We present the technical specifications and first results of the ESA-funded, lunar monitoring project “NELIOTA” (NEO Lunar Impacts and Optical TrAnsients) at the National Observatory of Athens, which ...aims to determine the size-frequency distribution of small near-Earth objects (NEOs) via detection of impact flashes on the surface of the Moon. For the purposes of this project a twin camera instrument was specially designed and installed at the 1.2 m Kryoneri telescope utilizing the fast-frame capabilities of scientific Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor detectors (sCMOS). The system provides a wide field-of-view (17.0′ × 14.4′) and simultaneous observations in two photometric bands (R and I), reaching limiting magnitudes of 18.7 mag in 10 s in both bands at a 2.5 signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) level. This makes it a unique instrument that can be used for the detection of NEO impacts on the Moon, as well as for any astronomy projects that demand high-cadence multicolor observations. The wide field-of-view ensures that a large portion of the Moon is observed, while the simultaneous, high-cadence, monitoring in two photometric bands makes possible the determination of the temperatures of the impacts on the Moon’s surface and the validation of the impact flashes from a single site. Considering the varying background level on the Moon’s surface we demonstrate that the NELIOTA system can detect NEO impact flashes at a 2.5 S/N level of ∼12.4 mag in the I-band and R-band for observations made at low lunar phases (∼0.1). We report 31 NEO impact flashes detected during the first year of the NELIOTA campaign. The faintest flash was at 11.24 mag in the R-band (about two magnitudes fainter than ever observed before) at lunar phase 0.32. Our observations suggest a detection rate of 1.96 × 10−7 events km−2 h−1.
Living coccolithophores collected from a yearly time interval, January to December 2016, at the SP1 station of the Thessaloniki Bay, an enclosed coastal environment located in the inner part of the ...Thermaikos Gulf (Northwestern Aegean Sea) were analyzed to determine their seasonal variation and evaluate the effects of environmental factors on their density, species composition and distribution. Our results showed that coccolithophores constituted a significant component of the phytoplankton community and were characterized by the dominance of few opportunistic species, as an impact of eutrophic environmental conditions. Temperature seasonal cycle and the variations in nutrient inputs from riverine and/or anthropogenic sources seem to control the seasonal pattern of coccolithophores. Emiliania huxleyi with densities as high as ∼4.0 × 105 cells l−1 predominated during the late spring–early summer, whereas a strong dominance of Gephyrocapsa oceanica with densities ∼2.0 × 105 cells l−1 was observed during the late summer and the autumn. Emiliania huxleyi appeared to dominate the coccolithophore assemblages once more during the winter; while Helicosphaera carteri was continuously present during the wintertime (exceeding ∼2.7 × 103 cells l−1). Emiliania huxleyi was entirely represented by morphotype type A in the studied samples. Morphometric analysis of E. huxleyi coccoliths indicated that the population is dominated by lightly calcified forms, although an increase of more heavily calcified coccoliths was observed during late autumn-early spring in line with the well-documented seasonal succession pattern of E. huxleyi type A forms in the Aegean Sea.
Osteoid osteomas are benign bone tumors characterized by severe localized pain, often challenging the daily lives of young patients. While these tumors are typically solitary, rare cases of multiple ...osteoid osteomas have been reported. This research paper presents a case series of 2 young patients with multiple osteoid osteomas, highlighting their clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, treatment with cryoablation, and follow-up. The paper emphasizes the effectiveness of cryoablation as a minimally invasive treatment option for these challenging cases.
Aim
: This was to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical characteristics of MIH in a group of Greek children.
Methods
: During the years 2003–2005, all MIH cases diagnosed according to the recently ...set criteria were selected from the new patients clinic of a Community Dental Centre for Children (Athens). Age, gender and teeth involved were recorded. The severity of MIH was determined collectively by dividing the affected teeth in two groups; a) mild defect (demarcated opacities) and b) moderate/severe defect (enamel breakdown and atypical restorations). Evaluation of the distribution of the affected teeth within MIH cases was performed in a separate group of 225 affected children aged 8–12 years with their entire 12 ‘index’ teeth erupted.
Results
: From the 3,518, 5.5 to 12 year old children that were examined, there were 360 (10.2%) children with MIH, 211 (58.6%) females and 149 (41.4%) males, with 1,926 affected teeth, 1,231 molars and 695 incisors. In the molars group, maxillary molars were more frequently affected (87.8/90.3%) than mandibular (81.7/82.2%). In the central incisor group, maxillary teeth were also more frequently affected (50/55%) than mandibular (24.4/25%), while laterals were the least affected. In all there were 37.9% molars with moderate/severe defects as compared with 4.9% incisors, the remaining 62.1% and 95.1% respectively being mild. The various associations between the affected teeth were evaluated in the sub-group of 225 MIH children with all ‘index’ teeth erupted (1,286 affected teeth, 776 molars and 510 incisors), with mean number of affected teeth per child being 5.7; separately for molars 3.4 and for incisors 2.2. In these cases 28.4% of the children had only molars affected and 71.6% had both molars and incisors. In descending order the associations of affected teeth more frequently found were: 4 molars/2 incisors (23.5%), 4 molars/4 incisors (16.8%), 4 molars alone (15.1%) and 2 molars alone (9.7%), the remaining being much less.
Statistical analysis
: As age increased the clinical severity of the affected teeth became more prevalent (p=0.0001), and when the total number of affected teeth was assessed the likehood of having severe defect was also increased (p=0.001).
Conclusion
: The prevalence of the defect in the present study was 10.2% with maxillary teeth being more frequently affected. Severity increased with age. Mild defects were much more frequent, particularly in incisors. The total number of teeth affected and the most frequently found associations were, 4 molars/2 incisors, 4 molars/4 incisors, 4 molars alone and 2 molars alone.
Aim
: This was to examine the potential medical aetiological factors involved in the development of MIH.
Methods
: During the years 2003–2005, all MIH cases diagnosed according to set criteria were ...selected from the new patients clinic of a Community Dental Centre for Children (Athens). The age, gender and teeth involved were recorded. A control group of socio-demographically matched controls was also identified. The potential aetiological factors were retrieved through personal interview with the parents and from each child and mother’s medical book. Only verified aetiological factors were recorded. Evaluation of the correlation of affected teeth and the timing of the insult was performed in a separate group of 225 affected children aged 8–12 with their entire 12 ‘index’ teeth erupted.
Results
: From the 3,518, 5.5 to 12 years old children examined, 360 (10.2%) had MIH. Aetiology of MIH: 44 children (12.2%), presented without any relevant medical history, the remaining 316 (87.8%) recorded various medical problems associated with MIH, compared with 18.9% for controls. Perinatal (163, 33.6%) and postnatal (162, 33.9%) problems were the most frequently found and prenatal the least (33, 8.6%). For 42 children (11.7%) problems occurred in more than one chronological period, mainly during both the perinatal and postnatal period (11.1 %). The most common prenatal problem was repeated episodes of high fever (12/33), in the perinatal period birth by Caesarean section (92/163) and other birth complications (34/163). Various respiratory conditions (88/162), repeated episodes of high fever (31/162) and neonatal illness (28/162) were the commonly reported problems in the postnatal period. Many MIH cases presented with more than one medical problem during the peri-and postnatal period.
Statistical analysis
: Children with MIH recorded 68.9% more frequent medical problems than controls (p<0.0001). A positive correlation (p<0.001) between the total number and type of affected teeth with the timing of the insult was observed in the 225 MIH children with all their ‘index’ teeth erupted.
Conclusion
: Children with MIH present with more medical problems than controls during their prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period. The majority of these illnesses may produce hypocalcaemia, hypoxia and pyrexia to the child or the mother. The number of affected teeth was associated with the timing of the possible insult; children with prenatal, perinatal and postnatal problems present more affected teeth in increasing order.
AIM:
This was to evaluate the retention rate of fissure sealants applied to MIH molars with occlusal enamel opacities, using two different application methods after 4 years.
METHODS:
54 children ...exhibiting molars with MIH aged 6–7 years, participated in the study. Selection criteria: presence of at least 2 fully erupted caries-free maxillary or mandibular first permanent molars in the opposite sides of the mouth, both with occlusal enamel opacities without breakdown. Following parental consent, sealants were applied using a half-mouth experimental design. Group A: On a randomly assigned first molar on one side of the mouth sealants (Fissurit®) were placed using a single bottle adhesive system (One-step®) prior to sealant application. Group B: Sealants were applied on the contra-lateral molar using the conventional etch and seal technique. Children were seen biannually when a preventive program was applied, without replacing any lost sealant.
RESULTS:
After 4 years, 47 sets of molars (94 teeth) were available for blind evaluation. Teeth in Group A presented a better retention rate; 70.2% were fully sealed, 29.7% partly sealed and none unsealed (lost sealant). Group B revealed 25.5% fully sealed, 44.6% partly sealed and 29.7% unsealed teeth.
STATISTICS:
Differences between groups A and B were statistically significant (p<0.001). Also both groups revealed a decreasing retention rate over the 4-year period (p<0.001). There was no difference in dental caries increment rate and enamel breakdowns at the end of the study (p>0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
In hypomineralised molars with occlusal opacities sealants appear to have greater retention when applied using 5th generation adhesive systems prior to sealant.
Abstract
Background
A valid measure of social position is important for investigating health inequalities. The registrar general classification is not theoretically based or validated and it is based ...only on occupation. On the other hand, the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) distinguishes between different social positions in terms of both their typical labour market and work situations. The aim of this study was to validate the NS-SeC in a Greek population.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 in Athens, Greece. Participants were classified in one of the seven social position classes of NS-SeC based on their responses to questions related to their occupation, employment status (employer, self-employed or employee), supervisor or manager and number of employees in the workplace. Participants were also asked to rate their general health over the previous 12 months in one of three categories: “good”, “fairly good”, or “not good”. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to investigate the predictive validity of NS-SeC.
Results
73 individuals with a mean age 43.2 (sd = 11.5) participated in the study. The 46.6% of the participants belonged to the class “managerial and professional occupations”, the 20.5% to the class “intermediate occupations”, while the 31.5% belonged to the class “routine and manual occupations”. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for “fairly good” or “not good” general health was five times higher in the “routine and manual occupations” in comparison to the combine group of the other two classes (OR: 5.1; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.4-18.2).
Conclusions
The Greek version of NS-SeC has an excellent predictive validity and it is considered a valid measure of social position in a Greek population. Therefore, it can be used by public health authorities and public health researchers to investigate health inequalities attributed to socio-economic conditions.
Key messages
The Greek National Statistics Socio-economic Classification is a valid measure of socio-economic position. The Greek National Statistics Socio-economic Classification could be used by public health authorities and public health researchers to investigate health inequalities.
AIM
: This was to investigate the relationship of children’s behaviour during dental treatment to parental dental attitudes and perceptions in a definitive population of Greek children in Athens.
...METHODS
: 88 children aged 3–11 years and their parents, attending the Community Dental Centre for Children in Athens, participated. A questionnaire including demographic information, questions regarding parents’ dental experience and anxiety (M-DAS test), as well as questions regarding expectant behaviour of each child and his/her dental anxiety level (parental version of the CFSS—Dental Subscale), was completed by the parents during the first examination appointment. During the two following operative sessions each child’s behaviour was recorded and evaluated using the Frankl Scale. Collected data were statistically analyzed using a SPSS statistical program.
RESULTS
: No significant difference was found between a child’s actual behaviour and gender, nationality, frequency of parent’s dental visits, parental dental fear (M-DAS) and previous medical experience of the child (p>0.001). In contrast, age (p=0.005), previous child’s dental fear (p=0.081), previous child’s dental behaviour (p<0.0001), predicted by the parent behaviour (p<0.0001) and parental version of CFSS-DS (p<0.001), revealed statistically significant associations to child’s behaviour during treatment.
CONCLUSION
: According to the present study in Greek children, children’s behaviour during dental treatment is related to age, previous dental fear and experience and behaviour prediction by the parents. Parents’ estimations regarding their children’s fear and behaviour could be a useful predictor of child’s level of cooperation during dental treatment.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of the IMACTIS® CT-Navigation™-electromagnetic navigation system (EMNS) in cryoablation CT-guided procedures under local ...anesthesia for the treatment of upper kidney pole and adrenal lesions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with upper kidney pole lesions and adrenal metastases who underwent cryoablation using the IMACTIS-CT®-EMNS between January 2019 and April 2023. The EMNS was used to guide the placement of the cryoprobes with CT guidance under local anesthesia. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as the successful placement of the cryoprobes in the target lesion. A total of 31 patients were studied, of whom, 25 patients were treated with cryoablation for upper pole kidney masses, and 6 patients underwent the cryoablation of adrenal metastases during the study period. The mean age was 60 years (range, 36–82 years), and 21 patients were male. All the upper kidney pole lesions were renal cell carcinomas, and regarding adrenal metastases, the primary cancer sites were the lungs (n = 3), breast (n = 2), and the colon (n = 1). The median size of the lesions was 3,8 cm (range, 1.5–5 cm). All procedures were technically successful, with the cryoprobes accurately placed in the target lesions under CT guidance using the EMNS, avoiding the penetration of any other organs using an oblique trajectory. No major complications were reported, and local tumor control was achieved in all cases. Our initial experience using the EMNS for cryoprobe placement during CT-guided interventional procedures under local anesthesia for the cryoablation treatment of upper pole kidney lesions and adrenal metastases showed that it is safe and effective.
Remarkable results of the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma with thalidomide have been reported. In most preceding studies, the given thalidomide dose was escalated to a maximum tolerated dose ...of up to 800 mg/d. The frequency of adverse effects correlates with dose intensity. Since a significant gain of therapeutic effects could not be observed as thalidomide dosage was escalated, the optimal dose of thalidomide remains to be determined. We report the results of a study with low dose thalidomide (median administered dose 100 mg/d, range 50-400 mg/d). Twenty-four relapsed ( n =19) or resistant ( n =5) multiple myeloma patients were included in the study. Twelve patients (50%) received thalidomide as monotherapy, 8 patients (33%) received a combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone (every 4 weeks 40 mg/day for 4 days) and 4 patients (17%) who were resistant to vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone (VAD) received VAD combined with thalidomide. Overall, a response was observed in 12 patients (50%). Of the 12 patients treated with low dose thalidomide alone 5 (42%) responded, of the 8 patients who received a combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone 5 (63%) responded and of the 4 patients who had thalidomide in addition to VAD 2 patients (50%) responded. In 3 patients, thalidomide treatment had to be discontinued because of side effects and 1 patient died before response could be assessed. We conclude that low dose thalidomide is an effective and safe rescue therapy in relapsing or refractory multiple myeloma. Response to thalidomide might be dependent on prognostic parameters and tumor burden. To answer these questions larger prospective studies are necessary.
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