HNF1A gene mutations and premature ovarian failure (POF): evidence from a clinical paradigm combining MODY 3 and POF.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) defines the occurrence of ovarian failure prior to the age of 40. It occurs in one out of 100 women but is very rare before age 20 (1:10,000). Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), caused by mutations in the HNF1A gene, is also a rare disorder; all types of MODY account for 1-2% of adult diabetic cases.

Incorporating Medical Museum Specimens Into the Training of Environmental Health Students.

Xenobiotics, radiation, and other environmental health risk factors leave their mark on human organs. This can be demonstrated through the use of pathology museum specimens. Upon completing two semesters of postgraduate studies in environmental health, a tour of the Museum of Pathology is offered to postgraduate students at Athens Medical School who are being trained in environmental health.

Spinal Muscle Thickness and Activation during Abdominal Hollowing and Bracing in CrossFit Athletes.

Exercises that improve muscle activation are essential for maintaining spinal stability and preventing low back pain. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of abdominal hollowing and bracing on the activation of the core muscles in CrossFit participants using ultrasound and electromyography (EMG). Twenty-four healthy adults aged 21 to 42 years old with at least two years of CrossFit experience performed three core stability exercises (plank, side plank, bridge) with abdominal hollowing and bracing.

Effect of Steam to Carbon Dioxide Ratio on the Performance of a Solid Oxide Cell for HO/CO Co-Electrolysis.

The mixture of H and CO, the so-called syngas, is the value-added product of HO and CO co-electrolysis and the feedstock for the production of value-added chemicals (mainly through Fischer-Tropsch). The H/CO ratio determines the process in which syngas will be utilized and the type of chemicals it will produce. In the present work, we investigate the effect of HO/CO (steam/carbon dioxide, S/C) ratio of 0.

Prenatal Identification of a Novel Mutation in the Gene Associated with Autosomal Recessive Primary Microcephaly (MCPH) Using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS): A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: is known as the microcephalin gene (OMIM: *607117), of which the encoding protein is a basic regulator of chromosome condensation (BCRT-BRCA1 C-terminus). The microcephalin protein is made up of three BCRT domains and conserved tandem repeats of interacting phospho-peptides. There is a strong connection between mutations of the gene and reduced brain growth.

Comparison between 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI for the diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

Purpose: Accurate antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is important for optimal management. The purpose of this study was to compare the respective capabilities of 1.5-T and 3.

Intensive-Dose Tinzaparin in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: The INTERACT Study.

(1) Background: It is well-established that coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is highly pro-inflammatory, leading to activation of the coagulation cascade. COVID-19-induced hypercoagulability is associated with adverse outcomes and mortality. Current guidelines recommend that hospitalized COVID-19 patients should receive pharmacological prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Stillbirth due to SARS-CoV-2 placentitis without evidence of intrauterine transmission to fetus: association with maternal risk factors.

Objectives: To describe the placental pathology, fetal autopsy findings and clinical characteristics of pregnancies that resulted in stillbirth owing to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) placentitis, and to identify potential risk factors.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study of non-vaccinated pregnant women affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Greece from April 2020 to August 2021. A total of 165 placentas were examined histologically and six cases of stillbirth associated with SARS-CoV-2 placentitis were retrieved.

Microglia Activation in the Midbrain of the Human Neonate: The Effect of Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury.

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (PHI) is a major risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric deficits later in life. We previously reported that after prolonged PHI, the dopaminergic neurons of the human neonate showed a dramatic reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra, without important signs of neuronal degeneration despite the significant reduction in their cell size. Since microglia activation could precede neuronal death, we now investigated 2 microglia activation markers, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), and the phagocytosis marker Cd68.

Environmental Health Education: From Museum Specimens and Math Word Problems to Virtual and Augmented Reality.

Environmental degradation and its severe impact on human health has revealed the necessity for effective educational interventions. Given the importance of "Environment," "Health," and "Education," as key pillars for the achievement of sustainable development, the education for environmental health is evolving into a main component of current strategies against environmental health threats, such as climate change and urban air pollution. Environmental Health Education, which must be considered as a strategical response against environmental degradation, offers vast capacity for innovation alongside every educational stage.

Clinical symptoms associated with laboratory findings and placental histopathology in full-term, non-infected neonates born to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive mothers.

This study comprehensively examines clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and placental pathology in 40 cases of singleton full-term SARS-CoV-2 negative neonates. Their mothers, previously healthy, with uncomplicated pregnancies, were infected peripartum and presented COVID-19 symptoms of various severity. Neonates had predominately diarrhea, the yet unreported absent sucking reflex, elevated COVID-19 inflammatory and ischemia/asphyxia markers as serum ferritin, interleukin-6 and cardiac troponin-T, while placentas demonstrated mild vascular and/or inflammatory lesions.

Muscle Length of the Hamstrings Using Ultrasonography Versus Musculoskeletal Modelling.

Muscle morphology is an important contributor to hamstring muscle injury and malfunction. The aim of this study was to examine if hamstring muscle-tendon lengths differ between various measurement methods as well as if passive length changes differ between individual hamstrings. The lengths of biceps femoris long head (BFlh), semimembranosus (SM), and semitendinosus (ST) of 12 healthy males were determined using three methods: Firstly, by identifying the muscle attachments using ultrasound (US) and then measuring the distance on the skin using a flexible ultrasound tape (TAPE-US).

Pharyngeal sampling for PCR-testing in the investigation of SARS-COV-2 vertical transmission in pregnancy.

The novel COVID-19 global pandemic has raised, among many others, major concerns regarding the impact of infection during pregnancy. Current evidence suggests that vertical transmission from mother to baby, antenatally or intrapartum, does occur, but is uncommon. According to the published reports of infants born to COVID-19-affected mothers, as well as the anecdotal experience of current practices worldwide, it appears that investigations regarding the potential of SARS-COV-2 vertical transmission in pregnancy have so far been based, to a large extent, on PCR testing of neonatal pharyngeal swab samples.

Intraplacental Fetal Vessel Diameter May Help Predict for Placental Invasiveness in Pregnant Women at High Risk for Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders.

Background Prenatal identification of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is essential for treatment planning. More objective means for predicting PAS and clinical outcome may be provided by MRI descriptors. Purpose To investigate the association of intraplacental fetal vessel (IFV) diameter at MRI with PAS and peripartum complications.

Apoptotic Markers in the Midbrain of the Human Neonate After Perinatal Hypoxic/Ischemic Injury.

Our previous postmortem studies on neonates with neuropathological injury of perinatal hypoxia/ischemia (PHI) showed a dramatic reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase expression (dopamine synthesis enzyme) in substantia nigra (SN) neurons, with reduction of their cellular size. In order to investigate if the above observations represent an early stage of SN degeneration, we immunohistochemically studied the expression of cleaved caspase-3 (CCP3), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), and DNA fragmentation by using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin 3'-end-labeling (TUNEL) technique in the SN of 22 autopsied neonates (corrected age ranging from 34 to 46.5 gestational weeks), in relation to the severity/duration of PHI injury, as estimated by neuropathological criteria.

Correction to: Effect of periodic abstinence from dairy products for approximately half of the year on bone health in adults following the Christian Orthodox Church fasting rules for decades.

The original version of this article, published on 27 June 2019, unfortunately contained a mistake.

Stripped fetal vessel sign: a novel pathological feature of abnormal fetal vasculature in placenta accreta spectrum disorders with MRI correlates.

Abnormal intraplacental hypervascularity is a well-known MRI feature of Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS), but the precise nature of these vessels has not yet been specified. Histopathological examination of eleven PAS-hysterectomy specimens and subsequent review of the corresponding MRIs, revealed the presence of large fetal vascular trunks extending deep towards the placental periphery and demonstrating deficient branching along their course ('stripped-fetal-vessel' sign). To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the pattern of abnormal fetal vasculature in correlation with MRI in PAS.

Improvement of Sperm Quality in Hyperviscous Semen following DNase I Treatment.

Semen hyperviscosity impairs sperm motility and can lead to male infertility. This prospective study aimed at assessing the ability of exogenous DNase in improving sperm quality, taking into consideration that DNase has been found in the seminal plasma of several species and that neutrophils release chromatin in order to trap bacteria. A total of seventy-seven semen samples with high seminal viscosity (HSV) as the study group and sixty-two semen samples with normal seminal viscosity (NSV) as the control group were compared in this analysis.

Effect of periodic abstinence from dairy products for approximately half of the year on bone health in adults following the Christian Orthodox Church fasting rules for decades.

Unlabelled: Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting is characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products). We found that, despite this, older individuals adhering to COC fasting for decades did not differ in bone mineral density, bone mineral content, or prevalence of osteoporosis at five sites from non-fasting controls.

Purpose: The present observational study investigated whether adherence to COC fasting, characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products), affects bone health and the prevalence of osteoporosis in older individuals.

MRI prognosticators for adverse maternal and neonatal clinical outcome in patients at high risk for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders.

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders may be associated with significant mortality and morbidity for both mother and fetus.

Purpose/hypothesis: To identify MRI risk factors for poor peripartum outcome in gravid patients at risk for PAS.

Study Type: Prospective.

Informal Caregivers in Greek Hospitals: a Unique Phenomenon of a Health System in Financial Crisis.

Background: In Greece it is quite common for family members to provide informal unpaid care for another family member during hospitalization, alongside healthcare professionals. Understaffing and lack of nursing personnel, due to austerity measures implemented in Greece during the last eight years, force families to provide informal care during hospitalization. The aim of the research was to study the role of informal caregivers (IC) during a family's member hospitalization, factors affecting their presence and patient's needs that were met by them.

Biomarkers of Myocardial Injury and Inflammation after Permanent Pacemaker Implantation: The Lead Fixation Type Effect.

Background: Permanent pacemaker implantation is accompanied by minor myocardial damage, indicated by elevated serum levels of cardiac biomarkers. Aim of this prospective study was to comparably investigate the lead fixation type effect on the extent of myocardial injury and inflammation following pacemaker implantation, and to assess the possible clinical implications.

Methods: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline, 6 and 24h after implantation in 101 patients, categorized into the active and passive lead fixation group.

Αcute Exercise Alters the Levels of Human Saliva miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism.

The response of micro-ribonucleic acid (miRNA) expression to exercise has not been studied in saliva, although saliva combines non-invasive collection with the largest number of miRNA species among biological fluids and tissues. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acute exercise on the expression of 8 human saliva miRNAs involved in lipid metabolism. 19 healthy, physically active men (VO2max, 40.