Hellenic Air Force

About: Hellenic Air Force is a government organization based out in Athens, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Denosumab & Osteoporosis. The organization has 304 authors who have published 434 publications receiving 8644 citations. The organization is also known as: Greek Air Force & HAF.

Obesity in pregnancy.

Abstract: Obesity, the most common metabolic disorder, concerns, among others, women of reproductive age and, when it occurs before or during pregnancy, constitutes a major risk factor for both maternal and fetal complications. The complications of obesity in a prospective mother include subfertility, miscarriage, thrombo-embolism, hypertensive disorders, metabolic syndrome, preterm delivery and higher frequency of cesarean section. Fetal complications include intrauterine death, congenital anomalies and macrosomia. Moreover, the complications of maternal obesity do not only involve the fetus; they also extend beyond fetal life into childhood and adulthood. The mother's diet during pregnancy creates a metabolic environment that affects fetal growth and may result in later development of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, a phenomenon known as "developmental origin of adult disease". Since the expectant mother is usually more motivated to accept lifestyle modifications, pregnancy is a period during which obesity can be more effectively managed. The control of body weight during this period is of paramount importance for pregnancy outcome as well as the health status of the mother and the neonate.

Management of adult patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis: recommendations from an expert panel on behalf of Euro-Histio-Net

Abstract: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is an orphan disease of clonal dendritic cells which may affect any organ of the body. Most of the knowledge about the diagnosis and therapy is based on pedriatic studies. Adult LCH patients are often evaluated by physicians who focus on only the most obviously affected organ without sufficient evaluation of other systems, resulting in patients being underdiagnosed and/or incompletely staged. Furthermore they may be treated with pediatric-based therapies which are less effective and sometimes more toxic for adults. The published literature on adult LCH cases lacks a comprehensive discussion on the differences between pediatric and adult patients and there are no recommendations for evaluation and comparative therapies. In order to fill this void, a number of experts in this field cooperated to develop the first recommendations for management of adult patients with LCH. Key questions were selected according to the clinical relevance focusing on diagnostic work up, therapy, and follow up. Based on the available literature up to December 2012, recommendations were established, drafts were commented by the entire group, and redrafted by the executive editor. The quality of evidence of the recommendations is predominantly attributed to the level of expert opinion. Final agreement was by consensus.

Open tension free repair of inguinal hernias; the Lichtenstein technique.

Abstract: Recurrences have been a significant problem following hernia repair. Prosthetic materials have been increasingly used in hernia repair to prevent recurrences. Their use has been associated with several advantages, such as less postoperative pain, rapid recovery, low recurrence rates. In this retrospective study, 540 tension-free inguinal hernia repairs were performed between August 1994 and December 1999 in 510 patients, using a polypropylene mesh (Lichtenstein technique). The main outcome measure was early and late morbidity and especially recurrence. Inguinal hernia was indirect in 55 % of cases (297 patients), direct in 30 % (162 patients) and of the pantaloon (mixed) type in 15 % (81 patients). Mean patient age was 53.7 years (range, 18 – 85). Follow-up was completed in 407 patients (80 %) by clinical examination or phone call. The median follow-up period was 3.8 years (range, 1 – 6 years). Seroma and hematoma formation requiring drainage was observed in 6 and 2 patients, respectively, while transient testicular swelling occurred in 5 patients. We have not observed acute infection or abscess formation related to the presence of the foreign body (mesh). In two patients, however, a delayed rejection of the mesh occurred 10 months and 4 years following surgery. There was one recurrence of the hernia (in one of these patients with late mesh rejection) (recurrence rate = 0.2 %). Postoperative neuralgia was observed in 5 patients (1 %). Lichtenstein tension-free mesh inguinal hernia repair is a simple, safe, comfortable, effective method, with extremely low early and late morbidity and remarkably low recurrence rate and therefore it is our preferred method for hernia repair since 1994.

Clinical Features of 24 Patients With Rebound-Associated Vertebral Fractures After Denosumab Discontinuation: Systematic Review and Additional Cases.

Abstract: We aimed to study the clinical and imaging characteristics of patients sustaining vertebral fractures after denosumab discontinuation. For this purpose, we conducted a computerized advanced literature search that identified 13 published cases, and we additionally included another 11 new cases from our centers. Twenty-four postmenopausal women with vertebral fracture(s) after denosumab discontinuation, experiencing 112 fractures in total, were analyzed. The mean number of fractures per patient was 4.7. The most commonly affected vertebrae were T12 and L1. All fractures occurred 8 to 16 months after the last denosumab injection. Eighty-three percent of the patients were treatment naive, whereas 33% had prevalent vertebral fractures. Five (23%) patients were on concurrent aromatase inhibitor treatment. When patients were divided according to treatment duration with an arbitrary cut-off of 2 years, those with ≤2 years of denosumab treatment had fewer fractures compared with those with >2 years (mean ± SEM fractures 3.2 ± 0.7 versus 5.2 ± 1.4, p = 0.055). Vertebroplasty was used in 5 patients, resulting in additional clinical vertebral fractures in all cases. We conclude that vertebral fracture(s) after denosumab discontinuation are in the majority of patients multiples, and they occur a few months after the effect of the last dose is depleted. Therefore, patients should not delay or omit denosumab doses. Fractures are typically osteoporotic, located at the lower thoracic and the upper lumbar spine. Vertebroplasty is an unsuccessful treatment strategy for such patients. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.