Ο queer κινηματογράφος στην Ελλάδα και η ανάλυση κινηματογραφικών παραγωγών.

Η γκέι και λεσβιακή προσέγγιση της κουλτούρας και του κινηματογράφου έχει απασχολήσει πολλούς θεωρητικούς, ήδη από τις απαρχές της εξέγερσης του Stonewall το 1968. Αυτό είχε ως αποτέλεσμα, τις δεκαετίες του 1980-1990, ο όρος «queer», που άλλοτε ήταν υποτιμητικός, να αποκτήσει θετικό περιεχόμενο, αφού πλέον χρησιμοποιείται για να διακηρύξει τη διαφορετικότητα. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, η εξέλιξη του όρου «queer» και κατ’ επέκταση της queer θεωρίας, που αμφισβητεί τις ετεροκανονικές έμφυλες και σεξουαλικές αναπαραστάσεις, συνιστούν το βασικό θεωρητικό άξονα εντός του οποίου κινείται η παρούσα εργασία. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, στην εργασία μελετάται ο queer κινηματογράφος στην Αμερική, την Ευρώπη και την Ελλάδα, με σκοπό να διεξαχθούν συμπεράσματα σχετικά με το είδος του queer κινηματογράφου και την εξέλιξή του, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη και τις κοινωνικοπολιτικές συνθήκες μέσα στις οποίες λειτούργησε. Δύο είναι οι βασικοί ερευνητικοί στόχοι της εργασίας: α) οι κοινωνικές, φιλοσοφικές και τεχνολογικές εξελίξεις που οδήγησαν στην ανάδυση του queer κινηματογραφικού ρεύματος, και β) οι κινηματογραφικές συμβάσεις που διαταράσσονται ως προς τη φόρμα και το περιεχόμενο, ώστε το παρόν δείγμα ταινιών να εντάσσεται στο queer κινηματογραφικό είδος. Για την κάλυψη των ερευνητικών στόχων χρησιμοποιούνται μεθοδολογικά: η ιστορική προσέγγιση του κινηματογράφου αναφορικά με το queer κινηματογραφικό ρεύμα και σε συνάρτηση με τις εθνικές κινηματογραφίες, και η queer προσέγγιση συνδυαστικά με τη φορμαλιστική, μέσω της διερευνητικής μελέτης περιπτώσεων. Στο πλαίσιο αυτής της μεθοδολογίας, εξετάζονται τέσσερεις ταινίες του ελληνικού κινηματογράφου: «Στρέλλα» (2009) και «Ξενία» (2014) του Πάνου Χ. Κούτρα, «The Capsule» (2012) της Αθηνάς-Ραχήλ Τσαγγάρη και «Pigs» (2011) της Κωνσταντίνας Κοτζαμάνη, με σκοπό την κάλυψη των ερευνητικών στόχων. Τα αποτελέσματα της πρωτογενούς έρευνας ανέδειξαν την ανάγκη αμφισβήτησης των υπαρχουσών ετεροκανονικών νορμών και υπεράσπισης της διαφορετικότητας, τη σημασία παραγωγής queer καλλιτεχνικών έργων και τη διάχυσή τους στο queer αλλά και το ευρύ κοινό, και τη συμβολή του ελληνικού queer σινεμά στην διεύρυνση του New Queer Cinema.The gay and lesbian approach to the cinematic culture has concerned many theorists since the beginning of the Stonewall rebellion in 1968. Therefore, in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s the term "queer," which used to be pejorative, gained a positive meaning as it was used to proclaim diversity. In this framework, the evolution of the "queer" term and therefore of the queer theory, that calls into question the heteronormal representations of gender and sex, constitutes the basic theoretical context of this thesis. In particular, it looks into queer cinema in America, Europe and Greece in order to draw conclusions about the culture of the queer cinema and its evolution, always taking into account the political conditions that influenced it. The main research objectives of this thesis are: a) the social, philosophical and technological developments that led to the emergence of the queer film movement; and b) the disrupted film norms as far as their context and content are concerned in order for this film sample to be included in the queer genre. In order to fulfill the research objectives, this thesis uses the following methological tools: The historic cinematic approach regarding the queer film movement in connection with the national film industry, and the queer approach combined with the formalistic approach through an exploratory case study. Based in this methodological framework, four films of the Greek cinema are examined: “Strella” (2009) and “Xenia” (2014) by Panos Koutras, “The Capsule” (2012) by Athena-Rachel Tsangari, and “Pigs” (2011) by Konstantina Kotzamani. The relative results of the primary research indicated the need of questioning the present heteronormal norms and defending diversity, the significance of producing queer artworks and their dissemination to a queer as well as a wider audience, and the contribution of the queer Greek cinema in enlarging the New Queer Cinema

Physical activity, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipids levels, in men and women from the ATTICA study

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has long been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this work we evaluated the effect of physical activity on lipid levels, in a sample of cardiovascular disease free people. METHODS: The ATTICA study is a population – based cohort that has randomly enrolled 2772 individuals, stratified by age – gender (according to the census 2001), from the greater area of Athens, during 2001–2002. Of them, 1376 were men (45 ± 12 years old, range: 18 – 86) and 1396 women (45 ± 13 years old, range: 18 – 88). We assessed the relationship between physical activity status (measured in kcal/min expended per day) and several lipids, after taking into account the effect of several characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: 578 (42%) men and 584 (40%) women were classified as physically active. Compared to sedentary physically active women had significantly lower levels of total serum cholesterol (p < 0.05), LDL (p < 0.05) and oxidized LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.05), apolipoprotein B (p < 0.05), and higher levels of HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05) and apolipoprotein A1 (p < 0.05). Similar associations were observed in men, but the benefits did not reach statistical significance. However, when we adjusted for age, smoking habits and body mass index, physical activity was only significantly associated with higher HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05) and apolipoprotein A1 (p < 0.05) levels, in women, but not in men. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial independent increases in HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 concentrations were observed in women, but not in men, in a Mediterranean cohort

Comparison Between Path Lengths Traveled by Solar Electrons and Ions in Ground-Level Enhancement Events

We have examined the Wind/3DP/SST electron and Wind/EPACT/LEMT ion data to investigate the path length difference between solar electrons and ions in the ground-level enhancement (GLE) events in solar cycle 23. Assuming that the onset time of metric type II or decameter-hectometric (DH) type III radio bursts is the solar release time of non-relativistic electrons, we have found that within an error range of plus or minus 10% the deduced path length of low-energy (approximately 27 keV) electrons from their release site near the Sun to the 1 AU observer is consistent with the ion path length deduced by Reames from the onset time analysis. In addition, the solar longitude distribution and IMF topology of the GLE events examined are in favor of the coronal mass ejection-driven shock acceleration origin of observed non-relativistic electrons.We have also found an increase of electron path lengths with increasing electron energies. The increasing rate of path lengths is correlated with the pitch angle distribution (PAD) of peak electron intensities locally measured, with a higher rate corresponding to a broader PAD. The correlation indicates that the path length enhancement is due to the interplanetary scattering experienced by first arriving electrons. The observed path length consistency implies that the maximum stable time of magnetic flux tubes, along which particles transport, could reach 4.8 hr

The Antiangiogenic Properties of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Corneal Neovascularization in a Rabbit Model

The purpose was to study the anti-angiogenic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ADMSCs) on experimentally induced corneal injuries. Corneal neovascularization (NV) was induced by incising and subsequently suturing the corneal surface in 32 New Zealand rabbits. Following suturing, the rabbits were randomly allocated into 2 groups, and received either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (control) or ADMSCs, both administered via three different routes. Digital images of the cornea were obtained two weeks post-incision to measure the area of neovascularized cornea. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was immunohistochemically assessed in the both groups. The corneal tissue was evaluated for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The extent of corneal NV in all eyes was assessed photographically by an independent observer. Fourteen days after the incisions, the degree of corneal NV was substantially decreased in the ADMSC-treated group (1.87 ± 0.9 mm2, 1.4 % ± 0.67 % of corneal surface) compared to the control and PBS-treated group (4.66 ± 1.74 mm2, 3.51 % ± 1.31 %, p &lt; 0.001). ADMSCs significantly decreased injury-induced corneal NV in New Zealand rabbits two weeks post-treatment. This strategy has potential for use in the control of corneal NV in vivo.Â

The Antiangiogenic Properties of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Corneal Neovascularization in a Rabbit Model

The purpose was to study the anti-angiogenic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ADMSCs) on experimentally induced corneal injuries. Corneal neovascularization (NV) was induced by incising and subsequently suturing the corneal surface in 32 New Zealand rabbits. Following suturing, the rabbits were randomly allocated into 2 groups, and received either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (control) or ADMSCs, both administered via three different routes. Digital images of the cornea were obtained two weeks post-incision to measure the area of neovascularized cornea. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was immunohistochemically assessed in the both groups. The corneal tissue was evaluated for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The extent of corneal NV in all eyes was assessed photographically by an independent observer. Fourteen days after the incisions, the degree of corneal NV was substantially decreased in the ADMSC-treated group (1.87 ± 0.9 mm2, 1.4 % ± 0.67 % of corneal surface) compared to the control and PBS-treated group (4.66 ± 1.74 mm2, 3.51 % ± 1.31 %, p &lt; 0.001). ADMSCs significantly decreased injury-induced corneal NV in New Zealand rabbits two weeks post-treatment. This strategy has potential for use in the control of corneal NV in vivo.

Acute Heart Failure in a Healthy Young Patient after Severe Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Introduction: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning may cause severe cellular hypoxia. Materials and methods: A 28-year-old male presented reduced levels of consciousness and dyspnoea after CO exposure. Clinical examination revealed tachypnoea, bilateral rales, dilated jugular veins and confusion. Troponin I, lactate and carboxyhaemoglobin levels were increased. Thoracic X-ray depicted pulmonary oedema and an echocardiogram, severe heart failure (HF; EF<25%). He was intubated due to clinical deterioration. Results: He remained intubated for 5 days with excellent improvement of left ventricular function (EF>55%). He was discharged 1 week later with full recovery. Discussion: Acute HF is a rare serious complication of CO poisoning, even in healthy young individuals

The association between secondhand smoke and the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes, among non-smokers, under the presence of several cardiovascular risk factors: The CARDIO2000 case-control study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between secondhand smoke and the risk of developing a first event of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), i.e. acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina, among non-smokers, in relation to the presence of several other cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Eight hundred and forty-eight patients with first event of ACS and 1078 cardiovascular disease-free matched controls completed a detailed questionnaire regarding their exposure to secondhand smoke, among other investigated parameters. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety–seven (35%) of the patients and 259 (24%) of the controls were defined as secondhand smokers. After controlling for several potential confounders, the results showed that non-smokers occasionally (< 3 time per week) exposed to cigarette smoke were associated with 26% higher risk of ACS (OR = 1.26, P-value < 0.01) compared to non-smokers not exposed to smoke, while regular exposure is associated with 99% higher risk of developing ACS (OR = 1.99, P-value < 0.001). Moreover, the previous risk increases progressively from 15% to 256% if one or more of the classical cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, sedentary life and family history of premature coronary heart disease) are present. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, this study supports the hypothesis that even occasional secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes, especially when other risk factors are present. Given the high prevalence of cigarette smoking, the public health consequences of passive smoking with regard to coronary heart disease are important

The Adoption of Mediterranean Diet Attenuates the Development of Acute Coronary Syndromes in People with the Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: In this work we investigated the effect of the consumption of the Mediterranean diet on coronary risk, in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: During 2000–2002, we randomly selected, from all Greek regions, 848 hospitalised patients (695 males, 58 ± 10 & 153 females, 65 ± 9 years old) with a first event of acute coronary syndrome and 1078 frequency matched, by sex, age, region controls, without any suspicious for cardiovascular disease. Nutritional habits were evaluated through a validated questionnaire, while the metabolic syndrome was defined according to the NCEP ATP III criteria. Mediterranean diet was defined according to the guidelines of the Division of Nutrition/Epidemiology, of Athens Medical School. RESULTS: Of the 1926 participants, 307 (36.2%) of the patients and 198 (18.4%) of the controls (P < 0.001) met the ATP III criteria. This was related with 2fold adjusted coronary risk (odds ratio = 2.35, 95% 1.87 – 2.84) in subjects with the metabolic syndrome as compared with the rest of them. No differences were observed concerning the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and sex of subjects, after adjustment for group of study (P > 0.1). Eighty (26%) of the patients and 70 (35%) of the controls (P < 0.01) with the metabolic syndrome were "closer" to the Mediterranean diet. Multivariate analysis revealed that the adoption of this diet is associated with a 35% (odds ratio = 0.65, 95% 0.44 – 0.95) reduction of the coronary risk in subjects with the metabolic syndrome, after adjusting for age, sex, educational and financial level and the conventional cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: Consequently, the adoption of Mediterranean diet seems to attenuate the coronary risk in subjects with the metabolic syndrome

Improving the Management of COPD in Women

COPD is a highly debilitating disease that represents a substantial and growing health burden in women. There is increasing evidence for sex-related differences in COPD risk, progression, and outcomes. However, the disease receives scant attention as a women's health issue. Thus, a multifaceted approach is required to address COPD in women, including greater awareness, minimization of risk, and further elucidation of the sex-specific factors (biological and cultural) that affect risk, disease progression, and treatment success. This article reviews the current literature on the topic and provides suggestions for achieving better outcomes for the millions of women with COPD worldwide

Prognostic factors of cardiovascular events in individuals with heterozygous familiar hypercholesterolemia

This thesis studies individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (the most common metabolic disorder that is inherited in an autosomal dominant trait, is due to a mutation in the LDL receptor), who are followed in the Lipid Clinic of Cardiology Department at Hippocration University Hospital of Athens, starting monitoring from January 1987 to December 2002. During the extended monitoring, a re-evaluation and recording of the terminal points of the study was performed at 15 (2002) and 30 years (2016). We recorded the lipid parameters, blood pressure (BP), BMI, waist/hip ratio, presence of diabetes, smoking, dietary habbits, their medication, physical exercise and all known prognostic factors of cardiovascular events. All individuals performed a stress test, according to the Bruce protocol. The following parameters of the test were recorded: duration in sec, exercise capacity in METs, the predicted heart rate (HR,%), systolic BP at rest, at 3, 6 and 9 minutes and its maximum value, diastolic BP and HR at the same times and finally the recovery HR at maximum stress test. Individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia as in our study are of high cardiovascular risk. The primary end point of our study was the first cardiovascular event (fatal or non MI, unstable angina or sudden death). We found that smoking, hypertension, increased LDL/HDL ratio and fibrinogen levels were the most important predictors of cardiovascular events during 15 years of monitoring. Especially the LDL/HDL ratio >8 was associated with 66% greater risk while with coexistance of hypertriglyceridemia >200mg/dl the risk is tripled. After 15 years of observation we found that the maximum exercise capacity, HR recovery in the first minute and the levels of pulse pressure (difference between systolic-diastolic BP) are important predictors for coronary heart disease in patients with heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. There was a gradual increase in the cumulative risk of cardiovascular events as it grows by 15%, 24% and 32% after 10, 20 and 30 years of observation, respectively. There was a significant risk association with male gender (3.2 times higher risk), older people, menopause and the increased ratio of waist/hip circumference. Also the only lipid parameter that was higher in people who developed cardiovascular disease was lp (α). After 30 consecutive years of monitoring of patients with heterozygous hypercholesterolemia we conclude that the maximum exercise capacity (METs), the HR and its changes in comparison with the rest as well as the maximum values ​​of systolic and diastolic BP, all are strong predictors for Cardiovascular Disease.H παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή έχει ως αντικείμενο μελέτης τα άτομα με ετερόζυγη οικογενή υπερχοληστερολαιμία (η συχνότερη μεταβολική διαταραχή που κληρονομείται με τον αυτοσωματικό επικρατούντα χαρακτήρα, οφείλεται δε σε μετάλλαξη του υποδοχέα της LDL), οι οποίοι παρακολουθούνται στο Λιπιδαιμικό Ιατρείο της Α΄Πανεπιστημιακής Καρδιολογικής κλινικής του Ιπποκράτειου Νοσοκομείου Αθηνών, με έναρξη παρακολούθησης από τον Ιανουάριο του 1987 έως τον Δεκέμβριο του 2002. Κατά τη διάρκεια της πολυετούς παρακολούθησης έγινε επανεκτίμηση και καταγραφή των καταληκτικών σημείων της μελέτης στα 15 (2002) και στα 30 έτη (2016). Καταγράψαμε τις τιμές των λιπιδίων, την αρτηριακή πίεση (ΑΠ), το ΒΜΙ, το λόγο περιφέρειας/μέσης, την παρουσία σακχαρώδη διαβήτη, το κάπνισμα, τη διατροφή, την φαρμακευτική αγωγή τους, τη φυσική άσκηση και όλους τους γνωστούς προγνωστικούς δείκτες για εμφάνιση καρδιαγγειακού επεισοδίου. Υπεβλήθησαν όλοι τους κατά την είσοδό τους στη μελέτη σε Δοκιμασία Κοπώσεως (ΔΚ) σύμφωνα με το πρωτόκολλο Bruce. Οι παράμετροι που καταγράφησαν κατά την ΔΚ ήταν: η διάρκεια της ΔΚ σε sec, η ικανότητα άσκησης σε METs, η προβλεπόμενη καρδιακή συχνότητα (ΚΣ, %), η συστολική ΑΠ στην ηρεμία, στα 3, 6 και 9 λεπτά καθώς και στο μέγιστο της ΔΚ, η διαστολική ΑΠ στους ίδιους χρόνους καθώς η ΚΣ στους ίδιους χρόνους και τέλος η τιμή ανάνηψης της ΚΣ στη μέγιστη ΔΚ. Τα άτομα με οικογενή υπερχοληστερολαιμία όπως αυτά της μελέτης μας είναι υψηλού καρδιαγγειακού κινδύνου. Το τελικό σημείο της μελέτης μας ήταν το 1ο καρδιαγγειακό επεισόδιο (θανατηφόρο ή μη ΟΕΜ, ασταθής στηθάγχη ή αιφνίδιος θάνατος). Στη μελέτη μας βρήκαμε ότι το κάπνισμα, η υπέρταση, η αυξημένη αναλογία LDL/HDL και τα επίπεδα ινωδογόνου ήταν οι σημαντικότεροι προγνωστικοί δείκτες καρδιαγγειακών επεισοδίων κατά την διάρκεια 15 ετών παρακολούθησης. Ειδικά η αναλογία LDL/HDL >8 σχετίζεται με 66% μεγαλύτερο κίνδυνο ενώ αν συνυπάρχει και υπερτριγλυκεριδαιμία >200mg/dl τότε ο κίνδυνος τριπλασιάζεται. Μετά από 15 έτη παρακολούθησης διαπιστώθηκε ότι η μέγιστη ικανότητα άσκησης, η τιμή ανάνηψης της ΚΣ στο 1ο λεπτό και τα επίπεδα της πίεσης παλμού (διαφορά συστολικής-διαστολικής ΑΠ) είναι σημαντικοί προγνωστικοί δείκτες για εμφάνιση στεφανιαίας νόσου σε ασθενείς με ετερόζυγη υπερχοληστερολαιμία. Παρατηρήθηκε μια σταδιακή αύξηση του αθροιστικού κινδύνου εμφάνισης καρδιαγγειακού επεισοδίου με τα έτη παρακολούθησης, καθώς αυτός αυξήθηκε κατά 15%, 24% και 32% μετά από 10, 20 και 30 έτη παρακολούθησης αντίστοιχα. Διαπιστώθηκε μια σημαντική συσχέτιση του κινδύνου με το ανδρικό φύλο (3,2 φορές μεγαλύτερος κίνδυνος), τα άτομα μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας, την εμμηνόπαυση και τον αυξημένο λόγο περιφέρειας μέσης/γοφών. Επίσης από το λιπιδαιμικό προφίλ μόνο η Lp(α) ήταν υψηλότερη στα άτομα που εμφάνισαν καρδιαγγειακό νόσημα. Μετά από 30 συνεχή έτη παρακολούθησης των ασθενών με ετερόζυγη υπερχοληστερολαιμία συμπεραίνουμε ότι η μέγιστη ικανότητα άσκησης (METs), η ΚΣ και οι μεταβολές της σε σύγκριση με την κατάσταση ηρεμίας καθώς και οι μέγιστες τιμές της συστολικής και διαστολικής ΑΠ αποτελούν Ισχυρούς Προγνωστικούς Δείκτες εμφάνισης Καρδιαγγειακής Νόσου