Major Vault Protein/Lung Resistance-Related Protein: A Novel Biomarker for Inflammation and Acute Infections.

Introduction: Vault particles are large cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein particles that participate in inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of major vault protein (MVP) in patients with inflammation, in order to determine whether MVP could be used as a biomarker for infection or inflammation. We also aimed to compare the diagnostic impact of MVP compared to other conventional measurements, such as CRP or white blood cell (WBC) counts.

Prevalence of HPV Genotypes among Greek Women in Association with Their Potential to Cause Precancerous Lesions.

The escalating global rates of precancerous lesions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types not targeted by current vaccines underscore the need to explore the prevalence of HPV types within the Greek female population and their involvement in precancerous lesion development. In the current study, we enrolled a cohort of 253 women aged 18 to 65 years, residing in Greece, who underwent routine screening in three tertiary care referral hospitals. Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire.

Differences in the Dwell Time of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters between Patients with Catheter Colonization and Those Developing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection: A Single Centre Retrospective Cohort Study.

Substantial knowledge gaps exist concerning the varying durations of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements that lead to either central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or catheter colonization. We aimed to compare PICCs dwell time between patients who developed CLABSIs due to multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) and patients with catheter colonization by MDROs. Data from 86 patients admitted consecutively to a tertiary-care hospital from 2017 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Responses in a Vaccinated COVID-19-Naive Population.

Introduction: Exploring T cell response duration is pivotal for understanding immune protection evolution in natural SARS-CoV-2 infections. The objective of the present study was to analyze the T cell immune response over time in individuals who were both vaccinated and COVID-19-naive and had undetectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies at the time of testing.

Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis using data extracted from the electronic medical records of consecutive adult individuals who underwent COVID-19 immunity screening at a private healthcare center from September 2021 to September 2022.

Central Venous Catheters versus Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters: A Comparison of Indwelling Time Resulting in Colonization by Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens.

Background: The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) as an alternative to central venous catheters (CVCs) has steadily risen over the last two decades. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding research evidence that supports any clear advantages or disadvantages of them compared to traditional central venous lines. The present study was conducted to compare the indwelling time of CVC and PICC placements leading to microbial colonization by multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) in critically ill patients.

Persistence of T-Cell Immunity Responses against SARS-CoV-2 for over 12 Months Post COVID-19 Infection in Unvaccinated Individuals with No Detectable IgG Antibodies.

Background: Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for preventing reinfection or reducing disease severity. T-cells' long-term protection, elicited either by COVID-19 vaccines or natural infection, has been extensively studied thus far; however, it is still attracting considerable scientific interest. The aim of the present epidemiological study was to define the levels of T-cellular immunity response in a specific group of unvaccinated individuals from the general population with a prior confirmed COVID-19 infection and no measurable levels of IgG antibodies.

Antimicrobial resistance rates of urogenital Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma species before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a Greek survey, 2014 to 2022.

The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant urogenital mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas has been gradually increasing over the years, leading to greater concern for accurate diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the antimicrobial resistance trends in Greece were analyzed using 2992 Ureaplasma spp. and 371 M.

SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Immunity Responses following Natural Infection and Vaccination.

(1) Background: SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity is rapidly activated following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination and is crucial for controlling infection progression and severity. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 between cohorts of subjects with hybrid immunity (convalescent and vaccinated), vaccinated naïve (non-exposed) and convalescent unvaccinated subjects. (2) Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis of data collected from the medical records of adult individuals who were consecutively examined at a large, private Medical Center of Attica from September 2021 to September 2022 in order to be examined on their own initiative for SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity response.

Inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus infection is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, but its role as a pathogenetic or exacerbating factor remains unclear.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Epstein-Barr virus infection and inflammatory bowel disease, particularly in regard to exacerbation of disease activity.

Design: This was a nonrandomized crosssectional study in subgroups of patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared with a control group with noninflammatory disease.

Arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis in essential hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile.

Background: Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and appears to be increased in arterial hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to relate systemic arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis to variables of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: Seventy-two subjects with untreated mild to moderate arterial hypertension underwent evaluation with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness could predict the presence of coronary artery lesions.

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether intima-media thickness (IMT) predicts the presence of the coronary artery lesions independent of other risk factors including clinic blood pressure (BP), parameters of 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, body mass index, serum cholesterol, and glucose levels. The study population consisted of 390 consecutive subjects who had recently undergone coronary arteriography; 51 subjects with no measurable lesions in their coronary arteries (control group) and 339 subjects with coronary artery lesions (coronary artery disease [CAD] group). Mean IMT of the common carotid artery (MCCA) and internal carotid artery (MICA) were significantly higher in subjects with CAD compare control subjects (P < .

Cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile and arterial stiffness.

Background: In subjects with essential hypertension peripheral blood pressure profile contributes to the pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy. It is not known if central arterial pressure is superior to peripheral blood pressure profile for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy. In the present study 24-h blood pressure profile and central hemodynamics were examined to evaluate mechanical loading factors as determinants of cardiac hypertrophy in mild to moderate untreated essential hypertension.

Chlamydia pneumoniae and Epstein-Barr antibodies are not associated with carotid thickness: the effect of hypertension.

Background: To examine the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) seropositivity and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in three selected groups: 1) hypertensives; 2) white coat hypertensives; and 3) normotensives. Epstein-Barr antibodies were also measured.

High prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in white-coat hypertensives.

Previous studies have linked essential sustained hypertension with Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and changes in intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries. The aim of this study was to examine if similar associations exist in subjects with white-coat hypertension.

White-coat effect in normotension and hypertension.

Objectives: The difference between clinic and daytime ambulatory blood pressure is referred to as the white-coat effect. In this study, we investigated (i) the magnitude of the white-coat effect in subjects with different daytime ambulatory blood pressure levels, and (ii) the association of the white-coat effect with left ventricular mass.

Methods: A total of 1581 subjects underwent clinic blood pressure readings, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and left ventricular echocardiographic assessment.