THE GROWTH POLES STRATEGY IN REGIONAL PLANNING: THE RECENT EXPERIENCE OF GREECE

In recent years, there has been an attempt to stimulate the developmental role of urban centres in Greece in the context of regional and spatial planning. In essence, through the recent basic programming texts for the periods 2000-2006 and 2007-2013, the growth poles strategy has once again been exploited in the development programming. This paper attempts initially to describe the new growth poles strategy through the aforementioned programming texts, and then to present the ensuing problems, as well as to outline the emerging capabilities of planning regarding growth poles in Greece. The main conclusions of the research refer to the lack of a fixed typology, which is based on a specific methodology that could form a hierarchical categorization of urban concentrations through clear, long-term criteria. They also refer to a relative weakness in the planning and implementation of urban development policy, as part of regional programming. The absence of a systematic investigation of the role of particular concentrations in the growth process at regional, national and broader level is also a key-conclusion. The formulation of necessary supplementary policies, as well as the administrative organisation issues of the country’s large cities, are of main importance too.Urban Development, Growth Poles and Axes, Regional and Spatial Planning, Greece.

Spatial cohesion in Greece: the impact of GDP revision in the measurement of spatial inequalities in Greece and policy dimensions

Το άρθρο περιλαμβάνει μια συγκριτική ανάλυ-ση της μέτρησης των χωρικών ανισοτήτων (σεπεριφερειακό και νομαρχιακό επίπεδο) της Ελ-λάδας, πριν και μετά την τελευταία αναθεώρησητου ΑΕΠ. Κύριος στόχος είναι να προσδιορισθείο βαθμός και το περιεχόμενο της μεταβολής τωνανισοτήτων μετά την αναθεώρηση, προκειμένουνα αξιολογηθεί η νέα κατάσταση και να τεθεί η πε-ριφερειακή πολιτική στις σωστές της διαστάσεις.Η ανάλυση βασίζεται σε στοιχεία ΑΕΠ (συνολικούκαι κατά κεφαλήν), για τα έτη 2003 και 2001, πρινκαι μετά την αναθεώρηση, καθώς επίσης και τουπληθυσμού της τελευταίας απογραφής της ΕΣΥΕ.Η στατιστική επεξεργασία γίνεται με τη χρήση ει-δικών μεθόδων περιφερειακής ανάλυσης για τηδιερεύνηση των χωρικών ανισοτήτων. Το συμπέ-ρασμα που προκύπτει, είναι ότι η αναθεώρησηέχει επηρεάσει τις χωρικές ανισότητες της Ελλάδαςκαι συνεπώς, η περιφερειακή πολιτική θα πρέπεινα προσαρμοσθεί κατάλληλα στις νέες συνθήκες.The paper provides a systematic comparativeexploration of the measurement of spatial inequalitiesin Greece, at regional and prefecturallevel, before and after the last GDP revision.The aim is to determine the rate and the contentof change in spatial inequalities - towardseither an increase or decline - after the revision,so as to evaluate the new situation andset regional policy in its proper dimensions.The analysis is based on the examination ofGDP data (total and per capita) for the years2003 and 2001, before and after the revision,as well as on population derived from the lastCensus (2001). The paper uses statistical methodsof regional analysis for the exploration ofspatial inequalities. The main conclusion isthat the spatial disparities have been affectedfrom the revision in a remarkable degree andtherefore the regional policy must be suitablyadapted in the new conditions

The coastal shipping network in Greek insular space : reorganising it towards a “Hub and Spoke” system using matrices of flows and connectivity matrices

This paper is based on the analysis of interinsular relations that have been shaped according to the existing coastal shipping network in the Greek insular space. It tries to contribute to the effort that was overwhelmed in the past few years for a more systematic investigation of the differentiation of the existing linear model of the coastal shipping network, with its modification into a “hub and spoke” model. The methods of analysis are based on the use of matrices of flows (coastal shipping origin-destination) and connectivity matrices, in which the direct connections are initially taken into consideration followed by the indirect ones between the islands. The insular area of the Kyklades prefecture in the Aegean Sea is the case study. The possible cohesive territorial units in the insular space of Kyklades, as well as the attainable nodal ports that may function in these units, are defined.peer-reviewe

Hypertension Control: J-Curve Revisited

Over the last three decades there is an increasing number of investigators and meta-analyses focusing on the dangers of lowering blood pressure below certain levels. Several studies such as Invest, Ontarget, Value and TNT showed a significant decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by lowering blood pressure levels. However, blood pressure decrease below a certain level had exactly the opposite effect. The increase of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was attributed to the excessive reductions in blood pressure which may explain why in major clinical trials blood pressure below certain levels increases cardiovascular adverse events mainly in patients with coronary heart disease. In these patients a fall in diastolic blood pressure might lower perfusion pressure distal to a stenosis below a critical level at which autoregulation is effective.  This phenomenon led the European Society of Hypertension to propose a "J-shaped curve" relationship between blood pressure and cardiac morbidity and mortality, whereby lowering blood pressure below a critical point is no longer beneficial and possibly even deleterious. The challenge is to better define the limits of intervention and to define groups of people who are particularly vulnerable to over-aggressive lowering of blood pressure

Electrocardiographic Changes in a Patient With Pulmonary Embolism and Septic Shock

Various electrocardiography (ECG) abnormalities have been reported in patients who present with pulmonary embolism (PE). Severe sepsis is also associated with ECG changes that may mimic ST elevation myocardial infarction. We report a case of an elderly patient with PE and septic shock associated with striking ECG changes

Ciprofloxacin-Induced Cardiac Arrest

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in the form of torsade des pointes occurred in a patient on chronic therapy with amiodarone and a baseline prolonged QT interval, only when ciprofloxacin was added for treatment of urinary tract infection and did not recur after discontinuation of the antibiotic.   Key Words: polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; torsade des pointes; ciprofloxacin; acquired long QT syndrome; amiodaron

Pseudo-polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a 12-lead Holter Recording

AbstractWe present an image of pseudo-polymorphic ventricular tachycardia recording on a 12-lead surface ECG Holter. Although at first glance the appearance of the recording resembled polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, careful investigation revealed normal electrocardiographic findings

Irregular ventricular tachycardia underdetected by implantable cardioverter defibrillator device

A case of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia underdetected by a single chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator because of RR interval irregularity is presented. The programmed stability criterion is responsible for the underdetection. Special attention must be paid when it comes to programming this detection parameter. (Cardiol J 2008; 15: 281-283