Binocular treatment for amblyopia: a systematic review.

Purpose: The treatment of unilateral amblyopia involves refractive adaptation, occlusion therapy or penalization with atropine drops. However, in recent years, the use of binocular digital therapy has shown promising results. Aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of binocular treatment of amblyopia compared with standard treatments or placebo therapy.

A Real-World Study on the Day and Night-Time Symptoms Among Greek COPD Patients Who Recently Initiated Treatment with Dual Bronchodilation: The DANICO Study.

Purpose: The rationale of this study was to investigate the prevalence of daily and night symptoms and quality of sleep in Greek COPD patients as a means to evaluate their response to treatment with the fixed dose combination of aclidinium/formoterol (administered through the Genuair device).

Patients And Methods: This study was a multicenter, nationwide, non-interventional, observational study in 2105 patients suffering from COPD, who have recently started treatment with aclidinium/formoterol. Patients were attending to two visits, one baseline and a final visit, 3 months later.

Kv1.3 Channel Up-Regulation in Peripheral Blood T Lymphocytes of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Voltage-gated Kv1.3 potassium channels are key regulators of T lymphocyte activation, proliferation and cytokine production, by providing the necessary membrane hyper-polarization for calcium influx following immune stimulation. It is noteworthy that an accumulating body of and evidence links these channels to multiple sclerosis pathophysiology.

Dryness of Foot Skin Assessed by the Visual Indicator Test and Risk of Diabetic Foot Ulceration: A Prospective Observational Study.

Previous cross-sectional studies have shown an association between sudomotor dysfunction and diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to determine the role of dryness of foot skin and of established neurological modalities in the prediction of risk for foot ulceration in a cohort of individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was conducted from 2012 to 2017.

Update on current views and advances on RSV infection (Review).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection represents an excellent paradigm of precision medicine in modern paediatrics and several clinical trials are currently performed in the prevention and management of RSV infection. A new taxonomic terminology for RSV was recently adopted, while the diagnostic and omics techniques have revealed new modalities in the early identification of RSV infections and for better understanding of the disease pathogenesis. Coordinated clinical and research efforts constitute an important step in limiting RSV global predominance, improving epidemiological surveillance, and advancing neonatal and paediatric care.

The 2018 Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in Greece.

Unlabelled: We report the updated guidelines for the management of osteoporosis in Greece, which include guidance on fracture risk assessment, diagnosis-pharmacological treatment-follow-up of osteoporosis based on updated information, and national evidence from Greek clinical practice and the healthcare setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to update the Guidelines for the Management of Osteoporosis in Greece that was published in 2011.

Methods: In line with the GRADE system, the working group initially defined the main clinical questions that should be addressed when dealing with the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in clinical practice in Greece.

Procalcitonin to guide antibiotic administration in COPD exacerbations: a meta-analysis.

Challenges in the differentiation of the aetiology of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) have led to significant overuse of antibiotics. Serum procalcitonin, released in response to bacterial infections, but not viral infections, could possibly identify AECOPD requiring antibiotics. In this meta-analysis we assessed the clinical effectiveness of procalcitonin-based protocols to initiate or discontinue antibiotics in patients presenting with AECOPD.

Clinical Heterogeneity of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the Emergency Department: Impact on Clinical Outcome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is mainly classified into acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). Although diagnosis of GBS requires progressive weakness and universal areflexia or hyporeflexia, cases of GBS with preserved or increased deep tendon reflexes (DTRs) have been increasingly recognized. We report three cases of GBS, presenting at a single unit in six months.

Residency Training: Determinants of burnout of neurology trainees in Attica, Greece.

Objective: The purpose of our cross-sectional study was to estimate the rate of burnout and identify its determinants among neurology residents in Attica, Greece.

Methods: In total, 131 placements for neurology training over 18 hospitals were available. All residents were approached and were asked to participate in the study by anonymously completing a questionnaire.

Robotic partial nephrectomy for completely endophytic renal tumors: complications and functional and oncologic outcomes during a 4-year median period of follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the renal functional outcome, the oncologic safety, and the occurrence of complications after robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RPN) for completely endophytic tumors.

Material And Methods: Data of 45 patients with completely endophytic tumors, 116 patients with mesophytic, and 64 patients with exophytic masses who underwent RPN were retrospectively analyzed. Perioperative, oncologic, and functional data were evaluated and analyzed with SPSS, version 18.

Renal function is the same 6 months after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy regardless of clamp technique: analysis of outcomes for off-clamp, selective arterial clamp and main artery clamp techniques, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

Objective: To compare the renal functional outcomes, with >1 year of follow-up, of patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) performed with different clamping techniques.

Patients And Methods: The peri-operative data of patients undergoing RAPN performed with different clamping techniques were retrospectively analysed (group 1: off-clamp, n = 23; group 2: selective clamp, n = 25; group 3: main artery clamp, n = 114). The main outcome measures were postoperative serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and percentage change in eGFR, the data for which were collected at periodic intervals during the first 12 months and annually thereafter, in addition to late eGFR value.

A novel mathematical model to predict the severity of postoperative functional reduction before partial nephrectomy: the importance of calculating resected and ischemic volume.

Purpose: Preoperatively predicting postoperative kidney function is an essential step to achieve improved renal function and prevent chronic kidney disease. We introduce a novel formula especially to calculate resected and ischemic volume before partial nephrectomy. We examined whether resected and ischemic volume would have value for predicting postoperative renal function.

Current status of robotic laparoendoscopic single-site partial nephrectomy.

Robotic laparoendoscopic single-site partial nephrectomy is increasingly carried out in an attempt to improve the cosmetic outcome of minimally-invasive procedures. However, the actual role of this novel technique remains to be determined. The present article reviews evidence and examines updates of robotic laparoendoscopic single-site partial nephrectomy outcomes reported in more contemporary studies.

Robot-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site partial nephrectomy with the novel da vinci single-site platform: initial experience.

Purpose: To report our initial clinical cases of robotic laparoendoscopic single-site (R-LESS) partial nephrectomy (PN) performed with the use of the novel Da Vinci R-LESS platform.

Materials And Methods: Three patients underwent R-LESS PN from November 2013 through February 2014. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes were collected and intraoperative difficulties were noted.

Immunotherapy-responsive limbic encephalitis with antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has been recently identified as a target of humoral autoimmunity in a small subgroup of patients with non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (NPLE). We present a patient with NPLE and positive anti-GAD antibodies who showed significant improvement after long-term immunotherapy. A 48-year old female was admitted with a two-year history of anterograde amnesia and seizures.

Comparative mortality risk of tiotropium administered via handihaler or respimat in COPD patients: are they equivalent?

Background: Tiotropium bromide, once daily, long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator is either administered by handihaler metered dose inhaler or by respimat soft mist inhaler. It has been proved to improve lung function, daily symptoms and quality of life and to decrease the exacerbation and hospitalisation rate of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Although the efficacy of both formulations is undeniable, concerns have been raised on their effect on cardiovascular and general mortality.

Laparoendoscopic management of midureteral strictures.

The incidence of ureteral strictures has increased worldwide owing to the widespread use of laparoscopic and endourologic procedures. Midureteral strictures can be managed by either an endoscopic approach or surgical reconstruction, including open or minimally invasive (laparoscopic/robotic) techniques. Minimally invasive surgical ureteral reconstruction is gaining in popularity in the management of midureteral strictures.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis resembling acute herpetic encephalitis.

Introduction. Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a rare disorder that typically follows a chronic or subacute course of personality changes, memory loss, seizures, and hallucinations. Early diagnosis is difficult and characteristic symptoms can be mimicked by a variety of conditions.

R-LESS partial nephrectomy trifecta outcome is inferior to multiport robotic partial nephrectomy: comparative analysis.

Background: Trifecta achievement in partial nephrectomy (PN) is defined as the combination of warm ischemia time ≤ 20 min, negative surgical margins, and no surgical complications.

Objective: To compare trifecta achievement between robotic, laparoendoscopic, single-site (R-LESS) PN and multiport robotic PN (RPN).

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data from 167 patients who underwent RPN from 2006 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.

Anatomically versus biologically unifocal prostate cancer: a pathological evaluation in the context of focal therapy.

Objectives: Since tumor focality in prostate cancer continues to be considered a major limitation for focal prostate therapy, in this study we attempted to compare the pathological features and the proportion of patients with anatomically unifocal versus biologically unifocal tumors (i.e. multifocal prostate cancer in which the secondary nonindex elements are small, low grade and clinically insignificant) who were suitable for focal therapy.

Evaluation of sexual function in hypertensive men receiving treatment: a review of current guidelines recommendation.

Introduction: It has been suggested that some classes of antihypertensive drugs may induce or exacerbate sexual and/or erectile dysfunction (ED) more than others. Sexually related side effects of antihypertensive treatment may compromise patient's and partner's quality of life. Often, these side effects can lead to withdrawal or poor compliance with therapy resulting in abnormal blood pressure and associated morbidity.

Dual-chamber pacemaker malfunction mimicking atrial capture by the ventricular electrode.

A 78-year-old man came for a scheduled check up one month after the implantation of a permanent dualchamber pacemaker for symptomatic transient atrioventricular conduction disturbances (intermittent Mobitz II atrioventricular block). The patient's ECG indicated a loss of atrial capture by the atrial electrode with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction. A subsequent X-ray examination showed that both electrodes were well placed and in their correct sites.

Tumor focality in prostate cancer: implications for focal therapy.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in focal treatment for prostate cancer. Although widely used for the treatment of tumors of the breast and kidney, focal treatment for prostate cancer remains a controversial area. Criticism of focal prostate therapy has been based on the fact that prostate cancer is a multifocal disease.