Patients' intention to consume prescribed and non-prescribed medicines: A study based on the theory of planned behaviour in selected European countries.

What Is Known And Objective: Polypharmacy has a significant impact on patients' health with overall expenditure on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines representing a substantial burden in terms of cost of treatment. The aim of this study, which was conducted within the framework of a European Project funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme and was entitled OTC-SOCIOMED, was to report on possible determinants of patient behaviour regarding the consumption of medicines, and particularly OTCs, in the context of primary care.

Methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional study was designed and implemented in well-defined primary healthcare settings in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Malta and Turkey.

46,XY Disorder of Sex Development due to 17-Beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 3 Deficiency in an Infant of Greek Origin.

17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17βHSD-3) enzyme catalyzes the conversion of androstenedione (Δ4) to testosterone (T) in the testes of the developing fetus, thus playing a crucial role in the differentiation of the gonads and in establishing the male sex phenotype. Any mutation in the encoding gene (HSD17B3) can lead to varying degrees of undervirilization of the affected male, ranging from completely undervirilized external female genitalia to predominantly male with micropenis and hypospadias. We present here an infant who was referred to our clinic because of ambiguous genitalia at birth.

Communication skills training for mental health professionals working with people with severe mental illness.

Background: Research evidence suggests that both mental health professionals and people with severe mental health illness such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder find it difficult to communicate with each other effectively about symptoms, treatments and their side effects so that they reach a shared understanding about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Effective use of communication skills in mental health interactions could be associated with increased patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

Objectives: To review the effectiveness of communication skills training for mental health professionals who work with people with severe mental illness.

Variations in the 3'UTR of the Gene in Heterozygous Females with Hyperandrogenaemia.

Heterozygosity for mutations in females is possibly related to increased risk of developing clinical hyperandrogenism. The present study was designed to seek evidence on the phenotype-genotype correlation in female children, adolescents, and women with mutations and variants in the 3'UTR region of the gene. Sixty-six patients out of the 169 were identified as carriers of mutations.

Developing and evaluating rare disease educational materials co-created by expert clinicians and patients: the paradigm of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Background: Patients with rare diseases face health disparities and are often challenged to find accurate information about their condition. We aimed to use the best available evidence and community partnerships to produce patient education materials for congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) and the olfacto-genital (Kallmann) syndrome (i.e.

A novel MC4R deletion coexisting with FTO and MC1R gene variants, causes severe early onset obesity.

Objective: Heterozygous mutations on the melanocortin-4-receptor gene (MC4R) are the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity. We describe a novel MC4R deletion in a girl with severe early onset obesity, tall stature, pale skin and red hair.

Case Report: Clinical and hormonal parameters were evaluated in a girl born full-term by non-consanguineous parents.

Safety and efficacy of daclatasvir in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Daclatasvir (Daklinza™), a new oral direct-acting antiviral, is an inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS5A protein and has recently been approved in the United States, Europe and Japan in chronic hepatitis C. It shows potent pangenotypic activity and moderately high genetic barrier to resistance improving the sustained virological response (SVR) rates. In COMMAND phase 2 trials, daclatasvir demonstrated high SVR rates in HCV genotype 1-4 chronically infected patients treated with peginterferon-a (pegIFNα) plus ribavirin (RBV).

A Case of Pneumococcal Peritonitis after Caesarean Section in a Healthy Woman.

Pneumococcal peritonitis is prevalent in children and adults with comorbidities but extremely rare in healthy adults. Here we describe a case of pneumococcal peritonitis in a previously healthy woman with no known risk factors who presented with constipation, abdominal pain, and distention. Her only past medical history was an uncomplicated C-section two months prior to presentation.

In silico analysis of a novel MKRN3 missense mutation in familial central precocious puberty.

Background: The onset of puberty is influenced by the interplay of stimulating and restraining factors, many of which have a genetic origin. Premature activation of the GnRH secretion in central precocious puberty (CPP) may arise either from gain-of-function mutations of the KISS1 and KISS1R genes or from loss-of-function manner mutations of the MKRN3 gene leading to MKRN3 deficiency.

Objective: To explore the genetic causes responsible for CPP and the potential role of the RING finger protein 3 (MKRN3) gene.

Phenotypic variability of hyperandrogenemia in females heterozygous for CYP21A2 mutations.

Objectives: The objective was to seek evidence on the prevalence and consequences of heterozygous CYP21A2 mutations in girls, adolescent, and adult females with clinical manifestation of androgen excess.

Patients And Methods: The study included 64 girls diagnosed with premature adrenarche (PA) in childhood and 141 females with clinical hyperandrogenemia manifested in adolescence or adulthood. Direct DNA sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis were used to identify mutations in the CYP21A2 gene.

The preparedness of newly qualified doctors - Views of Foundation doctors and supervisors.

Background: There is evidence that newly qualified doctors do not feel prepared to start work.

Aim: This study examined the views of first year Foundation doctors (F1) and supervisors regarding how prepared they felt newly qualified doctors were for the early weeks of work.

Methods: Fifty-two F1s took part in a focus group or individual interview during their first year of Foundation training.

Perceived cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis impacts quality of life independently of depression.

Background/Aim. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of perceived cognitive dysfunction and of depression, on self-reported QoL, in a Greek population sample of MS patients. Methods.

D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis selectively in Survivin-overexpressing breast cancer cells.

D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) is a vitamin E derivative that has been intensively applied as a vehicle for drug delivery systems to enhance drug solubility and increase the oral bioavailability of anti-cancer drugs. Recently, it has been reported that TPGS acts as an anti-cancer agent alone or synergistically with chemotherapeutic drugs and increases the efficacy of nanoparticle formulations. In this study, we investigated the antitumor efficacy and the molecular mechanism of action of TPGS in breast cancer cell lines.