Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy outcomes (Review).

The impact of the pandemic outbreak associated with coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) on pregnant women is of interest to obstetricians and gynecologists due to the vulnerability of this target group. In pregnant women and their infants, an exceptional clinical management is warranted. Current epidemiological findings provide information regarding the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on pregnant patients and potential adverse perinatal outcomes.

The vicious circle between physical, psychological, and physiological characteristics of shift work in nurses: a multidimensional approach.

Purpose: To compare physical, psychological, and physiological adaptations between rotating and morning shift health workers using objective and subjective approaches.

Methods: Forty nurses [n = 20 morning shift (MS) group; n = 20 rotating shift (RS) group] were evaluated for anthropometry, body composition, and handgrip strength. Quality of life, depression, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality were assessed with SF-36, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively.

The Formation of Chemical Degraders during the Conservation of a Wooden Tudor Shipwreck.

Determining the nature, evolution, and impact of acid-generating sulfur deposits in the Mary Rose wooden hull is crucial for protecting Henry VIII's famous warship for generations to come. Here, a comprehensive X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) study sheds vital light on the evolution of complex sulfur-based compounds lodged in Mary Rose timbers as a function of drying time. Combining insights from infrared spectroscopy correlates the presence of oxidized sulfur species with increased wood degradation via the loss of major wood components (holocellulose).

Evaluation of physical performance in musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases with jumping mechanography.

Objective: Low muscle function is a component of sarcopenia. Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are related to increased muscle loss and decreased muscle performance. Our purpose was to study muscle function among pre and postmenopausal women and women with rheumatic diseases.

Sex-discrete role of depressive symptomatology on 10-year first and recurrent cardiovascular disease incidence: results from ATTICA and GREECS prospective studies.

Objective: The sex-specific effect of depressive symptomatology on 10-year first and recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events was evaluated.

Methods: The Greek samples from ATTICA (2002-2012, n = 845 free-of-CVD subjects) and GREECS (2004-2014, n = 2,172 subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)) prospective epidemiological studies with baseline psychological assessments were used for the first and the recurrent event, respectively. Depressive symptomatology was assessed at baseline, through Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale in the ATTICA study, and through the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale in the GREECS study.

A sex-specific evaluation of predicted lean and fat mass composition and cardiovascular disease onset and progression: A combined analysis of the ATTICA and GREECS prospective epidemiological studies.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of predicted lean and fat mass on 10-year first and recurrent CVD incidence separately for men and women.

Methods: Two prospective studies, ATTICA (2002-2012, n=3042 subjects free-of-CVD, n=1514 men (46±13 years) and n=1528 women (45±14 years)) and GREECS (2004-2014, n=2172 subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), n=1649 men (65±13 years) and n=523 women (62±11 years)) were used. Lean mass index (LMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were created through total body lean and fat mass (indirectly calculated through population formulas based on body weight, height and waist circumference) divided by height squared.

Shelf Life Extension and Improvement of the Nutritional Value of Fish Fillets through Osmotic Treatment Based on the Sustainable Use of Distillation By-Products.

The objective of this work is the comparative study of different osmotic treatments at 37 °C on the quality and shelf life of chilled sea bass fillets. Fish fillets were treated using osmotic solutions consisting of oligofructose (40%-50%-60%) and 5% NaCl with (BP/OT) and without (OT) former antioxidant enrichment by using distillation by-products. Water activity decreased to approximately 0.

Cardiac autonomic function during intradialytic exercise training.

: Cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is a common feature in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) therapy, whilst is associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the hemodynamic changes and responses of ANS function in HD patients using pupillometry and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters. : Sixteen chronic kidney diseases (CKD) patients receiving HD (52.

Assessing the Impact of Frailty on Cognitive Function in Older Adults Receiving Home Care.

It is commonly accepted that frailty and dementia-related cognitive decline are strongly associated. However, degree of this association is often debated, especially in homebound elders with disabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of frailty on cognitive function in older adults receiving homecare.

The Role of Muscle Relaxants – Spasmolytic (Thiocochlicoside) in Postoperative Pain Management after Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction.

Purpose: Post-operative pain after breast cancer surgery is a major problem and women undergoing mastectomy and breast reconstruction experience post-operative pain syndromes in approximately one-half of all cases. Patients who have undergone breast reconstruction after mastectomy can suffer from acute postoperative pain with moderate or strong tension. In some cases, chronic neuropathic pain syndromes may occur after surgery.

Modeling the rheological properties of currant paste as a function of plasticizers concentration, storage temperature and time and process temperature.

The steady and dynamic shear rheological properties of currant paste samples as a function of storage temperature (15, 25 and 35 °C) and time (180 days) and plasticizers content (water and/or glycerol) have been evaluated. Apparent viscosity (η) has been found to be significantly increased with prolonged storage, implying possible structural changes, and decreased with the increase in storage temperature and the addition of water or/and glycerol. Flow behavior index and consistency index were determined by fitting the resulting experimental data to a power law equation with high values of correlation coefficients (R ≥ 0.

Psychometric Properties of the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greek and Cypriot Cancer Care Settings.

Background And Purpose: Ethical climate provides the context in which ethical behavior and decision-making occur. To test the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS) in cancer care settings.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 235 cancer nurses.

An Epidemiological Study of Non-specific Low Back Pain in Non-professional Female Greek Classic Ballet Dancers.

Aim: Epidemiological study of the incidence of mechanical low back pain (LBP) in non-professional female Greek classic ballet dancers over a year and therapeutic interventions required to address symptoms.

Materials And Methods: Forty-six female classic ballet dancers members of preprofessional schools, aged 16-37 years (mean 28.8 ±5.

The Role of Taylor Spatial Frame in the Treatment of Blount Disease.

Background: Alteration of the posteromedial part of the proximal tibia is the main characteristic of Blount's disease and if left untreated, leg alignment and normal development of the lower limbs may be compromised.

Aim: To report treatment outcomes in children with Blount's disease using the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF).

Materials And Methods: From January 2007 to December 2014, 16 young children (24 tibia) with a mean age of 7.

Family characteristics and children's knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Cardiovascular disease has the highest mortality rate than any other disease globally. Some major risk factors seem to be established in the early stages of life, suggesting preventive strategies as a major means to reduce cardiovascular mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of socioeconomic status and family characteristics on children's knowledge and perceptions concerning cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Health risk behaviors among high school and university adolescent students.

Tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse constitute a public health concern. Data regarding health risk behaviors among Greek youth are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate health risk behaviors of a large adolescent sample (730 adolescents, 294 males and 436 females), residing in different areas of Greece, trace perceived side effects and associate the findings with the adopted lifestyle.

Modelling dehydration of apricot in a non-conventional multi-component osmotic solution: effect on mass transfer kinetics and quality characteristics.

The quality and preservation of fresh-cut fruits can be improved by applying mild, non-thermal pre-treatments, such as osmotic dehydration (OD). The aim was to model the effect of OD on mass transfer and quality preservation. Apricot pieces were immersed in multi-component solutions comprising glycerol, erythritol, steviol glucosides and mineral salts, at various time-temperature conditions (25-45 °C for 3-240 min, w/w = 1/5).

The impact of education on knowledge, adherence and quality of life among patients on haemodialysis.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on the level of knowledge, quality of life (QoL) and adherence to the treatment regimen among haemodialysis (HD) patients as well as to describe the association between these variables.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental interventional study, 50 HD patients at a HD centre in Western Attica were randomly assigned into intervention (N = 25, received education and a booklet) and control (N = 25, received only the booklet) groups. Knowledge, adherence and quality of life were measured pre- and post-intervention using the Kidney Disease Questionnaire, the GR-Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire-HD and Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index-15, respectively.

Multifeature Quantification of Nuclear Properties from Images of H&E-Stained Biopsy Material for Investigating Changes in Nuclear Structure with Advancing CIN Grade.

Background: Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous condition, and if left untreated, it may lead to cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in nuclear properties of the H&E-stained biopsy material between low CIN and high CIN cases and associate those properties with the CIN grade.

Methods: The clinical material comprised hematoxylin and eosin- (H&E-) stained biopsy specimens from lesions of 44 patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Evaluation and modelling of osmotic pre-treatment of peach using alternative agents in a multiple-component solution.

Background: Peach is a perishable fruit of great importance for the Greek food export market which is prone to rapid deterioration after harvesting. Its short shelf life can be substantially prolonged by applying an appropriate osmotic dehydration (OD) pre-treatment, which is a mild, non-thermal procedure. The aim of this study was to describe mass transfer and quality retention induced by the OD process.

Informal Caregivers in Greek Hospitals: a Unique Phenomenon of a Health System in Financial Crisis.

Background: In Greece it is quite common for family members to provide informal unpaid care for another family member during hospitalization, alongside healthcare professionals. Understaffing and lack of nursing personnel, due to austerity measures implemented in Greece during the last eight years, force families to provide informal care during hospitalization. The aim of the research was to study the role of informal caregivers (IC) during a family's member hospitalization, factors affecting their presence and patient's needs that were met by them.

Short-term impact of the EuroPean Accredited Curriculum on Tobacco Treatment Training (EPACTT) program.

Introduction: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the short-term effectiveness of the EuroPean Accredited Curriculum on Tobacco Treatment Training intervention in improving health care providers' knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy related to tobacco dependence treatment.

Methods: A pre-post pilot study was conducted. The two-day training intervention took place in Brussels in April 2016.

Nurses' knowledge about perioperative care of patients with neurological diseases.

This study investigated the level of nurses' knowledge regarding the perioperative care of neurological patients. An author-developed questionnaire of 20 items was used in a sample of 94 hospital nurses serving in the neurology, surgery and anesthesiology departments and the intensive care unit. The average percentage of participants with correct answers was 49.

Endometrial CRH and implantation: from bench to bedside.

Endometrial corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has been described as a mediator of decidualisation and as a contributor of maternal-fetal immunotolerance. Deregulation of the CRH expression pattern has been associated with unfavourable reproductive outcomes as well as chronic endometrium-derived inflammatory disorders, such as endometriosis and adenomyosis. The current review summarises the evidence produced regarding the role of CRH in endometrial physiology and pathophysiology and highlights recent clinical data regarding the role of CRH in improving clinical pregnancy rates in women with repeated implantation failures following in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer.