Elucidating the Role of the T Cell Receptor Repertoire in Myelodysplastic Neoplasms and Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

T cells, as integral components of the adaptive immune system, recognize diverse antigens through unique T cell receptors (TCRs). To achieve this, during T cell maturation, the thymus generates a wide repertoire of TCRs. This is essential for understanding cancer evolution, progression, and the efficacy of immunotherapies.

Transradial Prostatic Artery Embolization as a Salvage Procedure in a Patient With Severe Deformities and Refractory Hematuria of Prostatic Origin.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition causing urinary symptoms in older men. It can sometimes lead to hematuria of prostatic origin, due to increased vascularity of the enlarged gland. If this type of hematuria is severe and refractory to conservative measures, it can be life-threatening.

An Early Functional Unsupervised Rehabilitation Protocol Allows Safe Return to Function After Achilles Tendon Repair.

Purpose: Acute Achilles tendon tears in young active individuals are often treated surgically with prolonged rehabilitation, with the leg initially immobilized in plantar flexion in serial non-weight bearing casts and gradually progressing to full weight bearing. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of an early functional unsupervised rehabilitation protocol.

Methods: The medical records of 25 patients treated with open repair were available for follow-up.

Perceptions of Teamwork and Knowledge Attitudes of Hemodialysis Unit Nurses on Infection Prevention.

Introduction: The Nurses of Hemodialysis Units: it is necessary to face HAIs (hospital-acquired infections) as a "well-tuned" teamwork. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the teamwork as well as the knowledge attitudes of the nurses of hemodialysis units on infection prevention in Greece.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 1018 HCWs (health care workers) of hemodialysis units in Greece.

Thirty-Days versus Longer Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Treatment after Percutaneous Coronary Interventions with Newer Drug-Eluting Stents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abbreviation of the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (one or three months) has been recently proposed, especially for high bleeding risk patients, after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES). Three databases were screened for eligible randomized control trials. The primary endpoint was the incidence of net adverse clinical events (NACE).

Femur Osteomyelitis and Associated Fracture as an Initial Presentation of Aortoenteric Fistula.

Aortoenteric fistula is a rare condition. Atypical presentations may cause significant management delays. We present the case of a 64-year-old male who experienced a pathological femoral fracture as an initial presentation of an underlying aortoenteric fistula.

Ketone bodies and the heart.

Ketone bodies are low chain organic substances with four carbon atoms, with β-hydroxybutyric acid and acetone being the main ketone bodies in blood circulation. Under physiological conditions their levels are low while during conditions of oxidative stress, such as exercise, fasting state and acute illness, ketone body levels are increased. Recent findings have shown that in patients with heart failure their plasma concentration is increased.

Complications of Totally Implantable Central Venous Catheters (Ports) Inserted via the Internal Jugular Vein Under Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy Guidance in Adult Oncology Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction In this retrospective study, the safety and complication rates of port implantations via the internal jugular vein under ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance in adult oncology patients were analyzed. Material and methods Eight hundred seven ports implanted in 799 adult oncology patients at a tertiary Oncology-Anticancer Hospital during a 36-month period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Data acquisition was obtained until December 31, 2020.

Potential Anatomical Implications of Filum Terminale Paraganglioma on Coccygodynia: A Case Report.

In this case report, we present a unique cause of coccygodynia due to an intradural lumbar spinal tumour in a patient with multiple filum terminale paragangliomas. We highlight the symptomatology, the clinical course, and the radiological findings. Our review of the literature proved our case to be the first report of an intradural cauda equina tumour presenting with coccygodynia in English literature.

Microenvironmental Features Driving Immune Evasion in Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Bone marrow, besides the known functions of hematopoiesis, is an active organ of the immune system, functioning as a sanctuary for several mature immune cells. Moreover, evidence suggests that hematopoietic stem cells (the bone marrow's functional unit) are capable of directly sensing and responding to an array of exogenous stimuli. This chronic immune stimulation is harmful to normal hematopoietic stem cells, while essential for the propagation of myeloid diseases, which show a dysregulated immune microenvironment.

Depression, anxiety, and diabetes-related distress in type 2 diabetes in primary care in Greece: Different roles for glycemic control and self-care.

Objectives: The psychological distress of people living with diabetes is increased and associated with poorer glycemic outcomes and self-care. We aimed to examine the frequency of depression, anxiety, and diabetes-related distress (DRD) of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in primary care (PC) and their comparative associations with clinical, self-care, and socio-demographic characteristics, testing for possible different roles on glycemic control and self-care.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 182 adults with a T2D diagnosis of at least six months, recruited between August 2019-March 2020 and May-October 2020, from an urban PC unit.

Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Have Impaired Antibody Production After Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Results From a Panhellenic Registry.

Background: Four EMA-approved vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are currently available. Data regarding antibody responses to initial vaccination regimens in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are limited.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, controlled, multicenter study in tertiary Greek IBD centers.

Real-World Use and Adverse Events of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Greek Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Since inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients were excluded from vaccine authorization studies, limited knowledge exists regarding perceptions and unfavorable effects of COVID-19 vaccination in this group. We aimed to investigate the real-world use and adverse events (AEs) of COVID-19 vaccines in Greek IBD patients. Fully vaccinated IBD patients followed in Greek centers were invited to participate.

Safety and efficacy of combining biologics or small molecules for inflammatory bowel disease or immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: A European retrospective observational study.

Background And Aims: Few data are available regarding the combination of biologics or small molecules in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We report safety and efficacy of such combinations through a retrospective multicentre series.

Methods: Combination therapy was defined as the concomitant use of two biologics or one biologic with a small molecule.

The burden and management of anemia in Greek patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective, multicenter, observational study.

Background: Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affecting negatively the patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and real-life management of anemia in IBD patients in Greece.

Methods: This study was conducted in 17 Greek IBD referral centers.

Diabetes-Related Distress and Associated Characteristics in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in an Urban Primary Care Setting in Greece.

Background: Diabetes-related distress (DRD) is a common psychological issue of people living with diabetes. International guidelines advise to take DRD into consideration in diabetes care but evidence for Greece is scarce. In the present study we aimed to estimate the frequency of DRD as assessed by Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) and to examine its connections with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in urban primary care (PC) in Greece.

Emotions of Orthopaedic Arthroplasty Patients: A European Survey.

Methods: This was a pre/post-observational study examining patients' emotions before and during elective knee or hip replacement surgery for osteoarthritis in seven European Union countries to identify factors related to better emotional status at discharge.

Instruments: In addition to demographic data, information was collected on quality of life (EuroQoL five-dimension questionnaire), hospital expectations (Knowledge Expectations of Hospital Patients Scale), symptoms, and experienced emotions.

Analysis: Total negative emotions scores at baseline and discharge were transformed into median values.

Derotational Subtrochanteric Osteotomy and External Fixation for the Treatment of Neurogenic Hip Dislocation in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Could This Be a Viable Method of Treatment?

Purpose The treatment of painful and chronic dislocated hip in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) is particularly demanding and controversial. Numerous surgical techniques have been described, and their outcomes vary a lot. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate a new method, which combines varus derotational subtrochanteric osteotomy (VDSO) and external osteosynthesis: (VDSOEO).

Twenty-year trends in the prescription costs of Type 2 diabetes: Real world data and empirical analysis in Greece.

Aims: To estimate and compare the prescription costs for the management of patients with diabetes over a period of 20 years in Greece, based on real world data.

Methods: The records of outpatients with T2D, monitored at three diabetes centres, were examined in four cross-sections (1998, 2006, 2012, 2018). Prescribed medicines per patient, along with a set of clinical indicators were recorded.

Salmonella Osteomyelitis of the Proximal Tibia in a Previously Healthy Adolescent: A Case Report.

Salmonella osteomyelitis is an uncommon pathological condition. Usually, it is associated with hemoglobinopathies or other underlying disorders. Osteomyelitis due to Salmonella is extremely rare in a previously healthy patient.