Quantitative tools in microbial and chemical risk assessment.

The EU-FORA programme 'Quantitative tools in microbial and chemical risk assessment' was dedicated to training on predictive microbiology fundamentals, implementation of different modelling strategies, design of experiments and software tools such as MATLAB, GInaFiT and DMFit. The fellow performed MATLAB training on maximum specific growth rate (μ) determination according to the Ratkowsky model. GInaFiT training on different models for bacterial inactivation and DMFit training on growth parameters of were also carried out.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography for the Noninvasive Assessment of Arterial Aging: A Review by the VascAgeNet COST Action.

Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography allow the characterization of arterial state and function with high confidence and thus play a key role in the understanding of arterial aging and its translation into the clinic. Decades of research into the development of innovative imaging sequences and image analysis techniques have led to the identification of a large number of potential biomarkers, some bringing improvement in basic science, others in clinical practice. Nonetheless, the complexity of some of these biomarkers and the image analysis techniques required for their computation hamper their widespread use.

Prenatal Ultrasound Screening and Women's Expectations: an Original Study.

Background: Prenatal screening offers crucial information about the pregnancy, although sometimes brings forth ethical issues and potentially difficult decisions for pregnant women. Ultrasound screening during pregnancy is both of particular importance and a great challenge.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess women's knowledge and expectations regarding prenatal ultrasound screening in Greece.

Appraising diet-disease associations to be used in risk assessment, including an insight in nutritional epidemiology.

High consumption of red meat, in particular of its processed products, has been linked to the development of various chronic diseases, and the need to reduce consumption levels of these products has been identified as a public health priority in Europe. Among the potential alternatives, pulses have gained a prominent position in recent years. Stemming from the broader context of the substitution of red meat in the diet with alternative plant-based protein sources, this work programme was developed to address the need of improving the current understanding on the public health impact of potential substitutes.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers, and Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19.

Background Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB) is thought to affect COVID-19 through modulating levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the cell entry receptor for SARS-CoV2. We sought to assess the association between ACEi/ARB, biomarkers of inflammation, and outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods and Results We leveraged the ISIC (International Study of Inflammation in COVID-19), identified patients admitted for symptomatic COVID-19 between February 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021 for COVID-19, and examined the association between in-hospital ACEi/ARB use and all-cause death, need for ventilation, and need for dialysis.

Macrosomia and fetal growth restriction: evidence for similar extrauterine metabolic risks but with differences in pathophysiology.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the causes of macrosomia and FGR fetuses, their ultrasound characteristics and the importance of their similar metabolic profile in intrauterine and extrauterine life.

Materials And Methods: We searched Pubmed/Google Scholar database up until 15 December 2020 using keywords. Out of the 70 matching results we selected 50 most representative and matching papers.

Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Cilostazol to Clopidogrel-Treated Diabetic Patients With Symptomatic Lower Extremity Artery Disease in the Prevention of Ischemic Vascular Events.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for lower extremity arterial disease. Cilostazol expresses antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilator actions and improves the claudication intermittent symptoms. We investigated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive cilostazol to clopidogrel-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibiting symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease, in the prevention of ischemic vascular events and improvement of the claudication intermittent symptoms.

Mobile phones and applications in the management of patients with arterial hypertension.

The use of mobile health (mHealth) in the field of medicine is constantly evolving and advancing. Arterial hypertension, a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor with a high prevalence in the general population, frequently remains underdiagnosed and thus untreated. Furthermore, the majority of hypertensive patients fail to achieve blood pressure target levels.

Benefits of exercise in pregnancies with gestational diabetes.

A significant proportion of pregnancies are complicated by diabetes mellitus. Most of them concern women with gestational diabetes mellitus, while proportionally are presented with preexisting DM 1 and DM 2. Metabolic derangements of the diabetic syndrome are likely to generate serious complications for both the mother and the fetus with a significant impact on their later health.

pHEMA@AGMNA-1: A novel material for the development of antibacterial contact lens.

The Metal Organic Framework (MOF) of formula {[Ag(μ-HMNA)(μ-MNA)]·[(EtNH)]·(DMSO)·(HO)} (AGMNA), a known efficient antimicrobial compound which contains the anti-metabolite, 2-thio-nicotinic acid (HMNA), was incorporated in polymer hydrogels using, hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA). The material pHEMA@AGMNA-1 was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DTG/DSC), attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (FT-IR-ATR) and Ultrasonic Imaging. The antimicrobial capacity of pHEMA@AGMNA-1 was evaluated against the Gram negative bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Gram positive ones of the genus of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, which are the etiology of the microbial keratitis.

Mortality Risk in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Large Vessel Occlusion Treated With Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Background Recent randomized controlled clinical trials have provided solid evidence that mechanical thrombectomy (MT) coupled with best medical therapy (BMT) improve functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion compared with BMT alone. However, they provided inconclusive evidence on the benefit of MT on mortality. Methods and Results We evaluated the association of MT+BMT compared with BMT with the risk of 3-month mortality using aggregate data from all available randomized controlled clinical trials.

Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Systolic Heart Failure Patients: Stone by Stone, a CASTLE.

Heart failure (HF) and AF frequently coexist and are involved in a vicious cycle of adverse pathophysiologic interactions. Applying treatment algorithms that have been validated in the general AF population to patients with AF and HF may be fraught with risks and lack effectiveness. While firm recommendations on using catheter ablation for AF do exist, the subset of patients also suffering from HF needs to be further evaluated.

Congenital True Aneurysm of the Right Superficial Temporal Artery.

Introduction: Superficial temporal artery aneurysms (STAAs) occur in 1% of arterial aneurysms; mostly (95%) are pseudoaneurysms following trauma; true aneurysms are rare (5%); forty-five cases are reported.

Aim: To report a rare case of a congenital STAAA.

Case Report: A67-year-old patient recalled the existence of a true-histologically evidenced- aneurysm of the right superficial temporal artery since his childhood denying any head injury; it was resected through a horizontal skin incisure.

Insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes: analysis of data from the SWEET registry.

Background: Intensified insulin delivery using multiple daily injections (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is recommended in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to achieve good metabolic control.

Objective: To examine the frequency of pump usage in T1D children treated in SWEET (Better control in Paediatric and Adolescent diabeteS: Working to crEate CEnTers of Reference) centers and to compare metabolic control between patients treated with CSII vs MDI.

Methods: This study included 16 570 T1D children participating in the SWEET prospective, multicenter, standardized diabetes patient registry.

Religiosity as a predictor of mortality: A retrospective cohort study in 1519 rural citizens in Greece.

Objective: Investigating the role of religiosity in mortality.

Design: A retrospective cohort study (mean follow-up period 131.2 ± 30.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Associated Chaperones, Bip/GRP78 and Calnexin are Overexpressed in Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumours.

Objectives: Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are developmental cysts that have been reclassified according World Health Organization (WHO), to keratocystic odontogenic tumours (KCOTs), a term that better reflects their neoplastic nature. The aim of present study is to evaluate the induction of stress of the endoplasmic reticulum and execution of the resulting unfolded protein response in keratinocystic odontogenic tumours.

Material And Methods: We analyzed by immunohistochemistry the expression of the chaperones BiP/GRP78 and calnexin in 24 cases of KCOTs.

Oral manifestations of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia: a case report.

Background: T-cell large granular lymphocytic (T-LGL) leukemia is a rare, chronic, often indolent lymphoproliferative disorder of mature T cells (CD3+). Severe neutropenia and other cytopenias are common features in patients with T-LGL leukemia and may cause infections, thus representing a major cause of morbidity in this disease. Immunosuppressive therapy with low-dose regimes of methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids or cyclosporine A is the treatment of choice.

Granular cell ameloblastoma: an unusual histological subtype report and review of literature.

Background: Granular cell ameloblastoma is a rare histological subtype of ameloblastoma accounting for less than 5% of the total. The characteristic microscopic features of granular cells are attributed to the increased presence of lysosomes in the cytoplasm of the tumour cells.

Methods: A case of bone expansion in the mandible of 65 year old patient was examined on the basis of the clinical examination, radiographic imaging and microscopic features.