Fatigue among Greek Parents of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: The Roles of Spirituality and Social Support.

The high demands of caring for and raising a child with autism spectrum disorder on a daily basis may lead parents to physical and mental fatigue. This study aimed to assess the effect of social support and spirituality on the fatigue of parents with children with autistic spectrum disorder. A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample was conducted in Schools of Special Education in Attica (Greece).

Associations between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Greece.

Physical activity is an important factor in achieving healthy aging, offering older persons multiple benefits in terms of maintaining and improving their health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity on the quality of life of older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2022, using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Exploring Loneliness, Fear and Depression among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Era: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greek Provincial Towns.

Background: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, life changed abruptly for older adults in Greece. Social isolation, lockdowns, the fear of serious illness and death, all contributed to an increased risk of developing depression.

Objective: To explore the presence and severity of depression in older adults in Greek provincial towns during the pandemic and to explore any possible relationships with loneliness and fear.

Care and Safety of Schoolchildren with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Parental Perceptions of the School Nurse Role.

Schoolchildren with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) need supervision in the management of their disorder by the school nurse, securing proper care and safety in the school environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the parents’ perceptions regarding the care and safety of their children with T1DM at school. In this cross-sectional study, 356 parents of children with T1DM attending primary and secondary school (convenience sample) completed the “Parents’ Opinions about School-based Care for Children with Diabetes” and the “Safety of children with T1DM at school”.

Two-step treatment of a giant skull vault hemangioma: A rare case report and literature review.

Skull vault hemangiomas are benign vascular tumours of the calvaria that are usually asymptomatic or present as firm, painless lumps. We present a case of a 59-year-old female with a giant intraosseous calvarial hemangioma that was admitted in our department with a palpable mass over the left frontoparietal region, personality changes and impaired emotional and cognitive functions. The patient was treated with a two-step approach involving endovascular and surgical treatment, and suffered two rare, but recognized complications, a contrecoup intracerebral haemorrhage and valproate-induced stupor and parkinsonism.

High risk factors for craniosynostosis during pregnancy: A case-control study.

Background: Craniosynostosis is a birth defect involving premature cranial sutures' fusion with an increasing prevalence and unknown underlying causes in nearly 80% of cases. The current study investigates a series of high-risk factors associated with a non-syndromic craniosynostosis.

Methods: Ninety-seven (97) children were included in the retrospective case-control study, 62 controls and 35 with craniosynostosis.

Treatment of carotid cavernous sinus fistulas with flow diverters. A case report and systematic review.

Introduction: Carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are rare, usually follow head trauma or aneurysmal rupture. Recent treatment options include endovascular techniques such as flow diversion devices (FDDs).

Objective: To present our case treated with FDD application with transarterial cavernous-sinus coiling and present a systematic review on the use and effectiveness of FDDs in CCF treatment.

Two-step treatment of a giant skull vault hemangioma: A rare case report and literature review.

Skull vault hemangiomas are benign vascular tumours of the calvaria that are usually asymptomatic or present as firm, painless lumps. We present a case of a 59-year-old female with a giant intraosseous calvarial hemangioma that was admitted in our department with a palpable mass over the left frontoparietal region, personality changes and impaired emotional and cognitive functions. The patient was treated with a two-step approach involving endovascular and surgical treatment, and suffered two rare, but recognized complications, a contrecoup intracerebral haemorrhage and valproate-induced stupor and parkinsonism.

Combined surgical and endovascular approach to treat a ventrally located perimedullary arteriovenous fistula.

Perimedullary arteriovenous fistulae (PMAVFs) (also called type IV spinal cord arteriovenous malformations) are rare lesions. They are located in the subarachnoid space or just under the pia. The shunt occurs between the anterior spinal artery (ASA) and/or posterior spinal artery (PSA) and a network of perimedullary veins.

Nurses' knowledge about perioperative care of patients with neurological diseases.

This study investigated the level of nurses' knowledge regarding the perioperative care of neurological patients. An author-developed questionnaire of 20 items was used in a sample of 94 hospital nurses serving in the neurology, surgery and anesthesiology departments and the intensive care unit. The average percentage of participants with correct answers was 49.

Privacy at end of life in ICU: A review of the literature.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the issues surrounding privacy during death in ICU.

Background: While the provision of ICU care is vital, the nature and effect of the potential lack of privacy during death and dying in ICUs have not been extensively explored.

Design: A literature search using CINAHL and Pubmed revealed articles related to privacy, death and dying in ICU.

Aplasia cutis congenita: Two case reports and discussion of the literature.

Background: Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a part of a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by the congenital absence of epidermis, dermis, and in some cases, subcutaneous tissues or bone usually involving the scalp vertex. There is an estimated incidence of 3 in 10,000 births resulting in a total number of 500 reported cases to date. The lesions may occur on every body surface although localized scalp lesions form the most frequent pattern (70%).

Performance Assessment and Comparability of a Commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Kit with Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Chloramphenicol Residues in Crab and Shrimp.

Monitoring for chloramphenicol (CAP) in aquaculture products is primarily performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which requires expensive equipment and specialized training. Many laboratories prefer to screen samples with facile and high-throughput enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for CAP residues before submitting samples for LC-MS/MS quantification and confirmation. We evaluated the performance of a Ridascreen (R-Biopharm) ELISA kit for CAP in spiked and incurred crab and shrimp muscle at levels bracketing the minimum required performance level for analysis (0.

Screening for petrochemical contamination in seafood by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME GC-MS) method is described, to screen seafood for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with petrochemical taint. VOCs are extracted from the headspace of heated sample homogenates by adsorption onto a SPME fiber and desorbed for analysis by GC-MS. Targeted compounds are determined semi-quantitatively using representative calibration standards for the various classes (alkanes, alkylbenzenes, indanes/tetralins, and naphthalenes) of VOCs analyzed.

Biomarkers of brevetoxin exposure and composite toxin levels in hard clam (Mercenaria sp.) exposed to Karenia brevis blooms.

Brevetoxins in clams (Mercenaria sp.) exposed to recurring blooms of Karenia brevis in Sarasota Bay, FL, were studied over a three-year period. Brevetoxin profiles in toxic clams were generated by ELISA and LC-MS.

Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans): a potential human health threat for ciguatera fish poisoning in tropical waters.

Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) have rapidly expanded in the Western Atlantic over the past decade and have had a significant negative impact on reef fish biodiversity, habitat, and community structure, with lionfish out-competing native predators for resources. In an effort to reduce this population explosion, lionfish have been promoted for human consumption in the greater Caribbean region. This study examined whether the geographical expansion of the lionfish into a known ciguatera-endemic region can pose a human health threat for ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP).

The meaning and importance of vigilant attendance for the relatives of intensive care unit patients.

Aim: To explore the meaning of vigilant attendance for relatives of critically ill patients in Greece.

Background: A plethora of international research has identified proximity to the patient to be a major concern for relatives of critically ill patients. Greece however follows a strict visiting policy in intensive care units (ICUs) so Greek relatives spend great amounts of time just outside the ICUs.

Performance evaluation of commercial ELISA kits for screening of furazolidone and furaltadone residues in fish.

Regulatory monitoring for nitrofuran drug residues in aquaculture products has largely focused on LC-MS/MS. In addition, there is a need for facile and high-throughput screening methods for monitoring programs. We evaluated the performance of Ridascreen (R-Biopharm) ELISA kits for nitrofuran drug residues in fish muscle, with verification by LC-MS/MS.

The increase in illegal private duty nurses in public Greek hospitals.

Aim: To consider key aspects of the increasing substitution of legal private duty nurses by an illegal immigrant health-care workforce.

Background: Inadequate nursing care infrastructure and an oversupply of illegal immigrants, coupled with the current economic climate, favours the growth of an unofficial economy in hospital care.

Evaluation: Information gathered from literature, governmental and ministerial records, the media and the press are evaluated.

Health-related religious rituals of the Greek Orthodox Church: their uptake and meanings.

Aim: To examine the uptake of religious rituals of the Greek Orthodox Church by relatives of patients in critical condition in Greece and to explore their symbolic representations and spiritual meanings.

Background: Patients and their relatives want to be treated with respect and be supported for their beliefs, practices, customs and rituals. However nurses may not be ready to meet the spiritual needs of relatives of patients, while the health-related religious beliefs, practices and rituals of the Greek Orthodox Christian denomination have not been explored.

Private duty nurses in Greek hospitals: a literature review.

Aim: The study aims to provide an overview of the practice of private duty nurses in Greek hospitals.

Background: For several decades, it has been a necessity for some hospital patients to hire private duty nurses (PDNs) to counterbalance the inadequacies of hospital infrastructures. In the current economic crisis in Greece, the majority of patients will not be able to afford to pay for private nursing care.

Characterization of brevetoxin metabolism in Karenia brevis bloom-exposed clams (Mercenaria sp.) by LC-MS/MS.

Brevetoxin metabolites were identified and characterized in the hard clam (Mercenaria sp.) after natural exposure to Karenia brevis blooms by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Principal brevetoxins BTX-1 and BTX-2 produced by K.