Acute coronary syndromes did not decrease during COVID-19 pandemic in an isolated Greek population.

There are worldwide reports that hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chios is a Greek island with only one confirmed coronavirus case during the lockdown. This study aimed to compare admissions for ACS in Chios General Hospital, Greece, between the COVID-19 lockdown period and the same period in the previous year.

Vasospasm in Pediatric Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Cerebral vasospasm (CV) is a common severe complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a severe type of intracranial bleeding that is uncommon in children. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature regarding this potentially devastating complication. CV may be asymptomatic and is less common in children compared to adults.

Therapeutic inertia in rhythm control strategies in hospitalized patients with fibrillation: Insights from Hellenic Cardiorenal Morbidity Snapshot (HECMOS) study.

Background: Current guidelines recommend a rhythm control strategy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) while catheter ablation has been shown to be a safer and more efficacious approach than antiarrhythmic medications.

Methods: HECMOS was a nationwide snapshot survey of cardiorenal morbidity in hospitalized cardiology patients. In this sub-study, we included 276 cases who had a history of AF, particularly on the rhythm strategy, and catheter ablation procedures had been performed before the index admission.

Effects of Chios Mastiha essential oil on cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study (MASTIHA-OIL).

Introduction: Chios Mastiha essential oil (CMO) is a natural product extracted from the resin of Mastiha, possessing antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-neoplastic, and cholesterol-lowering capabilities in vitro, and its hypolipidemic effect was confirmed in animal studies. Yet, there are no randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies in the literature regarding CMO's hypolipidemic effects in humans. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to study the hypolipidemic effect of CMO capsules on healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol.

Clinical characteristics and management of patients with diabetes mellitus and stable coronary artery disease in daily clinical practice. The SCAD-DM Registry.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) represent a high-risk population, where comorbidities are common and the progression of coronary heart disease is relatively rapid and extensive. The present survey, conducted nationwide in a Eurozone country, Greece, with a properly organized national health system, aimed to record specific data from a significant number of patients with diabetes and documented stable CAD (SCAD).

Methods And Results: We conducted our survey across the country, in private and public primary, secondary, and tertiary care centers.

The incidence of recurrent cardiovascular events among acute coronary syndrome patients treated with generic or original clopidogrel in relation to their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The Aegean study.

Introduction: The use of generic drugs is continuously growing; however, there are limited epidemiological data regarding the therapeutic equivalence of each original drug formulation with its generic counterparts. We evaluated the 12-month composite endpoint of recurrent acute myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, cardiac deaths, or hospitalisation due to a major bleeding in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with original clopidogrel or a generic clopidogrel formulation, in relation to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Material And Methods: Consecutive Greek ACS patients ( = 1194) hospitalised in the Aegean islands and the Attica region were enrolled.

Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome are at High Risk Prior to the Event and Lipid Management is Underachieved Pre- and Post- Hospitalization.

Background: Current European Guidelines suggest the use of cardiovascular risk categories and also recommend using high-intensity statins for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Objective: We examined the risk of ACS patients prior to the event, as well as the overall use and intensity of statins.

Methods: We enrolled 687 ACS patients (mean age 63 years, 78% males).

Associations of adiponectin and leptin levels with protein-energy wasting, in end stage renal disease patients.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of protein-energy wasting (PEW) in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients in our center and determine whether adiponectin and leptin are involved in the development of PEW.

Design: Prospective (18 months).

Setting: University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Impact of income status on prognosis of acute coronary syndrome patients during Greek financial crisis.

Background: The effect of income status on patient outcome merits investigation during periods of financial crisis. We evaluated the impact of income status on out-of-hospital prognosis in a cohort of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, included in a countrywide study during a period of financial crisis.

Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, observational study-the PHAETHON study-enrolling consecutive ACS patients in 37 hospitals in Greece.

Effects of Chios mastic gum on cholesterol and glucose levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study (CHIOS-MASTIHA).

Background: Chios mastic gum (CMG) possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atheromatic, lipid- and glucose-lowering properties. We evaluated the effects of CMG on cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels of healthy volunteers.

Design: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study.

The use of pulse wave velocity in predicting pre-eclampsia in high-risk women.

In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of pulse wave velocity (PWV) alone or in combination with other diagnostic markers in predicting pre-eclampsia (PE) in high-risk women. Pregnant women at high risk for PE were recruited between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation and were assessed for (a) PWV, (b) serum levels of the placental soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) protein and uric acid and (c) 24-h urinary protein and calcium excretion. Sensitivities and specificities were derived from receiver operating characteristic curves.