Assessment of first-line eradication treatment in Greece: data from the European Registry on management (Hp-EuReg).

Background: ( is the most common chronic bacterial infection. Its management has to rely on local effectiveness, given the geographical variability of bacterial antibiotic resistance. We evaluated treatment effectiveness in naïve patients in Greece, as part of the European Registry on the management of (Hp-EuReg).

Antiplatelet and Antithrombotic Therapy in Type I Diabetes Mellitus: Update on Current Data.

Diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a markedly elevated cardiovascular (CV) risk due to premature atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that intense glycemic control reduces the incidence of CV disease. Antiplatelet therapy is considered to be a very important therapy for secondary prevention of recurrent atherothrombotic events in patients with DM, while it may be considered for primary prevention in individuals with T1DM with additional CV risk factors.

Morphology, Development and Deformation of the Spine in Mild and Moderate Scoliosis: Are Changes in the Spine Primary or Secondary?

Introduction And Aim Of The Study: We aim to determine whether the changes in the spine in scoliogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis (IS), are primary/inherent or secondary. There is limited information on this issue in the literature. We studied the sagittal profile of the spine in IS using surface topography.

Early treatment of COVID-19 with anakinra guided by soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor plasma levels: a double-blind, randomized controlled phase 3 trial.

Early increase of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) serum levels is indicative of increased risk of progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to respiratory failure. The SAVE-MORE double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of anakinra, an IL-1α/β inhibitor, in 594 patients with COVID-19 at risk of progressing to respiratory failure as identified by plasma suPAR ≥6 ng ml, 85.9% (n = 510) of whom were receiving dexamethasone.

Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors Versus Metformin as the First-Line Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes: Is It Time for a Revolution?

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for hyperglycemia and its complications. However, metformin remains the first-line pharmacological treatment in most algorithms for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although metformin is generally believed to exert positive effects on cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, relevant data are mainly observational and potentially overinterpreted.

Plasma nesfatin-1 and DDP-4 levels in patients with coronary artery disease: Kozani study.

Background: Nesfatin-1, a novel adipokine and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), a mam malian serine protease, are potent factors of atherosclerosis. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated whether the plasma nesfatin-1 and DPP4 is associated with the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We consecutively enrolled a total of 240 patients with significant CAD (previous revascularization or angiographically-proven coronary artery stenosis > 50%) presented with either unstable angina (UA, N = 76) or stable chronic CAD (SCAD, N = 165).

A Case of Bordetella bronchiseptica Bacteremia in a Patient With COVID-19: Brief Report.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a gram-negative coccobacillus that colonizes the respiratory system of mammals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and others and might cause upper respiratory tract infections. Although it can be rarely pathogenic in humans, there are several case reports describing infections in humans. We describe the case of a patient without prolonged immunosuppression or underlying diseases, with bacteremia from Bordetella bronchiseptica, while being treated in a tertiary hospital for COVID-19 infection.

Impact of a 4-year antimicrobial stewardship program implemented in a Greek tertiary hospital.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 4-year antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) in a tertiary hospital. We monitored data for 2015 (pre-intervention) and 2016-2019 (post-intervention) about antibiotic consumption (DDD/100 bed days), Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs), resistance rates, length of stay (LOS), and annual antibiotic costs. Significant reductions were observed for total antibiotics/colistin/carbapenems/quinolones/tigecycline consumption and resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Ruptured arterial aneurysm in Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report.

Background: Aneurysm formation is a possible, but rare, complication of granulomatosis with polyangiitis, known as Wegener's granulomatosis. Urgent diagnosis and therapy is very important because a ruptured aneurysm could be life threatening.

Case Presentation: We, therefore, present the case of a 63-year-old Greek man who was diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis and retroperitoneal hematoma due to ruptured aneurysm in renal artery and upper pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Contemporary Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in the Management of Patients with Suspected or Known Coronary Artery Disease.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a useful non-invasive radiation-free imaging modality for the management of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). CMR cine imaging provides the "gold standard" assessment of ventricular function, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) provides useful data for the diagnosis and extent of myocardial scar and viability, while stress imaging is an established technique for the detection of myocardial perfusion defects indicating ischemia. Beyond its role in the diagnosis of CAD, CMR allows accurate risk stratification of patients with established CAD.

Management of Morgagni's Hernia in the Adult Population: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Morgagni's hernia (MH) is defined by the protrusion of abdominal viscera through an anterior retrosternal diaphragmatic defect. The objective of this study was to systematically review current literature on MHs in adult population and assess their clinical characteristics and therapeutic approach.

Methods: PubMed and Cochrane bibliographical databases were searched (last search: 15 January 2021) for studies concerning MHs.

Truncal Changes in Patients Suffering Severe Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis: A Surface Topography Study.

Backgroud: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee is a degenerative disease with complications, including reduced range of motion and pain. Although OA of the hip and knee is common, there are few studies that investigated if patients with this condition had affected morphological truncal parameters. The objectives of this study were to compare the morphology of the spine and the pelvis of patients with hip or knee OA to that of a control group (CG) and to comment on the proposed mechanisms of these changes and the clinical effects on patients.

The Effect of Sugammadex on Prothrombin and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time.

Sugammadex is routinely used as an effective neuromuscular blockade reversal agent. Several studies have indicated that it may prolong the prothrombin time (PT) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). This review gathers the relevant studies to accumulate knowledge on the subject.

The Hard Lessons Learned by the COVID-19 Epidemic in Italy: Rethinking the Role of the National Health Care Service?

The dramatic events precipitated by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus pandemic have highlighted the limitations and contradictions of our country's current health care delivery model plagued by the closure of healthcare delivery structures, staff reductions, privatizations and inadequate funding which have been affecting the Italian National Health System during the past 10 years. The COVID-19 epidemic has a hefty bill: thousands of deaths - mainly elderly, hospitals overwhelmed, residential assistance structures reaching their limits, sick people left alone and uncared in homes, the disruption in life habits and an altered daily way of living never experienced before; all have contributed into making the ongoing tragedy even more painful. Herewith, we present and discuss the information and reflections from our experiences and postulate the rethinking of the established socio-health policies not only in Italy but also in other western countries which have failed to curtail the epidemic via conventional management approaches.

Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy: a review of reported cases.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anovulatory infertility due to hypercortisolism, and it is very rare in pregnancy. CS in pregnancy is associated with important maternal-foetal morbidity and mortality, such as preeclampsia and premature delivery. A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE library to retrieve articles reporting cases of CS in pregnant women, during the period between 2010 and 2020.

Validation of the Greek Version of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate the Greek version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.

Method: Eighty-six adult patients with chronic tinnitus participated in the study. Sociodemographic data and medical history were recorded during the interview.

PCSK9 Antibody-based Treatment Strategies for Patients With Statin Intolerance.

Background: Statin intolerance refers to the inability of a patient to tolerate statin therapy, presenting muscle aches, pains, weakness and muscle inflammation. Thus, numerous patients are not treated with suitable statin-based therapy or take only very low doses. As a result, the desired decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is not achieved, resulting in patients at a high risk for cardiovascular events, requiring an alternative lipid-lowering treatment.

Omentin-1 and vaspin serum levels in patients with pre-clinical carotid atherosclerosis and the effect of statin therapy on them.

Background: Omentin-1 and vaspin are novel adipokines, and their association with atherosclerosis is still under investigation. The present study aimed to assess the relationship of those adipokines with preclinical, non-significant carotid atherosclerosis and the impact of statin therapy on their levels, suggesting a link between adiposity and atherosclerosis.

Methods: Eighty-four statin-free subjects with non-significant, preclinical carotid atherosclerosis and elevated LDL- cholesterol levels (>130 mg/dl) were recruited to receive atorvastatin (from 10 to 80 mg per day) (atorvastatin group - AG group).

Endothelial progenitor cells mobilization after maximal exercise according to heart failure severity.

Background: Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an underlying pathophysiological feature of chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients with CHF are characterized by impaired vasodilation and inflammation of the vascular endothelium. They also have low levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).