Rattling Europe’s ordoliberal ‘iron cage’ : the contestation of austerity in Southern Europe

This article explains the popular revolt against austerity in Southern Europe as the outcome of profound politico-economic changes that are shaped by the transformation of the European Union’s (EU’s) macro-economic governance. It comprises three parts. The first part demonstrates how ordoliberalism – the Germanic variant of (neo)liberal economic thinking – was embedded in the EU’s new macro-economic governance, in processes that constitutionalise austerity and remove democratic controls over the economy. The second part examines the impact of austerity-driven reforms on welfare and employment in the aftermath of the sovereign debt crisis. These reforms undermined the social reproduction of Southern Europe’s familistic welfare model by destabilising three key pillars of social protection: employment security for households’ primary earners; small property ownership; and pension adequacy. The third part analyses the emergence of anti-austerity social politics in Southern Europe, both parliamentary and grassroots, and assesses their effectiveness in light of the collapse of public trust in both EU and domestic political institutions. The article concludes with our reflections on the fragility of EU’s integration process under the hegemony of ordoliberalism

External iliac venous aneurysm treated with tangential aneurysmatectomy and lateral venorrhaphy: A case report and review of the literature

Venous aneurysms of the femoro-iliac axis are uncommon abnormalities of the vascular system with a potentially life-threatening course; they can be associated with the disastrous events of thromboembolism or rupture. Therefore, a focused imaging evaluation and prophylactic treatment is essential. The appropriate surgical approach is, however, dictated by the morphological parameters and the extent of the aneurysm. We present an external iliac venous aneurysm in a 31-year-old woman that was revealed incidentally and treated successfully by tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy. The choice of surgical technique is discussed along with a review of the literature on venous aneurysms. © 2009 SAGE Publications

The influence of total plasma homocysteine and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors on degree of abdominal aortic aneurysm tissue inflammation

Objective: Modulating effects of genetic and environmental risk factors on severity of human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissue inflammation remain unclear. We investigated the influence of total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors (ARF) on degree of AAA tissue inflammation. Methods: Aneurysm specimens were obtained from 89 male patients aged 52 to 83 years, underwent asymptomatic not ruptured AAA (mean diameter 5.5 cm) open repair and graded for degree of histologic inflammation. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the association of tHcy and ARF, with degree of inflammation. Results: Current cigarette smoking, odds ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 15.2, P =.01 and no other ARF, neither tHcy levels OR 0.9 (0.9-1.02), P =.2 were associated with high-grade tissue inflammation. Conclusion: These results provide evidence against a major effect of tHcy levels on AAA tissue inflammation, while current cigarette smoking is a significant modulating factor

Unusual presentation of Mönckeberg's sclerosis in the thyroid vessels of three female patients

Histopathological findings of Mönckeberg's sclerosis in the thyroid vessels of three female patients are described. Two of the patients presented with papillary carcinoma and the third presented with two cystic adenomatous nodules. Lesions of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis were observed in two of the cases. The presence of Mönckeberg's sclerosis is an indication for further examination of patients vascular systems because of the high risk for cardiovascular events. © 2009 Pulsus Group Inc. All rights reserved

Long-term results with the modified sugiura procedure for the management of variceal bleeding: Standing the test of time in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices

Background: The surgical approaches to the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients have been reduced since the clinical development of endoscopic sclerotherapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and liver transplantation. However, when acute sclerotherapy fails, and in cases where no further treatment is accessible, emergency surgery may be life saving. In the present study we retrospectively analyzed the results of the modified Sugiura procedure, performed as emergency and semi-elective treatment in the patient with bleeding esophageal varices. Methods: Ninety patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension were managed in our department for variceal esophageal bleeding between January 1985 and December 1992. The modified Sugiura procedure was performed in 46 patients on an emergency (25 patients) or semi-elective (21 patients) basis. Liver cirrhosis stage according to Child classification was A in 4 patients, B in 16 patients, and C in 26 patients. Results: Acute bleeding was controlled in all patients. Postoperative mortality was 23.9% (11 of 46 patients). The mortality rate was 34.6% in Child class C patients (9 of 26 patients), and 12.5% in Child class B patients (2 of 16 patients). Twenty-four patients had long-term follow-up extending from 14 months to 22 years (mean 83.1 months). Ten of 24 patients (41.6%) did not develop rebleeding for 5-22 years (mean 10.3 years). Overall 5-year survival in these 24 patients was 62.5%. Conclusions: The modified Sugiura procedure remains an effective rescue therapy for patients with bleeding esophageal varices when alternative treatments fail or are not indicated. Moreover, it can be a life-saving procedure in patients with anatomy unsuitable for shunt surgery or for patients treated in nonspecialized centers where surgical expertise for a shunt operation is not available. © 2012 Société Internationale de Chirurgie

The influence of diabetes on degree of abdominal aortic aneurysm tissue inflammation

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression and disease resistance are related to transmural degenerative processes and an inflammatory infiltration (INF). Diabetes is associated with low prevalence and growth rate of AAA. We sought to characterize INF in established AAA (INFAAA), in diabetic patients. From 89 male patients aged 52 to 83 years, aneurysm specimens obtained at open asymptomatic nonruptured AAA repair were graded for INF and immunostained using antibodies against T-lymphocytes (CD3) and macrophages (CD68). Diabetic patients had an odds ratio (OR) 3.8, 95% confidence interval ([CI] 1.14-12.96), P =.03, of experiencing above-median INFAAA. These associations were affected by serum glucose (SG) levels (OR 3.6, 95% CI [0.72-18.77]; P =.1). Macrophage subpopulations higher in diabetic patients (1.44 ± 0.78 versus 0.98 ± 0.76; P =.02) were correlated with SG (r =.21, P =.044). Abdominal aortic aneurysms in diabetic patients are associated with higher INF. Macrophage densities are correlated with SG. © The Author(s) 2010

Characterization and seasonal variation of the quality of virgin olive oil of the Throumbolia and Koroneiki varieties from southern Greece

Extra virgin olive oil was produced from olives of the two main varieties cultivated in the region of Rethymnon in the Greek island of Crete named “Throumbolia”, and “Koroneiki”. The former is very famous due to the natural way of fruit debittering, while the latter is the most common olive variety cultivated in Northern Greece. The olives were harvested at three successive stages of ripening according to their skin color and the extra virgin olive oil was extracted using an experimental olive oil extraction mill at 30ºC. Peroxide value, UV absorption, acidity, fatty acid content and total polyphenols were measured and the contents of tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol 3,4- DHPEA-EDA, p-HPEA-EDA and 3,4-DHPEA-EA were determined by HPLC. The sterol fraction and the volatile component profile were determined by GC and SPME GC/MS, respectively. Throumbolia olive oil presented an extremely higher content of β-sitosterol and linoleic acid (n6) in comparison to the Koroneiki variety. The concentration of linoleic acid decreased in olive oils produced from both varieties in contrast to oleic acid which increased at the same time. Furthermore, the content of OH-tyrosol was higher, while the content of 3, 4-DHPEA-EDA and the total polyphenols was lower in Throumbolia olive oil than in olive oil produced from the Koroneiki variety. In general, significant differences were observed in all parameters between the olive oils produced from the two varieties during different stages of maturation.<br><br>Aceite de oliva virgen extra fue producida con aceitunas de las dos principales variedades cultivadas en la región de Rethymnon en la isla de Creta denominadas “Throumbolia” y “Koroneiki”. La primera es una variedad muy famosa debido a la falta de amargor natural de su fruto, mientras que la última es la variedad más común de aceitunas cultivada en el norte de Grecia. La aceitunas fueron cosechadas en tres estados sucesivos de maduración de acuerdo al color de su piel y el aceite de oliva virgen extra fue extraído en una almazara experimental a 30ºC. El indice de peróxides, la absorción UV, la acidez, el contenido en ácidos grasos y los polifenoles totales fueron medidos y los contenidos de tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol 3,4- DHPEA-EDA, p-HPEA-EDA y 3,4-DHPEA-EA fueron determinados por HPLC. La fracción de esteroles y el perfil de los componentes volátiles fueron analizados por GC y SPME GC/MS, respectivamente. El aceite de olovas de Throumbolia presentó un contenido extremadamente más alto de β-sitosterol y ácido linoleico (n6) que la variedad koroneiki. La concentración del ácido linoleico decrecio en ambas variedades, a diferencia del ácido oleico que presentó un incremento al mismo tiempo. Además, el contenidode OH-tyrosol fue más alto, mientras que el contenido de 3,4-DHPEA-EDA y los fenoles totales fueron más bajo, en aceite de oliva de Throumbolia que en el aceite de oliva producido por la variedad Koroneiki. En general, diferencias significativas fueron observadas en todos los parámetros entre los aceites de oliva producidos por las dos variedades durante las diferentes etapas de maduración

Analgesic efficacy of an ibuprofenreleasing foam dressing compared with local best practice for painful exuding wounds

Objective: To examine if wound aetiology has an effect on the pain-relieving properties of an ibuprofen-releasing foam dressing, which was previously shown to reduce pain inwounds of various aetiologies, compared with local best practice (LBP). Method: This was a secondary analysis of data from a multicentre, randomised, parallel group trial of patients with painful exuding wounds of various aetiologies. Wound aetiology was determinedatenrolment. Of 853 patients enrolled into the trial, 688 belonged to a wound aetiology subgroup that included > 25 patients and were included in the analysis reported here. Patients were randomised to a dressing containing 112.5mg of ibuprofen (ibuprofen foam) or to LBP for 5 days. Patients recorded pain relief and pain intensity daily. The main endpoint was the proportion of patients who, from day 1 to day 5, reported a summed pain reliefscore > 50% of the total maximum pain relief score (TOTPARD5>50%) and the corresponding number needed to treat (NNT) for each wound aetiology subgroup. Further analyses included the proportion of patients who, on a daily basis, reported pain relief > 50% of the maximum daily pain relief, the proportion of patients who, on day 5,experienced a reduction in pain intensity of > 50% of the maximum score (PIDD5>50%), and if PIDD5>50% was related to baseline pain intensity. Results: Patients were categorised by thefollowing five wound types: arterial, venous, and mixed arterial-venous leg ulcers, vasculitis and traumatic ulcers. The ibuprofenfoam dressing was associated with significantlygreater pain relief than LBP in all different wound aetiology subgroups, whether chronic or traumatic (acute). Overall, TOTPAR D5>50% was 55% in the ibuprofen foam group and 24% in the LBP group (p < 0.0001; NNT, 3.2). The pain intensity evaluations revealed similar results in favour ofibuprofen foam compared with LBP. No correlation was observed between PIDD5>50 and initial pain intensity. Conclusion: In this study, the ibuprofenfoam dressing was shown to consistently relievewound painin exuding wounds of various aetiologies, irrespective of basal painintensity.The data suggest that local pain reliefby an ibuprofenfoam dressing is possible in themost common, painful, exuding, chronic and acute/traumatic wounds and so is a safer alternative to systemic pain treatment. Conflict of interest: Of the ten authors involved inthe preparation of this manuscript, seven declare that theyhave no conflicts of interest. One is a member of the Wound AdvisoryForum for Coloplast A/S, Denmark. Two are employees of Coloplast A/S, Denmark