Publications by authors named "Sotiriou E"
Article Synopsis
- Diagnosing acral melanocytic lesions, like acral nevi and melanoma, can be difficult, and the BRAAFF checklist was developed to assist in this process but hasn't been validated yet.
- In a study, varying experts diagnosed images of nevi and melanomas using the BRAAFF checklist online, yielding a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 65.0%, comparable to traditional pattern recognition.
- The checklist showed varying levels of agreement among raters based on experience, and a simplified version achieved similar sensitivity with slightly lower specificity, suggesting that the BRAAFF checklist is a helpful but not superior diagnostic tool.
and the recently separated acremonium-like genera, such as , are emerging causes of opportunistic disease in humans, mainly post-traumatic infections in immunocompetent hosts, but also invasive infections in immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing transplantation. has emerged as the major pathogenic species in humans, implicated mainly in nail but also in disseminated and organ specific infections. In this first study of acremonium-like clinical isolates in Greece, 34 isolates were identified and typed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer, and their antifungal susceptibility was determined by a modified CLSI standard M38 3rd Edition method for filamentous fungi.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKeratinocyte-derived skin cancers comprise basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, its precursor actinic keratosis, and Bowen's disease. Historically, this group of neoplasms has been subsumed under the term non-melanoma skin cancer. However, the term non-melanoma skin cancer can be misleading and lacks precision.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Percutaneous valve therapies (PVT) are performed on a large number of patients. With increasing procedural volume, the need for follow-up has also increased. Follow-up in the heart valve clinic is endorsed by recent guidelines but utilization is unknown, making resource allocation in the clinic difficult.
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- * Recent research suggests that starting systemic treatments early might significantly improve AD management, potentially altering the disease's progression and improving patients' overall health outcomes.
- * By addressing itching at its source, early systemic intervention can reduce systemic inflammation, prevent complications, and lessen the mental and emotional toll of the disease, paving the way for better long-term control strategies for patients.
Article Synopsis
- - The BrIDGE study examined the real-world effectiveness of brodalumab in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Greece, focusing on the percentage of patients achieving complete clearance (PASI100) over 24 weeks and beyond.
- - Results showed that 42% of patients reached PASI100 at Week 24, with this number increasing to 65% by Week 104, while significant improvements were noted in other assessment scores (PASI75, PASI90, and sPGA).
- - Additionally, patients reported improved quality of life, with average scores on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) decreasing significantly over the study period, indicating better overall well-being as a result of brodalumab treatment
Article Synopsis
- Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) significantly impacts women of childbearing age, leading to lower life-quality, social stigma, and concerns about family planning and sexual health.
- A study involving 96 women revealed that a large percentage experience sexual impairment, worry about HS's effects on pregnancy, and lack sufficient support and information about their condition.
- The findings suggest a need for better screening of life-quality issues and multidisciplinary treatment approaches for women affected by HS, especially during pregnancy and postpartum.
Photodynamic Therapy for Field Cancerization in the Skin: Where Do We Stand?
Dermatol Pract Concept
October 2023
Article Synopsis
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment option for actinic keratoses (AKs) and field-cancerized skin, utilizing various topical photosensitizers and innovative light delivery methods for improved results.
- The review highlights the advantages of PDT over other treatments in terms of cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction, although it also notes challenges like pain and longer treatment times.
- New approaches, including using daylight as a light source and combination therapies, show promise for enhancing the effectiveness of PDT, particularly for high-risk patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates shiny white structures (SWS) seen under a dermatoscope in benign skin tumors and relates them to previously noted characteristics in malignant tumors.
- Out of 2,420 benign tumors assessed, 357 (14.8%) displayed SWS, with the highest occurrences found in pyogenic granuloma, angioma, and adnexal tumors.
- The research concludes that SWS can appear in various benign tumors and should not automatically be viewed as signs of cancer.
Poor correlation between diameter and Breslow thickness of melanoma.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
January 2024
Article Synopsis
- * A systematic review analyzed data from six studies involving 133 patients treated with metformin for HS, mostly featuring overweight or obese women in their thirties.
- * Results showed that while many patients experienced improvements, outcomes varied; metformin was generally well tolerated with only mild side effects, suggesting more rigorous trials against placebo could be valuable.
Article Synopsis
- - Sebaceous neoplasms are tumors that mainly occur on the face and neck, often being benign, but rare malignant forms can occur; they have a connection to Muir-Torre Syndrome.
- - Patients with suspected Muir-Torre Syndrome should have their tumors removed for further examination, including histopathology and genetic testing.
- - The review discusses various aspects of sebaceous tumors—including their clinical features, management strategies, and the significance of Muir-Torre Syndrome in patients with multiple tumors.
Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used to treat cutaneous cancers. It may induce cell death through direct and indirect means, including apoptosis, inflammation and certain immune mechanisms, with the depth of penetration as a potential modifying factor.
Objectives: To examine the pathways of apoptosis in the intralesional PDT of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma (Bowen's disease).
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that has been incompletely excised, highlighting different treatment approaches and their effectiveness in a tertiary dermatology center in Northern Greece.
- Researchers analyzed 84 patients with incompletely excised BCC over a 5-year period and categorized them into three groups: immediate re-excision, watchful waiting, and non-surgical treatments.
- Results showed that re-excision resulted in residual tumor presence in over half of the cases and clinical recurrence occurred in 16.7% of patients, suggesting that the management strategy chosen can significantly impact outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Patients with serious comorbidities are often left out of clinical trials, but apremilast is not contraindicated for these conditions, necessitating real-world data to validate its safety and efficacy.
- This study aimed to provide real-world evidence regarding the use of apremilast in psoriasis patients with significant comorbidities, utilizing a case-series approach and a systematic literature review.
- Results indicated that among 841 patients treated with apremilast, only a few cases of cancer progression were noted, with no adverse effects leading to infections or worsening of comorbidities, suggesting it is a safe treatment alternative for difficult-to-treat psoriasis patients.
Increased expression of alpha-synuclein (ASYN) and decreased expression of Nurr1 are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. These two proteins interact functionally and ASYN overexpression suppresses Nurr1 levels. ASYN pan-neuronal overexpression coupled with Nurr1 hemizygosity followed by Nurr1 repression in aging mice results in the manifestation of a typical PD-related phenotype and pathology.
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- Brodalumab has shown significant clinical effectiveness and a good safety record in controlled trials, but limited real-world data exists; the BrIDGE study in Greece aims to fill this gap by observing treatment outcomes in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients over 104 weeks.* -
- Early results from the study, covering 12-16 weeks post-treatment initiation, indicate that 72.8% of patients achieved a "clear/almost clear" skin rating, with varying percentages reaching significant reductions in psoriasis severity scores (PASI75, PASI90, PASI100).* -
- Improvements in symptoms and quality of life were noted alongside a high treatment adherence rate of 90%, and while nine adverse events were recorded, the