CADASIL in Greece: Mutational spectrum and clinical characteristics based on a systematic review and pooled analysis of published cases.

Background: Differences have been noted in the clinical presentation and mutational spectrum of CADASIL among various geographical areas. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mode of clinical presentation and genetic mutations reported in Greece.

Methods: After a systematic literature search, we performed a pooled analysis of all published CADASIL cases from Greece.

Preliminary validation of the apraxia battery for adults-second edition (ABA-2) in Greek patients with dementia.

Background: Apraxia is considered a supportive feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. It has been reported that patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) may present apraxia, especially in the buccofacial area. The Apraxia Battery for Adults (ABA-2) is a brief and practical battery for praxis impairment and has been validated in Greek post-stroke patients.

Routine histopathology of septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in a greek cohort.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a diverse inherited disease affecting 1 in 500 individuals irrespective of gender and ethnicity. A fraction of HCM patients will eventually develop drug refractory dynamic obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. For such patients, septal myectomy is the procedure of choice to alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

A Review of the Significance in Measuring Preoperative and Postoperative Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Values in Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC).

: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for 1-2% of all thyroid malignancies, and it originates from parafollicular "C" cells. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker, mainly for gastrointestinal malignancies. There are references in literature where elevated CEA levels may be the first finding in MTC.

High-Intensity Exercise Training Protects the Brain Against Autoimmune Neuroinflammation: Regulation of Microglial Redox and Pro-inflammatory Functions.

: Exercise training induces beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases, and specifically on multiple sclerosis (MS) and it's model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, it is unclear whether exercise training exerts direct protective effects on the central nervous system (CNS), nor are the mechanisms of neuroprotection fully understood. In this study, we investigated the direct neuroprotective effects of high-intensity continuous training (HICT) against the development of autoimmune neuroinflammation and the role of resident microglia.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging patterns in central nervous system lymphomas: A pictorial review.

Five distinctive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) patterns of Central Nervous System Lymphomas (CNSL) are introduced in this pictorial essay - in an attempt to differentiate lymphoma from other abnormalities with similar MRI appearance, - namely a. solitary supratentorial, b. multiple supratentorial, c.

A case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation in the setting of Rendu Osler Weber syndrome.

Rendu Osler Weber syndrome is a rare disorder, in which arteriovenous malformations are a hallmark feature. We describe the case of a 77-year-old female patient who presented with dyspnea, recurrent epistaxis, and signs of right ventricular heart failure, along with hypoxia and severe anemia. Several imaging modalities facilitated diagnostic workup.

Continuous and interval training attenuate encephalomyelitis by separate immunomodulatory mechanisms.

Background: Studies have reported beneficial effects of exercise training on autoimmunity, and specifically on multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, it is unknown whether different training paradigms affect disease course via shared or separate mechanisms.

Objective: To compare the effects and mechanism of immune modulation of high intensity continuous training (HICT) versus high intensity interval training (HIIT) on systemic autoimmunity in EAE.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Platelet Hyperaggregation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Era of Novel Anti-diabetic Agents.

Background: The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is ever-increasing and along with its microvascular and macrovascular complications, it is associated with a high morbidity and mortality burden globally. Major components of diabetes pathophysiology include glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity and insulin resistance, disturbing the vascular wall integrity and leading to endothelial dysfunction and platelet hyper aggregation.

Objective: This review aims to identify and summarize the effect of novel anti-diabetic agents (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose co-transporter -2 inhibitors) on endothelial (EF) and platelet function (PF) and evaluate the consistency with the results of cardiovascular outcomes studies.

Curative embolization of iatrogenic inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula 14 years after right hemicolectomy.

Inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula (IMAVF) is a rare condition with 40 reported cases. It can be of congenital, idiopathic or acquired etiology. Acquired IMAVF occurs after trauma or has an iatrogenic origin due to abdominal interventions, mainly operations involving the left hemi-colon.

The challenge of implementing Less is More medicine: A European perspective.

The concept of Less is More medicine emerged in North America in 2010. It aims to serve as an invitation to recognize the potential risks of overuse of medical care that may result in harm rather than in better health, tackling the erroneous assumption that more care is always better. In response, several medical societies across the world launched quality-driven campaigns ("Choosing Wisely") and published "top-five lists" of low-value medical interventions that should be used to help make wise decisions in each clinical domain, by engaging patients in conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures.

Late results of a randomized trial on the role of mild hypofractionated radiotherapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is considered to be highly sensitive to changes in radiation therapy dose per fraction, specifically to hypofractionation. An increase in the fractionation dose could cause a higher increase to the prostate than to the normal tissues leading to better disease control with less toxicity. Here we present the results of a randomized trial comparing mild hypofractionation to conventional fractionation after a median of 3,6 years follow up.

The challenging diagnosis and treatment of duodenal diverticulum perforation: a report of two cases.

Background: The duodenum is a common site for diverticulum formation. Most of the duodenal diverticula are asymptomatic, incidental findings. Perforation is a rare but potentially lethal complication of duodenal diverticular disease.

The role of hypofractionated radiotherapy for the definitive treatment of localized prostate cancer: early results of a randomized trial.

Prostate cancer is considered to have a special biology which could affect the radiation therapy result based on the selected fractionation scheme. We present the preliminary results of a randomized trial comparing conventionally and hypofractionated radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Patients included in the study had localized prostate cancer (cT1c-T3bN0M0) and were randomly assigned to mild hypofractionated (72 Gy in 32 fractions, arm1) or conventionally fractionated (74 Gy in 37 fractions, arm2) radiation therapy treatment with Volumetric Arc Therapy technique.

Metachronous Ovarian Metastases in a Patient with Primary Colorectal Cancer. A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Metachronous ovarian metastasis from primary colorectal cancer (CRC) is a rare condition that is diagnosed after the treatment of CRC. In most cases, ovarian metastases present without specific symptoms or signs and are usually diagnosed during follow-up imaging. A rare case is presented of metachronous ovarian metastasis from primary CRC, diagnosed on follow-up by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and includes a review of the literature.

External Oblique Muscle Schwannoma: A Rare Anatomical Presentation.

Introduction: Schwannomas or neurilemmomas are rare, benign, and usually solitary lesions that arise from the nerve sheath. In the majority of cases, these tumors involve the extremities, head, neck, and trunk.

Case Presentation: In the present study, a 52-year-old man presented to our surgical department for the evaluation of a symptomatic lump in his left lateral abdominal wall.

Ducts of Luschka as a rare cause of postoperative biloma. MRCP findings.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be complicated by a post- operative biloma. Bile leak from the duct of Luschka is reported to be the second most frequent cause, reported in 0.15%-2% of the patients.

Exercise intensity-dependent immunomodulatory effects on encephalomyelitis.

Background: Exercise training (ET) has beneficial effects on multiple sclerosis and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, the intensity-dependent effects of ET on the systemic immune system in EAE remain undefined.

Objective: (1) To compare the systemic immune modulatory effects of moderate versus high-intensity ET protocols in protecting against development of EAE; (2) To investigate whether ET affects autoimmunity selectively, or causes general immunosuppression.

Gastric schwannoma: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal schwannomas are benign, slow-growing and usually asymptomatic tumors. In some cases bleeding, epigastric pain and palpable mass may be occurring. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging due to the difficulty of differentiation from other submucosal tumors.

Three-dimensional printing as an educational tool in colorectal surgery.

3D printing is a rapidly advancing technology which represents a significant technological achievement that could be useful in a variety of biomedical applications. In the field of surgery, 3D printing is envisioned as a significant step in the areas of surgical planning, education and training. The 3D printed models are considered as high quality and efficient educational tools.