Vaspin: a novel adipokine, member of the family of serine protease inhibitors

In 2000, the novel adipokine vaspin, which belongs to the superfamily of serpins, was isolated from visceral adipose tissue. Vaspin is mainly produced in the visceral adipose tissue and is related to insulin resistance, blood glucose levels, sex hormones (women have higher levels compared to men) and nutritional status. Moreover, vaspin levels are modulated by weight loss and several agents, and it possibly constitutes a connecting link between obesity and its associated metabolic disorders. Many patients with polycystic ovary syndrome have insulin resistance, obesity (mostly visceral) and glucose intolerance, conditions associated with abnormalities in the production of vaspin. The role of vaspin in the regulation of human metabolism is unclear at present, but it appears that vaspin might represent a novel marker of obesity and insulin resistance. However, the controversial findings of existing studies on vaspin stress the need for further research in women with obesity and metabolic disorders in order to elucidate the role of this adipokine in these diseases and particularly in the polycystic ovary syndrome

Waking up the golden dawn: does exposure to the refugee crisis increase support for extreme far-right parties?

Does exposure to the refugee crisis fuel support for extreme-right parties? Despite heated debates about the political repercussions of the refugee crisis in Europe, there exists very little - and sometimes conflicting - evidence with which to assess the impact of a large influx of refugees on natives' political attitudes and behavior. We provide causal evidence from a natural experiment in Greece, where some Aegean islands close to the Turkish border experienced sudden and drastic increases in the number of Syrian refugees while other islands slightly farther away - but with otherwise similar institutional and socioeconomic characteristics - did not. Placebo tests suggest that precrisis trends in vote shares for exposed and nonexposed islands were virtually identical. This allows us to obtain unbiased estimates of the electoral consequences of the refugee crisis. Our study shows that among islands that faced a massive but transient inflow of refugees passing through just before the September 2015 election, vote shares for Golden Dawn, the most extreme-right party in Europe, moderately increased by 2 percentage points (a 44 percent increase at the average). The finding that mere exposure to the refugee crisis is sufficient to fuel support for extreme-right parties has important implications for our theoretical understanding of the drivers of antirefugee backlash

Placenta abruption in a woman with Wilson’s disease: a case report

Wilson’s disease is a rare genetic disorder of copper metabolism that causes primary hepatic cirrhosis, secondary menstrual abnormalities and infertility. Following the appropriate therapy patients are asymptomatic and pregnancy may be achieved. We present a case of placental abruption in a pregnant woman with Wilson’s disease and we review the management dilemmas and treatment options of pregnant women with Wilson’s disease

Deep Endometriosis and Infertility: What Is the Impact of Surgery?

In women with deep endometriosis, the spontaneous fertility rate might range from 2 to 10%. The optimal management of these women is still an area of debate. Therefore, this review aims to explore the literature on the impact of deep endometriosis surgery on reproductive outcomes and pregnancy rates in women with and without prior infertility. A total of 392 articles were identified through database searching. Twenty-three studies were eligible to be included in the review. A total of 1548 women were identified, 814 of whom became pregnant, with a mean pregnancy rate of 52.6% (95% CI 49.7–63%). Our review suggests that surgery may improve fertility outcomes. Due to the variability in the studies, it is impossible to stratify fertility outcomes of surgery by the localization of deep endometriosis. More investigations are needed to determine whether surgical management should be first-intention or limited to the failure of medically assisted reproduction treatment

Sarcoma Botryoides: Optimal Therapeutic Management and Prognosis of an Unfavorable Malignant Neoplasm of Female Children

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a rare malignancy and occurs primarily in the first two decades of life. Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive subtype of ERMS that often manifests in the genital tract of female infants and children. Due to its rarity, the optimal treatment approach has been a matter of debate. We conducted a search in the PubMed database and supplemented it with a manual search to retrieve additional papers eligible for inclusion. We retrieved 13 case reports and case series, from which we summarized that the current trend is to approach each patient with a personalized treatment plan. This consists of a combination of local debulking surgery and adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Effort is made in every approach to avoid radiation for the sake of preserving fertility. Radical surgeries and radiation still have a role to play in extensive disease and in cases of relapse. Despite the rarity and aggressiveness of this tumor, disease-free survival and overall prognosis is excellent, especially when it is diagnosed early, compared with other subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). We conclude that the practice of a multidisciplinary approach is appropriate, with favorable outcomes; however, larger-scale studies need to be organized to have a definite consensus on optimal management

Thermogenic capacity of human white-fat: the actual picture

Presented at the 9th Greek Conference of Biochemistry and Physiology of Exercise, Thessaloniki, Greece, 18–20 October 2019Cold exposure and exercise may increase thermogenic capacity of white adipose tissue (WAT), which could subsequently enhance energy expenditure and body weight loss. We aimed to identify possible alterations in uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)—the main biomarker of thermogenic activation—in human WAT due to both cold exposure and exercise, as well as the link between environmental temperature and thermogenic capacity of human WAT. MATERIAL & METHOD: We conducted four human experimental studies and two systematic reviews and meta-analyses—PROSPERO registration CRD42019120116, CRD42019120213. RESULTS: UCP1 mRNA was higher in winter than in summer [t(30) = 2.232, p = 0.03] in human WAT and our meta-analysis showed a main effect of cold exposure on human UCP1 mRNA [standard mean difference (Std-md) = 1.81, confidence interval (CI) = 0.50–3.13, p = 0.007]. However, UCP1 mRNA/protein expressions displayed no associations with %fat mass or BMI (p > 0.05, Cohen’s f2 < 0.20). Both a 2-hour cooling and a non-cooling protocol preceding the positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) measurements revealed no association between environmental temperature and standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of human WAT, as well as no mean differences in SUVmax-WAT-activity between winter and summer. An 8-week exercise program had no effect on UCP1 of human WAT or on body composition. Our meta-analysis also revealed: (a) no effect of chronic exercise on human UCP1 mRNA, (b) a main effect of chronic exercise on UCP1 protein concentrations (Std-md = 0.59, CI = 0.03–1.16, p = 0.04) and UCP1 mRNA (Std-md = 1.76, CI = 0.48–3.04, p = 0.007) in WAT of normal diet animals, c) a main effect of chronic exercise on UCP1 mRNA (Std-md = 2.94, CI = 0.24–5.65, p = 0.03) and UCP1 protein concentrations (Std-md = 2.06, CI = 0.07–4.05, p = 0.04) of high-fat diet animals. CONCLUSIONS: Cold exposure represents a main stimulus for increased thermogenic capacity in human white adipocytes; however, this may have no impact on body weight loss. Chronic exercise may represent no major stimulus for UCP1 induced in human white adipocytes, while in animals it increases UCP1 gene independently of their diet. Therefore, evidence from animal studies regarding UCP1 gene activation in white adipocytes may not be applicable in humans. Finally, the identification of human WAT thermogenic capacity via PET/CT examination may be optimal with both a cooling and a non-cooling protocol.Published onlin

Obesity and Outcome of Assisted Reproduction in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Assisted reproduction, including in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, is increasingly being used for the management of infertility in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, there are limited data regarding the association between obesity and the outcome of assisted reproduction in this specific population as well as on the effects of weight loss. The aim of the present review is to summarize the existing evidence on the association between obesity and the outcome of assisted reproduction in patients with PCOS. Accumulating data suggest that obesity is associated with lower pregnancy and live birth rates in patients with PCOS who are undergoing assisted reproduction therapy. However, it remains unclear whether weight loss improves the outcome of this therapy. Notably, recent guidelines state that the health benefits of postponing pregnancy to achieve weight loss must be balanced against the risk of declining fertility with advancing age. Therefore, if weight loss is not achieved within a reasonable time period, assisted reproduction therapy should be offered in adequately selected patients with PCOS, regardless of the presence of obesity

Greek Primary School Teachers Dream of the Ideal School Library

School libraries have been the subject of a number of regulations since the establishment of the Greek nation, but school libraries have never been treated as an essential feature of educational programmes. They lack space, funds and equipment. Moreover, teachers are not aware of their role and services in contemporary schools. This article reports on a study that analyzed written texts produced by primary school teachers, discussing the function, role, and potential of school libraries. The teachers participating in the research described the ideal library, which is quite different from the reality in primary schools