Bronchiectasis and asthma: Data from the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC).

Background: Asthma is commonly reported in patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with bronchiectasis and asthma (BE+A) had a different clinical phenotype and different outcomes compared with patients with bronchiectasis without concomitant asthma.

Methods: A prospective observational pan-European registry (European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration) enrolled patients across 28 countries.

Antimicrobial Resistance, FlaA Sequencing, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Isolates from Broiler Chicken Flocks in Greece.

Human campylobacteriosis caused by thermophilic species is the most commonly reported foodborne zoonosis. Consumption of contaminated poultry meat is regarded as the main source of human infection. This study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and the molecular epidemiology of 205 isolates derived from Greek flocks slaughtered in three different slaughterhouses over a 14-month period.

Ugo Cerletti (1877-1963): An Early Italian Father of Electroshock and a Pioneer in Many Other Ways.

This article provides a biographical review of the life and the professional achievements of the Italian doctor Ugo Cerletti and an introduction on electroshock. Throughout his medical career, he travelled and studied in many countries all over the world. Building upon his systematic and comprehensive analysis of mental diseases, Cerletti introduced electroshock, which, at his time, was a novel therapeutic method.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for spp. Colonization of Broiler Chicken Flocks in Greece.

The prevalence and risk factors for spp. colonization of broiler flocks and broiler carcass contamination in Greek slaughterhouses were investigated. Over a 14-month period, a pool of 10 ceca and 5 neck skin samples from chicken carcasses were collected from each of 142 batches of broiler flocks slaughtered in 3 different slaughterhouses.

Predicting Factors of Depression and Anxiety in Mental Health Nurses: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The nursing profession is characterized as one of the most stressful and emotional dementing professions. It is widely agreed that many nurses are experiencing anxiety and depression as a results of their profession.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among mental health nurses working in public psychiatric hospitals, in order to identify independent predictors of mental health disorders risk.

Sleeve lobectomy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a simplified approach.

Objective: Pulmonary parenchyma-saving procedures, indicated for central tumours, seem to have better results than pneumonectomy, an alternative procedure. The purpose of this study is to report our experience at our institution with sleeve lobectomy with regard to surgical technique and outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 45 patients who underwent sleeve lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer, with a curative intent, during the period of January 2004 and January 2008.

Early use of intrapleural fibrinolytics in the management of postpneumonic empyema. A prospective study.

Objective: A prospective randomized study was conducted in order to analyze the role of fibrinolytics in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusion.

Methods: From 2001 to 2004, 127 consecutive patients were managed for thoracic empyema. In all cases the cause was bacterial pneumonia.

Rounded atelectasis of the lung.

Rounded atelectasis of the lung (RA) is a lesion well described in the medical literature, yet often very difficult to diagnose. In recent years, the widespread use of high-resolution imaging modalities employed in the struggle against cancer, coinciding with the peak of the asbestos epidemic, have boosted the detection frequency of RA. However, its differential diagnosis still poses a challenge to the pulmonary specialist and the radiologist, as little is known about its pathogenesis.

Late postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula.

Objective: The incidence of late postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula (PBPF) is very small after the 3rd postoperative week due to the existence of fibrothorax providing an effective natural protection against fistula formation. However, the development of late PBPF is a serious complication characterized by high morbidity and mortality. We present our modest experience in treating 11 patients with late PBPF using the transsternal transpericardial approach.

A prospective analysis of occult pneumothorax, delayed pneumothorax and delayed hemothorax after minor blunt thoracic trauma.

Objectives: A prospective analysis was conducted to define the incidence of occult pneumothorax (OPX), delayed pneumothorax (DPX) and delayed hemothorax (DHX) and to propose an algorithm for surveillance.

Methods: During the last 2 years 709 consecutive patients who did not fulfill the indications for intrahospital management were examined at our emergency department for blunt thoracic injury. All patients were subjected to expiration posteroanterior chest radiograph (eCXR) and were scheduled for reevaluation after 24, 48 h and at 7, 14 and 21 days.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax: a rare but life-threatening entity.

Objectives: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax (SHP) is a rare disorder, complicating 1-12% of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. We conducted a retrospective review in order to study this potentially life-threatening condition and compared our experience with reports in the international literature.

Methods: Between 1970 and 2000, 3489 patients were treated in our department with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Skip metastases: analysis of their clinical significance and prognosis in the IIIA stage of non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: To determine the clinical significance of skip metastases (pN2/S) in patients with resected pIIIA/N2 NSCLC. The incidence of pN2/S after mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLD) and sampling (MLS) were compared.

Method: From 1997 to 2000, 580 lung resections for NSCLC performed at our department.