30 research outputs found
The EU's role in catalyzing a settlement in Cyprus : Providing incentives and imposing conditionality in the Cyprus conflict
No full textΤο 1987 η Τουρκία και το 1990 η Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία- ως η αναγνωρισμένη αρχή που εκπροσωπεί όλο το νησί- υπέβαλαν την αίτησή του για ένταξη στις Ευρωπαϊκές Κοινότητες (αργότερα Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση/ Ε.Ε). Η γνωμοδότηση της Commission πάνω στην ενταξιακή πορεία της Κύπρου (1993) υπογραμμίζει την επίλυση του Κυπριακού ως προϋπόθεση για την ένταξη της Κύπρου στην Ε.Ε. Την ίδια τακτική ακολούθησαν οι Ευρωπαϊκοί θεσμοί και με την Τουρκία, αφού η επίλυση του Κυπριακού και η καλή θέληση της χώρας κατά τις διαπραγματεύσεις-υπό την αιγίδα των Ηνωμένων Εθνών- αποτελούσαν πολιτική προϋπόθεση για την ένταξη της χώρας στην Ε.Ε. Η σταδιακή άρση της αιρεσιμότητας του Κυπριακού προβλήματος στους Ελληνοκυπρίους, στην οποία συνέβαλε και ο ρόλος της Ελλάδας στα ευρωπαϊκά όργανα, άλλαξε τα δεδομένα και ευνόησε την ένταξη της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας, την περίοδο που η Τουρκική αίτηση φαινόταν να είναι στάσιμη. Ο ιστορικός συμβιβασμός που επετεύχθη στο Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο στο Ελσίνκι το 1999, κατέστη σχεδόν βέβαιη τη συμπερίληψη της Κύπρου στην 5η διεύρυνση ενώ η Τουρκία απέκτησε τον τίτλο του υποψήφιου για ένταξη στην Ε.Ε κράτους. Το 1999 εγκαινιάζεται και μια νέα περίοδος επαναπροσέγγισης και βελτίωσης ελληνο-τουρκικών σχέσεων μετά την παγωμένη περίοδο του 1993-1998 όπου το Ελληνικό και το Τουρκικό στοιχείο (Ελλάδα-Τουρκία και Ελληνοκύπριοι- Τουρκοκύπριοι) είχαν επικίνδυνες τριβές (Ίμια 1996, τα γεγονότα της Πράσινης Γραμμής το 1996, Πύραυλοι S-300 κλπ.). Οι διαπραγματεύσεις στις αρχές του 2000' είχαν ως βάση το σχέδιο του Γενικού Γραμματέα του Οργανισμού Ηνωμένων Εθνών ,Kofi Annan. Ο Πρόεδρος της Κύπρου Γλαύκος Κληρίδης, αν και είχε δείξει ειλικρινή διάθεση για εξεύρεση λύσης αντικαταστάθηκε το 2003 από τον Τάσσο Παπαδόπουλο, ο οποίος ήταν αρνητικά διακείμενος προς το Σχέδιο Ανάν. Οι βουλευτικές εκλογές στη βόρεια Κύπρο το 2003 ανέδειξαν ένα νέο πολιτικό προσωπικό διατεθειμένο να δεχθεί το σχέδιο Ανάν και να προσχωρήσει στην Ε.Ε παρά την δυσαρέσκεια του Προέδρου Ντενκτάς για την προτεινόμενη λύση. Τέλος, η εκλογή του Κόμματος Δικαιοσύνης και Ανάπτυξης (AKP) το 2002 στην Τουρκία, έφερε στο προσκήνιο βουλευτές με φιλο-ευρωπαϊκή ατζέντα και διάθεση για υποχωρήσεις στο θέμα του Κυπριακού. Στο δημοψήφισμα της 24ης Απριλίου 2004, περίπου 65% των Τουρκοκυπρίων ψήφισαν υπέρ του Σχεδίου Ανάν, ενώ το 76.8% των Ελληνοκυπριακού πληθυσμού το καταψήφισαν. Ποιός ήταν ο ρόλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και πώς επηρέασε το αποτέλεσμα; Κρίνοντας εκ του αποτελέσματος ήταν αποτυχημένη η πολιτική της Ε.Ε προς τους κύριους παίχτες της Κυπριακής διένεξης και πως επηρέασε τη συμπεριφορά του καθενός; Σε τι οφείλεται η αρνητική στάση των Ελληνοκυπρίων προς το σχέδιο Ανάν; Τι θα μπορούσε να είχε κάνει η Ε.Ε διαφορετικά; Τέλος, το Σχέδιο Ανάν ήταν συμβατό με τις κύριες διεκδικήσεις των Ελληνοκυπρίων;Turkey in 1987 and the Republic of Cyprus- as the recognized authority representing the whole island- in 1990 applied for European Communities’ membership signaling the beginning of EC’s (later European Union/E.U) interference in the Cyprus Conflict. Commission’s Opinion on Cyprus’ EC application (1993) underlined that a settlement in Cyprus was a prerequisite for the island’s EU accession. The European institutions followed the same policy for Turkey, since a settlement in Cyprus and Turkey’s good will during the negotiations- under the United Nations aegis- constituted a political requirement for Turkey’s EU membership. The gradual lifting of the settlement conditionality for the Greek-Cypriots, to which Greece contributed by utilizing its role in the European fora, brought a major change and favored Cyprus’ accession course, while Turkey’s application seemed to be at a stalemate. The historical compromise that took place in Helsinki during the 1999 European Council, certified Cyprus’ inclusion in the fifth enlargement, while Turkey was granted candidate status. The 1993-1998 period of hostility and tension between Greece and Turkey but also between the two communities in Cyprus (Imia 1996, Green line events in 1996, S-300 missiles’ crisis etc.) was succeeded by a new era of rapprochement and improvement of inter-state and intra-state relations. The basis for the early 2000’s negotiations was the plan proposed by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides displayed a compromising stance towards the Plan but was succeeded after the 2003 elections by Tassos Papadopoulos, who was skeptical of the Annan Plan. The parliamentary elections in northern Cyprus featured a new wave of MPs willing to accept the Annan Plan and seek EU membership, despite Denktash’ disappointment for the proposed resolution. Finally, the election of AKP (Justice and Development Party) in 2002 in Turkey highlighted a pro-European agenda and willingness to make concessions regarding the Cyprus issue. During the 24th April 2004 referenda, 65% of the Turkish-Cypriots voted in favor of the Annan Plan, while 76.8% of the Greek-Cypriot people voted against it. What was the EU’s role in the process and how did it affect the outcome? Judging by the referenda, was the EU’s policy towards the main players of the Cyprus conflict failing and how did it influence the policy of each player? How could the EU have acted differently? Last but not least, was the Annan Plan aligned to the main Greek-Cypriot demands
Acute Management of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation with Intravenous Flecainide plus Oral Beta-Blockers
No full textBackground: Intravenous (IV) flecainide is recommended for the pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to study the efficacy and safety of IV flecainide, co-administered with oral b-blockers, for the cardioversion of paroxysmal AF. Methods: Single-center registry, initiated in the “Skylitseion” General Hospital of Chios in January 2020. The main inclusion criterion was IV flecainide administration plus oral b-blocker for recent-onset AF (≤48 h). The primary outcome was conversion to sinus rhythm at 2 h. Results: A total of 121 (73 males and 48 females, with mean age 61.4 years) consecutive, unselected patients who complied with the study protocol were included. A successful conversion to sinus rhythm at 2 h was achieved in 99 patients (success rate: 81.8%). The median conversion time was 11.7 min (varied from 3 to 23 min). Duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in patients who were successfully cardioverted with IV flecainide (10.9 vs. 30.7 h, p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were recorded. Conclusion: This is one of the largest registries worldwide, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of IV flecainide co-administered with a b-blocker in the acute management of recent-onset AF. The successful conversion rate at 2 h is very high and quick with no serious adverse events
Coronary CT angiography as a guide in decision-making for left main spontaneous coronary dissection
No full textEchocardiographic imaging of tricuspid and pulmonary valve abnormalities in primary ovarian carcinoid tumor
No full textAbstract Carcinoid is a rare malignancy originating from enterochromaffin cells and is clinically characterized by flushing, diarrhea and bronchospasm, due to secretion of vasoactive substances. A dreaded complication is carcinoid heart disease, which mainly affects right cardiac chambers, resulting in thickened, immobile and retracted tricuspid and pulmonary valves. In the current report, a case of a 60-year old female presenting with symptoms of right heart failure is described. Transthoracic two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography findings, as well as biochemical markers, including pro-BNP and NT-pro-BNP, were consistent with carcinoid syndrome. The histological diagnosis of carcinoid was confirmed after surgical resection of an ovarian mass.</p
Echocardiographic imaging of tricuspid and pulmonary valve abnormalities in primary ovarian carcinoid tumor
No full textCarcinoid is a rare malignancy originating from enterochromaffin cells and is clinically characterized by flushing, diarrhea and bronchospasm, due to secretion of vasoactive substances. A dreaded complication is carcinoid heart disease, which mainly affects right cardiac chambers, resulting in thickened, immobile and retracted tricuspid and pulmonary valves. In the current report, a case of a 60-year old female presenting with symptoms of right heart failure is described. Transthoracic two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography findings, as well as biochemical markers, including pro-BNP and NT-pro-BNP, were consistent with carcinoid syndrome. The histological diagnosis of carcinoid was confirmed after surgical resection of an ovarian mass
GUT Microbiome-GUT Dysbiosis-Arterial Hypertension: New Horizons
No full textArterial hypertension is a progressive cardiovascular syndrome arising from complex and interrelated etiologies. The human microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms that live in or on the human body. They influence human physiology by interfering in several processes such as providing nutrients and vitamins in Phase I and Phase II drug metabolism. The human gut microbiota is represented mainly by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and to a lesser degree by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, with each individual harbouring at least 160 such species. Gut microbiota contributes to blood pressure homeostasis and the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension through production, modification, and degradation of a variety of microbial-derived bioactive metabolites. Animal studies and to a lesser degree human research has unmasked relative mechanisms, mainly through the effect of certain microbiome metabolites and their receptors, outlining this relationship. Interventions to utilize these pathways, with probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics and fecal microbiome transplantation have shown promising results. Personalized microbiome-based disease prediction and treatment responsiveness seem futuristic. Undoubtedly, a long way of experimental and clinical research should be pursued to elucidate this novel, intriguing and very promising horizon.</jats:sec
Coronary CT angiography as a guide in decision-making for left main spontaneous coronary dissection
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