Depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive ageing in Greece: evidence from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD).

Objectives: To study (i) the prevalence of mild and moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive ageing in Greece and (ii) the relationship between these symptoms and demographic and clinical data.

Methods: The study was based on the randomly selected cohort of the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale.

Epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of chronic right-sided heart failure and tricuspid regurgitation. A clinical consensus statement of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) of the ESC.

Right-sided heart failure and tricuspid regurgitation are common and strongly associated with poor quality of life and an increased risk of heart failure hospitalizations and death. While medical therapy for right-sided heart failure is limited, treatment options for tricuspid regurgitation include surgery and, based on recent developments, several transcatheter interventions. However, the patients who might benefit from tricuspid valve interventions are yet unknown, as is the ideal time for these treatments given the paucity of clinical evidence.

Validity of a virtual reality endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography simulator: can it distinguish experts from novices?

Background: There is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of virtual simulators as a means to acquire hands-on exposure to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The present study aimed to assess the outcome and construct validity of virtual ERCP when training on the GI II Mentor simulator.

Methods: A group of seven experienced endoscopists were compared with 31 novices.

Type-I interferon pathway and DNA damage accumulation in peripheral blood of patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: The abnormal DNA damage response is associated with upregulation of the type-1 interferon (IFN-I) pathway in certain rheumatic diseases. We investigated whether such aberrant mechanisms operate in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: DNA damage levels were measured by alkaline comet assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 52 PsA patients and age-sex-matched healthy individuals.

European Society of Cardiology Core Curriculum for cardio-oncology.

Cardio-oncology is a rapidly growing field of cardiovascular (CV) medicine that has resulted from the continuously increasing clinical demand for specialized CV evaluation, prevention and management of patients suffering or surviving from malignant diseases. Dealing with CV disease in patients with cancer requires special knowledge beyond that included in the general core curriculum for cardiology. Therefore, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has developed a special core curriculum for cardio-oncology, a consensus document that defines the level of experience and knowledge required for cardiologists in this particular field.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants use in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease, Acute Coronary Syndrome or Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The investigation for the optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with stable coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes, and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention constitutes a great challenge for physicians and is a field of extensive research. Although aspirin is commonly recommended as a protective measure for all patients with coronary artery disease and dual antiplatelet therapy for those undergoing procedures, such as percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events remains significant. In this context, the shortcomings associated with the use of vitamin K antagonists have led to the assessment of direct oral anticoagulants as promising alternatives.

PROLONGED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME.

Purpose: Trajectory of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) spans from rapidly improving cases to cases receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). We attempted to estimate temporal trends of prevalence and mortality of PMV and to identify risk factors associated with mortality of patients with ARDS receiving PMV. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of individual patient data from six randomized controlled clinical trials conducted by the ARDS Network.

Mechanics of ascending aortic aneurysms based on a modulus of elasticity dependent on aneurysm diameter and pressure.

The mechanical stresses and strains are examined, in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (aTAA) models, in a patient-specific aTAA as well as in healthy thoracic aortic models, Finite Element Analysis. The aneurysms are assumed spherical, 1.5 mm thick, with diameters between 47 mm and 80 mm, eccentrically positioned.

Cervical HPV Infections, Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and Cytology Findings-A Molecular Epidemiology Study.

Prevalent cervical HPV infection and high-risk HPV persistence consequences have been extensively investigated in the literature; nevertheless, any causative interrelations of other sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs) with cervical HPV infection have not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the possible association of STIs with cervical cytology aberrations and HPV genotyping results in a representative sample of predominantly young Greek women. Liquid-based cytology and molecular detection for bacterial STIs and HPV as well as extended HPV genotyping were simultaneously assessed in cervical samples from 2256 individuals visiting several urban outpatient Gynecology Departments for well-woman visits or cervical screening throughout a 20-month period.

Derivation and validation of four patient clusters in Still's disease, results from GIRRCS AOSD-study group and AIDA Network Still Disease Registry.

Background: Different patient clusters were preliminarily suggested to dissect the clinical heterogeneity in Still's disease. Thus, we aimed at deriving and validating disease clusters in a multicentre, observational, prospective study to stratify these patients.

Methods: Patients included in GIRRCS AOSD-study group and AIDA Network Still Disease Registry were assessed if variables for cluster analysis were available (age, systemic score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin).

Therapeutic inertia in rhythm control strategies in hospitalized patients with fibrillation: Insights from Hellenic Cardiorenal Morbidity Snapshot (HECMOS) study.

Background: Current guidelines recommend a rhythm control strategy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) while catheter ablation has been shown to be a safer and more efficacious approach than antiarrhythmic medications.

Methods: HECMOS was a nationwide snapshot survey of cardiorenal morbidity in hospitalized cardiology patients. In this sub-study, we included 276 cases who had a history of AF, particularly on the rhythm strategy, and catheter ablation procedures had been performed before the index admission.

Management of systemic lupus erythematosus: A new scenario.

The introduction of targeted biological agents in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has created a momentum for improving overall disease management and patients' prognosis. To achieve this, a comprehensive strategy is required spanning the entire patient journey from diagnosis to prevention and management of late complications and comorbidities. In this review, we focus on four aspects that are closely linked to SLE prognosis, namely early disease recognition and treatment initiation, reduction of the cumulative glucocorticoid exposure, attainment of well-defined targets of remission and low disease activity, prevention of flares and, kidney-protective strategies with non-immune-directed agents.

Expression of PD-1/PD-L1 axis in mediastinal lymph nodes and lung tissue of human and experimental lung fibrosis indicates a potential therapeutic target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Mediastinal lymph node enlargement is prevalent in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Studies investigating whether this phenomenon reflects specific immunologic activation are lacking.

Methods: Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in mediastinal lymph nodes and lung tissues was analyzed.