Update on current views and advances on RSV infection (Review).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection represents an excellent paradigm of precision medicine in modern paediatrics and several clinical trials are currently performed in the prevention and management of RSV infection. A new taxonomic terminology for RSV was recently adopted, while the diagnostic and omics techniques have revealed new modalities in the early identification of RSV infections and for better understanding of the disease pathogenesis. Coordinated clinical and research efforts constitute an important step in limiting RSV global predominance, improving epidemiological surveillance, and advancing neonatal and paediatric care. This review article presents the key messages of the plenary lectures, oral presentations and posters of the '5th workshop on paediatric virology' (Sparta, Greece, 12th October 2019) organized by the Paediatric Virology Study Group, focusing on recent advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, clinical management and prevention of RSV infection in childhood

Creating the `George N. Papanicolaou Medal' by the Academy of Athens: An interview with Professor of Sculpture Theodoros Papagiannis (Athens School of Fine Arts, Athens, Greece)

The `George N. Papanicolaou Medal' is a brass medal commissioned by the Academy of Athens on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr George N. Papanicolaou in 1983. It was created by Professor Theodoros Papagiannis, Professor Emeritus of Sculpture at the Athens School of Fine Arts in Athens, Greece; the medal presents Dr George N. Papanicolaou with his microscope. According to Professor Papagiannis, the medal was requested by Professor Nikolaos Louros, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Athens School of Medicine and it was created according to the ancient Greek style. The medal was given to all honored participants of the special ceremony organized by the Academy of Athens in May 13th, 1983, in the context of the 100 years from the birth of Dr George N. Papanicolaou. The ceremony was performed at the Central Hall of the Academy of Athens in Athens under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Democracy Constantinos Caramanlis. A copy of this medal is being exhibited at the `Museum of Contemporary Sculpture Theodoros Papagiannis' in Elliniko at the Municipality of Katsanochoria close to Ioannina (Greece), as well as at the newly founded Institute of Paediatric Virology based on the island of Euboea, birth place of Dr George N. Papanicolaou

Mache Papanicolaou (1890-1982), the dedicated companion of the great benefactor: An interview with Dr Julie Kokkori, one of the only living relatives of Dr George N. Papanicolaou

Mache Papanicolaou (Volos, Greece, 1890 - Miami, Florida, USA, 1982) was the soul of absolute dedication to research, science and humanity of her lifelong partner, Dr George N. Papanicolaou (Kymi, Greece, 1883 - Miami Florida, USA, 1962). Her devotion to him, her endless support during their first years in the USA, as well as during the period before the approval of the Pap smear test and her selfless contribution to this revolutionary work were invaluable, indeed. In this article, which is dedicated to the memory of Mache Papanicolaou, we have the great honour to host the testimony of one of the only living relatives of Dr George N. Papanicolaou. Dr Julie Kokkori is the granddaughter of Nasos N. Papanicolaou (Kymi, Greece, 1880-Athens, Greece, 1958), the oldest brother of Dr George N. Papanicolaou, and daughter of the niece of Dr George N. Papanicolaou, Maria Kokkori (Trikala, Greece, 1918 - Athens, Greece, 2012), author of the first book in the Hellenic literature on the life of Dr George N. Papanicolaou entitled `George N. Papanicolaou: through his life and work'

Vaccination against Human Papillomavirus in relation to Financial Crisis: The “Evaluation and Education of Greek Female Adolescents on Human Papillomaviruses’ Prevention Strategies” ELEFTHERIA Study

Study Objective: In this study we aimed to explore financial and other sociodemographic factors that affect nonvaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in Greece, one of the first European Union countries to introduce the vaccination against HPV into its National Immunization Programme in 2008. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures: Six hundred thirty-two female adolescents (aged 11-16 years) from Greece completed a pilot cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey (ELEFTHERIA study) from 2008 to 2014. Results: Overall, only 8.9% (56 of 632) of the female adolescents reported that they had received all 3 doses of the HPV vaccination. The HPV vaccination uptake rates increased gradually from 3.2% (3 of 95) in 2008 to 17.1% (14 of 82) in 2011. However, it abruptly decreased to 2.1% (2 of 95) in 2012 and it reached 9.2% (8 of 87) in 2013 and 11.5% (11 of 96) in 2014. The most common factors for nonvaccination included fear of side effects, which decreased (Spearman rho = -0.860; P =.024) and financial issues, which increased statistically significantly (Spearman rho = 0.890; P = .012) during the years 2008 to 2014. Conclusion: In our study we addressed the novel topic of the association of financial issues with HPV vaccination compliance and highlighted the urgent need to provide and maintain health insurance coverage to children in Greece, a country in financial crisis

A paediatric influenza update 100 years after the Skyros island Spanish flu outbreak

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak on the Greek Aegean Sea island of Skyros, which devastated its population in less than 30 days. According to Constantinos Faltaits's annals published in 1919, the influenza attack on the island of Skyros commenced acutely like a thunderbolt' on the 27th of October, 1918 and was exceptionally severe and fatal. At that time, the viral cause of the influenza had not been detected, while the total number of victims of the Spanish flu outbreak has been estimated to have surpassed 50 million, worldwide. Almost one century after this Aegean Sea island's tragedy, the 4th Workshop on Paediatric Virology', organised on the 22nd of September, 2018 in Athens, Greece, was dedicated to the 100 years of the Spanish' flu pandemic. This review article highlights the plenary and key lectures presented at the workshop on the recent advances on the epidemiology, clinical management and prevention of influenza in childhood

Detection of human metapneumovirus in infants with acute respiratory tract infection

Both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a recently discovered respiratory pathogen classified in the Paramyxoviridae family, have been associated with acute respiratory tract infections (ART!) in infants. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence and clinical features of hMPV infection in infants presenting with ARTI at a tertiary children’s hospital in Greece during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winter seasons. Routine nasal swabs were obtained from 127 infants younger than 12 months of age. The specimens were tested for the presence of hMPV and RSV antigens using validated enzyme-linked immunoassays. The mean age of the studied infants was 3 months (range 19 days to 12 months). hMPV was detected in 8 (6.3%) children, 4 boys and 4 girls, while RSV was detected in 39 (30.7%) children, 22 boys and 17 girls. In 7 children, hMPV was identified as a unique viral pathogen, while only 1 child was co-infected with hMPV and RSV. Bronchiolitis was diagnosed in all hMPV-positive cases, while only two cases required hospitalization and supplemental oxygen therapy. Our results provide further evidence of the importance of hMPV as a pathogen associated with community-acquired ARTI in infants in Greece

Current views and advances on Paediatric Virology: An update for paediatric trainees (Review)

Paediatric Virology is a bold new scientific field, which combines Paediatrics with Virology, Epidemiology, Molecular Medicine, Evidence-based Medicine, Clinical Governance, Quality Improvement, Pharmacology and Immunology. The Workshop on Paediatric Virology, which took place on Saturday October 10, 2015 in Athens, Greece, provided an overview of recent views and advances on viral infections occurring in neonates and children. It was included in the official programme of the 20th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and the 18th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, which attracted over 500 delegates from the five continents. During the Workshop, the topics covered included the challenges of vaccine implementation against human papillomaviruses in countries under financial crisis, strategies for eradicating poliomyelitis and its 60th vaccine anniversary, as well as the debate on the association between autism and vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella. Among the non-vaccine related topics, emphasis was given to viral infections in prematurely born infants and their long-term outcomes, new paediatric intensive care management options for bronchiolitis related to respiratory syncytial virus, the clinical implications of hepatitis B virus and cytomegalovirus genotyping, the Ebola virus threat and preparedness in Paediatric Emergency Departments, oral, oropharynx, laryngeal, nasal and ocular viral infections and Merkel cell polyomavirus as a novel emerging virus of infancy and childhood. In this review, we provide selected presentations and reports discussed at the Workshop