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At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of spraying the herbicides 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T on a population of the tortoise Testudo hermanni in southern Greece.

A population of the tortoise Testudo hermanni near Olympia in southern Greece was studied by mark-recapture from 1975 to 1984. Part of the site was sprayed with the herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) each year from 1980, producing symptoms of poisoning (swollen eyes, fluid discharge from the nose and immobility) in tortoises. Survival rates of tortoises 10 cm or larger were significantly lower in the affected areas, with extra mortality of about 34% year-1, against an annual survival rate of 0.85-0.90 in unaffected areas. Changing population structures showed that juveniles were even more strongly affected, with the proportion of juveniles in samples decreased by half. The population in the sprayed area declined to near zero by 1984, due to mortality rather than to emigration, since more movements were recorded into than out of the affected area. There was no difference in body mass condition between sprayed and unsprayed areas, showing that effects were acute; mortality was not due to starvation from loss of food plants. The scale and pattern of mortality was similar to that from a severe scrub fire; spraying is potentially more catastrophic since often repeated at shorter intervals than burning. Possible physiological mechanisms of death are discussed. The susceptibility of tortoises to 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T (or to associated dioxin impurities) presents a warning for conservation of these late-maturing animals.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed2002

Assessing the quality of marine coastal environments: comparison of scope for growth and Microtox bioassay results of pollution gradient areas in eastern Mediterranean (Greece).

Methods for assessing the quality of marine coastal environments are numerous and rapidly evolving. The integration of physiological parameters termed as Scope for Growth (SfG) and the luminescent bioassay Microtox were applied in several sites of Saronikos and Amvrakikos Gulfs (Greece) to assess the environmental quality and compare the results of the two methods. Each site in the two areas undergoes different types and levels of pollution. Both methods could identify a pollution gradient reflecting the quality of each site. A very good linear correlation was noticed between the two methods (r = 0.98). The stress order, which was similar in both methods, exhibited the expected pollution gradient according to the pressure that each site undergoes. Results suggest that for screening and fast isolation of polluted sites before further analysis, the rapid and simple Microtox assay could operate as an alternative to the more complex SfG method.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

With or against nature? IVF, gender and reproductive agency in Athens, Greece.

Based on ethnographic research in Athens, this paper argues that in vitro fertilization (IVF) in urban Greece does not so much make explicit the social construction of nature, as has been argued of the US and UK, but is accommodated into a prior understanding of "nature" as socially realized. Calling upon an ethic of maternal sacrifice, Athenian women see themselves taking charge of a natural process, often correcting damage done to them by nature. A sense that adults should produce children in order to realize their natures and be completed as women and men also poses particular, and gendered, ethical questions of fertility technologies: is this a proper way of realizing nature? While those who successfully use IVF depict assisted conception as "a natural" and "proper way of reproduction," some fear that others will view their child as abnormal. Contests over "normal" reproduction are articulated to a tradition/modernity dichotomy which Athenians discuss through an idiom of maturity. Believing that Greek society is not always mature enough to understand how natural IVF really is, couples turning to IVF follow one of the two strategies: to educate others or to completely hide it. Both groups want to guard against a view of IVF-in the terms of this volume-as a kind of "reproduction gone awry."

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Seasonal patterns of strongyle infections in grazing sheep under the traditional production system in the region of Trikala, Greece.

Ten 4-month-old female sheep of the Karagouniko dairy breed were used to monitor the seasonal fluctuations of strongyle infections in sheep during the first year of grazing under the traditional production system in the region of Trikala, Greece, where control of nematodes is currently based exclusively on the frequent use of anthelmintics which might contribute to the appearance of anthelmintic resistance. The sheep grazed communal pasture plots and did not receive any anthelmintic treatment during the entire study period. Faecal egg counts (epg), plasma pepsinogen levels, blood values, and genera of parasitic strongyles recovered from coprocultures were recorded monthly. Mean epg for strongyle-type eggs were significantly higher during summer. Mean plasma pepsinogen levels were significantly higher during spring and summer. The genera of parasitic strongyles recovered from the faecal cultures were Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, and Chabertia. The percentages of larvae for Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Cooperia, and Oesophagostomum were significantly higher during winter. The percentages of larvae for Trichostrongylus were significantly higher during summer. During summer, levels of RBC, HGB, and HCT were depressed and levels of MCV, MCH, and MCHC were elevated. Mean epg for strongyle-type eggs had a significant inverse correlation with RBC, HGB, HCT, and positive correlation with MCH, MCHC, and percentages of eosinophils in differential leucocyte counts. The seasonal pattern of infection observed in the present study indicates that it is possible to decrease the number of treatments to one per year, thus, reducing the possibility for the appearance of anthelmintic resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Seasonal variation of Oestrus ovis-specific antibodies in sheep and goats mixed flocks in Greece.

The aim of this survey was to investigate the year-round epidemiological patterns of Oestrus ovis ELISA sero-prevalence in sheep and goats kept together under the same husbandry system in an endemic area of Greece. Twenty-five adult female sheep and 25 adult female goats, coming from a large mixed flock, were randomly selected, eartaged and monthly blood sampled during 1 year period (November 1998-October 1999). Serological prevalence in sheep was 100% all around the year. Mean intensities of specific O. ovis antibodies follow a seasonal evolution with higher mean titers between March and July than in winter. In contrast, the serological prevalences in goats were low specially in winter months (from October to January). No significant difference were noticed in goats antibody levels during the year period. The possible reasons of this difference of O. ovis sero-prevalence between sheep and goats are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Worm control practices of pig farmers in Greece.

Information concerning worm control practices of pig farmers in Greece was collected through a questionnaire survey by visiting farms and interviewing farmers. Questionnaires from 93 farmers were collected. The most commonly treated age groups of pigs were sows (87%), followed by fatteners (59%) and weaners (57%). Most of the farmers treated their sows twice per year (78%). The preferred method for calculating anthelmintic dosages was visual estimation (77%) of an average body weight (97%). Drug administration was by mixing anthelmintics with 1-day ration (97%) in two doses with an interval of 4-5 days (94%). The most commonly used group of anthelmintic was benzimidazoles and probenzimidazoles (37-46%), followed by avermectins (7-14%) and tetrahydropyrimidines (8-14%). Febantel was the most commonly used individual drug (34-40%), followed by ivermectin (7-14%) and pyrantel (9-14%). A small number of pig farmers used more than one group of anthelmintics (1-4%) or individual drug (2-6%) in the same year. The majority of the farmers (60%) used the same anthelmintic group for 3 or more years. When gilts/sows or boars were brought, 55% of the pig farmers did not treat with an anthelmintic. Most of the farmers evaluated the efficacy of an anthelmintic by inspecting the general appearance of the pigs or by inspecting for the presence of worms expelled in the faeces after treatment. Planning of the anthelmintic treatment strategy for most of the farms was the responsibility of veterinarians. However, most of the farmers considered the magnitude of worm infection in their own farm as insignificant.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A pilot study on the quality control of film processing in medical radiology laboratories in Greece.

The results of a pilot study on the quality of film processing in 80 medical diagnostic radiology laboratories all over Greece are presented. The sensitometric technique for the evaluation of processing has been used to calculate film's base + fog, maximum optical density, speed and contrast, parameters which describe the performance characteristics of automatic film processors and films. The mean values of the base + fog and the maximum optical density were well within the acceptance limits. The film speed was almost constant while the film contrast showed significant variation.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2001

Antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Crete, Greece.

Susceptibility to 14 antibiotics was determined for 125 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae collected over a 3-year period in Crete, Greece. Twenty-three isolates (18.4%) showed intermediate resistance and 15 (12%) high-level resistance to penicillin. Erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and sparfloxacin resistance rates were 16.8, 10.4, 19.2, 24.8 and 9.6%, respectively. Multiple resistance was observed in 22 strains. Vancomycin and levofloxacin were the most active agents tested. The most prevalent serotype among penicillin-susceptible pneumococci was 14, followed by 9, 7 and 1, while among penicillin-intermediate or -resistant strains serotype 23 was predominant followed by 19 and 9. These results show that as well as a high level of penicillin resistance in this region, some strains are also resistant to other antibiotics and may show multi-drug resistance.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗
PubMed2001

Survey of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in the hospitals of central Greece.

A sample of 450 consecutive, non-replicated coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), collected from clinical specimens during the period 2000-2001 from the five major hospitals of Thessaly district (Central Greece) were investigated for resistance to methicillin. Most of the isolates had been collected in a sporadic fashion from the intensive care units and the surgical wards of the participating hospitals. The majority of the isolates (76%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis (50%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (14.8%) and Staphylococcus hominis (11.1%). All 316 isolates (70%) were classified as resistant according to NCCLS breakpoints (MIC > or =0.5 mg/l); 268 (59.5%) of them were mecA-positive in a PCR-based assay. All isolates with MIC > or =8 mg/l carried the gene, while, only 23.8% of isolates with MIC, 0.5-4 mg/l were carriers. Only 9% of the mecA-positive isolates were found to be sensitive to various non-beta-lactams, while 41.8% of the isolates were resistant to more than three antimicrobial groups apart from beta-lactams. Molecular typing by PFGE showed apparent heterogeneity among isolates of each species and the absence of predominant clones.

Coagulase↗
PubMed2003

Clinical isolates of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes in Central Greece.

A total of 300 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates, collected during 2001 from five hospitals in the Thessalia district (Central Greece), were examined for their resistance to macrolides. Resistance to erythromycin was detected in 58 isolates (19.3%). Of these, 68.9% were susceptible to clindamycin (M-phenotype) and carried the mefA gene. Of the remaining isolates, 18 expressed the MLS(B) phenotype: 12 and six exhibited inducible and constitutive resistance to clindamycin, respectively. All of these strains were found to be ermA(TR) positive, except for four that had the ermB gene. Of the erythromycin-resistant strains, none was found to be resistant to penicillin, tetracycline or quinupristin-dalfopristin. Molecular typing by PFGE showed the presence of a limited number of clones.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1994

Distribution of Clostridium perfringens in different aquatic environments in Greece.

Clostridium perfringens and especially its spores, which are more tolerant to various physiochemical effects than the other fecal indicator bacteria, could serve as a useful indicator in ecosystems with stress factors. In order to determine the numbers of Clostridium perfringens in waters of rural North-West Greece, we utilised a new medium, lactose-sulfite (LS) broth, suggested for rapid enumeration and identification of Clostridium perfringens without the necessity for further confirmatory tests. Membrane filtration equipment was used on site. All samples were alternatively passed through two membrane filters, one (20-25 microns pore size) was used for retention of the abundant phytoplankton and the other (porosity 0.45 micron) for Clostridium perfringens. Membranes were placed into the first tube of 10-fold dilutions from 10(1) to 10(4) and incubated aerobically in a water-bath at 46 degrees C for 24 h. The numbers of Clostridium perfringens revealed fluctuations depending on the sampling site. It was significantly more common in the vicinity of industrial or domestic activities. LS broth not only allows the detection of small numbers of Clostridium perfringens but also permits rapid detection within 24 h. We propose the medium and the procedures described in this paper as a reliable technique for estimation of Clostridium perfringens as indicator of fecal contamination in waters.

Clostridium perfringens↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in Athens, Greece.

Asthma is a common chronic condition and there is evidence that its prevalence may be rising. The European Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) was planned to produce comparable data on asthma epidemiology in Europe. In Greece, in particular, a similar study has not been conducted previously and no epidemiological data are available on adult asthma prevalence. Furthermore, the role of air pollution in the pathogenesis of asthma is currently an issue of debate. Athens is a city with high air pollution, and a study of asthma epidemiology in this city may confirm or refute a possible link with the expression of asthma. A questionnaire developed by the ECRHS was sent to a random sample of 3533 households in Peristeri, an industrialized borough of Athens. Responses were received from 2774 households (response rate 78%). Of all the data on individual subjects, only those from 3325 adults aged 20-44 years were considered, according to the study protocol. The self-reported current prevalence of asthmatic attacks and asthma-like symptoms were as follows: asthma attack 2.4%, use of asthma medication 2.1%, awakening by shortness of breath 5.6%, awakening by cough 17.8%, wheezing 15.8% and nasal allergies 18.4%. It is concluded that the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms in this region of Athens is rather low, despite the high air-pollution levels in the city.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Mechanisms of resistance to organophosphates in Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Greece.

We investigated the mechanisms conferring resistance to methyl-parathion (44-fold) and to methomyl (8-fold) in Tetranychus urticae from Greece by studying the effect of synergists on the resistance and the kinetic characteristics of various enzymes in a resistant strain (RLAB) and a susceptible reference strain (SAMB). It is shown that S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate, a synergist that inhibits esterases and glutathione S-transferases, and piperonyl butoxide, a synergist that inhibits cytochrome P450 mediated monooxygenases, did not affect the level of methyl-parathion or methomyl resistance in RLAB and that resistance ratios to both insecticides did not change significantly in the presence of either synergist. Isoelectric focusing of esterase allozymes on single mites revealed no differences in staining intensity and glutathione S-transferase activity was not significantly different in the two strains. The activity of two cytochrome P450 monooxygenase groups was compared. No significant difference of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-diethylase activity was observed between strains that were two-fold higher in RLAB than in SAMB. The kinetic characteristics of acetylcholinesterase, the target enzyme of organophosphates and carbamates, revealed that acetylcholinesterase in RLAB was less sensitive to inhibition by paraoxon and methomyl in comparison with SAMB. I(50), the inhibitor concentration inducing 50% decrease of acetylcholinesterase activity was greater (119- and 50-fold with paraoxon and methomyl, respectively) and the bimolecular constant k(i) was lower (39- and 47-fold with paraoxon and methomyl, respectively) in RLAB compared to SAMB.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1990

The pattern and aetiology of maxillofacial injuries in Greece. A retrospective study of 25 years and a comparison with other countries.

In comparison with other countries, Greece demonstrates a high incidence of road traffic accidents (RTA's). Most are the result of violation of the highway code. Violence as a causative agent of fractures of the facial skeleton is still a minor factor in comparison with other countries. Most of the people involved are young. In a 25-year period we have treated 6,847 fractures of the facial skeleton. Fractures of the mandibular condyle, the genial symphysis and the zygomatico-maxillary complex were the most numerous. 25% of the patients were women and 75% men. 56% were treated conservatively; an open reduction was the treatment of choice in 37%, while no treatment was considered necessary in 7%. In the period under study, K.A.T. Hospital admitted 60% of the maxillofacial trauma in the whole country.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

UV effects on invertebrate and diatom assemblages of Greece.

The effects of solar radiation (PAR, UVA, UVB) on the productivity and structure of diatom and invertebrate assemblages were assessed during primary succession on artificial substrate near a rocky shore of the Saronikos Gulf, Greece. Three light treatments were performed (PAR, PAR+UVA, and PAR+UVA+UVB) at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m of depth. Pennate diatoms were the major component of the developing periphytic communities during the study period. Exposure to solar UVB initially reduced the biomass and altered the structure of the diatom assemblages. The highest biomass of diatom assemblages was observed under PAR (49.2 g/m2). This value was significantly higher than the biomass of assemblages growing under PAR+UVA+UVB, but not significantly different compared to the biomass of assemblages exposed to PAR+UVA. These differences, however, did not persist at later stages. The most abundant invertebrate groups present were Polychaetes and Crustaceans. Solar UVB did not have significant effects on invertebrate biomass. Analysis of the invertebrate assemblage structure revealed time-course differences but no clear trends among the different treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Clinal patterns of human Y chromosomal diversity in continental Italy and Greece are dominated by drift and founder effects.

We explored the spatial distribution of human Y chromosomal diversity on a microgeographic scale, by typing 30 population samples from closely spaced locations in Italy and Greece for 9 haplogroups and their internal microsatellite variation. We confirm a significant difference in the composition of the Y chromosomal gene pools of the two countries. However, within each country, heterogeneity is not organized along the lines of clinal variation deduced from studies on larger spatial scales. Microsatellite data indicate that local increases of haplogroup frequencies can be often explained by a limited number of founders. We conclude that local founder or drift effects are the main determinants in shaping the microgeographic Y chromosomal diversity.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Frequency of extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Northwest Greece and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease mainly affects the bowel but also has extraintestinal manifestations. AIMS: To report the frequency of extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Northwest Greece. PATIENTS; The data files of 256 inflammatory bowel disease patients (diagnosis between 1983-19971 were analysed. METHODS: Retrospective investigation of patient files. RESULTS: In patients with ulcerative colitis: 13.9% (30/215) had developed skin manifestations, 6% (13/215) had kidney stones, 1.39% (3/215) had iridocyclitis, 1.86% (4/215) had primary sclerosing cholangitis, 4.18% (9/215) had sacroiliitis, 8.31% (18/215) had peripheral arthalgias, 2.3% (5/215) had colitic arthritis and finally 1.39% (3/215) had deep vein thrombosis). In patients with Crohn's disease: 24.3% (9/37) had developed skin manifestations, 5.4% (2/37) had kidney stones, 2.7% (1/37) had iridocyclitis, 16.2% (6/37) had sacroiliitis, 8.1% (3/37) had peripheral arthralgias, 5.4% (2/37) had colitic arthritis and, finally, 8.1% (3/37) had deep vein thrombosis. Sacroiliitis (p = 0.01), deep vein thrombosis (p = 0.04) and erythmema nodosum (p = 0.01) were more common in patients with Crohn's disease. CONCLUSIONS: Extraintestinal manifestations are not rare in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially in Crohn's disease patients, in our area, but have, generally, a mild profile.

Adult↗