Association of fructose consumption with prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders manifestations: results from Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS).

The study aimed to assess the total prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), and separately, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adults and to determine their potential association with fructose consumption. Data from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey were included (3798 adults; 58·9 % females). Information regarding FGID symptomatology was assessed using self-reported physician diagnosis questionnaires the reliability of which were screened using the ROME III, in a sample of the population.

Serum Vitamins D, B9 and B12 in Greek Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Deficiencies in vitamin D, folate and cobalamin are common in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim of the present study was to assess serum levels of these vitamins in IBD adults based on the respective serum cut off values for vitamin deficiencies, and to explore possible associations with IBD-related biomarkers and nutritional intake. A cross-sectional study was carried out and patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) from Attica-Greece were enrolled.

Lung fibrosis-associated soluble mediators and bronchoalveolar lavage from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients promote the expression of fibrogenic factors in subepithelial lung myofibroblasts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive collagen production and accumulation of myofibroblasts. We explored the possible role of subepithelial lung myofibroblasts (SELMs) in the development of fibrosis in IPF. SELMs, isolated from surgical specimens of healthy lung tissue, were cultured with pro-inflammatory factors or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with IPF or idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (iNSIP) and their fibrotic activity was assessed.

Clinical profiles of moderate and severe Crohn's disease patients and use of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents: Greek expert consensus guidelines.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which affects any site of the gastrointestinal tract and occasionally extraintestinal organs. The natural history of CD varies remarkably but a considerable proportion of patients develop complications leading to hospitalizations and surgeries, impaired quality of life, and disability. In these patients, effective medical therapy should aim beyond control of clinical symptoms to include induction and maintenance of steroid-free clinical and serological remission and mucosal healing, as this has shown to reduce complications, hospitalizations and surgeries, and to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer, at least in the short term.

Histological spectrum of mycophenolate mofetil-related colitis: association with apoptosis.

Aims: The main purpose of this study was to define diagnostic histological characteristics of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-related colitis in association with crypt epithelial cell turnover.

Methods And Results: The examined material included 43 colonic biopsies from renal transplant recipients with MMF administration and persistent diarrhoea. Thirty-three cases showed MMF-related colitis, while 10 showed no significant changes.

Structures, locations, and transfer frequencies of genetic elements conferring high-level gentamicin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis isolates in Greece.

The elements conferring high-level gentamicin resistance in 64 clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis were characterized by PCR and by restriction enzyme hybridization analysis of genomic and plasmid DNA. There was a strong association between gentamicin resistance and the aac(6')-aph(2") gene carried on IS256-based elements with different structures, locations, and transfer characteristics.