Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review

The article reviews the current knowledge about the impulse control disorders (ICDs) with specific emphasis on epidemiological and pharmacological advances. In addition to the traditional ICDs present in the DSM-IV—pathological gambling, trichotillomania, kleptomania, pyromania and intermittent explosive disorder—a brief description of the new proposed ICDs—compulsive–impulsive (C–I) Internet usage disorder, C–I sexual behaviors, C–I skin picking and C–I shopping—is provided. Specifically, the article summarizes the phenomenology, epidemiology and comorbidity of the ICDs. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between ICDs and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Finally, current pharmacological options for treating ICDs are presented and discussed

beta-Glucocerebrosidase gene mutations in two cohorts of Greek patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease

An increasing number of clinical, neuropathological and experimental evidence linking Gaucher disease and a spectrum of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD) has emerged over the last decade. In particular, several studies, despite individual differences, have shown that mutations in the beta-glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA) are a risk factor for PD. Recently a study from Northern Greece has shown a significant overrepresentation of such mutations only in patients with early onset PD. In the present study 8 different GBA mutations covering 87% of the mutations identified in Gaucher disease patients diagnosed in Greece were investigated in two ethnic Greek cohorts of patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease. Cohort A included patients residing and originating from Thessaly, Central Greece (n = 100) and cohort B included patients residing and/or originating from the greater area of Athens (n = 105). Age-gender-ethnicity matched healthy individuals from the same areas were included as controls (n = 206). In patients of cohort A 11 carriers of GBA mutations were identified (5/11:N3705, 2/11:L444P, 2/11: D409H;H255Q 1/11:H255Q 1/11D409H) as opposed to 3 in the controls (n = 105) (1/3:N370S, 1/3:H255Q 1/3:Y108C) (p=0.021, OR 4.2, 95% CI = 1.14-15.54). In patients of cohort B 10 carriers of GBA mutations were identified (4/10:L444P, 4/10:D409H;H255Q 1/10:N370S, 1/10: IVS10-1G -> A) as opposed to 4 in controls (11 = 101) (3/4:N370S, 1/4:L444P). However the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.113, OR 2.5,95% CI = 0.77-8.42). In both cohorts, patients with PD harboring a GBA mutation had an earlier onset of symptoms than non-carriers (p = 0.034, p = 0.004). The overall difference in the number of carriers identified in PD patients and controls was statistically significant (p = 0.006; OR 3.24; 95% CI = 1.35-7.81). The association was reinforced in the early onset PD patients (EOPD; n = 28, p = 0.000, OR11.37; 95% CI = 3.73-34.6). In conclusion GBA mutations were identified with increased frequency in both geographical cohorts of patients with sporadic PD studied compared to control individuals, with the difference being statistically significant only in cohort A. An impressive association with EOPD was found and one third of the EOPD patients examined harbored a GBA mutation. Qualitative differences regarding the type of mutations and/or their relative frequencies were observed between cohorts A and B of PD patients. Genetic and/or environmental factors may account for the observed differences. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A review of recent hydrocarbon exploration in Greece and its potential

Summarization: The paper reviews the recent exploration activity of hydrocarbons in Greece and neighbouring Albania and Turkey. Emphasises the relevance of the prospects in these neighbouring countries and those identified in Greece, and finally accentuates the importance of a new exploration strategy in Greece. With only few deep exploration wells drilled the last years, none offshore, the area should be set for a more extensive exploration effort and a future announcement for a new onshore and/or offshore licensing round by the new Greek government should be pursuedΠαρουσιάστηκε στο: 1st International Conference AMIRE

Confounding and effect modification in the short-term effects of ambient particles on total mortality: Results from 29 European cities within the APHEA2 project

We present the results of the Air Pollution and Health: A European Approach (APHEA-2,) project on short-term effects of ambient particles on mortality with emphasis on effect modification. We used daily measurements for particulate matter less than 10 mum in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and/or black smoke from 29 European cities. We considered confounding from other pollutants as well as meteorologic and chronologic variables. We investigated several variables describing the cities’ pollution, climate, population, and geography as potential effect modifiers. For the individual city analysis, generalized additive models extending Poisson regression, using a smoother to control for seasonal patterns, were applied. To provide quantitative summaries of the results and explain remaining heterogeneity, we applied second-stage regression models. The estimated increase in the daily number of deaths for all ages for a 10 mug/m(3) increase in daily PM10 or black smoke concentrations was 0.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.4-0.8%], whereas for the elderly it was slightly higher. We found important effect modification for several of the variables studied. Thus, in a city with low average NO2, the estimated increase in daily mortality for an increase of 10 mug/m(3) in PM10 was 0.19 (95% CI = 0.00-0.41), whereas in a city with high average NO2 it was 0.80% (95% CI = 0.67-0.93%); in a relatively cold climate the corresponding effect was 0.29% (95% CI = 0.16-0.42), whereas in a warm climate it was 0.82% (95% CI = 0.69-0.96); in a city with low standardized mortality rate it was 0.80% (95% CI = 0.65-0.95%), and in one with a high rate it was 0.43% (95% CI = 0.24-0.62). Our results confirm those previously reported on the effects of ambient particles on mortality. Furthermore, they show that the heterogeneity found in the effect parameters among cities reflects real effect modification, which is explained by specific city characteristics