Ankle Fractures in Diabetic Patients: Report of Two Cases.

Although ankle fractures are very common cases for orthopedic surgeons with an easy diagnosis and very good outcomes either with conservative or with operative treatment, in diabetic patients, these fractures can be complex with difficult solutions. We report two cases with ankle fractures in diabetic patients from our department with demanding diagnostic or therapeutic approaches and poor outcomes. The first case, a 65-year-old man with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and neglected ankle fracture dislocation because of diabetic neuropathy, underwent open reduction internal fixation with additional external fixation.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Hellas, Greece: the Hypertension Study in General Practice in Hellas (HYPERTENSHELL) national study.

Background: The Hypertension Study in General Practice in Hellas (Hypertenshell) is a cross-sectional study (much like the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study) for assessing the prevalence, level of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Greece.

Methods: The study was conducted with the collaboration of physicians in 98 Health Centers across Greece. Participants were interviewed about lifestyle, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken on two clinical visits for verification of diagnosis and control of hypertension.

Prognostic significance of renal function in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension: results from the Syst-Eur trial.

Several reports suggest that markers of renal function such as serum creatinine, serum uric acid, and urinary excretion of protein may be related to cardiovascular complications and mortality. This study analyzed the data from the Syst-Eur trial, which was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention trial in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. The purpose was to evaluate whether serum levels of creatinine and uric acid and urinary protein excretion at entry are related to subsequent morbidity and mortality.

Follow-up of renal function in treated and untreated older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) Trial Investigators.

Background: In the outcome trials that provided information on renal function in older hypertensive patients, diuretics and beta-blockers were mostly used as first-line drugs. The long-term renal effects of calcium-channel blockers remain unclear.

Objective: To compare the changes in renal function in 2,258 treated and 2,148 untreated patients with isolated systolic hypertension, of whom 455 had diabetes mellitus and 390 had proteinuria.

Prevalence of obesity in Greek hypertensives.

An association of obesity and hypertension is well recognised and there is a direct positive relationship between body weight or body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP), although the mechanisms responsible for weight-related increases of BP are still unknown. Obesity does appear to be an independent risk factor for premature mortality, especially when it is associated with other risk factors such as hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance (or diabetes), hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. However, there are differences among racial and ethnic subgroups.

Frequency of cough during therapy with ACE inhibitors in Greek hypertensives.

Persistent dry cough is one of the most common side-effects during therapy with ACE inhibitors. The frequency of cough ranges widely (from 0.2% to 15%) in different series, being higher in small studies and smaller in retrospective studies with large number of patients.