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PubMed1979

The incidence of dipyrone-induced agranulocytosis in Greece during 1975.

A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted in Greece during 1975 to assess the incidence of agranulocytosis following treatment with dipyrone. Twenty-four cases of agranulocytosis were reported, of which fifteen were possibly associated with medication. If all fifteen cases are attributed to dipyrone, the incidence of agranulocytosis following treatment with this drug lies between one case in every 133,000 and one case in every 466,000 treatments.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sport and medicine in ancient Greece.

Sport and medicine in ancient Greece were the result of a widespread tradition of liberty, which was at the heart of one of the most brilliant civilizations in history. Whereas war encouraged the development of surgical knowledge springing out of medical experience on the battlefield, peace promoted the burgeoning of sport as an integral part of Greek upbringing, allowing the channeling of young people's aggressiveness into physical competition. Medicine was magical and mythological, especially in the time of Homer (9th century BC); Aesculapius, the mythical god of healing, was its reference point. With Hippocrates (5th century BC), the body of medical experience was to be codified and built up, and was to undergo a novel evolution based on the theory of the balance of the four humors. The athlete's mentality, faced with trauma in the sports ground, underwent a change; injury was no longer considered a punishment by the gods. At the same time, temple offerings tendered in the hope of victory gave way to the athlete's personal preparation based on a specifically modified lifestyle, diet, and training. The resulting progress in medicine and public health, especially from the 5th century BC onward, was not only to favor athletic performances of high quality but also surgical techniques that were very advanced for their time. Thus it can be seen that the medical knowledge associated with the practice of sport progressed during antiquity because of its obligation to follow the warrior and then the athlete.

Greece, Ancient↗
PubMed2006

Childhood encephalitis in Crete, Greece.

This study included all 18 cases of children hospitalized for encephalitis in the referral university hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, during the 5-year period from 2000 to 2004. Encephalitis was attributed to viral infection (echovirus, herpes simplex virus 1, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and influenza A) in eight children and to bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and Rickettsia typhi) in a further five cases. Multiple hyperintense brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were associated with a severe clinical presentation but not with a guarded long-term outcome. Five children still presented with mild to moderate sequelae after 1.5 to 5.3 (median 4.0) years. Our findings confirm the elimination of measles, mumps, and rubella-associated encephalitis in the postvaccine era. MRI appeared to be of great diagnostic value. Although no fatalities were observed, deficits did persist in several patients.

Brain↗
PubMed1997

The survival of the ritualistic over the 'scientific' element of hydrotherapy in Greece.

In this paper we present some elements of the history of 'scientific' psychiatric hydrotherapy and, moreover, of a particular form of the water-purifying ritual--that is, foot washing--among the populations living in Greece and in Orthodox communities in the Balkans. We speculate on the reasons that caused the virtual disappearance of the former, while the latter still flourishes.

Greece↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of astigmatism among students in northern Greece.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of astigmatism in a sample of 1738 students (15-18 years old) from Northern Greece. METHODS: Collection of the sample was based on a questionnaire method. Statistical analysis included estimation of the prevalence of astigmatism and the distribution of students according to their cylindrical values. We also checked whether heredity or sex affected the occurrence of astigmatism. RESULTS: The prevalence of astigmatism was 10.2%. It was mostly at low levels, up to 2 D cyl. Females ran a significantly higher risk of astigmatism than males, and heredity seemed to be an important predisposing factor for this refractive error. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable variability in the prevalence of astigmatism worldwide, as indicated by different studies. However, this refractive error prevails at low levels in the Greek student population, compared with other countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Presentation and long-term follow-up of exfoliation glaucoma in Greece, Spain, Russia, and Hungary.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical presentation and long-term follow-up of exfoliation glaucoma in separate European population groups. METHODS: A four-center, retrospective, case series analysis in which 200 charts of patients with exfoliation glaucoma or patients with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with exfoliation syndrome in at least one eye with at least 5 years of follow-up were consecutively reviewed. RESULTS: This study found an average follow-up time of 6.0+/-2.1 years. Patients in Hungary and Spain statistically presented at an older age (79 years) than Greek patients (67 years). Patients with exfoliation glaucoma in Greece and Hungary had more glaucomatous damage, had more severe glaucoma, had a higher untreated IOP (31.8 to 32.1 mmHg), and were more difficult to control, showing a greater number of changes in medicines during the follow-up period, a greater number of medicines at the end of the follow-up period, and more progression. On long-term follow-up, Greek, Russian, and Hungarian patients also had the highest mean IOP (18.8 to 20.8 mmHg) and the greatest incidence of progression (approximately 50%). Spanish patients demonstrated the lowest mean IOP (17.6+/-3.6 mmHg) and the lowest rate of progression (28%) during the follow-up period and the fewest number of medications per patient (0.7) to control the IOP at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of exfoliation glaucoma presentation and its course may differ within distinct geographic populations in Europe.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2002

Development and use of online mental health services in Greece.

E-mental health refers to the use of telecommunication and information technology in mental health services. In Greece, ordinary telephone communications have been used to provide mental health services, such as a psychiatric crisis intervention line (METB). E-psychiatry is a relatively new approach to delivering psychiatric services through the Internet. We have developed an e-psychiatry Website, Glaucopis-net. The main objective is to provide information on a broad range of psychiatric conditions, such as dementia, depression and anxiety. Email mental health services will be offered as an alternative way of accessing help. Confidentiality issues concerning patient records and personal data will be treated in accordance with Greek legislation. Glaucopis-net will integrate new telecommunication and information services with classical mental health services.

Greece↗
PubMed1993

Suggestion of concomitant changes of electric power consumption and childhood leukemia in Greece.

Over a 14-year period (1976-89) 679 deaths from childhood leukemia were registered in Greece and the corresponding mortality over this period declined by almost 70%, with no evidence of differential reduction by gender or population type. For each of the nine geographical regions of the country, slopes of decreasing mortality from childhood leukemia over the study period were calculated and correlated with the corresponding slopes of increasing electric power consumption over the 16-year period 1970-85 (allowing for a postulated latency of about 5 years). A positive association was noted, which however was not statistically significant (p approximately 0.26). Studies of similar nature conducted in larger countries over more extended periods could contribute to the resolution of the controversy surrounding the role of electric power-generated extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields in the etiology of childhood leukemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Smoking habit in female students of northwestern Greece: relation to other cardiovascular risk factors.

THE AIMS OF OUR STUDY WERE: (1) to detect the prevalence of cigarette smoking among female students in Northwestern Greece, and (2) to assess the relation of cigarette smoking with other harmful lifestyles (such as alcohol consumption, obesity, type of dietary fat), fasting lipids and blood pressure. A total of 590 female students in the last class of the local senior high schools was studied. Seventy-seven (13%) of the students were smokers. Interestingly, in this cohort of young female students clustering of the smoking habit with dyslipidemia and alcohol use was observed. However, smoking was associated with significantly lower levels of blood pressure, as well as with lower mean body weight and body mass index. In conclusion, a considerable though apparently decreasing number of Greek female students are smokers. The smoking habit is strongly associated with dyslipidemia and alcohol consumption in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Multidrug resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Greece.

A total of 472 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated in a university hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece during 1993-1994 were studied; 202 (42.8%) of them were characterized as methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and were mainly recovered from respiratory materials. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant strains to 10 alternative antibiotics were also compared. All MRSA isolates were resistant to penicillin and most of them, in contrast to MSSA, exhibited resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, tetracycline, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin with resistance rates ranging from 89.6% to 59.4%. Also, considerable proportions of MRSA were found resistant to co-trimoxazole (47.0%) and rifampicin (27.7%). All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin while susceptibility to chloramphenicol was of equal incidence among the examined populations. Overall, MRSA vs. MSSA exhibited a significantly (chi 2; P < 10-8) higher incidence of resistance to 8 out of the 10 antibiotics examined.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1996

Malignant pleural mesothelioma from nonoccupational asbestos exposure in Metsovo (north-west Greece): slow end of an epidemic?

Inhabitants of the Metsovo area, north-west Greece have been exposed since childhood to inhalation of asbestos, from a material containing tremolite, used for whitewashing ("luto soil"). This has resulted in endemic pleural calcifications (47% of adult population) and increased incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In 1987, we reported that the incidence of MPM between 1981-1985 was around 300 times higher than expected in a nonasbestos exposed population (seven cases in 5 yrs in a population of 4,000-5,000). The present study is an updated report regarding this "mesothelioma epidemic", in conjunction with the diminished use and final abandonment of "luto soil" in the early 1980s. It appears that the incidence of MPM in Metsovo has dropped considerably since our first report. Between 1985-1994, we diagnosed six such cases (incidence rate = 1.4 cases per 10,000 person-years), whilst between 1980-1984 eight cases had been diagnosed (incidence rate = 3.7 cases per 10,000 person-years). Although, because of the small number of cases, this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.08), we note that the incidence is now considerably lower than before. Had it remained unchanged, we would have expected 17 cases of MPM instead of six. This drop follows the diminished use of "luto" whitewash (by 92% of the population in 1950 and only 18% in 1980). If we take into account a 30-40 year latency period for mesothelioma, we expect that the "Metsovo mesothelioma epidemic" will fade away by the year 2020-2030, since the material has not been used since 1985.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Cardiovascular risk factor profile in Greece: results from the CARDIO2000 and ATTICA epidemiological studies.

During the past decades several epidemiological studies have provided a 'portrait' of the potential candidate for cardiovascular disease, introducing many emerging life-style risk factors such as obesity, unhealthy diet, exposure to passive smoking, lack of exercise, psychosocial stress, and depression, as well as elevated levels of triglycerides and clotting factors in the blood. Additionally, many differences have arisen in the estimated risk models, between populations as well as among individuals within populations, that make it difficult to generalise the results. This variation could be attributed to several geographical, cultural, social and behavioural differences between the investigated populations. Thus, the development of local epidemiological studies is considered essential. We present the results from two major epidemiological projects conducted in Greece during 2000-2002, the CARDI02000 and the ATTICA studies. Among several investigated parameters that were assessed for their influence on the risk of developing non-fatal acute coronary syndromes (CARDIO2000) we selected to present in this report the adverse effect of passive smoking, short-term depressive episodes and the protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on coronary risk. Moreover, from the ongoing population-based survey (ATTICA) we selected to present our findings regarding the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet as well as the J-shape association between alcohol intake and several clinical and biochemical markers related to cardiovascular disease. Finally, we present the results from the Corfu cohort of the Seven Countries Study that completed four decades of prospective evaluation in the summer of 2001.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

In what extent anemia coexists with cognitive impairment in elderly: a cross-sectional study in Greece.

BACKGROUND: A project aimed at studying the frequency of dementia and depression in the catchment area of the Health Centre of Chrissoupolis (HCCh), Northern Greece, was carried out. This paper reports the association between AD and anemia among the elderly participants in this Greek study. METHODS: Eligible participants were people 65 years or over who were (a) living in the Elderly People's Home (all 48 subjects included); (b) visiting the Open Center for Elderly People during a 20 workday period (75 subjects) and (c) visiting the HCCh for routine medical care. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used in assessing the cognitive capacity of the participants. Blood was drawn for serum hematocrit, vitamin B12 and folate determination. RESULTS: The prevalence proportions of possible cognitive impairment among anemic and non-anemic males were 55.6% and 34.4%, respectively (X2 = 5.8, d.f. = 1, p = 0.016). The corresponding proportions in females were 47.5% and 40.1 % (X2 = 1.1, d.f. = 1, p = 0.305). Using logistic regression analysis, age-group (>or= 80 yrs), type of Institute, vitamin B12 and anemia had significant independent associations with possible cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a frequent finding in elderly and it may be a risk factor for dementia, but the extent of the associated deterioration of cognitive impairment or the relation with AD is not known. GPs should be aware of this coexistence and recommend for screening, assaying and treating elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Serologic indices of hepatitis B virus infection in military recruits in Greece (2004-2005).

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Greece has been decreasing over the last decades. However, recent epidemiological data are lacking. METHODS: We studied 1,840 Army recruits from 05/2004 until 10/2005, and performed serological testing for HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, and anti-HBcAg. We also examined their association with several factors, including age, residential area, socioeconomic class, and educational level. RESULTS: Mean age (+/- SD) of the recruits was 20.5 (+/- 2.1) years. Antibodies to HBV core antigen [anti-HBcAg (+)] were found in 31 (1.68%) of 1,840 participants. Only 6 (0.32%) were HBsAg (+)/anti-HBsAg (-)/anti-HBcAg (+), while 21 (1.14%) were HBsAg (-)/anti-HBsAg (+)/anti-HBcAg (+), and 4 (0.22%) were HBsAg (-)/anti-HBsAg (-)/anti-HBcAg (+). Overall, 1,144 recruits (62.17%) had antibodies against HBsAg [HBsAg (-)/anti-HBsAg (+)/anti-HBcAg (-)]; 665 recruits (36.14%) had undetectable anti-HBsAg levels. Multivariable analysis showed that younger age (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.82-0.92) and advanced educational level (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.32-1.93) were independently associated with serologic evidence suggestive of previous HBV vaccination. CONCLUSION: We document a further decline of the prevalence of chronic HBV infection among Greek military recruits, a fact that may support the effectiveness of the ongoing immunization programme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Oral cancer treatment costs in Greece and the effect of advanced disease.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of the study was to quantify the direct costs of oral cancer treatment to the healthcare system of Greece. Another aim was to identify factors that affect costs and potential cost reduction items. More specifically, we examined the relationship between stage of disease, modality of treatment and total direct costs. METHODS: The medical records and clinic files of the Oral and Maxillofacial Clinic of the Athens General Hospital "Genimatas" were abstracted to investigate clinical treatment characteristics, including length of hospitalization, modes of treatment, stage of disease etc. Records of 95 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSSC), with at least six months of follow-up, were examined. The clinical data was then used to calculate actual direct costs, based on 2001 market values. RESULTS: The mean total direct costs for OSSC treatment estimated at euro 8,450 or approximately US$ 7,450. Costs depended on the stage of the disease, with significant increases in stages III and IV, as compared with stages I and II (p < 0.05). Multi-modality treatment applied mainly to patients in stages III and IV was the factor that affected the cost. Disease stage was also associated with the total duration of hospitalization (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical management of advanced oral cancer is strongly associated with higher costs. Although the ideal would be to prevent cancer, the combination of high-risk screening, early diagnosis and early treatment seems the most efficient way to reduce costs, and most importantly, prolong life.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2003

Epidemiology of cardiovascular risk factors in Greece: aims, design and baseline characteristics of the ATTICA study.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to evaluate the levels of several cardiovascular risk factors in Greece we conducted a population-based health and nutrition survey, the "ATTICA study". In this work we present the design and the methodology of the study, as well as the status of various baseline characteristics of the participants. METHODS: From May 2001 to December 2002 we randomly enrolled 1514 adult men and 1528 adult women, stratified by age--gender (census 2000), from the greater area of Athens. More than 300 demographic, lifestyle, behavioral, dietary, clinical and biochemical variables have been recorded. RESULTS: Regarding the frequency of the classical cardiovascular risk factors we observed that 51% of men and 39% of women reported smokers (p < 0.05), 37% of men and 25% of women were defined as hypertensives (p < 0.05), 46% of men and 40% of women had total serum cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dl (p < 0.05) and 8% of men and 6% of women had history of diabetes mellitus. Moreover, 20% of men and 15% of women were obese (p < 0.05), while men were more physically active as compared to women (42% vs. 39%, p < 0.05). 19% of men and 38% of women had mild to severe depressive symptoms (p < 0.01). Finally, 72 men (5%) and 45 (3%) women reported history of coronary heart disease at entry evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the common cardiovascular risk factors in our population seems high. As a consequence a considerable proportion of Greek adults are at "high-risk" for future cardiovascular events.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of self-reported hypertension and its relation to dietary habits, in adults; a nutrition & health survey in Greece.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension leads to many degenerative diseases, the most common being cardiovascular in origin. This study has been designed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported hypertension in a random nationwide sample of adult Greek population, while focus was set to the assessment of participants' nutritional habits in relation to their hypertension status. METHODS: A random-digit dialed telephone survey. Based on a multistage, stratified sampling, 5003 adults (18 - 74 yr) participated (men: 48.8%, women: 51.2%). All participants were interviewed via telephone by trained personnel who used a standard questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, lifestyle habits and nutritional assessment. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported hypertension was 13.3% in men and 17.7% in women (P < 0.001). Furthermore, women reported higher values of systolic blood pressure (180 +/- 27 mmHg) than men (169 +/- 24 mmHg). Positive relationships were found between hypertension status and the prevalence of the rest investigated health conditions (i.e. hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus, renal failure and obesity). Nutritional assessment showed that consumption of fish, fruits and juices, cereals, and low fat milk and yogurt was significantly higher among hypertensive subjects while the opposite was observed for food items as red meat, pork, egg, pasta and rice, full fat dairy products and desserts. CONCLUSION: Hypertension seems to be a serious public health problem in Greece. It is encouraging that hypertensives may have started adopting some more healthy nutritional behaviour compared to normotensive ones. However, they can gain significant benefits regarding to blood pressure control, if they increase the level of compliance with dietary recommendations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in an air force base in Western Greece.

BACKGROUND: On the 20th September 2005, soldiers and staff at the Air Force base in Western Greece experienced an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis. The purpose of this study was to identify the agent and the source of the outbreak in order to develop control measures and to avoid similar outbreaks in the future. METHODS: A case-control analytical approach was employed with 100 randomly selected cases and 66 controls. Patients completed standardized questionnaires, odds ratios were calculated and statistical significance was determined using chi2 test. In addition, to identify the source of the infection, we performed bacteriological examination of food samples (included raw beef, cooked minced meat, grated cheese and grated cheese in sealed package) collected from the cuisine of the military unit. RESULTS: More than 600 out of the 1,050 individuals who ate lunch that day, became ill. The overall attack rate, as the military doctor of the unit estimated it, was at least 60%. The overall odds ratio of gastroenteritis among those who had lunch was 370 (95% CI: 48-7700) as compared to those who didn't eat lunch. Among the symptoms the most prominent were watery diarrhoea (96%) and abdominal pain (73%). The mean incubation period was 9 h and the median duration of the symptoms was 21 h. In the bacteriological examination, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in a sample of raw beef (2,000 cfu per g) and in two samples of grated cheese; leftover cheese from lunch (7,800 cfu per g) and an unopened package purchased from the market (3,000 cfu per g). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the aetiological agent of this outbreak was S. aureus. The food vehicle was the grated cheese, which was mixed with the beef and served for lunch in the military unit. This outbreak highlights the capacity of enterotoxin-producing bacteria to cause short term, moderately-severe illness in a young and healthy population. It underscores the need for proper food handling practices and reinforces the public health importance of timely notification of such outbreaks.

Acute Disease↗