The role of cholecystokinin in the induction of aggressive behavior: a focus on the available experimental data (review).

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a neuropeptide that is (among others) reportedly involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. The excitatory role of CCK in negative affective emotions as well as in aversive reactions, antisocial behaviors and memories, has been indicated by numerous electrophysiological, neurochemical and behavioral methodologies on both animal models for anxiety and human studies. The current review article summarizes the existing experimental evidence with regards to the role of CCK in the induction of aggressive behavior, and: (a) synopsizes the anatomical circuits through which it could potentially mediate all types of aggressive behavior, as well as (b) highlights the potential use of these experimental evidence in the current research quest for the clinical treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.

Median to ulnar nerve anastomosis: a review of the literature.

Median to Ulnar nerve anastomosis in the forearm has been shown to be of clinical significance leading to "anomalous" innervation and is correlated with misdiagnosis during the assessment of nerve lesions, injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). In 1763, Martin first described the anastomosis and Gruber next mentioning it, in 1870 thus referred to as Martin--Gruber anastomosis. Despite its long history, its nature remains unclear.

Anatomic study of infrapopliteal vessels.

The purpose of this project is to study and analyse the anatomical variations of the infrapopliteal vessels concerning their branching pattern. A reliable sample of one hundred formalin-fixed adult cadavers was dissected by the Anatomical Laboratory of Athens University. The variations can be classified in the following way: the normal branching of the popliteal artery was present in 90%.

The first anatomy professors in the medical school of the University of Athens.

The purpose of this historical review is to add new elements to the international literature in relation to the birth and progress of the science of anatomy in modern Greece. Step by step, it outlines the efforts of prominent Greek anatomists to establish the course of the basic science of anatomy in the newly founded Medical School, the laborious effort to collect cadaveric material to compile museum anatomical collections and to gradually build the foundations of modern anatomy science at the Medical School of the Athenian University.

Location, number and morphology of parathyroid glands: results from a large anatomical series.

Surgical management of parathyroid gland disease may sometimes be difficult, due mainly to the surgeon's failure to successfully detect parathyroids in unusual locations. The records of 942 cadavers (574 men and 368 women) who underwent autopsy in the Department of Forensic Medicine in Athens during the period 1988-2009 were reviewed. In total, 3,796 parathyroid glands were resected and histologically verified.

Anatomical variants of the emissary veins: unilateral aplasia of both the sigmoid sinus and the internal jugular vein and development of the petrosquamosal sinus. A rare case report.

We report a case of hypoplasia of the right transverse sinus and aplasia of the ipsilateral sigmoid sinus and the internal jugular vein. In addition, development of the petrosquamosal sinus and the presence of a large middle meningeal sinus and sinus communicans were observed. A 53-year-old Caucasian woman was referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation due to chronic headache.

Unilateral agenesis of the internal carotid artery presented as transient ischaemic attack: a case report.

Dysgenesis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare vascular disorder with a variety of different grades (agenesis, aplasia, and hypoplasia). The left internal carotid artery is reported to be affected by dysgenesis three times more often than the right one. Most of the patients with dysgenesis of the internal carotid artery are asymptomatic.

Anatomical variation and morphology in the position of the palatine foramina in adult human skulls from Greece.

Objective: To investigate the anatomical variability of the palatine structures in Greek population.

Material And Methods: 71 Greek adult dry human skulls were examined to detect the position of the greater palatine (GPF) and lesser palatine foramina (LPF) related to adjacent anatomical landmarks.

Results: The perpendicular distance of the GPF to the midline sagittal suture was 1.

The pterygopalatine ganglion and its role in various pain syndromes: from anatomy to clinical practice.

The postsynaptic fibers of the pterygopalatine or sphenopalatine ganglion (PPG or SPG) supply the lacrimal and nasal glands. The PPG appears to play an important role in various pain syndromes including headaches, trigeminal and sphenopalatine neuralgia, atypical facial pain, muscle pain, vasomotor rhinitis, eye disorders, and herpes infection. Clinical trials have shown that these pain disorders can be managed effectively with sphenopalatine ganglion blockade (SPGB).

Ectopic thyroid tissue: anatomical, clinical, and surgical implications of a rare entity.

Ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare entity resulting from developmental defects at early stages of thyroid gland embryogenesis, during its passage from the floor of the primitive foregut to its final pre-tracheal position. It is frequently found around the course of the thyroglossal duct or laterally in the neck, as well as in distant places such as the mediastinum and the subdiaphragmatic organs. Although most cases are asymptomatic, symptoms related to tumor size and its relationship with surrounding tissues may also appear.

Anatomical landmarks: dimensions of the mastoid air cell system in the Mediterranean population. Our experience from the anatomy of 298 temporal bones.

The mastoid apophysis originates from a recent phylogenetic formation, associated with the standing attitude and it is currently considered as an evolution of the bone super-structures. The aim of the present study was to measure the diameters of the mastoid and the temporal bone in the Greek adult population. A total of 298 temporal bones from 149 cadavers (74 male, 75 female) were examined.

Finasteride effects on hypoxia and angiogenetic markers in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objectives: To assess the effects of finasteride on angiogenetic and hypoxia markers in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Methods: A total of 178 patients aged 51 to 85 years (mean 68.7) with benign prostatic hyperplasia and awaiting transurethral prostate resection were prospectively randomized into a group of patients receiving finasteride (group 1; 88 patients) and a group of patients who received no medication until transurethral prostate resection (group 2; 90 patients).

Phenylephrine to increase blood flow in the radial artery used as a coronary bypass conduit.

Objective: The radial artery has more smooth muscle in its wall than the other arterial conduits and is known to be vasospastic. Because it is frequently necessary to use vasoconstrictors early after coronary bypass surgery we investigated the effects of phenylephrine on conduit flow in this setting.

Methods: Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass with all arterial conduits in which the radial artery was used as a T-graft were randomly assigned to receive intravenous infusions of normal saline (n = 10); nitroglycerin, 0.

Occurrence of myocardial ischemia immediately after coronary revascularization using radial arterial conduits.

Objective: To assess the incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients receiving radial arterial and left internal thoracic arterial conduits (RA+LITA) during the postrevascularization period.

Design: Nonrandomized observational sequential cohort.

Setting: University hospital.

Echocardiographic characterization of left ventricular diastolic properties in patients presenting for the maze procedure.

The aim of this study is to characterize and compare the left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling patterns in patients with paroxysmal (PAF) versus chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) undergoing the maze procedure and to examine their relation with the hemodynamic status. Fifty patients with PAF and 22 with CAF were studied. Hemodynamic measurements and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed after the induction of anesthesia but before surgical incision, at stable conditions.

Prevalence of left ventricular diastolic filling abnormalities in adult cardiac surgical patients: an intraoperative echocardiographic study.

The incidence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic abnormalities in adult cardiac surgical patients has not previously been adequately investigated. The present study was performed to characterize LV diastolic filling patterns by performing transesophageal Doppler echocardiographic (TEE) studies in patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures and thus indirectly assess diastolic function in these patients. Doppler TEE studies were performed and transmitral flow (TMF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocities were recorded in 104 patients intraoperatively.

Effects of nicardipine and nitroglycerin on perioperative myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Perioperative myocardial ischemic episodes are predictive of adverse cardiac outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery. We compared the efficacy of continuous infusions of nicardipine (group NIC) and nitroglycerin (group NTG) in reducing the frequency and severity of myocardial ischemic episodes. Patients received either a nicardipine infusion, 0.

Antiischemic effects of nicardipine and nitroglycerin after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: We assessed the efficacy of a continuous infusion of nicardipine and nitroglycerin in reducing the incidence and severity of perioperative myocardial ischemia during elective coronary artery bypass grafting procedures in a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Methods: Patients received either nicardipine infusion (0.7 to 1.

An 8 1/2-year clinical experience with surgery for atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The authors analyzed the clinical results during the first 8 1/2 years' experience with the Maze procedure for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Summary Background Data: Atrial fibrillation occurs in 0.4% to 2% of the general population and in approximately 10% of patients older than 60 years of age.

Transesophageal atrial pacing in anesthetized patients with coronary artery disease. Hemodynamic benefits versus risk of myocardial ischemia.

Background: Transesophageal atrial pacing (TEAP) provides prompt and precise control of heart rate and improves hemodynamics in anesthetized patients with bradycardia and hypotension. The authors' purpose in this study was to examine the hemodynamic benefits of TEAP versus the risk of myocardial ischemia in patients about to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: Hemodynamics, ventricular filling pressures, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and end-diastolic, end-systolic, and fractional area change of the left ventricle, determined by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), were measured after anesthesia induction with 30 micrograms/kg fentanyl and at incremental TEAP rates of 65, 70, 80, and 90 beats/min (bpm) in 40 adult patients.