Biomedical subjects

A Giannoukas

Publications and source records attributed to A Giannoukas.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Consent for organ and tissue retention in British law in the light of the Human Tissue Act 2004.

The experience from the scandals in hospitals at Liverpool and Bristol in the UK where retention of tissue and organs was undertaken without the consent of the parents and relatives raised serious concerns regarding the efficacy of the existing Human Tissue Act 1961, in England and the operation of the law by medical practitioners. In the aftermath of these damaging scandals a combination of public distrust and government overreaction has led to the enactment of new legislation, the Human Tissue Act 2004, which is aiming to prevent any further instances of the retention of organs and tissue from dead children or adults without their next of kin's consent or knowledge. However, scientists have expressed concerns that such changes might seriously endanger several medical research programmes, and also tissue and organ donation for transplantation. The aim of this article is to highlight important issues raised by existing practice in the post-mortem examinations in the UK and the lessons learnt from this and to discuss the benefits and the potential problems arising from the new Act.

Autopsy↗

PubMed2005

Severity of asymptomatic carotid stenosis and risk of ipsilateral hemispheric ischaemic events: results from the ACSRS study.

OBJECTIVES: This study determines the risk of ipsilateral ischaemic neurological events in relation to the degree of asymptomatic carotid stenosis and other risk factors. METHODS: Patients (n=1115) with asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis greater than 50% in relation to the bulb diameter were followed up for a period of 6-84 (mean 37.1) months. Stenosis was graded using duplex, and clinical and biochemical risk factors were recorded. RESULTS: The relationship between ICA stenosis and event rate is linear when stenosis is expressed by the ECST method, but S-shaped if expressed by the NASCET method. In addition to the ECST grade of stenosis (RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.21-2.15), history of contralateral TIAs (RR 3.0; 95% CI 1.90-4.73) and creatinine in excess of 85 micromol/L (RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.23-3.65) were independent risk predictors. The combination of these three risk factors can identify a high-risk group (7.3% annual event rate and 4.3% annual stroke rate) and a low risk group (2.3% annual event rate and 0.7% annual stroke rate). CONCLUSIONS: Linearity between ECST per cent stenosis and risk makes this method for grading stenosis more amenable to risk prediction without any transformation not only in clinical practice but also when multivariable analysis is to be used. Identification of additional risk factors provides a new approach to risk stratification and should help refine the indications for carotid endarterectomy.

Brain Ischemia↗

PubMed2004

Organ and tissue transplantation in Greece: the law and an insight into the social context.

Advances in biological sciences and medicine have revolutionized current practice and opened new horizons. Tissue and organ transplantation is a miracle and an action of love and sacrifice for the sake of fellow human beings. Organ transplantation has been commonplace over the last decade but Greece still remains the lowest numerically among European countries in this field because of the lack of organ donation although it is highest in traffic accidents. Despite this, the legal framework regulating transplantation was enacted late in comparison to other European countries, and was not the only obstacle to the development of organ donation. Several other factors such as philosophy, culture, traditional and religious attitudes, lack of public information and lack of the relevant social fabric, have all contributed to the current sad situation. This article aims to present a critical view on the evolution of the legal framework in the field of tissue and organ transplantation in Greece. Issues that still deter organ donation are discussed along with an insight into the current situation in the Greek social context in order to make a constructive contribution to future perspectives.

Greece↗

PubMed2000

Single and double wavelength excitation of laser-induced fluorescence of normal and atherosclerotic peripheral vascular tissue.

Laser-induced fluorescence spectra were recorded from the exposure of peripheral vascular tissue to both helium-cadmium and argon-ion laser radiation. Spectral analysis was based on simple algebraic expressions constructed using the intensity difference of the various spectral regions. The above methods were developed in order to determine the degree of atherosclerosis according to the laser-induced fluorescence signal. Similar results with single wavelength excitation were observed during in vivo irradiation of peripheral vessels.

Arteries↗

PubMed1998

Effect of liquid-nitrogen and formalin-based conservation in the in vitro measurement of laser-induced fluorescence from peripheral vascular tissue.

In order to investigate the effects of conservation in liquid nitrogen and formalin on peripheral vascular tissue (abdominal aortic, femoral, flank, ham, fibular and tibial artery tissue), laser-induced fluorescence spectra have been recorded during the exposure of these tissues to helium-cadmium and argon ion radiation. The spectral distribution of tissue fluorescence allows the development of simple algorithms based on the intensity difference in order to discriminate the tissue samples when they are fresh and after they have been stored for 24 and 28 h in liquid nitrogen or formalin.

Arteries↗

PubMed1992

Traumatic cholecystectomy.

Avulsion of the gallbladder from its liver bed with detachment from both cystic duct and artery is an exceedingly rare consequence of blunt abdominal injury. A case is reported in which early recognition by diagnostic peritoneal lavage led to successful treatment.

Abdominal Injuries↗