Greta Wozniak

Serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) against atherosclerosis.

Summary Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drug widely used for treatment of mood disorders, including depression and cardiovascular disease. A search for related articles in the PubMed database was attempted. It covered studies, reports, reviews and editorials of the last 5 years. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6, stimulate central serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission and are over-expressed in depression, which has been linked with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) hyperactivity. They have also been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of other stress-induced disorders, like myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD), as they seem to modulate cardiovascular function by a variety of mechanisms. Biological mechanisms like these may explain the link between depression and CHD. There are a variety of environmental factors as well as genetic factors that might influence the pharmacogenetics of antidepressant drugs. New generation selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) causing a reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality may be related to serotonin platelet abnormalities in depressed patients that are effectively treated by SSRIs. SSRIs such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline and citalopram are not only considered to be free from the cardiotoxicity of their predecessors but also to function as safe and efficacious agents against depression, platelet activation, atherosclerosis and development and prognosis of coronary heart disease. However, there is a need for more studies in order to establish the exact biochemical mechanisms that are responsible for these diseases and the immunoregulatory effects of chronic use of SSRI medications.

Prevalence of obesity in children aged 6-12 years in Greece: nutritional behaviour and physical activity

Introduction During the last two decades, obesity has proved to be one of the most important problems of public health, and it is considerably more frequent in developed countries, not only in adults, but in children, too. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. Material and methods Two thousand three hundred and seventy-four pupils in primary education were considered for the study (1206 boys and 1168 girls). Results In the population-based study, the proportion of overweight children was 23.9%, of obese children 7.3%, and of those with central obesity 35.5%. The boys were obese in a higher percentage than the girls (9.2% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.05). The obesity rates were gradually reduced as the children were growing older. The nutritional habits which were identified to have a positive association with obesity were the following: skipping breakfast, not consuming fruits and vegetables, and consuming bread and soft drinks. Childrens healthy nutrition in school was related to lower rates of generalised and central obesity, while the hours spent watching TV were positively associated with all types of obesity. Conclusions Results from the study suggest that a high proportion of children are overweight or obese. Therefore, it is important to adhere to a healthy lifestyle which emphasizes healthy food choices and habits, regular physical activity, and limiting screen time.

Mood disorders: A potential link between ghrelin and leptin on human body?

Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones associated with multiple physiological functions, especially energy balance. Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted hormone discovered in 1950 and ghrelin which was found in 1999, is a peptide hormone produced and secreted in the stomach. A number of previous studies showed that these hormones could be associated with different types of mood disorders. The results of previous studies, nevertheless, are confounded by diverse sample selection and different methodologies. A search for related articles in the PubMed database was attempted. The search covered studies, reports, reviews and editorials published in the last ten years. Older references served as auxiliary sources for comparison purposes. However, due to the different results of the studies, there is a need for more investigation in order to establish the exact biochemical mechanisms that are responsible for these diseases and ghrelins and leptins effects on mood.

Sun-Protection Habits of Primary Students in a Coastal Area of Greece

Aim. The aim of the present study was to record habits and attitudes of primary school students in Greece regarding sun-protection measures. Materials and Methods. 2,163 students with an average age of 9.9 (±1.1) years, studying in 14 schools of a Greek region, constituted our sample. The SPSS 17.0 software was used for the statistical analysis and significance level was set to P ≤ 0.05. Results. Our sample had an equal gender distribution. 16% of the students belonged to the high-risk group, 70.2% of the participants lived 0–5 km away from the sea (urban area), 84.2% of the students were Greek, and 15.8% had non-Greek nationality. Half of the participants said they wear a hat when under the sun and 72% of them said they use sunscreen. 33.1% of the students said they had a sunburn last summer. Greek students as well as those who lived near the sea had better behaviour patterns regarding sun protection. Finally, children who did not use a sunscreen systematically had suffered sunburns more often than the rest. Conclusions. Health education programmes are necessary for students and parents/teachers alike, in order to raise awareness about everyday sun protection.

Impact of ACE and ApoE polymorphisms on myocardial perfusion: correlation with myocardial single photon emission computed tomographic imaging

Coronary artery disease is associated with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. In this study, we evaluated the correlation of angiotensin l-converting enzyme (ACE) (I/D) and ApoE gene polymorphisms (E2, E3, E4 and g.-219G/T) with myocardial perfusion. We examined 410 patients using exercise–rest myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), in which the summed stress score (SSS), summed rest score (SRS) and summed difference score (SDS) indexes were calculated. Homozygotes for the ACE D allele had greater mean values of SSS (P<0.001) and SDS (P<0.001). In addition, E3 homozygotes, E4 heterozygotes and E4 homozygotes had significantly higher values of SSS and SDS compared with E3 heterozygotes (P<0.001); E4 homozygotes had significantly higher values of SSS and SDS compared with E3 homozygotes. Furthermore, for the g.-219G>T polymorphic site at the promoter region of ApoE gene, the mean values of SSS and SDS were significantly higher for T heterozygotes/homozygotes than for GG homozygotes. Adjusting for all demographic and clinical data using multiple linear regression analysis it was found that ACE D and both ApoE genotypes were independent predictors with a cumulative contribution for the prediction of SSS and SDS. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that all three genotypes had an independent predictive ability for abnormal SSS (SSS>2). These data provide the first evidence of an association and significant cumulative contribution of the aforementioned genotypes in myocardial perfusion with E4 allele having the strongest association followed by ACE D and ApoE g.-219T alleles.

Radiopharmaceuticals in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

The development of functional brain nuclear medicine techniques and their application in the investigation of neuropsychiatric disorders, have contributed significantly in the illumination of the underlying pathophysiological processes of these disorders. Furthermore, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) brain studies provide information in early diagnosis, differential diagnosis, development of new drugs, and monitoring the response to therapeutic management. SPECT and PET brain imaging require the use of radiopharmaceuticals that cross the intact Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). Such radiotracers have been used in regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) SPECT and PET imaging and brain metabolism imaging with PET; these are well established methods in the diagnosis and management of various cerebral vascular diseases (e.g. stroke, dementia, epilepsy). Advances in radiotracer chemistry have resulted in the development of molecular imaging which represents the molecular and cellular processes of neuropsychiatric diseases. SPECT and PET molecular imaging has become available for the study of acetylcholinergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, as well as for benzodiazepine and opioid receptors, with promising results. More studies are needed to validate the role of molecular imaging in the clinical practice of neuropsychiatric disorders.

P02-127 - Probing stress and depression in mental health professionals at the general hospital in Greece

Aim Of this project was to study the characteristics of stress and depression in mental health professionals and the degree at which they are affected by demographic factors. Material - method The sample of the study includes 62 mental health professionals. An anonymous closed questionnaire by Bedford & Foulds was used. The data analysis was made with the use of SPSS 16.0. Results Two factors were found statistically essential; the age[F(5,41)=0,52 p=0,004] and the marital statue [F(5,41)=0.49 p=0.008]. The married people seem to statistically develop higher anxiety (p=0,001), higher tension (p=0,002) and higher insomnia (p=0,001) in comparison to the singles, the divorced and the widows/widowers. The singles seem to keep more calm (p=0.014) in comparison to the married and the divorced (p=0.001).Working people aged 35-49 experience more intense sorrow than the other age groups (p=0,003), more intense feelings of panic (p=0,018) and tension (p=0,049). The age groups in stressful or depression situations diversify their needs as regards smoking, with the 35-49 age group being the heaviest smokers (p=0,029). Conclusions It is discovered that a different defense mechanism is used by mental health professionals as regards their marital statue and their age, developing sleeping disorders, increase in smoking and sadness elements indifference for the future, more often.

Influenza vaccination among nurses in Greece

Seasonal influenza has become a serious public health problem worldwide, and vaccination is recognized as the most effective preventative measure. However, data suggest that influenza vaccination rates are generally low among health care workers. The present study showed that the vaccination rates for influenza among nurses are 21.2%.

Favorable outcome in non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the maxillary sinus treated with R-CHOP.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) accounts for less than 1% of all head and neck malignancies, although this anatomic location is the second most common extranodal site for NHL, lagging behind only the GI tract. Specifically, in the sinonasal tract, NHL is a common neoplasm, while its overall incidence ranges from 0.2% to 2% of all lymphoma cases in the Western world. Among paranasal sinuses, the maxillary sinus is the most common site of involvement, followed by the ethmoid, sphenoid and the frontal sinus. Men are predominantly affected and there is a prevalence of middle to older ages. The most common subtype is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), comprising approximately two thirds of cases [1].

Serotonin and Neuron-specific Enolase: Serum Acute and Mid-term Levels and their Association With Posttraumatic Depression

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between serotonin (SER), cholesterol, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) serum levels with depression after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and MethodsSeventy-four patients with the diagnosis of TBI were included in our study. Admission computed tomography scans of all patients were analyzed. Serum concentrations of SER, NSE, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol were measured within on admission. Serum levels of SER and NSE were also measured at discharge and at the 6-month follow-up evaluation. In addition, serum NSE and SER levels were measured in a control group of 44 healthy volunteers. The TBI patients in our cohort were divided into 3 groups according to their admitting Glasgow Coma Scale and their discharging Glasgow Outcome Scale scores. Likewise, depressive symptoms were characterized using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. ResultsThe measured SER serum levels were significantly lower (P<0.01) in TBI patients compared with the normal controls. Analysis of our data showed no correlation between the levels of SER, NSE, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein. The NSE serum levels were found to be elevated in our TBI group. However, these levels were not different between patients with depressive symptomatology. SER and cholesterol serum levels were lower in TBI patients developing depressive symptoms compared with those with no depression in a statistically significant manner. Fifty-seven percent of our patients developed depressive symptomatology. ConclusionsDecreased serum SER concentration may serve as an additional biochemical risk marker of posttraumatic mental disturbances.