21 research outputs found
Knowledge of Greek adolescents on human papilloma virus (HPV) and vaccination
No full textThe aim of the present study was to identify the sexual behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) focused on human papilloma virus (HPV) in the Greek adolescent population. The participants were 4547 adolescents, a representative sample for Greek territory with a mean age of 17 years. After written permission from Greek ministry of education each student completed a questionnaire with 36 questions. The fields covered were demographic characteristics, sexual life data, and basic knowledge on HPV. In the present study, 43% and 75% of the participants knew about HPV or cervical cancer, while more than 6 out of 10 did not know the association between the 2. More than 60% of the participants could not answer correctly neither about HPV infection and cervical cancer frequency in sexually active women, nor about protection methods against HPV and cervical cancer. This study shows that the low vaccination coverage of the Greek population may be due to lack of information and awareness of the adolescents and their parents. It is our duty to increase our efforts in order to better educate the population and vaccinate the population as early as possible in their reproductive years. Copyright © 2017 the Author(s)
Knowledge of Greek adolescents on human papilloma virus (HPV) and vaccination: A national epidemiologic study
No full textAbstract: The aim of the present study was to identify the sexual behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) focused on human papilloma virus (HPV) in the Greek adolescent population. The participants were 4547 adolescents, a representative sample for Greek territory with a mean age of 17 years. After written permission from Greek ministry of education each student completed a questionnaire with 36 questions. The fields covered were demographic characteristics, sexual life data, and basic knowledge on HPV. In the present study, 43% and 75% of the participants knew about HPV or cervical cancer, while more than 6 out of 10 did not know the association between the 2. More than 60% of the participants could not answer correctly neither about HPV infection and cervical cancer frequency in sexually active women, nor about protection methods against HPV and cervical cancer. This study shows that the low vaccination coverage of the Greek population may be due to lack of information and awareness of the adolescents and their parents. It is our duty to increase our efforts in order to better educate the population and vaccinate the population as early as possible in their reproductive years
Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor Supplementation in Culture Media for Subfertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproduction Technologies: A Systematic Review
No full textGranulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine/growth factor produced by epithelial cells that exerts embryotrophic effects during the early stages of embryo development. We performed a systematic review, and six studies that were performed in humans undergoing assisted reproduction technologies (ART) were located. We wanted to evaluate if embryo culture media supplementation with GM-CSF could improve success rates. As the type of studies and the outcome parameters investigated were heterogeneous, we decided not to perform a meta-analysis. Most of them had a trend favoring the supplementation with GM-CSF, when outcomes were measured in terms of increased percentage of good-quality embryos reaching the blastocyst stage, improved hatching initiation and number of cells in the blastocyst, and reduction of cell death. However, no statistically significant differences were found in implantation and pregnancy rates in all apart from one large multicenter trial, which reported favorable outcomes, in terms of implantation and live birth rates. We propose properly conducted and adequately powered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to further validate and extrapolate the current findings with the live birth rate to be the primary outcome measure
Subclinical atherosclerosis in menopausal women with low to medium calculated cardiovascular risk
No full textBsmI vitamin D receptor's polymorphism and bone mineral density in men and premenopausal women on long-term antiepileptic therapy
No full textBackground: Utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has long been associated with bone deleterious effects. Furthermore, the BsmI restriction fragment polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) has been associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD), mostly in postmenopausal women. This study evaluates the association between bone metabolism of patients with epilepsy and the BsmI VDR's polymorphism in chronic users of AEDs.Methods: This study evaluated 73 long-term users of antiepileptic drug monotherapy, in a cross-sectional design. Fasting blood samples were obtained to estimate the circulating serum levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, parathormone, 25hydroxyvitamin D as well as the VDR's genotype. Bone mineral density at the lumbar spine was measured with Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry.Results: Bone mineral density was significantly associated with the genotype of VDR (mean BMD: Bb genotype 1.056 ± 0.126 g/cm2; BB genotype 1.059 ± 0.113 g/cm2; bb genotype 1.179 ± 0.120 g/cm2; P < 0.05). Additionally, the presence of at least one B allele was significantly associated with lower bone mineral density (B allele present: BMD = 1.057 ± 0.12 g/cm2, B allele absent: BMD = 1.179 ± 0.119 g/cm2; P < 0.01). Patients with at least one B allele had lower serum levels of 25hydroxyvitamin D when compared with bb patients (22.61 ng/ml vs. 33.27 ng/ml, P < 0.05), whilst they tended to have higher levels of parathyroid hormone.Discussion: Vitamin D receptor polymorphism is associated with lower bone mass in patients with epilepsy. This effect might be mediated through the vitamin D-parathormone pathway. © 2010 The Author(s). European Journal of Neurology © 2010 EFNS
