Neurosurgery during the Bronze Age: a skull trepanation in 1900 BC Greece.

OBJECTIVE: Paleoneurosurgery represents a comparatively new developing direction of neurosurgery dealing with archaeological skull and spine finds and studying their neurosurgical aspects. Trepanation of the cranial vault was a widespread surgical procedure in antiquity and the most convincing evidence of the ancient origin of neurosurgery. The present study considers a case of trepanation from the Middle Bronze Age Greece (1900-1600 B.C.). METHODS: The skull under study belongs to skeletal material unearthed from Kirra, Delphi (Central Greece). Macroscopic examination and palpation, as well as three-dimensional computed tomography, were used in this study. RESULTS: There is osteological evidence that the skull belongs to a man who died at 30-35 years of age. The procedure of trepanation was performed on the right parietal bone. Both macroscopic and computed tomography evaluation demonstrate an intravital bone reaction at the edges of the aperture. Projected on the right surface of the brain, the trepanation is located on the level of the central groove. The small dimensions and the symmetrical shape of this hole give us an indication that it was made by a metal tool. CONCLUSION: We conclude that this paleopathological case provides valuable information about the condition of life and the pre-Hippocratic neurosurgical practice in Bronze Age Greece

Επίδραση θερμομόνωσης στην ενεργειακή απόδοση κατοικιών

178 σ.Το αντικείμενο της εν λόγω διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η επίδραση της θερμομόνωσης στην ενεργειακή απόδοση κατοικιών. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, μελετάται η τοποθέτηση διαφορετικών θερμομονωτικών υλικών στα επιμέρους δομικά στοιχεία (τοιχοποιία, οροφή, πυλωτή) μια τυπικής ελληνικής κατοικίας και ελέγχεται η βελτίωση που εμφανίζει η ενεργειακή απόδοση της κατοικίας σε κάθε περίπτωση, με τη χρήση του ειδικού λογισμικού ΤΕΕ ΚΕΝΑΚ. Επιπλέον, εξετάζονται οι μεταβολές που προκαλούνται από την αλλαγή στο πάχος της μόνωσης, καθώς επίσης και από την κλιματική ζώνη όπου βρίσκεται η κατοικία. Τέλος, πραγματοποιείται η οικονομοτεχνική ανάλυση των επεμβάσεων που μελετήθηκαν, χρησιμοποιώντας το κριτήριο της Καθαρής Παρούσας Αξίας (ΚΠΑ).The subject of the current diploma thesis is the influence of the insulation on the energy performance of homes. Specifically, our study aims on the installation of different insulation materials in the different building components (walls, ceiling, floor) of a typical greek home and the observation of the improvement that the energy performance has in every case, using the special software TEE KENAK. In addition, we examine the thickness of the insulation, as well as the climatic zone, where the home is situated, and the influence of these factors on the energy performance. Finally, a techno-economic analysis of the above interventions is realized, based on the Net Present Value.Αριστόδημος Δ. Τσιλιβάκο

Periodontal disease in the Mycenean (1450-1150 BC) population of Aghia Triada, W. Peloponnese, Greece

This study investigates the incidence of periodontitis in a Mycenaean population unearthed at the cemetery of Aghia Triada (West Peloponnese, Greece) during the 1989-1997 field season. The material consists of 172 dry skulls. Demographic parameters of sex and age were difficult to be assigned due to the bad state of preservation of the skeletal material. The ratio was 50 males, 48 females, 65 unidentified and 9 children, and we estimated an average age of 38 years. In this work we used traditional and modern methods to determine the incidence of periodontitis in the archeological human dental bone. We also recorded other dental diseases, such as ante mortem tooth loss, caries and attrition. The results showed that periodontitis has affected 35% of the jaws. A notable percentage of the individuals - 24% - lost three or more teeth during their lifetime and a total 53% of the population had extracted teeth before death. This paper points out that the ancient jaws present a high proportion of ante-mortem tooth loss, attrition and deep caries, whereas the frequency of periodontitis does not seem to differ from that of other prehistoric samples

Evidence for association of the G1733A polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene with recurrent spontaneous abortions

Objective: To determine whether the G1733A polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene is associated with an increased risk for recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Design: Case-control study. Setting: Division of Genetics and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, University of Athens. Patient(s): A total of 131 women with at least three unexplained spontaneous abortions before 20 weeks' gestation, with the same partner, composed the study group. Intervention(s): Subjects were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Main Outcome Measure(s): G1733A polymorphism genotypes and allele frequencies. Result(s): The observed frequencies of GG, GA, and AA genotypes of the G1733A polymorphism were 0.57, 0.27, and 0.16, respectively, for the patient group and 0.76, 0.15, and 0.09, respectively, for the control group. Allele frequencies were 0.70 and 0.84, respectively, for the patient and control groups for the G allele (wild type) and 0.30 and 0.16, respectively, for the patient and control groups for the A allele (mutant). Statistical analysis of these results indicated significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion(s): These results indicated for the first time that the androgen receptor G1733A polymorphism is strongly associated with increased risk for RSA. © 2008 American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Fraction of the peripheral blood concentration of CD56(+)/CD16(-)/CD3(-) cells in total natural killer cells as an indication of fertility and infertility

Objective: To determine whether the peripheral blood concentration of CD56(+)/CD16(-)/CD3(-) cells, the main natural killer (NK) subpopulation that colonizes the endometrium in the middle and late secretory phase, can be related to fertility or infertility status. Design: A case control study. Setting: Immunopathology department of an infertility laboratory. Patient(s): A total 99 women were selected (group 1: consecutive spontaneous aborters, n = 25; group II: sporadic spontaneous aborters, n = 30; group III: infertile, n = 33; group IV: controls, n = 11). Intervention(s): Immunophenotyping of women grouped according to their fertility status. Main Outcome Measure(s): Peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined by two- and three-color flow cytometry. Result(s): A statistically significant association between endometrial-type peripheral blood (PB) NK cell concentrations and fertility status (groups I and IV vs. groups II and III) was documented. The %(/TOTAL PB)CD56(+)CD16(-) CD3(-) NK cells was significantly higher [1] in fertile (groups I and IV) than in sporadic aborters/infertile (groups II and III) women, [2] in group I when compared with groups II and III, and [3] in group IV when compared with groups II and III. Conclusion(s): This study indicates that diminished numbers of the %(/TOTAL)CD56(+)CD16(-)CD3(-) - NK cells are related to sporadic aborters and infertile women. Thus, the fraction could be used as an indicator of subsequent successful implantation and maintenance of gestation. (C) 2003 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Απόδοση σε αέριο σύνθεσης από αεριοποίηση αγροτοβιομηχανικών και δασικών αποβλήτων με ατμό και διοξείδιο του άνθρακα

Περίληψη: Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία μελετήθηκε η αεριοποίηση βιοεξανθρακωμάτων αγροτοβιομηχανικών και δασικών αποβλήτων με ατμό και διοξείδιο του άνθρακα. Στόχος ήταν η μεγιστοποίηση της απόδοσης σε καύσιμο υδρογόνο, η εξέταση της θερμικής συμπεριφοράς των βιοεξανθρακωμάτων καθώς επίσης και η εύρεση των χαρακτηριστικών παραμέτρων της αεριοποίησης

Molecular investigation of menstrual tissue for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis collected by women with a history of infertility

Aim: At present, routine laboratory investigation of the infectious agents implicated in female genital infections is mainly based on culture/direct fluorescence antibody (DFA) (immunofluorescence antibody test) results of cervicovaginal secretions. In this study the use of the menstrual tissue is introduced for the molecular detection of pathogens which are implicated in female infertility. Material and Methods: Cervicovaginal secretions and menstrual tissue samples of 87 women (mean age 34.07 ± 5.17) experiencing infertility problems were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis presence using polymerase chain reaction (PCR, light cycler-PCR). Cervicovaginal secretions were also tested by the culture/DFA technique. The results were compared using the binomial test. Results: In the overall study group, the prevalence of C. trachomatis was 25.3%, 18.3%, and 13.8%, the prevalence of U. urealyticum was 18.3%, 16.09% and 12.6% and the prevalence of M. hominis was 13.7%, 19.5% and 8.0% in the menstrual tissue, cervicovaginal secretions using PCR and cervicovaginal secretions culture/DFA, respectively. A statistically significant difference was revealed between the two methods for all three microbes and between menstrual tissue and cervicovaginal secretions PCR for chlamydia. Conclusions: The use of menstrual tissue along with the PCR method seems to be an effective and thus novel alternative for the investigation of the infectious agents lying in the genital tract. One of the main advantages of this technique compared to cervicovaginal secretions is that it is non-invasive and the sample can be collected at home, thus allowing the early detection and treatment of a condition that can otherwise lead to serious consequences, such as tubal obstruction, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortions and unexplained infertility. © 2013 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Neurosurgery during the Bronze Age: A skull trepanation in 1900 BC Greece

Objective: Paleoneurosurgery represents a comparatively new developing direction of neurosurgery dealing with archaeological skull and spine finds and studying their neurosurgical aspects. Trepanation of the cranial vault was a widespread surgical procedure in antiquity and the most convincing evidence of the ancient origin of neurosurgery. The present study considers a case of trepanation from the Middle Bronze Age Greece (1900-1600 B.C.). Methods: The skull under study belongs to skeletal material unearthed from Kirra, Delphi (Central Greece). Macroscopic examination and palpation, as well as three-dimensional computed tomography, were used in this study. Results: There is osteological evidence that the skull belongs to a man who died at 30-35 years of age. The procedure of trepanation was performed on the right parietal bone. Both macroscopic and computed tomography evaluation demonstrate an intravital bone reaction at the edges of the aperture. Projected on the right surface of the brain, the trepanation is located on the level of the central groove. The small dimensions and the symmetrical shape of this hole give us an indication that it was made by a metal tool. Conclusion: We conclude that this paleopathological case provides valuable information about the condition of life and the pre-Hippocratic neurosurgical practice in Bronze Age Greece

Herpes virus infected spermatozoa following density gradient centrifugation for IVF purposes

Studies have documented the presence of herpes viruses in semen. The aim of our study was to determine whether they persist in semen samples following two-density gradient centrifugation for IVF purposes. Semen samples were collected from 109 men seeking fertility evaluation, prior to IVF treatment. Routine semen analysis was performed according to WHO guidelines. Each sample was treated in a two-density gradient centrifugation using PureSperm (PS). Both untreated and treated samples were screened for the presence of herpes viruses, using PCR. Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square and binomial statistical tests were used; P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. No statistically significant associations were observed between semen parameters and viral presence. Viral DNA was detected in 54% of semen samples: HSV1/2 in 32 samples, EBV in 49, CMV in 47, HHV6 in 9, HHV7 in 4 and VZV in none. PS gradient failed to remove CMV in 89.36%, HSV1/2 in 59.38% and EBV in 22.45% of samples, while HHV6 and 7 were completely removed. Especially HSV1/2 and CMV seem to persist even following PS treatment. These observations indicate the possible risk of oocyte becoming infected during insemination, by IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, with unknown sequelae. Further studies are required to determine whether any correlation exists between their presence, implantation rate and the outcome of pregnancy. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH