Θεολογική ὁρολογία καί διδασκαλία στά Βιβλία Ἐπιστολῶν τοῦ ἀσκητοῦ Νείλου Ἀγκύρας († 430)

This article attempts a theological approach of a work, that could well be described as practical and ascetic, referring to contemporary spiritual quests and needs of monks, clergy, bishops and state officials in the area inhabited abbot Nilus, and not only there. The main purpose of this article remains the trading of theological terminology and teaching of the ancyran abbot. In theological terminology carries the wording of the Cappadocian Fathers, and repot it in Triadology and Christology. In the Holy Trinity teaching, he is opposed to the Arian misinterpretations of patristic teaching, assuming the God unique and triune. In the teaching of Christ, he puts against apolinarist docetic interpretation of the divine incarnation the reality of this event, contributing significantly to the attainment of salvation of man. The latter is created by God with body and soul, and due to the evil appearance, Nile emphasizes to the concepts of discretion and mind, due to which the man fell and continues to sin, removing in that way any substance from evil. Salvation in Christ becomes a reality not only due to the divine incarnation but to the passion and resurrection of Christ, events that guarantee the salvation of manhood. And finally, the existence of the church is inextricably linked to Christ himself, whose presence is constant through the sacrament of the Eucharist.This article attempts a theological approach of a work, that could well be described as practical and ascetic, referring to contemporary spiritual quests and needs of monks, clergy, bishops and state officials in the area inhabited abbot Nilus, and not only there. The main purpose of this article remains the trading of theological terminology and teaching of the ancyran abbot. In theological terminology carries the wording of the Cappadocian Fathers, and repot it in Triadology and Christology. In the Holy Trinity teaching, he is opposed to the Arian misinterpretations of patristic teaching, assuming the God unique and triune. In the teaching of Christ, he puts against apolinarist docetic interpretation of the divine incarnation the reality of this event, contributing significantly to the attainment of salvation of man. The latter is created by God with body and soul, and due to the evil appearance, Nile emphasizes to the concepts of discretion and mind, due to which the man fell and continues to sin, removing in that way any substance from evil. Salvation in Christ becomes a reality not only due to the divine incarnation but to the passion and resurrection of Christ, events that guarantee the salvation of manhood. And finally, the existence of the church is inextricably linked to Christ himself, whose presence is constant through the sacrament of the Eucharist

Αναζήτηση Chlamydia trachomatis σε εξωτερικά και εσωτερικά γεννητικά όργανα καθώς επίσης και στα ούρα με μοριακές μεθόδους

Chlamydia are Gram-negative bacteria that grow within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. They are not cultivated in artificial media but only intracellularly since they lack suitable support mechanisms. The eukaryotic cell is their source of metabolic energy, so they are considered obligate intracellular parasites. According to the new classification the Chlamydiales lineage is separated into four families: the Chlamydiaceae, Simkaniaceae, Parachlamydiaceae and Waddliaceae. The family Chlamydiaceae includes two genera: the genus Chlamydia and the genus Chlamydophila. The genus Chlamydia includes Chlamydia trachomatis while the genus Chlamydophila includes Chlamydophila pneumoniae, C. psittaci, C. pecorum, C. felis, C. caviae and C. abortus. C. trachomatis contains 15 serotypes: serotypes A, B, Ba, and C are the cause of trachoma. Serotypes D-K are the aetiologic agents of nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis, cervicitis, vaginitis, and inclusion conjunctivitis. Serotypes A-K are also known as TRIC (Trachoma - Inclusion Conjunctivitis). Finally, serotypes L1, L2 and L3 are the cause of lymphogranuloma venereum. The clinical picture of urethritis due to C. trachomatis includes mild dysuria, clear discharge from the urethra and pain during urination. Microscopy reveals the absence of Gram-negative intracellular diplococci and the presence of leukocytes. The reference gold standard method for the diagnosis of C. trachomatis urethritis is the cell culture. Molecular methods, such as the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) play an important role in the diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection; nowadays these techniques are considered as the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection. Their great advantage is their application to non-invasive samples, such as urine, vaginal discharge and intravaginal tampons. The present study includes two parts. The aim of the first part was the evaluation of the molecular techniques for the detection of C. trachomatis in symptomatic men with urethritis: intra-urethral swab (IS), penile skin swab (PSS), perineal swab (PS), rectal swab (RS) and first void urine (FVU) were examined. Also, cervical swab (CS), high vaginal swab (HVS), perineal swab (PS), vulvar swab (VS) and first void urine (FVU) were tested in symptomatic women with vaginitis. In the second part of this study the distribution of C. trachomatis serotypes was studied in order to describe the epidemiology of nongonococcal urethritis due to C. trachomatis in Greece. Between September 2005 and September 2006, a total of 210 male and 60 female patients were enrolled in the study. These patients were referred to the Outpatient Department of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases clinic of the “Andreas Sygros” Hospital, in Athens, Greece, with acute nongonococcal urethritis and vaginitis respectively. According to the protocol the samples were studied using two Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs). The PCR Amplicor CT (Roche Molecular Inc.) was used at the Microbiology Department of the ‘A Sygros’ Hospital and a home made nested-PCR at the Unit of Molecular Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections at Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens. .........................................................................................................Τα Χλαμύδια είναι Gram-αρνητικά βακτήρια, τα οποία αναπτύσσονται στο πρωτόπλασμα ευκαρυωτικών κυττάρων. Τα χλαμύδια δεν αναπτύσσονται σε κοινά θρεπτικά υλικά αλλά μόνο ενδοκυτταρίως δεδομένου ότι στερούνται των κατάλληλων μηχανισμών και βασίζονται για τις ενεργειακές τους ανάγκες στο ευκαρυωτικό κύτταρο στο οποίο παρασιτούν, είναι δηλαδή υποχρεωτικά ενδοκυττάρια παράσιτα. Σύμφωνα με τη νέα ταξινόμηση τα μέλη της τάξης Chlamydiales τοποθετήθηκαν σε τέσσερεις οικογένειες, τις Chlamydiaceae, Simkaniaceae, Parachlamydiaceae και Waddliaceae. Η οικογένεια Chlamydiaceae περιλαμβάνει δύο γένη: το γένος Chlamydia και το γένος Chlamydophila. Το γένος Chlamydia περιλαμβάνει τα Chlamydia trachomatis, ενώ στο γένος Chlamydophila ανήκουν τα Chlamydophila pneumoniae, C. psittaci, C. pecorum, C. felis, C. caviae και το C. abortus. Τα χλαμύδια του τραχώματος (C. trachomatis) περιλαμβάνουν 15 ορότυπους: από αυτούς οι ορότυποι A, B, Ba, και C είναι τα αίτια του τραχώματος. Οι ορότυποι D-K είναι οι αιτιολογικοί παράγοντες της μη γονοκοκκικής ουρηθρίτιδας, επιδιδυμίτιδας, τραχηλίτιδας, κολπίτιδας, και της «επιπεφυκίτιδας εξ εγκλείστων». Οι ορότυποι A-K είναι γνωστοί και ως στελέχη TRIC (Trachoma-Inclusion Conjuctivitis). Τέλος, οι ορότυποι L1, L2 και L3 είναι τα αίτια του αφροδισίου λεμφοκοκκιώματος. Η κλινική εικόνα της μη γονοκοκκικής ουρηθρίτιδας από C. trachomatis περιλαμβάνει ήπια δυσουρία, λεπτό διαυγές υδαρές έκκριμα της ουρήθρας και αίσθηση καύσου κατά την ούρηση, ενώ στη μικροσκοπική εξέταση παρατηρείται απουσία Gram-αρνητικών διπλοκόκκων και παρουσία λευκοκυττάρων. Η κλασσική μέθοδο αναφοράς για τη διάγνωση της μη γονοκοκκικής ουρηθρίτιδας από C. trachomatis θεωρητικά είναι η κυτταροκαλλιέργεια. Οι μοριακές μέθοδοι, όπως η PCR, έχουν σημαντική ανάπτυξη στη διάγνωση των C. trachomatis και σήμερα αποτελούν την πιο ευαίσθητη μέθοδο για τη διάγνωση της λοίμωξης. Μεγάλο πλεονέκτημα των μοριακών μεθόδων είναι η δυνατότητα εφαρμογής τους σε μη επεμβατικά δείγματα, όπως σε ούρα, κολπικό έκκριμα και ενδοκολπικά ταμπόν. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή περιλαμβάνει δύο μέρη. Ο σκοπός του πρώτου μέρους ήταν η χρήση και η αξιολόγηση των μοριακών τεχνικών για την αναζήτηση των C. trachomatis σε συμπτωματικούς άνδρες ασθενείς με ουρηθρίτιδα σε δείγματα της ουρήθρας (IS), του δέρματος του πέους (PSS), του περινέου, του περιπρωκτικού δέρματος, τα ούρα πρώτης πρωινής ούρησης (FVU) και σε συμπτωματικές γυναίκες με κολπίτιδα σε δείγματα του τραχήλου της μήτρας (CS), του κόλπου, του περινέου, των μικρών και μεγάλων χειλέων του αιδοίου και τα ούρα της πρώτης πρωϊνής ούρησης (FVU). Στο δεύτερο μέρος της εργασίας έγινε ο προσδιορισμός οροτύπων που συνδέονται με τη μη γονοκοκκική ουρηθρίτιδα ώστε να υπάρξει σαφής εικόνα της επιδημιολογίας της μη γονοκοκκικής ουρηθρίτιδας από C. trachomatis στην Ελλάδα. ..........................................................................................................................

Herbals and Plants in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Experimental and Clinical Studies

Background: Pancreatic cancer represents the most lethal malignancy among all digestive cancers. Despite the therapeutic advances achieved during recent years, the prognosis of this neoplasm remains disappointing. An enormous amount of experimental (mainly) and clinical research has recently emerged referring to the effectiveness of various plants administered either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. Apart from Asian countries, the use of these plants and herbals in the treatment of digestive cancer is also increasing in a number of Western countries as well. The aim of this study is to review the available literature regarding the efficacy of plants and herbals in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The authors have reviewed all the experimental and clinical studies published in Medline and Embase, up to June 2021. Results: More than 100 plants and herbals were thoroughly investigated. Favorable effects concerning the inhibition of cancer cell lines in the experimental studies and a favorable clinical outcome after combining various plants with established chemotherapeutic agents were observed. These herbals and plants exerted their activity against pancreatic cancer via a number of mechanisms. The number and severity of side-effects are generally of a mild degree. Conclusion: A quite high number of clinical and experimental studies confirmed the beneficial effect of many plants and herbals in pancreatic cancer. More large, double-blind clinical studies assessing these natural products, either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents should be conducted

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

Successful Pregnancy and Persistent Polyclonal B Cell Lymphocytosis (PPBL): A Case Study of a Rare Co-Existence

Objective: Unknown etiology Background: Persistent polyclonal B cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is a benign clinical condition, which is characterized by persistent absolute polyclonal B lymphocytosis (>4.0 K/mu L), with the presence of circulating binucleated lymphocytes on the peripheral blood smear and an extra 3 chromosome long arm i(3q) in most cases. Immunophenotype reveals the polyclonal population of B cell lymphocytes with expression of CD19, CD20, and CD22 antigens, and k and l immunoglobulin light chains. Patients are mostly asymptomatic. Although PPBL has a benign clinical course and does not affect the survival expectancy of most patients, pregnancy seems to be extremely rare in these patients, as only 1 case reported so far. Although the real role of immunologic disorders, possibly PPBL, in recurrent pregnancy losses remains unclear, the rarity of successful pregnancy in PPBL patients could be attributed to the possible association of PPBL with infertility or recurrent miscarriages. Case Report: In the present study we present the second published case of a woman with a typical PPBL and recurrent pregnancy loss with a successful pregnancy outcome. Close clinical and laboratory monitoring in combination with the administration of thromboprophylaxis and the induction of mild immunosuppression with low-dose prednisolone may have contributed to the successful outcome of the pregnancy. Conclusions: In conclusion and taking all these findings into consideration, pregnancy in patients with PPBL seems to be extremely rare and the contribution of PPBL to the 2 previous miscarriages in our case could not be excluded

Treatment with Molgramostim (Recombinant Human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor, Rhugm-Csf, Mielogen) and Lenograstim (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) Improves Experimental Colitis in Rats

Background/Aim. Treatment with growth factors could be beneficial in both inflammatory bowel disease and experimental colitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF), and Recombinant Human (rHu) Granulocyte Stimulating Factor (GSF) in experimental colitis in rats. Methods. Experimental colitis was induced in 62 male Wistar rats, divided into 9 groups, using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNBS). Group 1: Ten rats with colitis without treatment (control group). Euthanasia after 15 days. Group 2: Ten animals with colitis without treatment (control group). Euthanasia after 30 days. Group 3: Six animals with colitis. Immediate treatment with CSF. Euthanasia after 19 days. Group 4: Six animals with colitis. Treatment started 7 days after the induction of colitis. Animals were kept for 19 days. Group 5: Six animals with colitis. Treatment started 2 weeks after the induction of colitis. Group 6: Six animals with colitis, the same as in group 3. Treatment with GSF. Group 7: Six animals with colitis, the same as in group 4. Treatment with GSF. Group 8. Six animals with colitis, the same as in group 5. Treatment with GSF. Group 9: Six animals with colitis. Immediate treatment with prednisolone. Euthanasia after 15 days. Results. CSF and GSF administration significantly improved the histological score (P < 0.05) and reduced malondialdehyde contents (P < 0.05), compared to control groups in all animals. CSF was superior to GSF and to prednisolone. Conclusion. Administration of both CSF and GSF could significantly improve the histological score and oxidative stress in experimental colitis in rats