CT Coronary Angiogram With FFR CT - A Revolution In The Diagnostic Flow Of Coronary Artery Disease.

Within the last few years, advances in CT coronary imaging has revolutionised the diagnostic flow of suspected coronary artery disease. CT coronary angiogram has a high diagnostic accuracy and negative predictive value for diagnosis of coronary disease. Its non-invasive nature makes it a lower risk and lower cost procedure compared to conventional invasive coronary angiogram.

The effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on matrix metalloproteinases levels in patients with osteoarthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine and comparatively evaluate the effects of three different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the levels of metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-8, as well as on their tissue inhibitor TIMP-1, in patients suffering from idiopathic osteoarthritis. The effect of these drugs on the articular cartilage and the probable use of MMPs and TIMP-1 as markers of disease and treatment was also investigated.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with OA were selected and allocated to three groups on the basis of their disease location.

Somatostatin Analogue Treatment of a TSH-Secreting Adenoma Presenting With Accelerated Bone Metabolism and a Pericardial Effusion: A Case Report.

Increased bone turnover and other less frequent comorbidities of hyperthyroidism, such as heart failure, have only rarely been reported in association with central hyperthyroidism due to a thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenoma (TSHoma). Treatment is highly empirical and relies on eliminating the tumor and the hyperthyroid state.We report here an unusual case of a 39-year-old man who was initially admitted for management of pleuritic chest pain and fever of unknown origin.

Uranium levels in Cypriot groundwater samples determined by ICP-MS and α-spectroscopy.

The uranium concentration and the isotopic ratio (238)U/(234)U have been determined in Cypriot groundwater samples by ICP-MS after ultrafiltration and acidification of the samples and α-spectroscopy after pre-concentration and separation of uranium by cation-exchange (Chelex 100 resin) and electro-deposition on stainless steel discs. The uranium concentration in the groundwater samples varies strongly between 0.1 and 40 μg l(-1).

On the limits of the air pollution predictability: the case of the surface ozone at Athens, Greece.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential effects of increased urbanization in the Athens city, Greece on the intrinsic features of the temporal fluctuations of the surface ozone concentration (SOC).

Methods: The detrended fluctuation analysis was applied to the mean monthly values of SOC derived from ground-based observations collected at the centre of Athens basin during 1901-1940 and 1987-2007.

Results: Despite the present-day SOC doubling in respect to SOC historic levels, its fluctuations exhibit long-range power-law persistence, with similar features in both time periods.

Long-term variation in surface ozone and its precursors in Athens, Greece: a forecasting tool.

Intention, Goal, Scope, Background: Photochemical pollution is a very complex process involving meteorological, topographic, emission and chemical parameters. The most important chemical mechanisms involved in the atmospheric process have already been identified and studied. However, many unknown parameters still exist because of the large number of participating chemical reactions.

On the plausible association between environmental conditions and human eye damage.

The increase in solar ultraviolet radiation can have various direct and indirect effects on human health, like the incidence of ocular damage. Data of eye damage in residents of three suburban regions in Greece and in two groups of monks/nuns and fishermen are examined here. The statistics performed on these data provides new information about the plausible association between increased levels of solar ultraviolet radiation, air-pollution at ground level, and the development of ocular defects.