Effect of golimumab on health-related quality of life, other patient-reported outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: a real-world multicenter, noninterventional, observational study in Greece.

Background And Aims: This real-world study assessed the impact of golimumab on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with ulcerative colitis over 12 months in Greece.

Methods: GO-LIFE was a noninterventional, prospective, multicenter, 12-month study. Patients who had moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis were naïve to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNFα) therapy and had failed previous conventional therapy.

Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Treated With Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants Compared With Warfarin in Clinical Practice: Characteristics and Clinical Outcome.

Background: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (ALGIB) can occur in patients on anticoagulant therapy (either warfarin or non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs)). Use of NOACs has been increasing compared to warfarin in recent years. We analyzed patients with ALGIB on anticoagulation therapy and compared characteristics, management and clinical outcome in patients treated with NOACs versus warfarin.

A Model for Out-of-Hospital Multispecialty Emergency Medicine: Accomplishments and Challenges.

Home care has been traditionally considered as an important type of medical service. "SOS Doctors" is a Greek organization providing out-of-hospital multispecialty emergency medicine services the past 25 years. Its services mainly meet the demands of the elderly and the nonambulatory patients.

Patient house calls in Attica and Thessaloniki, Greece (2005-2015): a model for out-of-hospital multispecialty emergency medicine.

Background: The SOS-doctors are a network of physicians who perform house-call visits in the areas of Attica and Thessaloniki, Greece.

Methods: Patients requesting medical services by the SOS doctors during the period 1/1/2005 - 31/12/2015 were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective analysis.

Results: During this period 335, 212 home visits were performed.

Impact of oseltamivir use on the reduction of complications in patients with influenza: a prospective study.

To evaluate the factors associated with oseltamivir prescription and to study the effectiveness of oseltamivir in reducing influenza-related complications. A prospective cohort study using the SOS Doctors (a network of physicians who perform house-call visits in Attica, Greece). Patients with confirmed or clinically suspected influenza were followed up to 14 days during the 2011-2012 influenza period.

Surveillance of community outbreaks of respiratory tract infections based on house-call visits in the metropolitan area of Athens, Greece.

Background: The traditional Serfling-type approach for influenza-like illness surveillance requires long historical time-series. We retrospectively evaluated the use of recent, short, historical time-series for recognizing the onset of community outbreaks of respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Methods: The data used referred to the proportion of diagnoses for upper or lower RTIs to total diagnoses for house-call visits, performed by a private network of medical specialists (SOS Doctors) in the metropolitan area of Athens, Greece, between January 01, 2000 and October 12, 2008.

Evaluation of a direct test for seasonal influenza in outpatients.

Objective: To present our experience regarding the use of a rapid diagnostic test for seasonal influenza A and B.

Methods: We systematically collected and analyzed our data regarding the use of a rapid diagnostic test for seasonal influenza A and B in patients with specific respiratory symptoms that sought medical services, during the time period from 01/01/2009 to 30/05/2009, from a network of physicians (SOS Doctors) who perform house-call visits in the area of Attica, Greece.

Results: From the total of 16,335 house-call visits performed during the evaluated period, 3412 (20.

Changes in indications for upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and endoscopic findings during the last fifteen years in south-western Greece.

Background: During the past years, major advances in the management of upper gastrointestinal diseases have been achieved. The aim of this study was to determine if changes in indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic findings have occurred during the last 15 years in our area.

Methods: Indications for upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and endoscopy findings of patients who underwent upper endoscopy in years 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005 in our department were compared.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in octogenarians: clinical outcome and factors related to mortality.

Aim: To evaluate the aetiology, clinical outcome and factors related to mortality of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) in octogenarians.

Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients over 65 years old who were hospitalised with AUGIB in two hospitals from January 2006 to December of 2006. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (65-80 years old) and Group B (>80 years old).

Effect of meteorological variables on the incidence of respiratory tract infections.

Objective: The possible effect of the various meteorological variables on the incidence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs) has intrigued the scientific community for decades.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis regarding the association between meteorological variables and clinical data for upper and lower RTIs in the area of Attica, Greece.

Results: There was a statistically significant (P<0.

Changing trends in the epidemiology and clinical outcome of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a defined geographical area in Greece.

Aim: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) remains a common medical emergency and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in clinico-epidemiologic characteristics of patients who presented with AUGIB during the last 10 years.

Methods: Data from all patients admitted with AUGIB in a defined geographical area in Greece from January 1 to December 31, 2005 (period B) were compared with retrospectively collected data from all patients admitted with AUGIB in the same area 10 years ago, from January 1 to December 31, 1995 (period A).

Neuropsychological function in Greek patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Research has shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with subclinical neuropsychological deficits in the absence of hepatic encephalopathy.

Methods: The current study assessed 32 Greek HCV patients without hepatic encephalopathy using standardized neuropsychological measures and compared them with 20 healthy controls and 29 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. Patients and controls did not differ on age, educational level, depression or fatigue severity.

Twenty-four hour prophylaxis with increased dosage of octreotide reduces the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a common complication of ERCP, occurring in up to 10% of cases. Chemoprevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis remains a debated issue.

Objective: This study evaluated whether increased dosage of octreotide, a potent inhibitor of pancreatic secretion, could reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

An analysis of patient house calls in the area of Attica, Greece.

Background: Physicians house calls to patients have been declining in many countries of the world. The objective of this study was to describe the patterns of utilization of house call services provided by SOS doctors in the area of Attica, Greece.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data regarding house call visits of patients in the area of Attica (metropolitan area of Athens and surrounding cities), Greece.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients with chronic HCV infection.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection in hemodialysis patients with chronic HCV infection and to compare it with that of HCV-infected patients with normal renal function.

Methods: Forty-nine patients on maintenance hemodialysis and 48 HCV-infected but otherwise normal patients, both groups HCV RNA-positive and HBsAg-negative and matched for age and sex, were evaluated for the presence of HBV DNA in serum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A proportion of patients (11/49 and 39/48, respectively) were also examined for HBV antigens in hepatocytes by immunohistochemistry.

Prevalence of liver steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a study of associated factors and of relationship with fibrosis.

Objectives: The clinical significance of hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis B virus patients is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis B patients and its relationship with fibrosis.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis B treated in our department.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on long-term oral anticoagulation therapy: endoscopic findings, clinical management and outcome.

Aim: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a severe complication in patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the causes and clinical outcome of these patients.

Methods: From January 1999 to October 2003, 111 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) were hospitalized while on oral anticoagulants.

Liver steatosis is an independent risk factor for treatment failure in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objectives: Hepatic steatosis is a common feature of chronic hepatitis C. The purpose of this study was to determine factors related to the presence of steatosis and to define the role of steatosis in the response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed all patients with chronic hepatitis C treated in a 5 year period in our department.