Expert Opin Pharmacother
June 2016
The purpose of this study was to reveal the unique sound characteristics of the bruit produced by arteriovenous fistulae (AVF), using a computerized method. An electronic stethoscope (20 Hz to 20 000 Hz sensitivity) was used, connected to a portable laptop computer. Forty prevalent hemodialysis patients participated in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the present study was to investigate the associations of iron depletion (ID) with menstrual blood losses, lifestyle, and dietary habits, in pubertal girls. The study sample comprised 1222 girls aged 9-13 years old. Biochemical, anthropometrical, dietary, clinical, and physical activity data were collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Opin Pharmacother
November 2012
It has been more than 2000 years since Hippocrates described renal disease and observed its progressive nature. Decreased survival and deteriorated health status of these patients' being is attributed to cardiovascular disease. There is increasing interest regarding the impact of non-traditional risk factors, including hyperphosphatemia, elevated calcium-phosphate (CaxPO(4)) product, elevated parathyroid hormone levels and extensive use of calcium-containing phosphate binders on vascular calcification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Hypertensive crises are categorized as hypertensive emergencies and urgencies depending on the presence of acute target-organ damage; the former are potentially life-threatening medical conditions, requiring urgent treatment under close monitoring. Although several short-acting intravenous antihypertensive agents are approved for this purpose, until recently little evidence from proper trials on the relative merits of different therapies was available.
Areas Covered: This article discusses in brief the pathophysiology, epidemiology and diagnostic approach of hypertensive crises and provides an extensive overview of established and emerging pharmacological agents for the treatment of patients with hypertensive emergencies and urgencies.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is associated with poor outcome including mortality, hospitalization, as well as greater healthcare resource utilization and costs in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that SHPT is also associated with poor self reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients. We conducted a case-control study in patients with CKD receiving longterm HD treatment, in six dialysis clinics in Greece.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/aims: Arterial stiffening characterizes the vasculature of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and is a strong predictor of their cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Previous studies evaluating the effect of hemodialysis on large artery elasticity gave contradictory results. This study aimed to investigate the impact of hemodialysis on arterial stiffness and wave reflections on chronic hemodialysis patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: The purpose of this study was to establish for the first time reference curves for body fat levels in a Greek pediatric population aged 7-15y.
Methods: Six hundred and seven (607) children randomly selected from 8 primary and secondary schools from Northern Greece. Percentage body fat was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and percentile curves were constructed using the LMS method.
Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease even among children. Increased levels of total serum homocysteine (tHcy) may initiate atherosclerosis by modulating increased cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Folate supplementation has been found to reduce homocysteine levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aim: Hyperhomocysteimemia is a cardiovascular risk factor even among children. Supplementation of oral folic acid may reduce homocysteine levels to normal. However, data is limited at this point for healthy children and adolescents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The pathogenetic profile of premature Small for Gestational Age (SGA) neonates is strongly related to their haemostatic equilibrium, which is inadequately understood.
Objective: To evaluate coagulation and fibrinolysis in premature SGA neonates before intervening with Vitamin K administration.
Study Design: We performed a comparison of coagulation, natural inhibitors and fibrinolysis between SGA and Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) infants born prematurely [gestational age (G.
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is a dominantly inherited tumour-prone disorder, characterized by the development of multiple schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas. Its prevalence is around 1:60 000. Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the hallmark of NF2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe death rate from cardiovascular disease for dialysis patients is much higher than the general population, regardless of age. Observational data indicate that there is a close inter-relationship between progressive renal dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease cardiovascular disease and mortality. Continuously evidence indicates that deficiencies in vitamin D receptor activation represents one of key players in adversely affecting cardiovascular health, as well as inducing to secondary hyperparathyroidism in chromic kidney disease patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPublic Health Nutr
October 2010
Objective: Obesity in children is a serious public health issue in Greece. The purpose of the current study was to identify risk factors such as birth weight, breast-feeding, dietary patterns, family history of obesity and sedentary behaviours that are possibly associated with paediatric obesity.
Design: Two hundred and five overweight and obese children (OW/OB; group 1) aged 7-15 years from eight primary and secondary schools and a control group (group 2) of normal-weight children were matched for age and sex.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the developing countries and exists in both childhood and adult life. The great importance of Vitamin D is the moderation of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) homeostasis as well as the absorption of Ca. While insufficiency of vitamin D is a significant contributing factor to risk of rickets in childhood, it is possible that a more marginal deficiency of vitamin D during life span contribute to osteoporosis as well as potentially to the development and various other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the coagulation factors as endothelial dysfunction markers and prospectively their association with thrombotic episodes in chronic hemodialysis patients.
Patients And Methods: Fifty-four randomly selected patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD), 34 men and 20 women were included in this study. Their mean age was 56 years and the mean hemodialysis duration was 53.
Int J Food Sci Nutr
February 2010
Hyperhomocysteinemia is emerging as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and hypertension among children. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of oral folic acid on homocysteine and blood pressure. Folic acid supplementation has been found to reduce homocysteine levels and in some cases blood pressure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: The aim of this study was to examine the validity, reproducibility and internal consistency of a Greek translation of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF) questionnaire.
Methods: The KDQOL-SF questionnaire was translated from English to Greek and was administered in 240 randomly selected patients undergoing hemodialysis in six Renal Units in Greece. The instrument's validity was tested by examining the association between patient's KDQOL-SF scores and comorbidity assessed with the Index of Coexistent Disease.
Background And Aim: Childhood obesity represents a rising threat in southern Europe. It is widely accepted that childhood obesity is an important risk factor for the appearance of obesity in adulthood. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of obesity in school aged children living in one of the poorest districts of Europe, as well as to estimate the association between the frequency of obesity observed in these children and their parents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Small for Gestational Age (SGA) neonates often appear with haemostatic alterations, principally due to hepatic dysfunction that results from chronic intrauterine hypoxia. Polycythaemia and thrombocytopenia are common findings in this neonatal population.
Study Design: We performed a comparison of coagulation, natural inhibitors and fibrinolysis between SGA and Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) infants born full term [gestational age (G.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to occur in about 50% of obese children. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of anthropometric, biochemical and liver indexes in obese children with and without NAFLD and its relation with insulin resistance (IR). Forty-three obese children participated in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fatty liver (FL) is a common cause of liver disease in children. Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) play an important role in pathogenesis of FL. Diet has been reported to affect IR and possibly FL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Pediatric hypertension is urgently increasing in Greece. The purpose of this study is to record the prevalence of hypertension in schoolchildren and to relate dietary minerals to blood pressure (BP).
Methods And Results: 308 males and 298 females, aged 7-15 years, from 10 schools in Northern Greece participated in the study.