Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Greece”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources

Development of neurosurgery in Greece: past, present, and future.

In this study the authors examine the historical tradition as well as current features of neurosurgery in Greece and compare the available data with international standards. In particular, they describe the organizational structure of neurosurgery with reference to manpower, unit distribution, training, and qualification. They discuss problems such as overproduction of neurosurgeons and the poor control of training and qualification procedures in the neurosurgical profession. The findings are examined in a critical way and solutions are proposed that could improve the present situation.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗

Deaths from neoplasms and detection of radionuclides in excised human lungs in the Eordea Basin, Greece.

Lignite contains various trace-metal natural radioactive contaminants. In the Eordea Basin, the most important lignite field in Greece, the authors conducted a proportional mortality ratio (PMR) study that compared the mortality rates of individuals who lived in the basin vs. a control group who resided in the city of Kilkis, over a 30-yr period. The following information was used in the study: (a) municipal registrations of deaths from neoplasms during the period from 1971 to 2000, and (b) detection of radioactive substances in samples obtained from excised lungs of individuals living in Eordea Basin who suffered from neoplasm. The corresponding registrations of deaths from neoplasm of the inhabitants of Kilkis, a city located outside the Eordea Basin, formed the control group. A diachronic increase of the PMR was detected as a result of neoplasms and, particularly, as a result of lung cancer in Eordea Basin. However, the above ratio did not exceed the corresponding PMR recorded in Kilkis. In 20 lung samples obtained from patients who had lived in Eordea Basin, and in 19 lung samples from patients in Kilkis, the activity of the radionuclides of uranium and thorium radioactive decay series, potassium-40, and cesium-137 was not higher than expected. No statistically significant difference was found between the inhabitants of the 2 regions, thus it was concluded that the increase in respiratory-system neoplasms was likely associated with the high prevalence of smoking among the regions' inhabitants. In future studies, a longer observation period and examination of more cases will be necessary to further investigate a possible association between radionuclides and lung neoplasms in the Eordea Basin.

Aged↗

Bacterial resistance to ciprofloxacin in Greece: results from the National Electronic Surveillance System. Greek Network for the Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance.

According to 1997 susceptibility data from the National Electronic System for the Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance, Greece has high rates of ciprofloxacin resistance. For most species, the frequency of ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates (from highest to lowest, by patient setting) was as follows: intensive care unit > surgical > medical > outpatient. Most ciprofloxacin-resistant strains were multidrug resistant.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Molecular typing of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Blockley outbreak isolates from Greece.

During 1998, a marked increase (35 cases) in human gastroenteritis due to Salmonella Blockley, a serotype rarely isolated from humans in the Western Hemisphere, was noted in Greece. The two dominant multidrug-resistance phenotypes (23 of the 29 isolates studied) were associated with two distinct DNA fingerprints, obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

First record of Emetha audouini, a cymothoid isopod parasite, from cultured sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax in Greece.

For the first time, Emetha audouini (Milne Edwards, 1840), a cymothoid isopod, is reported parasitising cage cultured sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L., 1758 in Greece. The specimens observed are larvae (Pulli II). They were found in great numbers in the buccal and branchial cavity of young (3.5 m.o. old) sea bass, in an intensive cage farm facility. This parasite is certainly transferred to sea bass from wild populations of Sparidae or Centracanthidae. Serious lesions were visible and typical of a crustacean infection, with extensive and deep skin damage in the head area. The cumulative mortality, over a 2 wk period, was 10.75%. The parasitic problem was successfully dealt with by optimization of management practices rather than use of costly and dangerous chemotherapeutants.

Animals↗

Cymothoid parasite Ceratothoa parallela inflicts great losses on cultured gilthead sea bream sparus aurata in Greece.

For the first time Ceratothoa parallela (Otto, 1828), a cymothoid isopod, is reported parasitizing cage-cultured gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata, in Greece. The specimens observed are larvae (Pullus secundus). They were found in the branchial and buccal cavity of young gilthead sea bream of 2 g mean body weight, upon introduction in the cages in an intensive cage farm facility. The species was previously known from several species of wild fish, particularly Sparidae (chiefly Boops boops) in the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea and Atlantic Ocean. However, this is the first documentation of this parasite in cage-cultured gilthead sea bream. Serious lesions were macroscopically visible and typical of a crustacean infection. The cumulative mortality over a 2 mo period was over 50%. The parasitic problem was not successfully dealt with due to high stocking densities and the non removal of the dead fishes, resulting in constant reinfection.

Animals↗

Host-parasite relationships: occurrence and effect of the parasitic isopod Mothocya epimerica on sand smelt Atherina boyeri in the Mesolongi and Etolikon Lagoons (W. Greece).

The parasite-host relationship between Mothocya epimerica, Costa 1851 (Isopoda: Flabellifera: Cymothoidae) and sand smelt Atherina boyeri (Osteichthyes: Atherinidae) fish populations were studied in the Mesolongi and Etolikon Lagoons (W. Greece). Prevalence varied during the year from 12.5% in November to 52.5% in September; overall mean prevalence was 41.9%. Parasite size increased with host size. Infections did not have a significant effect on the host's body condition, such as length-weight relationship, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and relative condition factor. Histological damage to the host was observed on the gills (especially in the second and third and arches upon which the female parasite rests her abdomen). The physiological cost resulting from this infection seems to be little and probably does not constitute a serious threat for individual host survival.

Animals↗

Important disease conditions of newly cultured species in intensive freshwater farms in Greece: first incidence of nodavirus infection in Acipenser sp.

We describe here the main pathological conditions of freshwater fish recently introduced for intensive rearing (open ponds and recirculating freshwater systems) in Greece. Sturgeon were susceptible to skeletal abnormalities of the spine (scoliosis and lordosis) of unknown aetiology. Horizontal transmission of nodavirus from infected sea bass to sturgeon was detected for the first time. This caused serious pathology and clinical signs, such as lethargy and imbalance, leading to secondary infections with Aeromonas hydrophila and Trichodina sp. and chronic, but steady, mortality. Sea bass were very susceptible to nodavirus infection, monogenean infections and gas bubble disease. Mullet reared under recirculated and open-flow conditions were very sensitive to Chilodonella sp. infection, whereas catfish were susceptible to infection with Ichthyophthirius sp. leading to secondary infections with A. hydrophila, Saprolegnia sp. and Myxobacteria spp. Tilapia were very susceptible to gas bubble disease and A. hydrophila. This bacterium was associated with management manipulations for all species and fully responsive to corrective hygiene methods.

Animal Husbandry↗

Protozoan parasites in cultured mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis in the Thermaikos Gulf (north Aegean Sea, Greece).

The protozoans Ancistrum mytili (Oligohymenophorea: Ancistridae) and Marteilia refringens/maurini (Marteiliidea: Marteiliidae) were found parasitizing cultured mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis L. in the Thermaikos Gulf (north Aegean Sea, Greece). The former did not affect the condition index of infected mussels, in contrast to the latter, which did so and which also induced hemocyte infiltration in the affected digestive epithelium. The prevalence of both parasites was relatively high in a polluted area.

Animals↗

Transfusion malaria as a consequence of the 1974 war between Turkey and Greece--two cases.

Two cases of transfusion induced Plasmodium malariae malaria that occurred in August and September 1974 in New York City were direct results of the outbreak of war between Turkey and Greece on the island of Cyprus in July 1974. The cases could be traced to two Greek immigrants with latent infection (one being the longest ever recorded) who independently donated blood after solicitation for people in need living in the country of their ancestors. In view of current rules for donor acceptability, attention should be directed domestically towards careful surveillance for an increased occurrence of transfusion malaria.

Adult↗

Effect of insecticide spraying for malaria control on the incidence of sandfly fever in Athens, Greece.

Sera from 637 Athens residents of various age groups were examined by plaque reduction neutralization test for antibodies against Naples and Sicilian Phlebotomus fever viruses. A marked change in the prevalence of antibodies to both agents was observed in persons born after 1946, when residual insecticide spraying for malaria control was initiated in Greece. The prevalence of Naples and Sicilian neutralizing antibodies among residents greater than or equal to 30 years of age was 36% and 13%, respectively. In contrast, only 4% of persons less than or equal to 29 years of age had Naples antibodies and all were negative to Sicilian. These serologic data confirm previous clinical observations that sandfly fever becam uncommon in Athens after initiation of the insecticide spraying program. Presumedly the spraying program was effective in reducing the Phlebotomus population to levels where virus transmission was minimal. New information on the specificity and duration of Phlebotomus fever neutralizing antibodies is also presented.

Adolescent↗

Hydatid disease in asymptomatic young carriers in northern Greece.

An epidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of echinococcosis in children and adolescents was made in Grevena County of northern Greece. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was used to screen 2,736 school children whose ages ranged from 6-18 years; among them, three asymptomatic carriers were identified. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by liver radioisotope scanning. By extrapolation, we estimate that the point prevalence of hydatid disease in the asymptomatic population of the study area is 110 per 100,000.

Adolescent↗

Epidemiological investigations following an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Greece.

Epidemiological investigations were conducted following an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) which occurred in the state of Epirus, northwestern Greece, in July and August 1983. A total of 8 patients were hospitalized during the outbreak; 3 were severely ill and 1 died. A serosurvey made in May 1984 sampled 184 of the approximately 400 residents of the village of Tsepelovo, where 4 patients resided, and found 12 (6.5%) persons, including convalescent sera from 4 patients, with antihantaviral antibody by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) tests. Small mammal collections found house rats common in the village, but none exhibited anti-hantaviral antibody. Collections in nearby fields and mountains found Apodemus flavicollis rodents common, and 2 (6%) of 33 captured had high IFA anti-hantavirus antibody. Virus isolation attempts from rodent tissues were unsuccessful. Testing of convalescent patients' sera by IFA and plaque reduction neutralization tests indicated that the etiological agent was neither Puumala virus nor Seoul virus, but appears to be a strain of Hantaan virus or perhaps a new virus. The rodent host of this virus may be A. flavicollis, and the distribution of this species corresponds with previously reported cases of severe HFRS described elsewhere in central Europe.

Adolescent↗

Genotypic identification of murine typhus Rickettsia in rats and their fleas in an endemic area of Greece by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Forty-nine cases of murine typhus were diagnosed in recent years in residents of several communities around the city of Chalkis, the capital of the Prefecture of Evia. (Euboea) Evia is an island connected to central mainland Greece by a bridge. To investigate the endemicity of murine typhus in this area, 226 fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) and blood samples were collected from 53 rats (Rattus norvegicus) trapped in this area. The polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect and identify Rickettsia typhi, the etiologic agent murine typhus, in the rat blood samples (buffy coat cells) as well as in their fleas. An indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay was performed to detect antibodies against R. typhi in rat serum samples. The presence of R. typhi in both fleas and rat blood samples was demonstrated. The frequency of infection for X. cheopis was 4%, while 18% of the rats had buffy coat cells infected, and 92% of the rat sera tested by IFA were positive for anti-R. typhi antibodies. The present work is the first successful application of PCR-RFLP in a field study of naturally infected rats and their fleas in Europe.

Animals↗

Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. isolates from traditionally made fresh sausages in Greece.

Sixty-five samples of traditionally made fresh sausages obtained from retail shops and butcher shops in northern Greece were screened for the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. Salmonella spp. were found in 20% of the samples tested (54% Salmonella typhimurium and 46% Salmonella enteritidis). The prevalence of Listeria spp. in the samples was 26% (12% Listeria monocytogenes, 76% Listeria innocua, and 12% Listeria welshimeri). Nine of 13 Salmonella isolates were found to be resistant to ampicillin and 4 of 13 showed intermediate sensitivity; 1 of 13 was found to be resistant to chloramphenicol and 1 of 13 to tetracycline. Two strains of Salmonella typhimurum were multiresistant (resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and norfloxacin). All Listeria isolates were sensitive to the antibacterial agents tested that are commonly used for the treatment of human listeriosis.

Animals↗

Enumeration and confirmation of Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae, and Aeromonas sobria isolated from raw milk and other milk products in Northern Greece.

A total of 138 raw cow's and 57 raw ewe's milk samples; 80 pasteurized cow's milk samples; 39 Anthotyros cheese, 36 Manouri cheese, and 23 Feta cheese samples; and 15 rice pudding samples were examined for the presence and any countable population of Aeromonas species. Twenty-two (15.9%) of the 138 cow's milk samples analyzed were contaminated with A. hydrophila. In 13 of these samples, populations of 3.0x10(2) to 5.0x10(3) CFU/ml were counted in starch ampicillin agar (SAA). Eighteen cow's milk samples (13.0%) were contaminated with A. caviae, and in eight of these samples, populations of 2.0x10(2) to 3.0x10(3) CFU/ml were counted in SAA. Five cow's milk samples (3.6%) were contaminated with A. sobria, and in two of these samples, populations of 2.5x10(3) and 5.0x10(3) CFU/ml were counted in SAA. Eleven cow's milk samples (7.9%) were contaminated with other Aeromonas spp. not classified. Eight (14.0%) of the 57 ewe's milk samples analyzed were contaminated with A. hydrophila. In these samples, populations of 5.0x10(2) to 5.0x10(3) CFU/ml were counted in SAA. Six ewe's milk samples (10.5%) were contaminated with A. caviae, and populations of 1.5x10(2) to 1.0x10(3) CFU/ ml were counted in SAA. Two ewe's milk samples (3.5%) were contaminated with A. sobria, and populations counted in SAA were 5.0x10(2) and 1.0x10(3) CFU/ml. Four samples (7.0%) were contaminated with other Aeromonas spp. not classified. A. hydrophila was recovered in 4 (10.2%) and 3 (8.3%) of the Anthotyros and Manouri cheese samples analyzed, respectively, but no countable populations were noted in SAA. None of the pasteurized milk, Feta cheese, and rice pudding samples yielded Aeromonas spp. The results of this work indicate that motile Aeromonas are common in raw milk in Greece. Also, the presence of A. hydrophila in the whey cheeses Anthotyros and Manouri indicates that postprocessing contaminations of these products with motile Aeromonas may occur during production.

Aeromonas↗

Land mine injuries in the northernmost border of Greece: our experience at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis during 1991-2003.

We studied the mortality and morbidity caused by land mine injuries in 169 cases that presented at the University General Hospital of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece, during the period of 1991 to 2003. The data analyzed included the emergency room records, the admission records, and the autopsy records from the coroner that provided information on cause of death either in the prehospital phase, the initial treatment, or during the period following definitive surgical repair. Eleven percent of the casualties were lethally injured, the majority of whom died before reaching the hospital. Twenty-eight percent suffered severe injuries that required hospitalization and surgical management, placing an organizational and financial strain upon the hospital's resources, and 40% bore light injuries requiring only ambulatory treatment in the emergency room.

Explosions↗

Molecular screening of fragile X (FRAXA) and FRAXE mental retardation syndromes in the Hellenic population of Greece and Cyprus: incidence, genetic variation, and stability.

This study presents the first large, population-based molecular investigation of the fragile X (FRAXA) and FRAXE mental retardation syndromes in the Hellenic populations of Greece and Cyprus. The aims of this population screening were to determine the prevalence of FRAXA and FRAXE syndromes among idiopathic mentally retarded (IMR) individuals, to estimate the incidence in the general population, and to investigate the molecular mechanism of instability and expansion of the FMR1-repeat. Ten FRAXA patients were identified to have either the full mutation (eight) or premutation (two) from a Hellenic population of 866 unrelated IMR individuals (611 males and 255 females, age range 3-25 years). No FRAXE patients were identified among the 611 IMR males. The incidence of FRAXA in the Hellenic population of Cyprus is estimated at 1 in 4,246 males. The repeat sites from the FMR1 and FMR2 alleles were accurately determined and showed similar distribution and frequencies with other population studies. The analysis of AGG interspersion within the FMR1-repeat in normal males revealed long, pure CGG repeats within the "gray zone" as well as variation within the 3' end showing polarity of instability. This finding supports the hypothesis that the AGG interspersion and the length of the pure repeat are major factors in determining allele stability. Analysis of FRAXAC1, DXS548, and FRAXAC2 identified particular alleles and haplotypes to have a significant association with either gray zone alleles or alleles >15 pure CGG repeats. We hypothesize that this subgroup of alleles and haplotypes are associated with long pure CGGs (>15 CGG) or 35 repeats and, having shared an evolutionary past, would have the tendency to expand.

Adolescent↗