Rosuvastatin and cardiovascular disease: did the strongest statin hold the initial promises?

Rosuvastatin is the latest and most potent statin currently on the market. It has the greatest efficacy compared with all other available statins on total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction, and also provides a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) better than atorvastatin. Imaging studies showed a regression of atheroma in secondary prevention patients using an intravascular ultrasound technique and a hold of progression in primary prevention patients using carotid intima-media thickness as a surrogate marker.

Intrabiliary rupture of hydatid cysts of the liver.

Background: Intrabiliary rupture is a common and serious complication of hepatic hydatidosis, and its treatment remains controversial.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients who underwent surgery for rupture of a hydatid cyst in the biliary tree were studied retrospectively. The following data were analyzed: age, sex, clinical presentation, and so on.

Groin swelling, the anatomic way out of abdominal haematomas: a case report and explicative literature review.

This case report concerns a previously healthy thirty-five-year-old female with complaints of inguinal hernia that ultimately proved to be a retroperitoneal haematoma. The patient suffered from a car accident 5 months before admission and was hospitalized. During her prior hospitalization, explorative laparotomy revealed a haematoma of the mesentery.

Epidermoid splenic cyst presented as huge splenic abscess: a case report.

Epidermoid splenic cysts are very rare. Symptoms emerge because of enlargement, infection, haemorrhage or rupture. Although splenectomy is indicated for large cysts, minimally invasive and preservation procedures, such as partial splenectomy or total cystectomy with splenorrhaphy, have been increasingly used during the last decade.

The effect of proximal tibial fractures on the limb axis in children.

Between 1985 and 2002 we treated 38 children with 39 fractures of the proximal tibia. Fractures affecting the proximal tibial physis were excluded from this study. Mean age at the time of injury was 7.

Osseointegration of Osseotite and machined-surfaced titanium implants in membrane-covered critical-sized defects: a histologic and histometric study in dogs.

The texture of an implant's surface can influence the rate and extent of bone fixation as expressed by the amount of linear bone-to-implant contact (BIC). The purpose of this study was to compare the bone density and linear BIC between Osseotite and machined-surface implants placed in bony defects without graft material and covered by a membrane. Thirty 2 mm diameter, 10 mm length custom implants were prepared for this study having a 'split surface,' with one side having the acid-etched surface and the opposite side having a machined surface.

Intraperitoneal ePTFE mesh repair of parastomal hernias.

Parastomal hernia represents a common complication of colostomy formation. Surgical techniques such as facial repair and stoma relocation have almost been abandoned because of high recurrence rates. Extraperitoneal prosthetic mesh repair had better results but was accompanied by high rates of mesh contamination.

Simultaneously detected primary malignant tumors of ovary and endometrium with unusual histology.

A case of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary with a synchronous endometroid tumor of the endometrium with focal features of undifferentiated carcinoma and deep myometrial invasion is reported. A review of the literature revealed that our case is interesting in view of the fact that simultaneous presentation of primary ovarian and endometrial neoplasms is rare and usually related to low-stage ovarian lesions and well-differentiated and superficial endometrial carcinomas in contrast to our case with the focal features of undifferentiated carcinoma and the deep myometrial invasion. These double tumors usually present in premenopausal subfertile women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Impact of endograft material on the inflammatory response after elective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of endograft material on the inflammatory response after elective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Consecutive patients (n = 22, all men, 53 to 82 years old) were divided into 2 groups according to the graft material used: In group A (n = 12) the endovascular device was made of polyester and in group B (n = 10) the device was made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). All patients received antiinflammatory drugs in the perioperative period.

Hypoxemia: an early indication of pigeon breeders' disease. Clinical and laboratory findings among pigeon breeders in the Salonica area.

The purpose of this study is to identify pathological findings among pigeon breeders in the Salonica area. Fifty-four volunteer breeders with varying intensity of contact with pigeons participated in the study. All the breeders, after filling in a questionnaire that included questions about the existence of conjunctivitis, rhinitis, chronic cough and sputum, were subjected to clinical examination and spirometric, hematological (arterial and venous), radiographic and immunologic tests.

Problems with botulinum toxin treatment in mitochondrial cytopathy: case report and review of the literature.

Botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) is widely used in neurological therapeutics for a variety of indications such as dystonia, spasticity, hyperhidrosis, and hypersalivation. It is relatively contraindicated in disorders of neuromuscular transmission, in individuals with known hypersensitivity or bleeding disorders, and during pregnancy. Two patients are presented with initially undetermined multisystem neurological disorders and excessive sialorrhoea, later diagnosed as mitochondrial cytopathy, who had side effects after treatment with ultrasound guided BTXA injections.

Clinical evaluation of immediate loaded upper anterior single implants.

Among the guidelines to be followed in the selection of patients who are suitable for treatment with dental implants, there must be accurate assessment and evaluation of the factors that will lead to a functionally long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing result. The latter, which includes the maintenance and development of hard and soft tissues, undoubtedly presents a significant challenge in clinical implantology. The purpose of this study was the clinical evaluation of the methods currently available for the aesthetic restoration of the anterior maxilla using single implants that were loaded immediately.

Synchronous and metachronous colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Synchronous and metachronous colorectal carcinoma have an incidence of 2-10%. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, the accuracy of diagnostic examinations and the survival of these patients.

Methods: From 1970 to 1999, 1160 patients with colorectal cancer were admitted to our Department.

Prognostic significance of mucinous component in colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Many factors influence survival in colorectal cancer patients, one of them is the mucinous component of the tumour. Mucinous adenocarcinoma is characterized by the extracellular mucin of more than 50% of the tumour volume.

Methods: From 1970 to 1999, 1160 patients were admitted to our clinic for colorectal cancer.

Respiratory effects in workers processing dried tobacco leaves.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the pollution level of the occupational environment and to investigate the effects of occupational exposure to tobacco dust on the respiratory system of tobacco workers. No such study has previously been conducted in Greece, which is one of the main tobacco-producing countries.

Methods: A total of 1,020 seasonal and permanent tobacco workers (188 men and 832 women) were studied in a factory in Thessaloniki.

Randomized clinical trial of stapled hemorrhoidectomy vs open with Ligasure for prolapsed piles.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the results in 95 patients randomly allocated to undergo either stapled or open hemorrhoidectomy using Ligasure.

Methods: Ninety-five patients with grade III and IV hemorrhoids were randomly allocated to undergo either stapled (50 patients) or open using Ligasure (45 patients). Stapled hemorrhoidectomy was performed with the use of a circular stapling device.

Intracranial aneurysms: evaluation using CTA and MRA. Correlation with DSA and intraoperative findings.

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MSA) have been used recently for evaluation of intracranial aneurysms. If they are to replace conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA), their sensitivity and specificity should be equal to the latter. In order to determine whether computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance angiography can provide the necessary information for presurgical evaluation we compared blindly the results of helical CT angiography and MR angiography with the results of digital subtraction angiography and the intraoperative findings.

Chronic canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): a retrospective study of 19 natural cases.

Nineteen dogs from Greece with chronic ehrlichiosis were studied. The dogs exhibited bicytopenia or pancytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia, seroreactivity to Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) antigens, and had no history of drug or radiation exposure.

Paratesticular well-differentiated, adipocytic type liposarcoma presenting as inguinal hernia.

Paratesticular masses can pose difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problems to the physician. We report a rare case of paratesticular liposarcoma with the clinical symptomatology of an inguinal hernia. The treatment was surgical and included radical orchiectomy and wide excision of the tumor mass to the macroscopically healthy margins.

Osseointegration of Osseotite and machined titanium implants in autogenous bone graft. A histologic and histomorphometric study in dogs.

It has been shown that a roughened implant surface results in a higher percentage of bone to implant contact (%BIC) than a machined one. A modified implant surface using a dual thermo-acid etching process (Osseotite) has been introduced and evaluated clinically, mechanically and histologically. The aim of the present study was the histological evaluation of the %BIC between the Osseotite or machined surfaces and the autogenous bone graft.