Adaption and validation of the Greek version of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III scale as a screening tool for perioperative cognitive impairment detection.

Introduction: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction constitutes an extremely prevalent implication in individuals subjected to cardiac or non-cardiac surgery. This study aims to assess the validity and reliability of a culturally adapted Greek version of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) scale as a screening tool for perioperative neurocognitive status determination in elderly surgical patients.

Methods: A cross-cultural adaptation and validation of instruments throughout the a cross-sectional study was conducted.

Maternal Vaccination for the Prevention of Infantile RSV Disease: An Overview of the Authorized, In-Progress, and Rejected Vaccine Candidates.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) continues to pose a significant challenge, contributing to elevated hospitalization rates among children up to 5 years old, with a disproportionate burden on newborns and infants under 6 months old. The unique characteristics of the young immune system make it prone to altered responses to infections and vaccinations, requiring a tailored approach to disease prevention. The recent approval of the maternal RSV vaccine (brand name ABRYSVO) represents a pivotal advancement in preventive strategies among newborns and infants, marking a milestone in RSV research as the first market-approved maternal vaccine.

Advancement in the development of mRNA-based vaccines for respiratory viruses.

Acute respiratory infections are the leading cause of death and illness in children under 5 years old and represent a significant burden in older adults. Primarily caused by viruses infecting the lower respiratory tract, symptoms include cough, congestion, and low-grade fever, potentially leading to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based vaccines are biopharmaceutical formulations that employ mRNA molecules to induce specific immune responses, facilitating the expression of viral or bacterial antigens and promoting immunization against infectious diseases.

Efficacy and Safety of Magnesium Sulfate as an Adjunct to Ropivacaine Wound Infiltration in Thyroid Surgery: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Wound infiltration with local anesthetics emerges as a promising modality for postoperative pain alleviation. However, such strategies in neck surgery have not been a well-established practice. To assess wound infiltration with ropivacaine plus magnesium sulfate for pain relief following thyroid surgery.

Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation versus conventional cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing cardiac surgery (MiECS): Rationale and design of a multicentre randomised trial.

Introduction: The ultimate answer to the question whether minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) represents the optimal perfusion technique in contemporary clinical practice remains elusive. The present study is a real-world study that focuses on specific perfusion-related clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery that could potentially be favourably affected by MiECC and thereby influence the future clinical practice.

Methods: The MiECS study is an international, multi-centre, two-arm randomized controlled trial.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Analysis of Pre-Marketing Clinical Trials for Immunogenicity in the Population over 50 Years of Age.

Immunosenescence refers to age-related alterations in immune system function affecting both the humoral and cellular arm of immunity. Understanding immunosenescence and its impact on the vaccination of older adults is essential since primary vaccine responses in older individuals can fail to generate complete protection, especially vaccines targeting infections with increased incidence among the elderly, such as the respiratory syncytial virus. Here, we review clinical trials of both candidate and approved vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that include adults aged ≥50 years, with an emphasis on the evaluation of immunogenicity parameters.

Prevalence of use of on-label and off-label psychotropics in the Greek pediatric population.

With a global increased use of psychotropics in pediatrics, their off-label use is a concern due to uncertainty and risk. Data on psychotropics use in the Greek pediatric population do not exist to date. We analyzed retrospective data from the nationwide pharmacy claim database, to estimate the prevalence of psychotropics in pediatrics focusing on off-label use (March 2016-October 2019).

Exploring Perceptions and Practices Regarding Adult Vaccination against Seasonal Influenza, Tetanus, Pneumococcal Disease, Herpes Zoster and COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study in Greece.

We aimed to document vaccination coverage for five vaccines, predictors of each vaccine's uptake and attitudes regarding adult vaccination. Adults visiting four pharmacies were randomly invited to participate during summer 2022. Among 395 participants (mean age 51.

Community Antibiotic Consumption in Cyprus for the Period 2015 to 2022.

Background: Cyprus currently reports to ESAC-Net the total consumption of antimicrobials, without distinguishing between hospital and community-based antibiotic use. As a result, these data can only provide generalized insights into antimicrobial trends in the country.

Aim: This study is a first attempt to retrospectively analyze community antibiotic consumption in Cyprus for the period of 2015 to 2022.

Is cognitive behavioral therapy more effective than pharmacotherapy for binge spectrum disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Binge spectrum disorders are prevalent worldwide. Psychiatric and medical comorbidities are common, and societal costs are significant. Evidence-based treatment remains underutilized.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: A Review of the Candidates and the Approved Vaccines.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for a significant proportion of global morbidity and mortality affecting young children and older adults. In the aftermath of formalin-inactivated RSV vaccine development, the effort to develop an immunizing agent was carefully guided by epidemiologic and pathophysiological evidence of the virus, including various vaccine technologies. The pipeline of RSV vaccine development includes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), live-attenuated (LAV), subunit, and recombinant vector-based vaccine candidates targeting different virus proteins.

Vaccination coverage and predictors of influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, tetanus, measles, and hepatitis B vaccine uptake among adults in Greece.

Objectives: Insufficient adult vaccination coverage rates remain an international challenge. This nationwide study aimed at exploring vaccination coverage and predictors of influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, tetanus, measles, and hepatitis B vaccine uptake, following the recommendations of the National Immunization Program for adults.

Study Design: This was a multicenter, mixed-methods study conducted at 23 primary care units in six different regions of Greece.

Local Wound Infiltration for Thyroidectomized Patients in the Era of Multimodal Analgesia.

The first few hours following thyroidectomy are the most crucial for pain management. Adequate postoperative pain control, reduction in opioid abuse and the possibility of implementing one-day operations are the considered parameters when developing the postoperative analgesic strategy. A study of the available literature was conducted, exploring the efficacy of (open) thyroidectomy wound infiltration.

Weight gain, gender, and antipsychotics: a disproportionality analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database (FAERS).

Introduction: Side effects are a very important aspect of antipsychotic treatments. Weight gain is an important side effect that jeopardizes the uninterrupted therapy administration, especially in patients with psychiatric conditions. This case-non-case pharmacovigilance study aims at investigating in a real-world adverse event reporting system whether several antipsychotics increase the risk of weight gain reporting, and the differences among men and women as far as weight gain as a reported adverse event is concerned.

Pharmacotherapy compared to placebo for people with Bulimia Nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bulimia Nervosa is a disorder with high rates of psychiatric and medical comorbidity and substantial societal costs. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered the preferred treatment, but access can be problematic. Pharmacotherapy is more accessible but remains significantly underutilised.

Epidemiological Insights on Medication Concurrency and Polypharmacy in People With Multiple Sclerosis in Greece.

Background: Besides disease-modifying therapies, various pharmacologic agents are frequently prescribed to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) for symptom treatment and for comorbid conditions. The present study aims to investigate the types and frequencies of agents prescribed to people with MS in Greece using records from the nationwide digital prescription database.

Methods: Prescription records for 21,218 people (65.

Clinical, Histological, and Molecular Prognostic Factors in Childhood Medulloblastoma: Where Do We Stand?

Medulloblastomas, highly aggressive neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS) that present significant heterogeneity in clinical presentation, disease course, and treatment outcomes, are common in childhood. Moreover, patients who survive may be diagnosed with subsequent malignancies during their life or could develop treatment-related medical conditions. Genetic and transcriptomic studies have classified MBs into four subgroups: wingless type (WNT), Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Group 3, and Group 4, with distinct histological and molecular profiles.

Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021.

Background: The Z-drugs are indicated for the short-treatment of insomnia, but they are associated with abuse, dependence and side-effects. There are only sparse data about Z-drug prescribing in Greece.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Greek prescription database, considering prescriptions for the available Z-drugs in Greece, i.

Biopharmaceuticals against substance use disorders - Present and future.

Background And Objectives: Pharmacological treatments available for substance use disorder (SUD) focus on pharmacodynamics, agonizing or antagonizing the drug of abuse (DOA) on receptor level. Drawbacks of this approach include the reliance on long-term patient compliance, on-target off-site effects, perpetuation of addiction and unavailability for many DOAs. Newer, pharmacokinetic approaches are needed that restrict DOA's access to the brain or disrupt DOA-instated brain changes maintaining addiction.

COVID-19 vaccines adverse events: potential molecular mechanisms.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus, known as SARS-CoV-2. The disease, since its first outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has led to a global pandemic. The pharmaceutical industry has developed several vaccines, of different vector technologies, against the virus.

Effects of GABAergic Agents on Multiple Sclerosis. A Narrative Review of Models.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong deteriorating disease characterized by multiple heterogeneous symptoms. Being an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, mainly affecting the myelin sheath of the nerves ordinarily results in neurological symptoms. GABA has numerous effects on the immune cells, altering cytokine production, cell migration and proliferation.

Serum Proteome Signatures of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Healthcare Workers in Greece Associated with Their Prior Infection Status.

Over the course of the pandemic, proteomics, being in the frontline of anti-COVID-19 research, has massively contributed to the investigation of molecular pathogenic properties of the virus. However, data on the proteome on anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals remain scarce. This study aimed to identify the serum proteome characteristics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals who had previously contracted the virus and comparatively assess them against those of virus-naïve vaccine recipients.