Epizootiological survey and preventive medicine of the most severe bacterial and viral diseases in cultured mediterranean fish of Greece

Epizootiological survey was performed with emphasis on pathogen agents and their geographic distribution of the most severe bacterial and viral diseases: vibriosis, photobacteriosis, tenacibaculosis, furunculosis and motile aeromonas septicemia, and viral nervous necrosis. Σhe most important cultured Mediterranean finfish species, European sea bass, gilthead sea bream, sharpsnout sea bream, red porgy, white sea bream, were studied. Eleven aquaculture case locations and the causal pathogens maps were designed with Geographical Information System (GIS) ARC-MAP program. These maps included the Greek coast-line and Argolicos, Argosaronicos – Saronicos, Corinthiacos gulf, Miticas Aitoloacarnania coast, Ionian Sea Island coasts, river Louros delta, Central, East and West Amvrakikos gulf, Igoumenitsa and Sagiada coasts, Maliacos gulf, Atalanti Phthiotis coast and North Evoicos gulf, Porto Lagos lagoon rearing locations. The time period of this survey was 1998 – 2014. For European sea bass, 178 outbreaks were recorded for: a) vibriosis (100), caused from Listonella anguillarum (12 – 260C), in most of Greek rearing locations,from Vibrio harveyi (19 – 220C), V. alginolyticus and V. splendidus II (160C), especially in Argolikos gulf, North Evoic gulf and Ionian Island coasts, and from non-specific Vibrio spp. (4), b) photobacteriosis (34) caused from Photobacterium damselae subspecies piscicida (19–250C) in the majority of Greek rearing locations and Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae (19–24.50C), mainly in the above three locations, c) tenacibaculosis (7) from Tenacibaculum maritimum (220C), in the above three locations, and, at 180C, in Portos Lagos lagoon, d) motile aeromonas septicemia (MAS) from Aeromonas sp. (7), A. sobria (3) at 220C, in three locations, and A. hydrophila (7), 2 outbreaks at 150C, and 1 outbreak at 210C, in Saronicos – Corinthiacos and Saronicos – Argosaronicos gulf, and 4 cases, at 280C, in river Louros delta of West Greece e) viralnervous necrosis (16) from Beta-nodavirus RGNNV genotype, in river Louros delta and Ionian Sea Island coasts, at too high temperature values (25–280C). Acute form of classical vibriosis and photobacteriosis were diagnosed in sea bass larvae and juveniles or fingerlings with an average body weight up to 80 g, immature specific immunity and chronic or asymptomatic form in young and adult fish with an average body weight over 80 g, mature specific immunity. For gilthead sea bream, 76 outbreaks were recorded for: a) photobacteriosis, caused from Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae (18) at high (21–24,50C) and P. damselae subspecies piscicida (16) mostly at high (220C) temperature values, b) classic vibriosis (7) from Listonella anguillarum with an even distribution at high (22 – 250C) and low (17 0C) temperature values, rest vibria vibriosis caused from Vibrio alginolyticus (6 cases) at low (160C), V. harveyi (5) at high (220C), V. splendidus II (6) at medium (200C), V. vulnificus biotype (6) at high (220C) temperature values, in Argolikos gulf, North Evoic gulf and Ionian Island coasts, and from non-specific Vibrio spp. (2), c) tenacibaculosis (3) from Tenacibaculum maritimum at 18,50C and at 180C, in Maliacos gulf and Porto Lagos lagoon, d) motile aeromonas septicemia (MAS) from Aeromonas sobria (3) and unclassified Aeromonas sp.(4), mainly at high temperature values (21 – 280C), in Argolikos gulf, North Evoic gulf and Ionian Island coasts and Porto Lagos lagoon. For sharpsnout sea bream, 26 outbreaks were recorded for: a) vibriosis, caused from Vibrio alginolyticus (6) at medium temperature (210C), from V. harveyi (4) at 180C, Listonella anguillarum (3) at medium (200C), V. splendidus II (3) low (170C), V. parahaemolyticus (3) medium (210C) temperature values, b) photobacteriosis from Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae (3) at high temperature (220C), c) motile aeromonas septicemia (MAS) from Aeromonas caviae (3), at 210C, in Argolikos gulf, North Evoic gulf and Ionian Island coasts and from A. hydrophila at 150C, in Corinthiacos. For red porgy and white sea bream sporadic vibriosis cases (5 and 9, corresponsively) were recorded at low (16–170C) and medium (19–200C) temperature values, in the above three locations. Diagrams were plotted for case number pie distribution for every above disease pathogen agent in Greece coastline and for the statistically examined fish species: European sea bass, gilthead sea bream, sharpsnout sea bream. Two GIS epizootiological maps were constructed, based on the abiotic risk factors of temperature (1st map) and salinity (2nd map) values zone shape files, pilotically for Argosaronicos – Saronicos gulf, for the motile aeromonas septicemia outbreak from Aeromonas hydrophila in sea bass young fish, in October 2008. Their target was the utilization of temperature values zonal raster files from a meteorological data base for the biosecurity program environmental prevention approach. From the initial 294 case database of this survey, through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the temperature and seasonality value risk factors were dominated. The pathogen-case location areas and fish average body weights risk factors followed in ranking along with the negligible outbreak year factor. By Logistic Analysis, vibriosis and photobacteriosis pathogens prevailed and motile aeromonas septicemia and tenacibaculosis pathogens, secondly, emerged for European sea bass (134 + 18), gilthead sea bream (64 + 9) and sharpsnout sea bream (22 + 3) in the statistical baseof 250 bacterial diseases cases. Moreover, through Contrast Assay, temperature and seasonality were found as the most statistically significant risk factors for sea bass vibriosis and hotobacteriosis epizootiology. The survey resulted in a proposal for a biosecurity program grounded on pathogenlocal adversive temperature value range and seasonal conditions of environemental and sanitary integrated preventive approach

Πρωτόκολλα ελέγχου συσκευασίας και φύλαξης φαρμακευτικών προϊόντων

Η συσκευασία στα φαρμακευτικά προϊόντα είναι πολύ σημαντική γιατί αποσκοπεί κυρίως στην αναγνώριση ενός προϊόντος. Τα υλικά συσκευασίας είναι οι συνδυασμοί του συστήματος κλεισίματος δοχείου. Γενικά, το προϊόν περιβάλλεται από ένα σύστημα συσκευασίας για να παρέχει προστασία και σταθερότητα καθ 'όλη τη διάρκεια αποθήκευσης του προϊόντος. Το πλαστικό, το γυαλί, το μέταλλο και το καουτσούκ είναι τα κοινά υλικά που χρησιμοποιούνται για τη συσκευασία φαρμακευτικών προϊόντων. Το κλείσιμο μιας συσκευασίας είναι ένα κρίσιμο σημείο ενός συστήματος συσκευασίας και αποτελείται από υλικά όπως πλαστικό, σίδηρο και καουτσούκ. Κάθε υλικό συσκευασίας έχει το δικό του υλικό κατασκευής και πρέπει να είναι συμβατό με το περιεχόμενο. Εάν το υλικό κατασκευής και το σκεύασμα δεν είναι συμβατά μεταξύ τους, τότε δεν συνιστάται τέτοιος συνδυασμός προϊόντος και υλικού συσκευασίας. Η ακεραιότητα του προϊόντος καθ 'όλη τη διάρκεια ζωής του πρέπει να διατηρείται χωρίς συμβιβασμούς. Τα συστατικά συσκευασίας πρέπει να προσδιορίζονται για τη σύνθεση που μπορεί να προστατεύσει το περιεχόμενο από διαφορετικούς παράγοντες όπως το φως, τη θερμότητα, την υγρασία κ.λπ. Είναι υποχρεωτικό να συμμορφώνονται τα υλικά συσκευασίας στις αντίστοιχες κανονιστικές συστάσεις και οδηγίες. Όλα τα σκευάσματα έχουν σχεδιαστεί για χρήση μετά την αφαίρεση του σκευάσματος από το υλικό συσκευασίας ή το σχίσιμο του υλικού συσκευασίας από τη σύνθεση ανάλογα με τη φύση και το σχεδιασμό του σκευάσματος. Με κάθε τρόπο, μετά από πλήρη χρήση του φαρμακευτικού σκευάσματος, το υλικό συσκευασίας που απομένει θεωρείται απόβλητο και πρέπει να καταστραφεί με τον κατάλληλο τρόπο. Ο έλεγχος ποιότητας των υλικών συσκευασίας είναι σχεδόν απαραίτητος για κάθε φαρμακευτική βιομηχανία. Το υλικό μιας συσκευασίας επηρεάζει την ποιότητα, τη σταθερότητα και την αποτελεσματικότητα του φαρμακευτικού προϊόντος.The packaging process in medicinal products is very important because it mainly helps in the identification of a product and separates it from various other products. Packaging materials are the combinations of the container closure system. Generally, the product is surrounded by a packaging system to provide protection and stability throughout the storage of the product. Plastic, glass, metal and rubber are common materials used in the packaging of medicinal products. Closing a package is a crucial point of a packaging system and consists of various materials such as plastic, iron and rubber. Each packaging material has its own construction material and must be compatible with the contents. If the construction material and the formulation are not compatible with each other, then such a combination of product and packaging material is not recommended. The integrity of the product throughout its life must be maintained without compromise. Packaging ingredients must be specified for the composition which can protect the contents from various agents such as light, heat, moisture, etc. It is mandatory for packaging materials to comply with the relevant regulatory recommendations and instructions. All formulations are designed for use after removal of the formulation from the packaging material or tearing of the packaging material from the composition depending on the nature and design of the formulation. In any case, after full use of the medicament, the remaining packaging material is considered waste and must be disposed of properly. This process, if not done effectively, will cause problems related to related environmental risks. Quality control of packaging materials is essential for almost every pharmaceutical industry. The material of a package affects the quality, stability and effectiveness of the medicinal product

Assessment of training needs anb construction of prototype educational material for livestock farners: a case study: the sheep farmers of Epirus

In Greece, sheep farming (SF) constitutes a major branch of the primaryproduction sector with significant contribution to the country’s economy, especiallyfor the less privileged regions. Due to the uniqueness and quality of its products, SFshows considerable dynamics, even under the tough antagonism and the restrictionconditions imposed by the European Union. As a result, SF attracts more and moreyoung people who, faced with economic crisis, seek out alternativeentrepreneurships.As other production sectors, modern SF aims at maximizing economic efficiencyby best exploiting all the available knowledge, information and technology. Despiteits major importance, SF seems, however, to be characterized by a serious lack ofrecent knowledge and technology. Thus the training needs of people involved in thismajor production activity appear nowadays more urgent than ever before.The current study has been motivated from the previous conclusion. The aims ofthe present study were to: a) evaluate the training needs of sheep farmers in one ofthe least privileged regions of Greece (Epirus), b) develop instructional materialbased on farmers’ instructional needs and c) compare the learning effectiveness oftwo instructional strategies both based on Information and CommunicationTechnologies (ICTs) in a typical class learning environment. The first strategy wasbased on the most widely training tool used i.e. the «classic» digital multimedia presentation (MP) approach, while the second one employed a modern strategyapproach known as the concept maps (CM). CMs are based on proceduresrepresenting and visualizing concepts and their (inter)relations, having the form of adiagram where concepts are presented clearly and succinctly.The current study is structured by two parts.In the first part, data were collected, through personal interviews from 65 sheepfarmers located on Epirus region during May 2009 to October 2010. These sheepfarmers had prior experience(s) of collaboration with geotechnicians and most ofthem are or were involved in animal recording programs in the region of interest.Data recorded here regarded previous types of acquired information, attendance of instructional programs, as well as attitude with regard to qualitative characteristicsthat future instructional programs should comprise (eg. content, organization,participation, frequency of attendance, structure etc). Familiarity level as well aspotential use of ICTs with emphasis on computers in sheep production and the levelof knowledge in various production subjects (genetics, reproduction, performancecontrol, animal feeding, management, hygiene and husbandry issues) have also beenrecorded.Analysis of the data of the first part included description statistics and chi-squaredtests. Results showed that sheep farmers mainly prefer to be informed onprofessional issues by unofficial sources such as discussion(s) with other farmers,TV programs and agricultural press followed by agricultural co-operatives andinstructional programs. Despite the generally low level of participation ininstructional programs, sheep farmers who had previously attended relevantprograms highly appreciated the instructors’ interest as well as the organizationallevel of the instructional programs. Furthermore, they seem to have successfullyapplied some of the newly acquired practices/knowledge in the practice whileshowing interest in participating future instructional programs, especially when theseare provided for free. Among various instructional subjects, sheep farmers ratedanimal breeding, animal nutrition and health, reproduction and information on sheepbreeds of highest interest for future instructional programs. Finally, further analysis of the questionnaires showed a lack of knowledge and malpractices, in a lesseror/and greater degree, in almost all subjects examined. Despite farmers’ positiveattitude towards the use of technologies in farm management, familiarity with the useof computers and ICTs was, in general, insufficient.During the first phase of the second part of the study, an instructional materialentitled: ―Selection of replacement animals in sheep farms‖ was developed. Thismaterial was developed following a detailed analysis of the perceived as well as thelatent instructional needs of the sheep farmers participating in the first part of thestudy. Then, two instructional strategies were employed; one based on a typicalPowerpoint Presentation (MP) and the other exploiting Conceptual Maps (CMs).Both instructional ways contained the same quantity and quality of (non)multimediaobjects (text, images, videos, web site links). Instructional interventions using thetwo instructional tools on a total number of n=187 students, making up a total of 15classes, in 9 different cities and communities of West Greece during October 2012 toJuly 2013, followed.Evaluation of the trainees’ knowledge was assessed using the SOLO (Structure ofObserved Learning Outcomes) taxonomy. Prior and posterior to each intervention, trainees were asked to answer five questions pertaining to the instructional subject.Answers comprised multiple-choice as well as open-ended type questions of gradeddifficulty. Each answer was classified into one of the following five hierarchicalcognitive levels: 1) prestructural, 2) unistructural, 3) multistructural, 4) relational and5) extended abstract. The learning efficiency of the two instructional strategies defined as the scoringdifference in total (TD) and per question (D1,…,D5) was then statistically analyzedusing a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis (SMLR). Here the scoringdifference(s) (individual and total) were used as the dependent variable(s) andvarious variables (trainee groups, education level, instructional strategy etc), weretreated as the independent factors. Results of SMLR analysis showed that the twoinstructional strategies (MP and CM) displayed equal effectiveness both at total andindividual (per question) level. Furthermore, statistically significant differences inTD were observed between: a) students of the Dairy School when contrasted to newand purebred farmers and 2) university vs. the primary school graduates. This findingsupports the conclusion that previous participation of farmers to training programsenhances their training acceptability and familiarity and increases learningefficiency. Based on the present results, it was concluded that CMs could be used asan alternative instructional strategy when designing training programs for sheepfarmers. More research is warranted with regard to the learning efficiency of MPs inthis target group as well as in other groups of the primary sector.In conclusion, tracing the instructional needs of sheep farmers has proved to be alaborious, time consuming and costly procedure. Proper analysis of farmers’ trainingneeds, development of instructional material using ICTs and knowledgedissemination to numerous sheep farmer groups enhanced overall level of knowledge. Taking into account the indirect and/or the long-term benefits of training,reflected in terms of improved productivity and financial effectiveness of the sheepfarms, the overall advantages of the training programs are far more significant forvarious groups (farmers, co-operatives) and the society, in general

Financial and Energetic Optimization of Greek Buildings Insulation

The most important parameter in the design of the building envelope is the insulation thickness, because it dramatically influences the heating and cooling loads. The objective of this study is the investigation of different insulation scenarios for the four climate zones of Greece and, more specifically, the cities Heraklion, Athens, Thessaloniki, and Florina. The insulation thickness is examined up to 8 cm and the optimum thickness is determined by the minimization of the simple payback period in order to design a cost-effective system. Moreover, the primary energy consumption, the heating/cooling loads, and the equivalent CO2 emissions are calculated. Furthermore, a multi-objective evaluation procedure of the various insulated scenarios is conducted in order to show the relationship between the energetic and the financial optimization. Generally, it is found that the optimum insulation thickness is around 4 cm for all the climate zones using financial criteria, while the energy criteria indicate higher thicknesses. These results can be applied to the suitable design of Greek residential buildings

Helicobacter pylori infection increases the risk of developing preeclampsia: A meta-analysis of observational studies

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori has been previously linked with preeclampsia on the basis of altered angiogenesis and activation of inflammatory cytokines. PurposeThe purpose of the present systematic review is to summarise current evidence concerning the correlation of the two diseases. Materials and MethodsWe searched the Medline (1966-2017), Scopus (2004-2017), Clinicaltrials.gov (2008-2017) EMBASE (1980-2017), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL (1999-2017) databases. We selected all observational studies (both prospective and retrospective) that reported the incidence of preeclampsia among women with H. Pylori infection. Statistical meta-analysis was performed with the RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsFourteen studies were finally included in this review, which included a total number of 9787 women. Nine percentage of these had preeclampsia (879 women). The evaluation of studies with the ROBINS-I tool revealed low to moderate risk of bias. H. pylori IgG seropositivity was significantly more prevalent in preeclamptic than in healthy pregnant women (9391 women, OR: 2.32, 95% CI [1.55, 3.46]). The frequency of anti-CagA antibodies was also higher in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia (3275 women, OR: 3.97, 95% CI [1.55, 10.19]). ConclusionThe findings of our study support that H. pylori infection doubles the risk of developing preeclampsia. The exact pathophysiological processes, however, remain poorly investigated and future experimental studies are needed to shed light on the underlying mechanisms