Epidemiology of antenatal depression among women with high-risk pregnancies due to obstetric complications: a scoping review.

Purpose: Antenatal depression is a common mental health problem among pregnant women that negatively affects maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women with obstetric complications, defined as high-risk pregnancies, seem to be at particularly increased risk for developing depressive symptomatology. The purpose of this study was to review the prevalence of antenatal depression among pregnant women with obstetric complications and to identify possible associated factors.

Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Characteristics and Clinical Outcome of Patients Treated With an Intensive Protocol.

Background: In recent years major advances have been made in the management of patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and clinical outcome of patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (ALGIB) treated with an intensive protocol.

Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 528 patients with ALGIB.

Efficacy of Interferon A-2b monotherapy in Β-thalassemics with chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Monotherapy with standard or pegylated interferon (PegIFN) remains the first-line treatment for HCV infection in patients with thalassemia major (βTM), although its long-term impact is still unknown. We aimed to assess the efficacy of IFN-a2b/PegIFN-a2b (one or multiple treatment sessions) and the predictors for sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV-infected βTM patients.

Methods: Between 11/1992 and 12/2013 [median follow-up: 165.

Adipokines levels are associated with the severity of liver disease in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Aim: To investigate the adipokine levels of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), apelin in alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC).

Methods: Forty non-diabetic ALC patients [median age: 59 years, males: 35 (87.5%), Child-Pugh (CP) score: median 7 (5-12), CP A/B/C: 18/10/12, Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD): median 10 (6-25), follow-up: median 32.

Higher free serum cortisol is associated with worse survival in acute variceal bleeding because of cirrhosis: a prospective study.

Background And Aims: Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency has been reported in acute variceal bleeding (AVB). In cirrhosis, free serum cortisol (FC) is considered optimal to assess adrenal function. Salivary cortisol (SC) is considered a surrogate for FC.

Endogenous heparinoids detected by anti-Xa activity are present in blood during acute variceal bleeding in cirrhosis. A prospective study.

Background & Aims: Endogenous heparinoids have been detected by thromboelastography and quantified by clotting based anti-Xa activity assays in patients with cirrhosis, but their presence in variceal bleeding has not been established yet.

Methods: Clotting based anti-Xa activity was measured in A) 30 cirrhotics with variceal bleeding, B) 15 non-cirrhotics with peptic ulcer bleeding, C) 10 cirrhotics without infection or bleeding, and D) 10 cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Results: Anti-Xa activity was not detected in ulcer bleeders or in cirrhotics without infection or bleeding but was present in seven (23%) variceal bleeders (median levels: 0.

Acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination among health care workers in Western Greece.

Health care personnel are at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission. The aim of the present study was to investigate hepatitis B (HB) knowledge and vaccination acceptance among health care personnel in southwestern Greece, using the Hepatitis B Vaccine Knowledge and Acceptance Questionnaire. One hundred eighty-three employees participated (71 males).

Hepatitis C in patients with β-thalassemia major. A single-centre experience.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and iron overload are the main causes of liver disease in β-thalassemia major (βTM). There is limited data regarding the course of CHC in this population. All patients (n=144) from the thalassemia centre of the University Hospital of Patras were evaluated (January 1981 to June 2012).

Health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a single-center experience.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the study was to assess HRQoL of IBD patients in South-Western Greece.

Methods: 89 IBD patients [38 (42.

Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in patients with cirrhosis and variceal bleeding.

Background & Aims: Relative adrenal insufficiency (AI) occurs in patients with cirrhosis with sepsis, but not with variceal bleeding. We evaluated adrenal function in cirrhotic patients with and without bleeding.

Methods: Twenty cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were evaluated using the short synacthen test (SST) and 10 using the low-dose synacthen test (LDSST) followed by SST.

Surgical repair of umbilical hernias in cirrhosis with ascites.

The most common complications of umbilical hernias in patients with cirrhosis and ascites include leakage, ulceration, rupture and incarceration. If such a complication is present, there is a high mortality rate after surgical repair. Elective repair is the most effective choice, as it prevents complications with a lower mortality.