Pleiotropic beneficial cardiometabolic actions of a high-purity eicosapentaenoic acid product in high cardiovascular risk individuals.

The ideal approach to the secondary dyslipidemia goal of lowering triglycerides (TG) is not well established. The available ω-3 fatty acid products differ from each other in composition and content. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) formulation on cardiometabolic biomarkers in high cardiovascular (CV) risk patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Cilostazol to Clopidogrel-Treated Diabetic Patients With Symptomatic Lower Extremity Artery Disease in the Prevention of Ischemic Vascular Events.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for lower extremity arterial disease. Cilostazol expresses antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilator actions and improves the claudication intermittent symptoms. We investigated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive cilostazol to clopidogrel-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibiting symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease, in the prevention of ischemic vascular events and improvement of the claudication intermittent symptoms.

Adherence to the National Guidelines for Follow-Up Protocol in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Greece: The GLANCE Study.

Introduction: Physician adherence, or lack therefore, to diabetes care and follow-up guidelines may be linked to the rates of achieving suboptimal glycaemic, blood pressure and lipid targets in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this cross-sectional study we evaluated physician adherence to the patient follow-up protocol (PFP) of the 2017 Hellenic Diabetes Association (HDA) guidelines and also assessed glycated haemoglobin (HbA), blood pressure and lipid control achievement rates in the routine care setting in Greece.

Methods: Eligible subjects were adults with T2DM receiving oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) for ≥ 1 year who had ≥ 2 HbA measurements in the previous year and an HbA target < 7%.

Microbiology of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections in Greece: A proposed clinical prediction score for the causative pathogen.

Although clinical definitions of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infection (ABSSSI) are now well established, guidance of the prediction of likely pathogens based on evidence is missing. This was a large survey of the microbiology of ABSSSIs in Greece. During the period November 2014 to December 2016, all admissions for ABSSSI in 16 departments of internal medicine or surgery in Greece were screened to determine the likely bacterial aetiology.

Progression into sepsis: an individualized process varying by the interaction of comorbidities with the underlying infection.

Background: Development of sepsis is a process with significant variation among individuals. The precise elements of this variation need to be defined. This study was designed to define the way in which comorbidities contribute to sepsis development.

Kinetics of circulating immunoglobulin M in sepsis: relationship with final outcome.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetics of immunoglobulin M (IgM) during the different stages of sepsis.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, blood sampling for IgM measurement was done within the first 24 hours from diagnosis in 332 critically ill patients; in 83 patients this was repeated upon progression to more severe stages. Among these 83 patients, 30 patients with severe sepsis progressed into shock and IgM was monitored daily for seven consecutive days.

The level of endotoxemia in sepsis varies in relation to the underlying infection: Impact on final outcome.

Former studies of our group have shown that the innate and adaptive immune status may differ in relation with the causative infection. To this same end, it was investigated if kinetics of circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leading to inflammatory response may differ. Blood was sampled from 189 patients with sepsis and 206 with severe sepsis/shock starting 24h from advent of sepsis and repeating on day 3.

Overall survival benefit for weekly vs. three-weekly taxanes regimens in advanced breast cancer: A meta-analysis.

Background: Taxanes have been extensively tested in patients with advanced breast cancer, but it is unclear whether their weekly use might offer any benefits against standard every three weeks administration. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared weekly and every three weeks taxanes regimens in advanced breast cancer.

Methods: The endpoints that we assessed were objective response rate, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival.

Responsibilities in cancer preventive care in Greece. A physicians' survey.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in European countries. Differences in screening implementation may explain USA vs. European survival differences.

The impact of multidrug resistance on the pathogenicity of Escherichia coli: an experimental study.

Based on the controversial findings of clinical studies regarding the influence of multidrug resistance on mortality, 10 susceptible and 10 multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Escherichia coli were applied to stimulate monocytes isolated from healthy donors. Immune mediators were estimated in supernatants. Four susceptible isolates (Group A) and four MDR isolates (Group B) were used to initiate acute pyelonephritis in 48 rabbits following inoculation of the pathogen into the right renal pelvis.

Colorectal cancer screening coverage in Greece. PACMeR 02.01 study collaboration.

Background And Aims: Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer death in European countries and differences in screening implementation may in part explain USA vs European survival differences. Despite the evidence, no study has evaluated the population colorectal cancer screening (CCS) coverage in any European country. We aimed to index the current CCS practices among a large sample of Greek healthy adults.

Colorectal cancer screening awareness in European primary care.

Background: Adjustment for stage at diagnosis markedly reduces USA versus European colorectal cancer survival differences and a screening bias was therefore suspected. Moreover, little is known about colorectal cancer screening habits in European primary care and the history of guidelines implementation. The purpose of the study was to index the overall colorectal cancer screening attitudes of European physicians involved in primary care activities.