Microbiological water quality assessment of swimming pools and jacuzzis in Northern Greece: a retrospective study.

Swimming pools and jacuzzis can pose significant public health risks as potential sources of infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and concentration of microbiological indicators in recreational water facilities in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, focusing on their hygiene status before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 2018 and December 2022, 1114 water samples were analyzed by the regional Water Hygiene Laboratory at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, using standardized ISO methods.

The modified activity of prolyl 4 hydroxylases reveals the effect of arabinogalactan proteins on changes in the cell wall during the tomato ripening process.

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are proteoglycans with an unusual molecular structure characterised by the presence of a protein part and carbohydrate chains. Their specific properties at different stages of the fruit ripening programme make AGPs unique markers of this process. An important function of AGPs is to co-form an amorphous extracellular matrix in the cell wall-plasma membrane continuum; thus, changes in the structure of these molecules can determine the presence and distribution of other components.

Thyroid Inflammation and Immunity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Review and Case Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the development of various vaccines. Reports have emerged suggesting a possible association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the onset of thyroid diseases. This review explores the clinical aspects of thyroid disorders following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, including a case report of a patient with concomitant subacute thyroiditis (SAT) and Graves' disease (GD) with blocking thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies (TSH-R-Ab) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

[Diseases of the thyroid gland in men and women-Status quo and new research needs].

"Diseases of the thyroid gland occur more frequently in women": this statement has been used in textbooks for decades; however, is this equally true for all thyroid gland diseases and can conclusions be derived from this for a different disease relevance and prognosis in men and women? Is possibly even a sex-specific treatment needed? These questions are taken up and subsequently the epidemiological data and studies that have investigated the influence of gender on the course of thyroid gland diseases are taken into consideration. It is shown that the data situation is much more restricted than is to be expected for frequent diseases in the general population.

Alexithymic characteristics and interoceptive abilities are associated with disease severity and levels of C-reactive protein and cytokines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Alexithymia and atypical gut-brain signaling have been linked to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We herein assessed IBD patients' alexithymia levels and interoceptive abilities, and detected potential correlations with psychological distress, symptom severity and disease activity, and inflammation indices.

Methods: Adult IBD outpatients and healthy controls were recruited.

The role of trigger factors in the occurrence of appropriate ICD shocks and their clinical and prognostic implications.

Background: The role of triggers in the occurrence of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias is not well known. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of trigger factors in appropriate ICD shocks and to analyze their prognostic impact on clinical outcome.

Methods: A total of 710 consecutive patients of a prospective single-center ICD-registry who received a first appropriate ICD shock between 2000 and 9/2021 were analyzed.

Τhe Nematicidal Potential of Bioactive Strains Isolated from Greek Rhizosphere Soils Tested on Plants of Varying Susceptibility to spp.

A total of 461 indigenous Streptomycetes strains recovered from various Greek rhizosphere habitats were tested for their bioactivity. All isolates were examined for their ability to suppress the growth of 12 specific target microorganisms. Twenty-six were found to exert antimicrobial activity and were screened for potential nematicidal action.

Contemporary benefit-harm profile over two decades in primary prophylactic ICD-therapy.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implemented into clinical routine more than 20 years ago. Since then, ICD therapy became standard therapy for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death in clinical practice.

Objectives: Aim of the study was to evaluate the benefit-harm profile of contemporary primary prophylactic ICD therapy.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 mediates pleiotrophin-induced endothelial cell migration.

Pleiotrophin (PTN) stimulates endothelial cell migration through binding to receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPβ/ζ) and αβ integrin. Screening for proteins that interact with RPTPβ/ζ and potentially regulate PTN signaling, through mass spectrometry analysis, identified cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) activator p35 among the proteins displaying high sequence coverage. Interaction of p35 with the serine/threonine kinase CDK5 leads to CDK5 activation, known to be implicated in cell migration.

Reduced expression of ERp46 under diabetic conditions in β-cells and the effect of liraglutide.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and defective insulin secretion. Insulin producing pancreatic β-cells are equipped with a highly developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and thus are affected by ER stress under hyperglycemic conditions. We have previously studied the influence of high glucose on cultured β-cells in vitro.

Pyrrolo[2,3-α]carbazole derivatives as topoisomerase I inhibitors that affect viability of glioma and endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo.

Topoisomerase I is one of the most significant molecular targets through which indolocarbazoles inhibit tumour growth. In the present work, we studied the effect of new pyrrolo[2,3-α]carbazole derivatives on topoisomerase I activity in vitro, as well as on the viability of glioma and endothelial cells in vitro and on angiogenesis in vivo. All the tested compounds significantly decreased topoisomerase I activity in a concentration dependent manner, with the most effective being 1c, 1d(1), 1d(2) and 1f.

Abolished circadian rhythm of salivary cortisol in elite artistic gymnasts.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intensive physical exercise and acute psychological stress during high level athletic competition as reflected on the levels of salivary cortisol in elite artistic gymnasts (AGs).

Design: The study included 239 AGs (142 females-97 males) who participated in the European Championship of Gymnastics in 2006 and 81 adolescents (40 females-41 males), matched for age, as controls. All athletes participated voluntarily in all or parts of the study, providing samples or data for each of the variables measured.

Roles of pleiotrophin in tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a heparin-binding growth factor with diverse biological activities, the most studied of these being those related to the nervous system, tumor growth and angiogenesis. Although interest in the involvement of PTN in tumor growth is increasing, many questions remain unanswered, particularly concerning the receptors and the signaling pathways involved. In this review, we briefly introduce PTN, and summarize data on its involvement in tumor growth and angiogenesis, and on what is known to date concerning the receptors and pathways involved.

Imaging of the acute scrotum: is there a place for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography?

Purpose: To present and evaluate the findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in typical cases of acute painful scrotum.

Materials And Methods: Nineteen patients aged from 19 to 61 years old were included in the study. All patients underwent grey-scale and color Doppler ultrasonography (US) of the scrotum, followed by imaging after i.

Treating iodine deficiency: long-term effects of iodine repletion on growth and pubertal development in school-age children.

Background: Iodine deficiency (ID) is still a major universal health problem. Iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) affect people of all ages, among whom the most vulnerable are children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term effects on growth and pubertal development of correcting severe ID in areas of Azerbaijan between 1999 and 2000.

Pyrrolo[2,3-a]carbazoles as potential cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) Inhibitors. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and binding mode through docking simulations.

Pyrrolo[2,3- a]carbazole derivatives were synthesized, and their effects on CDK1/cyclinB activity were evaluated. The most potent and efficacious inhibitor was found to be ethyl 9-chloro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-alpha]carbazole-2-carboxylate (1e), exhibiting an IC50 in the low micromolar range and leading to 90% at higher concentrations. Using a computational model for CDK1-1e, binding we have observed that 1e exhibited two likely binding modes in the ATP-binding cleft that involve interactions with Lys130, Thr14, and Asp146 of the enzyme.

Heparin affin regulatory peptide/pleiotrophin negatively affects diverse biological activities in C6 glioma cells.

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) or pleiotrophin seems to be involved in the progression of several tumors of diverse origin. In this study, we tried to determine the role of HARP in rat C6 glioma cells by using an antisense strategy for inhibition of HARP expression. Decrease of the expression of endogenous HARP in C6 cells (AS-C6 cells) significantly increased proliferation, migration, and anchorage-independent growth of cells.