Living wills in Greece: Bioethical dilemmas and legal parameters

Living wills are legal documents that set out the medical care an individual, or the principal, wants or does not want in the event that he or she becomes incapable of communicating his or her wishes. A living will is used by people whose wishes will be met should they reach a point when they are no longer able to make the decisions for themselves. For example, if a person sustained life-threatening injuries, or was incapacitated as a result of some terminal illness, the decisions about his or her health care will be his/hers as long as there is a living will. Without one, the decision becomes the responsibility of spouses, family members or other third parties.This paper aims to discuss important issues in the end of life healthcare and how the Greek legal system deals with bioethical dilemma

Radiation-induced intracranial vasculopathy after radiotherapy (laser surgery) for craniopharyngioma: a study case report

Brain irradiation is commonly used for many primary brain malignancies. After radiotherapy, the potential for the development of radiation-induced vasculopathy exists and should be kept in mind. Craniopharyngioma is one rare slowly developing, usually benign tumor. In the majority of cases, such tumors grow above the anterior upper lip of pituitary gland and are located mainly on Sella Turcica or on side sella areas. Macroscopically, they seem like big globe tumors with the white or red-blooded surface. Histologically, have ascertained two types, adamantinomatous and papillary type (though they have ascertained and mixed types). However, independently of their main type, they usually have cystic form. The size of craniopharyngioma is between 2 to 4 cm. Strike 0,12-2/100.000 people a year, 30 to 50% of all cases presenting during childhood and adolescence and they constitute the 2-5% of all brain tumors. The peak incidence rates have been shown in children of ages 5 to 14 years and adults of ages 50 to 74 years.  The study below presents one case of post-radiation vasculopathy of the brain arteries of the patient who received radiation therapy to the brain as part of his craniopharingioma management. It will be underscored the significance of this patient condition and also will be described possible routes to prevent the occurrence of vasculopathy.

Heavy metals toxicity

Even though heavy metals are the oldest known toxins harmful to humans, heavy metal toxicity is still a topic that requires further investigation. This paper aims το provid an overview on the most dangerous heavy metals and their negative effects on the human health.Arsenic (As) contaminated underground water and arsenic based agricultural products have generated a worldwide increase of illnesses and deaths that are mainly due to various types of cancer and skin disorders. Industrialization and manufactur­ing made ead (Pb) poisoning a common occurrence, forcing governments to take measures to decrease lead usage. Mercury (Hg), being highly bioaccumulative and with an increasing presence in the environment, when consumed through food is proven to be especially harmful to lactating mothers, fetuses and children. The vast use of admium (Cd) for technological and agricultural purposes poses a high risk of occupational and non-occupational exposure of humans to that element, since it has been confirmed to cause carcinogenesis. Public awareness of the topic is necessary in order to prevent future increase of heavy metal related human diseases and deaths

Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A: a reliable marker for ifferentiating between the consumption of illegal cannabis products and legal, medical Δ9-THC

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ9-THCA-A) is the biosynthetic precursor of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in plant material of cannabis sativa, without having psychoactive effects . Δ9-THCA-A is not contained in pharmaceutical Δ9-THC formulations. Thus, Δ9-THCA-A can serve as a marker for differentiating between the consumption of illegal cannabis products and legal fully synthetic Δ9-THC

Heavy metals in edible specimens around Tagarades landfill after a big fire

The aim of this study was to provide information on the levels of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in ed­ible specimens around the Tagarades landfill after a big fire.A total of 49 fruit, vegetable and milk samples were collected, according to the Directive 2001/22/EC. The sampling areas were: < 2.5, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 km around landfill, as well as, 35-40 km away which served as a blank area that was not affected by the landfill. Care was taken to get samples of the same varieties from different selected sites. The samples were wet digested using concentrated nitric and perchloric acid. Cadmium was analyzed using a Flame Atomic Spectrometer and lead an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry with graphite furnace atomization. Our results indicate that there was no apparent effect from the landfill fire on lead and cadmium levels found in the tested food samples. These specimens were safe for consumption according to the Draft Commission Regulation on Setting Maximum Limits for Certain Contaminants in Foodstuffs

Cannabis use and cardiovascular complications: are we aware enough?

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug. Over the last years more scientific studies focus on the cardio­vascular complications of cannabis. This brief review cites the effects of cannabis in human myocardial tissue with emphasis on the risk of development of cardiovascular disease after the use of the drug

Hydrotherapy (Project Hydriades)

Natural resources are being used for the maintenance of health. According to the Law 3498/2006 of the Greek Parliament the natural health spas must be validated for their therapeutic properties. The Association of Municipalities and Communities of Health Springs of Greece signed a contract with the Research Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, in order to conduct the research programme: ‘Study for the documentation of the therapeutic properties of the thermomineral waters’. The main aim of the project is: (1) the study of biological and therapeutic parameters of the natural health sources, (2) the identification of the indications and contraindications of hydrotherapy. Aims parallel to the main ones have been also set

Non-conditioned solid-phase extraction of amphetamine from post-mortem specimens

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures are being used increasingly in all types of drug testing laboratories, including those, which carry out forensic toxicological analysis. Extraction techniques are used to isolate chemical substances from biological and post-mortem substrates in order to be identified by chromatographic methods. The advantages of such procedures include decreased operation time, reduced solvent volumes and increased extraction efficiency.The present work describes a novel and faster SPE technique, without column preconditioning, for the extraction of amphetamine from spiked biological and post-mortem specimens. Abselut NEXUS columns were used for the extraction from spiked blood, bile, vitreous humour, pericardial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, liver, brain, bone and bone marrow.The analysis of amphetamine was accomplished by gas chromatography after derivatisation with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA). The recoveries of amphetamine ranged from 78.5% (pericardial fluid) to 87.5% (bile), with relative standard deviations less than 8.0

Immunoassay thechnologies for drugs of abuse testing - General principles - Recognized advantages and disadvantages

The multiple application of immunoassay technology as the «initial test» to screen for drug abuse in various biological fluids and forensic matrices is well established and regularly practiced. Immunoassay methods refer to extremely convenient and quick analytical systems that rely on specific antigen antibody reactions for drug monitoring analysis. The evolution of development and commercialization of these technologies have significantly contributed to the overall efforts in deterring and detecting the abuse of illicit substances and the misuse of various prescription medications. Generally speaking, immunoassays serve as an economic and efficient screening tool to eliminate negative specimens from further analysis and to identify the class of drugs that requires the second confirmatory step.The present article provides an overview of the fundamental principles of immunoassay methods, their general characteristics, specific limitations, various and recognized advantages and disadvantages. It describes clearly the most commonly used immunoassays for drug abuse screening, such as EMIT, RIA, FPIA and CEDIA