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PubMed2006

Genetic variation of coxsackie virus B5 strains associated with aseptic meningitis in Greece.

In order to explore the genetic relationships among coxsackie virus B5 strains in Greece, the nucleotide sequences of the partial VP1 gene in strains isolated from aseptic cases of meningitis were determined and compared with those of strains isolated from other countries. Phylogenetic analysis showed a high degree of divergence (25%) among Greek strains isolated in different years, which clustered with high bootstrap values in a different subgroup of viruses, suggesting that enterovirus types vary with time rather than geographical distribution. A non-synonymous mutation present in the strains of this study was not observed in other coxsackie virus B5 strains.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Conventional and molecular investigation of meningococcal isolates in relation to two outbreaks in the area of Athens, Greece.

Two local outbreaks caused by serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis occurred in the Athens area of Greece during 2003. In total, 30 N. meningitidis isolates from patients and carriers, as well as sporadic cases, were investigated by conventional techniques (serogroup, serotype and serosubtype), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), analysis of variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Compared with the two other molecular techniques, VNTR analysis was a simple, reliable and highly discriminatory method for fine typing of meningococcal isolates, showing a good correlation with the epidemiological data for the two outbreaks analysed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Characterisation of macrolide-non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae colonising children attending day-care centres in Athens, Greece during 2000 and 2003.

Nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates colonising young children are representative of isolates causing clinical disease. This study determined the frequency of macrolide-non-susceptible pneumococci, as well as their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, among pneumococci collected during two cross-sectional surveillance studies of the nasopharynx of 2847 children attending day-care centres in the Athens metropolitan area during 2000 and 2003. In total, 227 macrolide-non-susceptible pneumococcal isolates were studied. Increases in macrolide non-susceptibility, from 23% to 30.3% (p <0.05), and in macrolide and penicillin co-resistance, from 3.4% to 48.6% (p <0.001), were identified during the study period. The M resistance phenotype, associated with the presence of the mef(A)/(E) gene, predominated in both surveys, and isolates carrying both mef(A)/(E) and erm(AM) were identified, for the first time in Greece, among the isolates from the 2003 survey. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of the isolates from the 2000 survey indicated the spread of a macrolide- and penicillin-resistant clone among day-care centres. The serogroups identified most commonly in the study were 19F, 6A, 6B, 14 and 23F, suggesting that the theoretical protection of the seven-valent conjugate vaccine against macrolide-non-susceptible isolates was c. 85% during both study periods.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1991

Induced abortions, contraceptive practices, and tobacco smoking as risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Athens, Greece.

A case-control study of the role of induced abortion and other factors on the subsequent occurrence of ectopic pregnancy was undertaken in 1986-1987 in Athens, Greece, where a similar study 20 years ago found a tenfold risk of ectopic pregnancy among women with one or more illegal induced abortions. Seventy women residents of Athens, consecutively admitted to the major state maternity hospital with a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, were individually matched with women with a newly diagnosed pregnancy of the same order as the ectopic index pregnancy. Two control women were found for each of 63 cases, but only one control for each of the remaining seven cases. All cases and controls were interviewed by the same qualified obstetrician. Statistical analysis was undertaken with stratification of individual matched triplets and pairs, as well as through conditional multiple regression procedures. The relative risk of recurrence of an ectopic pregnancy was 6.39 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.96-21.04. Miscarriages did not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. The relative risk for subsequent ectopic pregnancy among women with one or more induced abortion, compared to women without such abortions, was 1.87 (CI 0.84-4.16) controlling only for the matching factors, and 1.71 (CI 0.69-4.27) when marital status (a possible selection factor) was also accounted for in the conditional logistic regression. There was no evidence for increasing risk with increasing number of induced abortions. Past use of an intrauterine device (IUCD) was associated with a relative risk of 3.89 (0.72-21.02); the relative risk increased with the duration of use of the IUCD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1995

Mothers' knowledge and practices related to sun protection in Greece.

We attempted to estimate the level of Greek mothers' knowledge relating to the harmful effects of sunlight and whether this knowledge led to protective measures for them and their children. Between September and November 1993, 315 mothers were randomly selected from the outpatient department of our hospital and interviewed by questionnaire about themselves and their children (56% boys, 44% girls, ages 1-12 yrs). Knowledge was estimated by an index score that for 28% of the mothers was considered poor, for 50% moderate, for 16% good, and for only 6% very good or excellent. The score was positively associated with parent education, urban residence, mother's job relevant to the cosmetics industry or the mass media, and history of sunburn in one or both parents. Scores were also established for sunlight-protective measures taken for themselves (28% poor, 45% moderate, 27% just good) and for their children (24% poor, 46% moderate, 30% just good). These scores were significantly associated only with mothers' knowledge of sun protection. Mothers who used sun protection for themselves also applied it to their children. This study shows that mothers in Greece should be encouraged both to increase their knowledge of sun protection and steadily incorporate it into their lifestyle.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

An epidemiological study of headache among the Monks of Athos (Greece).

The Monks of Athos in Greece constitute a particular group with unusual sleep schedule and specific diet. In order to study the frequency of headache among them, a special questionnaire was designed. Four hundred forty-nine monks below the age of 50 were approached, 39 of whom suffered from frequent (more than one episode per month, in the last 6 months) headaches (8.68%). The prevalence of migraine was 1.78% (0.66% with aura and 1.11% without) and of tension-type headache 3.34% (1.33% chronic and 2% episodic). Furthermore, 1.87% of monks suffered from mixed headaches (tension-type and migraine attacks as well). Cluster headache was not traced.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Nursing manpower development and strategic planning in Greece.

PURPOSE: A national study to register all working nursing personnel and nursing students; to estimate the nursing needs of the Greek population beyond the year 2000; to design a nursing resource master plan for the nursing needs of Greece. DESIGN: First, a questionnaire was distributed to register all nursing personnel. Second, required personnel were estimated according to the population of each of the country's regions. Third, a master plan for developing nursing personnel to the year 2010 was developed. RESULTS: The number of nursing personnel was found to be 35,715 which included 11,497 RNs and health visitors, 22,318 assistant nurses, 1,900 midwives. The number of students was 9,252. The majority of nursing personnel work in areas with the highest population. The need for nursing personnel was estimated to be 62,000: 36,300 RNs, 21,700 assistant nurses and 4,000 midwives. CONCLUSIONS: There is a serious shortage of RNs in the Greek health services resulting in a downgrading of nursing care quality.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMed1997

Reactivity of the new monoclonal antibody '22' with meningococcal strains isolated from patients and carriers in Greece.

Previous studies found that the majority of Neisseria meningitidis isolates from either patients or carriers in Greece do not react with the monoclonal antibodies used at present in the whole-cell ELISA (WCE) for determination of serotype and subtype antigens. A new monoclonal antibody designated '22' produced by the National Meningococcal Reference Laboratory in the Czech Republic was assessed in the whole-cell ELISA with 257 non-typable meningococcal strains from both patients (52) and carriers (205). The carrier strains included 34 non-typable isolates from two immigrant populations: ethnic Greeks who have immigrated from Russia since 1989 (19/75) and Kurdish refugees (15/34). Approximately 10% of the meningococcal strains isolated from patients and 11.7% of the carrier strains reacted with the reagent. Although the majority of meningococcal isolates from resident Greeks were not typable with the antibody, 11/19 (57.9%) of the carrier strains from Russian immigrants and 4/15 (20%) of those from the Kurdish refugees reacted with the new reagent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae in north-western Greece and implications for a vaccination programme.

Serotypes and antibiotic sensitivities were determined for 338 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children of north-western Greece with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), acute otitis media (AOM) and nasopharyngeal carriage. The most common serotypes among the isolates from IPD were 14 and 19F, while 3, 19F, 9V and 14 were the major cause of AOM. In these groups, the heptavalent conjugate vaccine for pneumococci (7vPCV) seems to cover 90.5% of the serotypes isolated from children less than 2 years old. Serotypes 23F and 6B were the most prevalent in carrier strains. Overall, 23.7% of the isolates were penicillin nonsusceptible (PNS), 97% were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, 29% were resistant to erythromycin, 11.2% to co-trimoxazole and 1.2% to clindamycin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Clinical and epidemiological features of motor neuron disease in south-western Greece.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features of motor neuron disease (MND) in a region (835,000 inhabitants) of south-western Greece. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients diagnosed with adult-onset MND at the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital of Patras from 1990 to 2003 were reviewed. RESULTS: Overall 133 patients were identified, corresponding to a mean annual incidence rate of 1.13/100,000 population with male preponderance. Eighty-five of them were males (63.9%) and 48 (36.1%) females with a mean age of 61.4 +/- 13.3 years. The most common type of MND was amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) being identified in 111 (83.5%) patients, whereas 19 cases (14.3%) were classified as progressive spinal muscular atrophy (PSMA) and three (2.2%) cases as progressive bulbar palsy (PBP). The mean age at onset was 60.3 +/- 13.5 years, while the mean delay between age at onset and age at diagnosis was 1.3 +/- 1.1 years. The symptoms at onset involved the lower limbs in 76 (57.2%) cases, upper limbs in 32 (24%) cases, bulbar region in 22 (16.5%) cases and respiratory muscles in three (2.3%) cases. The mean survival time after onset of disease was 20.4 +/- 8.3 months for ALS patients, 15.3 +/- 4.5 months for PBP and 38.1 +/- 26.4 months for PSMA patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in the results of the considered epidemiological parameters of our study to those reported by other similar studies. The study of the patients with MND showed a predominance of ALS patients. No potentially causative clinical associations were found and no relation between socioeconomic factors, occupational exposure and the disease was noted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Epidemiology of pseudoexfoliation in the island of Crete (Greece).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pseudoexfoliation (PEX) prevalence in the island of Crete (Greece). METHOD: Organized visits to various villages, to examine a predetermined number of people born and living in these villages, in collaboration with the local birth register offices. RESULTS: PEX prevalence in Crete, in people aged 40 years and more, was found to be 16.1% (men: 21.3%, women: 12.6% - Prefecture of: Heraklion 11.5%, Chania 13.4%, Lasithi 16.9%, Rethymnon 27%). 28.8% of PEX-patients presented IOP > 21 mmHg. In unilateral PEX-patients, mean IOP of PEX-eyes was found to be 17.82 mmHg versus 15.6 mmHg in fellow eyes. CONCLUSION: PEX prevalence was higher in men than in women and increases with age, as does bilaterality. A correlation between increased PEX prevalence and high altitude may exist. PEX is a risk factor for the development of IOP disturbances which seem to appear earlier in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Suicide in southwestern Greece 1979-1984.

Study of suicide in a province of southwestern Greece (population 295,000) from 1979 through 1984 demonstrated: mean suicide rate 0.48/10,000 population/year; significant increase of the suicide rate in men after the age of 65, but not in women; significantly higher suicide rate in men from rural than from urban areas; significantly higher suicide rate in men than in women from rural areas, no difference in urban areas; differences in suicide frequency or age at suicide were observed between subjects of different marital status; violent methods of suicide were most frequently used; and psychological disorders were the most frequent causes of suicide. Many of these findings are observed for the first time. Some may be related to the characteristics of the population studied, whereas others may also be present in other populations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

A comparative investigation of the principal component structure of the 28 item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). 15-year-old schoolgirls in England, Greece, Turkey and West Germany.

The 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire of 15-year-old schoolgirls obtained under identical conditions in two separate studies was subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). Varimax rotation produced different numbers of components for the different groups, but restricting the number of components to be rotated to four produced similar component structures, as supported by the coefficient of factor similarity, for both Turkish and Greek groups in their home countries and a heterogeneous non-British group in London in comparison to British girls. Different structures were obtained in schoolgirls from Greece, in Munich, and from the Indian subcontinent in London. Analysis of variance of the factor scores of a combined PCA produced significant overall group differences for all components and specific group differences for anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression. Somatic symptoms and anxiety and insomnia subscales, either alone or in combination with other subscales, contributed most frequently to morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Depression among general hospital patients in Greece.

We estimated the prevalence of depression in 150 medical and surgical inpatients. Forty-three patients (29%) scoring at 14 or above on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were classified as depressed. An excess of women and white-collar workers and more stressful life events during the last 12 months were found among the depressed patients. Of the 21 BDI items, 6 differentiated the 43 medical-surgical depressed patients from a group of 43 psychiatric inpatients with a diagnosis of primary or secondary depression (Feighner's criteria). Medically ill depressed patients scored higher in social withdrawal, work inhibition and irritability but lower in loss of libido, sleep disturbance, and lack of satisfaction. Our results show rates of depression in a medical inpatient population in Greece comparable with those in other studies. The use of BDI may help assessment of depression in general hospital patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Factors affecting illicit and licit drug use among adolescents and young adults in Greece.

A cross-sectional survey on psychosocial issues, drug use, alcohol and health was carried out in Greece, with a nationwide probability sample of 2448 respondents aged 12-17 and 18-24. Factors potentially associated with illicit and unprescribed licit drug use were tested by logistic regression analysis. Several predictors were revealed. Sex and age were related to a higher lifetime use of illicit drugs, the male young adults reported a higher lifetime use of illicit drugs than the females. Positive attitudes toward hashish use, systematic smoking and use of drugs by close friends were more closely related to illicit than to unprescribed licit drug use. In addition "low self-esteem, family members using tobacco and alcohol" and "problematic drinking" were found only to predict illicit drug use. Other variables, "family members using drugs with or without a doctor's prescription", "being dissatisfied with social life" and "suffering from anxiety, depression and depersonalization symptoms" were found to be significantly associated with licit but unprescribed drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

A laboratory evaluation of fluoride dentifrices used in Greece.

A laboratory investigation of the fluoride dentifrices commonly used in Greece was done in order to evaluate their caries-preventive potential. The evaluation was based on the determination of the free ionic fluoride and the total soluble fluoride present by a potentiometric fluoride electrode technique. Dentifrices containing MFP, NaF and AlF3 were analyzed. The measured total soluble and free ionic fluoride content were discussed in conjunction with the various dentifrice components. Most of the examined dentifrices were MFP type and the free ionic fluoride was found to vary from 130 to 180 parts/10(6) F-.

Dentifrices↗
PubMed1990

Oral health status of adult population in Athens, Greece.

An epidemiological study of dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral hygiene status in 736 employed adults aged 19-64 yr, was conducted in Athens, Greece. Dental caries was found to be prevalent, affecting almost the entire population examined. The mean DMFT values varied from 8.99 +/- 5.98 to 17.05 +/- 6.58 in different age groups. No difference was found in the mean DMFT values between sexes. Periodontal disease affected the 92.7% of the examined sample. The PI scores increased with age from 1.08 +/- 0.84 in the age group 19-24 yr to 3.7 +/- 1.84 in the age group 55-64 yr. Women showed lower PI index values than men but this difference was not statistically significant. The mean values of oral hygiene index varied from 1.60 +/- 1.05 to 1.97 +/- 1.42 in different age groups. Women presented better oral hygiene status than men and this difference was statistically significant for the younger age groups. Data concerning the toothbrushing frequency of the examined population are also presented. The results of this baseline study indicate that effective dental care is needed for the improvement of oral health status of the adult population.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Birthweight specific perinatal mortality in Greece.

Data from the Greek Perinatal Study in April 1983 revealed an excessively high perinatal mortality rate of 21.6 per 1,000 total births among singletons despite a low birthweight rate of only 4.5%. Comparison of perinatal mortality rates with Danish mortality rates in 1983, revealed the Greek rates to be three times higher than those in Denmark. When divided by time of death, the Greek stillbirth rates were two times higher and the early neonatal mortality rates were four times higher than the corresponding Danish rates. Subdivision of the Greek perinatal deaths using the Wigglesworth classification showed that the biggest group (40%) consisted of deaths associated with intrapartum asphyxia. The incidence of such deaths was 10 times higher than that found in Denmark. We conclude that in reducing the excessively high perinatal mortality rate in Greece special attention should be made to improve intrapartum and resuscitation techniques.

Birth Weight↗