Truncal Changes in Patients Suffering Severe Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis: A Surface Topography Study

Vasileios A. Kechagias,Theodoros B. Grivas,Panayiotis J. Papagelopoulos,Vasileios A. Kontogeorgakos,Konstantinos Vlasis 대한정형외과학회 2021 Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery Vol.13 No.2

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee is a degenerative disease with complications, including reduced range of motion and pain. Although OA of the hip and knee is common, there are few studies that investigated if patients with this condition had affected morphological truncal parameters. The objectives of this study were to compare the morphology of the spine and the pelvis of patients with hip or knee OA to that of a control group (CG) and to comment on the proposed mechanisms of these changes and the clinical effects on patients. Methods: This study included three groups of individuals. The first group consisted of 34 patients (15 men and 19 women with a mean age of 67.62 ± 8.28 years) suffering from hip OA. The second group consisted of 45 patients (11 men and 34 women with a mean age of 72.47 ± 7.0 years) suffering from knee OA. These patients were compared with a CG, which consisted of 25 individuals (13 men and 12 women with a mean age of 69.28 ± 10.11 years). The DIERS formetric 4D analysis system was used to calculate several truncal parameters in all planes. All analyses were accomplished using the SPSS ver. 17.0, and p < 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results: Patients with hip OA presented with significantly increased values than those in the CG for sagittal imbalance, scoliosis angle, vertebral rotation, trunk torsion, and pelvic obliquity, and decreased values than those in the CG for fleche lombaire. Patients with knee OA presented with significantly increased values than those in the CG for sagittal imbalance, apical deviation, scoliosis angle, vertebral rotation, trunk torsion, and pelvic obliquity. Patients with hip or knee OA, compared to the CG, had greater forward inclination of the spine, greater scoliosis, greater vertebral rotation and trunk torsion, and greater obliquity of the pelvis at the frontal plane. Conclusions: Patients with severe hip or knee OA could have truncal morphology alterations, in addition to reduced hip or knee range of motion and pain. These alterations could cause significant negative effects, which may then seriously affect the patients’ quality of life.

Optimized UAV-based data collection from MWSNs

Vasileios A. Memos,Konstantinos E. Psannis 한국통신학회 2023 ICT Express Vol.9 No.1

In this paper, we formulate an Energy Efficient (EE) deployment for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks (MWSNs) that consists of multiple clusters of sensor nodes, one mobile sink in each of them, and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the whole MWSN. The UAV receives the collected sensed data from the mobile sinks wirelessly in order to deliver them to various IoT-based users’ devices. Experimental results show that the proposed model can achieve optimization in terms of energy consumption minimization and network lifetime enhancement.

Four Weeks Exercise in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and without Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment: A Case Report

vasileios savrou,Eleni Karetsi,Zoe Daniil,I. Konstantinos Gourgoulianis 대한수면학회 2019 sleep medicine research Vol.10 No.1

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise in patient with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and without continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) treatment, in polysomnography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters. 41 years old man with T2DM underwent full overnight polysomnog- raphy (PSG) and 48 hours after PSG performed maximal CPET. Patient re-checked after 24 and 28 weeks. After the 24 weeks follow-up the patient underwent 4 weeks aerobic exercise. The results showed changes between baseline and after 4 week exercise in parameters of polysomnography study, blood test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The findings of our study suggest that exer- cise can reduced the apnea-hypopnea index, improve the sleep quality and reduced the hemoglo- bin A1-c levels in patients with OSAS and without CPAP treatment.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the carotids

Vasileios Rafailidis,Georgios Pitoulias,Konstantinos Kouskouras,Dimitrios Rafailidis 대한초음파의학회 2015 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.34 No.4

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the carotids has recently emerged as a complementaryexamination to conventional carotid Doppler ultrasonography. It is an examination providingimproved visualization of the vascular lumen, more accurate and detailed delineation of thevascular wall, and identification of atherosclerotic plaques. Moreover, contrast-enhancedultrasonography has specific advantages over conventional ultrasonography and plays animportant role in the diagnosis of the vulnerable carotid plaque, as it can identify intraplaqueneovascularization and carotid plaque ulceration. Given the specific advantages and improvedimaging of the carotids provided by this method, radiologists should be familiar with it. Thispictorial essay illustrates the advantages of this technique and discusses its value in the imagingof carotid arteries.

Ultrasonography of the healing process during a 3-month follow-up after a splenic injury

Vasileios Rafailidis,Dimitrios Apostolou,Christodoulos Kaitartzis,Dimitrios Rafailidis 대한초음파의학회 2015 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.34 No.3

We present a 14-year-old boy with a grade III splenic injury due to a bicycle accident, who was treated conservatively. The boy’s medical history included splenomegaly due to thalassemia. The splenic lesion was initially investigated with computed tomography (CT) and then, was followed by ultrasonography for 3 months. CT revealed a large intraparenchymal hematoma which appeared hyperechoic on ultrasonography. During follow-up, the hematoma developed a more complex echogenicity and became gradually hypoechoic. The hematoma increased in size during the first week but then, started decreasing until it eventually resolved completely. The patient had an uneventful full recovery. In this report, we discuss the ultrasonographic changes of the hematoma throughout the healing process.

General principles and overview of vascular contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Vasileios Rafailidis,Dean Y. Huang,Gibran Timothy Yusuf,Paul S. Sidhu 대한초음파의학회 2020 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.39 No.1

Ultrasonography (US) is the first-line modality for the evaluation of vascular pathology. Although well-established for many diseases, US has inherent limitations that can occasionally hinder an accurate diagnosis. The value of US was improved by the introduction of microbubbles as ultrasonographic contrast agents (UCAs) and the emergence of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), following the introduction of second-generation UCAs and the emergence of modern contrast-specific techniques. CEUS offers valuable information about vascular disease, both on a macrovascular and a microvascular level, with well-established applications for carotid disease, post-interventional follow-up of abdominal aortic aneurysms, and the assessment of portal vein thrombosis. The purpose of this review is to discuss the principles of CEUS and to present an overview of its vascular applications.

Detrusor Overactivity May Be a Prognostic Factor for Better Response to Combination Therapy Over Monotherapy in Male Patients With Benign Prostatic Enlargement and Storage Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Vasileios Sakalis,Vasileios Sfiggas,Ioannis Vouros,George Salpiggidis,Athanasios Papathanasiou,Apostolos Apostolidis 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2021 International Neurourology Journal Vol.25 No.1

Purpose: Several trials have shown that in men with overactive bladder (OAB) and benign prostate enlargement (BPE), the combination of an α-blocker with an anticholinergic is superior to α-blocker monotherapy. The purpose of this study is to explore whether urodynamic detrusor overactivity (DO) affects clinical outcomes in men with BPE and OAB. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a prospective, randomized trial, designed to evaluate the changes of morphometric parameters of the prostate following monotherapy or combination therapy in men with BPE-OAB. The initial study recruited men aged ≥50 years, with BPE and predominantly storage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Patients were randomized to receive tamsulosin monotherapy or a combination of tamsulosin and solifenacin for 26 weeks. All participants completed a 3-day bladder diary and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and then underwent pressure-flow and ultrasonographic studies. Data were stratified and analysed based on the urodynamic observation of DO at baseline (DO vs. non-DO). The primary endpoint was the mean change in urgency episodes from baseline. Secondary outcomes were the changes in nocturia, total IPSS, and urodynamic parameters. Results: Sixty-nine men were initially randomized, but only 60 men were included in this analysis. Urgency episodes significantly improved in men with DO who received combination therapy compared to the DO monotherapy subgroup (P=0.04) or to the non-DO combination treatment subgroup (P=0.038). Nocturia also improved in the DO combination treatment subgroup as compared to the non-DO combination subgroup (P=0.037). The 24-hour frequency and total IPSS significantly improved from baseline without significant differences among the subgroups. Conclusions: The present study suggests that baseline DO could be a prognostic factor for a better response to combination therapy over monotherapy in men with BPE and storage LUTS.

Multiparametric ultrasound for upper extremity dialysis access evaluation

Vasileios Michas,Mehdi Taghipour,Angeliki Papachristodoulou,Maria Sidiropoulou,Sasan Partovi,Demosthenes Cokkinos,Vasileios Rafailidis,Sameer Gadani,Amanjit Gill,Hans Michell,Panos Prassopoulos 대한초음파의학회 2023 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.42 No.4

The evolution of ultrasound (US) techniques has greatly improved the evaluation of many parameters in dialysis vascular access, which is typically achieved through an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG). These techniques include grayscale B-mode, color Doppler, power Doppler, spectral Doppler, non-Doppler US flow imaging techniques, contrast-enhanced US, and elastography. In conjunction with a patient’s medical history and physical examination, US provides crucial information about the native vascular bed prior to the surgical creation of an arteriovenous anastomosis. It also tracks the maturation progress of the newly created AVF or AVG and aids in diagnosing potential complications of the vascular access. These complications include thrombosis, steal syndrome, aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, hematomas, infection, ischemic neuropathy, exacerbation of preexisting congestive heart failure, and stenosis.

Combined open surgical and endovascular management of ruptured femoral artery from recurrent vulvar cancer

Vasileios Trompetas,Andrew JP Sandison,Hugh J Anderson 대한부인종양학회 2010 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.21 No.4

We report on the case of a 50-year-old woman with exsanguinating haemorrhage from the common femoral artery as a complication of recurrent vulvar cancer in the groin which was managed successfully with combined open surgical and endovascular intervention. She survived another three months and died from progressive disease without further episodes of bleeding. This complication is rare, presents dramatically, and is usually a terminal event. For those cases where intervention is considered appropriate, the option of combined open surgical and endovascular repair should be kept in mind.

Synergistic OX40 and CD30 signals sustain CD8⁺ T cells during antigenic challenge

Bekiaris, Vasileios,Gaspal, Fabrina,Kim, Mi‐,Yeon,Withers, David R.,Sweet, Clive,Anderson, Graham,Lane, Peter J. L. WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2009 European journal of immunology Vol.39 No.8

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Prior to acquiring a memory phenotype, antigen‐activated CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells need to expand and then undergo a contraction phase. Utilizing two different antigenic stimuli, we provide evidence that the tumor necrosis factor receptors OX40 and CD30 integrate synergistic signals during the expansion phase to help maintain CD8<SUP>+</SUP> effectors. Thus, double deficiency in OX40 and CD30 leads to CD8<SUP>+</SUP> cell loss during expansion after immunization either with OVA or with murine CMV. Following their contraction, OX40‐ and CD30‐deficient CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells persist normally in CMV‐infected mice. In contrast, persistence after OVA challenge is dependent on OX40 and CD30. Collectively, our data define the important role of both OX40 and CD30 during CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T‐cell activation, and show that long‐term CD8 persistence after contraction is regulated not only by stimulatory receptors but also by the nature of the antigen or how the antigen is presented.</P>