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.

Fighting bacterial pathogens with carbon nanotubes: focused review of recent progress.

The fast and global spread of bacterial resistance to currently available antibiotics results in a great and urgent need for alternative antibacterial agents and therapeutic strategies. Recent studies on the application of nanomaterials as antimicrobial agents have demonstrated their potential for the management of infectious diseases. Among the diverse palette of nanomaterials currently used in biomedical applications, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained massive interest given their many valuable properties, such as high thermal and electrical conductivity, tensile strength, flexibility convenient aspect ratio, and low fabrication costs.

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.

Perception of smile attractiveness among laypeople and orthodontists regarding the buccal corridor space, as it is defined by the eyes. An innovated technique.

Objective: To investigate whether there is a relationship between the distance between the iris and pupil with the ideal size of buccal corridors.

Materials And Methods: A full-portrait image of a male Caucasian was used to create a set of 11 digitally modified images with different buccal corridor space. A web-based cross-sectional study was designed and distributed via an online survey to 200 laypeople and 200 orthodontists to assess image attractiveness, using a Visual analogue scale.

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.

Factors associated with failed epidural blood patch after accidental dural puncture in obstetrics: a prospective, multicentre, international cohort study.

Background: Epidural blood patch is commonly used for management of post-dural puncture headache after accidental dural puncture. The primary aim was to determine factors associated with failed epidural blood patch.

Methods: In this prospective, multicentre, international cohort study, parturients ≥18 yr receiving an epidural blood patch for treatment of post-dural puncture headache were included.

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.

Silver Nanoparticles Using Eucalyptus or Willow Extracts (AgNPs) as Contact Lens Hydrogel Components to Reduce the Risk of Microbial Infection.

Eucalyptus leaves (ELE) and willow bark (WBE) extracts were utilized towards the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs(ELE), AgNPs(WBE)). AgNPs(ELE) and AgNPs(WBE) were dispersed in polymer hydrogels to create pHEMA@AgNPs(ELE)_2 and pHEMA@AgNPs(WBE)_2 using hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA). The materials were characterized in a solid state by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD), thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DTG/DSC) and attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy in solution.

In vivo correlation between morphological characteristics of coronary plaques and functional characteristics of carotid arteries in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Carotid artery temperature heterogeneity (ΔΤ) measured by microwave radiometry (MWR) has been associated with future cardiovascular events including acute coronary syndromes. The vulnerable plaques of the coronary arterial tree, that can be ideally depicted by intracoronary imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) have anatomical characteristics such as the thin fibrous cap (TCFA), that make them vulnerable to rupture. The scope of the study was to assess the implication of the carotid artery temperature heterogeneity on the culprit coronary plaque morphology in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Spastic paraplegia preceding -related familial Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: We investigated the frequency, neuropathology, and phenotypic characteristics of spastic paraplegia (SP) that precedes dementia in presenilin 1 () related familial Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) in 60 probands with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) phenotype that was negative for variants in known HSP-related genes. Where mutation was identified, brain biopsy was performed.

Elevated levels of both microRNA 378 (miR-378) and kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) mRNA are associated with an unfavorable prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients have the worst outcome among all breast cancer subtypes. In oral squamous carcinoma cells, miR-378 was reported to target the mRNA of kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4), resulting in inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and invasion, induction of apoptosis, and reduction of tumor growth . Similarly, a miR-378/KLK4 axis has been proposed in prostate cancer.

Silver Nanoparticles from Oregano Leaves' Extracts as Antimicrobial Components for Non-Infected Hydrogel Contact Lenses.

The oregano leaves' extract (ORLE) was used for the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs(ORLE)). ORLE and AgNPs(ORLE) (2 mg/mL) were dispersed in polymer hydrogels to give the pHEMA@ORLE_2 and pHEMA@AgNPs(ORLE)_2 using hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA). The materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD), thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), derivative thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (DTG/DSC), ultraviolet (UV-Vis), and attenuated total reflection mode (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies in solid state and UV-Vis in solution.

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.

Hemorrhagic Transformation in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation: Time to Initiation of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy and Outcomes.

Background In patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation, early anticoagulation prevents ischemic recurrence but with the risk of hemorrhagic transformation ( HT ). The aims of this study were to evaluate in consecutive patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation (1) the incidence of early HT, (2) the time to initiation of anticoagulation in patients with HT , (3) the association of HT with ischemic recurrences, and (4) the association of HT with clinical outcome at 90 days. Methods and Results HT was diagnosed by a second brain computed tomographic scan performed 24 to 72 hours after stroke onset.

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.

Statins in Aortic Stenosis.

Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common form of valvular heart disease in Europe and North America. It is a progressive disease with a prolonged period of asymptomatic latency which eventually leads to critical left ventricular outflow tract obstruction necessitating surgical replacement of the valve. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs with a robust evidence base demonstrating clinical benefit in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Statins in acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) frequently experience recurrent adverse events from the cardiovascular system comparing to either healthy individuals or individuals with stable coronary artery disease. This is attributed to the inflammatory cascade that is activated during ACS resulting in increased risk for rupture of vulnerable plaques.

Objective: Therefore, it is of great importance to avoid recurrent events with treatment aiming at secondary prevention which includes the management of lipid profile besides alteration in the lifestyle and habits.

Manual MRI morphometry in Parkinsonian syndromes.

Background: Several morphometric magnetic resonance imaging parameters may serve for differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. The objective of this study was to identify which performs best in clinical routine.

Methods: We acquired multicentric magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo sequences in patients with Parkinson's disease (n=204), progressive supranuclear palsy (n=106), multiple system atrophy-cerebellar, (n = 21); multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian (n = 60), and healthy controls (n = 73), performed manual planimetric measurements, and calculated receiver operator characteristics with leave-one-out cross-validation to propose cutoff values.