Publications by authors named "George Samonis"

Background: species are anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli that are part of the normal oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal flora. Although rare, they can cause infective endocarditis (IE), a severe condition with high morbidity. The clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes of IE caused by spp.

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Background: species constitute opportunistic fungi that seldom cause infections in individuals with competent immune systems. In the rare case of cryptococcal endocarditis, the fungus infiltrates the endocardium. This disease occurs almost exclusively in patients with active immunosuppression, implanted cardiac devices, or prosthetic valves.

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Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with a cumulative life course impairment and patients commonly present with signs of depression and anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the association between systemic inflammation, measured by laboratory markers, and psychological burden, evaluated using specific psychometric scores, in patients with HS. The study also evaluated the impact of treatment initiation on inflammatory biomarkers and psychometric scores.

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Emotional intelligence (EI) is essential for healthcare professionals as it can improve their overall performance at multiple levels. However, healthcare professionals do not adequately improve their EI during their university education. Therefore, in this perspective article, we present a practical guide for teaching and evaluating the components of EI in healthcare students, and the most common challenges/barriers for implementing EI to healthcare education curricula.

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Background: COVID-19 disease has been associated with flares or new onsets of various autoinflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Our aim is to investigate the occurrence and risk factors of flares or new onsets of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) following COVID-19 disease.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed including 310 patients with HS following COVID-19 disease.

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Background: species are aerobic, Gram-negative, spherical-to-rod-shaped, psychrophilic bacteria that belong to the family. In spite of their uncommon manifestation in the general population, infections due to spp. are increasingly identified especially in immunocompromised individuals or patients with severe comorbidities.

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: Data regarding fungal PJIs of the shoulder are scarce. The present systematic review aims to identify and evaluate all published shoulder fungal PJIs in an effort to better understand the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to these infections. : A systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted, locating all shoulder fungal PJIs.

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Checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis is a rare but life-threatening toxicity of immunotherapy, occasionally manifesting as persistent troponin elevation. Dual checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab and nivolumab has been found to induce immune-related myocarditis in patients with metastatic melanoma. We herein report a case of smoldering immune-related myocarditis in a 54-year-old male after a single infusion of nivolumab plus ipilimumab as adjuvant treatment for completely resected stage IV melanoma.

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  • * A total of 78 patients were analyzed, revealing that those with low-virulence PJIs exhibited significant hypercoagulability, with a noticeable increase in maximum clot firmness (MCF).
  • * ROTEM's EXTEM MCF showed superior diagnostic accuracy for these infections compared to traditional lab tests, highlighting its promise for more effective PJI detection.
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  • Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness globally, primarily caused by serovars A-C of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct).
  • The disease spreads through direct or indirect contact with infected ocular and nasal secretions, often in areas with poor hygiene and crowded living conditions.
  • Chronic inflammation from repeated infections in early childhood can lead to severe complications like conjunctival scarring, trichiasis, corneal opacity, and ultimately, visual impairment.
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  • COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly mRNA vaccines, have been linked to exacerbations of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
  • Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa who received mRNA vaccines are 3.5 times more likely to experience disease flares compared to those who received non-mRNA vaccines.
  • Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings across larger populations and to better understand the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and other inflammatory conditions.
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Antibiotic-loaded cement spacers (ALCSs) are essential for treating periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) by providing mechanical support and local antibiotic delivery. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively examine the various types of spacers utilised in the management of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), including both static and articulating variants and to analyse the fundamental principles underlying spacer use, their clinical benefits, the selection and administration of antimicrobial agents, appropriate dosages, and potential adverse effects. Articulating spacers, which allow joint mobility, often yield better outcomes than static ones.

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  • Scientists wanted to see how different storage solutions affect blood platelets that are treated to kill germs.
  • They tested platelets stored in plasma and Platelet Additive Solutions (PAS) from the same donors and checked their health on days 1, 3, and 5.
  • Results showed that PAS kept the platelets healthier than plasma, but both types had less ability to stop bleeding over time.
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Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease that may cause significant morbidity and mortality. IE is classically caused by Gram-positive microorganisms; however, Gram-negative bacteria may seldom also be the cause. species cause zoonosis and may also infect humans, mainly causing gastrointestinal infection by or invasive disease by , such as bacteremia, sepsis, meningitis, or vascular infection.

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species (formerly known as ) are Gram-positive filamentous bacteria in the family Promicromonosporaceae and are more commonly found in sewage and soil. The present study aimed to identify all the published cases of species infections in the literature, describe the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics, and provide data regarding its antimicrobial resistance, treatment, and outcomes. A narrative review was performed based on a PubMed and Scopus database search.

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Dysregulated hemostasis in cancer patients is associated with various clinical conditions, from thromboembolic complications to disseminated intravascular coagulation. Despite the well-established association between cancer and thromboembolic complications, the mechanisms involved are not completely elucidated. There are several predisposing factors in cancer for increased thrombus generation, such as immobilization and chemotherapy.

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Effective communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals are crucial for delivering high-quality patient care. Interdepartmental miscommunication poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems, potentially undermining the quality of healthcare services provided. In the same manner, communication barriers between referring physicians and radiologists can specifically affect radiology services and patient outcomes.

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  • Colistin resistance is becoming a major issue in clinical practice, primarily due to genetic changes that affect how bacteria respond to the antibiotic, such as modifications to their cell structures and membrane permeability.
  • The review discusses new treatment options being developed, including antibiotics like cefiderocol and sulbactam/durlobactam, as well as various drug combinations aimed at combating colistin-resistant infections.
  • While many of the combinations focus on polymyxins, there’s growing interest in non-polymyxin alternatives, although further research is needed to establish effective treatment strategies.
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Extrapulmonary infections by spp., though rare, can occur via dissemination, affecting singular or multiple sites, including the skin and musculoskeletal system. Skeletal involvement often manifests as osteomyelitis, particularly in the axial skeleton.

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The treatment of infections remains a challenge for physicians worldwide in the 21st century. The bacterium possesses a multitude of mechanisms to escape the human immune system. The consequences of infections on morbidity and mortality, as well on financial resources, remain dire.

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The development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), along with the relative reduction in the production of new antimicrobials, significantly limits the therapeutic options in infectious diseases. Thus, novel treatments, especially in the current era, where AMR is increasing, are urgently needed. There are several ongoing studies on non-classical therapies for infectious diseases, such as bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, and nanotechnology, among others.

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Bacteria of the genus are microaerophilic or aerotolerant anaerobic Gram-positive non-spore-forming rods. They are considered essential members of the human gut microbiome; however, recent studies have revealed that these microorganisms are less predominant in the gut microbiome than initially thought. spp.

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  • Bacteria from the genus being studied are Gram-positive, spore-forming, and can cause serious infections through toxin production, including diseases like colitis and gas gangrene.
  • This study reviewed cases of infective endocarditis (IE) caused by these bacteria, analyzing data from 20 studies and 21 patients, revealing common valve involvement and clinical symptoms like fever and sepsis.
  • Treatment often involved beta-lactams and metronidazole, with surgery needed in nearly half of the cases; however, mortality rates were significant, particularly for patients with multiple valve involvement.
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The B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)/ mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) targeting agents have become the treatment of choice for BRAF-mutated melanoma during the last decade. However, it is possible that some long-term adverse events of these drugs have not yet been reported. A case of bilateral spontaneous, non-traumatic, supraspinatus tendon rupture in a 65-year-old Caucasian male suffering metastatic melanoma under prolonged and successful combination treatment with dabrafenib plus trametinib is presented.

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  • - Fungal keratitis is a serious eye infection that can lead to vision loss, making early diagnosis essential for treatment.
  • - Patient history and symptoms help in creating a clinical suspicion, while a slit-lamp examination, microbiological tests, and advanced techniques like PCR and OCT are important for accurate diagnosis.
  • - Each diagnostic method has its pros and cons, and the choice of technique depends on the clinical situation, available resources, and the expertise of the healthcare provider.
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