Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Cohort of 15,921 Refugees (1926-1940) in the Region of Imathia, Northern Greece

This historical epidemiological study evaluates sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Greek refugees during the Interwar period in the region of Imathia, Central Macedonia, Greece, as a part of the effort against sexually transmitted infections in Greece (1910-1940). We examined the archives of the Refugee Hospital of Veroia – the capital of the regional unit of Imathia (March 5, 1926 to October 27, 1940). This is a report of previously unpublished primary material comprising a cohort of 15,921 cases, among whom 41 patients were hospitalized on account of syphilis and 19 on account of gonococcal infection. Descriptive statistics were estimated. Primary (n=4), secondary (n=2), tertiary (n=13), congenital (n=7), and not further specified (n=15) cases of syphilis were identified, whereas a variety of differential diagnosis problems arose. Syphilis and gonococcal infection/gonorrhea seemed to affect various social groups, as evidenced by the variety of professions involved. Refugee patients originated from various areas such as Caucasus, Thrace, Constantinople, Bithynia, and Pontus. Lack of information and poor healthcare led to spreading of STIs in Greece. Law 3032/1922 was crucial for the Greek effort against sexually transmitted infection

Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Cohort of 15,921 Refugees (1926-1940) in the Region of Imathia, Northern Greece

This historical epidemiological study evaluates sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Greek refugees during the Interwar period in the region of Imathia, Central Macedonia, Greece, as a part of the effort against sexually transmitted infections in Greece (1910-1940). We examined the archives of the Refugee Hospital of Veroia – the capital of the regional unit of Imathia (March 5, 1926 to October 27, 1940). This is a report of previously unpublished primary material comprising a cohort of 15,921 cases, among whom 41 patients were hospitalized on account of syphilis and 19 on account of gonococcal infection. Descriptive statistics were estimated. Primary (n=4), secondary (n=2), tertiary (n=13), congenital (n=7), and not further specified (n=15) cases of syphilis were identified, whereas a variety of differential diagnosis problems arose. Syphilis and gonococcal infection/gonorrhea seemed to affect various social groups, as evidenced by the variety of professions involved. Refugee patients originated from various areas such as Caucasus, Thrace, Constantinople, Bithynia, and Pontus. Lack of information and poor healthcare led to spreading of STIs in Greece. Law 3032/1922 was crucial for the Greek effort against sexually transmitted infection

From miasmas to germs: a historical approach to theories of infectious disease transmission.

From miasma to germ theory we trace the evolution of conceptions in infectious disease transmission. Starting from the unproved theories of contagiousness we move on to miasma theory, contagion theory and spontaneous generation theory up to the revolutionary germ theory of disease transmission

Nanotechnology-based formulations to amplify intraocular bioavailability

Conventional drug delivery formulations, such as eye drops and ointments, are mainly administered by topical instillation. The topical delivery of ophthalmic drugs is a challenging endeavor despite the eye is easily accessible. Unique and complex barriers, serving as protection against extrinsic harmful factors, hamper therapeutic intraocular drug concentrations. Bioavailability for deeper ocular tissues of the anterior segment of the eye is exceptionally low. As the bioavailability of the active substance is the major hurdle to overcome, dosing is increased, so the side effects do. Both provoke patient poor compliance, confining the desired therapeutic outcome. The incidence and severity of adverse reactions amplify evenly in the case of chronic treatments. Current research focuses on the development of innovative delivery strategies to address low ocular bioavailability and provide safe and convenient dosing schemes. The main objective of this review is to explore and present the latest developments in ocular drug delivery formulations for the treatment of the pathology of the anterior segment of the eye. Nanotechnology-based formulations, that is, organic nanoparticles (liposomes, niosomes/discosomes, dendrimers, nanoemulsions, nanosuspensions, nanoparticles/nanospheres) and inorganic nanoparticles, nanoparticle-laden therapeutic contact lenses, in situ gelling systems, and ocular inserts, are summarized and presented accordingly

B-cell kinetics in humans: rapid turnover of peripheral blood memory cells.

Information about the kinetic behavior and lifespan of lymphocytes is crucial to understanding the mechanisms that regulate processes such as immunologic memory. We have used in vivo labeling of dividing cells with 6,6-(2)H(2)-glucose, combined with cell sorting and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry for deuterium enrichment, in order to analyze the kinetics of human total, naive, or memory B lymphocytes, separated from peripheral blood using monoclonal antibodies. We show that total blood B cells of young adults divide at an average rate of 1.9% (+/-1.0%) per day and at a similar though slightly slower rate, 1.5% (+/-1.3%) per day, in the elderly. Separation of naive and memory B cells according to expression of CD27 indicates that naive peripheral blood B cells divide slowly (0.46% per day), while memory cells proliferate more rapidly (2.66% per day). These data are compatible with the view that B-cell memory may be maintained by clones of proliferating B cells

Full-genome evolutionary analysis of the novel corona virus (2019-nCoV) rejects the hypothesis of emergence as a result of a recent recombination event

Background: A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) associated with human to human transmission and severe human infection has been recently reported from the city of Wuhan in China. Our objectives were to characterize the genetic relationships of the 2019-nCoV and to search for putative recombination within the subgenus of sarbecovirus. Methods: Putative recombination was investigated by RDP4 and Simplot v3.5.1 and discordant phylogenetic clustering in individual genomic fragments was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Results: Our analysis suggests that the 2019-nCoV although closely related to BatCoV RaTG13 sequence throughout the genome (sequence similarity 96.3%), shows discordant clustering with the Bat_SARS-like coronavirus sequences. Specifically, in the 5′-part spanning the first 11,498 nucleotides and the last 3′-part spanning 24,341–30,696 positions, 2019-nCoV and RaTG13 formed a single cluster with Bat_SARS-like coronavirus sequences, whereas in the middle region spanning the 3′-end of ORF1a, the ORF1b and almost half of the spike regions, 2019-nCoV and RaTG13 grouped in a separate distant lineage within the sarbecovirus branch. Conclusions: The levels of genetic similarity between the 2019-nCoV and RaTG13 suggest that the latter does not provide the exact variant that caused the outbreak in humans, but the hypothesis that 2019-nCoV has originated from bats is very likely. We show evidence that the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is not-mosaic consisting in almost half of its genome of a distinct lineage within the betacoronavirus. These genomic features and their potential association with virus characteristics and virulence in humans need further attention

Linezolid: a Promising Agent for the Treatment of Multiple and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a severe, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this review was to present the efficacy of linezolid as an agent against multidrug and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis as gathered from many recent research studies. Linezolid seems to have strongly the potential of being used as an anti-tuberculosis agent because it blocks bacterial ribosomal protein synthesis. Nevertheless caution is required because of the adverse effects it causes, especially when the linezolid daily dosage exceeds 600 mg. The most severe adverse effects include anemia, peripheral neuropathy, optic neuropathy and thrombocytopenia. Still, more trials and research need to be done in order to gather more information and value the cost-benefit dosage of the treatment.

Seroprevalence of HHV-6 and HHV-8 among blood donors in Greece

Background: Herpes viruses infection transmitted through healthy but infected blood donors pose a danger to herpes-naive immunocompromised recipients. The risk of transfusion-related HHV-8 transmission is different in endemic and not endemic areas. HHV-6 and HHV-8 seroprevalence and viral load among blood donors have been reported from different countries. The aim of our study was to assess the seroprevalence of HHV-8 and HHV-6 in volunteer blood donors from Greece which is unknown. Findings: Serum samples from 179 healthy blood donors were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against HHV-6 and HHV-8 with ELISA. None of the 179 donors of Greek origin tested was positive for HHV-8. HHV-6 seropositivity was assessed in 160 blood donors’ samples and was found to be 78.75% ( 126/160). The HHV-6 seroprevalence did not differ either between males and females or among different decade age groups. Conclusions: The fact, that no blood donor was positive for HHV-8 IgG antibodies indicates that the risk for transfusion related HHV-8 transmission in Greece, if any, is negligible and does not warrant broad testing for HHV-8. Definitely further studies are needed, in order to clarify the potential risk of HHV-6 transmission