Quality of life and depression in chronic sexually transmitted infections in UK and Greece: The use of WHOQOL-HIV/STI BREF.

This is a comparative study aiming to investigate quality of life (QoL) and depression in individuals diagnosed either with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), or genital warts (GW) and genital herpes (GH), in two healthcare settings, in the United Kingdom (UK) or in Greece (Gr). Using a matched-pairs design, two equalized patient samples with sexually transmitted infections (STI) were recruited: from UK (n=43) and from Greece (n=43). QoL was assessed with WHOQOL-HIV BREF for HIV patients and WHOQOL-STI BREF -a newly adapted instrument- for genital warts and genital herpes patients. Depressive symptomatology was measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies- Depression Scale (CES-D) along with sociodemographic data. Results indicate that in both country- healthcare settings, a high percentage of individuals diagnosed with any type of STI, reported considerable depressive symptomatology: 35.7% for UK and 41.5% for Greek participants respectively. Regarding QoL, participants in the Greek healthcare settings reported significantly lower scores in the environment domain, and even lower scores were reported by the GW/GH group, in comparison to HIV. Specifically, these groups indicated significantly lower values in the following WHOQOL-BREF environment facets: (i) physical safety and security, (ii) participation in and opportunities for recreation/leisure activities, (iii) home environment, (iv) accessibility and quality in health and social care, and (v) transport facilities. Regarding correlation of QoL and depression, regression analysis provided significant evidence for depression having a differential effect on WHOQOL-BREF QoL domains. Evidence of increased depressive symptomatology in both STI patient- cohorts may shed light into unmet healthcare needs that should be addressed by healthcare providers in UK and Greece respectively. Furthermore, all types of Greek STI participants reported lower QoL, particularly the GW/GH group, indicating important unmet QoL needs in the environment domain, such as health and social care accessibility and quality, or environmental and social resources, all lowering everyday QoL. The present findings may provide guidelines for tailored mental health interventions alleviating depressive symptomatology in STI patients. Provision of targeted-interventions at healthcare and social-environmental levels will contribute to QoL/ health improvement in STI patients.

Dietary Supplementation of Benzoic Acid and Essential Oil Compounds Affects Buffering Capacity of the Feeds, Performance of Turkey Poults and Their Antioxidant Status, pH in the Digestive Tract, Intestinal Microbiota and Morphology.

Three trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of a basal diet with benzoic acid or thymol or a mixture of essential oil blends (MEO) or a combination of benzoic acid with MEO (BMEO) on growth performance of turkey poults. Control groups were fed a basal diet. In trial 1, benzoic acid was supplied at levels of 300 and 1,000 mg/kg. In trial 2, thymol or the MEO were supplied at levels of 30 mg/kg. In trial 3, the combination of benzoic acid with MEO was evaluated. Benzoic acid, MEO and BMEO improved performance, increased lactic acid bacteria populations and decreased coliform bacteria in the caeca. Thymol, MEO and BMEO improved antioxidant status of turkeys. Benzoic acid and BMEO reduced the buffering capacity compared to control feed and the pH values of the caecal content. Benzoic acid and EOs may be suggested as an effective alternative to AGP in turkeys.

Assessment of probiotics supplementation via feed or water on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and microflora of chickens after experimental infection with Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria tenella.

In this study, the effect of probiotic supplementation via drinking water or feed on the performance of broiler chickens experimentally infected with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina (5 × 10(4)), Eimeria maxima and Eimeria tenella (2 × 10(4) each one) at 14 days of age was evaluated. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were separated into eight equal groups with three replicates. Two of the groups, one infected with mixed Eimeria oocysts and the other not, were given a basal diet and served as controls. The remaining groups were also challenged with mixed Eimeria species and received the basal diet and either water supplemented with probiotic (three groups) or probiotic via feed (two groups); the probiotic used consisted of Enterococcus faecium #589, Bifidobacterium animalis #503 and Lactobacillus salivarius #505 at a ratio of 6:3:1. Probiotic supplementation was applied either via drinking water in different inclusion rates (groups W1, W2 and W3) or via feed using uncoated (group FN) or coated strains (group FC). The last group was given the basal diet supplemented with the anticoccidial lasalocid at 75 mg/kg. Each experimental group was given the corresponding diet or drinking water from day 1 to day 42 of age. Throughout the experimental period of 42 days, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly and feed conversion ratios were calculated. Seven days after infection, the infected control group presented the lowest weight gain values, while probiotics supplied via feed supported growth to a comparable level with that of the lasalocid group. Probiotic groups presented lesion score values and oocyst numbers that were lower than in control infected birds but higher than in the lasalocid group. In the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, the highest villous height values were presented by probiotic groups. In conclusion, a mixture of probiotic substances gave considerable improvement in both growth performance and intestinal health in comparison with infected control birds and fairly similar improvement to an approved anticoccidial during a mixed Eimeria infection.

Epidemiology of human leishmaniasis in Greece, 1981-2011.

Leishmaniasis is endemic and mandatorily notifiable in Greece. Epidemiological surveillance data for leishmaniasis in Greece between 1981 and 2011 are presented. In 1998, the notification system began distinguishing between visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The mean annual incidence of reported leishmaniasis cases between 1998 and 2011 was 0.36 per 100,000 population. Of a total 563 leishmaniasis cases reported after 1998, 523 (93%) were visceral leishmaniasis cases. Incidence of reported visceral leishmaniasis cases fluctuated during this period, generally decreasing after 2007, with a small re-increase in 2011. The mean annual incidence rate of reported visceral leishmaniasis cases was significantly higher in less than four year-olds (p <0.001). Leishmaniasis cases occurred both in the country mainland and islands. Between 1998 and 2011, Attica concentrated almost half of the reported visceral leishmaniasis cases, with incidence rates in western Attica and western Athens above 12.00 per 100,000 population. Compared to visceral leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis had a rather sporadic distribution, with many prefectures appearing free of cases. From 2004, the notification also included risk factors and of 287 cases with known immune status, 44 (15%) were immunocompromised. Moreover having a dog at home was reported by 209 of 312 leishmaniasis cases (67%), whereas 229 of 307 cases (75%) reported the presence of stray dogs near their residence. Linking clinical surveillance data with laboratory data and improving collaboration with the veterinary public health sector are some of the future challenges for leishmaniasis surveillance in Greece.

Psychometric properties of WHOQOL-BREF in clinical and health Greek populations: incorporating new culture-relevant items.

Τhe present study examines main psychometric properties of the World Health Organisation (WHO) quality of life (QoL) instrument, the WHOQOL-BREF with the inclusion of four national items. Participants were 425 adult native Greek speaking, grouped into patients with physical disorders, psychiatric disorders and healthy individuals. Participants were administered WHOQOL-BREF and 23 national items, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI). Confirmatory factor analysis produced acceptable fit values for the original model of 26 items within the four WHOQOL domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment. Testing for the fit of national items within this model, the results indicated four new items with the most satisfactory fit indices and were thus included forming a 30-items version. The national items refer to: (a) nutrition, (b) satisfaction with work (both loaded in the physical health domain), (c) home life and (d) social life (both loaded in the social relationships domain). Statistical tests were applied to the 26- and 30-items versions producing satisfactory results, with the 30-items version showing slightly better values. Furthermore, results on the 30-items version included: (a) internal consistency, which was found satisfactory, with alpha values ranging from α=0.67-0.81, while the inclusion of new items produced higher alpha values in physical health and social relationships domains, (b) construct validity with good item-domain correlations, as well as strong correlations between domain scores, (c) convergent validity, which was very satisfactory, showing good correlations with GHQ-28 and LSI, (d) discriminant validity, showing instrument's ability to detect QoL differences between healthy and unhealthy participants, and between physically ill and psychiatric patients, and (e) test-retest reliability, with ICC scores in excess of 0.80 obtaining for all domains. The WHOQOL-BREF Greek version was found to perform well with sick and healthy participants, demonstrating satisfactory psychometric properties. Use of the instrument may be recommended for clinical and general populations, for service or intervention evaluation, as well as for cross-cultural clinical trials.

Spotlight on measles 2010: ongoing measles outbreak in Greece, January-July 2010.

A measles outbreak (126 reported cases to date) has been ongoing in Greece, since January 2010, originally related to the recent outbreak in Bulgaria. Cases are mostly unvaccinated, and mainly belong to three groups: Roma population of Bulgarian nationality, Greek Roma population, and Greek non-minority population. In these population groups, 67%, 95%, and 25% of cases respectively were children aged 0-14 years. Measures were taken to raise clinical awareness, and vaccination of specific population groups was undertaken. Policies are necessary to increase routine vaccination uptake of hard-to-reach groups.

Detecting changes in quality of life and psychiatric symptomatology following an in-patient detoxification programme for alcohol-dependent individuals: the use of WHOQOL-100.

The present study examines quality of life (QoL) and psychiatric symptomatology prior to and upon completion of a 5-week in-patient detoxification programme with the aim to identify any changes produced following clinical intervention. A group of 46 alcohol-dependent individuals, who were consecutively admitted for detoxification in the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Athens, were clinically-assessed at admission and just before discharge with DSM-IV, CIDI-WHO and with the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales (HDRS, HARS) and the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) for depression, anxiety and overall functioning, respectively. In addition, the patients were invited to complete the World Health Organization Quality of Life WHOQOL-100 instrument. Differences between admission and discharge scores were examined using related sample t-tests. Correlations between the WHOQOL-100 scores and clinically-assessed symptomatology measures were performed. Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation of clinical and socio-demographic variables with patient overall QoL. The results indicate that QoL scores increased at discharge in 16 out of the 24 WHOQOL-100 facets. In addition, patient-assessed status of health was significantly improved. Improvement was also observed in the symptomatology scales rated by the clinician, providing evidence for lower levels of depression, anxiety and a higher level of functioning. Moderate correlations were found between WHOQOL-100 domains and psychiatric symptomatology scales. Significant WHOQOL-100 gains at discharge and clinically-assessed improvement in the HDRS, HARS and GAS, provide evidence of the WHOQOL-100 instrument's sensitivity to changes in clinical condition. The WHOQOL-100 measurement may be suitable for detecting QoL deficits or therapeutic gains in alcohol-dependent patients and may prove useful to mental health professionals for treatment planning.

Hormone anchored metal complexes. 1. Synthesis, structure, spectroscopy and in vitro antitumor activity of testosterone acetate thiosemicarbazone and its metal complexes.

Testosterone acetate thiosemicarbazone (TATSC, 17-beta-hydroxyandrost-4-one acetate thiosemicarbazone) was synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray structure determination. The copper and platinum complexes of this steroid derivative were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and electrochemiatry. The in vitro activity of these compounds against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was tested. The highest activity was found for the [Pt(TATSC)Cl(1)] followed by [Cu(TATSC)Cl(2)] and the ligand in compariosn with cisplatin.