Suboptimal Serologic Immunity Against Poliomyelitis Among New Migrant Children in Greece Calls for Organized Action.

Background: Migration-flows pose the risk of poliovirus reintroduction from endemic countries to Greece. This study aims to evaluate serologic-immunity/vaccination against poliomyelitis in newly-arriving migrant children.

Methods: Demographic-immunisation data and blood-serum were obtained from migrants 1-14years-old, referred to a hospital-clinic in Athens-Greece within three months from arrival.

Health literacy of parents/caregivers of paediatric surgical patients: A study on 1000 individuals.

Purpose: There is a paucity of studies concerning health literacy (HL) of parents/guardians of patients in paediatric surgery. The purpose of our study is to measure HL levels of parents/guardians of paediatric surgery patients and to explore the determinants of low HL levels in this population.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from December 2016 to July 2018 through in-person interviews of parents/guardians of paediatric surgical patients.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head: Evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and quality of life.

Introduction: The treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) is based on invasive (e.g., core decompression) and non-invasive methods (e.

Central-Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) Incidence and the Role of Obesity: A Prospective, Observational Study in Greece.

Introduction: Although central venous catheters (CVCs) provide reliable vascular access, there are several risks linked with their use, with the rates of central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) being the most important ones. CLABSIs have a big impact on mortality rates and health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of obesity in the development of central venous catheter infections.

Parental anxiety in pediatric surgery consultations: the role of health literacy and need for information.

Introduction: Although important, parental anxiety, health literacy and need-for-information in pediatric surgery outpatient clinics have not been extensively studied. Lower educational attainments, minorities and lower socioeconomic status have been associated with limited health literacy. Parental anxiety has been related to health literacy, sex, education and information needs.

Parental Health Literacy in the Pediatric Surgical Setting.

Health literacy (HL) in the pediatric setting has been associated with poor health outcomes and plays an important role in the existing health disparities. Low parents caregivers HL influences health outcomes mainly in chronically ill children. Trying to identify the role of HL in the pediatric surgical and dentistry setting, we conducted a review of the relevant literature.

Epidemiology of viral infections among children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Α prospective single-center study.

Background: Viral infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric transplant populations. We analyzed the epidemiology of viral infections in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, including their incidence, associated risk factors, and outcome.

Methods: In a prospective study from September 2011 to September 2015, blood, urine, and stool specimens were monitored weekly from transplantation to day 100 or after if clinically suspected, by use of real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Validation of the Greek version of the Quality of Life in Short Stature Youth (QoLISSY) questionnaire.

Background The Quality of Life in Short Stature Youth (QoLISSY) questionnaire is a condition-specific instrument for measuring the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in short statured children/adolescents from patients' and parents' perspectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the QoLISSY questionnaire. Methods The original European QoLISSY scales were translated into Greek following the guidelines for linguistic validation and applied to 184 dyads of children 8-18 years old and their parents, as well as to 14 parents of children 4-7 years old in Greece.

Sleep architecture and epileptic characteristics of drug naïve patients in childhood absence epilepsy spectrum. A prospective study.

Purpose: Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is an epileptic syndrome presenting between 2nd-10th years. The spells are elicited with hyperventilation (HV) while sleep seems to exacerbate the electrical activity. Our aim is to describe sleep architecture and its relationship with epileptic discharges (EDs) in patients with CAE, before treatment and one year later.

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of new immigrant and refugee children arriving in Greece.

Background: Migrant children are a population at risk for various health problems. Despite the increased inflow of migrants in Greece, data regarding their health assessment are lacking. This study aims to describe the clinical and certain laboratory characteristics and identify possible associations in a group of new immigrant (I) and refugee (R) children, arriving in Athens, Greece.

Promotion of Preventive Measures in Public Nursery Schools: Lessons From the H1N1 Pandemic.

Nursery schools serve as reservoirs of transmission of infectious diseases, and teachers should be able to implement and monitor hygiene measures to prevent them. The aim of the present study was to assess the compliance of nursery school teachers on promoting preventive interventions and to identify associated factors, during the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic. A secondary objective was to evaluate their knowledge and vaccination status regarding the novel virus.

Perceptions of children and their parents about the pain experienced during their hospitalization and its impact on parents' quality of life.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess pain levels and perceptions concerning pain by both children and their parents during hospitalization, as well as the impact of that pain upon parents' quality of life.

Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 92 pediatric cancer patients, 159 pediatric patients with musculoskeletal problems and one of their parents. The study was performed between November 2010 and May 2011.

Assessment of quality of life of children and adolescents with cancer during their treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of children and adolescents with any type of cancer in all phases of their treatment.

Methods: Fifty-six newly diagnosed patients diagnosed with malignancy and hospitalized in a Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit in Athens were included in the study. Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument was used for data collection from July 2010 to December 2012.

Rhinitis and asthma in children: comorbitity or united airway disease?

The association of rhinitis with asthma symptoms in children is thought to be part of the united airway disease's theory which proposed three possible explanatory pathophysiological mechanisms: postnasal dripping, naso-bronchial reflex and systemic immune response. However, it is not clear if the relation is a co-morbid, precipitating or triggering condition or an epiphenomenon as an integrated part of the disease. In an attempt to evaluate the association, a review of all articles that were published in the last 10 years which referred to the relation of childhood rhinitis with asthma were analysed, whereas the recent knowledge on physiology and phenotype was reported as background.

Liver function tests in viremic and nonviremic chronic hepatitis B virus-infected pregnant women: importance of alanine aminotransferase/sodium ratio.

The major risk factor of perinatal transmission of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the level of maternal HBV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological and biochemical status in Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic HBV-infected pregnant women and to correlate the findings with the presence or absence of viremia. Ninety-five consecutive chronic HBV-infected pregnant women were evaluated between the 28th and 32nd week of gestation.

Immunization coverage and predictive factors for complete and age-appropriate vaccination among preschoolers in Athens, Greece: a cross--sectional study.

Background: In Greece, several new childhood vaccines were introduced recently but were reimbursed gradually and at different time points. The aim of this study was to assess immunization coverage and identify factors influencing complete and age-appropriate vaccination among children attending public nurseries in the municipal district of Athens.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, using stratified sampling was performed.

Association between knowledge and attitudes of school nurses towards epilepsy and the risk of accidents in Greek schools.

School nurses have the ability to enhance the knowledge and tolerance of an entire community and to form more positive and sensitized attitudes to future adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the knowledge and attitudes of nurses and the frequency of accidents caused by epilepsy in Greek schools. Our sample consisted of 306 school nurses from all over the country.

Association between knowledge and attitudes of educators towards epilepsy and the risk of accidents in Greek schools.

Accidents in children with epilepsy are an actual concern of teachers and parents in Greece and internationally. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the knowledge and attitudes of teachers and the frequency of accidents caused by epilepsy in Greece. The study surveyed 1404 public elementary school teachers from all prefectures of the country by an anonymous questionnaire.

Subcutaneous splenosis of the abdominal wall: report of a case and review of the literature.

Splenosis is a common benign condition that occurs after splenic rupture via trauma or surgery. The mechanism behind splenic cell autotransplantation begins with the splenic rupture, either from trauma or surgical removal. Splenosis is usually found incidentally and, unless symptomatic, surgical therapy is not indicated.

Characteristics of dog bites among nursing students and knowledge about their emergency management.

Background: Dog bites represent a significant health concern leading to a variety of consequences. Nursing students should be appropriately educated in order to manage and help prevent such injuries.

Aim: This paper is the first to report the lifetime experience and characteristics of dog bites among Greek nursing students and their knowledge in managing the above injuries.

The impact of ED boarding time, severity of illness, and discharge destination on outcomes of critically ill ED patients.

This aim of this study was to determine the association between emergency department (ED) boarding time, severity of illness, and outcomes for critically ill patients. This was a prospective cohort study of ED patients who met criteria for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who spent less than 6 hr in the ED prior to transfer, and those who spent 6 hr or more.

Importance of maternal and cord blood viremia in pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background/aim: The spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) rates in a group of HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infected pregnant women without several known risk factors for preterm delivery as well as the mother to infant HBV transmission rates was evaluated. Moreover the role of maternal data during perinatal period as well as the role of HBsAg and/or HBV-DNA presence in cord blood in respect to preterm labour and vertical transmission of the infection was examined.

Methods: 138 consecutive chronic HBV infected pregnant women were haematologically, serologically and virologically evaluated during the perinatal period.

Presence of HBV-DNA in cord blood is associated with spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Spontaneous preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. In this study the spontaneous preterm birth rates in a group of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected pregnant women without known risk factors for preterm delivery as well as the role of maternal laboratory data and hepatitis B surface antigen/HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA) in cord blood in respect to preterm labour were evaluated. 138 consecutive HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected pregnant women were evaluated during the perinatal period.

Factors influencing the quality of life of young patients with diabetes.

Background: Diabetes is a significant challenge for pediatric health care professionals because it affects youths' psychoemotional functioning and, consequently, the quality of life (QOL). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the QOL in young patients with diabetes, as well as the factors affecting it.

Methods: The study was conducted from April to September 2008 in 98 young patients, 11-18 years of age, who were under the supervision of Diabetological Center, General Pediatric Hospital (Athens, Greece).