A systematic review of therapies for aortobronchial fistulae.

Objective: The aim of the study was to summarize epidemiologic data about aortobronchial fistulas and compare outcomes (mortality, recurrence, re-operation) of open, staged, and endovascular repair of aortobronchial fistula.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify eligible studies published between January of 1999 and December of 2019. The Cochrane Library, PubMed and Scopus databases were used as search engines.

Cryoablation of osteoid osteomas: Is it a valid treatment option?

Background: Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone tumor with characteristic clinical symptomatology. The selected method for its treatment is percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. However, percutaneous cryoablation is an alternative method with certain advantages.

Combination of Imipenem-Cilastatin-Relebactam and Amoxicillin in the Antibiotic Regimen in Two Cases of Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Infection.

is a difficult-to-treat, multidrug-resistant human pathogen. Relebactam has been shown to inhibit β-lactamase (BLA) and increase the activity of imipenem and amoxicillin. We present two cases of lung infection due to , one caused by subsp and the other by subsp.

The Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided, Continuous, Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block in Perioperative Pain Management of Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled, Double Blind, Prospective Trial.

Open and laparoscopic colorectal surgeries, while essential in the management of various colorectal pathologies, are associated with significant postoperative pain. Effective perioperative pain management strategies remain an anesthesiologic challenge. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB), a novel peripheral nerve block, has gained attention for its potential in providing analgesia for a wide variety of surgeries.

A modified Gamblegram for the visual representation of acid-base disorders according to the Stewart-Figge approach.

The Gamblegram consists of two bars, each of which represents the sum of the charges of individual positively and negatively charged ions and is commonly used for visualizing changes in acid-base and electrolyte charges. However, according to the Stewart-Figge theory, the metabolic independent acid-base variables include the strong ion difference ([SID]) and the total concentrations of weak acids (albumin and inorganic phosphate), which are not shown in the conventional Gamblegram. Thus, the Gamblegram in its current form is unsuitable for visualizing acid-base perturbations using the Stewart-Figge approach.

Open and Closed Triple Inhaler Therapy in Patients with Uncontrolled Asthma.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) are a class of inhalers that has recently been included as add-on therapy in the GINA guidelines, either in a single inhaler device with inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting β2-agonists (ICS + LABA) (closed triple inhaler therapy) or in a separate one (open triple inhaler therapy). This review summarizes the existing evidence on the addition of LAMAs in patients with persistently uncontrolled asthma despite ICS + LABA treatment based on clinical efficacy in the reduction of asthma symptoms and exacerbations, the improvement in lung function, and its safety profile.

The Effect of Ultrasound-guided Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block With and Without Dexmedetomidine on Intraoperative and Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind, Prospective Trial.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in the Western world. While it is performed with minimally invasive procedures, patients often complain of moderate to severe postoperative pain, and the role of the anesthesiologist for its effective management remains crucial. Modern anesthesiology practices have embraced trunk blocks which can contribute to perioperative, multimodal analgesia.

A Real-World Study on the Day and Night-Time Symptoms Among Greek COPD Patients Who Recently Initiated Treatment with Dual Bronchodilation: The DANICO Study.

Purpose: The rationale of this study was to investigate the prevalence of daily and night symptoms and quality of sleep in Greek COPD patients as a means to evaluate their response to treatment with the fixed dose combination of aclidinium/formoterol (administered through the Genuair device).

Patients And Methods: This study was a multicenter, nationwide, non-interventional, observational study in 2105 patients suffering from COPD, who have recently started treatment with aclidinium/formoterol. Patients were attending to two visits, one baseline and a final visit, 3 months later.

Pediatric Leukemia From an Orthopedic Perspective: A Case of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Initially Managed as Septic Hip With Osteomyelitis.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents the most common pediatric cancer accounting for about one-third of all malignancies in childhood. The differential diagnosis for a pediatric patient manifesting with joint pain and refusal to bear weight is wide and includes trauma, transient synovitis, septic arthritis, rheumatologic disorders, and malignancy. Overt complaints from the musculoskeletal system as the initial manifestation of ALL may present in up to 30% of cases with normal laboratory tests and without hepatosplenomegaly or lymphadenopathy, perplexing the establishment of a definite diagnosis.

Functional Comorbidity Index and health-related quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Introduction: The role of comorbidities in determining health-related quality of life (HRQL) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pa-tients has not been thoroughly investigated. Commonly used comorbidity tools, such as Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), have been designed with mortality as the outcome variable. A new tool, the Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI), has been especially developed to assess the effect of comorbidities on the "physical functioning" subscale of the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36).

Self-perceived quality of sleep among COPD patients in Greece: the SLEPICO study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide accompanied by a substantial social and economic burden for the patient and the society. Poor sleep quality among COPD patients is frequently unnoticed and unaddressed by physicians and patients themselves, although it is a major source of further deterioration of these patients' quality of life. The aim of the present study was to record the quality of sleep in COPD patients among the Greek population and correlate these findings with various features of these patients, using the COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS).

A systematic review of therapies for aortobronchial fistulae.

Objective: The aim of the study was to summarize epidemiologic data about aortobronchial fistulae and compare outcomes (mortality, recurrence, reoperation) of open, staged, and endovascular repair of aortobronchial fistula.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify eligible studies published between January 1999 and December 2019. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used as search engines.

[The implementation of the law 4509/2017 in the Forensic Department of the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki].

According to the Explanatory Memorandum of the law 4509/2017, a significant change is being made to the current institutional framework of Articles 69 and 70 of the ECHR concerning the penal treatment of mentally ill offenders, in order to ensure a high level of treatment for perpetrators with mental or intellectual disorder. In application of the law, it was examined in court the abolishment, maintenance or replacement of the treatment measure of 47 patients from the Department of Forensic Psychiatry in Thessaloniki. The results were compared with the previous status quo.

Total Endovascular Therapy of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Peripheral Artery Disease, and Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia: A Challenging Case.

We presented a challenging case of a patient diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), peripheral artery disease, and chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). Herein, we describe the treatment in this high-risk patient diagnosed with CMI who also had critical limb ischemia and his AAA had rapidly expanded. First we performed angioplasty and celiac arterial stenting.

TEVAR for Secondary Aortobronchial Fistulas: Two Cases with Favorable Long-term Outcomes.

Secondary aortobronchial fistula (ABF) is an uncommon clinical entity associated with increased mortality. Most common presentation is hemoptysis, ranging from repetitive self-limiting episodes to massive hematemesis. Mediastinitis (if present) and excessive blood loss burden the unfavorable case of ABF, whereas stent-graft contamination and sepsis are the main concerns regarding endovascular therapy.

Comparison of a new simplified acid-base tool to the original Stewart-Figge approach: a study on cardiac surgical patients.

Purpose: To suggest a simplified method for strong ion gap ([SIG]) calculation.

Patients And Methods: To simplify [SIG] calculation, we used the following assumptions: (1) the major determinants of apparent strong ion difference ([SID]) are [Na], [K] and [Cl] (2) [Ca] and [Mg] do not contribute significantly to [SID] variation and can be replaced by their reference concentrations (3) physiologically relevant pH variation is at the order of 10 and therefore we can assume a standard value of 7.4.