Skeletal myopathy associated with concomitant use of statin and cyclosporin in a heart transplant patient - case report

62-year-old woman after heart transplantation due to congestive heart failure of ischemic origin with history of hyperlipidemia was treated with cyclosporin and statin. Concomitant use of these agents caused clinical and biochemical symptoms of skeletal myopathy. After statin withdrawal the symptoms of myopathy disappeared.     

Analysis of epidemiology, clinical features and management of erysipelas

Background Erysipelas is a superficial form of cellulitis affecting the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics. The widespread use of antibiotics may affect clinical findings and response to therapy of infectious disorders. The purpose of the study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of erysipelas and to compare the results of treatment with penicillin vs. other antibiotic regimens. Methods All charts of erysipelas patients treated at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece from 1994 to 2002 were retrospectively studied. Results Median age of the 99 patients was 54.5 years; 59% were females. The most frequent site involved was the lower extremity (76%), followed by the face (17%) and upper extremity (6%). In 61 patients (62%), a possible entry portal was identified. The most common manifestation of erysipelas was local symptoms and signs (pain, erythema, and swelling) in all patients, together with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (60%). Fever was present in 25% of patients. The most commonly used antibiotic was intravenous penicillin G (64%). In the penicillin group, mean duration of fever after treatment initiation was shorter than in the nonpenicillin group (1.7 vs. 4.5 days, P = 0.002). Both treatment failures and recurrences were the same between the two groups. Discussion The diagnosis of erysipelas can be based on careful examination for local signs and symptoms. The role of ESR in primary diagnosis needs further investigation. Penicillin seems to preserve its fundamental role in the treatment of disease.     

Olive oil intake and breast cancer risk in the Mediterranean countries of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study

Although there is some evidence suggesting that olive oil could reduce breast cancer (BC) risk, the epidemiological data are still relatively limited, not entirely consistent and mainly based on case-control studies. Therefore, we prospectively assessed the association between olive oil and BC risk in postmenopausal women from the Mediterranean cohorts within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. The analysis included 62,284 postmenopausal women recruited from Spain, Italy and Greece who had complete dietary data (collected from validated country-specific dietary questionnaires). The risk of BC (overall and by hormone receptor subtypes) was assessed using hazards ratios (HRs) obtained from Cox proportional hazards regression, while adjusting for known BC risk factors. After a mean follow-up of 9 years, 1,256 women were diagnosed with a primary incident invasive BC. The multivariate HRs for BC risk by olive oil intake (highest vs. lowest tertile of g/day/2,000 kcal) were 1.07 (95% CI = 0.91-1.25) in the adjusted model, 1.06 (95% CI = 0.91-1.24) in the model additionally adjusted for reproductive-related factors and 1.10 (95% CI = 0.92-1.31) for the model additionally adjusted for dietary factors. There was no association between olive oil and risk of estrogen or progesterone receptor-positive tumors, but a suggestion of a negative association with estrogens and progesterone receptor-negative tumors. The results from our prospective study showed that olive oil consumption during adult life was not associated with the risk of BC. However, larger prospective studies are still needed to explore possible differences related to hormone receptor status.     

A comparison of six methods for genomic DNA extraction suitable for PCR-based genotyping applications using ovine milk samples

Isolation of amplifiable genomic DNA is a prerequisite for the genetic assessment of diseases and disease susceptibility in farm animals. Milk somatic cells are a practical, animal friendly and cost-effective source of genomic DNA in milking ruminants. In this study, six different DNA extraction methods were optimized, evaluated and compared for the isolation of DNA from ovine milk samples. Methods 1 and 2 were direct applications of two commercial kits, Nucleospin^® Blood and Nucleospin^® Tissue, respectively. Methods 3 and 4 were based on modified protocols of methods 1 and 2, respectively, aiming at increasing DNA recovery and integrity, and eliminating PCR inhibitors. Method 5 was a standard Phenol–Chloroform protocol application and method 6 was based on an in-house developed protocol using silica as the affinity matrix. Spectrophotometer, gel electrophoresis and real-time PCR measurements were used as criteria for evaluating quantity and quality of the extracted DNA. Processing time, intensity of labor and cost for each method were also evaluated. Results suggested that methods 1–4 were considered suitable for molecular downstream applications and performed better than methods 5 and 6. Modifications of protocols 3 and 4 increased the quantity and quality of the extracted DNA from ovine milk samples. Method 3 was proved to be highly efficient and robust for large scale use as demonstrated by its successful application to 1000 individual ovine milk and 50 bulk milk samples.     

Absorbable implants in surgical correction of a capitellar malunion in an 11-year-old: a case report

We present the case of an 11-year-old girl who had a corrective osteotomy reconstruction using absorbable implants for a malunited capitellar fracture 3-1/2 months after a dislocation of her elbow joint. This operative stabilization enabled early joint mobilization and, finally, excellent results in terms of anatomy and function at a 2-year follow-up. We were not able to find any similar report in the English literature dealing with corrective osteotomy reconstruction using absorbable implant fixation for a malunited capitellum in a child.     

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in a general population sample of 26,913 adults in the Greek EPIC study

BACKGROUND: Premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases could be prevented by the effective control of hypertension. Nationwide data for the status of hypertension in the adult Greek population are not available. METHODS: In the context of the Greek component of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC), 26 913 volunteers, aged 20-86 years, were recruited from several regions of Greece. Blood pressure measurements were taken by trained physicians and standard interviewing procedures were used to record medical history, and socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. The data were modelled through multiple regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension (based on two arterial blood pressure measurements on a single occasion) is 40.2% for men and 38.9% for women (age-adjusted to the adult Greek population of 2001). In the sample examined, awareness among hypertensives is 54.4%, pharmaceutical treatment among those aware is 83.9%, and effective control among hypertensives is 15.2%. Prevalence of hypertension increases with age and is higher in rural areas and among individuals of lower education. Awareness and control of hypertension is higher among older individuals, among women and among the highly educated. Moreover, awareness of hypertension is higher among rural residents, whereas control of hypertension is more effective among urban residents. CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of the general Greek population, the prevalence of hypertension among men is lower than the average among the EU countries, whereas the corresponding prevalence among women is higher. Awareness and control of hypertension is lower in Greece than in other western countries, making them public health priorities.     

Electrophysiological estimation of the peripheral nerves conduction parameters and the autonomic nervous system function in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to electrophysiologically examine the peripheral nervous system, mainly its autonomic part in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 19 patients with clinically definite or probable ALS were examined twice (group A and B). 20 healthy subjects were included in the study (group C). Motor conduction study (ulnar, peroneal nerve) with F wave examination, sensory conduction study (ulnar, sural nerve), EMG from 4 muscles, sympathetic skin response (SSR) and heart rate variability test at rest were performed. RESULTS: In the motor conduction study we revealed a significant lowering of the muscle action potential amplitude in the patient group compared with controls and its lowering in the course of ALS. F wave latencies were significantly longer in patients when compared with controls with no progression in the course of ALS. Sensory conduction parameters and heart rate variability parameters at rest did not differ significantly in groups A, B and C. SSR amplitudes were significantly lower and SSR latencies were significantly longer in the patient group in comparison with the control group. There was a significant progression of these parameters during the ALS course. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of motor fibres creating ventral roots and sudomotor fibres lesion are the integral parts of the ALS clinical picture. They tend to worsen during the ALS course.     

Typing of human papillomaviruses in condylomata acuminata from Greece

DNA samples from recurrent condylomata acu-minata biopsies of Greek males and females were examined for the presence of human papil-lomavirus (HPV) DNA using high-stringency Southern blot hybridization analysis. Of the twenty-six biopsies, 25 were positive for the HPV 6/11-related DNA sequences, and when further analyzed with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the HPV-negative biopsy was also positive for HPV 6/11 DNA. Nineteen specimens were further characterized based on their Pstl restriction endonuclease hybridization pattern. Twelve biopsies were positive for HPV 6a, one biopsy was positive for HPV 11a, and one biopsy was positive for HPV 6c DNA. Three specimens contained HPV 6/11 related DNA that gave an unusual Pstl pattern, and one specimen appeared to represent a multiple HPV infection containing HPV 6/11- and HPV 31/35/39-related sequences. Finally, one sample contained a mixture of HPV 6a DNA and an HPV 6a-like genome. Biopsies were also taken from adjacent apparently normal tissue, 0.5 cm away from the lesion, in 19 of the patients. Only one of these was found to be positive for HPV 6a DNA by Southern blot analysis. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.