Platelets transfusion in Greece: Where, when, why? A national survey.

Background: Platelet transfusion is among the most useful therapeutic tools in modern clinical settings which mean that ensuring an adequate supply is of paramount importance.

Aim: The aim of our study was to record the use and wastage of platelet concentrates (PCs) in Greece, so as to come up with evidence-based interventions.

Methods: The study was conducted during May and June 2015.

Current Practice in FFP Preparation and Use in Greece: A National Survey.

Objective: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion is widely used in modern clinical settings. Practices regarding its use vary due to lack of guidelines from randomized trials. The aim of this study was to assess both the current practices regarding FFP production, use, and wastage and the implementation of quality control (QC), female donor plasma production policies, and use of pharmaceutical hemostatic agents in Greece.

A modified flow cytometry method for objective estimation of human CD4 regulatory T cells (CD4 Tregs) in peripheral blood, via CD4/CD25/CD45RO/FoxP3 labeling.

Background: Several methods exist for flow-cytometric estimation of human peripheral blood CD4 T regulatory cells (CD4 Tregs).

Methods: We report our experience with the estimation of human CD4 Tregs via three different characterizations using flow cytometry (CD25 FoxP3 , CD25 CD127 FoxP3 , and CD4 CD25 CD45ROFoxP3 ) in normal subjects. We have used these methods on the control populations from two studies (32 and 36 subjects, respectively), the latter two methods retrospectively on the subjects of the first study.

Changes of serum adhesion molecules and cytokines in post-ERCP pancreatitis: adhesion molecules and cytokines in acute pancreatitis.

Objectives: To assess the early changes of soluble IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, TNF-β, IL-17A, IL-22, soluble (s) P-Selectin, sE-Selectin and sICAM-1 in post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).

Methods: Single center, prospective study of 318 ERCP procedures. Serum samples were acquired from all patients prior to ERCP, 6 hours and 24 hours after the procedure.

Platelet IgG antibodies are significantly increased in chronic liver disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of IgG antiplatelet (anti-P) IgG antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) of diverse but well defined etiology.

Methods: One-hundred fifty-six consecutive patients with CLD (65 with chronic hepatitis B, 57 with chronic hepatitis C, 23 with alcoholic liver disease and 11 with primary biliary cirrhosis), and 240 healthy blood donors were investigated for the presence of anti-P antibodies.

Results: Anti-P antibodies were present in 36.

Inflammatory bowel disease and hepatitis B and C in Western Balkans: a referral centre study and review of the literature.

Background And Aims: There is limited data on IBD patients diagnosed with viral hepatitis B and C. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of chronic HBV or HCV infection in IBD patients followed by our centre and to describe and review the course of bowel and liver disease during therapy.

Methods: Single centre retrospective study on 482 consecutive IBD patients.

Hepatitis B remains a major health priority in Western Balkans: results of a 4-year prospective Greek-Albanian collaborative study.

Objective Of The Study: To report on the results of two projects on chronic hepatitis B in Western Balkans lead by Ioannina, Northwest Greece and Tirana, Albania.

Methods: In two prospective projects, HEPAGA I and HEPAGA II which lasted 4 years. In HEPAGA I, serum samples from 410 Albanians were tested for HBV.

Molecular characterization of occult hepatitis B cases in Greek blood donors.

The use of sensitive nucleic acid testing for hepatitis B virus in blood donors revealed a number of HBV DNA(+) cases among HBsAg(-) donors, a status known as occult HBV infection. The purpose of this study was the serological and molecular characterization of occult HBV infection in Greek blood donors. A prospective study was undertaken in order to identify occult HBV infection cases in blood donors.

Antiplatelet antibodies in patients with chronic viral hepatitis receiving interferon-alpha.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of interferon-alpha in the development of antiplatelet IgG antibodies in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B or C.

Methodology: Ninety-one consecutive patients with chronic viral hepatitis (51 with chronic hepatitis B and 40 with chronic hepatitis C) were investigated for the presence of antiplatelet IgG antibodies in their serum immediately prior to IFN-alpha therapy and after six months of therapy. The method used was the solid phase red cell adherence test (Immucor, Norcross, USA), which is a sensitive tracer of antiplatelet antibodies.

High prevalence of elevated liver enzymes in blood donors: associations with male gender and central adiposity.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an increasingly recognized condition, but its exact prevalence is unknown. In this prospective, multicenter study, we evaluated the prevalence of elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase levels as indirect markers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in volunteer blood donors as well as their associations with epidemiological and anthropometrical characteristics.

Methods: Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase levels were determined in blood donors from four transfusion centers during the morning sessions of a 3-month period.

Intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus infection in Greece.

Objective: No study has investigated the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Greece. We conducted a 9-year prospective study to determine the rate of HBV spread in family members when a member is identified as an HBV carrier, the possible routes and risk factors for transmission of HBV and the family members with the highest risk of infection according to kinship degrees.

Methods: A total of 387 family members of 166 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers were investigated for the detection of HBV infection markers using standard enzyme immunoassays; 6.