The treatment of eye diseases in the Asclepieia

The authors give a short report of ophthalmic treatment in Asclepieia by the priests, who had learned these cures through tradition from other priests.This can be testified by the writings on the stone tablets, which were found in the excavations of the Asclepieion at Epidaurus (1883). They give information concerning illnesses and their treatment.From this historical source we selected certain cases with eye-diseases and their treatment. Included is a part from Aristophanes' comedy Ploutos, giving interesting ophthalmic treatments. p]These treatments by the priests, representing God Asclepius, mainly took the form of medicines and operations performed in a psychologically mysterious atmosphere.     

Fatal Chest Injury with Lung Evisceration during Athletic Games in Ancient Greece

The “Olympic idealism” that dominates modern athletic culture is a myth. The true aims of the athletes in ancient Greece were rewards and life-long appointments to various positions in the military or the city administration. Competitions in the athletic games included, among others, wrestling, boxing, and pangration (a combination of wrestling and boxing). Occasionally, these games resulted in severe trauma or death. Two cases of extreme violence resulting in fatal chest trauma are presented and commented on from both surgical and social points of view.     

Spontaneous rejection of an intraocular foreign body

The right eye of a 17-year-old patient had been injured by a metallic, nonmagnetic foreign body which had perforated the eye at the limbus at 6 o'clock and become lodged in the posterior part of the ciliary body near the ora serrata. The operation to remove the foreign body was unsuccessful. After three months without any inflammatory reaction the patient noticed it in the conjunctiva. The splinter had been spontaneously rejected via the same route by which it had entered the eye; it was removed from the point of entry under local anesthesia. The special circumstances which, in the authors' opinion, led to spontaneous rejection of this foreign body are discussed.     

Non-small bowel lesion detection at small bowel capsule endoscopy: A comprehensive literature review

Small bowel capsule endoscopy is a minimally-invasive endoscopic investigation that is often used in clinical practice to investigate overt or occult gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding among other clinical indications. International guidance recommends small bowel capsule endoscopy as a first-line investigation to detect abnormalities in the small bowel, when gastroscopy and colonoscopy fail to identify a cause of GI bleeding. It can diagnose with accuracy abnormalities in the small bowel. However, there has been increasing evidence indicating that small bowel capsule endoscopy may also detect lesions outside the small intestine that are within the reach of conventional endoscopy and have been probably missed during prior endoscopic investigations. Such lesions vary from vascular deformities to malignancy and their detection often alters patient management, leading to further endoscopic and/or surgical interventions. The current study attempts to review all available studies in the literature and summarise their relevant findings.     

Neuroendocrine tumors and fibrosis: An unsolved mystery?

Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of slow‐growing neoplasms arising mainly from the enterochromaffin cells of the digestive and respiratory tract. Although they are relatively rare, their incidence is rising. It has long been observed that they often are associated with the development of fibrosis, both local and distant. Fibrotic complications, such as carcinoid heart disease and mesenteric desmoplasia, may lead to considerable morbidity or even affect prognosis. The elucidation of the pathophysiology of fibrosis would be of critical importance for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. In this article, the authors review the available evidence regarding the biological basis of fibrosis in neuroendocrine tumors. They explore the role of the tumor microenvironment and the interplay between tumor cells and fibroblasts as a key factor in fibrogenesis and tumor development/progression. They also review the role of serotonin, growth factors, and other peptides in the development of carcinoid‐related fibrotic reactions. Cancer 2017;123:4770‐90 . © 2017 American Cancer Society.     

The ophthalmologist B. Adamandiadis and the history of the "Adamandiadis-Beh?et syndrome"

This article presents the scientific and social work of Benedikt Adamandiadis and the history of the "Adamandiadis-Beh?et syndrome". The authors also attempt to describe the inestimable contribution to modern Greek ophthalmology. It is not the authors' intention to underscore Adamandiadis' importance as the discoverer of the syndrome - for him, the fulfillment of his duties as a scientist and a human being was always more important than personal fame -, but merely to correct an historical injustice.     

What Causes Desmoplastic Reaction in Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms?

Current Oncology Reports - Mesenteric desmoplasia in small intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (SINENs) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In this paper, we discuss the...     

Training in video capsule endoscopy: Current status and unmet needs

Since its introduction to clinical practice nearly 20 years ago, wireless capsule endoscopy has revolutionized the landscape in the diagnosis and management of small bowel diseases. Over the past 10 years, capsule endoscopy has evolved beyond the small intestine and a range of capsules are now available to examine the esophagus, stomach and colon. Because of its ease of use, tolerability, paucity of complications and ability to visualize the entire gastrointestinal tract, capsule endoscopy has entered the mainstream of clinical practice. This review of the literature summarizes the current state of capsule training and highlights the limited data available to assess reader competence and standards expected of an independent practitioner. There are neither standardized teaching strategies nor national or international metrics for accreditation of physicians and nonphysicians interested in mastering this examination. Summating the few publications, there appears to be consensus that diagnostic expertise improves with experience, and that trainees should be fully supervised for at least 20 full case studies. Formative and summative assessment is advisable and the number of taught cases should not be the sole determinant of competence. The review also highlights differences in recommendations from major national gastroenterology societies. Finally, the authors discuss areas of unmet needs in teaching and learning for capsule endoscopy.