Publications

Abstract Background Obesity is a risk factor for both vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease. A link between vitamin D status optimisation and improved cardiometabolic profile among adults with obesity could inform public health initiatives. Methods PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for interventional studies examining the effects of vitamin D status improvement on cardiovascular risk factors (anthropometric measures, lipid profile, blood pressure, glucose tolerance) among nondiabetic adults with obesity. Results Seventeen publications reporting results from 11 different studies were included. Number of participants ranged from 34 to 1179 subjects. Duration was between 6 weeks and 4 years. Vitamin D was administered as a supplement in ten studies (1000 IU daily to 120 000 IU fortnightly). In one study, participants were advised to increase sunlight exposure and dietary vitamin D intake. The random and fixed‐effects meta‐analysis showed that vitamin D significantly increased systolic blood pressure and LDL ‐C levels. The fixed‐effects model also indicated a significant decrease in triglyceride levels, which was not evident using the random‐effects model. Caution should be given to these results given the small number of studies used and the high heterogeneity between studies for the two latter outcomes. Additionally, a subset of eligible studies with compatible data presentation was included in the meta‐analysis. Conclusion This systematic review highlights a paucity of interventional studies examining the effects of vitamin D status improvement on cardiovascular risk factors among otherwise healthy adults with obesity. Large‐scale studies at pharmacologically relevant doses and with sufficient duration are warranted.

Background Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) constitutes a genetically and clinically heterogeneous type of monogenic diabetes. It is characterized by early onset, autosomal dominant inheritance and a defect in pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion. To date, various MODY subtypes have been reported, each one of a distinct genetic etiology. Objective The aim of this study was to identify the molecular defects of 50 patients with MODY employing the methodology of next generation sequencing (NGS) targeted gene panel. Methods A panel of seven MODY genes was designed and employed to screen 50 patients fulfilling the MODY diagnostic criteria. Patients with no pathogenic, likely pathogenic or uncertain significance variants detected, were further tested by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for copy number variations (CNVs). Results Eight different pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified in eight MODY patients (diagnostic rate 16%). Five variants of uncertain significance were also detected in seven MODY patients. Five novel pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants were detected in the genes GCK; p.Cys371X, HNF1A; p.Asn402Tyr, HNF4A; p.Glu285Lys, and ABCC8; p.Met1514Thr and p.Ser1386Phe. Two de novo heterozygous deletions of the entire HNF1B gene were detected in two patients, raising the diagnostic rate to 20%. Conclusions Although many MODY patients still remain without exact MODY type identification, the application of NGS methodology provided rapid results, increased diagnostic accuracy, and was cost-effective compared to Sanger sequencing. Accurate genetic diagnosis of the MODY subtype is important for treatment selection, disease prognosis, and family counseling.

Α virtual mid-size oil refinery, located in a high-seismicity region of Greece, is offered as a testbed for developing and testing system-level assessment methods. The dataset includes (a) a full geolocated exposure model with all pertinent critical assets, namely tanks, pressure vessels, process towers, chimneys, equipment-supporting buildings, and a flare; (b) the corresponding record-wise asset demands and summarized fragilities derived via nonlinear dynamic analyses on reduced-order numerical models.

Mothers of children with autism are subject to considerable stress by having to adjust to the disorder and to cope with practical and social issues. Evidence on the effects of relaxation training on stress of these mothers is scarce. The purpose of this pilot case-series study was to examine the role of a simple 6-week daily stress management technique on mothers of children with autism. Mothers' stress measurements and children's functionality were assessed using validated instruments. Participants were 11 mothers of children with autism seen consecutively in the autism clinic of a children's hospital. Statistically significant median reductions of perceived and parental stress were noted after the 6-week intervention. Median stress scores were lower by 37.1% and 33% from the baseline values of the perceived stress scale and parental stress index, respectively. Stress was not significantly correlated with children's functioning. Stress management seems to have benefits for mothers of children with autism.

The COVID‑19 pandemic has complicated current healthcare services for cancer patients. Patients with haematological malignancies specifically seem vulnerable to SARS‑CoV‑2 infection due to their immunosuppressed status. The COVID‑19 pandemic influences every step of the assessment and treatment of a haematological malignancy. Clinicians must adhere to strict policies to not spread the virus to their patients while they must also adjust their workflow for maximum productivity. These difficulties accentuate the ever‑present need to improve the healthcare services for cancer patients. This improvement is needed not only to combat the problems that arose from the COVID‑19 pandemic but also to establish a framework for the management of patients with haematological malignancies in potential future pandemics.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a naturally occurring alkyl-ether phospholipid which serves as an extracellular mediator in various cellular processes. Here we examined the effects of PAF on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo and in vitro. PAF injected iv to rats (125, 250, and 500 ng/100 g BW) caused significant stimulation of pituitary ACTH and adrenal corticosterone secretion. The peak of PAF effect was recorded 10 min after the injection. Intraperitoneal injection of the PAF receptor antagonist BN 52021 prevented the ACTH-releasing effect of PAF. In explanted rat hypothalami maintained viable in vitro, PAF stimulated immunoreactive CRH secretion in a bell-shaped dose-response fashion. The maximal stimulatory effect occurred at the concentration of 10 nM. Higher concentrations appeared to cause desensitization. Alprazolam (1 microM) and BN 52021 (1 microM), two structurally different PAF receptor antagonists, inhibited this effect. The inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, indomethacin, eicosatetraynoic acid, and the calcium channel blocker verapamil, inhibited PAF-stimulated CRH secretion, suggesting mediation by Ca2+ influx and phospholipase-A2 activation. In addition, we found that 1 nM PAF weakly stimulated ACTH secretion by dispersed rat pituicytes. This stimulatory effect of PAF was also inhibited by the receptor antagonists alprazolam and BN 52021. Our data suggest that PAF plays a role in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and glucocorticoid secretion and can perhaps serve as a mediator in the interactions of the immune system with the central nervous system.