The culture site of the gallbladder affects recovery of bacteria in symptomatic cholelithiasis.

Aim: Traditional methods for bile culturing may miss a large number of underlying bacterial infections that could lead to acute or chronic cholecystitis.

Aim: to evaluate possible differences regarding the site of material collection and thus to detect the most suitable sample site for gallbladder culture.

Methods: A cohort of 137 patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis was enrolled.

Ability of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and myocardial/carotid ultrasound to predict the location and the severity of coronary artery lesions in normotensive patients: a clinical study.

Pulse pressure has been recognized as a marker of cardiovascular disease in normotensives. Moreover, internal carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) has been proposed to reflect coronary artery lesions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of other parameters derived from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), myocardial ultrasound, and carotid ultrasound to predict the location and the severity of coronary artery disease in normotensives.

Nitric oxide, antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide synthase and xanthine oxidase plasma levels in a cohort of burn patients.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signal molecule in many types of cells and tissues. Efficiently balanced NO production was noted to play an important role in the healing of burns. However, the exact pathophysiological role of NO in burns and its potent relation with clinical and laboratory parameters has not been elucidated.

Combined brief psychosexual intervention after mastectomy: effects on sexuality, body image, and psychological well-being.

Background: Mastectomy poses a severe threat to body image and sexuality, interfering with the psychological well-being of both the patient and her partner. Although many psychotherapeutic approaches have been assessed and found effective in such patients, few studies have assessed couple or sex therapy in mastectomy patients.

Methods: We report on a structured combination of brief couples and sex therapy (CBPI) used in 20 women with in situ breast cancer and mastectomy and their partners.

Hepatitis C virus survival curve analysis in naïve patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin. A randomized controlled trial for induction with high doses of peginterferon and predictability of sustained viral response from early virologic data.

Aim: To evaluate the significance of induction with high doses of pegylated interferon -2b (Peg-IFNalpha-2b) and the predictability of sustained virologic response (SVR) in naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: 188 consecutive naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in a randomised controlled clinical trial. Patients were randomised to receive either Peg-IFN -2b 3.

A gastroenteritis outbreak due to Norovirus infection in Xanthi, Northern Greece: management and public health consequences.

A gastroenteritis outbreak was observed in the town of Xanthi on Jan 28, 2005. A total of 709 patients (350 males and 359 females, mean age 23.8 +/- 19.