Publications by authors named "Kapetanakis E"

: The aim of this study is to assess whether changes in Pulse Pressure Variation (PPV) and Stroke Volume Variation (SVV) following a VtC can predict the response to fluid administration in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia with protective mechanical ventilation. : A total of 40 patients undergoing general surgery or vascular surgery without clamping the aorta were enrolled. Protective mechanical ventilation was applied, and the radial artery was catheterized in all patients.

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Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is an aggressive gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy with increasing incidence. Despite the recent progress in targeted therapies and surgical approaches, the survival rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma patients remain poor. The Dickkopf (DKK) proteins are secretory proteins known mainly as antagonists of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is considered an oncogene.

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Burn injuries remain a major clinical problem worldwide, which require special management by experienced plastic surgeons. However, they cannot be available in every healthcare unit; consequently, there is a need for effective treatment options that could be utilized by a wide range of non-expert healthcare professionals. The aim of the present experimental study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of using a fibrin sealant (TISSEEL) compared to the conventional treatment with sulfadiazine on partial-thickness burn in a rat animal model.

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Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is a widespread liver disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver, commonly associated with metabolic syndrome components such as obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. With a global prevalence of up to 30%, MASLD is projected to affect over 100 million people in the U.S.

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Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a protein that is involved in many physiological and pathological cellular processes. There is compelling evidence that its dysregulated expression, be it up- or downregulation, contributes to the oncogenesis of various neoplasms, including those of the digestive system. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of ANXA2 in the main tumors of the digestive system.

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Background: Pneumomediastinum and pneumorrachis are rare complications following epidural analgesia, that can either be asymptomatic or rarely can produce mild to moderate severity symptoms. Most reported cases regarding the presentation of these two entities with epidural analgesia concern asymptomatic patients, however there are cases reporting post-dural puncture headache and respiratory manifestations.

Case Presentation: We present a case where a combined lumbar epidural and spinal anesthesia was performed using the loss of resistance to air technique (LOR), on a 78-year-old Greek (Caucasian) male undergoing a total hip replacement.

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This study sought to assess the effect of statin therapy on myocardial inflammation in a White New Zealand rabbit model of atherogenesis. The mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory, pluripotency, and aging-related markers were quantified following a controlled feeding protocol and statin treatments. Following high-cholesterol diet induction, we observed significant upregulation in the myocardial mRNA levels of MYD88, NF-κB, chemokines (CCL4, CCL20, and CCR2), IFN-γ, interleukins (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-18), and novel markers (klotho, KFL4, NANOG, and HIF1α).

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Trauma-related esophageal injuries (TEIs) are a rare but highly lethal condition. The presentation of TEIs is very diverse depending on the location and mechanism of injury (blunt vs. penetrating), as well as the presence or absence of concurrent injuries.

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Patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) often require multivisceral resection (MVR) of the involved organs to achieve R0 resection and local disease control. The aim of the present study was to systematically review all available literature on the postoperative and long-term outcomes of MVR for gastric cancer. The PubMed database was systematically searched by two independent investigators for studies concerning MVR for LAGC.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The patient experienced a lung abscess two weeks after being hospitalized for COVID-19, leading to sepsis, acute respiratory failure, and the need for mechanical ventilation.
  • * Despite treatment with antibiotics and aspiration drainage, the patient unfortunately died 20 days after admission, highlighting the serious risks of lung abscesses in COVID-19 patients, especially those who are immunocompromised.
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For many children, hospitalization can lead to a state of increased anxiety. Being away from home, the invasive procedures undertaken, and the uncertainty of the outcome cause an uncomfortable situation in anticipation of real or imagined hazards. This systematic review aims to assess current evidence on the types of non-pharmacological interventions used and their impact on children's anxiety or distress levels when they visit the hospital for planned or unplanned admissions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Medical thoracoscopy/pleuroscopy is now the second most commonly used endoscopic procedure after bronchoscopy in interventional pulmonology.
  • It is technically similar to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and should not be limited to just interventional pulmonologists performing it.
  • A multidisciplinary pleural disease program was established, involving thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, and anesthesiologists, which enhanced technique effectiveness and yielded positive outcomes even during economic challenges.
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Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to health systems, and has significantly affected the healthcare of lung cancer patients. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on early lung cancer patients’ surgical treatment. Methods: All consecutive patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer eligible for surgical treatment stage I/II and resectable stage III, referred to our department during the first wave of COVID-19 between February to May 2020, were included and compared with those on the exact corresponding quarter in 2019, one year before the pandemic.

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Re-expansion pulmonary edema is a potentially life-threatening situation following thoracic surgery of a compromised lung. We report the case of a 24-year-old female scheduled for a resection of a large intrathoracic desmoid tumor that presented with re-expansion pulmonary edema at the conclusion of her surgery and discuss the clinical presentation, mechanism and predictors of this entity and review similar cases reported in the literature.

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: This study was designed to evaluate platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a method of pleurodesis in a rabbit model. Pleurodesis with PRP was compared against the gold-standard use of talc. The secondary evaluation assessed the ideal time for achieving pleurodesis.

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: Encouraging data have been reported from referral centers following gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Our goal was to retrospectively review patient outcomes following gastrectomy for gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer at a high-volume unit of the University of Athens. : The enrollment period was from June 2003 to September 2018.

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Aims: Inflammatory dysregulation of mechanosensitive developmental genes may be central to atherogenesis. In the present seven-week model, we utilized colchicine regimens to curtail aortic atherogenesis in New Zealand White rabbits. We also explored the effect of colchicine regimens on atheroprotective (, , , and ) and proatherogenic (, , , and ) genes.

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One of the most serious late side effects of irradiation is the promotion of tumorigenesis. Radiation-induced esophageal cancer (RIEC) can arise in a previously irradiated field, mostly in patients previously irradiated for thoracic malignancies such as breast cancer, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, or previous esophageal cancer. RIEC is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all carcinomas of the esophagus.

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Background: Bochdalek hernia (BH) is characterized by the protrusion of viscera into thorax through the posterolateral section of the diaphragm. The aim of this study was to systematically review current literature concerning Bochdalek hernias in adults and elucidate their clinical characteristics and preferable treatment approach.

Methods: A search of PubMed and Cochrane bibliographical databases for studies regarding BHs was conducted (last search: 31st March 2021).

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Pleuroscopy or medical thoracoscopy is the second most common utilized procedure after bronchoscopy in the promising field of interventional pulmonology. Its main application is for the diagnosis and management of benign or malignant pleural effusions. Entry into the hemithorax is associated with pain and patient discomfort, whereas concurrently, notable pathophysiologic alterations occur.

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Although pleuroscopy is considered a safe and well tolerated procedure with a low complication rate, it requires the administration of procedural sedation and analgesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dexmedetomidine administration on oxygenation and respiratory function in patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic pleuroscopy. Through a prospective, single center, cohort study, we studied 55 patients receiving either a dexmedetomidine intravenous infusion supplemented by midazolam/fentanyl (Group DEX + MZ/F) or a conventional sedation protocol with midazolam/fentanyl (Group MZ/F).

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