Health Security and the Refugee Crisis in Greece: The Refugee Perspective

The flight of refugees has been part of the human condition since the beginning of time. Recent events in the Middle East have caused a mass migration of refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Their primary destination has been Europe, more specifically, the affluent, better industrialized countries of central and northern Europe. However, the European law currently requires that refugees must be processed at the first port of entry to Europe. In most cases, this involves the eastern Aegean Sea islands of Greece. Here the refugee camps have become overcrowded and underfunded, and have little medical care and security. The Greek government has limited resources and the response for support from the more affluent European countries has been underwhelming. Here we summarize the lack of health security from the refugee perspective of those that are awaiting entry to Europe and are encamped in Greece

Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse: An Unexpected Contributor to Respiratory Failure in a Surgical Patient

Central airway collapse plays a significant, underrecognized role in respiratory failure after extubation of critically ill patients. Historically, airway collapse has been attributed to tracheomalacia (TM), softening of the cartilage in the trachea and other large airways. More recently, excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) has been described as a distinct process unrelated to a loss of cartilaginous airway support. EDAC is caused by the posterior wall of the trachea bulging forward and causing airway obstruction during exhalation. This process is exaggerated when intrathoracic pressure is increased and results in a clinical picture of coughing, difficulty clearing secretions, dyspnea, and stridor. The increased use of computerized tomography and fiberoptic bronchoscopy has identified varying degrees of EDAC and TM in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. This has led to renewed consideration of airway collapse and the different processes that contribute to it. Here we describe a 43-year-old morbidly obese patient who failed repeated attempts at extubation after elective hysterectomy. We will discuss the processes of EDAC and TM, describe how this condition contributed to this patient’s respiratory failure, and review diagnosis and management options

Effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on Treg and FOXP3 in patients with digestive tract malignancies and different ABO blood types

Abstract Background Blood transfusion can cause immunosuppression and lead to worse outcomes in patients with digestive tract malignancies; however, the specific mechanism behind this is not completely understood. One theory is that increased numbers of regulatory CD3+CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells (Tregs) and forkhead box protein-3 mRNA (FOXP3) expression in the blood after transfusion contribute to these outcomes. The effect of blood transfusion on immune function in patients with different ABO blood types is variable. This study investigates the effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 in the blood of patients with different ABO blood types and digestive tract malignancies. Methods Patients with digestive tract malignancies who underwent radical resection and received intraoperative blood transfusion were divided into four groups according to their blood types:blood group A, blood group B, blood group O and blood group AB (n = 20 for each group). Blood was collected from all patients before surgery, immediately after transfusion, 1 day after transfusion, and 5 days after transfusion. The number of Tregs was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of FOXP3 was detected by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results There was no significant difference in the number of Tregs or expression of FOXP3 mRNA among patients with different blood types before surgery. However, the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 increased after blood transfusion in all blood type groups. This increase was especially evident and statistically significant on the first day after blood transfusion when compared with measures obtained before the surgery. Measures returned to the preoperative level five days after surgery. There were significant differences in the increase of Tregs and expression of FOXP3 among patients with different blood types. The greatest increase was seen in patients with blood group B and the least in blood group A. Conclusions Intraoperative blood transfusion can lead to an increase in blood Tregs and FOXP3 expression in patients with digestive tract malignancies. Increases were greatest on the first day after surgery and differed among patients with different blood types. Increases were greatest in blood type B and least in blood type A. </jats:sec

Effect of Intraoperative Blood Transfusion On Treg And Foxp3 In Patients With Digestive Tract Malignancies And Different Abo Blood Types

Abstract Background Blood transfusion can cause immunosuppression and lead to worse outcomes in patients with digestive tract malignancies; however, the specific mechanism behind this is not completely understood. One theory is that increased numbers of regulatory CD3 + CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + T cells (Tregs) and forkhead box protein-3 mRNA (FOXP3) expression in the blood after transfusion contribute to these outcomes. The effect of blood transfusion on immune function in patients with different ABO blood types is variable. This study investigates the effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 in the blood of patients with different ABO blood types and digestive tract malignancies. Methods Patients with digestive tract malignancies who underwent radical resection and received intraoperative blood transfusion were divided into four groups according to their blood types:blood group A, B, O and AB (n=20 ). Blood was collected before surgery, immediately after transfusion, 1 day after transfusion, and 5 days after transfusion. The number of Tregs was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of FOXP3 was detected by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results There was no significant difference in the number of Tregs or expression of FOXP3 mRNA among patients with different blood types before surgery. However, the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 increased after blood transfusion in all blood type groups. This increase was especially evident and statistically significant on the first day after blood transfusion when compared with measures obtained before the surgery. Measures returned to the preoperative level five days after surgery. There were significant differences in the increase of Tregs and expression of FOXP3 among patients with different blood types. The greatest increase was seen in patients with blood group B and the least in blood group A. Conclusions Intraoperative blood transfusion can lead to an increase in blood Tregs and FOXP3 expression in patients with digestive tract malignancies. Increases were greatest on the first day after surgery and differed among patients with different blood types. Increases were greatest in blood type B and least in blood type A.</jats:p

Developing Cardiothoracic Surgical Critical Care Intensivists: A Case for Distinct Training

Cardiothoracic surgical critical care medicine is practiced by a diverse group of physicians including surgeons, anesthesiologists, pulmonologists, and cardiologists. With a wide array of specialties involved, the training of cardiothoracic surgical intensivists lacks standardization, creating significant variation in practice. Additionally, it results in siloed physicians who are less likely to collaborate and advocate for the cardiothoracic surgical critical care subspeciality. Moreover, the current model creates credentialing dilemmas, as experienced by some cardiothoracic surgeons. Through the lens of critical care anesthesiologists, this article addresses the shortcomings of the contemporary cardiothoracic surgical intensivist training standards. First, we describe the present state of practice, summarize past initiatives concerning specific training, outline why standardized education is needed, provide goals of such training standardization, and offer a list of desirable competencies that a trainee should develop to become a successful cardiothoracic surgical intensivist