Atherosclerotic Risk Factor Prevalence in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is comparable to that of the general population and is driven by traditional ASCVD risk factors.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of traditional ASCVD risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus [DM], obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity) in ACHD and compare it with the general population.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted up to May 15, 2024, to identify studies (with or without control group) reporting the prevalence of ASCVD risk factors in ACHD.

Hemodiafiltration May Be Associated with Senescence-Related Phenotypic Alterations of Lymphocytes, Which May Predict Mortality in Patients Undergoing Dialysis.

Senescence-resembling alterations on the lymphocytes of patients undergoing dialysis have been widely described. However, the pathophysiology behind these phenomena has not been clarified. In this study, we examined the impact of dialysis prescription on T and B lymphocytes, in patients undergoing dialysis.

A rare case of trisomy 13 mosaicism with only findings on first-trimester ultrasound single umbilical artery and increased nuchal translucency.

Background: Trisomy 13 is a chromosomal defect with high prenatal and postnatal mortality that may reach 87 % during the first year of life. More than 90 % of cases of fetuses with trisomy 13 may be detected by first-trimester ultrasound based on severe fetal structural malformations together with increased nuchal translucency thickness.

Case Description: We report a case of a fetus with trisomy 13 mosaicism with only anomalous findings on prenatal ultrasound of a single umbilical artery and increased nuchal translucency in the absence of major structural abnormalities.

A cross-national investigation of psychosis-like experiences in five European countries included in the E-CLECTIC study: Psychometric challenges in studying their measurement.

Background: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subtle, subclinical perturbations of perceptions and thoughts and are common in the general population. Their characterisation and unidimensionality are still debated.

Methods: This study was conducted by the Electronic-halluCinations-Like Experiences Cross-culTural International Consortium (E-CLECTIC) and aimed at measuring the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) factorial structure across five European countries (Belgium; Czech Republic, Germany; Greece, and Spain) and testing the adequacy of the unidimensional polytomous Rasch model of the tool via Partial Credit Model (PCM) of the CAPE to detect people with a high risk for developing psychosis.

Prognostic Impact of Body Mass Index in Atrial Fibrillation.

: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the influence of obesity on the prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study aimed to explore the potential association of body mass index (BMI) with the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with AF. : In this retrospective, post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF randomized trial, 1113 AF patients were included and stratified as the following: underweight (BMI < 18 kg/m), normal weight (BMI 18-24.

Results of esketamine administration in a Greek population; A case series.

Esketamine is a non-selective, competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the brain. Through NMDA receptor antagonism, esketamine causes a transient increase in glutamate release, leading to increases in neurotrophic signaling and restoration of synaptic function in brain regions involved in mood regulation and emotional behavior. Several randomized clinical trials have shown its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms of depression in some people, despite its short-term side effects that include mainly disorientation, dizziness, nausea, and increased blood pressure.

Multiorgan Congestion Assessment by Venous Excess Ultrasound Score in Acute Heart Failure.

Background: This study sought to explore the prevalence and clinical utility of different patterns of multiorgan venous congestion as assessed by the venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) score in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure (HF).

Methods: Consecutive patients admitted for acute HF were prospectively enrolled. Inferior vena cava diameter, hepatic vein, portal vein, and renal vein Doppler waveforms were assessed at admission, and patients were stratified based on VExUS score from 0 to 3, with higher values indicating worse congestion.

Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Venous Thromboembolism with JAK Inhibitors versus TNF Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) between tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We researched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov until December of 2023 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies.

Curcumin as a Multifunctional Spice Ingredient against Mental Disorders in Humans: Current Clinical Studies and Bioavailability Concerns.

Background: Mental disorders in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress are one of the major causes of burden globally. Over the last two decades, the use of plant-based substances in the treatment of mental disorders in combination or not with medication has increasingly attracted the interest of the scientific research community. However, even if there is a plethora of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, most of them have low bioavailability, rendering them unable to insert into the bloodstream to exert their biological activities.

Long-term effectiveness of non-surgical open-bite treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The etiology of open bite is complex, involving various genetic or environmental factors. Several treatment alternatives have been suggested for the correction of open bite, yet their long-term effectiveness remains controversial.

Objective: To assess the long-term effectiveness of open-bite treatment in treated with non-surgical approaches versus untreated patients, through lateral cephalometric radiographs.

Timing of last COVID-19 vaccine dose and SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in fully (boosted) vaccinated healthcare personnel.

Aim: To estimate the incidence, timing and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated healthcare personnel (HCP).

Methods: In total, 6496 fully vaccinated HCP were analysed prospectively from 15 November 2021 to 17 April 2022. Full coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination was defined as a complete primary vaccination series followed by a booster dose at least 6 months later.

Association between COVID-19 vaccination status, time elapsed since the last vaccine dose, morbidity, and absenteeism among healthcare personnel: A prospective, multicenter study.

Aim: We assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination status and time elapsed since the last vaccine dose on morbidity and absenteeism among healthcare personnel (HCP) in the context of a mandatory vaccination policy.

Methods: We followed 7592 HCP from November 15, 2021 through April 17, 2022. Full COVID-19 vaccination was defined as a primary vaccination series plus a booster dose at least six months later.

Prevalence of hearing loss in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a multisystem autoimmune disease, primarily targeting salivary and lacrimal glands; skin, nasal and vaginal dryness, along with musculoskeletal pain and fatigue are the most commonly reported symptoms. Hearing loss is hypothesized to be frequent as well. The purpose of this systematic review was to estimate the prevalence of Hearing loss and its different subtypes in patients with Sjögren syndrome.

Real-world effectiveness of vortioxetine in outpatients with major depressive disorder: functioning and dose effects.

Background: Functional recovery is an important treatment goal in major depressive disorder (MDD). This study assessed the real-world effectiveness of vortioxetine in patients with MDD, with particular focus on functioning; dose-response was also assessed.

Methods: This was a non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study conducted in Greece.

Vaccination coverage rates and attitudes towards mandatory vaccinations among healthcare personnel in tertiary-care hospitals in Greece.

Objectives: Our aim was to estimate vaccination and susceptibility rates against vaccine-preventable diseases among healthcare personnel (HCP) in eight hospitals.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey.

Results: A total of 1284 HCP participated (physicians: 31.

More than meets the eye: A case of synchronous ipsilateral clear cell renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma of the pelvicalyceal system and literature review.

Background And Aim: The synchronous occurrence of renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis in the same kidney is extremely rare, although previously reported. With this study we aim to present our case and provide a literature review on this entity.

Methods: An otherwise healthy 43-year-old military male with the chief complaint of left plank pain was seen in the office.

COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces morbidity and absenteeism among healthcare personnel: A prospective multicenter study.

Aim: Healthcare personnel (HCP) are prioritized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to protect them and non-disruptive provision of healthcare services. We assessed the impact of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on morbidity and absenteeism among HCP.

Methods: We studied 7445 HCP in five tertiary-care hospitals in Greece from November 15, 2020 through April 18, 2021.

Acute L-Citrulline Supplementation Increases Nitric Oxide Bioavailability but Not Inspiratory Muscle Oxygenation and Respiratory Performance.

The present study aimed to investigate whether acute L-citrulline supplementation would affect inspiratory muscle oxygenation and respiratory performance. Twelve healthy males received 6 g of L-citrulline or placebo in a double-blind crossover design. Pulmonary function (i.

Assisted reproduction technology outcomes in women with infertility and preexisting diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with or without preexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment.

Methods: Prospective or retrospective controlled trials reporting on women with or without preexisting DM undergoing ART treatment were considered eligible. Twelve electronic databases were systematically searched up to December 2020.

Skeletal muscle and cerebral oxygenation levels during and after submaximal concentric and eccentric isokinetic exercise.

The aim was to investigate the potential differences in muscle (vastus lateralis) and cerebral (prefrontal cortex) oxygenation levels as well as in the number of repetitions and total work output between isokinetic eccentric and concentric exercise at a moderate relative intensity until exhaustion. Ten recreationally active young men underwent two isokinetic exercise sessions either concentric or eccentric, one on each randomly selected leg. The protocols were performed at 60°/s and an intensity corresponding to 60% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of each contraction type.