, donkeys, and mules are still used in agriculture and where horse riding is a popular leisure activity.

Methods: Prospectively collected information on 140,823 injuries reported in the national Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System was examined and 244 equestrian-related injuries that occurred during farming, equestrian sports, or horse racing were analyzed.

Results: The estimated countrywide injury incidence for farming and equestrian sports combined was 21 per 100,000 person-years, but it was 160 times higher for horse-racing personnel.

Sports injuries among children in six European union countries.

Since sports participation entails the risk of injuries that account for substantial morbidity and disability, the existence of adequate epidemiological information is essential for the development of sound preventive strategies. In this study, we present data on the occurrence of sports injuries among children in six European countries, namely Austria, Denmark, France, Greece, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. An operational definition for sports injuries was developed, and comparable data from the European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System, an established injury surveillance system operating in 12 European union countries, were collected from the participating member states, during a 1-year period (1998).

Leptin and body mass index in relation to endometrial cancer risk.

Background/aim: Because leptin is a hormone associated with obesity and reproduction, we attempted to examine whether there is a relationship between leptin and endometrial cancer.

Methods: Cases were 84 women with histologically confirmed incident endometrial cancer, whereas controls were 84 women admitted to the same hospital for small surgical operations. The serum leptin levels were determined in fasting morning blood samples by using radioimmunoassay.

Bunk versus conventional beds: a comparative assessment of fall injury risk.

Objective: To depict the magnitude and spectrum of childhood injuries attributable to falls from bunk beds in comparison with conventional beds and to outline sociodemographic risk factors and injury characteristics.

Study Design: Case-control investigation.

Setting: Accident and emergency departments of four hospitals in Greece, namely a teaching children's hospital and a trauma hospital in Greater Athens and the two district hospitals in the Magnesia county and the Corfu island.