New Data concerning the Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Greece

There is an obvious, significant, and diachronic reduction of the prevalence of HBV infection in Greece, concerning the general population as well as some traditionally high-risk groups, mainly as a result of constant informing and the widespread initiation of preventive and prophylactic measures, as well as the improvement of health care services. Nevertheless, there are special groups and populations (economical refugees, religious minorities, HIV-positive patients, abroad pregnant women, prostitutes, etc.) who represent sacs of high HBV endemicity and need epidemiological supervision and intervention, in order to limit the spread of the infection and to further improve the existing epidemiological data

Is There a Link between Wheezing in Early Childhood and Adverse Birth Outcomes? A Systematic Review

We aimed to provide a summary of the existing published knowledge on the association between adverse birth outcomes and the development of wheezing during the first two years of life. We carried out a systematic review of epidemiological studies within the MEDLINE database. Epidemiological studies on human subjects, published in English, were included in the review. A comprehensive literature search yielded 72 studies for further consideration. Following the application of the eligibility criteria we identified nine studies. A positive association and an excess risk of wheezing during the first two years of life were revealed for adverse birth outcomes

Prevalence of HPV infection among Greek women attending a gynecological outpatient clinic

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a causative factor for cervical cancer. Early detection of high risk HPV types might help to identify women at high risk of cervical cancer. The aim of the present study was to examine the HPV prevalence and distribution in cervical smears in a sample of Greek women attending a gynecological outpatient clinic and to explore the determinants of the infection.Methods: A total of 225 women were studied. All women underwent a regular gynecological control. 35 HPV types were studied; 6, 11, 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 and 89. Also, basic demographic information, sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behavior were recorded.Results: HPV was detected in 22.7% of the study population. The percentage of the newly diagnosed women with HPV infection was 17.3%. HPV-16 was the most common type detected (5.3%) followed by HPV-53 (4.9%). 66.2% of the study participants had a Pap test during the last year without any abnormalities. HPV infection was related positively with alcohol consumption (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.04-4.63, P = 0.04) and number of sexual partners (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.44-3.25, P < 0.001), and negatively with age (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99, P = 0.03), and monthly income (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44-0.89, P = 0.01).Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV in women attending an outpatient clinic is high. Number of sexual partners and alcohol consumption were the most significant risk factors for HPV infection, followed by young age and lower income

CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS DURING INTRAHOSPITAL TRANSPORT OFPATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATION ALTERATIONS POST OXYGEN THERAPY DISCONTINUATION DURING INTRAHOSPITAL PATIENT TRANSPORTATION. DESIGN (PATIENTS AND METHODS). FIFTY-ONE SELECTED PATIENTS (BEEN TREATED WITH OXYGEN BY THE BED)WERE STUDIED DURING TWO INTRAHOSPITAL TRANSPORTS PERFORMED FOR SOME DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATIONS. DURING THE FIRST TRANSPORT THE PATIENTS CONTINUED RECEIVING OXYGEN THERAPY UNINTERRUPTEDLY, WHEREAS DURING THE SECOND ONE NO OXYGEN THERAPY WAS GIVEN, AS IT IS THE TRADITION IN OUR HOSPITAL. THE PATIENTS WERE MONITORED BY PULSE OXYMETER AND HOLTER AND THEIR ABGS WERE EXAMINED PRIOR AND POSTTRANSPORTATION. RESULTS: IN THE TRANSPORTED PATIENTS THE PAO2 AND SAO2 DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY (P < 0,001), THE PH AND HEART RATE INCREASED (P < 0,05 ANDP <0,01 RESPECTIVELY) AND THE BLOOD PRESSURE DID NOT CHANGE. IN THE SAME PATIENTS THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PATIENTS DEVELOPED SUPRAVENTICULAR EXTRASUSTOLES,ECTOPIC VENTRICULAR CONTRADICTIONS AND ST-SEGMENT DEPRESSION WAS PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING BY THE TIME DURING TRANSPORTATION (P < 0,001).ΣΚΟΠΟΣ: Η ΔΙΕΡΕΥΝΗΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΠΙΠΤΩΣΕΩΝ ΔΙΑΚΟΠΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΞΥΓΟΝΟΘΕΡΑΠΕΙΑΣ ΣΤΟ ΚΥΚΛΟΦΟΡΙΚΟ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΝΕΥΣΤΙΚΟ ΣΥΣΤΗΜΑ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΝΔΟΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΑΚΗ ΔΙΑΚΟΜΙΔΗ ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝ. ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΜΟΣ-ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΣ, ΜΕΘΟΔΟΙ: Η ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΠΕΡΙΕΛΑΒΕ 51 ΕΠΙΛΕΓΜΕΝΟΥΣ ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΣ. ΚΑΘΕ ΑΣΘΕΝΗΣ ΥΠΟΒΛΗΘΗΚΕ ΣΕ ΔΥΟ ΕΝΔΟΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΑΚΕΣ ΔΙΑΚΟΜΙΔΕΣ ΟΙ ΟΠΟΙΕΣ ΕΓΙΝΑΝ ΜΕ ΣΚΟΠΟ ΚΑΠΟΙΑ ΔΙΑΓΝΩΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΗ. ΣΤΗ ΜΙΑ ΕΞ ΑΥΤΩΝ ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΟΤΑΝ Η ΧΟΡΗΓΗΣΗ Ο2 ΕΝΩ Η ΑΛΛΗ ΕΓΙΝΕ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΣΥΝΗΘΗ ΤΡΟΠΟ, ΔΗΛΑΔΗ ΜΕΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΔΙΑΚΟΠΗ ΤΟΥ. ΣΕ ΚΑΘΕ ΑΣΘΕΝΗ ΓΙΝΟΤΑΝ ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΜΟΣ ΑΕΡΙΩΝ ΑΙΜΑΤΟΣ, ΠΑΡΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΗΣΗ ΜΕ ΟΞΥΜΕΤΡΟ ΚΑΙ ΣΥΝΕΧΗΣ ΚΑΤΑΓΡΑΦΗ ΗΚΓΡΑΦΗΜΑΤΟΣ ΜΕ HOLTER. ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ: ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΚΟΜΙΔΗ ΧΩΡΙΣ Ο2 ΜΕΙΩΘΗΚΕ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ Η PAO2 ΚΑΙ Ο SAO2 (P < 0,05) ΕΝΩ ΔΕΝ ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΜΕΤΑΒΟΛΕΣ ΣΤΗΝ Α.Π. ΕΠΙΣΗΣ ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΕ Η ΣΥΧΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΕΜΦΑΝΙΣΗΣ ΚΟΙΛΙΑΚΩΝ ΕΚΤΑΚΤΩΝ, ΜΕΜΟΝΩΜΕΝΩΝ ΥΠΕΡΚΟΙΛΙΑΚΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΚΤΑΚΤΩΝ ΚΑΤΑ ΖΕΥΓΗ ΣΥΣΤΟΛΩΝ ΚΑΘΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΤΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ST ΔΙΑΣΤΗΜΑΤΟΣ (P < 0,001)

Antibiotic and O2 Omissions and Errors in Hospitalized Patients

The aim was to investigate medication errors regarding antibiotic and oxygen therapy in 2 different hospital types, respiratory versus general, in Greece. Oxygen and antibiotic errors were 27.4% and 16.9%, respectively. Errors by physicians and nurses were nearly the same type and rates. Oxygen errors were significantly higher in the General Hospital. The study confirmed that medication processes should be reevaluated to prevent medication errors, and educational programs and protocols should be used

New Data concerning the Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Greece

There is an obvious, significant, and diachronic reduction of the prevalence of HBV infection in Greece, concerning the general population as well as some traditionally high-risk groups, mainly as a result of constant informing and the widespread initiation of preventive and prophylactic measures, as well as the improvement of health care services. Nevertheless, there are special groups and populations (economical refugees, religious minorities, HIV-positive patients, abroad pregnant women, prostitutes, etc.) who represent sacs of high HBV endemicity and need epidemiological supervision and intervention, in order to limit the spread of the infection and to further improve the existing epidemiological data. Copyright (c) 2008 Konstantinos D. Pantazis et al

Hepatitis B markers and vaccination-induced protection rate among Albanian pregnant women in Greece

Hepatitis B has long been a serious public health problem both in Greece and in Albania. In the February 2009 issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology, Resuli et al presented the interesting epidemiological data concerning hepatitis B virus infection in Albania. The results of this study were discussed and several data from our similar research were provided

The Early Mobilization of Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Systematic Review

Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) often require prolonged periods of bed rest owing to the severity of their illness. Care is also required to maintain the position and integrity of the ECMO cannula. However, they experience a range of effects due to prolonged bed rest. This systematic review examined the possible effects of the early mobilization in patients on ECMO. The database PUBMED was searched by using appropriate keywords: “rehabilitation”, “mobilization”, “ECMO” and “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation”. The selection criteria for the article search were the following: (a) studies published in the last five years, (b) descriptive studies, (c) randomized studies, (d) published in the English language and (e) studies in adults. A total of 259 studies were found, 8 of which were finally selected. Most of the studies showed that early intensive physical rehabilitation related to a decrease in in-hospital stay and a reduction in the duration of mechanical ventilation and doses of vasopressors. In addition, improvements in the functional status and rate of mortality were observed along with a reduction in health care costs. Exercise training should be a fundamental part of the management of patients on ECMO