Publications by authors named "Vlahos Nikolaos"

Purpose: to compare the Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) plasma concentrations of pre-pubertal and pubertal daughters born to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mothers to daughters born to control mothers and to investigate their alterations during pre-puberty and all stages of puberty.

Methods: We critically investigated and meta-analyzed observational studies, which compared the plasma concentrations of AMH in pre-pubertal and pubertal daughters of PCOS pregnancies. A search of the literature was completed till the end of June of 2024 in the PubMed, Scopus, and Medline for the eligible studies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental and industrial agents that interfere with hormonal functions. EDC exposure is linked to various endocrine diseases, especially in reproduction, although the mechanisms remain unclear and effects vary among individuals. Neuroinflammation, particularly hypothalamic inflammation, is an emerging research area with implications for endocrine-related diseases like obesity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Endometrial cancer (EC) is on the rise and linked to factors like unopposed estrogen, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation, particularly in the context of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  • Recent studies suggest that drugs like metformin, used for diabetes management, may help prevent EC, highlighting the role of insulin resistance in its development.
  • The study aims to investigate the potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs), which have various functions and may induce apoptosis in cancer cells, for non-surgical treatment of endometrial cancer, although more research is needed to fully understand their role in this context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

To assess the effect of hysteroscopic polypectomy on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) results in infertile women with at least one prior negative IVF outcome. This retrospective cohort study included women who had attended the "2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens" and "Iaso" Maternity Hospital from October 2019 to January 2023 for infertility treatment. The medical records of 345 women aged 18-45 years old without abnormal findings in hysterosalpingography (HSG) and with at least one previous failed IVF procedure were analyzed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study examined how starvation and refeeding impact the growth and food intake of gilthead seabream and seabass, as well as the growth of glasswort, in a 75-day aquaponic system with a salt concentration of 12 ppt.
  • Nine aquaponic setups were tested with varying feeding schedules: a control group fed daily, a 4-day fasting group, and a 7-day fasting group.
  • Results indicated that while 4 days of fasting allowed fish to achieve near control growth levels, the 7-day fasting significantly hindered growth; however, it positively influenced the growth of glasswort compared to the control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to investigate the rising cesarean section rates in Greece and implement interventions to promote vaginal delivery through a trial named ENGAGE, focusing on evidence-based practices.
  • Twenty-two maternity units across Greece will participate in a multicenter trial involving 20,000 to 25,000 births, employing a stepped-wedge design whereby units will gradually implement interventions over 8-18 months.
  • Key interventions include applying updated clinical guidelines, training on cardiotocography, and providing ongoing support to healthcare professionals, with data on cesarean rates and outcomes collected for analysis throughout the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The onset of puberty, which is under the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, is influenced by various factors, including obesity, which has been associated with the earlier onset of puberty. Obesity-induced hypothalamic inflammation may cause premature activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, resulting in the development of precocious or early puberty. Mechanisms involving phoenixin action and hypothalamic microglial cells are implicated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Reproduction ability requires a certain amount of body fat that is necessary for ovulation, menstruation and pregnancy. Fat tissue represents an endocrine organ with high metabolic activity as it produces adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin. Our aim is to examine potential associations between women of reproductive age's ovarian reserves and their levels of leptin and adiponectin.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Infertility is a modern health problem. Obesity is another expanding health issue associated with chronic diseases among which infertility is also included. This review will focus on the effects of weight loss by medical therapy on fertility regarding reproductive hormonal profile, ovulation rates, time to pregnancy, implantation rates, pregnancy rates, normal embryo development, and live birth rates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Since its introduction, assisted reproductive technology (ART) has developed into a common clinical practice around the world; yet it still raises a lot of questions. Throughout time, many researchers have investigated its association with several obstetric incidences and its consequences on perinatal outcomes. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to estimate the correlation between ART procedures and malpresentation of the fetus in singleton pregnancies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) includes vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which are prevalent in menopausal women due to shared developmental origins and estrogen receptor presence.
  • A study of 450 Greek peri- and postmenopausal women revealed that over half experienced urinary urgency or frequency, with varying degrees of severity in symptoms like dysuria.
  • Findings show a correlation between LUTS and VVA symptoms, highlighting the need for early assessment of these issues to improve the quality of life for women undergoing menopause.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Endometriosis, defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity, mainly affects the pelvic viscera and peritoneum. Endometriosis can also occur at sites of surgical incisions on the abdominal wall, mainly in women with a history of cesarean section (CS). The incidence of abdominal wall endometriosis after CS reaches 1%.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Factors influencing the success of egg freezing include the woman's age, the number of eggs retrieved, and individual health conditions, but potential risks exist for both the mother and embryo during the in vitro fertilization process.
  • * There is a growing interest in egg freezing, particularly in countries like the USA and Israel, but issues like high costs, lack of official data in some regions like Greece, and varying legal structures highlight the need for more research and a universal legal framework to support women's reproductive choices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this systematic review was to examine if chronic or acute stress, measured by questionnaires or physiological biomarkers, has a separate impact on each different stage in the IVF process. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was performed in three databases with keywords. Preselection included 46 articles, and in all, 36 articles were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Thrombophilic genetic polymorphisms of the platelet glycoproteins Ia (GpIa) and IIIa (GpIIIa) have been associated with an increased risk of recurrent miscarriages. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms GpIa-C807T and GpIIIa-T1565C-PlA1/PlA2 with platelet function in women with unexplained spontaneous recurrent miscarriages.

Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 196 unrelated nulliparous Greek women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The prevalence of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls has increased worldwide and is often associated with obesity in childhood as well as high fat/high glycemic index diets. Evidence suggests that subjects with obesity present with alterations in appetite-regulating hormones. The arcuate and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus are the centers of action of appetite hormones, as well as the location of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the activation of which results in the onset of puberty.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: To assess the prevalence variation in pregnancy outcomes of the different phenotypes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Materials: Cohort, cross sectional and case control studies grouping together pregnant women with GDM, based on the results of oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) and reporting pregnancy outcomes in each group, were included. The primary outcomes were (i)large for gestational age and ii)hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Ovarian senescence is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We aimed to evaluate the association between menopausal symptoms and cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of apparently healthy middle-aged women.

Methods: The cohort included 2793 peri- and postmenopausal women not on menopausal hormone therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study aimed to explore the relationship between kisspeptin levels and ovarian reserves in reproductive-age women, focusing on three groups: adequate, increased (PCOS), and diminished ovarian reserves.
  • Out of 80 participants, 74 women were included, revealing that women with diminished ovarian reserves were older and had higher FSH levels, while various hormonal levels differed among the groups.
  • Although kisspeptin levels were higher in women with diminished ovarian reserves compared to those with adequate reserves, the results did not show a significant association between kisspeptin levels and ovarian reserve.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an autosomal dominant hereditary cancer syndrome associated with germline pathogenic variants in the tumor protein p53 () gene and elevated risk of a broad range of early-onset malignancies. Patients with LFS are at risk of a second and third primary tumor. A 15-month-old girl consulted for clitoromegaly and pubic hair.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: During the past decade, the theory that high-grade extrauterine pelvic tumors originate from the fallopian tube has been strongly suggested. Our study aims to illuminate the possible role of tubal cytology as an accessory identification tool for gynecologic extrauterine malignancies, allowing in the long term the implementation of population-level cytologic tube evaluation during all benign gynecologic surgeries that do not result in salpingectomy.

Materials And Methods: We ex vivo collect salpingeal epithelial cells from the fibria directly from fresh fallopian tube specimens from women undergoing salpingectomy for any indication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Female infertility and reproduction is an ongoing and rising healthcare issue, resulting in delaying the decision to start a family. Therefore, in this review, we examine potential novel metabolic mechanisms involved in ovarian aging according to recent data and how these mechanisms may be addressed through new potential medical treatments. We examine novel medical treatments currently available based mostly on experimental stem cell procedures as well as caloric restriction (CR), hyperbaric oxygen treatment and mitochondrial transfer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Fetal growth disturbances increase the risk of health complications for babies, and this study investigates the role of the protein apelin in early fetal growth patterns, measuring its levels in the amniotic fluid of 80 pregnant women.
  • The research found significant differences in apelin concentrations based on the fetus's growth classification, with lower levels in large for gestational age (LGA) fetuses compared to appropriate (AGA) or small for gestational age (SGA) ones.
  • Results suggest that measuring apelin in amniotic fluid during the early second trimester could help predict the likelihood of a fetus being born LGA, pointing to the need for further studies on apelin's interactions with other factors influencing fetal growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endometriosis, defined as the development of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity, is a common gynecological disorder. The prevalence of pelvic endometriosis approaches 6%-10% in the general female population, and in women with pain, infertility, or both, the frequency is 35%-50%. The gold standard recommended process for diagnosing endometriosis is laparoscopy, an invasive surgical procedure, with or without histologic verification.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyze the published evidence for the use of fallopian tube brush cytology for the early detection of extrauterine serous gynecological cancer.

Methods: We systematically searched the literature and, additionally, cross-checked on the bibliographies of selected articles. The inclusion criteria involved studies assessing the utility of fallopian tube brush cytology and its applications in the diagnosis, screening, or follow-up of extrauterine serous gynecological cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF