Catalogue of the main gas manifestation of Greece: Geochemical characterisation and preliminary gas hazard assessment

Quantification of gaseous emissions in geological systems is an important branch because it is a major source of greenhouse gas to the atmospheric budget. Of geological environments, there are two different categories: the first category includes emissions of the predominant carbon dioxide (CO 2), while the second includes emissions of the predominant methane (CH4). The Hellenic territory has a very complex geodynamic setting deriving from a long and complicated geological history. It is strongly characterized by intense seismic activity and enhanced geothermal gradient. This activity, with the contribution of an active volcanic arc, favours the existence of many cold and thermal gas manifestations. Geogenic sources release huge amounts of gases, which, apart from having important influences on the global climate, could also have a strong impact on human health. Geochemical studies based on the isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen, along with helium isotopic ratios have become a good indicator of the origin of the gas. The isotopic ratio 13C/12C of CO 2 expressed in δ 13C (provides important information about the amount of CO 2 released from the Earth's crust or mantle. For methane, carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions and C1/(C2+C3) hydrocarbon ratios can characterize the origin of methane: biogenic (thermogenic or microbial) or abiogenic. Helium isotopic ratios provide additional information about crustal or mantle origin of the gas. In the present work, a large set of chemical and isotopic data is presented aiming at the identification of areas with geogenic gas emissions and their characterization in terms of different gas composition and origin. The present catalogue should be the base for the estimation total nationwide geogenic CO 2 and CH4 fluxes

Thyroid Hyalinizing Trabecular Tumor: A Case Series

Aim: Hyalinizing Trabecular Tumor (HTT) of the thyroid gland is an unusual and rare follicular derived neoplasm, which was first described from Carney and colleagues in 1987. We aim to present two cases of HTT diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinomas in preoperative FNA cytological findings, although the postoperative histological examinations revealed the presence of Hyalinizing Trabecular tumors. Moreover, a short review regarding the diagnostic and clinical aspects of this rare thyroid tumor is also presented. Cases Presentation: A 30 year old and a 33 year old females were referred as having papillary thyroid carcinomas on preoperative FNA. Total thyroidectomy was offered in both. Histologic sections revealed the presence of HTT with the characteristic trabecular arrangement of polygonal/spindle cells and positive staining for MIB-1. Both patients remain disease free at a follow up of 5 years. Discussion: Although HTT diagnosis and differentiation from other thyroid tumors remains a topic of controversy, immunochemistry and molecular analysis may provide adequate information for HTT distinction from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and paragaglioma. Therefore, suspicious cases based on preoperative FNA, require careful evaluation and cooperation of pathologists, endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons for optimal diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions: HTT is a rare, mostly benign neoplasm with favorable prognosis Preoperative identification of HTT is significant since its extremely low malignant potential and its favorable prognosis may lead to less extended operations and avoidance of postoperative radioiodine administration

Structured Bonds and Greek Demons: Is the attack fair

Abstract The severe political turmoil provoked by an allegedly mispriced private bond issue in Greece added to the controversial matter of whether prices of structured bonds sold to investors are "fair" or not. In this paper structured bond market is analysed with particular focus on valuation issues. It is argued that in practice prices are subjective, there is not a unique price that a structured bond should be transacted and model prices are in general irrelevant to the investor unless he has access to the underlying swap market. Consequently, the notion "overpricing" (conventionally defined as the difference between model and transacted price) is misleading. Boundaries for prices as seen by investors and issuers are constructed under a set of simplified assumptions. Issue price is the recommended price that a structured bond should be offered in the primary market and in most cases differs from model price. Competition among issuers should minimize the difference between them. The analysis of the market in Greece has revealed investors' preferences to capital guaranteed interest rate linked bonds with mild structuring. Despite popular belief, overpricing was soft with the absence of the usua

Spinal cord stimulator malfunction caused by radiofrequency neuroablation -A case report-

The implantation of spinal cord stimulators (SCSs) to treat chronic intractable pain is steadily increasing. And there is an increased likelihood of instances where other therapies or procedures are found to interfere with SCS function, which in turn may result in pain. Since SCS utilize electric impulses as well as magnets, special considerations need for patients with a SCS in situ who require these procedures. The present report describes a case where radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the third occipital nerve resulted in spontaneous activation of a cervical SCS device

Rapid and Reversible Recruitment of Early Visual Cortex for Touch

The loss of vision has been associated with enhanced performance in non-visual tasks such as tactile discrimination and sound localization. Current evidence suggests that these functional gains are linked to the recruitment of the occipital visual cortex for non-visual processing, but the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these crossmodal changes remain uncertain. One possible explanation is that visual deprivation is associated with an unmasking of non-visual input into visual cortex.We investigated the effect of sudden, complete and prolonged visual deprivation (five days) in normally sighted adult individuals while they were immersed in an intensive tactile training program. Following the five-day period, blindfolded subjects performed better on a Braille character discrimination task. In the blindfold group, serial fMRI scans revealed an increase in BOLD signal within the occipital cortex in response to tactile stimulation after five days of complete visual deprivation. This increase in signal was no longer present 24 hours after blindfold removal. Finally, reversible disruption of occipital cortex function on the fifth day (by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; rTMS) impaired Braille character recognition ability in the blindfold group but not in non-blindfolded controls. This disruptive effect was no longer evident once the blindfold had been removed for 24 hours.Overall, our findings suggest that sudden and complete visual deprivation in normally sighted individuals can lead to profound, but rapidly reversible, neuroplastic changes by which the occipital cortex becomes engaged in processing of non-visual information. The speed and dynamic nature of the observed changes suggests that normally inhibited or masked functions in the sighted are revealed by visual loss. The unmasking of pre-existing connections and shifts in connectivity represent rapid, early plastic changes, which presumably can lead, if sustained and reinforced, to slower developing, but more permanent structural changes, such as the establishment of new neural connections in the blind

A pan-European epidemiological study reveals honey bee colony survival depends on beekeeper education and disease control

Reports of honey bee population decline has spurred many national efforts to understand the extent of the problem and to identify causative or associated factors. However, our collective understanding of the factors has been hampered by a lack of joined up trans-national effort. Moreover, the impacts of beekeeper knowledge and beekeeping management practices have often been overlooked, despite honey bees being a managed pollinator. Here, we established a standardised active monitoring network for 5 798 apiaries over two consecutive years to quantify honey bee colony mortality across 17 European countries. Our data demonstrate that overwinter losses ranged between 2% and 32%, and that high summer losses were likely to follow high winter losses. Multivariate Poisson regression models revealed that hobbyist beekeepers with small apiaries and little experience in beekeeping had double the winter mortality rate when compared to professional beekeepers. Furthermore, honey bees kept by professional beekeepers never showed signs of disease, unlike apiaries from hobbyist beekeepers that had symptoms of bacterial infection and heavy Varroa infestation. Our data highlight beekeeper background and apicultural practices as major drivers of honey bee colony losses. The benefits of conducting trans-national monitoring schemes and improving beekeeper training are discussed

ENSAT registry-based randomized clinical trials for adrenocortical carcinoma

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an orphan disease lacking effective systemic treatment options. The low incidence of the disease and high cost of clinical trials are major obstacles in the search for improved treatment strategies. As a novel approach, registry-based clinical trials have been introduced in clinical research, so allowing for significant cost reduction, but without compromising scientific benefit. Herein, we describe how the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumours (ENSAT) could transform its current registry into one fit for a clinical trial infrastructure. The rationale to perform randomized registry-based trials in ACC is outlined including an analysis of relevant limitations and challenges. We summarize a survey on this concept among ENSAT members who expressed a strong interest in the concept and rated its scientific potential as high. Legal aspects, including ethical approval of registry-based randomization were identified as potential obstacles. Finally, we describe three potential randomized registry-based clinical trials in an adjuvant setting and for advanced disease with a high potential to be executed within the framework of an advanced ENSAT registry. Thus we, therefore, provide the basis for future registry-based trials for ACC patients. This could ultimately provide proof-of-principle of how to perform more effective randomized trials for an orphan disease

Large adrenal tumor in a 76-year-old man

Among various adrenal tumors, metastatic ones are the most common. PET/CT scanning facilitates early detection. Occurrence of isolated and synchronous metastasis is very rare and poses serious diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. © 2021 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd