Genotype-Phenotype Relationships in Inheritable Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Greek National Cohort Study.

Background: Monogenic and polygenic inheritances are evidenced for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pathogenic variations in surfactant protein-related genes, telomere-related genes (TRGs), and a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of MUC5B gene encoding mucin 5B (rs35705950 T risk allele) are reported. This French-Greek collaborative study, Gen-Phen-Re-GreekS in inheritable IPF (iIPF), aimed to investigate genetic components and patients' characteristics in the Greek national IPF cohort with suspected heritability.

Lung cancer in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. A retrospective multicenter study in Greece.

Background: Abundant evidence supports an association between Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer development. Data on diagnosis and management of patients with IPF and lung cancer are still scarce.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study, enrolling 1016 patients with IPF from eight different centers between 2011 and 2018 in Greece.

Mycophenolate mofetil as an alternative treatment in sarcoidosis.

Introduction: In sarcoidosis although no better drug therapy than corticosteroids (CS) has emerged, alternative immunosuppressive agents are used when indicated. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) presents rapid action, a considerable safety profile and absence of lung toxicity. Few data exist so far on its use in patients with sarcoidosis.

High levels of IL-6 and IL-8 characterize early-on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis acute exacerbations.

Introduction: Controversy exists about the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis acute exacerbations (IPF-AEs). According to one hypothesis IPF-AEs represent the development of any etiology diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) upon usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), whilst other researchers argue that an accelerated phase of the intrinsic fibrotic process of unknown etiology prevails, leading to ARDS. Different cytokines might be involved in both processes.

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) and non small cell lung cancer: case presentation and review of the literature.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), also known as Forestier's disease, is a systemic non inflammatory disease of unknown cause. It is characterized by the presence of osteophytes due to calcification and ossification of spinal ligaments and entheses. Moreover, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis has been associated with a variety of metabolic disorders.

MRSA in Africa: filling the global map of antimicrobial resistance.

We sought to assess the prevalence of methicillin-resistance among Staphylococcus aureus isolates in Africa. We included articles published in 2005 or later reporting for the prevalence of MRSA among S. aureus clinical isolates.

Trends of mortality due to septicemia in Greece: an 8-year analysis.

Background: Infectious diseases are among the major causes of death worldwide. We evaluated the trends of mortality due to septicemia in Greece and compared it with mortality due to other infections.

Methods: Data on mortality stratified by cause of death during 2003-2010 was obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.

Extended or continuous versus short-term intravenous infusion of cephalosporins: a meta-analysis.

The authors sought to study whether extended or continuous infusion of cephalosporins is associated with better clinical outcomes than short-term infusion. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Studies reporting the clinical outcomes of patients receiving extended or continuous infusion (≥3 or 24 h, respectively) versus short-term infusion (≤1 h) of cephalosporins were considered eligible.

Age distribution of cases of 2009 (H1N1) pandemic influenza in comparison with seasonal influenza.

Introduction: Several aspects of the epidemiology of 2009 (H1N1) pandemic influenza have not been accurately determined. We sought to study whether the age distribution of cases differs in comparison with seasonal influenza.

Methods: We searched for official, publicly available data through the internet from different countries worldwide on the age distribution of cases of influenza during the 2009 (H1N1) pandemic influenza period and most recent seasonal influenza periods.

Inhaled colistin for the treatment of tracheobronchitis and pneumonia in critically ill children without cystic fibrosis.

Data regarding the role of inhaled colistin in critically ill pediatric patients without cystic fibrosis are scarce. Three children (one female), admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in Athens, Greece, during 2004-2009 received inhaled colistin as monotherapy for tracheobronchitis (two children), and as adjunctive therapy for necrotizing pneumonia (one child). Colistin susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from the cases' bronchial secretions specimens.

Informed consent: how much and what do patients understand?

Objective: We sought to evaluate the degree of patients' understanding of several aspects of the informed consent process for surgery and clinical research.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed (1961-2006) to identify relevant articles.

Results: We retrieved 23 and 30 eligible for inclusion articles regarding informed consent for surgery and clinical research, respectively.

Penicillins vs trimethoprim-based regimens for acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and toxicity of semisynthetic penicillins (SSPs) (amoxicillin, ampicillin, pivampicillin) and trimethoprim-based regimens (trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine) in treating acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (ABECB).

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Contents, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify and extract data from relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Study Selection: Only RCTs comparing penicillins with trimethoprim-based regimens for the treatment of patients with ABECB that reported data on effectiveness, toxicity, or mortality were considered eligible for this meta-analysis.

Inhaled colistin as monotherapy for multidrug-resistant gram (-) nosocomial pneumonia: a case series.

Background: Reports of patients with polymyxin-only susceptible gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia treated with inhaled, but without concurrent intravenous, colistin are rare.

Methods: Patients admitted in a tertiary 450-bed tertiary care centre during the period 05/01/2005-05/31/2007 and receiving colistin through nebulization, but not systemically, were included in this retrospective case series.

Results: Five patients (three with ventilator-associated pneumonia and two with nosocomial pneumonia) received colistin through nebulization without concomitant intravenous colistin.

Respiratory fluoroquinolones for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: We investigated whether the use of respiratory fluoroquinolones was associated with better clinical outcomes compared with the use of macrolides and beta- lactams among adults with pneumonia.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Current Contents, Scopus, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane with no language restrictions.

Investigational antimicrobial drugs for bloodstream infections.

Bloodstream infections, especially those arising from multidrug-resistant strains, are an alarming public health threat requiring continuous efforts for new drug development. In this review, antibiotics at an advanced development stage for the treatment of patients with bloodstream infections are identified through a search of the available literature sources. Eight compounds currently undergoing phase II and/or phase III trials were identified.

Antibiotic-lock therapy for long-term catheter-related bacteremia: a review of the current evidence.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among patients receiving hemodialysis, parenteral nutrition and chemotherapy. Antibiotic-lock therapy (ALT) represents a promising technique in the modern treatment of CRBSIs. In this review, we attempt to clarify the potential role of ALT in the treatment of long-term catheter-related bacteremia, based on the available evidence from published studies reporting on this issue.

Comparison of first-line with second-line antibiotics for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Although acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECBs) are common, there has been no metaanalysis that focused on the optimum regimen.

Methods: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of first-line antimicrobial agents (ie, amoxicillin, ampicillin, pivampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and doxycycline) and second-line antimicrobial agents (ie, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, macrolides, second-generation or third-generation cephalosporins, and quinolones) for the treatment of patients with AECB, in an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance among the microbes responsible for AECB, we performed a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) retrieved through searches of the PubMed and the Cochrane databases.

Results: Twelve RCTs were included in the metaanalysis.