Diagnosis and surgical approach of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: a retrospective study

Stavros Gourgiotis1, John Aggelakas1, Nikolaos Salemis1, Charalabos Elias2, Charalabos Georgiou11Second Surgical Department, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, Greece; 2Second Surgical Department, 417 NIMTS Veterans General Hospital of Athens, GreeceBackground: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a rare but potentially limb threatening peripheral vascular disease occurring predominantly in young adults. This study is a retrospective review of 49 limbs in 38 patients with PAES treated surgically over an 8-year period.Patients and methods: From 1995 to 2002, 38 patients with a mean age of 21 years (range, 18–29 years) underwent surgery for PAES at a single institution. The patients’ demographic data and clinical features are recorded. The preoperative diagnosis of PAES was made based on various combinations of investigations including positional stress test, duplex ultrasonography, computed tomography, computed tomographic angiography, and angiography. Results: Nine, 33, and 7 patients had Delaney’s type I, II, and III PAES respectively. The surgical procedures consisted of simple release of the popliteal artery in 33 limbs (67.3%), autogenous saphenous vein (ASV) patch angioplasty with or without thromboendarterectomy (TEA) in 5 limbs (10.2%) and ASV graft interposition or bypass in 11 limbs (22.5%). At a median follow up of 34 months (range, 8–42 months), there were no postoperative complications and all the patients were cured of their symptoms.Conclusions: PAES is an unusual but important cause of peripheral vascular insufficiency especially in young patients. Early diagnosis through a combined approach is necessary for exact diagnosis. Popliteal artery release alone or with vein bypass is the treatment of choice when intervention is indicated for good operative outcome and to prevent limb loss.Keywords: popliteal artery, entrapment syndrome, diagnosis, surgery, treatmen

DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOREFERENCED ARCHAEOLOGICAL INFORMATION DATA BASE FOR ELEUTHERNA IN CRETE

[EN] Cultural Heritage Information Management Systems (CHIMS) have been developed in order to achieve the georeference of the items in the Cultural Heritage database. Eleutherna in Crete is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece, with. many buildings constructed and destroyed during its long life. Hence, it is easily understandable that this vast archaeological site is complicated and difficult to understand, even by experts. In this paper the development of a Cultural Heritage Management System, called ARCHAEOsystem, is described and analyzed. The system has as geographic base a recent orthophoto of the area and for its design several parameters were taken into account. The conceptual design of the data base with the Entity-Relational (E-R) model preceded the development of this object oriented system. This E-R model is described and evaluated for its operability. After the initial experimental operation of the system, eventual practical problems will be identified and confronted. Finally, presentation of future prospects is being attempted and eventual uses of such a system are proposed.Tapinaki, SI.; Georgopoulos, A.; Ioannidis, C.; Frentzos, E.; Stampolidis, N.; Maragoudakis, N. (2016). DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOREFERENCED ARCHAEOLOGICAL INFORMATION DATA BASE FOR ELEUTHERNA IN CRETE. En 8th International congress on archaeology, computer graphics, cultural heritage and innovation. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 333-336. https://doi.org/10.4995/arqueologica8.2015.3558OCS33333

A Phase II Study of Docetaxel and Epirubicin in Advanced Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas (STS)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus epirubicin combination as first-line chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic adult STS

Brain Oscillations Elicited by the Cold Pressor Test: A Putative Index of Untreated Essential Hypertension

Objective. Essential hypertension is associated with reduced pain sensitivity of unclear aetiology. This study explores this issue using the Cold Pressor Test (CPT), a reliable pain/stress model, comparing CPT-related EEG activity in first episode hypertensives and controls. Method. 22 untreated hypertensives and 18 matched normotensives underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). EEG recordings were taken before, during, and after CPT exposure. Results. Significant group differences in CPT-induced EEG oscillations were covaried with the most robust cardiovascular differentiators by means of a Canonical Analysis. Positive correlations were noted between ABPM variables and Delta (1–4 Hz) oscillations during the tolerance phase; in high-alpha (10–12 Hz) oscillations during the stress unit and posttest phase; and in low-alpha (8–10 Hz) oscillations during CPT phases overall. Negative correlations were found between ABPM variables and Beta2 oscillations (16.5–20 Hz) during the posttest phase and Gamma (28.5–45 Hz) oscillations during the CPT phases overall. These relationships were localised at several sites across the cerebral hemispheres with predominance in the right hemisphere and left frontal lobe. Conclusions. These findings provide a starting point for increasing our understanding of the complex relationships between cerebral activation and cardiovascular functioning involved in regulating blood pressure changes

Periodic Catatonia: Long-term Treatment With Lamotrigine: A Case Report

Periodic catatonia is a rare form of catatonia, characterized by episodes occurring in a cyclic pattern with clinical features of combined stupor and excitement, with intervals of remission. Although periodic catatonia is not common, it is an urgent condition, requiring hospitalization for evaluation and treatment. The management of periodic catatonia is quite challenging, mainly because of the unknown pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the onset of this clinical entity, which are less clear than in other forms of catatonia. Although positive trials of several medications in the acute phase of periodic catatonia have been published, available literature concerning the prevention of recurrent catatonic episodes is scarce. Here, we present the case of a patient with periodic catatonia in which long-term treatment with lamotrigine appears to have acted prophylactically in reducing the occurrence and severity of new catatonic episodes. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of periodic catatonia and increasing psychiatrists' and physicians' awareness of the presentation of this clinical entity could be of benefit in shedding light on the most appropriate treatment approach. However, further clinical studies are needed before any firm recommendations can be made

Brain oscillations elicited by the cold pressor test: a putative index of untreated essential hypertension

Objective. Essential hypertension is associated with reduced pain sensitivity of unclear aetiology. This study explores this issue using the Cold Pressor Test (CPT), a reliable pain/stress model, comparing CPT-related EEG activity in first episode hypertensives and controls. Method. 22 untreated hypertensives and 18 matched normotensives underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). EEG recordings were taken before, during, and after CPT exposure. Results. Significant group differences in CPT-induced EEG oscillations were covaried with the most robust cardiovascular differentiators by means of a Canonical Analysis. Positive correlations were noted between ABPM variables and Delta (1-4Hz) oscillations during the tolerance phase; in high-alpha (10-12Hz) oscillations during the stress unit and posttest phase; and in low-alpha (8-10Hz) oscillations during CPT phases overall. Negative correlations were found between ABPM variables and Beta2 oscillations (16.5-20Hz) during the posttest phase and Gamma (28.5-45Hz) oscillations during the CPT phases overall. These relationships were localised at several sites across the cerebral hemispheres with predominance in the right hemisphere and left frontal lobe. Conclusions. These findings provide a starting point for increasing our understanding of the complex relationships between cerebral activation and cardiovascular functioning involved in regulating blood pressure changes