Prevalence and Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in 7704 Individuals: An Analysis from the Greek Registry for the Prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH).

The intention of this study was to profile the cohort from the Greek Registry for the prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH) by estimating the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), pre-DM, smoking, abnormal thyroid function (ATF), and lipid values. The GRegistry-FH is a prospective study involving door-to-door interviews conducted by trained interviewers. Overall, 7704 individuals aged ≥18 years, randomly selected from all the regions of Greece, participated.

Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability in Highly Active Patients: A Treatment Algorithm Based on the Arthroscopic Assessment of the Calcaneofibular Ligament.

Background Ankle sprains are common injuries that may recur as chronic conditions. We aim to describe a treatment algorithm for chronic lateral ankle instability based on the arthroscopic findings of the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). Methods We assessed 67 highly active patients with chronic lateral ankle instability.

Menstural function preservation treatment of a primary vaginal clear cell carcinoma with ovarian transposition and vaginal brachytherapy.

Early stage vaginal carcinomas are typically treated with radical surgical procedures or radiation therapy. Both modalities impair the reproductive ability of the patients. We hereby report a case of menstrual function preservation in a 24-year-old patient with an early-stage primary vaginal clear cell carcinoma.

Lipoprotein Apheresis and Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A One Center Study.

Aim: We evaluated the lipid-lowering (LL) effect of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) treated with LL-drugs and lipoprotein apheresis (LA).

Patients And Methods: The PCSK9i treatment (evolocumab 420 mg/4 weeks, alirocumab 150 mg/2 weeks, or alirocumab 75 mg/2 weeks: 9, 6, and 2 patients, respectively) was initiated in patients with HeFH (n = 17; aged 35-69 years, 10 men, previously treated with statins + ezetimibe ± colesevelam and LA sessions for 2-12 years). A lipid profile was obtained before and immediately after the LA session and before, 1 and 2 months after switching to PCSK9i treatment.

Evaluation of the Paris System in atypical urinary cytology.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the Paris System for reporting urinary cytology, especially in the field of atypia.

Methods: During the last year, 104 urinary cases had atypical cytology. These cases were reviewed and reclassified by three cytopathologists using the Paris criteria.

Dabigatran plasma levels, aPTT and thromboelastography in patients with AF: implications for allowing early non-elective surgical procedures.

According to current recommendations, patients on dabigatran should stop the drug 24-96 h before scheduled surgery. This may seem too long for non-elective cases. The aim of our study was to assess the number of patients on dabigatran who could theoretically undergo surgery 12 h post last drug dosing.

Although Non-diagnostic Between Necrosis and Recurrence, FDG PET/CT Assists Management of Brain Tumours After Radiosurgery.

Aim: To re-evaluate the role of (18)F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/ computer assisted tomography (PET/CT) co-registered with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating adverse radiation effect (ARE) from tumour recurrence after Gamma Knife radiosurgery of brain tumours.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven PET/CT studies co-registered with MRI were performed on 16 patients after radiosurgery, with 12/16 patients having multiple radiosurgery treatments. Long term follow-up was used for evaluation, with 3/16 patients being histopathologically confirmed.

Novel devices to monitor heart failure and minimize hospitalizations.

Introduction: Approximately 1-2% of the adult population in developed countries is affected by heart failure. The costs of heart failure are enormous both in Europe and in the US and are expected to rise. New technologies and remote monitoring, are valid tools for the management and treatment of these patients.

The development and implementation of a software tool and its effect on the quality of provided clinical nutritional therapy in hospitalized patients.

The authors developed "DIET", a computerized system preparing dietary prescriptions in clinical settings. "DIET" has the ability to calculate the nutritional requirements and to produce daily menus of patients automatically. Also, it serves as an electronic medical and dietetic record and it can produce daily reports regarding portions, quantities and cost of meals.

Overestimation and underestimation of cardiovascular risk in clinical practice: usefulness of risk estimation charts.

Introduction: Charts for the estimation of cardiovascular risk contribute greatly to clinical decision making in the management of asymptomatic individuals. However, most decisions are taken without consulting the charts. The aim of our study was to record the degree of overestimation or underestimation of cardiovascular risk in everyday clinical practice.

A modified mutagenic PCR-RFLP method for K-ras codon 12 and 13 mutations detection in NSCLC patients.

Evidence from many investigators has shown that mutations in the first exon of K- ras gene occur at elevated frequencies in lung, pancreatic and colon carcinoma and seem to be of prognostic importance. The aim of this study was to develop an effective method for the detection of K- ras mutations in codons 12 and 13 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in order to investigate correlation with clinical outcome. DNA was extracted from tumour and neighbouring non-neoplastic lung tissues from 70 patients and screened for codon 12 and 13 mutations.