Validation of the International IgA Nephropathy Prediction Tool in the Greek Registry of IgA Nephropathy.

Background: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is among the commonest glomerulonephritides in Greece and an important cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) with an insidious chronic course. Thus, the recently published International IgAN prediction tool could potentially provide valuable risk stratification and guide the appropriate treatment module. This study aimed to externally validate this prediction tool using a patient cohort from the IgAN registry of the Greek Society of Nephrology.

A multicenter, open-label, comparative study of B-cell depletion therapy with Rituximab for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: Rituximab (RTX) may favorably affect lung function and skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We aimed to assess long-term efficacy and safety of RTX in SSc compared to standard treatment.

Methods: A total of 51 patients with SSc-associated interstitial lung disease were recruited and treated with RTX (n = 33) or conventional treatment (n = 18).

Radiobiologic comparison of helical tomotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy, and conformal radiotherapy in treating lung cancer accounting for secondary malignancy risks.

The aim of the present study is to examine the importance of using measures to predict the risk of inducing secondary malignancies in association with the clinical effectiveness of treatment plans in terms of tumor control and normal tissue complication probabilities. This is achieved by using radiobiologic parameters and measures, which may provide a closer association between clinical outcome and treatment delivery. Overall, 4 patients having been treated for lung cancer were examined.

Ureteric response to abdominal radiotherapy and metallic double-pigtail ureteric stents: a pig model.

Objective: To examine the safety and compatibility of full-length metal ureteric stents with abdominal radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Four ureteric stents (Resonance(TM), Cook Urological, Ireland) (RS) and four RSs specially modified to contain thermocouples were placed unilaterally in eight pigs. The contralateral ureters of the same pigs served as their controls, and contained two polymeric ureteric catheters and two similar specially modified to contain thermocouples, while the remaining four control ureters remained intact.

Interictal alterations of cardiovagal function in chronic epilepsy.

Aim: To assess the function of parasympathetic heart control in patients with epilepsy by means of clinical routine neurophysiology.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-one consecutive epileptic patients (mean age+/-S.D.

Evaluation of conduction properties of somatic and sympathetic sudomotor fibers in patients with epilepsy.

To assess the function of fast somatic nerve fibers and sympathetic sudomotor system in patients with partial or generalized seizures, receiving various therapeutic regimes. The authors studied 60 patients (mean age 36.7 +/- 12.

Inheritance and perinatal consequences of inherited thrombophilia in Greece.

Objective: To investigate the impact of inherited thrombophilic factors on the gestational outcome of unselected pregnant women.

Method: A total of 392 women with spontaneous pregnancy were investigated for Factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were recorded.