Advanced glycation end products as a biomarker for incisional hernia

Background: Incisional hernia is one of the most frequent complications after abdominal surgery, with incidences up to 30%. A reliable biomarker for the prediction of this complication is lacking. Advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), also known as non-enzymatic collagen crosslinks, are correlated with aging, smoking, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress. In this study the accumulation of AGEs and the relation between AGEs and incisional hernia were investigated. Materials and methods: In an explorato

Impact of tissue adhesives on the prevention of anastomotic leakage of colonic anastomoses: an in vivo study

Background: Tissue adhesives (TA) may be useful to strengthen colorectal anastomoses, thereby preventing anastomotic leakage (AL). Previous studies have identified cyanoacrylate (CA) TAs as the most promising colonic anastomotic sealants. This stud

Areas of deprivation, vulnerable groups and neighbourhood effects: the case of Athens

This PhD thesis explores the neighborhood effect on a central area of Athens, which includes parts of Kato Patisia, Agios Nikolaos and Kipseli. The concept of neighborhood effect raises the issue that a poor neighborhood affects the life chances of its inhabitants, such as income, employment, exposure to violence, education, etc. The term became popular in the field of sociology and urban geography after the publication of the book The Trully Disadvantaged by Wilson in 1987. Since then, the question of whether poor neighborhoods affect the life chances of their residents, particularly those living in conditions of economic deprivation, concerns a great proportion of social scientists.The neighborhood effect research which conducted in this dissertation, includes both quantitative methods and ethnographic research. By using the methods of correspondence analysis and cluster analysis, which are the two main statistical methods of this book, it was identified the area in which the ethnographic research on the neighborhood effect was conducted. The criteria for identifying the area, derive from the criticisms in the literature on neighborhood effects research. The aim of this PhD thesis is: a) the coverage of the lacunae that exists in the literature about the neighborhood effects in urban societies of Southern Europe, b) the integration of neighborhood effect research into the research of urban socio-spatial inequality and urban social exclusion, c) to link the research of neighborhood effects with the epistemological concern about the relation between subject and social structure (or social conditions) through the approaches of critical realism and phenomenology, d) the theoretical contribution to the discussion in the existing literature on the mechanisms by which the residential area affects the life chances of its inhabitants.The findings of this dissertation contradict some conclusions that exist in the quantitative literature on neighborhood effects in Europe and USA. In particular, it is shown that the place of residence affects the life chances of the individual, not independently but in conjunction with his or social class, demonstrating the importance of space for individual life trajectories. Furthermore, it is revealed that the trajectory of that particular area of residence within the field of socio-spatial inequality of Athens, is the constitutive framework that the various mechanisms with which this area of residence affects the life chances of its poor inhabitants, are shaped.Η παρούσα διατριβή διερευνά την επίδραση της γειτονιάς σε μια κεντρική περιοχή της Αθήνας, που περιλαμβάνει τμήματα από τα Κάτω Πατήσια, τον Άγιο Νικόλαο και την Κυψέλη. Η έννοια της επίδρασης της γειτονιάς θέτει το ζήτημα ότι μια φτωχή γειτονιά επηρεάζει τις ευκαιρίες ζωής των κατοίκων της όπως το εισόδημα, η απασχόληση, η έκθεση στη βία, η εκπαίδευση, κοκ. Ο όρος έγινε δημοφιλής στο πεδίο της κοινωνιολογίας και της αστικής γεωγραφίας μετά την έκδοση του βιβλίου The Truly Disadvantaged του Wilson τo 1987. Από τότε, το ερώτημα εάν οι φτωχές γειτονιές επιδρούν στις ευκαιρίες ζωής των κατοίκων τους, ιδιαίτερα αυτών που ζουν σε συνθήκες οικονομικής αποστέρησης, απασχολεί ένα ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό μέρος των κοινωνικών επιστημόνων. Η έρευνα για την επίδραση της γειτονιάς που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην παρούσα διατριβή, περιλαμβάνει τόσο ποσοτικές μεθόδους όσο και εθνογραφική έρευνα. Με την χρήση της ανάλυσης αντιστοιχιών και της ανάλυσης συστάδων που αποτελούν τις δύο βασικές στατιστικές μεθόδους αυτού του βιβλίου, εντοπίστηκε η περιοχή στην οποία διεξήχθη η εθνογραφίκη έρευνα για την επίδραση της γειτονιάς. Τα κριτήρια για τον εντοπισμό της περιοχής, προέρχονται από τις κριτικές που υπάρχουν στην βιβλιογραφία για την έρευνα της επίδρασης της γειτονιάς. Ο σκοπός αυτής της διατριβής είναι: α) η κάλυψη του κενού που υπάρχει στη βιβλιογραφία για την επιδράση της γειτονιάς στις αστικές κοινωνίες της Νότιας Ευρώπης, β) η ένταξη της έρευνας της επίδρασης της γειτονιάς στην έρευνα της αστικής χωροκοινωνικής ανισότητας και του αστικού κοινωνικού αποκλεισμού, γ) η ένταξη της έρευνας της επιδράσης της γειτονιάς με τον επιστημολογικό προβληματισμο για την σχέση μεταξύ υποκειμένου και κοινωνικής δομής (ή κοινωνικών συνθηκών) μέσα από τις προσεγγίσεις του κριτικού ρεαλισμού και της φαινομενολογίας, δ) η θεωρητική συνεισφορά στην συζήτηση που υπάρχει στην βιβλιογραφία για τους μηχανισμούς με τους οποίους η περιοχή κατοικίας επιδρά στις ευκαιρίες ζωής των κατοίκων της. Τα ευρήματα αυτής της διατριβής έρχονται σε αντίθεση με ένα μέρος της ποσοτικής έρευνας που υπάρχει στη βιβλιογραφία για την επίδραση της γειτονιάς στην Ευρώπη και στην Αμερική. Συγκεκριμένα, προκύπτει ότι η περιοχή κατοικίας επιδρά στις ευκαιρίες ζωής του ατόμου, όχι ανεξάρτητα αλλά σε συνδυασμό με την κοινωνική του τάξη, καταδεικνύοντας την σημασία του χώρου για τις ατομικές διαδρομές ζωής. Επιπρόσθετα, αναδεικύεται ότι η τροχιά της συγκεκριμένης περιοχής κατοικίας μέσα στο πεδίο της χωροκοινωνικής ανισότητας της Αθήνας, αποτελεί το πλαίσιο στο οποίο διαμορφώνονται οι διάφοροι μηχανισμοί με τους οποίους αυτή η περιοχή κατοικίας επιδρά στις ευκαιρίες ζωής των φτωχών κατοίκων της

Prevention of leakage by sealing colon anastomosis: experimental study in a mouse model

Background: In colorectal surgery, anastomotic leakage (AL) is the most significant complication. Sealants applied around the colon anastomosis may help prevent AL by giving the anastomosis time to heal by mechanically supporting the anastomosis and preventing bacteria leaking into the peritoneal cavity. The aim of this study is to compare commercially available sealants on their efficacy of preventing leakage in a validated mouse model for AL. Methods: Six sealants (Evicel, Omnex, VascuSeal, PleuraSeal, BioGlue, and Colle Chirurgicale Cardial) were applied around an anastomosis constructed with five interrupted sutures in mice, and compared with a control group without sealant. Outcome measures were AL, anastomotic bursting pressure, and death. Results: In the control group there was a 40% death rate with a 50% rate of AL. None of the sealants were able to diminish the rate of AL. Furthermore, use of the majority of sealants resulted in failure to thrive, increased rates of ileus, and higher mortality rates. Conclusions: If sealing of a colorectal anastomosis could achieve a reduction of incidence of clinical AL, this would be a promising tool for prevention of leakage in colorectal surgery. In this study, we found no evidence that sealants reduce leakage rates in a mouse model for AL. However, the negative results of this study make us emphasize the need of systemic research, investigating histologic tissue reaction of the bowel to different sealants, the capacity of sealants to form a watertight

Micro-segregation and coexistence in Athens: the debate on segregation and its implications for urban research

The study of residential segregation and its implications in urban space follows long and differentiated scientific traditions around the globe. This chapter focuses on segregation and coexistence by providing an overview of the relevant scientific debates focused on the case of Athens. Special emphasis is placed on the conceptualisation of “vertical micro-segregation”. By tracing the evolution of the local scientific debate, the aim is to discuss the role played by the context in the conceptualisation and study of segregation in Athens. Low segregation levels in Athens directed scientific research to socio-spatial hierarchies and divisions at the micro-scale. In this context, the typical Athenian multi-storey apartment building became a prominent terrain for the study of (vertically) socio-spatial inequalities and terms of coexistence at the micro-level of everyday life. As discussed in this chapter, low levels of (horizontal) segregation do not necessarily impede the increase of socio-spatial inequalities and polarisation. These observations raise serious questions about the assumptions embedded in conceptualisation of segregation globally. For Athens in particular, they call for further research about the impact of past and current developments in the housing sector on the restructurings of the social geography of Athens