Real-world switching patterns and associated characteristics in patients with psoriasis treated with biologics.

Multiple parameters define the treatment course with biologics for a psoriatic patient while treatment switches are often associated with worse prognosis. The purpose of this study was to describe the switching patterns of biologics for psoriasis in the Greek market landscape and to detect associated factors that may impact the evolvement of selected therapy. This is a retrospective cohort study using data recorded in the nationwide digital prescription database of Greece.

QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 assay for the evaluation of cellular immunity after immunization with mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the virus-specific T-cell response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, using the QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 interferon-γ release assay. A search was conducted (June 8, 2023) in the PUBMED, SCOPUS, and medRxiv databases, to identify studies reporting the QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 (Starter (two antigen tubes) or Starter + Extended Pack (three antigen tubes), cut-off ≥ 0.15 IU/mL) positivity rate (PR) in immunocompetent adults, following the administration of two or three COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses.

The Effect of Time-Restricted Eating on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Endogenous metabolic pathways periodically adjust with fluctuations in day and night, a biological process known as circadian rhythm. Time-restricted eating (TRE) aligns the time of food intake with the circadian rhythm. This study aims to investigate the effects of TRE on body weight, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Sustainment of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines in children following discontinuation of an educational intervention to support stewardship.

Adherence to perioperative antimicrobial guidelines among Greek children was markedly decreased years after the discontinuation of an antimicrobial stewardship (AS) intervention. An educational intervention is effective to improve the perioperative antimicrobial use, but the continuous implementation of AS is important for its long-term sustainability.

A Dietary Intervention in Adults with Overweight or Obesity Leads to Weight Loss Irrespective of Macronutrient Composition.

Obesity is a critical public health issue, necessitating effective weight loss interventions. While various dietary regimens have been explored, individual responses to interventions often vary. This study involved a 3-month dietary intervention aiming at assessing the role of macronutrient composition and the potential role of genetic predisposition in weight loss among Greek adults.

Ventilator-Associated Events Cost in ICU Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: A Multi-State Model.

Introduction: Cost analysis is complicated by the fact that patients acquire infections during their hospital stay, having already spent time at risk without having an infection. Multi-state models (MSM) accounts for this time at risk treating infections as time-dependent exposures from ICU admission.

Aim Of The Study: To estimate ventilator-associated events (VAEs) direct additional cost in ICU patients.

Drug survival of biologics in patients with psoriasis: real-world evidence for Greece during the period 2016-2020.

Background: Drug persistence is a crucial aspect of treatment success in psoriasis.

Objectives: To record real-world evidence concerning drug survival of biologic agents used for psoriasis treatment and to detect associated modifying factors in Greece.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study based on data extracted from the nationwide Greek prescription system.

Translation and validation of patient-oriented eczema measure in the Greek language.

Translating and validating the Greek version of the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) was our goal. A parallel backtranslation process was used to translate POEM. A total of fifty-nine adult atopic dermatitis patients were enlisted to assess validity and reliability.

Professional quality of life, psychological well-being, and work engagement of healthcare professionals in two Greek hospitals during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of healthcare professionals has emerged as an issue of great concern.

Objective: To investigate the levels of professional quality of life, psychological well-being, and work engagement among healthcare professionals in two Greek hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2021 in two public hospitals in Greece.

SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell therapy for severe COVID-19: a randomized phase 1/2 trial.

Despite advances, few therapeutics have shown efficacy in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a different context, virus-specific T cells have proven safe and effective. We conducted a randomized (2:1), open-label, phase 1/2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of off-the-shelf, partially human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched, convalescent donor-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T cells (CoV-2-STs) in combination with standard of care (SoC) in patients with severe COVID-19 compared to SoC during Delta variant predominance.

The Role of EMT-Related lncRNAs in Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide; late diagnosis and drug resistance are two major factors often responsible for high morbidity and treatment failure. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process that has been closely linked with cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been also associated with several cancer-related mechanisms, including EMT.

Pre- and Postoperative Exercise Effectiveness in Mobility, Hemostatic Balance, and Prognostic Biomarkers in Hip Fracture Patients: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hip fractures are a major health concern, particularly for older adults, as they can reduce life quality, mobility loss, and even death. Current evidence reveals that early intervention is recommended for endurance in patients with hip fractures. To our knowledge, preoperative exercise intervention in patients with hip fractures remains poorly researched, and no study has yet applied aerobic exercise preoperatively.

Time From Marketing Authorization to Reimbursement of Medicines in Greece After the Introduction of the Health Technology Assessment Process From July 2018 to April 2022.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the median time from marketing authorization (MA) to the inclusion of medicines in the reimbursement list after the introduction of the health technology assessment process in Greece.

Methods: From July 2018 to April 2022, the Ministerial Decisions (MDs) and reimbursement lists, posted on the website of the Ministry of Health, were reviewed. The following information was collected for the medicines: the date that MDs and positive reimbursement lists were issued, the MA date, the date of the official price publication, and the type of the health technology assessment application.

Impact of biologic therapies on risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis or Psoriatic Arthritis: A systematic literature review.

Background: Recent evidence highlights increased mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially within the two major forms of Spondyloarthropathies (SpAs), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Healthcare professionals and patients in these populations should be alerted regarding the high risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and thus, customize the treatment strategy accordingly.

Objective: This systematic literature review aimed to determine the effects of biological therapies on serious CV events in AS and PsA.

Practices and educational needs of Hellenic Police Officers in providing first aid/cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: It is well known that police officers (POs) are expected to be the first responders in emergency cases requiring First Aid (FA) such as cardiac arrest.

Objective: Description of practices and educational needs of Hellenic POs in providing FA/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in case of medical emergencies and description of the equipment of professional FA kit.

Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017, using a self-administered questionnaire designed to serve the purposes of this particular survey.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Pegaspargase for the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Greece.

Background And Objective: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an acute, rapidly progressing and life-threatening form of cancer involving immature lymphocytes called lymphoblasts. ALL is the most common subtype of leukemia in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to assess the cost-utility of pegaspargase versus L-asparaginase, both followed by Erwinase in the therapy sequence, as a treatment option for pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with ALL in Greece.

Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults in Greece: Results from a Nationwide Survey.

The objective was to describe the AD burden in terms of quality of life (QoL), sleep, social life, work productivity, and resource utilization in Greece and assess the impact of disease severity. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of socioeconomic factors, medical history, AD screening, AD severity, QoL, sleep difficulties, social activities, and work productivity questions.

Patients' satisfaction, unmet needs, and treatment benefits in moderate to severe psoriasis in Greece: results from a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Data regarding patients' satisfaction, individuals' therapeutic needs and their perception regarding the treatment benefit might provide useful insights for the unmet medical need from patients' perspective. To the best of our knowledge, no data are available in Greece investigating in depth moderate to severe psoriasis while there is a scarcity of studies in the international literature. The objective of this study was to capture patients' satisfaction and perception about treatment benefits in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis in Greece.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Lorlatinib in Patients Previously Treated with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Greece.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for about 80%-85% of lungcancer cases, is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lorlatinib is a potent third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with advanced, ALK-positive NSCLC previously treated with at least one second-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The present study assessed the cost-effectiveness of lorlatinib vs pemetrexed with platinum combination of carboplatin or cisplatin (P-ChT) in Greece.

Attributable Mortality for Pediatric and Neonatal Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Greece.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are the most frequent pediatric hospital-acquired infections and significantly impact outcomes. The aim of this study was to estimate the attributable mortality for CLABSIs in pediatric and neonatal patients in Greece. A retrospective matched-cohort study was performed, in two tertiary pediatric hospitals.

Evaluation of Pupils' Knowledge about Kidney Health.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of renal function knowledge of primary school pupils in Greece. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 220 pupils, coming from the 5th and 6th grades of general education schools. A questionnaire consisting of 11 questions was developed from scratch.

Application of Multicriteria Decision Analysis to Determine the Value of Prophylaxis Relative to On-Demand Treatment in Hemophilia A and Emicizumab versus Replacement Therapy in the Greek Healthcare Setting.

Background And Objective: Hemophilia A (HA) is a rare disease that is characterized by congenital underproduction or dysfunction of the endogenous coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). The aim of the present study was to determine the value of prophylaxis versus on-demand treatment strategies for moderate to severe HA (MtSHA) patients and the value of emicizumab in the prophylaxis of MtSHA in Greece, compared with short half-life (SHL) FVIII and extended half-life (EHL) FVIII through multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA).

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify a set of criteria relevant to the therapeutic approaches and therapies under investigation.