Meteorological Factors in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Study.

Background And Objective: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), which is an otologic emergency characterized by rapid-onset inner-ear hearing loss without an identifiable cause, remains a clinically urgent but poorly understood entity. While environmental factors have been proposed as potential triggers, prior studies show conflicting results. This study aimed to examine associations between weekly ISSNHL incidence and meteorological variables, including temperature, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, in a Mediterranean city over a six-year period.

AI Methods Tailored to Influenza, RSV, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2: A Focused Review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques-ranging from hybrid mechanistic-machine learning (ML) ensembles to gradient-boosted decision trees, support-vector machines, and deep neural networks-are transforming the management of seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Symptom-based triage models using eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Random Forests, as well as imaging classifiers built on convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have improved diagnostic accuracy across respiratory infections. Transformer-based architectures and social media surveillance pipelines have enabled real-time monitoring of COVID-19.

Complex Separation Humeral Head Fracture in a Young Patient: Operative and Postoperative Challenges.

Management of humeral head fractures presents numerous challenges, particularly in cases of separation fractures, which are relatively rare and often caused by high-energy trauma. Due to the complexity of these fractures and the absence of a standardized treatment algorithm, surgical intervention can be technically intricate and fraught with postoperative complications. In young patients, the decision to pursue open reduction and internal fixation must be meticulously made to achieve optimal outcomes while minimizing long-term sequelae.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Thrombolysis in the Extended Time Window for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

While intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within 4.5 h of symptom onset, many patients present beyond this time window. Recent trials suggest that IVT may be both effective and safe in selected patients treated after the standard time window.

Burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease in infants and the potential value of maternal immunization in Greece.

Objective: The objective was to assess the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of maternal vaccination using the bivalent RSV prefusion F-protein (RSVpreF) vaccine to prevent RSV infections among Greek infants.

Methods: A Markov model was adapted from the perspective of a public payer to simulate the health and economic outcomes of RSV from birth to 1 year of age. Key inputs for the model, including vaccine efficacy, utility values, epidemiological data, and direct medical costs [prices in euros (€), 2024], were obtained from official sources.

Life-threatening vascular injury in an elderly patient with isolated pubic ramus fracture: A case report.

Background: Pubic ramus fractures are generally considered fragility fractures in the elderly population, commonly deriving from a low-impact fall. Treatment is ordinarily conservative and hemodynamic complications are exceedingly infrequent. Notwithstanding, patients with copious comorbidities should be carefully monitored for potential vascular injury.

VacStent as a novel therapeutic approach for esophageal perforations and anastomotic leaks- a systematic review of the literature.

Background: Perforation and anastomotic leak (AL) of the esophagus remain a dreaded complication for surgeons, endoscopists and patients. The VacStent is a novel endoscopic device, combining the benefits of a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) and endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT). This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy and clinical outcomes associated with the use of the VacStent.

An Unusual Cause of Neonatal Infection: A Case Report of Meningitis and Sepsis.

Neonatal meningitis is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and long-term consequences. Despite the use of newer techniques, the diagnosis remains challenging, especially in cases caused by rare pathogens. is widely known as the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis.

A Challenging Diagnosis of Gliosarcoma: A Case Report.

Gliosarcoma (GS) is a rare variant of glioblastoma (GBM) that usually affects middle-aged adults. The radiological characteristics of GS are similar to the radiological features observed in GBM. We present the case of a 74-year-old male patient who presented with neurological symptoms associated with a brain tumor.

Viral Infections in Special Populations: Key Findings and Perspectives from Special Issue.

Viral infections pose a significant epidemiological burden worldwide [...

Neuroimaging Insights into the Public Health Burden of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review of Electroencephalography-Based Cognitive Biomarkers.

: Neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, constitute a leading global public health challenge due to their high prevalence, chronicity, and profound cognitive and functional impact. This systematic review explores the role of electroencephalography (EEG)-based cognitive biomarkers in improving the understanding, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of these conditions. It evaluates how EEG-derived markers can reflect neuro-cognitive dysfunction and inform personalized and scalable mental health interventions.

Infective Endocarditis During Pregnancy: Challenges and Future Directions.

Infective endocarditis (IE) during pregnancy, while uncommon, is associated with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality due to the complex physiological adaptations of pregnancy. Hemodynamic alterations, including increased cardiac output and changes in vascular resistance, combined with immunological modulation, predispose pregnant individuals to increased risk of infection and associated complications. Predominant pathogens implicated in pregnancy-associated IE are , , and , with infections frequently leading to poorer clinical outcomes.

Patterns and Predictors of Candidemia with Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Co-Infections: Results from the CANDI-MDR Study.

Introduction: (now ) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections pose significant therapeutic challenges due to high antimicrobial resistance, increased mortality, and persistence in healthcare settings. In Greece, their rising prevalence is raising concerns regarding co-infection, yet comprehensive data remain limited. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of MDR bacterial co-infection in patients with candidemia.

HERACLIS_BLV_D: Increasing Response Rates During 2-Year Bulevirtide Real-Life Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis D.

Data Availability Statement: The data of this study can be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Background & Aims: There is still limited real-life data for bulevirtide (BLV) therapy in chronic hepatitis D (CHD). We assessed the efficacy and safety of up to 2-year BLV therapy in CHD patients treated at Greek centres.

Damage control thoracotomy trends, techniques, and outcomes: An EAST multicenter trial.

Background: Damage-control thoracotomy (DCT) lacks evidence regarding frequency of use, optimal technique, and outcomes. This Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial aimed to examine DCT usage over the last decade, evaluate types of temporary closure, and assess associated outcomes.

Methods: An international retrospective cohort study of thoracotomies from 2008 to 2020 at 25 centers was performed.

Community-Acquired Infection: The Fox Among the Chickens.

infection (CDI) appears mainly as nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and community-acquired infection is increasingly being recognized. The threshold of asymptomatic colonization and the clinical manifestation of CDI need further elucidation. Community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI) should be considered when the disease commences within 48 h of admission to hospital or more than 12 weeks after discharge.

Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy for Anastomotic Leakage After Distal Gastrectomy in a Renal Transplant Patient: A Case Study.

BACKGROUND Since the late 2000's, endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) has gained popularity in the management of anastomotic leakage (AL) of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to its safety and efficacy. This report describes a 66-year-old male renal transplant patient with an AL following distal gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma and was treated with EVT. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 66-year-old transplant patient with multiple comorbidities who developed AL following distal gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Gluteal ischemic gangrene due to chronic aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Gluteal gangrene rarely complicates interventional procedures such as angiographic embolization in the pelvis or may develop postoperatively after open ligation or endovascular covering or embolization of one or mainly both internal iliac arteries in abdominal aortic surgery if collateral circulation is compromised. On the other hand, gluteal gangrene as a primary manifestation of chronic aortoiliac occlusive disease is very exceptional in literature. We present a patient with atherosclerotic aortoiliac obstruction and a necrotic eschar on her left buttock treated with aortobiiliac bypass after digital subtraction angiography.

Real-life experience of luspatercept in transfusion-dependent lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients.

Luspatercept has been approved for the treatment of anaemia in transfusion-dependent (TD) patients with lower risk (LR) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) after erythroid-stimulated agent (ESA) failure, according to the results of the MEDALIST trial. In this multicentre retrospective study, we report efficacy and safety data of luspatercept administered in 98 TD LR-MDS patients after ESA failure. The percentage of patients that stopped luspatercept due to adverse events was comparable to that reported in the MEDALIST study.

Efficacy and Safety of Antivirals in Lactating Women with Herpesviridae Infections: A Systematic Review.

Herpesviruses are prevalent pathogens affecting lactating women, yet the safety and efficacy of antiviral therapies in this population remain underexplored. This systematic review evaluates the safety and efficacy of antiviral therapies for Herpesviridae infections, including CMV, VZV, EBV, and HSV, in lactating mothers. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, alongside specialized databases like LactMed.

Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Children: Outcomes and Risk Factors for Sequelae and Fatal Cases in Greece.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) remains a major public health challenge due to its rapid progression, which may lead to severe sequelae or death in children and adolescents. Published data on IMD sequelae are limited in Greece and many EU countries. In the present study, patients under 16 years of age with IMD were retrospectively identified from the files of the Hellenic National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (HNML) from 2010-2020, and their medical records were tracked from the corresponding hospitals.

From Aesthetic to Functional Dilemma: Managing a Pedunculated Giant Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Nose.

Giant basal cell carcinoma (GBCC) is a rare and aggressive variant characterized by its frequent invasion of underlying tissues and the occasional development of metastases. An even rarer form, pedunculated GBCC, can lead to functional complications depending on its location. This report presents a case of pedunculated GBCC located on the nose of a 93-year-old patient, which resulted in feeding intolerance.

Vaccination Strategies: Mixing Paths Versus Matching Tracks.

Vaccination strategies play a pivotal role in achieving broad and robust immune protection. With the advent of new technologies and challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, evaluating the efficacy of homologous (matching tracks) and heterologous (mixing paths) vaccination regimens is critical. This article explores mechanistic insights and empirical evidence on the benefits and limitations of these approaches.

Outbreaks in hematopoietic stem cell transplant units: a systematic review.

Objective: To identify and present the pathogens and sources of contamination linked to outbreaks within hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) units.

Design: Systematic review.

Setting: Inpatient HSCT units.