Sex Differences in Participation and Performance Trends in Time-Limited Ultramarathon Events.

We aimed to analyze sex differences in time-limited ultramarathon participation, while also identifying trends in participation, age, and performance across different formats of events, from 1990 to 2020. This is an exploratory study, using data obtained from the official event web pages. We downloaded information regarding the year of the event, athletes' year of birth, sex, race event, ranking, and mean running speed (km/h).

Affective and Clinical Outcomes Related to Pain After Graded Motor Imagery in Patients With Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Pre-Post-Single-Group Study.

The aim of this study was to assess at 6-month and 1-year follow-up the effect of graded motor imagery (GMI) in addition to usual care on the affective and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic shoulder pain. A pre-post-intervention single-group study was conducted. One hundred forty-eight patients with chronic shoulder pain were included.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in 7704 Individuals: An Analysis from the Greek Registry for the Prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH).

The intention of this study was to profile the cohort from the Greek Registry for the prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH) by estimating the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), pre-DM, smoking, abnormal thyroid function (ATF), and lipid values. The GRegistry-FH is a prospective study involving door-to-door interviews conducted by trained interviewers. Overall, 7704 individuals aged ≥18 years, randomly selected from all the regions of Greece, participated.

Benefits from Implementing Low- to High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Cardiac surgery procedures are among the main treatments for people with cardiovascular disease, with physiotherapy playing a vital part. Respiratory complications are common and associated with prolonged Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital stay, as well as increased mortality. Inspiratory muscle training has been found to be beneficial in improving respiratory muscle function in critically ill patients and patients with heart failure.

Predictive Markers of Post-Stroke Cognitive Recovery and Depression in Ischemic Stroke Patients: A 6-Month Longitudinal Study.

The growing number of stroke survivors face physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments, making stroke a significant contributor to global disability. Various factors have been identified as key predictors of post-stroke outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a standardized predictive model that integrates various demographic and clinical factors to better predict post-stroke cognitive recovery and depression in patients with ischemic stroke (IS).

Design of Small Non-Peptidic Ligands That Alter Heteromerization between Cannabinoid CB and Serotonin 5HT Receptors.

Activation of cannabinoid CB receptors (CBR) by agonists induces analgesia but also induces cognitive impairment through the heteromer formed between CBR and the serotonin 5HT receptor (5HTR). This side effect poses a serious drawback in the therapeutic use of cannabis for pain alleviation. Peptides designed from the transmembrane helices of CBR, which are predicted to bind 5HTR and alter the stability of the CBR-5HTR heteromer, have been shown to avert CBR agonist-induced cognitive impairment while preserving analgesia.

Attitudes of Health and Mental Health Professionals, and Police Staff towards Mentally Ill Offenders in Greece.

Mentally ill offenders face stigma, being perceived as both dangerous and unpredictable. This leads to social discrimination, which causes devaluation, distancing, and unequal treatment towards them. Critical and dismissive attitudes of healthcare professionals and police toward these patients undermine their care, treatment, and prospects for rehabilitation.

The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.

Analysis of the 10-day ultra-marathon using a predictive XG boost model.

Objective: Ultra-marathon running races are held as distance-limited or time-limited events, ranging from 6 h to 10 days. Only a few runners compete in 10-day events, and so far, we have little knowledge about the athletes' origins, performance, and event characteristics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the origin and performance of these runners and the fastest race locations.

Role of Vitamin B in Healthy Ageing and Disease.

B vitamin complex consist of vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, B12 and is pivotal for overall health, influencing vital functions such as, energy metabolism, DNA maintenance, and healthy immune system. Inadequate B vitamin levels are associated with various health issues, including neurocognitive problems, immune imbalances, and inflammation. In ageing individuals, deficiencies in B vitamins increase the risk of cardiovascular ailments, stroke, cognitive disorders, neurodegeneration, mental health issues, and methylation-related disorders.

An Investigation of the Risk Factors Related to Frailty in Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services.

(1) Background: Frailty in older adults is a condition that involves an interaction of psychological, biological, and social factors. This study aimed to assess the frailty status of older adults (65 years old and above) who receive home care services. Additionally, this work aimed to explore the key factors that have a statistically significant impact on the frailty of this vulnerable population.

Exposure to Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances During Pregnancy and Asthma in Childhood: A Systematic Review.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that has been increasing in prevalence among children globally. While genetic factors contribute to asthma risk, there are growing concerns about environmental exposures, such as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which may disrupt respiratory and immune development in the prenatal period. This systematic review aimed to assess the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and the development of asthma in childhood, integrating findings from epidemiological studies.

The Reliability and Validity of the Greek Version of the Child Abuse Report Intention Scale (CARIS) Questionnaire for Midwives, Along With Factors Associated With Their Intention to Report Child Abuse and Neglect.

Objective:  Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue with unquestionable short- and long-term consequences. The midwives' role in the prevention, identification, and reporting of child abuse and neglect (CAN) is crucial for children's well-being. The Child Abuse Report Intention Scale (CARIS) questionnaire was designed to measure factors influencing Taiwanese nurses to report child abuse and has been used in many studies worldwide.

Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Lactation.

Tobacco smoke exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly for lactating women and their infants. Despite widespread awareness of the harms of smoking during pregnancy, many women continue to smoke postpartum, directly impacting lactation success and infant health. Studies have shown that nicotine, the primary component of tobacco smoke, inhibits prolactin production and the milk ejection reflex, resulting in a decreased milk supply and poor breastfeeding outcomes.

Predictive Performance of Artificial intelligence Models on Heart and Lung Posttransplant Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: The efficacy and capacity of artificial intelligence models to predict posttransplant health complications have been disputed over the past few years. In this systematic review, we assessed the performance of different artificial intelligence models in predicting health outcomes after heart and lung transplantations.

Materials And Methods: We researched online databases.

Cross-cultural validation in Greek and reliability of the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System in children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: To investigate the reliability and validity of the Greek version of the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: The sample of the study included children with CP, aged 3-18 years and classified into Levels I-V of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Parents of children with CP and speech and language therapists (SLTs) with a minimum of 5 years of clinical experience were recruited.

The influence of origin and race location on performance in IRONMAN® age group triathletes.

Background: The IRONMAN® (IM) triathlon is a popular multi-sport, where age group athletes often strive to qualify for the IM World Championship in Hawaii. The aim of the present study was to investigate the location of the fastest IM racecourses for age group IM triathletes. This knowledge will help IM age group triathletes find the best racecourse, considering their strengths and weaknesses, to qualify.

Mental health professionals' perceptions on health promotion needs among people with severe mental health disorders through the co-production approach.

People who suffer from severe mental health disorders are also at high risk of developing other serious health problems. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors combined with low self-care and low health literacy among people with severe mental health disorders highlight the need to design health promotion interventions in this population group. A qualitative study was carried out with the aim of investigating the perceptions among mental health professionals on the health promotion needs of people with severe mental health disorders through the co-production approach.

Long COVID‑19 and pregnancy: A systematic review.

The impact of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or Long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on pregnant women remains a growing concern. The present systematic review synthesizes current evidence on the prevalence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of Long COVID-19 in pregnant women to improve understanding of its burden and implications for maternal health. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2020 and October 2024.

Menopause and Quality of Life Among Greek Women in Rural Areas.

Introduction The World Health Organization defines menopause as the permanent termination of ovarian function and the absence of menstruation for a minimum of 12 months. A woman's quality of life and health may be affected by menopause, a physiological condition that is typically accompanied by vasomotor, physical, and psychological disorders. Also, menopausal women experience a wide range of psychological symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, sadness, and depression.

Impact of a Community-University Partnership on the Quality of Life in a Local Community: A Validated Survey.

Background: The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a self-reported instrument exploring the perceived potential contribution and impact of a community-university partnership (CUP) on the local community's quality of life.

Methods: A 13-item questionnaire was developed and administered to a convenience sample of 65 residents of the municipality of Egaleo, a metropolitan area of Athens, Greece, where the main campus of the University of West Attica is located. The questionnaire was self-administered and filled in at two different time points by the same participants.

Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Urinary incontinence (UI) is common in women of all age groups, but postmenopausal women (MW) have a higher incidence of these symptoms. The International Continence Society suggests that women with UI should first try a conservative treatment, such as pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), which aims to enhance the strength and rectify the activation patterns of the pelvic floor muscles. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of PFMT, either on its own, or in conjunction with other physical therapy, in reducing the severity of UI symptoms in MW.