Correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the ANXA5 (annexin A5) gene with recurrent miscarriages in women of Greek origin.

Recent findings show that a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the promoter region of the annexin A5-gene (ANXA5) reduce the expression of the reporter gene and so they display a significant association with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The objective of the present study aimed to address the contribution of ANXA5 M2 haplotype consisting of four minor alleles: (SNP1: (-)467G > A, SNP2: (-)448A > C, SNP3: (-)422T > C, and SNP4: (-)373G > A) in the occurrence of recurrent pregnancy losses in the Greek population, and the role of further two minor alleles: SNP5: (-)302 T > G and SNP6: (-)1C > T as independent risk factors for RPL. A 752-bp genomic region of ANXA5 promoter was amplified by PCR using specific primers.

Factors affecting breastfeeding duration in Greece: What is important?

Aim: To investigate factors associated with breastfeeding duration (BD) in a sample of mothers living in Greece.

Methods: Four hundred and twenty-eight mothers (438 infants) were initially recruited in a tertiary University Hospital. Monthly telephone interviews (1665 in total) using a structured questionnaire (one for each infant) were conducted until the sixth postpartum month.

Immigrant status as important determinant of breastfeeding practice in southern Europe.

Aim: Breastfeeding is universally accepted as the optimal way to nourish infants. There is evidence that socio-demographic factors, including immigrant status, are related to infant feeding practices. The aim of the present study was to identify the factors which are associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration, with special focus on the role of immigrant status of the mother in breastfeeding practice.

Factors affecting breast-feeding initiation in Greece: What is important?

Objective: to investigate the association between breast-feeding initiation and socio-demographic, lifestyle-related, clinical and lactation-related factors in a sample of mothers living in Greece.

Design: cross-sectional study.

Setting: Tertiary University Hospital, maternity ward.

Sexual delusion in a case of vaginal aplasia after surgical operation for neovagina.

The Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) is a syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by congenital aplasia of the uterus and the upper part (2/3) of the vagina in women showing normal development of secondary sexual characteristics. We report the case of a patient with vaginal aplasia and schizophrenia presenting with sexual delusion. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case to provide evidence of coexistence between MRKH and sexual delusion in a schizophrenic patient.

Historical consequences of the infertility of Otto (1815-67) and Amelia (1818-75), first Royal couple of Greece.

After the Greek Independence (1830), the first King, Otto from the Wittelsbach dynasty (Bayer), was married to Amelia from the House of Oldenburg (1836). Their failure to produce an heir to the throne, eagerly expected by the people, contributed much to their abdication in 1862, as an additional factor at the general, opposition to their way of governing. The responsibility for the couples sterility became a matter of political controversies among their families, their countries and the other European thrones after the unsuccessful medical diagnoses and treatments of the most eminent Greek and German physicians.

A 6-month study of postpartum depression and related factors in Athens Greece.

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects women in various sociocultural environments around the world during a sensitive period of their lives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and time course of PPD in a Greek urban environment as well as possible relations of PPD with certain clinical and sociodemographic factors.

Method: The study was performed on a sample of 402 women that were recruited from a university obstetric clinic in Athens, Greece, during the first 24 hours after delivery.

Treating common ear problems in pregnancy: what is safe?

In everyday practise, more than 80% of pregnant women receive one at least medication, often for ENT causes. The aim of the present paper is to review the literature on safety and administration of medical treatment for ear diseases, in pregnant women. The literature review includes Medline and database sources.

The GARDASIL vaccine can prevent cervical carcinoma caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) (results from our participation and from the study carried out in Greece).

GARDASIL is a quadrivalent recombinant vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV), more specifically against types 6, 11, 16 and 18. We present our 10 cases of vaccinated patients, aged from 16 to 23, whose condition was followed for a period of 5 years after vaccination. Our study was part of the world program for investigating GARDASIL, which included 25,000 patients from 33 countries.

Human papillomavirus infection in malignant and benign gynaecological conditions: a study in Greek women.

HPV infection is by far the most frequent sexually transmitted disease. Our aim in this prospective nonrandomized study was to investigate the frequency with which different subtypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are found in gynaecological malignant and benign conditions and to compare the rate of infection between them. Detailed data of 195 women were selected and divided into three groups.

Maternity blues in Athens, Greece: a study during the first 3 days after delivery.

Background: Although maternity blues have been studied in many countries worldwide the factors that influence the occurrence of this clinical entity are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, time course and symptomatology of maternity blues in a Greek urban environment as well as the relation of maternity blues with certain clinical and sociodemographic factors.

Method: A study of a sample of 402 women that were recruited during the first day after delivery.

Indices of low-grade chronic inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome and the beneficial effect of metformin.

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and related disorders. Elevated serum levels of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) reflect low-grade chronic inflammation and have been associated with several insulin-resistant states. The objective of this study is to investigate whether soluble inflammatory markers [soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (sE-selectin), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] are altered in PCOS and to further elucidate the effect of metformin treatment on their levels.

Ovarian masses in young adolescents: imaging findings with surgical confirmation.

Functional cysts and benign neoplasms are the most common ovarian masses among young adolescents. Ovarian cancer on the other hand, although rare in this age group, is the most common genital tract malignancy. The purpose of this study was to define imaging characteristics of ovarian masses in adolescents between 12 and 21 years old and correlate imaging and surgical findings.

A tragic case of complicated labour in early Byzantium (404 A.D.).

Objectives: Presentation and comment on the problematic delivery of the Byzantine empress Eudoxia's stillborn child.

Study Design: The original Greek language Byzantine histories, chronicles and hagiographical sources were investigated. Comparisons were then made of the knowledge of obstetrics among contemporary and ancient physicians.

TCRgammadelta + T lymphocytes in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions.

Problem: It is generally accepted that the immune system and cellular immunity in particular are involved in the mechanisms affecting the outcome of gestation. In order to evaluate a putative role of lymphocytes in the immunological mechanisms of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (URSA), we studied peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in 244 women with URSA and 44 controls.

Method Of Study: Direct immunofluorescence in whole blood with the appropriate combinations of monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry was used.

The effect of methylprednisolone on the sodium and water content of the dog lung after hemorrhagic shock.

Out of 17 mongrel dogs, 3 were subjected on one and two hours of hemorrhagic shock, while the remaining four served as controls. In five of the thirteen dogs, 30 mg/kg of methylprednisolone sodium succinate were administered intravenously one hour after hemorrhage. All animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, their lungs were removed and the sodium and water content was measured.