Malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: State of the Art.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a clinical entity characterized by signs and symptoms arising from the obstruction or occlusion of the thin-walled superior vena cava (SVC) and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the rise of benign cases of SVCS, as a thrombotic complication of intravascular devices, it is most commonly seen secondary to malignancy as a consequence of thrombosis, direct invasion of tumor cells inside the vessel, or external compression. SVCS can be the initial presentation of a previously undiagnosed tumor in up to 60% of cases.

Impact of de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies on pediatric kidney transplant prognosis in patients with acute declined or stable allograft function.

Background: This retrospective multicenter long-term cohort study investigates de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies (dnDSA) impact on allograft survival in pediatric kidney transplantation (KTx), depending on allograft function at dnDSA detection.

Methods: Seventy patients with dnDSA screening in the context of acute allograft dysfunction (AAD) (>50% serum creatinine increase) or routine follow-up were included during a 20-year period. Number of dnDSA specificities and HLA total mean fluorescence intensity (MFI-sum) were collected.

Early arrhythmia recurrence after cryoballoon ablation in atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Early arrhythmia recurrence within the 3-month blanking period is a common event that historically has been attributed to reversible phenomena. While its mechanistic links remain obscure, accumulating evidence support the argument of shortening the blanking period. We aimed to elucidate the association between early and late arrhythmia recurrence after atrial fibrillation cryoablation.

ERCC1 19007 Polymorphism in Greek Patients with Advanced Urothelial Cancer Treated with Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: Effect of the Changing Treatment Paradigm: A Cohort Study by the Hellenic GU Cancer Group.

We previously showed that ERCC1 19007 C>T polymorphism was associated with cancer-specific survival (CSS) after platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer (aUC). We aimed to confirm this association in a different cohort of patients. Genotyping of the 19007C>T polymorphism was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 98 aUC patients, treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Enhanced performance of a modified diagnostic test of primary aldosteronism in patients with adrenal adenomas.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the commonest cause of endocrine hypertension ranging from 4.6 to 16.6% according to the diagnostic tests employed.

Relugolix: A new kid on the block among gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists.

Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone of metastatic prostate cancer treatment. ADT can be achieved through surgical castration, or it may be induced either by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or GnRH antagonists. GnRH antagonists provide a more rapid castration alongside with a safer profile regarding adverse events.

Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, placental growth factor and procalcitonin as biomarkers of gram-negative sepsis: Analysis through a derivation and a validation cohort.

Further improvement of the diagnostic and prognostic performance of biomarkers for the critically ill is needed. Procalcitonin (PCT), placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 raise interest for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis.Serum samples from 2 cohorts of 172 patients (derivation cohort) and of 164 patients (validation cohort) comprising only patients with microbiologically confirmed gram-negative infections were analyzed.

Association of metabolic syndrome with prostate cancer diagnosis and aggressiveness in patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy.

Introduction And Objective: Even though the only established risk factors for prostate cancer (PCa) are age, ethnic origin and family history, there are data suggesting that environmental factors, such as the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), may also play a role in the etiology of the disease. The aim of this study is to correlate MetS with PCa diagnosis and Gleason score (GS) in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective, single-center study including 378 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy in our department during the years from 2018 to 2019.

HIV continuum of care: bridging cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Objective: The aim of this study was to propose a unified continuum-of-care (CoC) analysis combining cross-sectional and longitudinal elements, incorporating time spent between stages.

Design: The established 90-90-90 target follows a cross-sectional four-stage CoC analysis, lacking information on timing of diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, and viral suppression durability.

Methods: Data were derived from the Athens Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (AMACS).

Immunologic Dysregulation and Hypercoagulability as a Pathophysiologic Background in COVID-19 Infection and the Immunomodulating Role of Colchicine.

In 2020, SARS-COV-2 put health systems under unprecedented resource and manpower pressure leading to significant number of deaths. Expectedly, researchers sought to shed light on the pathophysiologic background of this novel disease (COVID-19) as well as to facilitate the design of effective therapeutic modalities. Indeed, early enough the pivotal role of inflammatory and thrombotic pathways in SARS-COV-2 infection has been illustrated.

Adrenocortical Cancer: A 20-Year Experience of a Single Referral Center in Prognosis and Outcomes.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but very aggressive endocrine malignancy with poor survival. Histopathology is important for diagnosis, while in some cases immunohistochemical markers and gene profiling of the resected tumor may be superior to current staging systems to determine prognosis. We aimed to present the 20-year experience at a tertiary hospital in patients with ACCs and correlate the immunohistochemical characteristics of ACCs with the clinical and morphological characteristics of the tumors and the survival of the patients.

Molecular Insights in Atrial Fibrillation Pathogenesis and Therapeutics: A Narrative Review.

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is bound to increase globally in the following years, affecting the quality of life of millions of people, increasing mortality and morbidity, and beleaguering health care systems. Increasingly effective therapeutic options against AF are the constantly evolving electroanatomic substrate mapping systems of the left atrium (LA) and ablation catheter technologies. Yet, a prerequisite for better long-term success rates is the understanding of AF pathogenesis and maintenance.

Urology residency training in Greece. Results from the first national resident survey.

Background And Objectives: This is the first national survey assessing Greek Urology residency programs. The main objective of this study is to assess the level of confidence and perception of Greek Urology residents regarding their educational program and detect areas of improvement.

Material And Methods: A 51-question survey was developed via an electronic platform and answered by 91 out of 104 Greek residents from March 2019 until May 2019.

Hyperparathyroidism in patients with overt and mild primary aldosteronism.

Introduction: Increased prevalence of hyperparathyroidism (HP) has been observed in primary aldosteronism (PA) patients. However, HP prevalence in milder forms of PA has not to date been evaluated.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of primary and secondary HP in overt and milder misdiagnosed cases of PA and to investigate the effect of treatment on parathormone (PTH) secretion.

First Clinical Results of the Merit WRAPSODY™ Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis for Treatment of Access Circuit Stenosis in Haemodialysis Patients.

Purpose: This prospective, observational first in human study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of WRAPSODY Cell-impermeable Endoprosthesis (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.) in the treatment of arteriovenous fistula and arteriovenous graft access circuit stenosis.

Materials And Methods: Investigators conducted a prospective analysis of 46 patients with access circuit stenosis from three centres.

Early treatment of COVID-19 with anakinra guided by soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor plasma levels: a double-blind, randomized controlled phase 3 trial.

Early increase of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) serum levels is indicative of increased risk of progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to respiratory failure. The SAVE-MORE double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of anakinra, an IL-1α/β inhibitor, in 594 patients with COVID-19 at risk of progressing to respiratory failure as identified by plasma suPAR ≥6 ng ml, 85.9% (n = 510) of whom were receiving dexamethasone.

Novel treatments in BCG failure. Where do we stand today?

Most patients at first diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC) present with non muscle invasive disease (NMIBC). BCG intravesical therapy after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor is the gold standard in intermediate and high risk NMIBC patients. However, it is estimated that approximately 50% of these patients will present with BCG failure which increases their risk for progression to muscle invasive disease.

Thromboprophylaxis in Patients with COVID-19: Systematic Review of National and International Clinical Guidance Reports.

Background: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is common among patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Anticoagulation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients has been associated with survival benefit; however, the optimal thromboprophylaxis strategy has not yet been defined.

Objective: To identify published guidance reports by national and international societies regarding thromboprophylaxis strategies in COVID-19 patients in different settings (outpatients, hospitalized, post-discharge).

Hidden Patterns of Anti-HLA Class I Alloreactivity Revealed Through Machine Learning.

Detection of alloreactive anti-HLA antibodies is a frequent and mandatory test before and after organ transplantation to determine the antigenic targets of the antibodies. Nowadays, this test involves the measurement of fluorescent signals generated through antibody-antigen reactions on multi-beads flow cytometers. In this study, in a cohort of 1,066 patients from one country, anti-HLA class I responses were analyzed on a panel of 98 different antigens.

Referral for "Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy" for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer to a Multidisciplinary Board: Patterns, Management and Outcomes.

Background: Utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer in everyday practice differs from that of clinical trials. We describe the patterns of referral for "neoadjuvant chemotherapy", treatment and outcomes in a multidisciplinary tumor board.

Methods: This was an observational study.

Partial deletion of chromosome 6p causing developmental delay and mild dysmorphisms in a child: molecular and developmental investigation and literature search.

Background: The interstitial 6p22.3 deletions concern rare chromosomal events affecting numerous aspects of both physical and mental development. The syndrome is characterized by partial deletion of chromosome 6, which may arise in a number of ways.

Could Sodium/Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors Have Antiarrhythmic Potential in Atrial Fibrillation? Literature Review and Future Considerations.

The global burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) is constantly increasing, necessitating novel and effective therapeutic options. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been introduced in clinical practice as glucose-lowering medications. However, they have recently gained prominence for their potential to exert substantial cardiorenal protection and are being evaluated in large clinical trials including patients with type 2 diabetes and normoglycemic adults.