Public knowledge, beliefs and practices in Greece about cancer etiology and prevention.

This questionnaire survey of the parents of elementary schoolchildren in Greece assessed their self-reported knowledge, attitudes and practices towards smoking, diet and exposure to X-radiation. A random sample of 403 household units (379 fathers and 391 mothers) was selected from urban areas of Thessaloniki. Half of the parents who smoked (50.1%) did not ask for permission to smoke from other people and 66.0% regularly smoked in front of their children. On the other hand, 82.6% of smokers recognized the existence of a health risk to children from passive smoking. Parents overestimated the role of nuclear tests and accidents as factors in carcinogenesis. Two-thirds of parents did not know the beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet to health, and dietary intake analysis showed some departure from the traditional Mediterranean diet. A reconsideration of the policy regarding health education programmes concerning cancer prevention in Greece is needed.

Public knowledge, beliefs and practices in Greece about cancer etiology and prevention

This questionnaire survey of the parents of elementary schoolchildren in Greece assessed their self-reported knowledge, attitudes and practices towards smoking, diet and exposure to X-radiation. A random sample of 403 household units [379 fathers and 391 mothers] was selected from urban areas of Thessaloniki. Half of the parents who smoked [50.1%] did not ask for permission to smoke from other people and 66.0% regularly smoked in front of their children. On the other hand, 82.6% of smokers recognized the existence of a health risk to children from passive smoking. Parents overestimated the role of nuclear tests and accidents as factors in carcinogenesis. Two-thirds of parents did not know the beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet to health, and dietary intake analysis showed some departure from the traditional Mediterranean diet. A reconsideration of the policy regarding health education programmes concerning cancer prevention in Greece is needed

Review. Leukocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules in inflammation focusing on inflammatory heart disease.

In multicellular organisms the development of adhesion bonds, either among cells or among cells and components of the extracellular matrix, is a crucial process. These interactions are mediated by molecules which are named adhesion molecules and play a main role both at the early stages of the development of tissue integrity and later. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) have a key role in several pathologies such as cancer and inflammatory diseases. Selectins, integrins and immunoglobulin gene superfamily of adhesion receptors mediate different steps of leukocyte migration from the bloodstream towards the inflammatory foci. Leukocyte interactions with the vascular endothelium are highly orchestrated processes that include the capture of free-flowing leukocytes from the blood with subsequent leukocyte rolling, arrest, firm adhesion and ensuing diapedesis. These interactions occur under high shear stresses within venules and depend on multiple families of adhesion molecules. As a response to infection mediators, leukocyte gathering is considered to be crucial for the adequate defence of the organism to any kind of injury or infection. Endothelial activation contributes significantly to the systemic inflammatory response to bacteraemia and increased expression. Release of soluble endothelial markers into the circulation has been demonstrated together with elevated plasma levels of CAMs and has been reported in bacteraemic patients. It has been proposed that infection of endothelial cells with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sanguis, or Staphylococcus epidermidis induces surface expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and monocyte adhesion. In general, leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions such as capture, rolling, and firm adhesion can no longer be viewed as occurring in discrete steps mediated by individual families of adhesion molecules but rather as a series of overlapping synergistic interactions among adhesion molecules resulting in an adhesion cascade. These cascades thereby direct leukocyte migration, which is essential for the generation of effective inflammatory responses and the development of rapid immune responses.

Giant simple renal cyst complicated with hypertension.

Solitary renal cysts are a common and usually asymptomatic occurrence in older patients. They may be associated with hypertension or abdominal disturbances, as they can be responsible for compression of surrounding tissues and distortion of renal vessels. This report presents an interesting case of a hypertensive patient with a solitary renal cyst of a marked size. Owing to the high risk of performing a surgical procedure in such a patient, a distinct therapeutic solution was opted for. Successful management of this case was achieved by a combination of percutaneous fluid aspiration and injection of alcohol and Vibramycin inside the cystic cavity. Percutaneous fluid evacuation combined with the administration of a sclerosing agent is suggested as a safe and effective alternative for cyst decompression and blood pressure normalisation.

Cell proliferation and cell cycle control: a mini review.

Tumourigenesis is the result of cell cycle disorganisation, leading to an uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Specific cellular processes-mechanisms that control cell cycle progression and checkpoint traversation through the intermitotic phases are deregulated. Normally, these events are highly conserved due to the existence of conservatory mechanisms and molecules such as cell cycle genes and their products: cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks), Cdk inhibitors (CKI) and extra cellular factors (i.e. growth factors). Revolutionary techniques using laser cytometry and commercial software are available to quantify and evaluate cell cycle processes and cellular growth. S-phase fraction measurements, including ploidy values, using histograms and estimation of indices such as the mitotic index and tumour-doubling time indices, provide adequate information to the clinician to evaluate tumour aggressiveness, prognosis and the strategies for radiotherapy and chemotherapy in experimental researches.