Antithrombotic and Antiatherosclerotic Properties of Olive Oil and Olive Pomace Polar Extracts in Rabbits

Olive oil polar lipid (OOPL) extract has been reported to inhibit atherosclerosis development on rabbits. Olive pomace polar lipid (PPL) extract inhibits PAF activity in vitro and the most potent antagonist has been identified as a glycerylether-sn-2-acetyl glycolipid with common structural characteristics with the respective potent antagonist of OOPL. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PPL on early atherosclerosis development on rabbits and to compare it with the antiatherosclerotic effect of OOPL. OOPL and PPL inhibition potency, towards both PAF action and PAF binding, was tested in vitro on washed rabbit platelets. Consequently, rabbits were divided into three groups (A, B, and C). All groups were fed atherogenic diet for 22 days. Atherogenic diets in groups B and C were enriched with OOPL and PPL, respectively. At the end of the experimental time, rabbits were euthanized and aortic samples were examined histopathologically. OOPL and PPL inhibited PAF-induced aggregation, as well as specific PAF binding, with PPL being more potent. Free and bound PAF levels and PAF-AH activity were significantly elevated at the end of the experimental time. Plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were also found increased. Groups B and C exhibited significantly increased values of EC50 compared to group A. Histopathological examination revealed that the development of early atherosclerosis lesions in groups B and C were significantly inhibited compared to group A. Significant differences were noted in the early atherosclerosis lesions between groups B and C, thus indicating that PPL exhibit its anti-atherosclerotic activity by blocking PAF receptor. Specific PAF antagonists with similar in vitro and in vivo bioactivity to those that have been previously reported in OOPL exist in PPL

Factoring algorithms and certification of prime numbers

69 σ.Αντικείμενο της διπλωματικής μου είναι οι Πρώτοι Αριθμοί και οι Αλγόριθμοι Πιστοποίησης και Παραγοντοποίησης αυτών. Πρώτοι λέγονται οι φυσικοί αριθμοί που είναι μεγαλύτεροι της μονάδας και έχουν μόνο δύο φυσικούς διαιρέτες. Το 1 και τον εαυτό τους. Αρχικά γίνεται μια ιστορική αναδρομή στην εξέλιξη των αριθμών. Από την εμφάνιση των πρώτων αρχαίων αριθμητικών συστημάτων, το κόσκινο του Ερατοσθένη, το τρίγωνο του Pascal, έως την εμφάνιση της μεταβλητής, της αποδοχής του αριθμού μηδέν, τους αρνητικούς αριθμούς, την ιστορία του π και του λογαρίθμου μέχρι να φτάσουμε στους πρώτους Πρώτους Αριθμούς. Στη συνέχεια περιγράφονται διάφορες κλασσικές μέθοδοι όπως αυτή των διαδοχικών διαιρέσεων, το κόσκινο του Ερατοσθένη εκτενέστερα, η μέθοδος παραγοντοποίησης του Fermat όπως και αυτή του Euler, καθώς και οι ισοδυναμίες του Gauss, η συνάρτηση του Euler και κάποια βασικά θεωρήματα θεωρίας αριθμών, ολοκληρώνοντας με τα σύμβολα των Legendre και Jacobi. Έπειτα παρουσιάζονται και αναλύονται τα κριτήρια των Fermat, Miller-Rabin και Solovay-Strassen για την πιστοποίηση πρώτου αριθμού και τα κριτήρια του Dixon, p-1 και Rho του J.Pollard για την παραγοντοποίηση ακεραίου.Subject of my thesis is the Prime numbers and their Certification and Factorization Algorithms. Primes are called the natural numbers that are greater than one and have only two physical dividers. 1 and themselves. Initially in an historic overview of the numbers. From the first appearance of ancient numeration systems, the sieve of Eratosthenes, the triangle of Pascal, to the appearance of the variable, acceptance number zero, negative numbers, history of pi and the logarithm to get the first prime number. Thereafter described various conventional methods such as successive divisions, the sieve of Heratosthenes in more details, the method of derivatizing of Fermat and as that of Euler, and the equivalent of Gauss, the function of Euler and basic theorems of theory of numbers, completing with the symbols of Legendre and Jacobi. Then presented and analyzed the criteria of Fermat, Miller-Rabin and Solovay-Strassen for certification Prime number and the criteria of Dixon, p-1 and Rho of J.Pollard for factoring integers.Δημήτριος Γ. Ηλιόπουλο

Continuous AE monitoring of fresh concrete

The construction of cost-effective, high-strength and durable concrete structures is strongly based on the mix design and the early age assessment of its quality. Corrosion attack, spalling, shrinkage cracking or cracking due to freezing-thawing are only a few examples frequently seen in concrete elements as a result of their poor properties. The estimation of the mechanical and physical properties of the latter is, so far, either based on empirical methods, like the slump and V-funnel test, or on destructive tests, like the core sampling and the application of the Schmidt hammer, whfoh are also applied late on the structure. Therefore it is made clear that the only way to accomplish trust-worthy quality control as early as the moment of mixing is through non­ destructive testing techniques. Among them, Acoustic Emission (AE) is the most promising since it allows for the continuous monitoring of the material's behavior and the detailed evaluation of the emitted signals obtained from different experimental mix designs. In the current study, the aforementioned technique is used for the examination of the early age activity of specimens with various water to cement (w/c) and aggregate to cement (ale) ratios. It is found that using a setup which consists of metal molds and resonant sensors provides distinctive results among the specimens. Finally, throughout this work, it is suggested that AE parameters like the Average Frequency (AF) and the RA value can efficiently be used for quality characterization

Comparison of Fibrate, Ezetimibe, Low- and High-Dose Statin Therapy for the Dyslipidemia of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Mouse Model

Background and Aim: The treatment-of-choice for the optimal management of the dyslipidemia of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not clearly defined. We compared the efficacy of 4 drug regimes for the management of this dyslipidemia in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 C57B16 mice comprised the study group. The first 10 received standard mouse food for the whole experiment (control group). The remaining 50 mice received atherogenic diet for 14 weeks until the development of the MetS. The mice were then divided into 5 groups: the 1st group continued receiving atherogenic diet, while the other 4 groups received atherogenic diet plus ezetimibe (10 mg/kg per day), fenofibrate (100 mg/kg per day), low-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/kg per day), or high-dose (40 mg/kg per day) atorvastatin, respectively, for another 8 weeks. Results: High-dose atorvastatin treatment achieved the best lipid profile compared with low-dose atorvastatin, ezetimibe, and fibrate therapy. The lipid profile of mice receiving atherogenic diet plus high-dose atorvastatin treatment was similar with mice on regular chow. Conclusions: High-dose atorvastatin treatment resulted in optimization of the lipid profile in the presence of a high-fat atherogenic diet in a mouse model. Our results suggest that high-dose atorvastatin treatment may be the optimal treatment option for the dyslipidemia associated with MetS. Nevertheless, verification of these results in humans is required before any definite conclusions can be drawn

Antithrombotic and antiatherosclerotic properties of olive oil and pomace polar extracts in rabbits

Olive oil polar lipid (OOPL) extract has been reported to inhibit atherosclerosis development on rabbits. Olive pomace polar lipid (PPL) extract inhibits PAF activity in vitro and the most potent antagonist has been identified as a glycerylether-sn-2-acetyl glycolipid with common structural characteristics with the respective potent antagonist of OOPL. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PPL on early atherosclerosis development on rabbits and to compare it with the antiatherosclerotic effect of OOPL. OOPL and PPL inhibition potency, towards both PAF action and PAF binding, was tested in vitro on washed rabbit platelets. Consequently, rabbits were divided into three groups (A, B, and C). All groups were fed atherogenic diet for 22 days. Atherogenic diets in groups B and C were enriched with OOPL and PPL, respectively. At the end of the experimental time, rabbits were euthanized and aortic samples were examined histopathologically. OOPL and PPL inhibited PAF-induced aggregation, as well as specific PAF binding, with PPL being more potent. Free and bound PAF levels and PAF-AH activity were significantly elevated at the end of the experimental time. Plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were also found increased. Groups B and C exhibited significantly increased values of EC 50 compared to group A. Histopathological examination revealed that the development of early atherosclerosis lesions in groups B and C were significantly inhibited compared to group A. Significant differences were noted in the early atherosclerosis lesions between groups B and C, thus indicating that PPL exhibit its anti-atherosclerotic activity by blocking PAF receptor. Specific PAF antagonists with similar in vitro and in vivo bioactivity to those that have been previously reported in OOPL exist in PPL

Multicenter Cross-sectional Study of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Greece: Results from a cohort of 2.491 patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the current disease characteristics, treatment and comorbidities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Greece. METHODS: Multicenter, cross-sectional study with a 9-month recruitment period between 2015 and 2016. Demographics, disease characteristics, treatment and comorbidities were collected via a web-based platform. RESULTS: 2.491 RA patients were recruited: 96% from tertiary referral centers, 79% were females with a mean age of 63.1 years and disease duration of 9.9 years. Fifty-two percent were rheumatoid factor and/or anti-CCP positive, while 41% had erosive disease. Regarding treatment, 82% were on conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), 42% on biologic DMARDs (TNFi: 22%, non-TNFi: 20%) and 40% on corticosteroids (mean daily dose: 5.2 mg). Despite therapy, 36% of patients had moderate and 12% high disease activity. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (42%), hyperlipidemia (33%), osteoporosis (29%), diabetes mellitus (15%) and depression (12%). Latent tuberculosis infection (positive tuberculin skin test or interferon gamma release assay) was diagnosed in 13 and 15.3% of patients, respectively. Regarding chronic viral infections, 6.2% had history of herpes zoster while 2% and 0.7% had chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection, respectively. A history of serious infection was documented in 9.6%. Only 36% and 52% of the participants had ever been vaccinated against pneumococcus and influenza virus, respectively. CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest epidemiologic studies providing valuable data regarding the current RA characteristics in Greece. Half of patients were seropositive but despite therapy, half displayed residual disease activity, while preventive vaccination was limited