Prevalence and titre of antibodies against Hepatitis A virus in HIV-infected men having sex with men in Greece.

Hepatitis A remains a serious vaccine-preventable disease for HIV patients. We tested 897 HIV-infected men having sex with men (MSM) for antibodies against hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) and measured the geometric mean antibody titres (GMTs) in a group of patients who received a hepatitis A vaccine and in patients with immunity to HAV due to infection in childhood. In all, 320 patients (35%) had positive anti-HAV antibodies.

Hallmarks in history of syphilis therapeutics.

At the end of the 15th century syphilis appeared in Europe as a devastating epidemic. For nearly four centuries mercury was regarded as a remedy of first-rate importance along with guaiac and potassium iodide. In the early 20th century, two new substances were added to syphilis therapeutics, namely arsenobenzol and bismuth.

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected prisoners.

Adherence, the act of following a course of medication in exactly the manner prescribed, is critical for the success of therapy. Adherence is influenced by many behavioural and social factors and incarceration might be one such factor. This study determined the level of adherence and reasons for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy among 93 HIV-infected prisoners.

Active leprosy in Greece: a 20-year survey (1988-2007).

A retrospective study (1988-2007) of all newly detected (n = 26) and relapsed (n = 51) Greek cases of leprosy was carried out. Multibacillary types prevailed in both patient groups (n = 68, 88.3%).

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Greece: data for the years 1994-2004.

Objectives: Surveillance data concerning antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Greece during the 11 year period 1994-2004 are presented.

Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibilities of all gonococcal isolates received by the Greek National Reference Center for N. gonorrhoeae during the study period were determined in terms of MICs using Etest.

Calcium antagonists in dermatology: a review of the evidence and research-based studies.

Calcium antagonists (CAs) or calcium-channel blockers are a common group of antihypertensive medications. These drugs have the property of blocking the calcium channels of vascular and cardiac smooth muscle fibers. Some of these drugs may inhibit the growth and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, and inhibit the synthesis of extracellular-matrix proteins (collagen, fibronectin, proteoglycans).

Determinants of genital wart case detection rates among STD clinic attendees in Athens, Greece.

Background And Objective: To report significant sociodemographic and behavioral outpatient characteristics associated with the diagnosis of genital warts.

Methods: Cross-sectional hospital-based study (1990-96).

Results: Genital warts (n = 2988, 51.

Incidence determinants of gonorrhea, chlamydial genital infection, syphilis and chancroid in attendees at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Athens, Greece.

Objective: To determine the specific impact on the incidence rate of some demographic and behavioral characteristics in outpatients with four bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Study Design: A cross-sectional hospital outpatient-based study was conducted from 1990 to 1996 on 1064 consecutive symptomatic STD cases (Chlamydia trachomatis, n = 375; gonorrhea, n = 369; early symptomatic syphilis, n = 288, and chancroid, n = 32) using a standardized questionnaire.

Results: In a reference STD population of 5831 symptomatic outpatients, the relative incidence of gonorrhea, syphilis and chancroid was found to be increased among immigrants.

Epidemiologic determinants of herpes genitalis case detection rates among STD clinic attendees.

Background And Objective: to report significant sociodemographic and behavioural outpatient characteristics in Greeks and foreign immigrants associated with the diagnosis of symptomatic herpes genitalis.

Methods: A cross sectional hospital-based study (1990-96).

Results: In the context of an STD reference population (n = 5,831), herpes genitalis (n = 831) represents the second leading sexually transmitted disease (14.