Contribution and advances of robotics in percutaneous oncological interventional radiology.

The advent of robotic systems in interventional radiology marks a significant evolution in minimally invasive medical procedures, offering enhanced precision, safety, and efficiency. This review comprehensively analyzes the current state and applications of robotic system usage in interventional radiology, which can be particularly helpful for complex procedures and in challenging anatomical regions. Robotic systems can improve the accuracy of interventions like microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and irreversible electroporation.

The future of plant diversity within a Mediterranean endemism centre: Modelling the synergistic effects of climate and land-use change in Peloponnese, Greece.

Climate- and land-use change stand as primary threats to terrestrial biodiversity. Yet, their synergistic impacts on species distributions remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted the first-ever comprehensive species distribution analysis on an entire regional endemism centre within an eastern Mediterranean country, incorporating dynamic land-use/land-cover change data together with climate change scenarios.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with varicose veins in Albania: a retrospective, single-centre analysis.

Introduction: Chronic venous disease (CVD) constitutes a frequently underdiagnosed pathological condition that progressively diminishes patients' quality of life and imposes an escalating strain on healthcare resources. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the epidemiological landscape of varicose vein disease, examining age group distributions, gender patterns, residence influences, marital status correlations, weight considerations, educational impacts, and various aspects related to varicose veins.

Material And Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective analysis, in Albania from May 2018 to September 2023.

Secondary aortoenteric fistula: a narrative review of the view of the surgeon.

Aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is defined as the abnormal communication between the aorta and the gastrointestinal tract. AEFs are divided into primary and secondary usually after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) recovery and are a rare but quite dangerous cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that the general surgeon may face during his/her career. Secondary AEF was first described in 1953 to a 44-year-old woman 3 months after an AAA operation.

Ablative Radioembolization (SIRT) of a Large Inoperable Renal Cell Carcinoma Invading the Liver That Resulted in Hematuria Control and Complete Necrosis by mRECIST Criteria.

We report the successful application of radioembolization (SIRT) in a 77-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis and repeated episodes of macroscopic hematuria due to a large renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney extending to liver segment VI. A compassionate SIRT therapy was performed with resin microspheres through the upper pole renal artery and the feeding segmental artery of liver segment VI. Hematuria was resolved after treatment, and 4 months later, a follow-up CT scan revealed tumor size reduction and complete tumor necrosis (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria).

Safety and efficacy of cryoablation of Soft-Tissue tumors.

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of percutaneous cryoablation (CA) of soft-tissue tumors (desmoid tumors (DT), vascular malformations (VM), and abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE)).

Methods: This systematic review of studies published before January 2024 encompassed a detailed analysis of CA techniques and technical aspects for the treatment of soft-tissue tumors. Data concerning CA efficacy, complication rates, and other relevant metrics was extracted and included for analysis.

Correlation between gynecological tumors and atherosclerotic diseases.

Gynecological cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with malignancies of the ovary, uterus, fallopian tube, cervix, vagina, and vulva making up 10-18% of all cancers diagnosed in women globally. Gynecological cancer and atherosclerosis are two of the most frequent medical entities that afflict women worldwide; thus the possible correlations between them ought to be explored. Vulvar, cervical, vaginal, endometrial, and ovarian cancers have been found to have common points with atherosclerosis regarding their pathogenesis and predisposing factors.

Probing the Energy-Smeared R Ratio Using Lattice QCD.

We present a first-principles lattice QCD investigation of the R ratio between the e^{+}e^{-} cross section into hadrons and into muons. By using the method of Ref. [1], that allows one to extract smeared spectral densities from Euclidean correlators, we compute the R ratio convoluted with Gaussian smearing kernels of widths of about 600 MeV and central energies from 220 MeV up to 2.

MAES implementation in Greece: Geodiversity.

The present study aims to support the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) implementation in Greece, by synthesizing an indicator that could be used for abiotic attribute assessments and specifically for geodiversity. Such an indicator can be used not only for reporting obligations under EU initiatives but also for identifying "conservation hotspots". Such areas, characterized by rich geodiversity, are important for supporting biodiversity and other ecosystem services.

Evaluation of Reliability and Validity of the RALE and BRIXIA Chest-X Ray Scores in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Introduction: Chest X-rays are commonly used to assess the severity in patients that present in the emergency department with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia, but in clinical practice quantitative scales are rarely employed.

Aims: To evaluate the reliability and validity of two semi-quantitative radiological scales in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia (BRIXIA score and RALE score).

Methods: Patients hospitalized between October 2021 and March 2022 with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis were eligible for inclusion.

Taxonomy of (Caryophyllaceae) - overall phylogenetic relationships and assessment of species diversity based on a first comprehensive checklist of the genus.

In this study, we present an overall phylogenetic framework for using four plastid regions (--, -, -) and nuclear ITS and a species-level checklist for the genus developed by using all available databases and the literature. The trees from the plastid dataset depict a clade of that also includes and a few taxa of . New combinations in are provided for these species.

Climate and Land-Cover Change Impacts and Extinction Risk Assessment of Rare and Threatened Endemic Taxa of Chelmos-Vouraikos National Park (Peloponnese, Greece).

Chelmos-Vouraikos National Park is a floristic diversity and endemism hotspot in Greece and one of the main areas where Greek endemic taxa, preliminary assessed as critically endangered and threatened under the IUCN Criteria A and B, are mainly concentrated. The climate and land-cover change impacts on rare and endemic species distributions is more prominent in regional biodiversity hotspots. The main aims of the current study were: (a) to investigate how climate and land-cover change may alter the distribution of four single mountain endemics and three very rare Peloponnesian endemic taxa of the National Park via a species distribution modelling approach, and (b) to estimate the current and future extinction risk of the aforementioned taxa based on the IUCN Criteria A and B, in order to investigate the need for designing an effective plant micro-reserve network and to support decision making on spatial planning efforts and conservation research for a sustainable, integrated management.

A Morphometric and Karyological Study of the Group (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) Reveals a New Species from Greece.

A recent study of the collections in the Balkans indicated that the taxa of the group ( subsp. , subsp. , , ) exhibit noteworthy morphological patterns not evaluated before.

Linking Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional Plant Diversity with Ecosystem Services of Cliffs and Screes in Greece.

Sparsely vegetated habitats of cliffs and screes act as refugia for many regional and local endemic specialized plant taxa most of which have evolved precisely for that type of habitat. The interplay between taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional plant diversity on rock and scree habitats of extreme environmental conditions, enlightens the relations of plant communities and ecosystems and facilitates management planning for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The identification of biodiversity patterns and hotspots (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional) contributes to the integration of the ecosystem services (ES) approach for the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES) implementation in Greece and the creation of thematic maps based on the MAES reporting format.

Extinction Risk Assessment of the Greek Endemic Flora.

Human-induced biodiversity decline has been on the rise for the past 250 years, due to various causes. What is equally troubling, is that we are unaware which plants are threatened and where they occur. Thus, we are far from reaching Aichi Biodiversity Target 2, i.

WOODIV, a database of occurrences, functional traits, and phylogenetic data for all Euro-Mediterranean trees.

Trees play a key role in the structure and function of many ecosystems worldwide. In the Mediterranean Basin, forests cover approximately 22% of the total land area hosting a large number of endemics (46 species). Despite its particularities and vulnerability, the biodiversity of Mediterranean trees is not well known at the taxonomic, spatial, functional, and genetic levels required for conservation applications.

Plant Endemism Centres and Biodiversity Hotspots in Greece.

Biodiversity hotspots (BH) cover a small fraction of the Earth's surface, yet host numerous endemics. Human-induced biodiversity loss has been increasing worldwide, despite attempts to halt the extinction crisis. There is thus an urgent need to efficiently allocate the available conservation funds in an optimised conservation prioritization scheme.

Spatial Phylogenetics, Biogeographical Patterns and Conservation Implications of the Endemic Flora of Crete (Aegean, Greece) under Climate Change Scenarios.

Human-induced biodiversity loss has been accelerating since the industrial revolution. The climate change impacts will severely alter the biodiversity and biogeographical patterns at all scales, leading to biotic homogenization. Due to underfunding, a climate smart, conservation-prioritization scheme is needed to optimize species protection.