The role of abdominal muscle training in combination with pelvic floor muscle training to treat female urinary incontinence - a pilot 12-week study.

Introduction: Current literature is inconclusive as to whether transversus abdominis (TrA) training can provide an additional benefit to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training in female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We designed a study to investigate the effect of PFM and TrA training on incontinence parameters.

Material And Methods: 60 females with SUI were randomised to PFM training alone or PFM plus TrA training.

Hard Flaccid Syndrome: A Biopsychosocial Management Approach with Emphasis on Pain Management, Exercise Therapy and Education.

Hard flaccid syndrome (HFS) is a rather rare, acquired clinical entity affecting young men's well-being, sexual and social life. HFS presents with a cluster of symptoms including penile-specific somatosensory disturbances, a semi-rigid penis at the flaccid state without any stimulation or desire, erectile dysfunction, perineal and/or penile pain, associated urinary symptoms, emotional distress as well as other psychosocial and stress-related manifestations. Although its pathophysiology is still not well understood, initial penile trauma causing minor nerve and vascular disturbances to the penis and associated pelvic floor musculature is suggested to trigger the syndrome.

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection in Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Epidemiological Cohort Study in North-Eastern Greece.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a common cause of viral hepatitis in developing countries, is mainly transmitted via the fecal-oral route, but also may be a prevalent hospital-transmitted agent among patients on regular hemodialysis due to parenteral transmission. Previous epidemiological studies among hemodialysis patients in Greece, using different diagnostic techniques, gave conflicting results. Τhe present study aimed to measure the exposure rate of hemodialysis patients of north-eastern Greece to HEV by estimating the overall seroprevalence, and to identify potential risk factors.

The Greek version of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation amongst women with urinary incontinence.

Objectives: As in Greek settings there is a need to develop validated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for pelvic floor dysfunction, this study's aim was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ) into Greek, a 42-item PRO for routine urogynaecological evaluation of four domains; bladder, bowel, prolapse and sexual function.

Study Design: Cross-cultural translation was completed through official multistage forward and back-translation process. Validation involved administering the adapted APFQ (APFQ_GR) to women visiting Greek community-based healthcare settings.

The Greek Collaborative Long COVID Study: Non-Hospitalized and Hospitalized Patients Share Similar Symptom Patterns.

Long COVID-19 syndrome refers to persisting symptoms (>12 weeks) after the initial coronavirus infection and is estimated to affect 3% to 12% of people diagnosed with the disease globally. Aim: We conducted a collaborative study with the Long COVID patient organization in Greece, in order to estimate the characteristics, symptoms, and challenges these patients confront. Methods: Data were collected from 208 patients using unstructured qualitative free-text entries in an anonymized online questionnaire.

Views and Attitudes of Blood Donors toward Blood Donation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thrace Region, Greece.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been going on for the last two years and it has affected our society and, amongst other things, has had a negative impact on blood donation, which has led to a significant reduction in blood supplies worldwide. The imposed restrictions in terms of physical presence and transportation, and the fear of the unknown, have aggravated the situation. In Greece, after the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, the blood supplies at the blood transfusion units (BTUs) were dramatically reduced.

The role of late gadolinium enhancement in predicting arrhythmic events in cardiac sarcoidosis patients - a mini-review.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with an unknown origin. Symptomatic cardiac involvement is rare and occurs in about 5% of patients with sarcoidosis. Fatal ventricular arrhythmias are the most severe clinical presentation of the disease.

Levels of Produced Antibodies after Vaccination with mRNA Vaccine; Effect of Previous Infection with SARS-CoV-2.

The aim of this study was to estimate the immunogenic effect of mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. This study included 510 participants who received mRNA vaccine. The measurement of anti-COVID-19 antibodies was performed using the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG quantitative assay (Abbott).

The prevalence of HCV RNA positivity in anti-HCV antibodies-negative hemodialysis patients in Thrace Region. Multicentral study.

Introduction: HCV infection in patients under hemodialysis for end stage chronic kidney disease (ESCKD) may exist despite the absence of anti-HCV antibodies. Molecular methods are widely accepted as "gold standard" techniques for the detection of viral RNA. However, the molecular methods are more expensive in comparison to conventional methods and their replacement is not cost-effective.

Ventricular septal rupture following myocardial infarction: A potentially fatal complication.

Mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction include ventricular septal rupture (VSR), free wall rupture, and ischemic mitral regurgitation. Postinfarction VSR is a rare but serious complication of myocardial infarction. VSR has a lower incidence in the era of new reperfusion therapies.

A rare complication of pacemaker implantation.

Lead perforation is a life-threatening rare complication of pacemaker or defibrillator lead implantation. Clinical examination, electrocardiogram, device interrogation, echocardiography, chest x-ray, and chest computed tomography scan can help in the diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware because early diagnosis and treatment are the cornerstones for achieving a better outcome.

Exploring sexual attitudes of students in health professions.

Introduction: Patients' sexual concerns are frequently underestimated because of health professionals' reluctance to address sexual health issues. Though it has been documented that sexual attitudes are extremely influential in everyday clinical practice, limited data exist on identifying health professionals' attitudes.

Aim: To explore sexual attitudes in medical students and students in allied health professions.

Short-term efficacy of group pelvic floor training under intensive supervision versus unsupervised home training for female stress urinary incontinence: a randomized pilot study.

Aims: Current management guidelines propose pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) as first line treatment for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of group PFMT under intensive supervision to that of individual home therapy in women with SUI.

Material And Methods: Thirty women with clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of SUI were randomized in two equal-number groups.

Dilemmas in the management of female stress incontinence: the role of pelvic floor muscle training.

Treatment options for female stress urinary incontinence include pelvic floor muscle training, lifestyle interventions, bladder retraining, pharmacotherapy, anti-incontinence devices and surgery. Several consensus statements recommend pelvic floor muscle training as first line treatment. The aim of this review is to analyse all the currently available data and propose a treatment algorithm for clinical practice.