PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Mavridis

Publications and source records attributed to G Mavridis.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Diffuse intraabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a ten-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Intraabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumors (IDSRCT) are rare in children and predominantly affect male adolescents and young adults. We present our experience in the management of five children with diffuse IDSRCT, managed with aggressive chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the last decade five patients, four males and one female (mean age 9.6 years), with diffuse IDSRCT were managed in our department. The main symptoms were abdominal distention, vague abdominal pain, and vomiting. Three patients with inoperable tumor on admission were submitted initially to open biopsy followed by aggressive chemotherapy. Regression of the tumor was followed by a second laparotomy and radical excision of any macroscopically distinguishable masses, followed by chemotherapy. In the remaining two patients a debulking procedure was done initially, followed by chemotherapy. The accurate diagnosis of the disease was established by immunohistochemistry, additionally confirmed in the last two patients by molecular analysis. RESULTS: Three patients who had radical excision of the tumor and adjuvant chemotherapy had recurrence after two to six months. In the remaining two patients, recurrence was evident after two and eighteen months, respectively, following debulking. In addition, one patient with recurrence received radiotherapy and two others underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. All but one patient died within three years from diagnosis. The last patient, who was submitted to a debulking procedure, is still alive eight months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Intrabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a highly aggressive malignancy with a very poor prognosis. Multiagent chemotherapy usually leads initially to a temporary regression of the tumor, but recurrence is the rule. Radical surgical excision, radiotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation does not seem to improve prognosis significantly. Despite all therapeutic modalities the outcome is dismal and surgical efforts can be considered only as palliative.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of aortic arch calcification in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the severity of aortic arch calcification among type 2 diabetic patients in association with diabetes duration, diabetic complications, coronary artery disease and presence of cardiovascular risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 207 type 2 diabetic patients (101 men) with a mean age of 61.5 +/- 8.1 years and a mean diabetes duration of 13.9 +/- 6.4 years. Aortic arch calcification was assessed by means of posteroanterior chest X-rays. Severity of calcification was graded as follows: grade 0 (no visible calcification), grade 1 (small spots of calcification or single thin calcification of the aortic knob), grade 2 (one or more areas of thick calcification), grade 3 (circular calcification of the aortic knob). RESULTS: Severity of calcification was grade 0 in 84 patients (40.58%), grade 1 in 64 patients (30.92%), grade 2 in 43 patients (20.77%) and grade 3 in 16 patients (7.73%). In simple regression analysis severity of aortic arch calcification was associated with age (p = 0.032), duration of diabetes (p = 0.026), insulin dependence (p = 0.042) and presence of coronary artery disease (p = 0.039), hypertension (p = 0.019), dyslipidaemia (p = 0.029), retinopathy (p = 0.012) and microalbuminuria (p = 0.01). In multiple regression analysis severity of aortic arch calcification was associated with age (p = 0.04), duration of diabetes (p = 0.032) and presence of hypertension (p = 0.024), dyslipidaemia (p = 0.031) and coronary artery disease (p = 0.04), while the association with retinopathy, microalbuminuria and insulin dependence was no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of aortic arch calcification is associated with age, diabetes duration, diabetic complications (retinopath), microalbuminuria), coronary artery disease, insulin dependence, and presence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

Aortic Arch Syndromes↗
PubMed2005

Rectosigmoid ectasia associated with anorectal anomaly repair: experience with sigmoid anterior resection and endorectal pull-through.

PURPOSE: Surgical treatment of anorectal anomalies may be followed by severe constipation with or without overflow incontinence secondary to dilation and ectasia of the rectosigmoid. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of anterior resection and endorectal pull-through for the treatment of rectosigmoid ectasia secondary to posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Seven patients with a history of PSARP presented with serious rectosigmoid ectasia and overflow incontinence of fecal impaction. Four were boys and 3 were girls aged from 16 months to 15 years. Preoperative diagnosis was based on physical examination, barium enema, MRI and rectal biopsy. Surgical treatment of the post-PSARP rectal ectasia was made by anterior resection of the ectatic segment of the sigmoid combined with pull-through of normal colon into the mucosectomized ectatic rectum. RESULTS: During a four-to ten-year follow-up period all of our patients had normal bowel movements. Postoperative barium enema radiography demonstrated a normal rectal caliber and manometry revealed normal anorectal motor function. CONCLUSIONS: The good postoperative results draw attention to the following. a) The aim of the surgical treatment of megarectum is to establish a neorectum with normal bowel. b) Resection of megasigmoid and pull-through of bowel with normal caliber into the mucosectomized ectatic rectum is an effective procedure in patients with post-PSARP rectosigmoid ectasia. c) The neorectum attains its reservoir function through a gradual process after resection and endorectal pull-through.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Complete Currarino triad in all affected members of the same family.

Currarino triad is a rare hereditary disease. The complete form is characterized by the presence of an anorectal malformation, usually anorectal stenosis, a presacral mass and sacral bony defect. The main symptom is the presence of constipation since early life. In over 80 % of cases, the syndrome is diagnosed during the first decade of life. We report on three patients, members of the same family, with the complete form of the syndrome. The main symptom in our patients was intense constipation and the common clinical finding was an ectopic and stenotic anus. In two of them, father and son, the presacral masses were not diagnosed at the time of previous unsuccessful operations in another hospital for correction of the ectopic anus. In the third patient, Currarino syndrome was associated with Hirschsprung's disease. This has not been described previously. Two of the three patients who were admitted in our institution for simultaneous excision of the presacral mass and correction of the anorectal malformation through a posterior midsagittal coccygo-perineal approach, are free of symptoms. To the authors' knowledge, this is the second report of complete Currarino triad in all affected members of the same family.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2004

Medical treatment of pulmonary hydatidosis: complications and surgical management.

Pulmonary hydatidosis is more frequently encountered in children than in adults. Chemotherapy with oral administration of particular antihelminthic agents (mebendazole and albendazole) has proved to be effective. This treatment, however, may be associated with serious complications that require surgical management. The aim of this study was to define the limitations of medical treatment, the subsequent complications, and their management. During a 16-year period (1985-2001), 36 children with pulmonary hydatidosis (Echinococcus cysticus) were medically treated. Oral antihelminthic agents (mebendazole until 1992 and albendazole thereafter) were given to all these patients. During this treatment, 11 patients developed complications requiring surgical intervention. In seven children, pleural empyema, or the presence of inflammatory residual fluid, was noted. The remaining four developed pulmonary abscess combined with fluid collection within the pleural cavity. In all complicated cases, the mean size of the cysts exceeded 6 cm in diameter at the beginning of medical treatment. At operation, suturing of communicating bronchi was insecure due to inflammation. Postoperatively, three patients had air leakage from the bronchial tree, requiring continuous suction and prolonged hospitalization. One patient presented with pneumothorax 4 months postoperatively and was operated on again. Overall, long-term results were good. We concluded that a) large pulmonary hydatid cysts should not be treated medically, b) incomplete expectoration of the cyst contents after the parasite death may lead to infection through bronchial communication, and c) patients surgically treated for complications following medical treatment are hospitalized twice as long as patients surgically treated in the first place.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Mean platelet volume in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate mean platelet volume (MPV) in type 2 diabetic versus non-diabetic patients, as well as to investigate the associations between MPV and diabetic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 416 patients divided into two groups. Group A comprised 265 type 2 diabetic patients (131 men) with a mean age of 67.4 +/- 9.5 years and a mean diabetes duration of 14.5 +/- 5.7 years. Group B comprised 151 non-diabetic patients (74 men) with a mean age of 68.6 +/- 9.1 years. MPV (blood samples anticoagulated with sodium citrate) was measured in two blood cell counters (Sysmex SF 3000 and Cell-Dyn 3700). RESULTS: MPV was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in group A (14.2 +/- 2.2 fl) than in group B (7.1 +/- 1.2 fl). In group A MPV was significantly higher (P = 0.043) in patients with retinopathy (15.8 +/- 1.3 fl) than in patients without retinopathy (10.9 +/- 1.1 fl) and also significantly higher (P = 0.044) in patients with microalbuminuria (15.6 +/- 1.2 fl) than in patients without microalbuminuria (10.1 +/- 1.2 fl). No association, however, was found in group A between MPV and age, gender, duration of diabetes, insulin dependency, BMI, HbA1c, coronary artery disease or dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSIONS: MPV is higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients. Among type 2 diabetic patients MPV is higher in those who have microvascular complications (retinopathy or microalbuminuria).

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Intraabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumour: report of two cases in paediatric patients.

Intraabdominal Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour (IDSRCT) is a very rare neoplasia with a unique immunoprofile. Children and young adults are most commonly affected. We report two cases with IDSRCT in children who initially presented with ascites, pain and abdominal mass. Complete surgical excision was possible only in one patient. Although both patients underwent multiagent chemotherapy, they had a relapse of the disease. One patient died two years after diagnosis. The tumour has a very poor prognosis. Survival is correlated to the radical resection of the tumour combined with intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Gravity of aortic arch calcification as evaluated in adult Greek patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gravity of aortic arch calcification in adult Greek patients. METHODS: A total of 1027 patients (498 men, 529 women) were included. Aortic arch calcification was assessed by means of posteroanterior chest X-rays. These were studied by two radiologists blinded to the patients' medical records. Calcification was graded as follows: grade 0 (no visible calcification), grade 1 (small spots of calcification or single thin calcification of the aortic knob), grade 2 (one or more areas of thick calcification), grade 3 (circular calcification of the aortic knob). All patients were clinically and electrocardiographically examined for coronary artery disease. The other parameters included in the analysis were age, sex, smoking, body-mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and history of stroke. RESULTS: Calcification gravity was grade 0 in 421 patients (41%), grade 1 in 308 patients (30%), grade 2 in 216 patients (21%) and grade 3 in 82 patients (8%). In simple regression analysis the gravity of aortic arch calcification was positively correlated with age (p=0.01), diabetes mellitus (p=0.014), hypertension (p=0.022), dyslipidemia (p=0.038) and coronary artery disease (p=0.041). In multiple regression analysis it was associated with age (p=0.019), diabetes mellitus (p=0.02) and hypertension (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Gravity of aortic arch calcification in adult Greek patients may easily be assessed on routine chest X-rays and is positively correlated with coronary artery disease, as well as important cardiovascular risk factors (age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Randomised clinical trial comparing the effects of acupuncture and a newly designed placebo needle in rotator cuff tendinitis.

Acupuncture has gained increasing attention in the treatment of chronic pain. The lack of a satisfying placebo method has made it impossible to show whether needling is an important part of the method or whether the improvement felt by the patient is due to the therapeutic setting and psychological phenomena. Also, the effectiveness of acupuncture has not been demonstrated sufficiently. We treated 52 sportsmen with rotator cuff tendinitis in a randomised single-blind clinical trial using a new placebo-needle as control. Patients were treated for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial was the change in the modified Constant-Murley-score from the baseline. Assessment of the treatment outcome was made by experienced orthopaedists not informed of the treatment allocation. Acupuncture with penetration of the skin was shown to be more effective than a similar therapeutic setting with placebo needling in the treatment of pain. The acupuncture-group improved 19.2 Constant-Murley-score points (SD 16.1, range from -13 to 50), the control-group improved 8.37 points (SD 14.56, range from -20 to 41), (P=0.014; C.I. 2.3;19.4). This study showed that needling is an important part of the acupuncture effect in the treatment of chronic shoulder pain in athletes. No conclusions can be derived from this study concerning the importance of choosing points and the rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Using the new placebo method as control for other ailments could improve the evidence of specific acupuncture effects beyond pain treatment.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1991

Pulmonary function in children with chronic renal failure.

Lung volumes were measured in 45 children with chronic renal failure and compared to 10 healthy controls. Six patients were receiving conservative treatment (CT), 11 were undergoing regular haemodialysis (HD), 8 were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 20 were post transplantation (TP). We measured vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV-1) with a bell spirometer. In addition residual volume (RV) was determined in CAPD patients. VC and FEV-1 values below the lower limit of predicted normal values from healthy children with the same body height were found in 38% and 52% of all patients respectively (P less than 0.05). Median values of VC and FEV-1 were lowest in CT and highest in TP patients. Median FEV-1 was significantly reduced to 79% of predicted values in CT and to 82% in HD patients (P less than 0.05). No correlation was found between FEV-1 and haemoglobin levels or the concomitant use of beta-blocking agents. During a HD session mean FEV-1 increased significantly. In CAPD patients the routine filling of the abdomen was followed by an 11% decrease of RV (non significant) while the other parameters remained stable. It is concluded that lung volumes are frequently reduced in chronic renal failure but remain essentially stable during the dialysis procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Severity of liver echogenicity is correlated to serum c-peptide levels in type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM: To investigate the correlation between liver echogenicity and serum C-peptide levels in type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 231 type 2 diabetic patients (114 men) with a mean age of 64.3 +/- 6.9 years and a mean diabetes duration of 8.5 +/- 3.2 years. Liver echogenicity was graded by ultrasound examination as follows: Grade 0 (normal liver texture), grade 1 (slight increase of liver echogenicity), grade 2 (moderate increase of liver echogenicity with impaired visualization of intrahepatic vessels and right hemi-diaphragm), grade 3 (marked increase of liver echogenicity with very poor visualization or non-visualization of intrahepatic vessels and right hemi-diaphragm). Serum C-peptide was measured both in fasting state (Fasting C-peptide, FCP) and after glucagon administration (Glucagon-stimulated C-peptide, GCP). RESULTS: FCP (median; interquartile range) showed a significant difference (p=0.041) between patients with grade 0 (1.9 ng/dl; 1.1-2.7 ng/dl),grade 1 (2.7 ng/dl; 1.9-3.7 ng/dl), grade 2 (4.1 ng/dl; 2.6-5.1 ng/dl) and grade 3 (6.2 ng/dl; 4.6-7.5 ng/dl) liver echogenicity. GCP (median; interquartile range) also differed significantly (p=0.04) between patients with grade 0 (2.6 ng/dl; 1.8-3.3 ng/dl), grade 1 (4.3 ng/dl; 3.3-5 ng/dl), grade 2 (5.8 ng/dl; 4.6-6.9 ng/dl) and grade 3 (8.3 ng/dl; 6.6-9.5 ng/dl) liver echogenicity. In multiple regression analysis, both FCP and GCP showed significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations with waist circumference, triglycerides, WHR and liver echogenicity. CONCLUSIONS: In type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents, liver echogenicity shows a significant positive correlation with serum C-peptide levels, both in fasting state and after glucagon administration.

Administration, Oral↗