Publications

A model is developed to assess the impact of a changing climate to the tourism of the town of Tønsberg, offering data suitable for evaluating the downstream implications to related business sectors. The methodology comprises downscaled data from EuroCORDEX scenarios, weather station observations, and records of visitors to museums of the municipality. To achieve this, correlation patterns are sought between the weather station observations and monthly/yearly visitor numbers. The highest correlation was found to be provided by the mean temperature over the weekends, which complies well with the nature of Tønsberg as a short (sub-daily) visit destination over weekends, without overnight stays. By developing a regression model and tying it to local weather predictions derived from EuroCORDEX, we are able to quantify the probabilistic distribution of yearly visitors and observe the potential effects of a changing climate. Assuming all else remains as is, this shows benefits for the tourism of Tønsberg, befitting its northern coastal (non-alpine) nature. The methodology presented is general enough to be applicable to other cities as long as sufficient data is available.

The purpose of this study was to validate a Greek version of the Stress in Children (SiC) Questionnaire and assess its psychometric qualities in a Greek pediatric sample.Healthy children aged 8-12 years, attending schools of various areas of Attica, the largest region in Greece, were eligible to participate in the study. Data were collected from May 2016 until June 2017, anonymously, though three self-reported questionnaires, a simple demographic questionnaire, the SiC Questionnaire and the State and Trait Anxiety in Children Questionnaire.Questionnaires were completed by 100 pupils (54 boys, 46 girls) aged (mean ± SD) 10.6 ± 1.26 years. A three-factor structure ("Distress", "Presence of well-being", and "Presence of social support") accounted for 41.33% of variance. Reliability Cronbach's alpha of "Distress", "Presence of well-being" and "Presence of social support" factors was equal to 0.75, 0.75 and 0.61, respectively. Regarding concurrent validity, positive correlations were found between "Distress" and both trait anxiety (rho=0.59, p<0.0001) and state anxiety (rho=0.61, p<0.0001). Correlations were also found between "Presence of Wellbeing" and age (rho=-0.24, p=0.019), state (rho=-0.36, p=0.006) and trait anxiety (rho=-0.45, p<0.0001).The Greek version of SiC Questionnaire demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties (content validity, internal reliability) that support its use in Greek children.

Growth retardation to complete growth arrest is the hallmark of Cushing's syndrome in children. The major mechanism for this has been considered the glucocorticoid-induced resistance of target tissues to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and other growth factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the GH secretory dynamics of patients with Cushing's disease before and up to 12 months after their cure by transsphenoidal adenomectomy. In 14 patients, blood sampling every 20 min over 24 h for determination of plasma GH was performed before and 10-11 days and 3, 6, and 12 months after therapy. These patients also underwent arginine infusion and L-dopa stimulation tests and had measurements of morning baseline GH-binding protein (GHBP), IGF-I, and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) plasma concentrations. Fourteen sex- and pubertal stage-matched normal volunteers were used as controls. Before therapy, the patient group had an increased body mass index (31.5 +/- 5 kg/m2) and markedly decreased plasma mean 24-h GH concentration, mean peak height, and peak area values, with pulse frequency (mean number of peaks) similar to that in the controls. GH values after arginine and L-dopa stimulation were also subnormal in many of these patients, with 2 of 8 and 8 of 10 failing to show GH responses greater than 7 ng/mL in the respective test. In spite of these findings, plasma concentrations of IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and GHBP were within the normal range in these patients. Surprisingly, a pattern of GH suppression similar to that observed in patients with active disease was also seen in patients who were studied 10-11 days and 3, 6, and 12 months after their cure, when their body mass indexes were progressively normalizing, being relatively stable at 10 days, 26.9 +/- 3.8 kg/m2 at 3 months, and 24.8 +/- 3.3 kg/m2 at 12 months. In these patients, plasma IGF-I and GHBP remained normal, whereas IGFBP-3 decreased significantly, albeit within the normal range. The growth rate of 4 patients who were Tanner stage III or below and had not completed their growth at the time of the study increased the year after surgical cure. These findings suggest that patients with Cushing's disease have marked GH suppression during their illness, which, however, does not appear to be a major contributor to the growth suppression observed in this condition. GH hyposecretion continues for at least a year during convalescence, in spite of significant increases in the growth rate in all growing patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Skeletal evidence dating back to the Mesolithic period is scarce and should be studied under a multidisciplinary perspective. The primary objective of the study was to carefully assess the skeleton of a young woman from this era, named “Avgi,” to compile its bioarchaeological profile, analyze its paleopathology and dental pathology, and deploy a 3D reconstruction and modeling method in order to reveal her face. Both demographic and pathological information were drawn from macroscopically observing the bones, long bone X-rays, skull CT and X-rays, 3D modeling and printing of the skull, and panoramic dental X-rays. The Manchester method was used for the 3D facial reconstruction. On analysis, we determined that Avgi was a female adolescent, aged around 17–19 years at death, and likely suffering from iron deficiency anemia and Class III dental malocclusion. Notably, Harris lines and a hair-on-end pattern were identified in the long bones and skull radiographs, respectively. Various less significant skeletal lesions reflected potential minor pathologies. Our findings suggest that multidisciplinary collaborative approaches should be followed in the modern study of lesser-known past eras. Multiple scientific perspectives, as well as social structures, geographical aspects, settlements, population movements, and social networks should all be taken into account when assessing lifestyle characteristics and paleopathological signs in skeletal remains.

Exhaustive exercise has been implicated in the generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress. We studied the effect of a long-distance, endurance exercise on oxidative stress parameters in athletes who participated in the ultramarathon race Spartathlon (246 km).This study included 18 runners (16 men and 2 women) aged 42.8 +/- 1.4 years. Blood samples were obtained 24 h before (prerace), at the end (postrace) and 48 h after the end of the race (48 h postrace). We measured oxidative stress indices, including red cell glutathione, malonyldialdehyde and 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2a), as well as the total antioxidant capacity.8-Iso-prostaglandin F(2a) level increased significantly at the end of the race, compared to prerace levels (up to 914.7 +/- 61.4 pg mL(-1) from 197.6 +/- 8.4 pg mL(-1)), and remained 2.5-fold increased over the baseline 48 h after the race (532.0 +/- 54.2 pg mL(-1), P < 0.000). The total antioxidant capacity of the athletes increased from a baseline of 289.6 +/- 9.0 micromol L(-1) to 358.7 +/- 11.0 micromol L(-1) immediately after the race and remained elevated 48 h later (350.6 +/- 7.6 micromol L(-1)) (P < 0.001).Prolonged exercise induces a marked response of oxidative stress biomarkers, which in part is compensated by serum ability to scavenge free radicals. Whether these changes have long-term negative effects in the organism needs further investigation.