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Biomedical subjects

D Tsakayannis

Publications and source records attributed to D Tsakayannis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effect of green tea on angiogenesis and severity of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbit.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since the development of the atherosclerotic plaque requires the growth of new microvessels in the plaque itself (vasa vasorum), we postulated that green tea may exert an anti-atherogenic effect. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen male New Zealand white rabbits were studied for 17 weeks. All rabbits were fed an hypecholesterolemic diet. After 2 weeks of adaptation rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups. Animals in Group A were fed the hypercholesterolemic diet and received plain tap water ad libitum. Animals in Group B were fed with the same diet and furthermore received 2.5% (g/g) green tea for 17 weeks. CONCLUSION: According to our results the atherosclerotic lesions were more severe in Group B than in Group A specimens. Also, the number of VEGF positively stained foam cells and smooth muscle cells of Group B were significantly greater than in Group A. About 30% less plaque was found in Group A than in the control group (Group B). So, our study showed that the consumption of green tea leads to a reduction of atherosclerosis as well as a significant decrease of VEGF expression in the atherosclerotic plaque of rabbit aorta. The hypothesis that probably green tea may produce its anti-atherogenetic effect through an anti-angiogenetic mechanism needs more investigation.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2006

Surgical management of adrenal myelolipoma: a series of 10 patients and review of the literature.

AIM: Adrenal myelolipomas have been conventionally described as asymptomatic tumors that are easily diagnosed and can be managed conservatively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of surgery in the management of these lesions. METHODS: The clinical presentation, the operative treatment and histopathological features of 10 patients with myelolipoma over a 13-year period in a tertiary care Center are presented. RESULTS: Eight patients (80%) were symptomatic: 7 patients presented with non-specific abdominal pain, whereas 1 patient presented urgently due to intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Investiga-tion of concurrent medical conditions revealed hypertension (7 patients), diabetes mellitus (2 patients), obesity (4 patients) and nephrolithiasis (1 patient). Seven patients underwent adrenalectomy by open approach (4 through the anterior and 3 through the posterior route) and 3 by laparoscopic method. There was no postoperative morbidity and mortality and all patients are currently symptom free. CONCLUSIONS: Although myelolipomas are considered as innocent benign growths, they may present with acute clinical symptoms. Surgical therapy is a safe and definitive treatment option for both symptomatic and ''asymptomatic'' lesions providing definitive diagnosis and alleviating the patients' symptoms along with the emotional burden due to tumor presence.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Laparoscopy in the context of lower abdominal pain in young women.

The management of lower abdominal pain in young women carries up to 45% chance of diagnostic error. Laparoscopic management may be particularly beneficial in this subset of patients. This study reviews the authors' experience with laparoscopy as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in young women with lower abdominal pain. The authors analyzed 121 consecutive female patients, with a mean age of 30 years, who were evaluated from June 1995 to October 1997. All patients were managed by early laparoscopy within 24 h from the onset of symptoms. Radiographic imaging, including computed tomography and ultrasound, was performed in 79 patients (65.2%). Laparoscopy was diagnostic in all cases. In 58 patients (48%), multiple pathologic conditions were identified. Acute appendicitis was the most common diagnosis (82.6%), and benign gynecologic disorders was the predominant reason for multiple pathologic conditions (clinical evaluation was erroneous in 15% of patients). In 96% of patients, definite surgical treatment was provided laparoscopically. The mean hospitalization time was 2.0 +/- 1 days, and the mean operative time was 59.8 +/- 21 min. The overall complication rate was 2.5%. In young women, early laparoscopy can offer a safe and effective alternative for the definite diagnosis and treatment of lower abdominal pain.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1996

Stress through handling for vaginal screening, serotonin, and ACTH response to ether.

The effect of duration of handling for vaginal smear screening on the adrenal weight and acute ACTH response to ether were examined in 4-day-cycling female rats, sacrificed at 97-103 days of age on diestrus-2 after evaluation of resistance to handling, thymus weight, and hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). Prolonged handling paralleled increased resistance (behavioral response) to handling and adrenal weight but was inversely related to thymus weight. The hypothalamic 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio, compared to controls with similar conditions of handling, were not modified after 2.5 min of ether despite the ACTH rise. In ether-stressed rats, the ACTH response to ether was lower after prolonged handling compared to short handling paralleling decreased thymus weight. In contrast, 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio were higher, paralleling increased resistance and adrenal weight. The results suggest chronic activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis with positive serotonergic involvement after prolonged handling and resistance during vaginal screening and a negative implication of this activation on the acute ACTH response to ether.

Adrenal Glands↗