Publications by authors named "Maria Kiakou"

Objective: This study aims to present a case of temporal bone (TBP) paraganglioma with an insidious clinical presentation, deviating significantly from the typical hearing loss and pulsatile tinnitus pattern.

Methods: A 70-year-old lady presented to the emergency department with a five-day history of right progressive later cervical swelling extending to the mastoid region and chronic worsening purulent otorrhea. The clinical and radiological findings confirmed the presence of a chronic middle ear process complicated by a Bezold abscess.

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Background: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a clinical entity of subtle onset abdominal pain, ascites, and distention associated with characteristic imaging. In most cases, laparoscopic exploration will give the definitive diagnosis and histopathologic verification. However, usually there are difficulties in the diagnosis of this disease.

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The integration of immunotherapeutic agents in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revolutionized the approach of the prevalent type of lung cancer. Although PD-1 and its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) are stimulating molecules of the immune-checkpoint pathway, with primary function to limit inflammatory response and autoimmunity, tumor cells have found a way to exploit these molecules by obtaining the opportunity to respond with PD-L1 expression in cytokine signals and thus to evade immune surveillance. Several immunotherapeutic agents targeting these molecules have already been tested and show quick and remarkable responses and survival prolongation in about 14-20% of chemo-resistant patients in NSCLC, resulting to FDA approval of some PD-1 inhibitors (pebrolizumab, nivolumab), even for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have high PD-L1 expression (pebrolizumab).

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Introduction: Morgagni hernia is defined as the intrathoracic protrusion of abdominal viscera through a defect in the anterior diaphragm. It represents an uncommon type of diaphragmatic congenital hernia.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old female patient was admitted in our department due to progressive epigastric discomfort for the past four months.

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Purpose: Τo investigate the potential diagnostic and prognostic role of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) serum levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients with newly diagnosed primary NSCLC were included in this study (88 men and 12 women). Blood was drawn before any kind of treatment and the collected serum was processed using chemiluminescence in order CEA and CA 19-9 levels to be measured.

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Background/aim: Lung cancer is the first cause of cancer related deaths in both males and females. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a reversible process by which epithelial cells transform to mesenchymal stem cells by losing their cell polarity and cell-to-cell adhesion, gaining migratory and invasive properties. High levels of E-cadherin are expressed in epithelial cells, whereas mesenchymal cells express high levels of N-cadherin, fibronectin and vimentin.

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Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are rare neoplasms. Rectal neuroendocrine tumors consist approximately the 5%-14% of all neuroendocrine neoplasms in Europe. These tumors are diagnosed in relatively young patients, with a mean age at diagnosis of 56 years.

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