What can Trigger the Resumption of Economic Growth in a Small Open Economy like Greece: Exports or Inward FDI?

Antonis Tsitouras 한국국제경제학회 2016 International Economic Journal Vol.30 No.4

The purpose of this article is to investigate the effect of exports and inward foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic development in Greece, in the long and short run, from 1980 to 2013. This study applies the Ng-Perron and DF-GLS unit root tests to determine the level of integration as well as the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method to identify the long-run relationship. Our analysis confirms the long-run relationship between inward FDI, exports and national income. Our results imply that any policy by the Greek Government aimed at boosting economic development through exports will have to be considered for the long run since Greek authorities cannot rely on exports in the short run. However, inward FDI appears more efficient than exports as far as boosting economic progress in the short run.

A Synbiotic Infant Formula with High Magnesium Content Improves Constipation and Quality of Life

Ioannis Xinias,Antonis Analitis,Antigoni Mavroudi,Ioannis Roilides,Maria Lykogeorgou,Varvara Delivoria,Vasilis Milingos,Mayra Mylonopoulou,Yvan Vandenplas 대한소아소화기영양학회 2018 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.21 No.1

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of synbiotic formula with partial whey hydrolysate and high magnesium content in infants presenting with functional constipation. Methods: Sixty-five infants with functional constipation were included. Forty infants were treated during one month with parental reassurance and the intervention formula and were compared to a control group of 25 infants treated with parental reassurance only. Parents completed a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire at baseline and during the last week of the study. Results: At inclusion, stool characteristics and QoL were similar in both groups. The control group was slightly older than the intervention group (7.5±3.9 vs. 6.2±3.6 weeks). At onset, stool composition was “hard and tight” (Bristol stool scale 1 and 2) in all infants. After one month, stool composition remained unchanged in the control group except in two infants that developed “creamy” stools (Bristol stool scale type 3 and 4). In the intervention group, stools re-mained “hard and tight” in 27.5%, and became “creamy” in 47.5%, “loose” (Bristol stool scale type 5) in 22.5% and “watery” (Bristol stool type 6 and 7) in 2.5%. The benefit of the intervention formula was estimated to be “very important”in 70%. The median scores for QoL improved significantly in the intervention group for all parameters and for one in the control group. Conclusion: The intervention formula significantly improved functional constipation resulting in a better QoL of the parents and infants.

Safety of a New Synbiotic Starter Formula

Yvan Vandenplas,Antonis Analitis,Chara Tziouvara,Athina Kountzoglou,Anastasia Drakou,Manos Tsouvalas,Antigoni Mavroudi,Ioannis Xinias 대한소아소화기영양학회 2017 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.20 No.3

Purpose: Breastfeeding is the best way to feed all infants, but not all infants can be (exclusively) breastfed. Cow’smilk based infant formula is the second choice infant feeding.Methods: The safety of a new synbiotic infant formula, supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis and fructo-oligo-saccharides, with lactose and a whey/casein 60/40 protein ratio was tested in 280 infants during 3 months.Results: The median age of the infants at inclusion was 0.89 months. Weight evolution was in accordance with the World Health Organization growth charts for exclusive breastfed infants. The evolution of all anthropometric parame-ters (weight-for-length z score and body mass index-for-age z score) was within the normal range. The incidence of functional constipation (3.2%), daily regurgitation (10.9%), infantile crying and colic (10.5%) were all significantly lower than the reported median prevalence for a similar age according to literature (median value of 7.8% for functional constipation, 26.7% for regurgitation, 17.7% for infantile colic).Conclusion: The new synbiotic infant starter formula was safe, resulted in normal growth and was well tolerated. Functional gastro-intestinal manifestations (functional constipation, regurgitation and colic) were significantly lower than reported in literature. Synbiotics (Bifidobacterium lactis and fructo-oligosaccharides) in cow’s milk based infant formula bring the second choice infant feeding, formula, closer to the golden standard, exclusive breastfeeding.

Balloon-Assisted Coil Embolization and Balloon Angioplasty for Post Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Vasospasm: Initial Experience with Scepter Mini Balloon

Ioannidis Ioannis,Adamou Antonis,Nasis Nikolaos,Vlychou Marianna,Poullos Nektarios 대한신경중재치료의학회 2022 Neurointervention Vol.17 No.2

The scope of this technical note is to report our experience with balloon remodeling for wideneck aneurysms and balloon angioplasty of post-subarachnoid hemorrhage vasospasm using the novel Scepter Mini balloon (SMB). Five cases were treated with balloon remodeling for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, 2 of which were additionally treated with angioplasty due to post-bleeding vasospasm. All patients had their aneurysm located on parent vessels with a diameter smaller than 2 mm. Complete occlusion was noted in all aneurysms, and the patients had no short-term complications attributed to the catheterization. Additionally, we confirm the previously reported smooth navigation of the balloon through vessels with tortuous anatomy without catheter-induced vasospasm. Based on our experience, the SMB can be a safe and efficient device for applying the balloon remodeling technique for distally located wide-neck aneurysms and distal balloon angioplasty.

Safety of a New Synbiotic Starter Formula

Vandenplas, Yvan,Analitis, Antonis,Tziouvara, Chara,Kountzoglou, Athina,Drakou, Anastasia,Tsouvalas, Manos,Mavroudi, Antigoni,Xinias, Ioannis The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology 2017 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.20 No.3

Purpose: Breastfeeding is the best way to feed all infants, but not all infants can be (exclusively) breastfed. Cow's milk based infant formula is the second choice infant feeding. Methods: The safety of a new synbiotic infant formula, supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis and fructo-oligosaccharides, with lactose and a whey/casein 60/40 protein ratio was tested in 280 infants during 3 months. Results: The median age of the infants at inclusion was 0.89 months. Weight evolution was in accordance with the World Health Organization growth charts for exclusive breastfed infants. The evolution of all anthropometric parameters (weight-for-length z score and body mass index-for-age z score) was within the normal range. The incidence of functional constipation (3.2%), daily regurgitation (10.9%), infantile crying and colic (10.5%) were all significantly lower than the reported median prevalence for a similar age according to literature (median value of 7.8% for functional constipation, 26.7% for regurgitation, 17.7% for infantile colic). Conclusion: The new synbiotic infant starter formula was safe, resulted in normal growth and was well tolerated. Functional gastro-intestinal manifestations (functional constipation, regurgitation and colic) were significantly lower than reported in literature. Synbiotics (Bifidobacterium lactis and fructo-oligosaccharides) in cow's milk based infant formula bring the second choice infant feeding, formula, closer to the golden standard, exclusive breastfeeding.

A Synbiotic Infant Formula with High Magnesium Content Improves Constipation and Quality of Life

Xinias, Ioannis,Analitis, Antonis,Mavroudi, Antigoni,Roilides, Ioannis,Lykogeorgou, Maria,Delivoria, Varvara,Milingos, Vasilis,Mylonopoulou, Mayra,Vandenplas, Yvan The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology 2018 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.21 No.1

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of synbiotic formula with partial whey hydrolysate and high magnesium content in infants presenting with functional constipation. Methods: Sixty-five infants with functional constipation were included. Forty infants were treated during one month with parental reassurance and the intervention formula and were compared to a control group of 25 infants treated with parental reassurance only. Parents completed a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire at baseline and during the last week of the study. Results: At inclusion, stool characteristics and QoL were similar in both groups. The control group was slightly older than the intervention group ($7.5{\pm}3.9$ vs. $6.2{\pm}3.6$ weeks). At onset, stool composition was "hard and tight" (Bristol stool scale 1 and 2) in all infants. After one month, stool composition remained unchanged in the control group except in two infants that developed "creamy" stools (Bristol stool scale type 3 and 4). In the intervention group, stools remained "hard and tight" in 27.5%, and became "creamy" in 47.5%, "loose" (Bristol stool scale type 5) in 22.5% and "watery" (Bristol stool type 6 and 7) in 2.5%. The benefit of the intervention formula was estimated to be "very important" in 70%. The median scores for QoL improved significantly in the intervention group for all parameters and for one in the control group. Conclusion: The intervention formula significantly improved functional constipation resulting in a better QoL of the parents and infants.

Altered Proteome of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Bladder Cancer Patients Urine

이진균,Kimberly Q. McKinney,Antonis J. Pavlopoulos,Meng Niu,강중원,오재원,김광표,황선일 한국분자세포생물학회 2018 Molecules and cells Vol.41 No.3

Proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from biological fluid is a powerful approach to discover potential biomarkers for human diseases including cancers, as EV secreted to biological fluids are originated from the affected tissue. In order to investigate significant molecules related to the pathogenesis of bladder cancer, EVs were isolated from patient urine which was analyzed by mass spectrometry based proteomics. Comparison of the EV proteome to the whole urine proteome demonstrated an increased number of protein identification in EV. Comparative MS analyses of urinary EV from control subjects and bladder cancer patients identified a total of 1,222 proteins. Statistical analyses provided 56 proteins significantly increased in bladder cancer urine, including proteins for which expression levels varied by cancer stage (P-value < 0.05). While urine represents a valuable, non-invasive specimen for biomarker discovery in urologic cancers, there is a high degree of intra- and inter-individual variability in urine samples. The enrichment of urinary EV demonstrated its capability and applicability of providing a focused identifi-cation of biologically relevant proteins in urological diseases.

Renal Fibrosis : Inhibition of the Activity of Omi/HtrA2 Attenuates Renal Fibrosis Induced by Ureteral Obstruction in Mice

김진우,김기영,박권무,( Antonis S. Zervos ),( Joseph V. Bonventre ) 대한신장학회 2006 춘계학술대회 초록집 Vol.25 No.1

One-year Outcome of First vs. Later Episode Schizophrenia: A Real-world Naturalistic Study

Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis,Panagiotis Panagiotidis,Antonis T. Theofilidis,Ioannis Nimatoudis 대한정신약물학회 2020 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.18 No.3

Objective: The aim the study was to calculate remission, recovery and relapse rates in first episode patients with schizophrenia (FES) vs. patients at a later phase (non-FES). Methods: Thirty-two FES and 101 non-FES patients took part in the study. The assessment included testing at baseline and at 1 year with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU) scale, Simpson Angus, and General Assessment of Functioning (GAF) subscale. The statistical analysis included chi-square test and analysis of covariance. Results: At baseline 15.62% FES vs. 10.89% non-FES patients were in remission; none of FES vs. 2.97% non-FES patients were in recovery. At endpoint, the respective figures were 12.50% vs. 25.00% and 3.12% vs. 3.96%. None of the differences in rates was significant between the two groups except from the percentage of patients being under medication (higher in the non-FES group). Baseline PANSS negative subscale (PANSS-N) was the only predictor of the outcome at endpoint. Conclusion: The current study reported very low rates of remission and recovery of patients with schizophrenia without any differences between FES and non-FES patients. One possibility is that the increased antipsychotic treatment compensates for the worsening of the illness with time. An accumulating beneficial effect of antipsychotic treatment suggested that early lack of remission is not prognostic of a poor outcome.

Assessment on Scaling-Up of Mini-Grid Initiative: Case Study of Mini-Grid in Rural Nepal

Pramish Shrestha,Ashish Shrestha,Namrata Tusuju Shrestha,Antonis Papadakis,Ramesh Kumar Maskey 한국정밀공학회 2021 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.8 No.1

A majority of Nepalese population are living in rural areas, where the electricity access by grid extension is not feasible. Development of micro-hydropower in the isolated state is one of the solutions to provide the electricity to these areas. However, the micro-hydro systems are facing numerous challenges, such as high investment cost, low reliability, low load factor and protection issues. For this reason, the concept of mini-grid has been developed to address the discussed challenges. In this study, a case study of a mini-grid, which is formed by interconnecting six isolated Micro Hydropower Plants (MHPs) with an installed capacity of 107 kW at a transmission voltage of 11 kV, is considered. This study performs the technical and financial analysis, to study the possibility for scaling up the system. Based on different factors, optimum models have been selected, considering a numbers of different cases including cost–benefit and sensitivity analysis. The mini-grid connection of several isolated MHPs is technically possible, but the financial feasibility depends upon various factors, such as the distance between the MHPs, end-use promotion, total capacity of MHPs, future load growth, promotion mechanisms, power trading with utility, etc. The findings show that sustainable operation of mini-grid requires the local capacity building, coordination, and understanding among community cooperatives.