Publications

Skeletal muscle contraction is triggered by the excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling machinery residing at the triad, a membrane structure formed by the juxtaposition of T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) cisternae. The formation and maintenance of this structure is key for muscle function but is not well characterized. We have investigated the mechanisms leading to X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), a severe congenital disorder due to loss of function mutations in the MTM1 gene, encoding myotubularin, a phosphoinositide phosphatase thought to have a role in plasma membrane homeostasis and endocytosis. Using a mouse model of the disease, we report that Mtm1-deficient muscle fibers have a decreased number of triads and abnormal longitudinally oriented T-tubules. In addition, SR Ca(2+) release elicited by voltage-clamp depolarizations is strongly depressed in myotubularin-deficient muscle fibers, with myoplasmic Ca(2+) removal and SR Ca(2+) content essentially unaffected. At the molecular level, Mtm1-deficient myofibers exhibit a 3-fold reduction in type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) protein level. These data reveal a critical role of myotubularin in the proper organization and function of the E-C coupling machinery and strongly suggest that defective RyR1-mediated SR Ca(2+) release is responsible for the failure of muscle function in myotubular myopathy.

Recent observations as well as theoretical studies of YSO jets suggest the presence of two steady components: a disk wind type outflow needed to explain the observed high mass loss rates and a stellar wind type outflow probably accounting for the observed stellar spin down. In this framework, we construct numerical two-component jet models by properly mixing an analytical disk wind solution with a complementary analytically derived stellar outflow. Their combination is controlled by both spatial and temporal parameters, in order to address different physical conditions and time variable features. We study the temporal evolution and the interaction of the two jet components on both small and large scales. The simulations reach steady state configurations close to the initial solutions. Although time variability is not found to considerably affect the dynamics, flow fluctuations generate shocks, whose large scale structures have a strong resemblance to observed YSO jet knots.

Recent observations as well as theoretical studies of YSO jets suggest the presence of two steady components: a disk wind type outflow needed to explain the observed high mass loss rates and a stellar wind type outflow probably accounting for the observed stellar spin down. In this framework, we construct numerical two-component jet models by properly mixing an analytical disk wind solution with a complementary analytically derived stellar outflow. Their combination is controlled by both spatial and temporal parameters, in order to address different physical conditions and time variable features. We study the temporal evolution and the interaction of the two jet components on both small and large scales. The simulations reach steady state configurations close to the initial solutions. Although time variability is not found to considerably affect the dynamics, flow fluctuations generate shocks, whose large scale structures have a strong resemblance to observed YSO jet knots.

Context: Theoretical arguments along with observational data of YSO jets suggest the presence of two steady components: a disk wind type outflow needed to explain the observed high mass loss rates and a stellar wind type outflow probably accounting for the observed stellar spin down. Each component's contribution depends on the intrinsic physical properties of the YSO-disk system and its evolutionary stage. Aims: The main goal of this paper is to understand some of the basic features of the evolution, interaction and co-existence of the two jet components over a parameter space and when time variability is enforced. Methods: Having studied separately the numerical evolution of each type of the complementary disk and stellar analytical wind solutions in Paper I of this series, we proceed here to mix together the two models inside the computational box. The evolution in time is performed with the PLUTO code, investigating the dynamics of the two-component jets, the modifications each solution undergoes and the potential steady state reached. Results: The co-evolution of the two components, indeed, results in final steady state configurations with the disk wind effectively collimating the inner stellar component. The final outcome stays close to the initial solutions, supporting the validity of the analytical studies. Moreover, a weak shock forms, disconnecting the launching region of both outflows with the propagation domain of the two-component jet. On the other hand, several cases are being investigated to identify the role of each two-component jet parameter. Time variability is not found to considerably affect the dynamics, thus making all the conclusions robust. However, the flow fluctuations generate shocks, whose large scale structures have a strong resemblance to observed YSO jet knots. Conclusions: Analytical disk and stellar solutions, even sub modified fast ones, provide a solid foundation to construct two-component jet models. Tuning their physical properties along with the two-component jet parameters allows a broad class of realistic scenarios to be addressed. The applied flow variability provides very promising perspectives for the comparison of the models with observations.

The Book (or Treatise) of Heracleidis is known as the Apology of Nestorius. The comparative examination of its text with the Minutes of the Third Ecumenical Synod, throws new light on Nestorius´ trial and conviction, and brings to light new research elements, regarding the juridical procedures of the era. Last but not least, the survey reveals who is hiding under the pseudonym ῾Heracleidis῾. In contrast to what was beleived until today, the writer of the Treatise is not Nestorius, or a student of him, but, Hereneus of Tyros, his loyal friend and defense counsel before the Emperor, at Nestorius' trial.

A comprehensive investigation of the optical properties of a composite metamaterial in which silver nanowires are aligned inside a finite-thickness dielectric host medium is presented. Using a rigorous finite-element based modelling approach, together with a self-consistent process for the extraction of effective-medium parameters, we find that this structure can enable an effective optical diamagnetic response that is orders of magnitude stronger compared to that of naturally occurring diamagnetic materials. Interestingly, our analysis reveals that there is a frequency region where the nanoforest exhibits a strong diamagnetic response while simultaneously allowing for high transmission of incident electromagnetic waves. We examine the physical origin behind the magnetic properties of this structure, as well as its resilience to fabrication imperfections. Our analysis shows that the structure is robust to the presence of disorder, in the occurrence of which it can still facilitate high figure-of-merit diamagnetic responses. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Recently there has been a considerable interest in metamaterial waveguide structures capable of dramatically slowing down or, even, completely stopping light. Here, we shall explain in some detail the working principle behind the deceleration and/or stopping of light in metamaterial structures, and review the various, metamaterial-enabled, methods that have been proposed thus far towards achieving such a goal. Further, we will concisely describe how one can construct zero-loss metamaterials over a continuous and broad (but not infinite) range of frequencies, which is an essential prerequisite for any slow-light system. Moreover, it will be explained that inside such waveguide structures light can in principle be stopped (zero group velocity, νg = 0) even in the presence of losses. By nature, metamaterial-enabled schemes for stopping/storing light invoke solid-state materials and, as such, are not subject to low-temperature or atomic coherence limitations. Furthermore, these methods simultaneously allow for broad bandwidth operation, since they do not rely on group index resonances; large delay-bandwidth products, since a wave packet can, in principle, be completely stopped and buffered indefinitely; and (for the case, in particular, where a negative-index metamaterial is used) high, almost 100%, in/out-coupling efficiencies. Thus, we conclude that these methods for trapping photons, which can be realised using existing technology, could open the way to a multitude of hybrid optoelectronic devices to be used in 'quantum information' processing, communication networks and signal processors and may conceivably herald a new realm of combined metamaterials and slow light research. © 2009 SPIE.

Anemia is a common side-effect of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphoma. The etiology is complex, but the main cause is the underlying mechanism of anemia of chronic disease, which is characterized among others, by impairment of iron metabolism and consequently iron restricted erythropoiesis (IRE), resulting from the up-regulation of the iron distributing regulator, hepcidin. Erythopoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been the standard of care since early 90's offering high response rates and improving the quality of life of the patients. However, the role of ESAs in the treatment of cancer-related anemia has been questioned recently, due to the growing evidence which support that ESAs may be associated with increased risk for thrombosis and may have a detrimental impact on patients' survival. Under the light of the recent considerations, the place of ESAs in the management of cancer-related anemia has been reassigned. Regarding the management of anemia in MM or lymphoma, the updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Society of Hematology (ASCO/ASH) 2007 clinical practice guidelines on the use of ESAs in cancer-related anemia, recommended that ESAs should be preferably omitted in patients planned to receive chemotherapy and applied in case that anemia does not improve over treatment. The quest for reliable predictors for response to ESAs and for indicators of IRE which plays a major etiological role for the development of anemia of cancer still remains an open issue. In the current review we present an update on ESAs use in anemia of MM and lymphoma. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by lymphoplasmacytic bone marrow infiltration along with an immunoglobulin M (lgM) monoclonal gammopathy. Patients with disease-related cytopenias, bulky adenopathy or organomegaly, symptomatic hyperviscosity, severe neuropathy, amyloidosis, cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or evidence of disease transformation should be considered for immediate therapy. Initiation of therapy should not be based on serum lgM levels alone, and asymptomatic patients should be observed. Individual patient considerations should be considered when deciding on a first-line agent including the presence of cytopenias, need for rapid disease control, age, and candidacy for autologous transplantation. Therapeutic outcomes should be evaluated using updated criteria. As part of the Fourth International Workshop on Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia, a consensus panel updated its recommendations on both first-line and salvage therapy in view of recently published and ongoing clinical trials. The panel considered encouraging results from recent studies of first-line combinations such as rituximab with nucleoside analogs with or without alkylating agents or with cyclophosphamide-based therapies (eg, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone or cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone) or the combination of rituximab with thalidomide. Such therapeutic approaches are likely to yield responses at least as good as, if not better than, monotherapy with any of the alkylating agents, nucleoside analogs, or rituximab. In the salvage setting, reuse of a first-line regimen or use of a different regimen should be considered along with bortezomib, alemtuzumab, autologous transplantation, and, in selected circumstances, allogeneic transplantation. Finally, the panel reaffirmed its encouragement of the active enrollment of patients with WM onto innovative clinical trials whenever possible. © 2008 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

As flash flood events are becoming more frequent, the development of flood estimation methods for areas with limited or lack of data has attracted the interest of many scientists. The aim of the present paper is to develop a GIS based methodology in order to study the flood risk in Karlovassi basin. The annual probability of a flood event is relatively high at Karlovassi area (Samos Island – Greece). Especially, after the forest fires that took place in the summer of 2000, during which 90.000 hectares were burnt in Kerketeas Mountain, the phenomenon has become more intense. Primary data were collected from maps, literature, aerial photos and field work. The collected information data were analyzed through the use of the software ArcGIS in order to generate the appropriate background for the formation of the flood risk model. All the input parameters were weighted and the model was calibrated in situ through field work. The proposed methodology and the preliminary results, as exported for the Karlovassi area, prove the suitability of GIS-based methods in the creation of flood risk maps.

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), an iron-transporting protein rapidly accumulating in the kidney tubules and urine after nephrotoxic and ischemic insults, has been put forward as an early, sensitive, non-invasive biomarker for acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary NGAL levels as a predictor of early AKI (first 5 days after injury) in multi-trauma patients. Methods: We studied multi-trauma adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a trauma hospital. Exclusion criteria were a) known cardiac or chronic kidney disease, and b) initial evaluation after more than 24 h had elapsed from injury. Urinary NGAL was measured using an ELISA technique upon admission and at 24 and 48 h. Presence of AKI was defined by the risk injury failure loss and end-stage kidney classification (RIFLE) criteria. Data are reported as median and interquartile range. Results: A total of 31 patients (25 male, 6 female) were studied. NGAL levels at admission were significantly higher among patients who subsequently developed AKI [155.5 (50.5-205.9) ng/mL vs. 8.0 (5.7-17.7) ng/mL, p=0.0000] and these higher levels persisted over the following 2 days. On the basis of receiver-operating characteristic analysis both NGAL and serum creatinine baseline measurements could predict AKI [area under the curve (95% confidence interval) 0.977 (0.823-0.980) and 0.789 (0.556-0.906), respectively], but the area under the curve for NGAL was significantly larger (p=0.024). A cut-off point >25 ng/mL for NGAL had a sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.95 in predicting AKI. Conclusions: Urinary NGAL can be used from the 1st day of injury as a reliable predictor of early AKI in multi-trauma patients. © 2009 by Walter de Gruyter.

The impact of prioritization and of timing of vaccination strategies on reducing transmission of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) was evaluated in a community with the structure of the Greek population using a stochastic simulation model. Prioritization scenarios were based on the recommendations of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and vaccination was assumed to initiate either before or during the ongoing epidemic. In the absence of intervention, an illness attack rate (AR) of 34.5% is anticipated. Vaccinating the priority groups before the epidemic (pregnant women, people who live with or care for children <6 months of age, healthcare/emergency services personnel, children 6 months-4 years old and high-risk children 5-18 years old) will have a negligible impact on the overall AR. Vaccinating the recommended groups before the epidemic (priority groups as well as all persons 6 months-24 years old and high-risk individuals 25-64 years old) is anticipated to result in overall and age-specific ARs within the range of seasonal influenza (5%-15%). Initiating vaccination early during the epidemic (AR

Background: Bisphosphonates (BPs) prevent, reduce, and delay multiple myeloma (MM)-related skeletal complications. Intravenous pamidronate and zoledronic acid, and oral clodronate are used for the management of MM bone disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the current evidence for the use of BPs in MM and provide European Union-specific recommendations to support the clinical practice of treating myeloma bone disease. Design and methods: An interdisciplinary, expert panel of specialists on MM and myeloma-related bone disease convened for a face-to-face meeting to review and assess the evidence and develop the recommendations. The panel reviewed and graded the evidence available from randomized clinical trials, clinical practice guidelines, and the body of published literature. Where published data were weak or unavailable, the panel used their own clinical experience to put forward recommendations based solely on their expert opinions. Results: The panel recommends the use of BPs in MM patients suffering from lytic bone disease or severe osteoporosis. Intravenous administration may be preferable; however, oral administration can be considered for patients unable to make hospital visits. Dosing should follow approved indications with adjustments if necessary. In general, BPs are well tolerated, but preventive steps should be taken to avoid renal impairment and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The panel agrees that BPs should be given for 2 years, but this may be extended if there is evidence of active myeloma bone disease. Initial therapy of ONJ should include discontinuation of BPs until healing occurs. BPs should be restarted if there is disease progression. Conclusions: BPs are an essential component of MM therapy for minimizing skeletal morbidity. Recent retrospective data indicate that a modified dosing regimen and preventive measures can greatly reduce the incidence of ONJ. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.

In this paper we introduce the utilization of novel compounds that can be magnetoelectric, namely Al(2-x)FexO(3) and Ga2-xFexO3, or ferrimagnetic, namely Y3Fe5O12, as effective constituents in patch antennas. Owing to their coupled dielectric and magnetic properties these constituents can probably tune the radiation characteristics of the patch antenna by means of an externally controlled parameter such as a magnetic and/or electric field. We clearly demonstrate that using Y3Fe5O12 in the antenna substrate, the type and the sense of the antenna polarization is strongly influenced by applying an external magnetic field.

Our purpose was to compare the Vascular Closure Staples (VCS) clips to a standard suture technique for vein patch angioplasty in a porcine model. Six female pigs underwent vein patch angioplasty of the common iliac arteries with either VCS clips or continuous suturing. The reconstructed vessels were evaluated macroscopically, angiographically and histologically after two months by re-operation. There was a non significant trend towards shorter reconstruction (6.5 +/- 1.8 min. for clips vs. 8.5 +/- 1.7 min. for sutures, p = 0.15) and clamp times when clips were used (8.4 +/- 1.5 min. vs. 10.1 +/- 1.3 min., p = 0.15). At re-operation all vessels were found patent without significant histological differences regarding the intimal reaction. VCS clips are a reliable alternative to sutures for vein patch angioplasty.

Purpose: To assess bortezomib plus melphalan and prednisone (VMP) and melphalan and prednisone (MP) in previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma (MM) with renal impairment enrolled on the phase III VISTA study, and to evaluate renal impairment reversibility. Patients and Methods: Patients received nine 6-week cycles of VMP (bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2, melphalan 9 mg/m2, prednisone 60 mg/m2) or MP. Patients with serum creatinine higher than 2 mg/dL were excluded. Results: In the VMP/MP arms, 6%/4%, 27%/30%, and 67%/66% of patients had baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of ≤ 30, 31 to 50, and higher than 50 mL/min, respectively. Response rates were higher and time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) longer with VMP versus MP across renal cohorts. Response rates with VMP and TTP in both arms did not appear significantly different between patients with GFR ≤ 50 or higher than 50 mL/min; OS appeared somewhat longer in patients with normal renal function in both arms. Renal impairment reversal (baseline GFR < 50 improving to > 60 mL/min) was seen in 49 (44%) of 111 patients receiving VMP versus 40 (34%) of 116 patients receiving MP. By multivariate analysis, younger age (< 75 years; P = .006) and less severe impairment (GFR ≥ 30 mL/min; P = .027) were associated with higher reversal rates. In addition, treatment with VMP approached significance (P = .07). In both arms, rates of grade 4 and 5 adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs appeared higher in patients with renal impairment; with VMP, rates of discontinuations/bortezomib dose reductions due to AEs did not appear affected. Conclusion: VMP is a feasible, active, and well-tolerated treatment option for previously untreated patients with MM with moderate renal impairment, resulting in 44% renal impairment reversal. © 2009 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Objective: A randomized phase II trial was conducted to test whether the addition of gemcitabine to weekly docetaxel could improve the objective response rate and survival outcomes as second-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have failed a paclitaxel-containing regimen. Methods: Patients were randomized to receive either weekly docetaxel 40 mg/m2 (group A, n = 34) or the combination of weekly docetaxel 35 mg/m2 with gemcitabine 600 mg/m2 (group B, n = 41). Three consecutive weekly infusions followed by a 1-week rest period represented 1 chemotherapy cycle. Results: The objective response rate was 18% and 27.5% in group A and B, respectively (p = 0.413). No statistically significant differences were demonstrated in terms of median overall survival and time to disease progression. The rate and grade 3 and 4 neutropenia were higher in group B (23 vs. 3%). Conclusions: The weekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine did not result in superior clinical outcomes over weekly docetaxel. © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The purpose of the present study is to identify the various factors that decision makers must take into account when ranking destinations for placing a spa resort/hotel in the thriving health and wellness industry. The study will suggest a decision support system (DSS) based on key factors as climate, tourism development and attractions. The DSS, using a computer based information system, will evaluate the aforementioned factors and will propose a hierarchical structure for rating destinations, useful for private or public planners in the wellness market. The research categorized the prefectures of Ahaia, Arkadia, Ilia, Korinthia, Messinia in the region of Peloponnese. © University of the Aegean.

The purpose of the present study is to identify the various factors that decision makers must take into account when ranking destinations for placing a spa resort/hotel in the thriving health and wellness industry. The study will suggest a decision support system (DSS) based on key factors as climate, tourism development and attractions. The DSS, using a computer based information system, will evaluate the aforementioned factors and will propose a hierarchical structure for rating destinations, useful for private or public planners in the wellness market. The research categorized the prefectures of Ahaia, Arkadia, Ilia, Korinthia, Messinia in the region of Peloponnese. © University of the Aegean.

We present results on the X-ray source populations of nearby spiral and star-forming galaxies. The sample of galaxies includes the nearby spiral galaxy M81 and star-forming galaxies with stellar populations in the 10-100Myr range. We use HST data in order to classify the X-ray sources to HMXBs, LMXBs and globular clusters, and identify any SNRs or background AGNs. We discuss the spectral and temporal characteristics of the different sub-populations in these galaxies, and their implications for the sources' nature. We present the X-ray luminosity functions (XLF) of the discrete sources from the individual as well as the co-added observations and we discuss the dependence of the XLF on the age of the stellar populations. In the case of M81 we find a population of sources in the 10^{36}-10^{37} erg s^{-1} luminosity range with early-type counterparts, while the HMXBs in the star-forming galaxies have generally higher luminosities. We also present results from Chandra observations of the SMC which extend the XLFs down to luminosities of 10^{32} erg s^{-1} and show evidence for the onset of the propeller effect at low luminosities.

ISBN 978-9963-561-61-2. Η παρούσα δημοσίευση αποτελεί την εισήγηση στο Θεολογικό Σεμινάριο που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Λευκωσία στην  Κύπρο τον Μάιο του 2009 και αποτελεί πρωτότυπη προσπάθεια για τη διατύπωση θεολογικής άποψης για τον προγεννητικό έλεγχο και την προεμφυτευτική διάγνωση των εμβρύων. Στο τέλος της εισήγησης, που δημοσιεύθηκε στον τόμο των πρακτικών, παρουσιάζονται  πραγματικές περιπτώσεις αντιμετώπισης διαγνώσεων προγεννητικού ελέγχου από γονείς, οι οποίες συγκίνησαν και προβλημάτισαν το πολυπληθές κοινό στην αίθουσα του Μακαρίου β’ της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Κύπρου, όπου πραγματοποιήθηκε η εισήγηση.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of bullying/victimization during preadolescence and early adolescence in Greece, in relation to age and gender. Participants were 655 fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth graders from Athenian schools. They completed the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (Olweus, 2006). Data showed a high prevalence of bullying and victimization, with verbal bullying and social exclusion as the most frequent forms. Self-reported victimization decreased with age, with the exception of electronic victimization which increased, whereas self-reported verbal, sexual, and electronic bullying increased with age. Boys preferred verbal, physical, racial, sexual, and electronic bullying significantly more than girls. More boys felt bullied for racial reasons than girls, whereas girls felt more sexually victimized than boys. Results are discussed in the framework of the existing literature on bullying and victimization, and some implications for interventions are presented.

Bullying, as a prevalent phenomenon in Greek schools, is a stressful situ­ation, often with a traumatic character. The aim of this research was to examine the associations between bullying/victimization and loneliness in the peer group (social loneliness) and the dyadic friendship (emotional loneliness). Partic­ipants were 208 fifth-grade students from schools located in the center of Athens. They completed the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire-Revised Edi­tion (Olweus, 2006) and the Peer Network and Peer Dyadic Loneliness Scale (Hoza, Bukowski, & Beery, 2000), which showed adequate internal consis­tency. Linear regression analyses indicated that the tendency to be bullied was associated with loneliness in the peer group and in the dyadic friendship, whereas the tendency to bully was not associated with any dimension of lone­liness. Bullies/victims were the children experiencing the highest loneliness of all the other groups. Sexual victimization, social exclusion, and stealing/dam­aging belongings were significantly related to the various dimensions of lone­liness. More boys than girls were bullies/victims, but no gender difference was found for loneliness. Discussion focuses on the importance of knowing the personal, subjective experience of bullies and victims, as well as on the impli­cations of these findings for school-based interventions.

One of the most important evolutions marking modern Greek culture is the ever increasing presence of women in the realms of both economics and politics. This phenomenon has given significant rise to new social concerns among which lies the issue of linguistic adaptation to the new roles of the female gender. The present research is an interdisciplinary one, related both to social sciences and linguistics and dealing with the analytical category of “social gender.”  Specifically, the research in question is interested in the field of politics, which is traditionally the last bulwark of Greek patriarchal society. In other words, this investigation raises the question of whether or not the female presence in the centers of authority and power is adequately reflected in the Greek language. Moreover, the following parameters are thoroughly investigated: firstly it is attempted to register the grammatical problems emerging after the end of the male monopoly concerning power, while at the same time the first linguistic approaches to the aforementioned problem are examined.  There is also mention of the ways in which the State and other official bodies deal with this issue as well as of the everyday use of gender demarcations of various offices in the Media. Lastly, the attitude of women, either individually or collectively, towards this issue is methodically examined.Full texthttps://dspace.flinders.edu.au/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2328/8106/449-466.pdf;jsessionid=9E4B03B46AD0B1B71C19C40869981F67?sequence=1

Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελεί συνέντευξη του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζη, ο οποίος αναλύει τη γεωπολιτικὴ τῆς Τουρκίας, μὲ στόχο τὴν πληρεστέραν ἐνημέρωση τοῦ ἀναγνωστικοῦ κοινοῦ, γιὰ μιὰ σειρὰ κρισίμων θεμάτων. Ο Καθηγητής αναφέρεται στο “νεο-ὀθωμανισμὸ” καὶ στο ρόλο τοῦ Νταβούτογλου, στις σχέσεις μὲ την Ἑλλάδα, τις ΗΠΑ, τη Ρωσσία καὶ το Ἰσραήλ, τὸν 21ο αἰῶνα, μετὰ τὴν σύγχυση ποὺ προεκλήθη στὴν χώρα μας ἐξ αἰτίας τῆς ἀνακοινώσεως τῆς ἐπίσημης ἐπισκέψεως τοῦ Ἀμερικανοῦ προέδρου Μπαρὰκ Ὀμπάμα στὴν Τουρκία καὶ τῆς δημοσιότητος ποὺ ἔλαβε στὰ ἑλληνικὰ ΜΜΕ, ὁ κύριος σύμβουλος τοῦ Τούρκου πρωθυπουργοῦ, γιὰ θέματα ἐξωτερικῆς πολιτικῆς.

Ποιούς θεωρεῖ "γείτονες" ὁ Ἀ. Νταβούτογλου; Διότι ἀπὸ ὅ,τι φαίνεται ἀπὸ τὰ γραφόμενά του, γιὰ ὅποιον τὰ διαβάζει, τὴν Ἑλλάδα καὶ τὴν Κύπρο δὲν πρέπει νὰ τὴν συμπεριλαμβάνει σὲ αὐτὴν τὴν χορεία. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ τὰ ἀνωτέρω στρουθοκαμηλικὰ ἐγράφησαν ἀναφορικῶς πρὸς τὶς πιθανὲς προοπτικὲς ἐξελίξεων στὸ Κυπριακό, το παρόν κείμενο παρουσιάζει και σχολιάζει αναλυτικά τις απόψεις του Α. Νταβούτογλου, σχετικώς με τις γειτονικές χώρες της Τουρκίας, έτσι όπως αυτές αναφέρονται στο βιβλίο του με τίτλο "Στρατηγικό Βάθος".

The purpose of the present study was to examine children’s loneliness and social dissatisfaction in relation to social support in school, that is, personal and academic support by teachers and classmates. Participants were 221 fifth- and sixth-grade students from primary schools in Athens, Greece. They completed the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Scale (Greek version; Galanaki & Kalantzi-Azizi, 1999) and the Social Support subscales of the Classroom Life Measure (Johnson, Johnson, Buckman, & Scott-Richards, 1985). Results showed high feelings of loneliness and social dissatisfaction in the school, both of which were significantly associated only with personal support from classmates. The associations were stronger for sixth-grade students and girls. Results are discussed in light of the importance of interpersonal relations for the emergence of loneliness during late childhood. Some suggestions for educational practice are also made.

Στην εργασία αυτή εξετάζονται η νομολογία και του ΣτΕ και του ΔΕΚ , προκειμένου να διαπιστωθεί αν διαφοροποιούνται ως προς το συμπέρασμα και τις κύριες παραδοχές τους  σχετικά με τις ευνοϊκότερες για τις γυναίκες διατάξεις για τη χορήγηση των κοινωνικοασφαλιστικών παροχών και ειδικότερα τα μικρότερα όρια ηλικίας για τη συνταξιοδότησή τους. Η νομολογία του ΣτΕ έχει ασχοληθεί κυρίως με υποθέσεις που αφορούν  στην άνιση κοινωνικοασφαλιστική μεταχείριση των ανδρών έναντι των γυναικών. Η νομολογία των ημεδαπών δικαστηρίων για την άνιση κοινωνικοασφαλιστική μεταχείριση με κριτήριο το φύλο στηρίζεται στα άρθρα 4 παρ. 2 και 116 του Συντάγματος που κατοχυρώνουν την ισότητα των δικαιωμάτων και των υποχρεώσεων ανδρών και γυναικών και έχει αποδειχθεί ιδιαίτερα αποτελεσματική. Υπάρχει ήδη ένας μακρύς κατάλογος δικαστικών αποφάσεων που δικαιώνουν τους άνδρες ως μειονεκτούσα ομάδα έναντι των γυναικών στην κοινωνική ασφάλιση. Και τα ευρωπαϊκά και τα ημεδαπά Δικαστήρια δέχονται ότι επιτρέπεται να ληφθούν θετικά μέτρα για την προαγωγή της αρχής της ίσης μεταχειρίσεως, για να βελτιωθεί η ικανότητα του φύλου που υφίσταται την άνιση μεταχείριση να προλάβει ή αντισταθμίσει τις σε βάρος του ανισότητες. Κρίσιμο για τη νομιμότητα των θετικών μέτρων είναι η αποκατάσταση της ισότητας και η συνάφεια των μέτρων με τον σκοπό αυτό. Τέτοια μέτρα ασφαλώς δεν αποτελούν τα διαφορετικά όρια ηλικίας για τη συνταξιοδότηση των ανδρών και των γυναικών. Επομένως, η απόφαση του ΔΕΚ C-559/2007 Επιτροπή ΕΚ κατά Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας σχετικά με τα ισχύοντα στην Ελλάδα ευνοϊκότερα για τις γυναίκες δημόσιους υπαλλήλους όρια ηλικίας συνταξιοδότησης δεν αποτελεί novum, αφού με βάση το Σύνταγμα η νομολογία του ΣτΕ καταλήγει στο ίδιο ακριβώς συμπέρασμα, ότι δηλαδή απαγορεύεται η άνιση συνταξιοδοτική μεταχείριση με κριτήριο το φύλο. 

Τα ευρωπαϊκά κράτη επιδιώκουν την οικονομικότητα, οικονομική ισορροπία και  βιωσιμότητα  του συστήματος υγείας με δύο διαμετρικά αντίθετους τρόπους: Με τον εσωτερικό ανταγωνισμό των δημόσιων υπηρεσιών υγείας από τη μια και με τη συνεργασία του ιδιωτικού με τον δημόσιο τομέα από την άλλη. Η σχετική αντιπαράθεση στην ΕΕ είναι έντονη και έχει οδηγήσει στην εξαίρεση των υπηρεσιών υγείας από το πεδίο εφαρμογής της Οδηγίας για τις υπηρεσίες. Ωστόσο, η Επιτροπή  συζητά το ενδεχόμενο θεσπίσεως ειδικής Οδηγίας για τις κοινωνικές υπηρεσίες γενικότερου οικονομικού συμφέροντος στις οποίες θα περιλαμβάνονται και τα νοσοκομεία. Ο έλληνας νομοθέτης τελευταία, διστακτικά και αποσπασματικά θεσπίζει ρυθμίσεις για τη συνεργασία του δημόσιου με τον ιδιωτικό τομέα παροχής υπηρεσιών υγείας. Οι σχετικές προβλέψεις όμως δεν συνοδεύονται από το κατάλληλο θεσμικό πλαίσιο για την άσκηση αυτών των αρμοδιοτήτων. Η μεταρρύθμιση των κλάδων ασθένειας των οργανισμών κοινωνικής ασφάλισης πρέπει να συνδυασθεί με μεταρρύθμιση του συστήματος υγείας, να στηρίζεται στις αρχές της υψηλής ποιότητας και της βιωσιμότητας και να αξιοποιεί τα σύγχρονα μέσα για την οργάνωση, τη διοίκηση και τον έλεγχο των υπηρεσιών υγείας και συγκεκριμένα στην αξιολόγηση και τον αποτελεσματικό διοικητικό έλεγχο. Μέχρις ότου το κράτος ανταποκριθεί στην πρόκληση αυτή οι ασφαλισμένοι θα κάνουν όλο και συχνότερα χρήση των διατάξεων για την εσωτερική αγορά και θα ζητούν νοσηλεία ή εξωνοσοκομειακές παροχές σε άλλο κράτος μέλος της ΕΕ. Εκ του αποτελέσματος το ευρωπαϊκό δίκαιο συμβάλλει ουσιαστικά στην προστασία της υγείας των ευρωπαίων ασφαλισμένων στο μέτρο που τους επιτρέπει να παρακάμπτουν τις οικονομικές αδυναμίες των εθνικών συστημάτων και τις οργανωτικές τους ελλείψεις. 

Ο Θ. Βερέμης και ο Χ. Γιανναράς αναγνωρίζουν την υπεροχή ισχύος της Τουρκίας αναφερόμενοι σε βασικούς πυλώνες της. Ο μεν Βερέμης αναφέρεται στην οικονομία, στην άμυνα και την δημογραφία, ο δε Γιανναράς αναφέρεται στην άμυνα, στη δημογραφία και σε συγκεκριμένα πολιτισμικά χαρακτηριστικά της γείτονος ιδεολογικού τύπου, όπως το πατριωτικό φρόνημα και η απαίτηση εθνικής αξιοπρέπειας, τα οποία κρίνει ότι "η Ελλάδα παραβλέπει ανέμελη". Θα συμφωνήσουμε με τον Βερέμη αλλά θα διαφωνήσουμε με τον Γιανναρά. 

Το άρθρο αποτελεί την επεξεργασμένη και εμπλουτισμένη μορφή της ανακοίνωσης στο συνέδριο του Τμήματος Γερμανικής Γλώσσας και Φιλολογίας του ΕΚΠΑ για τον Georg Trakl (2007). Διερευνά την πρόσληψη στην Ελλάδα, του γερμανικού εξπρεσιονισμού γενικότερα, και του Trakl ειδικότερα, μέσω μεταφράσεων, δοκιμίων και ποιητικών εκλεκτικών συγγενειών. Αναφέρεται αρχικά στην ποιητική σχέση του Νίκου Εγγονόπουλου με τον αυστριακό ποιητή, τον οποίο ο υπερρεαλιστής ποιητής και ζωγράφος συγκαταλέγει ανάμεσα στους πνευματικούς δημιουργούς που απασχόλησαν τη σκέψη, τη γραφίδα, αλλά και τον χρωστήρα του. Ο Georg Trakl απεικονίζεται σε πίνακα του Εγγονόπουλου του 1968, πίνακας που αναπαράγεται, μεταξύ άλλων πινάκων και ενός σχεδίου, στην έκδοση της ποιητικής συλλογής Στην κοιλάδα με τους ροδώνες του 1978, όπου συμπεριλαμβάνεται το ποίημα με τίτλο Το ποίημα του Γκέοργκ Τρακλ, εις Ριχάρδον Καρικιόπουλον. Η κοινή συνιστώσα των ποιημάτων και των έργων της συλλογής είναι ο διαρκής αναστοχασμός της ποιητικής συνείδησης πάνω στις αισθητικές καταβολές, οφειλές και δεσμεύσεις της, τμήμα των οποίων αποτελεί το έργο του Trakl.  Ύστερα από μια σύντομη αναδρομή στην εργοβιογραφία του Trakl και στη σταδιακή πορεία του από τις ρομαντικές-ιμπρεσσιονιστικές καταβολές του στον τρόπο έκφρασης που θα ονομασθεί αργότερα εξπρεσιονισμός, γίνεται εκτενέστερη αναφορά στην εξπρεσιονιστική τέχνη και λογοτεχνία και στα επί μέρους χαρακτηριστικά της, που εντοπίζονται στην ποίηση του Trakl: έκρηξη του χρώματος, το οποίο λειτουργεί ως αυτόνομη μεταφορά, παράταξη μορφολογικών και υφολογικών στοιχείων, ενορατικό και υποκειμενικό βλέμμα πάνω στην πραγματικότητα. Στη συνέχεια εξετάζεται εν συντομία η έκταση της παρουσίας του γερμανικού εξπρεσιονισμού στην Ελλάδα και η περιορισμένη σχέση του με τον ελληνικό μοντερνισμό, για τον οποίο κυρίαρχο σημείο αναφοράς είναι η γαλλική εκδοχή του μοντερνισμού, ο γαλλικός σουρεαλισμός. Ακολουθεί η λεπτομερής καταγραφή της παρουσίας του Georg Trakl στα ελληνικά γράμματα. Ο ποιητής μεταφράζεται και γίνεται γνωστός στην Ελλάδα μόλις μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, όχι νωρίτερα, αρχικά μέσα από τις μεταφράσεις του ασπαζόμενου τον υπερρεαλισμό Δημήτριου Στ. Δήμου το 1950, ο οποίος μπορεί να θεωρηθεί ο εισηγητής του έργου του στην Ελλάδα. Έκτοτε το ενδιαφέρον για τον ποιητή και ο αριθμός των μεταφράσεων από το έργο του και των σχετικών δοκιμίων διαρκώς αυξάνονται, με προεξάρχουσα την φιλολογικά ιδιαίτερα τεκμηριωμένη και εκτενώς σχολιασμένη δίγλωσση έκδοση το 1990 του συνόλου σχεδόν των ποιημάτων του, που επιμελήθηκε η μεταφράστρια, ποιήτρια και πεζογράφος Έλενα Νούσια. Στο πλαίσιο της διερεύνησης των ποιητικών σχέσεων που προέκυψαν από την επαφή με το έργο του Trakl και κατά συνέπεια με τον γερμανικό εξπρεσιονισμό, θα πρέπει να αναφέρουμε και πάλι την Έλενα Νούσια, για την οποία τεκμηριώνονται συσχετισμοί ανάμεσα στην μεταφραστική και στην προσωπική της ποιητική δημιουργία, αλλά και τον Μίλτο Σαχτούρη, για τον οποίο έχει ειπωθεί πως «είναι η πιο εξπρεσιονιστική συνείδηση και ποιητική εκδοχή της λογοτεχνίας μας· θα έλεγα, μάλιστα, η μόνη» (Γ. Δάλλας, 1997). Ο Σαχτούρης γνώριζε εις βάθος και εκτιμούσε τον γερμανικό εξπρεσιονισμό, και ιδιαίτερα τον Georg Trakl, το έργο του οποίου διάβασε εν μέρει στο πρωτότυπο και εν μέρει σε γαλλική μετάφραση. Πράγματι, η εκ του σύνεγγυς θεώρηση του έργου του Σαχτούρη τεκμηριώνει ποιητική συγγένεια με το έργο του Trakl.

The π–π* molecular structure (eigenenergies and eigenfunctions) of flavin tricyclic ring is calculated, using the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method containing only pz atomic orbitals. In respect to FADH− position opposite to DNA lesion in photolyase, flavin's HOMO is found to be distributed in the central and distal side, while LUMO is localized in the distal side of flavin (the side that is closer to the adenine part of FADH− and farther than the DNA dimer lesion). LUMO1 as well as LUMO2 are mainly distributed in the proximal side of flavin (the side that is closer to the DNA dimer). Our findings are compared with previous theoretical results as well as with experimental values of known π–π* transitions.

Στο σχόλιο  αυτό υποστηρίζω ότι η υπόθεση επί της οποίας εκδόθηκε η απόφαση C-559/2007 του ΔΕΚ δεν αναμενόταν να έχει θετική έκβαση για την Ελλάδα. Η  εμμονή της Ελλάδας να διατηρεί ευνοϊκότερα όρια ηλικίας συνταξιοδοτήσεως για τις γυναίκες αντίκειται και στο Σύνταγμα, όπως ήδη είχε κρίνει και το ΣτΕ με την απόφαση (Ολ.) 3088/2007. Η εκ μέρους της Ελλάδας ενώπιον του ΔΕΚ εξάντληση της διαδικασίας και της  επιχειρηματολογίας με βάση τη μεταβατική διάταξη της Οδηγίας 79/7/ΕΟΚ ήταν νομικά αδιέξοδη και πέτυχε έναν και μόνο στόχο, να καθυστερήσει όσο γινόταν περισσότερο την κατάργηση των ευνοϊκότερων για τις γυναίκες ορίων ηλικίας συνταξιοδοτήσεως. Ο στόχος όμως αυτός δεν συνάδει με τις υποχρεώσεις της που απορρέουν από το Σύνταγμα καθώς και από το δίκαιο της ΕΕ.    

Το παρόν έργο οριοθετεί το δημόσιο δίκαιο της υγείας ως αυτοτελή κλάδο του δικαίου της κοινωνικής προστασίας και εξετάζει το ισχύον στην Ελλάδα νομοθετικό πλαίσιο των δημόσιων υπηρεσιών υγείας με βάση τις αρχές που το διέπουν. Στην Ελλάδα οι θεωρητικές μελέτες για το δίκαιο της υγείας περιορίζονται σε αποσπασματικές προσεγγίσεις, κυρίως σχετικά με το συνταγματικό δικαίωμα στην προστασία της υγείας, την αστική ευθύνη των ιατρών του Eθνικού Συστήματος Yγείας (ΕΣΥ) ενώ τα δικαιώματα των ασθενών κατά κανόνα εξετάζονται από πλευράς αστικού δικαίου, δηλαδή με βάση τη συμβατική σχέση του ιατρού με τον ασθενή. Το έργο όμως αυτό συμβάλλει στην καλλιέργεια του κλάδου του δημοσίου δικαίου στην υγεία. Στο πρώτο μέρος οριοθετείται το δημόσιο δίκαιο της υγείας ως ιδιαίτερος κλάδος του δικαίου της κοινωνικής προστασίας. Το δίκαιο της κοινωνικής προστασίας αποτελεί ειδικότερο κλάδο του δημοσίου δικαίου και περιλαμβάνει τη νομοθεσία που ρυθμίζει την εξασφάλιση του ανθρώπου από τους κοινωνικούς κινδύνους. Το δίκαιο της υγείας ορίζεται ως το σύστημα των κανόνων δικαίου που εφαρμόζονται στην υγειοπροστατευτική δραστηριότητα στο κέντρο της οποίας βρίσκεται ο άνθρωπος και η διατήρηση, η αποκατάσταση και η βελτίωση μιας πραγματικής καταστάσεως, της υγείας του. Το δίκαιο της υγείας εντάσσεται συστηματικά στο δίκαιο της κοινωνικής προστασίας, εφόσον η προσβολή ή η υποβάθμιση της υγείας του ανθρώπου θεωρείται κοινωνικός κίνδυνος, τον οποίο η κοινωνική ολότητα αναλαμβάνει να καλύψει. Το δίκαιο της υγείας είναι συγγενές με το δίκαιο της κοινωνικής ασφαλίσεως και της πρόνοιας και μάλιστα παρατηρούνται επικαλύψεις όταν οι ασφαλιστικοί και προνοιακοί οργανισμοί χορηγούν παροχές ασθενείας και μητρότητας σε είδος. Στη μελέτη εξετάζονται ειδικότερα, τα εννοιολογικά χαρακτηριστικά του ατομικού και συλλογικού δικαιώματος και οι υπερκρατικές πηγές, δηλαδή το διεθνές και ευρωπαϊκό δίκαιο. Oι κανόνες δημοσίου δικαίου που διέπουν τη διοίκηση των υπηρεσιών υγείας και τη διασφάλιση της υγειονομικής τάξεως και της ασφάλειας έχουν ειδικό χαρακτήρα σε σχέση με τους κανόνες του ιδιωτικού δικαίου και συγκροτούν το δημόσιο δίκαιο της υγείας. Το δίκαιο αυτό εστιάζεται σε δύο πόλους: Στην παροχή υψηλού επιπέδου υπηρεσιών υγείας και στην εξασφάλιση της υγειονομικής δημόσιας τάξεως. Το ευρωπαϊκό δίκαιο έχει συμβάλει ουσιωδώς στην καθιέρωση του αυτοτελούς δικαιώματος στην προστασία της υγείας και έχει επιτύχει την καθιέρωση της ενιαίας αγοράς αγαθών και υπηρεσιών υγείας. Τα κράτη-μέλη είναι αρμόδια για την οργάνωση των εθνικών τους συστημάτων, ωστόσο με νομικά δεσμευτικά και μη μέσα η ΕΕ επιτυγχάνει τη σύγκλιση, τον συντονισμό και σε ορισμένες εξαιρετικές περιπτώσεις την εναρμόνιση των διατάξεων που αναφέρονται στην προστασία της υγείας των ευρωπαίων πολιτών. Στο ευρωπαϊκό δίκαιο, η θέση της προστασίας της υγείας υπό τη σκέπη της αλληλεγγύης, μαζί με δικαιώματα, όπως είναι η προστασία του περιβάλλοντος και του καταναλωτή, και το γεγονός ότι η υγεία αποτελεί έναν από τους στόχους της προστασίας του περιβάλλοντος και του καταναλωτή, έχει οδηγήσει στην καθιέρωση και την εφαρμογή κοινών γενικών αρχών και συγκεκριμένα της πρόληψης, της προφύλαξης, της βιωσιμότητας, της υψηλής ποιότητας των παρεχόμενων υπηρεσιών και αγαθών υγείας. Επίσης, οι μέθοδοι τις οποίες προκρίνει το ευρωπαϊκό δίκαιο και συγκεκριμένα της αξιολογήσεως, της συνεργασίας με διεθνείς οργανισμούς και άλλα κράτη για τη διαφύλαξη και την προαγωγή της υγείας κ.λπ., καθώς και οι δράσεις της EE έχουν σημειώσει αξιόλογα και ορατά από τους ευρωπαίους πολίτες αποτελέσματα, κυρίως όσον αφορά στην προστασία της δημόσιας υγείας. Πάντως, για τη μελλοντική ανάπτυξη της προστασίας της υγείας στο ευρωπαϊκό δίκαιο, θα πρέπει η ΕΕ να αποκτήσει πρόσθετες αρμοδιότητες, κάτι που πιθανότατα θα καθυστερήσει αφού η υγεία εντάσσεται στα νεότερα πεδία της ευρωπαϊκής ολοκληρώσεως, τα οποία κινούνται με μικρή σχετικώς ταχύτητα και δεν φαίνεται ότι προσεχώς θα αποκτήσουν ταχείς ρυθμούς. Στο δεύτερο μέρος εξετάζεται η δημόσια υπηρεσία προστασίας της υγείας και οι αρχές που τη διέπουν. Αναλύονται τα δύο βασικά πρότυπα (Bismarck και Beveridge) και παρατίθενται δύο χαρακτηριστικά παραδείγματα (της Γαλλίας και του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου), τα οποία έχουν αποτελέσει και πηγή εμπνεύσεως για τον έλληνα νομοθέτη. Συγκεκριμένα, το μεν γαλλικό για το ελληνικό διοικητικό δίκαιο και για την οργάνωση της δημόσιας διοικήσεως και των νοσοκομείων στην Ελλάδα μέχρι το 1983, το δε βρετανικό για τη θέσπιση του Εθνικού Συστήματος Υγείας το 1983. Ακολουθεί η παρουσίαση του ελληνικού δημόσιου συστήματος υγείας και, ειδικότερα, αφενός των γενικών του αρχών, που είναι έμφυτες στο πρότυπο το οποίο ο νομοθέτης έχει επιλέξει, και αφετέρου της επιδράσεως των γενικών αρχών του ευρωπαϊκού δικαίου. Βασικά στοιχεία του ΕΣΥ είναι η κρατική ευθύνη για την προστασία της υγείας, η καθολική, ισότιμη και κατάλληλη προστασία της υγείας του πληθυσμού και η οργάνωση σε κρατικές υπηρεσίες ή δημόσια νομικά πρόσωπα που ελέγχονται από το κράτος. Τα ευρωπαϊκά κράτη επιδιώκουν την παροχή υψηλής ποιότητας υπηρεσιών υγείας και την οικονομική βιωσιμότητα  του συστήματος υγείας με δύο διαμετρικά αντίθετους τρόπους: Με τον εσωτερικό ανταγωνισμό των δημόσιων υπηρεσιών υγείας από τη μια και με τη συνεργασία του ιδιωτικού με τον δημόσιο τομέα από την άλλη. Η σχετική επιλογή αναδεικνύει τη σύγκρουση δύο διαμετρικά αντίθετων ιδεολογικών αντιλήψεων. Από τη μια, η υγεία δεν διαφοροποιείται από τα άλλα αγαθά και μπορεί να παρασχεθεί με βάση τους κανόνες του ιδιωτικού δικαίου και τους μηχανισμούς της αγοράς. Από την άλλη, η υγεία αποτελεί κοινωνικό αγαθό και για την εξασφάλιση της προστασίας της δεν επαρκούν οι μηχανισμοί της αγοράς, τουλάχιστον όσον αφορά στη ρύθμιση της ζήτησης σε υπηρεσίες υγείες, καθόσον ο χρήστης των υπηρεσιών δεν έχει τις απαιτούμενες επιστημονικές γνώσεις και επιλέγει ακολουθώντας τη συμβουλή του επαγγελματία υγείας.  Το EΣΥ δεν έχει εισαγάγει την αξιοποίηση όλων των διαθέσιμων πόρων του δημόσιου και του ιδιωτικού τομέα ούτε τις συμβάσεις μεταξύ αυτών που παρέχουν και αυτών που λαμβάνουν υπηρεσίες ούτε την ευαισθητοποίηση των επαγγελματιών υγείας και των χρηστών για τα θέματα υγείας. Το EΣΥ δεν έχει προσανατολισθεί ούτε έχει εισαγάγει κανόνες και μηχανισμούς του ιδιωτικού δικαίου και ειδικότερα του ανταγωνισμού. Oι κανόνες αυτοί, αν προσαρμοσθούν κατάλληλα, μπορούν να συμβάλλουν στην αποδοτική του λειτουργία, παρ’ ότι στην Ελλάδα το κράτος δεν έχει δεσπόζουσα θέση ως προς την παροχή υπηρεσιών υγείας, όπως κατά κανόνα συμβαίνει στα συστήματα τύπου Beveridge. Η οργάνωση και η λειτουργία του δημόσιου συστήματος υγείας πρέπει να προσανατολισθεί σε διαρθρωτικές αλλαγές αντίστοιχες με αυτές που συντελούνται στις περισσότερες ευρωπαϊκές χώρες. Στο τρίτο μέρος εξετάζονται τα δικαιώματα του χρήστη των δημόσιων υπηρεσιών υγείας και διακρίνονται σε δύο κατηγορίες: α) Στα δικαιώματα του χρήστη της δημόσιας υπηρεσίας, τα οποία αποτελούν τον κορμό για την εξασφάλιση του κοινωνικού δικαιώματος των πολιτών στην προστασία της υγείας τους. Το κύριο δικαίωμα του χρήστη των δημόσιων υπηρεσιών υγείας είναι η παροχή υψηλής ποιότητας υπηρεσιών υγείας προληπτικού ή θεραπευτικού χαρακτήρα. Αυτή καθεαυτή η πρόσβαση στις υπηρεσίες υγείας διασφαλίζεται από την εφαρμογή των αρχών της ισότητας και της συνέχειας. Για παράδειγμα, οι εφημερίες εξασφαλίζουν την αδιάκοπη λειτουργία των υπηρεσιών υγείας και συνακόλουθα το δικαίωμα του χρήστη να έχει πρόσβαση κάθε στιγμή σε αυτές. Η αρχή της ασφάλειας περιλαμβάνει αφενός τις ιατρικές και τις συνδεόμενες με αυτές φροντίδες και αφετέρου την ατομική και τη συλλογική ασφάλεια των πολιτών στο πλαίσιο της πολιτικής για τη δημόσια υγεία (υγειονομική ασφάλεια). Νέες ισορροπίες πρέπει να βρεθούν μεταξύ του κινδύνου και της ασφάλειας και μεταξύ της ασφάλειας και του κόστους. Στο σημείο αυτό, η αρχή της ασφάλειας έχει ανανεωθεί και στο ουσιαστικό και στο δικονομικό δίκαιο από τον συνδυασμό της με την αρχή της προφυλάξεως και από την αντιστροφή του βάρους της αποδείξεως υπέρ του χρήστη των υπηρεσιών αντίστοιχα. Γόνιμο πεδίο για τη νομική επιστήμη παρέχει το δικαίωμα στην ασφάλεια όταν συγκρούεται με το δικαίωμα στην έρευνα, ενώ πεδίο περισσότερο τεχνικό, αλλά με μεγάλο αντίκτυπο στην προστασία των δικαιωμάτων του ανθρώπου, προσφέρει η ασφάλεια των πληροφοριών υγείας. β) Δεύτερη κατηγορία δικαιωμάτων είναι αυτά που απορρέουν από την προστασία της προσωπικότητας του ανθρώπου και εξασφαλίζουν την προστασία από την αυξημένη, λόγω της ραγδαίας επιστημονικής και τεχνολογικής προόδου, εξουσία των επαγγελματιών υγείας. Τα δικαιώματα της ενημερώσεως, της προστασίας της ιδιωτικότητας και των πληροφοριών που αφορούν στην υγεία, καθώς και της προστασίας της αξιοπρέπειας του ανθρώπου μπροστά στον πόνο και στον θάνατο έχουν έρεισμα στον σεβασμό της προσωπικότητας του χρήστη των υπηρεσιών υγείας. Όσον αφορά στο δικαίωμα της ενημερώσεως απαιτείται οι εξαιρέσεις και οι περιορισμοί του δικαιώματος να προβλεφθούν με ειδικό νόμο που θα ρυθμίζει συνολικά και ολοκληρωμένα τα δικαιώματα των ασθενών. Όσον αφορά στην προστασία του απορρήτου, η νομική του βάση έχει διευρυνθεί με το άρθρο 8 της ΕΣΔΑ, το οποίο εξειδικεύεται στους κώδικες δεοντολογίας των επαγγελματιών υγείας ή –σπανιότερα– σε νόμους για τα δικαιώματα των ασθενών. Τέλος, όσον αφορά στη νομοθεσία για την προστασία των προσωπικών δεδομένων δεν φαίνεται να έχει εμπεδωθεί από τους αρμόδιους επαγγελματίες υγείας, οι οποίοι συχνά προβληματίζονται σε σχέση με το εάν και τι είδους στοιχεία πρέπει να χορηγούν κατόπιν αιτήσεως είτε του χρήστη είτε τρίτων που συνδέονται με αυτόν. Επίσης, ζητήματα τίθενται, ως προς την τήρηση των αρχείων από τις υπηρεσίες και τους επαγγελματίες υγείας, διότι τα δημόσια νοσοκομεία δεν έχουν μέχρι σήμερα εγκαταστήσει ολοκληρωμένα συστήματα πληροφορικής. Το δικαίωμα στη ζωή και το δικαίωμα συναινέσεως στις ιατρικές πράξεις εξειδικεύουν την αυτονομία του χρήστη. Γίνεται δεκτό ότι ο άνθρωπος έχει δικαίωμα σε αξιοπρεπή ζωή όχι όμως στον θάνατο. Συνέπεια αυτής της παραδοχής είναι η δυνατότητα του χρήστη αφενός να μη συναινεί σε ανώφελες θεραπείες που παρατείνουν επ’ ολίγον τη ζωή υποβαθμίζοντας όμως την ποιότητά της. Αφετέρου να δικαιούται παρηγορητικές φροντίδες, ώστε να υποστηριχθεί ψυχικά και να ανακουφισθεί από τους πόνους, ακόμη και αν τα φάρμακα που του χορηγούνται ενδέχεται να έχουν ως παρενέργεια τη συντόμευση της ζωής του. Η διατήρηση της αξιοπρέπειας απέναντι στον πόνο και/ή στον θάνατο δεν είναι αποκλειστικά προσωπική υπόθεση του ασθενή ή των οικείων του ούτε αποκλειστικά του ιατρού. Στην Ελλάδα απαιτείται να οργανωθούν ειδικές υπηρεσίες για τη στήριξη του ασθενή και των οικείων του. Η πραγματική κατοχύρωση αυτών των δικαιωμάτων φέρνει τον χρήστη στο επίκεντρο του δημοσίου δικαίου της υγείας. Ωστόσο, οι αποφάσεις του χρήστη συναρτώνται από την πληροφόρηση και τη σχέση εμπιστοσύνης που αναπτύσσει με τον επαγγελματία υγείας. Συνεπώς, τα δικαιώματα του χρήστη των υπηρεσιών υγείας φαινομενικά και μόνο καθαιρούν την εξουσία των επαγγελματιών υγείας. Στην πραγματικότητα, αναβαθμίζουν την εξουσία αυτή και τη στηρίζουν στην κατεύθυνση εδραιώσεως σχέσεων εμπιστοσύνης και συνακόλουθα στη συνεργασία των χρηστών με τους επαγγελματίες υγείας και στην υψηλή ποιότητα των υπηρεσιών υγείας.  

Στη σημερινή μετανεωτερική ολυμπιακή πραγματικότητα, η χρήση αναχρονιστικών βιολογικών ‘δεδομένων’ ή βιολογίστικων θεωρήσεων (Sandow 1898, Möbius 1908, Coubertin 1912, Weininger 1917, Webster 1930, Pfister 1990), βάσει των οποίων θεσμοθετήθηκαν και δομήθηκαν οι έμφυλες ιεραρχίες στον αθλητισμό αμφισβητούνται και επαναπροσδιορίζονται. Σ’ ένα υπό εξέλιξη θεωρητικό διάλογο στην κοινωνική περιοχή του αθλητισμού και της φυσικής αγωγής, είναι ερευνητικά τεκμηριωμένο ότι το «ανήκειν σε ένα φύλο» είναι αποτέλεσμα πολλών και πολύπλοκων κοινωνικών διεργασιών—πέραν της βιολογικής διαφοράς (Hargreaves 2000, McNay 2000, Evans and Penney 2002, Kirk 2002, Heywood and Dworkin 2003, Χαραχούσου 2003, Creedon 2006, Messner & Raewyn 2007, McDonagh & Pappano 2007, Kamberidou 2007). Στις σύγχρονες συζητήσεις για το φύλο, το έμφυλο υποκείμενο (gendered subject) την έμφυλη ταυτότητα και το ανθρώπινο σώμα, το βιολογικό φύλο (sex) δεν αποτελεί αποκλειστική αναλυτική κατηγορία. Τη θέση του παίρνει το κοινωνικό φύλο (gender) το οποίο διαμορφώνει, προσδιορίζει και επαναπροσδιορίζει την ταυτότητα σύμφωνα με κοινωνικές-πολιτισμικές ερμηνείες και εξελίξεις (Λεοντσίνι 1996, McNay 2000, Μαλουτά 2002, Aitchison 2003, Kimmel 2004, Holmes 2007). Το νόημα του αγγλοσαξονικής προέλευσης όρου gender (φύλο/κοινωνικό φύλο), παραπέμπει στο κοινωνικό υποκείμενο. Ερμηνεύεται σε κοινωνικό-ιστορικό πλαίσιο και δεν αφορά μόνο τις γυναίκες. Έμφυλο υποκείμενο είναι και ο άνδρας... ... Cite as:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2009) Φύλο & Αθλητισμός. FYLOPAEDIA-Φύλο Παιδεία. Ηλεκτρονικό Εγκυκλοπαιδικό Λεξικό του Προγράμματος ΘΕ.ΦΥΛ.ΙΣ., Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών  www.thefylis.uoa.gr/fylopedia). Φύλο-Παιδεία  e-λεξικό, ΕΚΠΑ, http://www.fylopedia.uoa.gr/index.php?title=%CE%A6%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%BF_%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9_%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82 [τροποποιήθηκε τελευταία φορά στις 20:45, 22 Ιουλίου 2009: Αυτή η σελίδα έχει προσπελαστεί 2.345 φορές (τελευταία πρόσβαση 4/5/2015)

Parotid acinic cell carcinoma is a rare malignancy in childhood. We report the case of a 12-year-old girl presenting with a palpable mass in the left maxillofacial area. The radiologic evaluation showed a parotid mass. Tumour resection revealed acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. She underwent complementary total parotidectomy without any adjuvant treatment. The patient has been disease-free for the last five years. We review the literature on acinic cell carcinomas of parotid glands in childhood.

AIM: Obesity has been implicated in the aetiology of myelogenous leukaemia and myelodysplasia (MDS). We hypothesised that altered secretion of adiponectin and resistin may underlie this association. We thus investigated the role of both total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and resistin in MDS. METHODS: In a case-control study, we studied 101 cases with incident, histologically confirmed primary MDS and 101 controls matched on gender and age between 2004 and 2007. Total and HMW adiponectin, resistin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-3) were determined. RESULTS: Lower serum total or HMW adiponectin and/or resistin levels were independently associated with higher risk of MDS controlling for age, gender, BMI and serum levels of leptin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 (p<0.002). Although total and HMW adiponectin were both significantly inversely associated with MDS when modelled either in quartiles or continuously, HMW did not offer any substantial additional predictive value over total adiponectin (Odds ratio (OR)=0.91 versus 0.93 for a 1 microg/ml change, respectively). IGF-I was positively associated with MDS by bivariate analysis and both IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were higher in advanced MDS and higher risk stages, but were not significantly and independently associated with MDS. CONCLUSION: Total and HMW adiponectin may have a protective role in MDS, whereas resistin levels may be decreased via a compensatory mechanism.

Adolescent gynaecology is increasingly recognized as an area in which specific knowledge and expertise is required to ensure the best outcome. Gynaecological problems in adolescents are common and, although serious disease is rare, distress and discomfort can be significant. Adolescent girls are under great pressure, particularly in terms of examination performance, and problems such as menstrual dysfunction can be particularly difficult to manage. Careful and sympathetic assessment is crucial, and simple treatment remedies may be sufficient. Complex and rare medical conditions can also occur and must not be missed. Some congenital disorders present for the first time in adolescence. Early detection and appropriate treatment ensures the best possible outcome in terms of sexual function and potential fertility. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The remarks presented in this article focus on the importance of Afghan-Pakistani Islam with the Salafist, Takfirist and internationalist holy war tendencies and linkages within the context of the Iraq-Lebanon axis. The subversive potential of the Islamist movement, combined with the export of Shiite Islamist extremism through Tehran, emerge as significant factors of instability in the region. Also, the tolerance exhibited by Washington, with regard to the formation and activity of extremist Salafist movements, to counterbalance Iran’s export of Islamist subversive practices to the countries of the region (Lebanon, Iraq, Hamas-Gaza), is considered dangerous and requiring revision. Finally, a general strategy plan is proposed for establishing peace in the region, by removing the ideological footholds of the cores of the nationalist and internationalist Islamist movement.

In this study, the variability and trends of the mean annual and seasonal surface air temperature in Greek peninsula are examined. The climatic data used, concern mean monthly values of air temperature of 20 meteorological stations of the Hellenic Meteorological Service, for the period 1951-2000. The air temperature time series for each station are analyzed, so that the variability and trends be described. Regarding the annual time series, a cooling trend is observed since the early 1960's till the middle of the decade of 1970, when the trend reverses to heating till nowadays. It is remarkable that the today air temperature levels do not exceed the levels of the middle of the century. During the winter, it is crystal clear that a cooling trend exists from the middle of the decade of 1950 to the end of the decade of 1980, especially in the south region of the country. Afterwards an increasing trend is obvious till nowadays. The pattern in spring appears a slight heating trend in the northern region of Greece and a cooling trend in the south. The summer time series are similar to the annual ones, so the contribution of summer to annual variability is unquestionable. Generally speaking, the air temperature in autumn follows the same distribution in time. In the process, the Factor Analysis is applied on the mean annual and seasonal air temperature and thereafter the regions, within the air temperature covariates, are defined. Finally, the application of spectral analysis to annual and seasonal air temperature is regarded necessary so that the periodicities are derived. © 2008 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

CCD photometric observations of the Algol-type eclipsing binary TZ Eri have been obtained in B and V filters during 26 nights from December 2007 to February 2008 at the Athens University Observatory. The light curves are analyzed with the Wilson-Devinney code, new geometric and photometric elements are derived, a time series analysis of the observations is applied and a multiperiodic behavior is also discussed. The presence of a third light in the system is considered and our results are compared with those of the O-C analysis for a third body in the system, given by Zasche et al. (2008).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT), a serine proteinase inhibitor, has been implicated in vascular pathology. The TT genotype of the ACT signal peptide A/T polymorphism has been reported to confer susceptibility to primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH). We conducted a prospective study to test possible association of ACT signal peptide A/T polymorphism with PICH in a Greek cohort with enough power (80%) to detect a twofold increase in the odds ratio. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 147 patients with PICH. ACT signal peptide A/T genotypes were determined in patients and 206 healthy, age- and sex-matched control subjects from the neurology outpatient clinic using the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: Our study did not show an association between ACT signal peptide A/T polymorphism and PICH. We also failed to find any influence on age at onset, the location and volume of PICH as well as on clinical severity at admission or 6-month outcome. CONCLUSION: Our data failed to confirm an association between ACT signal peptide A/T polymorphism and PICH. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that the TT genotype confers susceptibility at less than a twofold increase.

Various scenarios of contact binary evolution have been proposed in the past, giving hints of (sometimes contradictory) evolutionary sequences connecting A- and W-type systems. As the components of close detached binaries approach each other and contact binaries are formed, following evolutionary paths transforms them into systems of two categories: A-type and W-type. The systems evolve in a similar way but under slightly different circumstances. The mass/energy transfer rate is different, leading to quite different evolutionary results. An alternative scenario of evolution in contact is presented and discussed, based on the observational data of over one hundred low-temperature contact binaries. It results from the observed correlations among contact binary physical and orbital parameters. Theoretical tracks are computed assuming angular momentum loss from a system via stellar wind, accompanied by mass transfer from an advanced evolutionary secondary to the main-sequence primary. A good agreement is seen between the tracks and the observed graphs. Independently of details of the evolution in contact and a relation between A- and W-type systems, the ultimate fate of contact binaries involves the coalescence of both components into a single fast rotating star.

This study examined selected anthropometric characteristics of young rowers and compared them with those of senior national level athletes and untrained children, in order to establish a rowing specific anthropometric profile for young athletes. Anthropometric characteristics were measured in 509 club-level rowers aged 11-16 years and 29 male senior national level rowers. Club-level athletes were categorized in 6 age groups (11-16 y), while the senior national level rowers were divided into heavyweight (H-W) and lightweight (L-W). Rowers aged 15 and 16 y had similar height, body weight, arm length and leg length, but lower lean body mass (5 to 8.3 Kg less) compared with senior L-W rowers. Comparison of the young rowers with a reference group of untrained Greek children by means of percentiles (P) revealed that rowers in all age groups were heavier (P63 to P75), taller (P82 to P90) but had a lower body mass index than the mean values (P50) of the reference group after the age of 14 (P48 to P43). Skinfold thicknesses and body fat decreased from the 11 y through to the 16 y group (from 22.9% to 17.8%), and were lower in the two senior groups (9.6% for the L-W and 12.3% for the H-W). Endomorphy ratings decreased with age from 11 to 14 y, but there was no difference between the 14 to 16 y old groups. Mesomorphy was similar across all groups examined and ectomorphy did not show large fluctuations from the 13 y old group onwards. Somatotype of the 15 y old group was 2.4-4.4-3.4 (endo-mesoectomorphy) and was identical to that of the 16 y group and the lightweight senior rowers. The results of this study showed that the club level rowers aged 15 and 16 yrs have similar body structure but different body composition compared with the senior L-W rowers. Anthropometric characteristics can be used as a criterion for selection of rowers by the coaches from an early age.

This study examined selected anthropometric characteristics of young rowers and compared them with those of senior national level athletes and untrained children, in order to establish a rowing specific anthropometric profile for young athletes. Anthropometric characteristics were measured in 509 club-level rowers aged 11-16 years and 29 male senior national level rowers. Club-level athletes were categorized in 6 age groups (11-16 y), while the senior national level rowers were divided into heavyweight (H-W) and lightweight (L-W). Rowers aged 15 and 16 y had similar height, body weight, arm length and leg length, but lower lean body mass (5 to 8.3 Kg less) compared with senior L-W rowers. Comparison of the young rowers with a reference group of untrained Greek children by means of percentiles (P) revealed that rowers in all age groups were heavier (P63 to P75), taller (P82 to P90) but had a lower body mass index than the mean values (P50) of the reference group after the age of 14 (P48 to P43). Skinfold thicknesses and body fat decreased from the 11 y through to the 16 y group (from 22.9% to 17.8%), and were lower in the two senior groups (9.6% for the L-W and 12.3% for the H-W). Endomorphy ratings decreased with age from 11 to 14 y, but there was no difference between the 14 to 16 y old groups. Mesomorphy was similar across all groups examined and ectomorphy did not show large fluctuations from the 13 y old group onwards. Somatotype of the 15 y old group was 2.4-4.4-3.4 (endo-mesoectomorphy) and was identical to that of the 16 y group and the lightweight senior rowers. The results of this study showed that the club level rowers aged 15 and 16 yrs have similar body structure but different body composition compared with the senior L-W rowers. Anthropometric characteristics can be used as a criterion for selection of rowers by the coaches from an early age.

This study examined selected anthropometric characteristics of young rowers and compared them with those of senior national level athletes and untrained children, in order to establish a rowing specific anthropometric profile for young athletes. Anthropometric characteristics were measured in 509 club-level rowers aged 11-16 years and 29 male senior national level rowers. Club-level athletes were categorized in 6 age groups (11-16 y), while the senior national level rowers were divided into heavyweight (H-W) and lightweight (L-W). Rowers aged 15 and 16 y had similar height, body weight, arm length and leg length, but lower lean body mass (5 to 8.3 Kg less) compared with senior L-W rowers. Comparison of the young rowers with a reference group of untrained Greek children by means of percentiles (P) revealed that rowers in all age groups were heavier (P63 to P75), taller (P82 to P90) but had a lower body mass index than the mean values (P50) of the reference group after the age of 14 (P48 to P43). Skinfold thicknesses and body fat decreased from the 11 y through to the 16 y group (from 22.9% to 17.8%), and were lower in the two senior groups (9.6% for the L-W and 12.3% for the H-W). Endomorphy ratings decreased with age from 11 to 14 y, but there was no difference between the 14 to 16 y old groups. Mesomorphy was similar across all groups examined and ectomorphy did not show large fluctuations from the 13 y old group onwards. Somatotype of the 15 y old group was 2.4-4.4-3.4 (endo-mesoectomorphy) and was identical to that of the 16 y group and the lightweight senior rowers. The results of this study showed that the club level rowers aged 15 and 16 yrs have similar body structure but different body composition compared with the senior L-W rowers. Anthropometric characteristics can be used as a criterion for selection of rowers by the coaches from an early age.

Patent WO02095012A1 claims for the development of antibodies against receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand (RANKL) and immunologically functional fragments that neutralize RANKL. These molecules can be used to detect RANKL in biological samples, allowing the identification of pathological conditions in which RANKL alteration contributes to their pathophysiology. The use of anti-RANKL antibodies is of high importance in the treatment of bone disorders characterized by the stimulation of osteoclast function and subsequent bone loss. Postmenopausal and steroid-induced osteoporosis, myeloma bone disease, cancer bone metastases with lytic lesions and bone loss due to rheumatoid disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis) are candidates for anti-RANKL therapy, as RANKL is implicated in their pathogenesis. © 2008 Informa UK Ltd.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether APOE epsilon 4 predicts rate of cognitive change in incident and prevalent Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Individuals were recruited from two longitudinal cohort studies-the Washington Heights and Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP; population-based) and the Predictors Study (clinic-based)--and were followed for an average of 4 years. Three samples of participants diagnosed with AD, with diverse demographic characteristics and baseline cognitive functioning, were studied: 1) 199 (48%) of the incident WHICAP cases; 2) 215 (54%) of the prevalent WHICAP cases; and 3) 156 (71%) of the individuals diagnosed with AD in the Predictors Study. Generalized estimating equations were used to test whether rate of cognitive change, measured using a composite cognitive score in WHICAP and the Mini-Mental State Examination in Predictors, varied as a function of epsilon 4 status in each sample. RESULTS: The presence of at least one epsilon 4 allele was associated with faster cognitive decline in the incident population-based AD group (p = 0.01). Parallel results were produced for the two prevalent dementia samples only when adjusting for disease severity or excluding the most impaired participants from the analyses. CONCLUSION: APOE epsilon 4 may influence rate of cognitive decline most significantly in the earliest stages of Alzheimer disease.

Controlling healthcare costs is a multifaceted problem for governments all over the world, as they have the difficult task of ensuring that patients receive high quality care, and that this is delivered as efficiently as possible. Through the use of quantitative analysis, an attempt is made to determine the areas of activity of 32 Greek Public Obstetrical and Gynaecological Units which present problems with regard to their performance. Based on the results that emerge from the application of Data Envelopment Analysis in the 32 hospital units of the sample, information is provided to their managers, which refer to: (i) the degree of utilization of their production factors, (ii) the particular weight of each factor of production in the formation of the relative efficiency score, (iii) the utilization level of each factor of production, and (iv) those hospital units that utilize their factors of production in an optimal way and constitute models for the exercising of effective management. The derived information assists in the formulation of an appropriate policy mix per hospital unit which should be applied by their management teams along with a set of administrative measures that need to be undertaken in order to promote efficiency. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background in musicThis paper compounds an approach of music creation in ancient Greek tragedy in Greece, during the XXthcentury, focusing in the avant- guard composition techniques and especially in mixing instrumental, vocal ande/a (electroacoustic) means with a critical view on the works of Xenakis, Christou, Adamis and Vasiliadisconcerning the reforming of the micro-macro-musical structure.Background in compositionThis paper refers also, to a particular point of view in composition using e/a material in order to achieve thissound structure that conventional means could not create. This is an advantage of the e/a sound editing,based on the flexibility of handling the sound as a plastic material. This technical topic brings new aestheticand structural questions so at the conception of a work as at its realization too. A critical confrontation ofediting ready given samples to newly made.AimsDistinguishing the recorded playback music from the e/a material we realize the second one gives theopportunity to keep an eye open closer to the “ethos” of the text. Independently of specified styles andtechniques, the challenge transforming symbolism in abstract sound is risky and if stylized becomes guide tosuperficial performance so often in the (recent) past.Aiming to approve this interaction between music structure - aesthetic approach and text - sound, formcomes to be a servant of nowadays needs in realizing an ancient tragedy.ContributionAs the technological contribution in sound editing and composition leads to new fields of aesthetic andstructural quest it was expected to influence the music for theatre. Through these new tendencies thelimitation in serving the text is also the freedom to give the abstract and symbolic light of it. As directorswade into ancient tragic theme through contemporary hypocritical techniques and directing views, composersare capable to rely upon new technology.ImplicationsMoving away form the classical techniques for composing music for the ancient Greek tragedy based on theancient and Byzantin melos as it was seen the first half of the XXth century by many Greek composers andbringing the avant-garde techniques in combination to the new e/a media as a ritualistic reinforcement of thetext , this paper intends to focus on the new structures, means and compositional techniques through acomposer’s view . The above points that this novel study in e/a techniques may have many implications bothin musicological as in music theory domain. Firstly, because it scopes to redefine the compositional strategiesthrough the digital medium according the needs of the text and secondly because it introduces new aestheticapproaches that reinforce the “tragic| element through the e/a media.Aspects of musical structure and functionality of electroacoustic media in the performance of ancient Greek tragedy. A composers’ point of view Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; text-shadow:auto; mso-fareast-language:JA;}

We cloned and characterized an Aspergillus nidulans gene, called fcyB, encoding the closest homologue to the yeast Fcy2p/Fcy21p permeases. Deletion of fcyB (DeltafcyB) does not affect growth, development, reproduction or bulk purine uptake, but eliminates the leaky growth on purines of DeltaazgADeltauapCDeltauapA strains, lacking all known purine transporters, and confers resistance to the antifungal 5-fluorocytosine. Kinetic analyses showed FcyB is a low-capacity, high-affinity, cytosine-purine transporter sharing similar molecular interactions for substrate recognition with the yeast Fcy2p/Fcy21p carriers. fcyB transcription is highly activated during germination but drops at low constitutive levels throughout vegetative development. UaY-mediated purine induction of fcyB transcription is only moderate, while ammonium represses transcription through an AreA-dependent mechanism. A strain expressing FcyB-GFP confirms a low protein expression level in the plasma membrane of vegetative mycelia, but reveals an abundant expression in sexual and asexual compartments. FcyB-GFP was also shown to be downregulated by endocytosis in response to ammonia or the presence of cytosine. The expression profile of FcyB supports that its main physiological role is cytosine-purine scavenging.

Thyroid disease has been associated with lymphohematopoietic cancer (LHC). No previous study using clinical, sonographic and laboratory data has explored whether thyroid disease and specifically autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is associated with multiple myeloma (MM) risk. 73 patients with incident primary MM and 73 hospital controls admitted for non-neoplastic and non-infectious conditions, matched on gender and age were studied between 2001 and 2007. Blood samples were collected. All subjects were submitted to clinical, ultrasound and laboratory thyroid evaluation. The prevalence of clinical thyroid disease in MM patients was significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.002). ATD was associated with increased risk of MM, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and familial history of LHC [OR = 5.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.69-19.13]. Controlling for the above variables, an individual suffering from any thyroid disease more than 10 years has about 2.41 times more likely the risk to develop MM than an individual without any thyroid disease (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.35-4.29). Also, adjusting for age, gender, BMI and family history of LHC, a familial history of thyroid disease is associated with increased risk of MM (OR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.25-8.31). Further studies are needed to explore underlying mechanisms associating thyroid autoimmunity with plasma cell transformation.

BACKGROUND: 5382insC BRCA1 frameshift mutation is a common founder mutation for many populations worldwide and a high-risk allele for the development of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer. Our goal was to develop a novel, reliable and rapid method for its detection. METHODS: We developed an asymmetric real-time PCR method with hybridization probes in the LightCycler. Genotyping was performed by melting curve analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The developed method was in concordance with reference methods when tested in 85 peripheral blood and 107 tumor DNA samples from Greek breast and/or ovarian cancer patients. The described method proved to be simple, cost-effective, easy to perform and rapid enough for routine use as a screening method in high-risk families and especially in the Greek, Slavic and Jewish populations where 5382insC mutation is the most common BRCA1 mutation

We calculate the ground and excited electron and hole levels in spherical Si nanocrystals (quantum dots) embedded within SiO 2 in a multiband effective mass approximation. The obtained energies of electron and hole are used to estimate the Auger Recombination (AR) lifetime in Si Nanocrystals (NCs). The excited electron, excited hole and biexciton AR types are considered. © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

Aurora kinases represent a family of serine/threonine kinases highly conserved during evolution, whose main function is to promote mitotic spindle assembly by regulating centrosome duplication and separation. Inhibition of Aurora kinase activity may lead to defects in centrosome function, misaligned sister chromatides, mitotic spindle malformation, problematic cytokinesis and eventually mitotic arrest. Aurora kinases are overexpressed in a variety of tumor cell lines, suggesting their potential role in tumorigenesis and indicating that they could represent an appealing target for molecular therapies. Extensive pre-clinical information supports the development of Aurora kinase inhibitors in specific tumor types and a number of these novel agents are currently being extensively studied in phase I and II clinical trials exhibiting an acceptable toxicity profile and promising clinical efficacy. The current study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the development of Aurora kinases as molecular targets for anticancer therapy by focusing on their physiological role in mitosis, their implication in oncogenesis and the potential ways of inhibiting their activity. The main pre-clinical and clinical studies concerning Aurora kinase inhibitors currently under investigation are reported and important considerations for their future development are discussed. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnetically assisted hemodialysis is a development of conventional hemodialysis and is based on the circulation of ferromagnetic nanoparticle-targeted binding substance conjugates (FN-TBS Cs) in the bloodstream of the patient and their eventual removal by means of a 'magnetic dialyzer'. Presented here is an in vitro investigation on the biocompatibility of bare Fe3O4 FNs and Fe3O4-bovine serum albumin Cs with blood cells, namely red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets (Plts). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy (OM) enabled the examination of blood cells at the nanometer and micrometer level, respectively. The observations made on FN- and C-maturated blood samples are contrasted to those obtained on FN- and C-free reference blood samples subjected to exactly the same maturation procedure. Qualitatively, both AFM and OM revealed no changes in the overall shape of RBCs, WBCs and Plts. Incidents where bare FNs or Cs were bound onto the surface of RBCs or internalized by WBCs were very rare. Detailed examination by means of OM proved that impaired coagulation of Plts is not initiated/promoted either by FNs or Cs. Quantitatively, the statistical analysis of the obtained AFM images from RBC surfaces clearly revealed that the mean surface roughness of RBCs maturated with bare FNs or Cs was identical to the one of reference RBCs.

This is a summary report of the EUFEPS & COST B25 conference on Bioavailability and Bioequivalence which focused on physiological factors and variability. This conference was held at The Royal Olympic Hotel in the centre of Athens (Greece) during the 1-2 of October in 2007. The issues discussed in the conference involved physiological factors affecting drug absorption, the role of pre-systemic effects on bioavailability (BA), the impact of variability in bioequivalence (BE) studies, and a final closing panel session on unresolved issues in BA/BE regulations. Several important aspects of drug absorption were highlighted. It was presented how the complexity of gastrointestinal (GI) physiology and the site dependent absorption can impact on drug BA. Similarly, the effects of food and formulation were also studied. The second session focused on integrating the complexities of GI into modeling the inter-individual variability of absorption and the prediction of first-pass metabolism from in-vitro data. The necessity to measure metabolites, the value of Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), and the more recently proposed Biopharmaceutical Drug Disposition Classification System (BDDCS) were assessed as well. This session closed with presentations of pharmacokinetic software delegates. In the second day of the conference, the problem of high intra-subject variability in BE studies was analyzed. Study design considerations, the use of multiple-dose studies and the role of statistics in BE were also highlighted. Finally, the current thinking of regulatory authorities (EMEA and US-FDA) was presented. The conference closed with a last session on unresolved issues in the regulatory level.

Objectives: Docetaxel is an effective first-line treatment for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Nevertheless, the prognosis subsequent to progression after first-line therapy is poor and no second-line treatment has been established. Methods: A total of 34 patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer received doxorubicin, 30 mg/m2, every 2 weeks and ketoconazole daily, 400 mg orally every 8 hours. All patients had been treated with docetaxel and had disease progression within 6 months after completion of first-line treatment. Results: Of the 32 evaluable patients, 13 (43.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 26.3% to 62.3%) had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, and 4 (28%, 95% CI 8.4% to 58.1%) of 14 patients with measurable disease had a response to therapy. The median time to progression (TTP) was 3.9 months (95% CI 2.0 to 5.9), and the median overall survival (OS) was 13 months (95% CI 8.7 to 17.3). Toxicity was mild, with only 4 cases of nonhematologic grade 3 or 4 toxicity. The most frequent toxicity was nail changes (33 of 34 patients), which was mainly grade 1 (30 cases). Conclusions: The combination of biweekly doxorubicin and ketoconazole is an effective, well-tolerated, second-line therapy for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: Bortezomib is a novel, first-in-class proteasome inhibitor that has improved outcomes in multiple myeloma. with manageable toxicities. Objective: To summarise the chemistry, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of bortezomib, and review its clinical efficacy and toxicity, including use in elderly patients, use in patients with renal impairment and/or a poor prognosis, and effects on bone metabolism. Methods: Literature search of bortezomib studies (within 10 years) and recent congress abstracts. Results/conclusions: Bortezomib has improved response rates, overall survival, and time to progression in relapsed or refractory disease, both as a single agent and as part of combination regimens. Promising results have also been reported with bortezomib combinations in frontline induction therapy. Patient subgroups where conventional approaches are inappropriate may also benefit, thereby expanding the therapeutic armamentarium against this debilitating disease. © 2008 Informa UK Ltd.

Background: The standard treatment for patients with multiple myeloma who are not candidates for high-dose therapy is melphalan and prednisone. This phase 3 study compared the use of melphalan and prednisone with or without bortezomib in previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma who were ineligible for high-dose therapy. Methods: We randomly assigned 682 patients to receive nine 6-week cycles of melphalan (at a dose of 9 mg per square meter of body-surface area) and prednisone (at a dose of 60 mg per square meter) on days 1 to 4, either alone or with bortezomib (at a dose of 1.3 mg per square meter) on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29, and 32 during cycles 1 to 4 and on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 during cycles 5 to 9. The primary end point was the time to disease progression. Results: The time to progression among patients receiving bortezomib plus melphalan-prednisone (bortezomib group) was 24.0 months, as compared with 16.6 months among those receiving melphalan-prednisone alone (control group) (hazard ratio for the bortezomib group, 0.48; P<0.001). The proportions of patients with a partial response or better were 71% in the bortezomib group and 35% in the control group; complete-response rates were 30% and 4%, respectively (P<0.001). The median duration of the response was 19.9 months in the bortezomib group and 13.1 months in the control group. The hazard ratio for overall survival was 0.61 for the bortezomib group (P=0.008). Adverse events were consistent with established profiles of toxic events associated with bortezomib and melphalan-prednisone. Grade 3 events occurred in a higher proportion of patients in the bortezomib group than in the control group (53% vs. 44%, P=0.02), but there were no significant differences in grade 4 events (28% and 27%, respectively) or treatment-related deaths (1% and 2%). Conclusions: Bortezomib plus melphalan-prednisone was superior to melphalan-prednisone alone in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who were ineligible for high-dose therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00111319.). Copyright © 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.

We present an efficient computational methodology for full electrodynamic calculations of metallodielectric nanostructures based on a multiple-scattering formulation of Maxwell's equations. The method, originally developed for systems of spherical particles (MULTEM code), is extended to systems of particles of arbitrary shape and applied to ordered structures of metallic nanodisks with an aspect ratio as large as five. We first discuss the particle plasmon resonances of single metallic nanocylinders of different aspect ratios. Then, we study the plasmonic excitations of square arrays of metal-dielectric-metal nanosandwiches and the optical response of a rectangular lattice of metallic nanodisks on a dielectric waveguide. Finally we analyse the photonic band structure of a simple cubic crystal of metallic nanodisks.

Introduction: The combination of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel is considered the standard of care as initial chemotherapy for Advanced Ovarian Cancer (AOC). We compared this regimen with the combination of Cisplatin, Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin. Patients and methods: Patients with AOC were randomised to either six courses of Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 plus Carboplatin 7AUC or Paclitaxel at the same dose plus Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 plus Doxorubicin 40 mg/m2. Results: Analysis was performed on 451 patients. The treatment groups were well balanced with regard to patient and disease characteristics. Performance status (PS) was better in the anthracycline arm. In terms of severe toxicity, the only significant difference between the two groups was the development of febrile neutropaenia in the anthracycline arm. Overall response rate was similar in both groups. With a median follow-up of 57.5 months, a marginal significance towards improved Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was noted in favour of the anthracycline arm, whilst there was no difference in overall survival. In multivariate analysis the hazard of disease progression at any time was significantly decreased by 25.5% for patients of the anthracycline arm. Conclusion: The combination of Cisplatin, Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin demonstrates a marginal PFS improvement, but no additional survival benefit when compared with the standard Carboplatin/Paclitaxel regimen. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

There is evidence that selenium levels are relatively low in Europe and may be falling. Low levels of selenium or low activity of some of the enzymes dependent on selenium have been associated with asthma.|The GA(2)LEN network has organized a multicentre case-control study in Europe to assess the relation of plasma selenium to asthma. The network compared 569 cases in 14 European centres with a diagnosis of asthma and reporting asthma symptoms in the last 12 months with 576 controls from the same centres with no diagnosis of asthma and no asthmatic symptoms in the last 12 months.|All cases and controls were selected from the same population defined by age and place of residence. Mean plasma selenium concentrations among the controls ranged from 116.3 microg/l in Palermo to 67.7 microg/l in Vienna and 56.1 microg/l among the children in Oslo. Random effects meta-analysis of the results from the centres showed no overall association between asthma and plasma selenium [odds ratio (OR)/10 microg/l increase in plasma selenium: 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89-1.21] though there was a significantly protective effect in Lodz (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.29-0.78) and a marginally significant adverse effect in Amsterdam (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 0.98-2.90) and Ghent (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.03-1.77).|This study does not support a role for selenium in protection against asthma, but effect modification and confounding cannot be ruled out.

Greek has always been assumed to possess a verbal system organized on the basis of aspect, with tense playing only a secondary part, and to have retained this state of affairs throughout its history. This article claims that it has changed substantially, moving from the expression of oppositions of Aktionsart (states – telic activities – atelic activities) to the expression of oppositions of grammatical aspect (perfective – imperfective) and tense (past – non past and later past – present – future). The current system is claimed to display an almost perfect balance between tense and aspect. Keywords: tense; aspect; verbal system; Aktionsart; perfectivity

The aim of this study was to examine if Hymel, Tarulli, Hayden Thomson, and Terrell-Deutsch's (1999) three-dimension model of children's loneliness perceptions could be applied in Greece, and to examine age and gender differences in these perceptions. In addition, a more detailed examination of the emotional dimension in the perceptions of loneliness was attempted, based on Parkhurst and Hopmeyer's (1999) hypotheses for the emotions associated with loneliness. One-hundred and eighty 2nd-, 4th-, and 6th-grade children from Athens were interviewed about their understanding and experience of loneliness. Responses fit Hymel et al.'s (1999) model for the perceptions of loneliness, with some additions. Children perceived loneliness as a painful experience with emotional, cognitive, and contextual dimensions. Statistically significant age and gender differences were found in these dimensions, as well as in the loneliness-related emotions. The implications of these findings for the existing theoretical views on loneliness are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.

Adiponectin has potent insulin-sensitizing effects, improves lipid metabolism, and potentially protects against the development of metabolic syndrome. Thus, increasing adiponectin levels in preterm infants at risk for developing metabolic syndrome may be of special interest. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on serum adiponectin and lipid concentrations in preterm infants. Adiponectin and lipid levels of 60 healthy preterm infants [gestational age 32.7 (1.9) wk] randomly assigned to be fed either 1) a formula containing LCPUFA [arachidonic and docosahexanoic] (+LCPUFA group) or 2) the same formula without LCPUFA (-LCPUFA/control group), were determined at mean (SD) 33.8 (11.7) d. Adiponectin and HDL-C concentrations were significantly higher in the +LCPUFA group than in controls (p = 0.002 and p = 0.01, respectively); whereas, triglyceride levels were lower (p = 0.06). Adiponectin correlated positively with HDL-C levels and negatively with triglyceride levels in the +LCPUFA group but not in the controls. In conclusion, circulating adiponectin concentrations were higher in preterm infants fed a formula containing LCPUFA than infants fed an LCPUFA-free formula and they correlated with lipidemic profile.

Τhe main scope of this book is to illustrate a magnificent marine micro world in eastern Mediterranean Sea waters, the world of Coccolithophores. The eastern Mediterranean Coccolithophores presented in this book have been collected during several cruises and samplings in the Ionian and Aegean Sea at different seasons, between the years 1997-2006. The collected material has been analyzed and photographed by Scanning Electron Microscope and Light Microscope techniques. Αs a result 375 SEM and LM microphotographs are presented together with thorough systematic taxonomy and detailed description of 132 Coccolithophore species. A novelty of this book, compared to traditional atlases, is the trilingual approach of Coccolithophore taxonomy. Each species is described in three languages, English, Greek and Italian. In this way these astonishing beautiful marine microorganisms are getting introduced to a broad public and it becomes easier for non-native English speakers - students and researchers - to get acquainted with the scientific terminology. Additionally the combination of both scanning and light microscope techniques provides the most comprehensive documentation of Coccolithophore species morphology.

Collective plasmonic modes in two- and three-dimensional periodic assemblies of metallic nanoshells are studied by means of full electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method. We consider structures made of a single type of nanoshell as well as binary heterostructures made of two different types of nanoshells. The complex photonic band structure of such three-dimensional photonic crystals is analyzed in conjunction with relevant transmission diagrams of corresponding finite slabs and the physical origin of the different optical modes is elucidated. Moreover, we discuss associated absorption spectra and provide a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics. In the case of the binary systems, the plasmonic modes of the two building components coexist, leading to a rich structure of resonances over an extended frequency range and to broadband absorption.

Ultra-thin nanocrystalline silicon films with varying thickness from 5 to 30nm were grown on quartz by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of Si. Observations on cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens revealed that the films had a columnar growth, i.e. the third dimension of the nanocrystals, perpendicular to the Si/SiO 2 interface, was approximately equal to the film thickness, while the lateral size of nanocrystals was defined during the initial stage of growth and was not very much affected bythe film thickness. The observed columnar growth gives the possibility to obtain two-dimensional nanocrystal arrays on quartz with well defined size in the z-direction. Plane view images showed that the lateral distribution of nanocrystal size presents a well-defined maximum in all the films. The mean lateral size of the nanocrystals did not change very much with the film thickness, being in the range of 11-13 nm. The number of grains with size larger than the mean one tended to increase with the thickness of the film. © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

This phase 2 study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of the combination of bortezomib, melphalan, dexamethasone and intermittent thalidomide (VMDT) and its effect on bone remodeling and angiogenesis in relapsed/refractory myeloma. Bortezomib (1.0 mg/m2) was given on days 1, 4, 8, 11, oral melphalan (0.15 mg/kg) on days 1-4, whereas thalidomide (100mg per day) and dexamethasone (12 mg/m2) were administered on days 1-4 and 17-20 of a 28-day cycle, for four cycles. Patients without disease progression continued for up to eight cycles. VMDT effect on bone remodeling was evaluated by measuring osteoclast regulators (soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio, osteopontin, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α), dickkopf-1 protein, bone resorption and formation markers, whereas its effect on angiogenesis was assessed by measuring serum vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenin, angiopoietin-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor, after four cycles and at the study end. A total of 62 patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 66%: CR 13%, vgPR 27% and PR 26%. Median time to response was 35 days and median time to progression was 9.3 months. Common adverse events included cytopenias, peripheral neuropathy and infections. No patient experienced deep-vein thrombosis. VMDT reduced angiogenic cytokines, osteoclast regulators, dickkopf-1 and bone resorption. We conclude that VMDT with intermittent thalidomide is an active and well-tolerated regimen for relapsed/refractory myeloma, affecting abnormal bone remodeling and angiogenesis.

The present study investigates the principal morphological and sedimentological (textural) characteristics of the beach-zones along the Tigani and Mikalis Bays, which are located at the southeastern coast of Samos Island. It is also examined their retreat due to the expected sea level rise induced by the climatic change. The beach zones under investigation has been formed in front of alluvial coastal plains, while at their western end host the mouth of small (ephemeral) rivers. Their width varies between 12 and 25 m, becoming narrower towards their eastern ends; this shows that the longshore sediment transport, which is from W to E due to their coastline orientation relatively to incoming waves, has not been strong enough to move most of the sediment eastwards. The subaerial part of both beach zones consists of gravels, while their subaqueous part is covered by sand. The presence of low dunes at the backshore odf the Thiogani Bay in association with the lack of sand between the dunes and the shoreface indicate that the beach zone is under erosion. Furthermore, with respect to the expected sea-level rise the shoreline of Tigani bay may be retreat by 15-20 m, when the nearby shoreline of Mikalis bay could retreat 12-15 m.

In the context of the Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence, six European research teams developed a methodology for integrating their research approaches. In this paper, we present the methodology based on a cross-experimentation, showing how it gave insight to the understanding of each team’s research and on the relationship between theoretical frameworks and experimental research.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare total costs of care and its major components for community-living patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). This cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Predictors II Study took place in three university-based AD centers in the U.S. METHODS: Community-living patients clinically diagnosed with probable AD (n = 170) or DLB (n = 25) with a modified Mini-Mental State examination (mMMS) score > or =30, equivalent to a score of approximately > or =16 on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), participated in this study. Patient and informant reported on patients' use of direct medical care, direct nonmedical care, and informal care. Patients' clinical and demographic characteristics included global cognitive status (measured by MMSE), functional capacity (measured by Blessed Dementia Rating Scale), psychotic symptoms, behavioral problems, depressive symptoms, extrapyramidal signs, comorbidities, age, and sex. Costs were compared by using covariate matching methods. RESULTS: Unadjusted total costs and direct medical costs were not significantly different between AD and DLB patients. Compared with AD patients, unadjusted indirect costs were significantly higher and unadjusted direct nonmedical costs were significantly lower among DLB patients. After adjusting for age, sex, cognitive and functional status, differences in all cost components between DLB and AD patients were no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Apparent cost differences were largely attributed to differences in patients' cognitive and functional status. However, the small sample size for DLB patients might have limited power to detect statistically significant differences in costs of care between these groups.

BACKGROUND: Discrepancies in primary health care (PHC) services between urban and rural settings have already been studied in many countries; however, limited information exists regarding countries, such as Greece, where public Health Centres dedicated to primary care have not been in existence in major cities. The objective of this study was to evaluate points of divergence or convergence between an urban and a rural health centre, in an attempt to underline challenges faced by the introduction of urban health centres in Greece. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in the Health Centre of Vyronas, Athens, Greece and in the Health Centre of Nea (New) Madytos, Thessaloniki Prefecture, Greece between February 2004 and February 2006. The profile of the population seeking care, as well as data on the services provided were collected and compared. In addition, the reason for choosing each primary health care unit was also recorded. RESULTS: More patients visited the urban centre (145415 vs. 112513), while the pattern of services utilized by the citizens differed significantly (p < 0.001) between the two Health Centres. The frequency of diagnoses made according to ICPC-2 was not similar in the two Health Centres (p < 0.001). The three most frequent reasons for the adults choosing the Health Centre for their problem were low waiting time, proximity to residence and satisfaction with the services provided in previous visits in Vyronas. CONCLUSION: The results of this study highlight the significant differences regarding PHC services utilization between an urban and a rural population. Urban citizens seem to have different health needs and reasons for choosing a PHC unit than residents of the Greek countryside. Proximity to health services and the public character of the urban health centre seem to be its main advantages.

The authors theoretically demonstrate a practical scheme for robust and complete photonic bandgap switching using a three-dimensional double-inverse-opal photonic crystal. The investigated structure consists of a close-packed face-centered-cubic arrangement of spherical air pores, interconnected via air channels and embedded in a high-index (tin disulfide) backbone. We show that by placing lower-index movable dielectric scatterers (titania) inside the air pores, a complete photonic bandgap opens for certain positions of the scatterers, which altogether closes for other positions. Our analysis reveals that this switching scheme is robust to geometric imperfections and allows for sizeable bandgap switching. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.

The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence was determined for the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. It is 34,477 bp long, maps circularly, and encodes for 14 protein-coding, 25 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes. The nucleotide and amino acid data sets from its 14 concatenated protein-coding mitochondrial (mt) genes were used along with gene order comparisons for an extensive phylogenetic study of the Subphylum Pezizomycotina. Our results are in agreement with current taxonomic treatments and additionally provide better statistical support for all relationships within Pezizomycotina when compared to analyses based on single or few gene data sets. The gene order of F. oxysporum was consistent with that established in the order Hypocreales (Class: Sordariomycetes) and enhanced previous suppositions on the ancestral state of Sordariomycetes. In comparison with mt genomes of the other orders it added further insights to the evolution of Pezizomycotina.

The mtDNA of the ascomycetous wine yeast Candida zemplinina is a circularly mapping genome of 23,114 bp. It contains 35 genes coding for the seven basic subunits of oxidative phosporylation found in yeasts (the genes encoding for NADH oxidoreductase subunits are absent), the ribosomal protein Var1, two rRNAs and 25 tRNA genes. Although protein phylogenetic analysis showed a divergent mitochondrial genome, several traits appeared preserved. The conserved gene blocks between the mtDNAs of C. zemplinina and Candida glabrata were maintained and changes in gene order and putative promoters were due to restricted genome reshuffling. New heterogeneous hairpin elements were identified scattered throughout cox1 introns. The large subunit rRNA gene harboured the first group-IIB1 intron containing a putative active reverse transcriptase (RT) in mitochondrial genomes of fungi. Phylogenetic analysis of the RT protein confirmed its closer relationship to eubacterial intronic RTs, while being only distantly related to all other fungal mitochondrial group-II introns and RTs. The findings point towards an early migration event of a eubacterial group-II intron to the mitochondrial genome of C. zemplinina.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical assessment of facial type and facial proportions is an important element of orthodontic diagnosis and subsequent treatment planning. Because of the subjective nature of this procedure, it is important to identify factors that could affect final judgment. One such factor that has been shown to affect facial perception in general might be the configural relationship of internal parts of the face. Our aim in this study was to assess whether configural changes in a face affect the subjective evaluation of facial type. METHODS: The frontal photographs of 2 white boys, aged 12 years, with harmonious face were used. The photographs were manipulated by computer to produce realistic images of faces with various configural relationships of the features. The modifications were interocular distance enlarged by 3 mm or reduced by 3.6 mm, mouth width enlarged by 4.5 mm or reduced by 4.2 mm, and mouth moved vertically upward or downward by 2.8 mm. Two images with a true change of the frontal facial height by 4 mm were also produced. The images were presented in pairs to 20 experienced orthodontists. Each judge evaluated 36 pairs of images (including pairs of identical images), all belonging to the same patient, in a random sequence. The judges were unaware of the changes that had been made to the photographs and were asked to evaluate which of the 2 faces appeared longer. RESULTS: The judges correctly identified pairs of identical images with an accuracy of 42%. Reduction of the interocular distance and downward movement of the mouth caused the illusion of a longer face. The opposite changes had the reverse effect. Enlargement of the width of the mouth did not appear to influence the subjective impression of facial type, but reduction of mouth width had a statistically significant result, giving the impression of a longer face. CONCLUSIONS: Configural relationships among the constituent features of a face can influence our judgment about external facial proportions. Because of the importance of these factors in treatment planning, clinical evaluation of faces should be accompanied by objective assessment (measurement) of photographs, so that any illusory visual effects can be identified.

The essays collected in this volume – the outcome of the EAAS convention in Cyprus in 2006 – form a crossroads between a number of disciplines (literary theory and criticism, film studies, history, cultural studies, sociology); they are all animated – in different ways and to different extents – by a healthy suspicion towards the idea that the concepts of conformism, non-conformism and anti-conformism are transhistorically static or transcendentally self-evident. The conceptual contours of the subject are investigated before the topic is then explored in historical perspective, in its textual manifestations, and with regard to its stakes in visual culture. The collection is rounded off with a critical glance at commercial aspects of conformism and anti-conformism. The volume includes essays by Donald Pease, Heinz Ickstadt, Susana Delfino, Albena Bakratcheva, Marek Wilczynski, Johannes Völz, Marc Amfreville, Andrew S. Gross, Yves-Charles Grandjeat, Thomas Pughe, Susanne Rohr, Peter Loizos, Dimitris Liokaftos, Hilaria Loyo, Alexandra Ganser and Karin Hoepker, Frank Mehring, Berndt Ostendorf, and Arthur Redding.

Purpose– Corporate governance (CG) has mainly focused on highly dispersed corporations. This paper has two objectives: to enrich the debate in this area and to contribute to the increasing body of literature by exploring the CG of the listed family firms in Greece; and to place the CG practices of Greek family firms within the international debate, especially in the framework of a small open capital market. In addition, this paper presents an attempt to quantify the compliance of family firms with international best practices. Design/methodology/approach– The methodology consisted of the creation of a questionnaire reflecting the Greek CG code and other well‐regarded CG codes, like the OECD principles. The authors constructed a CG rating system and applied it to distinguish family from non‐family firms. Findings– The main conclusion is that the family firms lack an efficient CG mechanism and they demonstrated poor governance compared with non‐family firms. Practical implications– The results disclose the potential strengths and weaknesses of the existing CG framework of the family‐owned firms. The methodology applies in a small open economy and may have significant implications in other similar capital markets. Originality/value– Methodologically, the merit of the exercise lies in its approach toward the creation of “collectively subjective” weightings, and is valuable to policymakers and academics.

Background: Several cytokines have been associated with immune regulation and prognosis in ovarian cancer. CD4+CD25+ Tregs and CD3+CD56+ NK-like T cells are involved in the immune response against the tumor. We have investigated the association of cytokines in the ascites from patients with ovarian cancer with these populations, the platinum resistance and the prognosis of these patients. Patients and methods: Ascites from 64 patients with ovarian cancer was analysed. Forty-two patients were studied at diagnosis (FIGO stage III in 40 cases) and were treated with cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. Ascites from 9 patients with cirrhosis was used as control. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interferon-gamma (IFNγ), inteleukin-10 (IL10) and interleukin-12 (IL12) in ascites and serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while lymphocytic populations were studied with three-colour flow cytometry. Results: VEGF ascites levels were inversely correlated with CD3+CD56+ cells (rho = - 0.316, p = 0.012), while a similar correlation was observed between TNFα ascites levels and CD4+CD25+(hi) cells (rho = - 0.332, p = 0.041). Among patients receiving first-line chemotherapy, VEGF levels < 1900 pg/ml and TNFα levels > 35 pg/ml were associated with platinum sensitivity (p = 0.021 and p = 0.028, respectively) and improved progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.007 and p = 0.045, respectively). Low VEGF levels were also associated with improved overall survival (p = 0.026). Conclusion: VEGF and TNFα ascites levels are associated with prognosis in advanced ovarian cancer. Their prognostic significance may be due to their association with immunologically important populations, namely the NK T-like CD3+CD56+ cells and the Tregs CD4+CD25+(hi) cells. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Il reste juste à souligner qu’en ce qui concerne la terminologie arbitraire du discours en apparence historique ou géographique, la responsabilité n’incombe ni à l’Histoire ni à la Géographie, mais à ceux qui se prétendent historiens ou géographes. La question est posée en ces termes chez Gearóid Ó Tuathail (dorénavant G.T.) et son essai intitulé Critical Geopolitics (Géopolitique Critique).1 Il s’agit d’un ouvrage ambivalent, qui présente au lecteur d’une part le plaisir intellectuel de pouvoir trouver et identifier des événements internationaux, méticuleusement groupés en catégories d’ordre chronologique, accompagnés d’une analyse intelligente en fonction de leurs éléments constitutifs, à savoir des données économiques, idéologiques et culturelles. D’autre part, nous autres lecteurs avons eu la satisfaction d’y retrouver en partie nos propres analyses sur les événements présentés par G.T. sans que cela ne nous pose un certain nombre de questions. Tout de même, pour l’auteur du présent article, l’analyse géopolitique n’a pas d’idéologie, ni de fixations ethnocentriques; elle n’est pas sous le contrôle des éléments nationalistes qui rendent service aux impérialismes des Métropoles contemporaines.

We tested 27 microsatellite loci for cross-species amplification in the lacertids Podarcis gaigeae and Podarcis hispanica. We detected 11 and 15 polymorphic loci in the former and the latter species, respectively. In a larger sample of individuals from a single population of each species, the number of alleles ranged from five to 23 in 10 of the polymorphic loci in P. gaigeae, and between four and 13 in nine of polymorphic loci in P. hispanica. Two locus deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in P. hispanica. Between 11 and 16 of the 27 loci also amplified successfully in three other Podarcis species. © 2008 The Authors.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous lesions in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may be specific or not and may reveal bone marrow transformation. Our purpose was to investigate in a cohort of 84 MDS patients the correlation of cutaneous findings with immunologic parameters and prognostic features of MDS in order to clarify their potential clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied a cohort of 84 newly diagnosed MDS patients in order to assess the cutaneous findings present at the time of diagnosis and during 1 to 3 years of follow-up. We described the clinical variety of cutaneous findings ascertained by histology. We also looked for any association between the group of MDS patients with skin manifestations and MDS subtype, immunologic and prognostic features highlighting transformation to acute leukaemia. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients presented cutaneous manifestations: 1 patient developed leukaemia cutis, 6 patients photosensitivity not associated with autoimmune disease, 3 prurigo nodularis, 2 Sweet's syndrome, 6 leucocytoclastic vasculitis, 2 ecchymoses and purpura associated with preexisting relapsing polychondritis, 1 patient subcutaneous nodules associated with Wegener's granulomatosis and 1 patient with malar rash and oral ulcers associated with preexisting systemic lupus erythematosus. Adjusted for age and gender, the presence of skin findings constitutes a significant predictor of the high-risk MDS subgroup (odds ratio, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-10.92). Hypergammaglobulinemia was significantly higher in the MDS subgroup with skin manifestations (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Most MDS patients with cutaneous manifestations belong to the high-risk MDS subgroup and present hypergammaglobulinemia. Early biopsy of skin lesions in myelodysplasia is indicated.

WHEN CITING:   

1. Καμπερίδου, Ρένα (2008). Το 'Σκοτεινό' Κοινωνικό Κεφάλαιο του Αθλητισμού:  η γυάλινη οροφή και  'ο αγωγός διαρροής' .  Ημερίδα «Γυναίκες και Αθλητισμός», Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο Κοινωνικών και Πολιτικών Επιστημών του Διατμηματικού Προγράμματος Σπουδές Φύλου και Ισότητας στις Κοινωνικές και Πολιτικές Επιστήμες, αμφιθέατρο "Σάκη Καράγιωργα", Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο, Λ. Συγγρού 136, Νέο Κτήριο, 11 Ιουνίου 2008. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2277.3600 , ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΠΡΑΚΤΙΚΩΝ Ι.2.1 in Apella Επίσης βλ. http://www.genderpanteion.gr/gr/2008pdf/imerida11062008.pdf    

•  Kamberidou, I. (2008). 'Dark' Social Capital in Sport: the glass ceiling and the leaky pipeline. Presentation [keynote speaker: http://www.genderpanteion.gr/gr/2008pdf/imerida11062008.pdf] at the “WOMEN AND SPORT” Seminar, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences. Gender Studies Centre of Panteios University, Athens, Greece: http://www.genderpanteion.gr/gr/2008pdf/imerida11062008.pdf , http://www.genderpanteion.gr/gr/dialsem\_im.php [presentation in Greek].  I.2  in Apella. Also see I.2.2 in Apella), and Book of Abstracts in Ι.2.1

The changes in daily precipitation totals in Greece, during the 45-year period (1957–2001) are examined. The precipitation datasets concern daily totals recorded at 21 surface meteorological stations of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, which are uniformly distributed over the Greek region. First and foremost, the application of Factor Analysis resulted in grouping the meteorological stations with similar variation in time. The main sub groups represent the northern, southern, western, eastern and central regions of Greece with common precipitation characteristics. For representative stations of the extracted sub groups we estimated the trends and the time variability for the number of days (%) exceeding 30 mm (equal to the 95% percentile of daily precipitation for eastern and western regions and equal to the 97.5% percentile for the rest of the country) and 50 mm which is the threshold for very extreme and rare events. Furthermore, the scale and shape parameters of the well fitted gamma distribution to the daily precipitation data with respect to the whole examined period and to the 10-year sub periods reveal the changes in the intensity of the precipitation.

This study presents results of ambient noise measurements carried out in 78locations in the town of Lefkada. The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios of ambient noise were used to approximate the fundamental resonance frequencies of the subsurface and their associated amplitudes. Summarizing the experiences of different authors with respect to ambient vibration processing, we selected transient free time windows for further analysis. Additionally, we calculated the site responses with respect to the reference site and compared the results with those obtained from the H/V technique. The fundamental frequency and the corresponding amplification factor were calculated for each site. Under the assumption that the H/V spectral ratios of ambient noise coincide with the amplification levels at the dominant frequency of the site response functions, the fundamental frequencies (f0) and amplification factors (A0) were compiled on ARC-INFO GIS software and corresponding maps were developed.

A reaction-limited model for drug dissolution is developed assuming that the reaction at the solid-liquid interface is controlling the rate of dissolution. The dissolution process is considered as a bidirectional chemical reaction of the undissolved drug species with the free solvent molecules, yielding the dissolved species of drug complex with solvent. This reaction was considered in either sink conditions, where it corresponds to the unidirectional case and the entire amount of the drug is dissolved, or reaching chemical equilibrium, which corresponds to saturation of the solution. The model equation was fitted successfully to dissolution data sets of naproxen and nitrofurantoin formulations measured in the paddle and basket apparatuses, respectively, under various experimental conditions. For comparative purposes these data were also analyzed using three functions based on the diffusion layer model. All functions failed to reveal the governing role of saturation solubility in the dissolution process associated with the diffusion layer model when the conditions for the valid estimation of saturation solubility, established theoretically in this study, were met by the experimental set up employed. Overall, the model developed provides an interesting alternative to the classic approaches of drug dissolution modeling, quantifying the case of reaction-limited dissolution of drugs. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION Plasma cell dyscrasias include a wide variety of diseases characterized by the abnormal accumulation of plasma cells resulting in various systemic symptoms and signs. Plasma cells are usually widespread throughout the bone marrow; however, in a minority of patients malignant plasma cells may form a single lesion. These lesions are usually confined to the bone and, less frequently, in extramedullary sites. They are composed of monoclonal plasma cells that are otherwise identical to plasma cells found in myeloma. However, these patients do not have evidence of systemic multiple myeloma (MM), and an extensive work up shows no other foci of disease. When this solitary lesion is confined to bone it is characterized as a solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) while when this lesion is confined to extraosseous sites it is characterized as a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (SEP). DEFINITIONS According to criteria reported by the International Myeloma Working Group, diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma of bone is based on histological evidence of a tumor consisting of monoclonal plasma cells identical to those seen in MM (Table 12.1). In addition, complete skeletal radiographs must show no other lesions of MM. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significantly increased sensitivity over conventional radiographs, especially in the imaging of the axial skeleton, and an MRI of the spine and pelvis may show unsuspected and asymptomatic skeletal lesions. Patients with multiple lesions in MRI should be considered as having myeloma and not SBP even if conventional radiographs show no other evidence of skeletal involvement. © Cambridge University Press 2009.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in eating disorder symptomatology between a group of athletes and a group of university students as well as to investigate the risk factors for developing of eating disorders symptomatology in females. METHOD: The EAT-26, BDI, STAI and SPAS (trait) questionnaires were administered to 60 adult athletes (27 female and 33 male) and 60 non-athlete university students (40 female and 20 male). Each subject was asked to indicate on a series of 12 male and 12 female human figures those that they considered as the ideal male and female body, and the figure that in their mind resembled most their own body. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject. RESULTS: Male athletes scored higher in the oral control dimension of EAT-26 than male non athletes. Female athletes also perceived their body as leaner than female non-athletes did (P=0.003), although there was no statistically significant difference between the BMI of the two groups. A subgroup of women (n=7, 10.4%) who had disordered eating attitudes (EAT >20) chose leaner ideal female figures and also scored higher on the BDI, STAI trait and SPAS questionnaires. Younger age (P=0.04), being an athlete (P=0.03) and SPAS score (P=0.02) were found in logistic regression analysis to influence significantly the risk of development for developing disordered. CONCLUSIONS: There were only minor differences in eating disorder measurements between athletes and non-athletes. A small group of young women who are preoccupied with their physical appearance and are involved in athletic activities appears to run a greater risk for developing disordered. Copyright © Athens Medical Society.

INTRODUCTION: Access to local providers of primary health care (PHC) services and their utilisation is a challenge faced by the authorities of developed as well as developing countries. The aim of our study was to assess and evaluate the level of satisfaction with the currently provided cardiovascular and PHC services in the southernmost region of continental Greece (and of the European Union), Southern Mani. METHODS: The sample (422 individuals, 375 of whom finally participated: 187 men and 188 women, response ratio: 88.86%), was selected between January-December 2006, using stratified randomisation by sex and age. Participants were asked to fill in a validated questionnaire containing socio-demographic data and items about the health needs/level of satisfaction with cardiovascular health and PHC services, as well as two indices for cardiovascular health: i) frequency of international normalised ratio (INR) measurement in case of atrial fibrillation, and ii) history of timely thrombolysis in case of acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The majority of the responders stated that their level of satisfaction with PHC services was "low" or "very low" (total: 52.80%), while the percentage of dissatisfaction with cardiovascular health services was 56.0%. In addition, most of the participants expressed a strong wish for improvement of PHC services (71.33%). The level of satisfaction with PHC services was higher than with cardiovascular health services (2.49 +/- 1.26 vs. 2.38 +/- 1.24; p < 0.001). Satisfaction scores for both cardiovascular health and PHC services were negatively associated with the distance from the nearest PHC Unit. Only 11.1% of patients (95% CI: 0.3%-48.2%) reported annual testing of prothrombin time more than once, while among those with a history of acute myocardial infarction, none reported timely thrombolysis (0%, one-sided 97.5% CI: 0%-41.0%). CONCLUSION: It is evident that a large portion of the Southern Mani population perceives the provided cardiovascular health and PHC services as problematic, while the distance from the nearest PHC unit seems to be one of the most important factors and predictors of dissatisfaction. The provision of efficient PHC services in isolated areas is a matter that should be re-evaluated.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides segregated into distinct biochemical compartments would differentially correlate with clinical severity of Alzheimer disease (AD). DESIGN: Clinicopathologic correlation study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven patients from a longitudinal study of AD and 13 age- and sex-matched controls without a known history of cognitive impairment or dementia were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Temporal and cingulate neocortex were processed using a 4-step extraction, yielding biochemical fractions that are hypothesized to be enriched with proteins from distinct anatomical compartments: TRIS (extracellular soluble), Triton (intracellular soluble), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (membrane associated), and formic acid (extracellular insoluble). Levels of Abeta(40) and Abeta(42) were quantified in each biochemical compartment by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The Abeta(42) level in all biochemical compartments was significantly elevated in patients with AD vs controls (P < .01). The Abeta(40) levels in the TRIS and formic acid fractions were elevated in patients with AD (temporal, P < .01; cingulate, P = .03); however, Triton and SDS Abeta(40) levels were similar in patients with AD and in controls. Functional impairment proximal to death correlated with Triton Abeta(42) (r = 0.48, P = .02) and SDS Abeta(42) (r = 0.41, P = .04) in the temporal cortex. Faster cognitive decline was associated with elevated temporal SDS Abeta(42) levels (P < .001), whereas slower decline was associated with elevated cingulate formic acid Abeta(42) and SDS Abeta(42) levels (P = .02 and P = .01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Intracellular and membrane-associated Abeta, especially Abeta(42) in the temporal neocortex, may be more closely related to AD symptoms than other measured Abeta species.

Several examples of oxidative and reductive reactions of DNA components that lead to single and tandem modifications are discussed in this review. These include nucleophilic addition reactions of the one-electron oxidation-mediated guanine radical cation and the one-electron reduced intermediate of 8-bromopurine 2'-deoxyribonucleosides that give rise to either an oxidizing guanine radical or related 5',8-cyclopurine nucleosides. In addition, mechanistic insights into the reductive pathways involved in the photolyase induced reversal of cyclobutadipyrimidine and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts are provided. Evidence for the occurrence and validation in cellular DNA of ̇OH radical degradation pathways of guanine that have been established in model systems has been gained from the accurate measurement of degradation products. Relevant information on biochemical aspects of the repair of single and clustered oxidatively generated damage to DNA has been gained from detailed investigations that rely on the synthesis of suitable modified probes. Thus the preparation of stable carbocyclic derivatives of purine nucleoside containing defined sequence oligonucleotides has allowed detailed crystallographic studies of the recognition step of the base damage by enzymes implicated in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Detailed insights are provided on the BER processing of non-double strand break bistranded clustered damage that may consist of base lesions, a single strand break or abasic sites and represent one of the main deleterious classes of radiation-induced DNA damage. © Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft.

In the present study an assessment of the influence of the ambient air pollution on the incidence of the Childhood Asthma Admissions (CAA) is attempted by using cross spectrum analysis. The medical data concern the hospital registries of the three main Children's Hospitals of Athens for the 14-year period, 1987-2000. The air pollution data used in this study were mean monthly concentrations of CO, Black Smoke (BS), NOx, SO2, and O3, averaged over all the available stations, for each air pollutant, in the network of the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works (GMEPPPW) for the aforementioned 14-year period. The performed analysis revealed that a pronounced seasonal variation of asthma exacerbation among Athenian children does exist, rising during the cold damp period in pre-schoolers and peaking around May in the schoolchildren. We found that asthma admissions are associated with ambient air pollution at different frequencies. Asthma exacerbation among the first age group (0-4 years) is strongly depended on winter air pollution whereas older children (5-14 years) appear to be more vulnerable to the exposure of primary air pollutants mainly during late spring. Our findings strengthen the aspect that weather conditions such as sea breeze, mainly happen at the late spring or early summer in association with air pollution episodes could affect childhood asthma exacerbation. © 2008 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

In this paper we are examining the state of Naxos Island as far as erosion is concerned, using precipitation indexes produced from daily precipitation totals and Geographical Information System (GIS) in order to develop an erosion risk model. Naxos Island belongs to the Cycladic area and is situated at the central Aegean Sea, in Greece. The relief of the island is mountainous, with a central mountain chain crossing it from north to south. The geology of Naxos is characterised by a migmatite irruption, metamorphic rocks (schist, gneiss, marble), and sedimentary rocks (Neogenic and Quaternary deposits). Tectonism of the area is low nowadays but in the past geological time has played a major role defining the present morphology. Although the mean annual precipitation appear to be low (~360.0 mm), the erosion processes of the area are very intense, because of the intensive character of precipitation, the high slope relief, the differential lithology and the absence of important land cover. The aforementioned factors are the major contributing to the formation of the present denudated morphology mainly because of the intense run off.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared using TiO2 nanotubes, grown by controlled Ti anodic oxidation in non-aqueous media. Smooth, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays, presenting a high degree of self-organization and a length of 20 μm, have been grown using ethylene glycol electrolyte containing HF. As-grown nanotubes exhibit an amorphous structure, which transforms to the anatase TiO2 crystalline phase upon post-annealing in air at 450°C. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the porous morphology together with high roughness and fractality of the surface. The annealed tubes were sensitized by the standard N719 ruthenium dye and the adsorption was characterized using resonance micro-Raman spectroscopy and adsorption-desorption measurements. The sensitized tubes were further used as active photoelectrodes after incorporation in sandwich-type DSSCs using both liquid and solidified electrolytes. The efficiencies obtained under air mass (AM) 1.5 conditions, using a back-side illumination geometry, were very promising: 0.85% using a composite polymer redox electrolyte, while the efficiency was further increased up to 1.65% using a liquid electrolyte. © IOP Publishing Ltd.

BACKGROUND: E2F-1 expression is positively associated with tumour growth in oesophageal squamous-cell carcinomas (OSCC), while it exhibits oncosuppressive features in colonic adenocarcinomas (AC). To date there are no data regarding E2F-1 expression and its relationship with tumour kinetics (proliferation, apoptosis) in adenocarcinomas that develop on Barrett oesophagus. AIM: As oesophageal adenocarcinomas occur almost exclusively in the metaplastic Barrett epithelium and the opposing E2F-1 behaviour seems to be cell and tissue-type dependent, we examined the manner in which E2F-1 acts in ACs of Barrett oesophagus. METHODS: We estimated the immunohistochemical expression of E2F-1, Ki-67, caspase-3 and p53 immunohistochemical status in 35 Barrett oesophagus ACs. RESULTS: E2F-1 immunopositivity correlated inversely with Ki-67, by semi-serial section and statistical analysis (p = 0.023, Spearman correlation). Semi-serial section analysis revealed a direct association between E2F-1 and caspase-3 staining. No correlation was found with p53 status. Cases with higher E2F-1 immunoexpression exhibited longer survival (p = 0.047, Cox-regression). CONCLUSIONS: E2F-1 expression was negatively related to tumour proliferation in ACs of Barrett oesophagus. Additionally, E2F-1 immunohistochemical status correlated positively with patient survival. These findings are opposite from those seen in OSCCs, suggesting that the tumour-suppressing E2F-1 behaviour in oesophageal adenocarcinomas is possibly due to the intestinal-type nature of the metaplastic Barrett mucosa.

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2821.0725Full pdf (proceedings and article) in Research Gate (RG)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gender-constrained educational choices, traditional-anachronistic perspectives, the life-work balance or rather imbalance, the lack of affordable child care facilities, the glass ceiling, the leaky pipeline, among other things, have contributed to the declining interest of Greek women in science and technology. This paper focuses on the factors that contribute to Greek women’s non-engagement or under-representation in ICT related fields, such as computing. It examines the gender-constrained institutions in Greece while providing an overview of the gender distribution in scientific research and in the Greek academia, where only about one third (27%) of the teaching staff in universities are women. Digital illiteracy has been detected amongst university students in Greece, over half of which are women, as well as amongst primary and secondary school teachers throughout the country who explicitly express a technophobic unwillingness to use computers in their classrooms, although they claim to agree on their significant educational value and usefulness. Although the Greek Ministry of Education had implemented the training of 76,000 teachers in ICTs, it seems to have failed to reach the aspired levels of effectiveness, in a society where the participation of women in the teaching profession—primary and secondary education—is over 50%. The majority of the respondents from rural, agricultural,  urban areas of Greece claim that they have not benefited by the technology classes or computer lessons they had received in high school, and not only. The gender variable plays a decisive role in the development of attitudes, i.e. the use of computers or the internet as a tool may be gender-neutral, however access to and motivation of use is gender-constrained. The Greek public school system’s inadequate technological infrastructures, deficiencies in the vocational orientation of students and the continuous techno-education of teachers, the lack of collaboration of the education system with the employment sector and the ICT industry— along with the family-career imbalance, namely the incompatibility of private life and career which is essentially a female problem— have made it impossible for the gender subject to keep up with the accelerated speed of technological developments. An ‘Education-Engagement-Retention Action Plan’ is required to change attitudes and promote women in science and technology, in the academia, etc.: (1) Child care facilities, flexi-hours, family support programmes, and a family-friendly working environment. (2) The establishment of an attractive open labour market that recruits and retains women in science and technology.

Gender-constrained educational choices, traditional-anachronistic perspectives, the life-work balance or rather imbalance, the lack of affordable child care facilities, the glass ceiling, the leaky pipeline, among other things, have contributed to the declining interest of Greek women in science and technology. This paper focuses on the factors that contribute to Greek women’s non-engagement or under-representation in ICT related fields, such as computing. It examines the gender-constrained institutions in Greece while providing an overview of the gender distribution in scientific research and in the Greek academia, where only about one third (27%) of the teaching staff in universities are women. Digital illiteracy has been detected amongst university students in Greece, over half of which are women, as well as amongst primary and secondary school teachers throughout the country who explicitly express a technophobic unwillingness to use computers in their classrooms, although they claim to agree on their significant educational value and usefulness. Although the Greek Ministry of Education had implemented the training of 76,000 teachers in ICTs, it seems to have failed to reach the aspired levels of effectiveness, in a society where the participation of women in the teaching profession—primary and secondary education—is over 50%. The majority of the respondents from rural, agricultural,  urban areas of Greece claim that they have not benefited by the technology classes or computer lessons they had received in high school, and not only. The gender variable plays a decisive role in the development of attitudes, i.e. the use of computers or the internet as a tool may be gender-neutral, however access to and motivation of use is gender-constrained. The Greek public school system’s inadequate technological infrastructures, deficiencies in the vocational orientation of students and the continuous techno-education of teachers, the lack of collaboration of the education system with the employment sector and the ICT industry— along with the family-career imbalance, namely the incompatibility of private life and career which is essentially a female problem— have made it impossible for the gender subject to keep up with the accelerated speed of technological developments. An ‘Education-Engagement-Retention Action Plan’ is required to change attitudes and promote women in science and technology, in the academia, etc.: (1) Child care facilities, flexi-hours, family support programmes, and a family-friendly working environment. (2) The establishment of an attractive open labour market that recruits and retains women in science and technology.

Currants and Sultanas (Vitis vinifera L.) are dried vine products produced in Greece and used broadly in the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to investigate the gastric cancer preventive activity of methanol extracts obtained from currants from three different origins in Greece (Vostizza, Nemea, and Messinia) as well as methanol extracts obtained from Sultanas cultivated in the island of Crete as to inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of inflammation. All extracts from 500 microg dried raisins studied suppressed cell proliferation, significantly those obtained from Sultanas from Crete and currants from Nemea. Flow cytometric analysis of Annexin-V labeled cells indicated that Cretan Sultana, Nemea, and Messinia currants at 500 microg dried product/ml medium significantly induced cell death. All extracts from 500 microg dried raisins statistically decreased protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 in TNF-alpha stimulated cells. Measurement of IL-8 protein levels and quantification for IL-8 mRNA showed no significant decrease. These results indicate that the methanol extracts from currants, rich in phenolic compounds, exhibit cancer preventive efficacy by limiting cell proliferation, inducing cell death, and suppressing ICAM-1 levels in AGS cells.

Based on an analytical expression for the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of individual quantum dots (QDs) in the linear regime, we investigate its dependence upon the size of self‐assembled InGaAs QDs. We prove that decreasing the QD size, the PL‐emission spectrum moves to higher energy, due to the confinement‐induced blue‐shift of the electronic levels and the redshift from the increased Coulomb interaction caused by the compression of the exciton radii. This shift is in agreement with experimental results. Moreover, we show that larger dots provide more intense PL spectra.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any association between weather variability and asthma admissions among children in Athens, Greece. Medical data were obtained from hospital registries of the three main Children's Hospitals in Athens during the 1978-2000 period; children were classified into two age groups: 0-4 and 5-14 years. The application of Generalized Linear Models with Poisson distribution revealed a significant relationship among asthma hospitalizations and the investigated parameters, especially for the children aged 0-4 years. Our findings showed that Hospital admissions for childhood asthma in Athens, Greece, is negatively correlated with discomfort index, air temperature and absolute humidity whereas there is a positive correlation with cooling power, relative humidity and wind speed. Copyright © 2008 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Seven 6 s sprints with 30 s recovery between sprints were performed against two resistive loads: 50 (L50) and 100 (L100) g · kg-1 body mass. Inertia-corrected and -uncorrected peak and mean power output were calculated. Corrected peak power output in corresponding sprints and the drop in peak power output relative to sprint 1 were not different in the two conditions, despite the fact that mean power output was 15-20% higher in L100 (P < 0.01). The effect of inertia correction on power output was more pronounced for the lighter load (L50), with uncorrected peak power output in sprint 1 being 42% lower than the corresponding corrected peak power output, while this was only 16% in L100. Fatigue assessed by the drop in uncorrected peak and mean power output in sprint 7 relative to sprint 1 was less compared with that obtained by corrected power values, especially in L50 (drop in uncorrected vs. corrected peak power output: 13.3 ± 2.2% vs. 23.1 ± 4.1%, P < 0.01). However, in L100, the difference between the drop in corrected and uncorrected mean power output in sprint 7 was much smaller (24.2 ± 3.1% and 21.2 ± 2.7%, P < 0.01), indicating that fatigue may be safely assessed even without inertia correction when a heavy load is used. In conclusion, when inertia correction is performed, fatigue during repeated sprints is unaffected by resistive load. When inertia correction is omitted, both power output and the fatigue profile are underestimated by an amount dependent on resistive load. In cases where inertia correction is not possible during a repeated sprints test, a heavy load may be preferable.

Seven 6 s sprints with 30 s recovery between sprints were performed against two resistive loads: 50 (L50) and 100 (L100) g · kg-1 body mass. Inertia-corrected and -uncorrected peak and mean power output were calculated. Corrected peak power output in corresponding sprints and the drop in peak power output relative to sprint 1 were not different in the two conditions, despite the fact that mean power output was 15-20% higher in L100 (P < 0.01). The effect of inertia correction on power output was more pronounced for the lighter load (L50), with uncorrected peak power output in sprint 1 being 42% lower than the corresponding corrected peak power output, while this was only 16% in L100. Fatigue assessed by the drop in uncorrected peak and mean power output in sprint 7 relative to sprint 1 was less compared with that obtained by corrected power values, especially in L50 (drop in uncorrected vs. corrected peak power output: 13.3 ± 2.2% vs. 23.1 ± 4.1%, P < 0.01). However, in L100, the difference between the drop in corrected and uncorrected mean power output in sprint 7 was much smaller (24.2 ± 3.1% and 21.2 ± 2.7%, P < 0.01), indicating that fatigue may be safely assessed even without inertia correction when a heavy load is used. In conclusion, when inertia correction is performed, fatigue during repeated sprints is unaffected by resistive load. When inertia correction is omitted, both power output and the fatigue profile are underestimated by an amount dependent on resistive load. In cases where inertia correction is not possible during a repeated sprints test, a heavy load may be preferable.

Seven 6 s sprints with 30 s recovery between sprints were performed against two resistive loads: 50 (L50) and 100 (L100) g · kg-1 body mass. Inertia-corrected and -uncorrected peak and mean power output were calculated. Corrected peak power output in corresponding sprints and the drop in peak power output relative to sprint 1 were not different in the two conditions, despite the fact that mean power output was 15-20% higher in L100 (P < 0.01). The effect of inertia correction on power output was more pronounced for the lighter load (L50), with uncorrected peak power output in sprint 1 being 42% lower than the corresponding corrected peak power output, while this was only 16% in L100. Fatigue assessed by the drop in uncorrected peak and mean power output in sprint 7 relative to sprint 1 was less compared with that obtained by corrected power values, especially in L50 (drop in uncorrected vs. corrected peak power output: 13.3 ± 2.2% vs. 23.1 ± 4.1%, P < 0.01). However, in L100, the difference between the drop in corrected and uncorrected mean power output in sprint 7 was much smaller (24.2 ± 3.1% and 21.2 ± 2.7%, P < 0.01), indicating that fatigue may be safely assessed even without inertia correction when a heavy load is used. In conclusion, when inertia correction is performed, fatigue during repeated sprints is unaffected by resistive load. When inertia correction is omitted, both power output and the fatigue profile are underestimated by an amount dependent on resistive load. In cases where inertia correction is not possible during a repeated sprints test, a heavy load may be preferable.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate incremental effects of patients' dependence and function on costs of care during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to compare strengths of their relationships with different cost components. DESIGN: Multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study. SETTING: Three university hospitals in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred seventy-nine community-living patients with probable AD, with modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 30 or higher. MEASUREMENTS: Patients' dependence was measured using the Dependence Scale (DS). Functional capacity was measured using the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale (BDRS). Total cost was measured by summing direct medical costs and informal costs. Direct medical costs included costs of hospitalization, outpatient treatment and procedures, assistive devices, and medications. Informal costs were estimated from time spent helping with basic and instrumental activities of daily living for up to three caregivers per patient using national average hourly earnings as wage rate. RESULTS: DS and BDRS were associated with higher total cost; a 1-point increase in DS was associated with a $1,832 increase in total cost, and a 1-point increase in BDRS was associated with a $3,333 increase. Examining component costs separately identified potential differences between DS and BDRS. A 1-point increase in BDRS was associated with a $1,406 increase in direct medical cost. A 1-point increase in DS was associated with a $1,690 increase in informal cost. CONCLUSION: Patients' dependence and function related differently to direct medical and informal cost, suggesting that measures of function and dependence provided unique information for explaining variations in cost of care for patients with AD, highlighting the value in measuring both constructs.

We examined effects of the task of categorizing linear frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps into rising and falling on auditory evoked magnetic fields (AEFs) from the human auditory cortex, recorded by means of whole-head magnetoencephalography. AEFs in this task condition were compared with those in a passive condition where subjects had been asked to just passively listen to the same stimulus material. We found that the M100-peak latency was significantly shorter for the task condition than for the passive condition in the left but not in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, the M100-peak latency was significantly shorter in the right than in the left hemisphere for the passive and the task conditions. In contrast, the M100-peak amplitude did not differ significantly between conditions, nor between hemispheres. We also analyzed the activation strength derived from the integral of the absolute magnetic field over constant time windows between stimulus onset and 260 ms. We isolated an early, narrow time range between about 60 ms and 80 ms that showed larger values in the task condition, most prominently in the right hemisphere. These results add to other imaging and lesion studies which suggest a specific role of the right auditory cortex in identifying FM sweep direction and thus in categorizing FM sweeps into rising and falling.

We study theoretically the potential for control of the electron population in a single GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well that is coupled by strong pulsed electromagnetic fields. Using numerical calculations we present the conditions that lead to high-efficiency intersubband population inversion.

Kamberidou, I. (2008). ‘Eliminating the Leaky Pipeline: Sustaining-Normalizing-Engendering Women's Careers as Academics, Researchers and Professionals in Engineering, Computers and the Sciences’. Presentation at the UNICAFE Dissemination Conference "Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women Academics in Engineering, Technology and Life Sciences across Europe", November 12-13, 2008, venue: Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture. Sixth Research Framework Programme of the European Union SAS6-CT-2006-036695 (http://www.womenacademics2008org). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My presentation discusses the obstacles that female students face as they attempt to access higher education and achieve success and propose an action plan. Such an action plan requires  Innovative strategies that facilitate academic achievement;  teacher-training to learn innovative, practical and successful  strategies that can be implemented at their institutions  that will enable them to help women students  overcome obstacles on their  path towards a college degree; promoting institutional policies that support retention efforts; financial aid; developing corporate and community partnership; creating a campus atmosphere that promotes engagement and success, among other things  Focusing on the factors that contribute to Greek women’s non-engagement and under-representation in engineering and technology, and in particular the technological gender gap or digital divide in the knowledge economy, this presentation will examine the ‘gendered’ educational institutions in Greece while providing an overview of the gender distribution in the Greek academia.  Undeniably, the overall participation of women in engineering, science and technology is low. Women still comprise a minority in the Greek academia, and especially in the higher academic hierarchies. The ‘genderedness’ of educational institutions in Greece, traditional perspectives, the glass ceiling, the leaky pipeline, the life/work balance or rather imbalance, the lack of affordable child care facilities, among other things, have contributed to the declining interest of women for engineering and technology study programs. Irrefutably education is the place to start, given that socially inclusive educational systems and equity policies are key variables to responding to global change, however it is not enough. Promoting new pedagogical applications as well as recruiting or recognizing the largely untapped pool of talent  What is vital is retention. Retaining, women in their careers in engineering, in science and technology, and in R&D, in addition to increasing their participation in leadership— from decision-making to execution phases— in the light of demographic pressures, aging populations and the low levels of immigration tolerance around Europe. Retention requires the establishment of nurturing inclusive workplace cultures, supportive and socially inclusive working environments, the application of best practices, sustainable diversity efforts and ‘sensitivity’ training to raise awareness. Enhancing conditions for research and innovation in Europe calls for inclusive organizational cultures that allow women to function at their full potential for the benefit of their organization/institution, thereby reproducing female participation.    

Objective: To quantify the amount of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) emitted from five dental substances commonly used in a dental clinic. Method: An assessment of the indoor air quality in two clinics of the Athens University Dentistry Faculty was conducted. Results: It was found that TVOC emissions from Kalocryl and Bacillol reached extremely high values affecting the air in the dental clinics at short and long distances from the source. Six pollutants TVOCs, CO2, PM10, PM25, SO 2 and NOx were measured and indoor sources associated with dental activities were identified. Very high concentrations of TVOCs were found which exceeded the acceptable levels by a factor of 20, associated with the nature of the dental activities and the ventilation conditions. The CO 2 concentration levels were high and the indoor conditions were considered unsatisfactory, associated with the number of occupants and the ventilation conditions. PM concentrations were high due to the nature of the dental activities and they exceeded the outdoor levels by a factor of 5 to 6. The concentrations of the gaseous pollutants NOx were low while the SO 2 concentrations were hardly detectable. © 2008 FDI/World Dental Press.

Καμπερίδου, Ε. (2008). Κοινωνικό Φύλο, Φυσική Αγωγή και Αθλητισμός. Πανεπιστημιακές Σημειώσεις του μαθήματος επιλογής «Κοινωνικό Φύλο και Αθλητισμός» του ΤΕΦΑΑ. Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών- Εκδόσεις ON DEMAND A.E.ΔΕΙΓΜΑ/SAMPLE ATTACHED----------------------------------------------------------- Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (2008). Κοινωνικό Φύλο, Φυσική Αγωγή και Αθλητισμός [Gender, Physical Education and Sport] (102 σελίδες). Πανεπιστημιακές Σημειώσεις για μάθημα επιλογής ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΟ ΦΥΛΟ & ΑΘΛΗΤΙΣΜΟΣ, Αθήνα: Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ). Εκδόσεις ON DEMAND A.E.Abstract fylofysikiagogikaiathlitismos2008.compressed.pdf  

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating techniques are extensivelly used in nowadays to provide chronological information of sediment material (Zacharias et al., in press) related to landscape evolution caused by natural phenomena or influenced by human activities. Within the present study, OSL was employed to provide the age profile of sand dune formations from Mainland Greece (Peloponnese) and the islands of Crete and Corfu. The application of OSL dating was practised on quartz samples extracted from the sedimentmaterial using a modified SAR protocol (Murray and Wintle 2000). The estimation of samples dosimetry was based on gamma- (Tzortzis and Tsertos, 2004) and alpha-spectrometry (Michael and Zacharias, 2000) to provide the U, Th and K concentrations. The so far dating results indicate for ages that fall within Late Holocene to modern periods (4,000 - 500 years). The study will report on the geomorphological, micromorphological and dating results in anattempt to form the environmental and chronological framework of the dune formations in Greece.

The past 2 decades have brought worrying increases in severe Streptococcus pyogenes diseases globally. To investigate and compare the epidemiological patterns of these diseases within Europe, data were collected through a European Union FP-5-funded program (Strep-EURO). Prospective population-based surveillance of severe S. pyogenes infection diagnosed during 2003 and 2004 was undertaken in 11 countries across Europe (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) using a standardized case definition. A total of 5,522 cases were identified across the 11 countries during this period. Rates of reported infection varied, reaching 3/100,000 population in the northern European countries. Seasonal patterns of infection showed remarkable congruence between countries. The risk of infection was highest among the elderly, and rates were higher in males than in females in most countries. Skin lesions/wounds were the most common predisposing factor, reported in 25% of cases; 21% had no predisposing factors reported. Skin and soft tissue were the most common foci of infection, with 32% of patients having cellulitis and 8% necrotizing fasciitis. The overall 7-day case fatality rate was 19%; it was 44% among patients who developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The findings from Strep-EURO confirm a high incidence of severe S. pyogenes disease in Europe. Furthermore, these results have identified targets for public health intervention, as well as raising awareness of severe S. pyogenes disease across Europe.

The geochemical characteristics of topsoil depend on many variables such as thelithological nature of the geological environment, climatic conditions and humaneffects. This paper focuses οn assessing the contribution of lithology to soilgeochemistry, through the process of erosion. For this purpose, extensive field workwas carried out, including lithologic recognition of formations, rock and soil samplingand finally definition of possible human impacts that affect the chemical status ofsoils. Supplementary information was adopted from the pre-existing literature for thearea, as well as from geomorphological characteristics, climatic conditions andchemical analyses of both rock and soil. Thus, a primary database has beendeveloped, in order to asses the correlation between susceptibility of outcroppinggeological formations and soil geochemical status. The area of Kopaida basin, incentral Greece, was chosen as a case study, and the final outcome was the developingof an erosion risk map for the prevailing geological formations, which may be used asuseful tool for developing appropriate strategies on environmental protection, hazardassessment and regional planning.

This paper describes the evaluation of a service-oriented prototype implementation. The prototype development aims to exploit the use of service-oriented concepts for achieving healthcare interoperability while it also attempts to move towards a virtual patient record paradigm. The proposed evaluation strategy investigates the adaptation of the DeLone and McLean model of information systems success with respect to service-oriented implementations. Specific service-oriented and virtual patient record characteristics were empirically encapsulated in the DeLone and McLean model and respective evaluation measures were produced. The proposed theoretical framework was utilized for conducting an empirical study amongst sixty two participants in order to observe their perceptions with respect to the hypothetical adoption of the prototype framework. The data gathered was analyzed using partial least squares. The generated results highlighted the importance of information quality whereas system quality did not prove to be a strong significant predictor in the overall model.

INTRODUCTION: It seems that there is a trend in undergraduate medical education towards including clinical attachments in primary health care (PHC) worldwide. The benefits of such initiatives are already well described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a clinical attachment in undergraduate medical students in a European country with an odd medical educational system that essentially lacks any kind of academic PHC departments. METHODS: The study was undertaken during 2005-2007. A non-mandatory 1-week clinical attachment in PHC/general practice was organized in an urban PHC unit by general practitioners with educational experience in collaboration with the Department of Physiology of the local medical school. The participants were a prospective cohort of medical students in the 2nd year of undergraduate studies. All participating students sat a pre-defined clinical exam which consisted of multiple choice questions, mini case papers and an objective-structured clinical examination before and after the attachment. In addition, the students rated the whole process. RESULTS: The response ratio was 77.06%. The mean score on objective structured clinical examination of participants increased from 30.70/100 to 62.28/100 (p < 0.001). The students' impression of the study was rather positive (4.39/5). DISCUSSION: The educational intervention of including a clinical attachment in an undergraduate curriculum seems to have encouraging results, considering the peculiarity of inexistence of academic departments of PHC or General Practice in the national medical schools and the inexperience of students regarding similar concepts.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic ability of the transcriptional profiling of the HER family genes in early breast cancer, as well as to investigate the predictive value of HER2 mRNA expression for adjuvant treatment with paclitaxel. RNA was extracted from 268 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour tissue samples of high-risk breast cancer patients enrolled in the randomised HE10/97 trial, evaluating the effect of dose-dense anthracycline-based sequential adjuvant chemotherapy with or without paclitaxel. The mRNA expression of all four HER family members was assessed by kinetic reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (kRT-PCR). The overall concordance between kRT-PCR and IHC/FISH for HER2 status determination was 74%. At a median follow-up of 8 years, multivariate analysis showed that EGFR and HER2 mRNA expression was associated with reduced overall survival (OS). HER3 and HER4 mRNA level had a favourable prognostic value in terms of OS and disease-free survival (DFS), respectively. Adjusting for HER2 mRNA expression, OS and DFS did not differ between treatment groups. These data indicate that EGFR as well as HER2 are prognostic factors of worse clinical outcomes, whereas HER3 and HER4 gene transcription is associated with better prognosis in high-risk early breast cancer. However, HER2 mRNA expression did not predict clinical benefit from paclitaxel. Kinetic RT-PCR represents an alternative method for evaluating the expression of HER family members in FFPE breast carcinomas. © 2008 Cancer Research.

The South Balkan extensional system consists of normal faults and associated sedimentary basins within southern Bulgaria, Macedonia, eastern Albania, northern Greece, and northwestern Turkey. Extensional tectonism began during the final convergence across the Vardar, Intra-Pontide, and Izmir-Ankara suture zones, where oceanic regions closed between continental Europe and continental fragments that make up the Pelagonian, Sakar, and western Anatolian tectonic units. Earliest extension of latest Cretaceous- middle Eocene age appears to have occurred within a regional convergent tectonic setting and may be related to an increase in gravitation potential energy within a thickening continental lithosphere. Following diachronous closure across the suture zone, from the middle Eocene to late Oligocene, the transition from a regionally convergent to a regionally extensional tectonic setting occurred and was associated with abundant magmatism and formation of sedimentary basins. Extension was associated with lithospheric thinning probably related to changes in geometry of the subducted slab, dynamics of the mantle wedge, and beginning of slab rollback along the Hellenic subduction zone. A short period of local and diachronous (?) shortening (during latest Oligocene-early Miocene time) occurred in the Thrace basin of northwestern Turkey and in some basins in western Bulgaria and eastern Macedonia. Regional extension began in middle Miocene time and was related to the regional extensional tectonic setting that has dominated the Aegean extensional region to the present. Trench rollback was the dominant dynamic process, but during late Miocene time it was modified by the formation of the western part of the North Anatolian fault zone that partially decoupled the South Balkan extensional system from the Aegean extensional region. During late Cenozoic time, east-west-striking normal faults and associated sedimentary basins in the eastern part of the South Balkan extensional system propagated westward in tandem with westward migration of north-south-striking normal faults and sedimentary basins from western Bulgaria into eastern Albania. This migration was caused by evolution of the Hellenic subduction zone as it increased its curvature during trench rollback and clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of crustal fragments in the west and east, respectively. After formation of the western part of the North Anatolian fault zone, extension within the eastern part of the South Balkan extensional system was related to southward movement of its lithosphere at a slower rate than the extension within the Aegean extensional region. Active extension and basin formation show two provinces of extension that are nearly at right angles to one another and their overlap in the central South Balkan extensional system: east-west extension in central Albania to eastern Macedonia and north-south extension from northwestern Greece and eastern Macedonia to eastern Bulgaria and northwestern Turkey.

An alternative to TRO model of a W UMa-type star is presented in which the binary is past mass exchange with mass ratio reversal. The secondary is hydrogen depleted and both components are in thermal equilibrium. Evolution in contact is driven by orbital angular momentum loss and mass transfer from the secondary to primary component, similarly as it is observed in Algols. Temperature equalization of both components results from an assumed energy transfer by a large scale flow encircling the whole system in the common envelope.

Although platinum-based chemotherapy remains the "standard" in advanced non small-cell lung cancer, not all patients-derive clinical benefit from such a treatment. Hence, the development of predictive biomarkers able to identify lung cancer patients who are most likely to benefit from cisplatin-based chemotherapy has become a scientific priority. Among the molecular pathways involved in DNA damage control after chemotherapy, the nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a critical process for the repair of DNA damage caused by cisplatin-induced DNA adducts. Many reports have explored the role of the excision repair cross-complementation group 1 enzyme (ERCC1) expression in the repair mechanism of cisplatin-induced DNA adducts in cancer cells. Using immunohistochemistry in resected tumors from patients included in the International Adjuvant Lung Cancer Trial, the study of important biomarkers showed that high ERCC1 protein expression was associated with improved survival in chemo-naïve patients. On the contrary, the benefit of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy was more profound in patients with low ERCC1 expression. In a prospective cohort studying mRNA expression in tumor biopsies from patients receiving customized therapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine depending on the molecular profile of the tumour, results showed that patients with low ERCC1 mRNA expression had a longer median survival compared to those with high expression. These data suggest the potent use of ERCC1 as a molecular predictor of clinical resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting of NSCLC. Nevertheless, optimization of methodology, including standardization of technical procedures, as well as validation of ERCC1 protein expression in large prospective cohorts, seem necessary before any routine immunohistochemical validation of ERCC1 can be implemented in daily practice.

Exercise-induced (EI) hypersensitivity disorders are significant problems for both recreational and competitive athletes. These include EI-asthma, EI-bronchoconstriction, EI-rhinitis, EI-anaphylaxis and EI-urticaria. A group of experts from the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology met to discuss the pathogenesis of these disorders and how to diagnose and treat them, and then to develop a consensus report. Key words (exercise with asthma, bronchoconstriction, rhinitis, urticaria or anaphylaxis) were used to search Medline, the Cochrane database and related websites through February 2008 to obtain pertinent information which, along with personal reference databases and institutional experience with these disorders, were used to develop this report. The goal is to provide physicians with guidance in the diagnosis, understanding and management of EI-hypersensitivity disorders to enable their patients to safely return to exercise-related activities.

An alternative route for the synthesis of a photoaffinity labelling (PAL) dCTP derivative is reported. This method involves the intermediacy of exo-N-[2-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzamido)ethyl]-dC. The latter is prepared from the coupling of known N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzamide, prepared in an improved three-step sequence, with an activated 4-triazolyl derivative of dU, followed by deprotection. 19F NMR spectroscopy proved extremely useful in following the synthetic transformations, and enabled control of any adventitious reduction of the azides. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Air quality in two large athletic halls with different ventilation (natural and mechanical) was investigated in relation to outdoor pollution and meteorological conditions. Simultaneous measurements of O3, NO, NO2 and SO2 were performed in the halls at two heights (at the arena and spectators’ seats) and outdoors. BTX concentrations at the spectators’ seats and outdoor NMHCs, CH4, PM10 and CO concentrations were also measured. Analysis of diurnal variations of the pollutants’ concentrations, cross correlation analysis of the concentration time-series and principal component analysis were applied to the collected data. Results revealed that outdoor pollution significantly affected indoor air quality of both halls. However, this effect was different for the two buildings, depending on the ventilation types, the wind direction prevailing at the areas and the kind of indoor activity recorded. It was found that the latter parameters controlled the pollutants concentration levels in the halls and their response to the changes of the outdoor pollution levels. Temperature and pollution stratification enhancing during athletic events were also evident in both halls but with different characteristics observed, such as the spatial distribution of the indoor pollutants. The airflow patterns prevailing in each hall, imposed by the ventilation operation schemes were important factors. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme that was found to be involved in many malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the mRNA expression levels of DDC in prostate tissues and to evaluate its clinical utility in prostate cancer (CaP). METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from 118 tissue specimens from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and CaP patients and a highly sensitive quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) method for DDC mRNA quantification has been developed using the SYBR Green chemistry. LNCaP prostate cancer cell line was used as a calibrator and GAPDH as a housekeeping gene. RESULTS: DDC was found to be overexpressed, at the mRNA level, in the specimens from prostate cancer patients, in comparison to those from benign prostate hyperplasia patients (p<0.001). Logistic regression and ROC analysis have demonstrated that the DDC expression has significant discriminatory value between CaP and BPH (p<0.001). DDC expression status was compared with other established prognostic factors, in prostate cancer. High expression levels of DDC were found more frequently in high Gleason's score tumors (p=0.022) as well as in advanced stage patients (p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal the potential of DDC expression, at the mRNA level, as a novel biomarker in prostate cancer.

 Recent studies argue that the spread-adjusted Taylor rule (STR), which includes a response to the credit spread, replicates monetary policy in the United State. We show (1) STR is a theoretically optimal monetary policy under heterogeneous loan interest rate contracts in both discretionay and commitment monetary policies, (2) however, the optimal response to the credit spread is ambiguous given the financial market structure in theoretically derived STR, and (3) there, a commitment policy is effective in narrowing the credit spread when the central bank hits the zero lower bound constraint of the policy rate.

Women are more likely than men to suffer from stress-related mental disorders, such as depression. In the present experiments, we identified sex differences in one of the most common animal models of depression, that of learned helplessness. Male and female rats were trained to escape a mild footshock each day for 7 days (controllable stress). Each rat was yoked to another rat that could not escape (uncontrollable stress), but was exposed to the same amount of shock. One day later, all stressed rats and unstressed controls were tested on a more difficult escape task in a different context. Most males exposed to uncontrollable stress did not learn to escape and were therefore helpless. In contrast, most females did learn to escape on the more difficult escape task, irrespective of whether they had been exposed to controllable or uncontrollable stress. The sex differences in helplessness behavior were not dependent on the presence of sex hormones in adulthood, because neither ovariectomy of females nor castration of males abolished them. The absence of helplessness in females was neither dependent on organizational effects of testosterone during the day of birth, because masculinized females did not express helplessness as adults. Thus, sex differences in helplessness behavior are independent of gonadal hormones in adulthood and testosterone exposure during perinatal development. Learned helplessness may not constitute a valid model for depressive behavior in women, at least as reflected by the response of female rats to operant conditioning procedures after stressful experience.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between skeletal muscle fiber type composition and the maximum number of repetitions performed during submaximal resistance exercise. Twelve young men performed a maximum repetitions test at 85% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) in the leg press, which was repeated after 1 week. Seven days after the second 85% 1RM test, they performed a maximum repetitions test at 70% of 1RM in the leg press. This test, at 70% 1RM, was repeated 7 days later. One week before the initiation of the testing sessions, a biopsy sample was obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle and analyzed for fiber type distribution, fiber cross-sectional area, and capillary density (capillaries x mm(2)). A low and nonsignificant relationship was found between the fiber type distribution or percent fiber type area and the number of repetitions performed at either 70% or 85% 1RM. Moreover, the number of repetitions performed at 70% or 85% of 1RM was not related significantly with 1RM strength. In contrast, the number of repetitions performed at 70% 1RM was significantly correlated with the number of capillaries per mm(2) of muscle cross-sectional area (r = 0.70; p = 0.01). These results suggest that fiber type composition is not the major biological variable regulating the number of repetitions performed in submaximal resistance exercise. Rather, it seems that submaximal strength performance depends on muscle capillary density, which is linked with the endurance capacity of the muscle tissue.

Rhodium and iridium complexes of flexible scorpionate ligands based on azaindole were synthesised in good yields. The complexes were characterised in solution and in the solid state. Structural characterisation revealed a B-H-metal interaction, which is retained in solution. Given the greater flexibility of the ligand and potential cooperative effect of boron, the complexes were tested for their activity in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. © 2008 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Stars with changing Blazhko periods challenge the currently proposed hypotheses for the Blazhko effect. RR Lyr, the prototype of the class, is one of the best-studied Blazhko stars but it keeps on surprising its observers. We present the first results from a photometric follow- up campaign in 2006-2007 of the star. Multicolour data were gathered from 4 different observatories in the northern hemisphere. Our analysis focuses specifically on the period behaviour. We confirm the previously reported decrease of the modulation period.

Patients with lower limb and pelvic trauma, or undergoing major orthopaedic surgery represent one of the highest risk groups for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). A significant number of pharmacological and mechanical agents have been used for the prophylaxis and treatment of VTE. Fondaparinux is a relative new pharmacological agent that selectively binds to antithrombin, and represents a new class of synthetic selective inhibitors of activated factor X. Eleven percent of the fondaparinux-related English language literature, between 2001 and 2007, refers to orthopaedic trauma, and was the sample assessed for this critical analysis review. The clinical studies evaluating the safety, efficacy, and financial implications associated with lower limb orthopaedic trauma show that fondaparinux has comparable results with the well-established use of enoxaparin. However, the scientific community has raised several issues regarding mostly fondaparinux's safety, timing of its 1(st) dose, bleeding side effects, duration of administration and lack of a reliable reversing agent. Further trials are necessary focusing on the safety and efficacy of this drug mostly in relation to clinical relevant outcomes and to different fields of trauma surgery (pelvis, long bone fractures and polytrauma patients).

The purpose of the present studies was twofold: (a) to describe the spectrum of goals adopted in physical education, and, (b) to relate forced-choice reports of goal orientations to open-ended, qualitative ones. Elementary (n = 139) and middle school (n = 342) physical education students participated in two studies. Results indicated that mastery approach goals included strong elements of social goals, (b) mastery avoidance goals were nonexistent, questioning their presence in physical education, (c) performance approach goals involved strong elements of mastery approach goals and social goals, and, (d) performance avoidance goals involved high frequencies of mastery goals and affectivity goals. Also, the relationship between students' forced selection of goal orientations and their responses to open-ended questions was rather low. It is concluded that multiple goals are most likely operative in achievement contexts and researchers may need to focus on their combination in order to understand students' achievement strivings.

To capture patterns of normal age-associated atrophy, we previously used a multivariate statistical approach applied to voxel based morphometry that identified age-associated gray and white matter covariance networks (Brickman et al. [2007]: Neurobiol Aging 28:284-295). The current study sought to examine the stability of these patterns by forward applying the identified networks to an independent sample of neurologically healthy younger and older adults. Forty-two younger and 35 older adults were imaged with standard high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging. Individual images were spatially normalized and segmented into gray and white matter. Covariance patterns that were previously identified with scaled subprofile model analyses were prospectively applied to the current sample to identify to what degree the age-associated patterns were manifested. Older individuals were also assessed with a modified version of the Mini Mental State Examination (mMMSE). Gray matter covariance pattern expression discriminated between younger and older participants with high optimal sensitivity (100%) and specificity (90.5%). While the two groups differed in the degree of white matter pattern expression (t (75) = 5.26, P < 0.001), classification based on white matter expression was relatively low (sensitivity = 80% and specificity = 61.9%). Among older adults, chronological age was significantly associated with increased gray matter pattern expression (r (32) = 0.591, P < 0.001) but not with performance on the mMMSE (r (31) = -0.314, P = 0.085). However, gray matter pattern expression was significantly associated with performance on the mMMSE (r (31) = -0.405, P = 0.024). The findings suggest that the previously derived age-associated covariance pattern for gray matter is reliable and may provide information that is more functionally meaningful than chronological age.

SUMMARY: Fracture healing constitutes a complex and delicate physiological process. Local vascularity at the site of the fracture has been identified as one of the most significant parameters influencing the healing procedure. VEGF is the most important component of the regeneration of the vascular system at the fracture site. The aim of this review is to determine the evidence supporting the direct role of VEGF in the enhancement of fracture healing and the possible clinical use of VEGF for non-unions. The literature search was performed via the internet using the Medline. The key words which were searched in the abstracts were the terms "VEGF", "angiogenesis", "fracture", "bone" and "healing". Twenty-five articles were relevant to the topic of interest. A total of 11 articles were excluded from our research due to non conformity of their content to the inclusion criteria. Evidence retrieved suggests that VEGF could be extremely valuable for the treatment of critical size bone defects and that VEGF could have a direct effect on osteoprogenitor cells, mainly by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts and by increasing the mineralisation of the regenerated bone. The former observation could have very interesting repercussions for the field of non-unions and the latter for the field of osteoporosis.

The aim of this study is to estimate future potential changes in duration of extreme dry and wet spells and rainfall intensity in Eastern Mediterranean. For this purpose, daily precipitation amounts, deriving from the regional climate model of UK Hadley Centre HadRM3P have been used for the present (1960-1990) and the future period 2070-2100 on 0.44° × 0.44° latitude by longitude grid. Future data are based on B2 IPCC emission scenario. For the identification of precipitation extremes three climatic indices were employed: a) CWD (Maximum number of consecutive wet days), b) CDD (Maximum number of consecutive dry days) and c) SDII (quotient of precipitation amount of wet days and the number of wet days of the period). They were calculated for the present and future period, on a seasonal and annual basis. A general future tendency was found towards drier Eastern Mediterranean, with reduced rainfall intensity. Longer dry spells are expected in all seasons, except autumn, with the largest increase in the southern part of the area. Extreme wet spells will shorten everywhere during all seasons, except autumn. Precipitation intensity was found reduced for all seasons and mostly for summer in South Aegean Sea. © 2008 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

FYLOPAEDIA («Φύλο και Αθλητισμός») στον «κατάλογο με τις περισσότερες αναφορές»  “Αυτή η σελίδα έχει προσπελαστεί 2.229 φορές” (τελευταία πρόσβαση 24/9/2014  Αφορά το λήμμα: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2008). «Φύλο και Αθλητισμός». FYLOPAEDIA-Φύλο Παιδεία. Ηλεκτρονικό Εγκυκλοπαιδικό Λεξικό του Προγράμματος ΘΕ.ΦΥΛ.ΙΣ., Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών. (www.thefylis.uoa.gr/fylopedia)  http://www.fylopedia.uoa.gr/index.php?title=%CE%9A%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B1:%CE%9B%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1

Erosion represents a natural process, during which particles of geologicalformations are carried away by water, wind or by their combination. It is asignificant social and economic problem, which makes research on land and watermanagement necessary. Monitoring of erosion is needed in order to predict thedevelopment of the incident and moderate it.The selected study area is the Syros Island, a small Cycladic island. In order toassess erosion risk index, a number of effective factors were used. These factorswere used as input variables of the risk model, from which derived the outputvariable that lead to the production of the erosion risk map.

The increasing worldwide apprehension of groundwater contamination problems generated the concept of groundwater vulnerability, which is based on the theory that the natural environment can offer some degree of protection to groundwater, against the natural and human impacts,especially considering, contaminants entering the subsurface environment. Although there are several methods related to the vulnerability risk assessment and mapping for porous and karstic media, there is no relative method concerning the discontinuous media. Studying groundwatervulnerability on the smaller islands of the Aegean Sea is important, because water supplies are few and avoiding contaminants entering the groundwater is vital. Tinos Island has significant water tables, as far as quantity and quality is concerned. The selected study area is theFalatados-Livada drainage system, which is developed along the lithological contact of granites and schists. In order to assess groundwater intrinsic vulnerability, a number of effective factors were used. These factors were used as input variables of the risk model, from which derived theoutput variable that lead to the production of the groundwater intrinsic vulnerability risk map.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) of the breast is one of the less recognized variants of this vasculitis and may represent an isolated finding or a manifestation of a more widespread disease. Case Report: We present the case of a 74-year-old woman with malaise and a 14-day persistent fever, reaching 38°C. There was a bilateral, painless and mobile axillary lymphadenopathy and a slight tenderness over the medial and lateral upper quadrants of her left breast, as well as an independent palpable tender mass in the upper outer quadrant of the same breast measuring 2 cm in its greatest diameter. Constitutional symptoms, anemia and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate suggestive of polymyalgia rheumatica were also present. An invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with coincidental pathologic findings of GCA in the same biopsy specimen was revealed. In this case, arteritis was limited to the breast and presented with diffuse breast tenderness. No other artery was involved by GCA. All arteritis-related symptoms disappeared after the removal of the tumor. Conclusions: There is a relationship between cancer, particularly breast cancer, and GCA of the same organ, but the real nature of this association still remains unknown. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG.

In this paper, we review the basic morphosyntactic and phonological properties of object clitic pro- nouns in Standard Greek. More specifically, we discuss the constraints on the combinatorial properties of clitic clusters and present evidence in support of the out-of-cycle adjunct status of clitic-doubled DP-objects. We then account for the distribution of object clitics with respect to the verb by means of a cliticization movement rule. Finally, we show that there is an asymmetry in the way object clitics are prosodically organized, depending on their position in relation to the verb. Being always a part of the phonological word of their verbal host, enclitics choose to incorporate to it whereas proclitics opt for prosodic adjunction.

Using Chandra, XMM and optical data (both photometric and spectroscopic), we studied the X-ray binary population in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), down to an X-ray luminosity of ~4×10^33 erg s-1, thus allowing the investigation of the faintest of the high-mass Xraybinary populations. The regions were selected so as to have varying star formation histories, in order to investigate, using homogeneous and well defined samples, the connection between the Be- XRB phenomenon and SF history. The characterization of the X-ray sources discovered in our Chandra and XMM surveys and the selection of our sample of Be-XRBs, was based on a combination of X-ray and optical properties. We found that the number of Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs) peaks at the age of 40-70 Myr ago. Finally, we constructed their X-ray luminosity function (XLF). There are very few X-ray sources above ~10^35 ergs^-1, which is consistent with the transient nature of Be X-ray binaries. There is also indication for a flattening of the XLF at ~10^35 ergs^-1, which would be consistent with the onset of the propeller effect.

The role of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains controversial. This study was initiated to compare the efficacy and tolerability of HDCT as a consolidation approach in women with chemosensitive advanced EOC (FIGO stages IIC-IV). Patients who had achieved their first clinical complete remission after six cycles of conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive or not high-dose melphalan. The primary objective was to compare time to disease progression (TTP). A total of 80 patients were enrolled onto the trial. Patients who were randomized to receive HDCT were initially treated with cyclophosphamide 4g/m2 for PBPC mobilization. HDCT consisted of melphalan 200 mg/m2. Of the 37 patients who were allocated to HDCT, 11 (29.7%) did not receive melphalan either due to patient refusal (n = 5) or due to failure of PBPC mobilization (n = 6). In an intent-to-treat analysis, there were no significant differences between the two arms in TTP (P = 0.059) as well as in overall survival (OS) (P = 0.38).

OBJECTIVES: To (1) compare home health and informal (unpaid) services utilization among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), (2) examine longitudinal changes in services use, and (3) estimate possible interdependence of home health and informal care utilization. METHODS: The sample is drawn from the Predictors Study, a large, multicenter cohort of patients with probable AD, prospectively followed annually for up to 7 years in three university-based AD centers. Bivariate probit models estimated the effects of patient characteristics on home health and informal care utilization. RESULTS: A large majority of the patients (80.6%) received informal care with a smaller proportion (18.6%) receiving home health services. Home health services utilization increased from 9.9% at baseline to 34.5% in year 4. Among users, number of days that services were provided in three-month recall increased from 21.9 to 56 days over time. Home health services utilization was significantly associated with function, depressive symptoms, being female, and not living with a spouse. Informal care utilization was significantly associated with cognition, function, comorbidities, and living with a spouse or child. CONCLUSIONS: Home health and informal care utilization relate differently to patient characteristics. Utilization of home health care or informal care was not influenced by utilization of the other.

Background: Kallikreins, a subgroup of the serine protease enzyme family, are considered important prognostic biomarkers in cancer. Here, we sought to determine the prognostic value of kallikrein 7 (hk7) in ovarian cancer using a novel method of compartmentalized in situ protein analysis. Patients and methods: A tissue array composed of 150 advanced-stage ovarian cancers, uniformly treated with surgical debulking followed by platinum-paclitaxel (Taxol) combination chemotherapy, was constructed. For evaluation of kallikrein 7 protein expression, we used an immunofluorescence-based method of automated in situ quantitative measurement of protein analysis (AQUA). Results: Mean follow-up time ofthe cohort was 34.35 months. One hundred and twenty eight of 150 cases had sufficient tissue for AQUA. In univariate survival analysis, low tumor hk7 expression was associated with better outcome for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival in 3 years (P values 0.032 and 0.037, respectively). In multivariate survival analysis, adjusting for well-characterized prognostic variables, low tumor hk7 expression level was the most significant predictor variable for OS (95% confidence interval 0.125-0.729, P = 0.007). Conclusions: High tumor hk7 protein expression is associated with inferior patient outcome in ovarian cancer. hk7 may represent a promising prognostic factor in ovarian cancer. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the daily minimum air temperature and human-biometeorological variables, as well as their day-to-day changes, on sleep disturbances (SD) in the inhabitants of Athens, Greece. The SD dataset used for the analysis included the daily records of the psychiatric emergency unit of the Athens University Medical School for the years 1989 (with mild thermal load) and 1994 (with heavy thermal load). The meteorological variables for the estimation of the thermal indices were recorded by the meteorological station of Hellenikon, which is located at the headquarters of the Hellenic National Weather Service. The mean radiant temperature (T mrt) and the thermal indices predicted mean vote (PMV), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and standard effective temperature (SET*) have been analyzed. The first step was to assess the SD frequencies as a function of the meteorological and human-biometeorological variables on the basis of 10-day intervals to determine the influence of the examined variables on SD. The daily SD records were included as Poisson random variables in the applied Generalized Linear Models (GLM). The extracted results suggested that a considerable increase in SD existed in 1994 compared to 1989. This was due to the many consecutive days with heavy thermal load (PET >35°C and Tmin >23°C) in 1994 compared to the lack of such days in 1989. Furthermore, statistically significant (p<0.01) positive relationships were found between minimum air temperature, all thermal indices and SD. © SAGE Publications 2008.

Dermal exposure to hydrofluoric acid could potentially result in severe serum calcium and magnesium depletion induced by binding with fluoride anion. This report describes the case of a 48-year-old man who developed hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia accompanied by hypokalemia-an interesting finding-following a chemical injury with exposure to 70% hydrofluoric acid. Successful treatment included administration of calcium gluconate and magnesium both intravenously and topically.

The objective of this study is to estimate the duration, frequency and intensity of precipitation extreme episodes in Cyprus, in relation with the two phases of the Eastern Mediterranean teleconnection Pattern (EMP), during winter for the period 1958–2005. A standardised teleconnection index was employed to determine the phases (positive and negative) and the strength of the EMP. The identification of the precipitation extremes was performed with the aid of four climatic indices. It was found that during the positive phase of the pattern, the length of dry periods reduces while that of wet periods increases, being followed by increase of frequency of extreme wet days and precipitation intensity. On the contrary, during the negative phase, the dry spells become longer in accordance with shortening of the wet spells, decrease of the number of extreme wet days and precipitation intensity.