Depression and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Risk Estimator in Women.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk estimator with depression in women undergoing cardiological evaluation.

Material And Method: Three hundred women undergoing cardiological evaluation completed the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) questionnaire which included women's characteristics.

Prevalence and determinants of current and secondhand smoking in Greece: results from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) study.

Objectives: Greece is one of the leading tobacco-producing countries in European Union, and every year over 19 000 Greeks die from tobacco-attributable diseases. The aim of the present study was to provide nationally representative estimates on current and secondhand smoking prevalence in Greece and their determinants.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Knowledge and Perceptions about Nicotine, Nicotine Replacement Therapies and Electronic Cigarettes among Healthcare Professionals in Greece.

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of Greek healthcare professionals about nicotine, nicotine replacement therapies and electronic cigarettes. Methods.

Tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and cessation counseling among health professions students: greek data from the global health professions student Survey (GHPSS).

We conducted the GHPSS (Global Health Professions Student Survey) to obtain information regarding health profession students' smoking habits and perceptions, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) as well as level of knowledge and training on tobacco use and smoking cessation counseling. GHPSS is a survey for third-year students in the following fields: health visitors, dentistry, medicine, nursing and/or pharmacy. The highest tobacco use prevalence rate and exposure to SHS were recorded among health visitor students with 46.

Effects of Darbepoetin Alfa on plasma mediators of oxidative and nitrosative stress in anemic patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Increased oxidative and nitrosative stress are important mediators of left ventricular (LV) and vascular dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). This study investigated the effects of darbepoetin alfa on plasma markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress in patients with CHF with anemia. Thirty patients with CHF (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] <40%, hemoglobin <12.

Effects of darbepoetin-alpha on quality of life and emotional stress in anemic patients with chronic heart failure.

Objective: Anemia is a frequent comorbidity in chronic heart failure (CHF) adversely affecting patients' prognosis. Erythropoietin seems to improve exercise capacity in CHF patients. This study investigates the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin analog darbepoetin-alpha on quality of life and emotional stress, evaluated by relevant questionnaires in patients with CHF and anemia.

Effects of darbepoetin alpha on right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in anemic patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Anemia is a frequent condition in chronic heart failure (CHF) that affects adversely long-term cardiac outcomes. We sought to investigate the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin analogue darbepoetin alpha on left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function and neurohormonal activation in patients with CHF and anemia.

Methods: Thirty-two CHF patients (New York Heart Association class II-III, LV ejection fraction [EF] <40%, hemoglobin level <12.

Effects of levosimendan on coronary artery flow and cardiac performance in patients with advanced heart failure.

Background: Levosimendan has inotropic and vasodilatory effects. We investigated the effects of levosimendan on coronary flow and associated changes in neurohormonal activation and cardiac performance in patients with advanced heart failure.

Methods: Forty-two patients with NYHA III-IV and a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) 25+/-6%, were randomised to levosimendan 0.

Effects of darbepoetin-alpha on plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 and soluble Fas/Fas ligand system in anemic patients with chronic heart failure.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine over-expression may be implicated to the pathogenesis of anemia in chronic heart failure (CHF) through the suppression of bone marrow erythropoiesis. Erythropoietin administration has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties in experimental CHF models and improves exercise capacity in anemic CHF patients. The present study investigates the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin analogue darbepoetin-alpha on circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and soluble Fas/soluble Fas ligand system in patients with CHF and anemia.

Effect of levosimendan on ventricular arrhythmias and prognostic autonomic indexes in patients with decompensated advanced heart failure secondary to ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy.

Positive inotropes used for the treatment of heart failure have been arrhythmogenic. Levosimendan is a novel calcium sensitizer with vasodilating properties and a complex mechanism of action. Its effect on ventricular arrhythmias and 24-hour Holter electrocardiographically derived prognostic autonomic nervous system-related markers, because it occurs in parallel with changes in cardiac function and neurohormonal response, has not been systematically assessed.

Effects of levosimendan on right ventricular function in patients with advanced heart failure.

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction frequently complicates advanced left ventricular heart failure and contributes to an unfavorable prognosis. Levosimendan is a novel inodilator that beneficially affects hemodynamics and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with advanced heart failure. However, its effects on RV function have not yet been properly assessed in these patients.

Pre-treatment with Irbesartan attenuates left atrial stunning after electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Left atrial (LA) stunning, the transient impairment of LA function, is responsible for an increased thrombo-embolic risk after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF). Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) attenuate atrial remodelling in AF and could theoretically influence LA stunning. We studied the effect of Irbesartan on LA stunning.