Exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known to impact on patients' physical and mental health. The relationship between performance on treadmill exercise tolerance test (ETT) and health-related quality of life (HRQL)has never been specifically investigated in the setting of CAD.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing an ETT with the Bruce protocol during a diagnostic workup for CAD (n = 1,631, age 55 ± 12 years) were evaluated.

Venous thromboembolism after esophagectomy for cancer: a systematic review of the literature to evaluate incidence, risk factors, and prophylaxis.

Purpose: Although esophagectomy remains the preferred treatment for esophageal cancer, it is still associated with a number of complications, including post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of this study was to summarize the reported incidence of VTE after esophagectomy, its risk factors, and prevention strategies.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the literature in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Current Practice in FFP Preparation and Use in Greece: A National Survey.

Objective: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion is widely used in modern clinical settings. Practices regarding its use vary due to lack of guidelines from randomized trials. The aim of this study was to assess both the current practices regarding FFP production, use, and wastage and the implementation of quality control (QC), female donor plasma production policies, and use of pharmaceutical hemostatic agents in Greece.

Trends of Antithrombotic Treatment in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights from the GReek-AntiPlatElet Atrial Fibrillation (GRAPE-AF) Registry.

Purpose: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are a high-risk subset of patients, whose optimal antithrombotic treatment strategy, involving a combination of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents, has not been well defined. Our study aims to investigate contemporary "real-world" trends of antithrombotic treatment strategies in AF patients undergoing PCI, as well as identify factors affecting decision-making at hospital discharge.

Methods: "Real-world" data were retrieved from the GReek-AntiPlatElet Atrial Fibrillation (GRAPE-AF) registry, a contemporary, nationwide, multicenter, observational study of AF patients undergoing PCI.

Photosensitivity During Quinolone Therapy in Diabetic Foot Patients May Falsely Indicate Treatment Failure.

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), also referred to as skin and soft tissue infections, or skin and skin structure infections, with or without osteomyelitis (OM) in diabetic foot are complications of diabetes. Quinolones are a widely used class of antibiotics in ABSSSI and OM, and photosensitivity is among their adverse reactions. Its appearance may falsely indicate treatment failure.

Successful Treatment of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis with Dalbavancin.

Introduction: Dalbavancin is a new antibiotic against multi-drug resistant Gram (+) bacteria. Dalbavancin has an extremely long half-life. Current indication is skin and soft tissue infections (ABSSSI), but researchers have successfully administered it off-label to osteomyelitis (OM) patients.

A Real-World Observational Study Examining the Impact of Aclidinium Bromide Therapy on the Quality of Life, Symptoms, and Activity Impairment of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Greek ON-AIR Study.

Purpose: This multicenter, prospective, observational study aimed to supplement real-world evidence on the effects of aclidinium bromide on the quality of life (QoL), symptoms, and activity impairment of patients with COPD.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients were ≥40 years of age, newly initiated on aclidinium bromide as monotherapy or add-on therapy according to the product's approved label. Patient-reported COPD assessment test (CAT), the severity of symptoms and their impact on daily activities, and the features of the Genuair inhaler device were assessed at enrollment and at 12 weeks post-treatment onset.

Left Lateral Cervical Mass with Draining Sinuses.

The aim of the present study is to describe an uncommon case of tuberculous lymphadenitis (TL) in a symptomless 89-year-old male smoker patient, who presented at the emergency department of our hospital with left lateral cervical swelling with draining sinuses. No other clinical symptoms or physical findings were observed at admission. An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and a small calcified nodule in chest CT were the only abnormal findings.

Radiological Risks From Potential Exposure of the Population to Radiation From Orphan Radioactive Sources.

People in their everyday lives are exposed to radiation. Natural radiation is emitted from space, subsoil, and various materials which contain radioactive materials. Humans are also exposed to radiation from medical and industrial applications that use radioactive sources with artificial radioactive materials.

Patient Survival After Acute Voluntary Poisoning With a Huge Dose of Oxcarbazepine and Olanzapine.

Introduction: Oxcarbazepine is a carbamazepine pre-drug with less drug interactions. Its adverse effects, including hyponatremia, somnolence and ataxia, are dose dependent. Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug most commonly used to manage psychoses and symptoms of irritability and aggressive behavior.

Endothelial and Cardiac Dysfunction in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Does Treatment Modify the Inflammatory Load on Arterial and Cardiac Structure and Function?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), largely represented by Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), alter gastrointestinal physiology and mucosal immunity through a complex inflammatory process. These diseases can lead to significant arterial endothelial dysfunction. There is also evidence linking IBD with a modification of cardiac structure and function.

Case Report: Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis presenting acutely with isolated facial edema.

A 45-year-old Asian man presented with acute-onset periorbital and facial edema associated with pyrexia. Muscle weakness was absent. Initial laboratory investigations showed an inflammatory reaction, while screening for infections was negative.

Quantitative INTERSPECIMEN variability during biphasic pleural fluid cytological sampling in adenocarcinoma effusions.

Objectives: Given that cytology of adenocarcinoma-induced pleural effusions has a high diagnostic yield, we have comparatively evaluated the cytological information of smears during biphasic sampling of pleural fluid in patients with metastatic pleural adenocarcinoma from various primary sites.

Methods: We studied 25 male and 21 female patients, aged 59.4 ±17.

Nurse's Contribution to Alleviate Non-adherence to Hypertension Treatment.

Purpose Of Review: Hypertension consists a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. Despite the proven effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment, approximately half of hypertensive patients have inadequate blood pressure control. Non-adherence to medication has been shown to be an important barrier to achieving adequate blood pressure control and nurse interventions can substantially improve therapeutic compliance.

Oxidative stress and kidney injury in trans-radial catheterization.

Oxidative stress is linked to coronary artery disease and is a major mechanism in contrast-induced nephropathy. Trans-radial approach in coronary angiography (CA) with minimized peri-procedural bleeding is expected to reduce acute kidney injury incidence. In the present study, oxidative stress patterns observed in radial CA and their associations with early manifestations of kidney injury are described.

Does size matter concerning impact of position on oxygenation status in spontaneously breathing patients with unilateral effusion?

Background: Inconsistent and contradictory findings have appeared in the literature concerning the impact of body position on oxygenation in pleural effusion.

Methods: We attempted to elucidate whether the size of the pleural effusion in patients with no parenchymal disease is the main determinant of posture-induced alterations in oxygenation parameters. We studied 62 spontaneously breathing patients aged 65.

Initial size of unilateral pleural effusion determines impact of thoracocentesis on oxygenation.

Background: There have been contradicting reports in the literature regarding the impact of pleural fluid aspiration on patients' oxygenation. The aim of this study was to assess the role of the initial size of effusion on post-drainage oxygenation.

Methods: We studied 122 patients, aged (mean±SD) 61.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte (N/L) and Platelet to Lymphocyte (P/L) Ratios in Differentiating Acute Heart Failure from Respiratory Infection.

Background: The clinical manifestations of acute heart failure (AHF) and respiratory infection (RI) frequently overlap in patients presenting with dyspnoea at the emergency department (ED). The neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) and platelet to lymphocyte (P/L) ratios have been proposed as diagnostic and prognostic indices in this setting.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of N/L and P/L ratios to discriminate the cause of dyspnoea in patients admitted with an initial diagnosis of AHF-RI.

Risk factors for fear of falling in elderly patients with severe knee osteoarthritis before and one year after total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the regression of fear of falling (FOF) and identify its risk factors in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis before and one year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: 11 men and 57 women with a mean age of 73 years and a mean body mass index of 30.36 kg/m2 who had severe (grade 3 or 4) knee osteoarthritis and knee pain of ≥1 year were included.

Reduction of Falls and Factors Affecting Falls a Year After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Elderly Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a common surgical treatment for severe knee Osteoarthritis (OA), which generally improves pain, physical function, quality of life and possibly fall risk. Fall risk increases for older adults with severe knee OA; however it has not been studied extensively whether this parameter is improved after TKA.

Objective: To investigate: a) the history and frequency of falls, including mechanism or causes of falls, injuries sustained from falls reported, activity during falling and location of falls and, b) the factors affecting falls, a year after TKA in elderly patients with severe knee OA.

Swan-neck versus straight peritoneal dialysis catheter: Long-term effect on patient and method survival.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is limited mainly by a higher technique failure rate as compared to hemodialysis (HD), catheter malfunction being an important reason. Intra- and extra-peritoneal catheter configuration may be associated with mechanical and infectious complications affecting method survival. We report our experience with two extra-peritoneal catheter configurations: the straight and the swan-neck (SN) catheters.

Synthetic and Natural Nutritional Supplements: Health "Allies" or Risks to Public Health?

Background: The modern way of life involves high stress levels, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, obesity and other detrimental health factors. Nutritional supplements (NS) are complexes of nutrients with variant activity that may infer reversal to nutrient depletion. They tend to be popular amongst social categories associated with the healthy life style, such as the elite and amateur athletes, military people and the general population.

Levosimendan beyond inotropy and acute heart failure: Evidence of pleiotropic effects on the heart and other organs: An expert panel position paper.

Levosimendan is a positive inotrope with vasodilating properties (inodilator) indicated for decompensated heart failure (HF) patients with low cardiac output. Accumulated evidence supports several pleiotropic effects of levosimendan beyond inotropy, the heart and decompensated HF. Those effects are not readily explained by cardiac function enhancement and seem to be related to additional properties of the drug such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic ones.