No abstract

Lipid peroxidation is a critical pathway of reactive oxygen species inducing tissue injury in postischemic acute renal failure. In order to evaluate the effect of renal ischemia reperfusion on kidneys, renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA, nmol/g wet weight) concentration was measured in 29 male Wistar rats subjected to a midline abdominal incision and 60 min occlusion of the left renal artery. A right nephrectomy was performed at the beginning of the ischemic period. The animals were separated in four groups. Groups 1 (n = 7) and 3 (n = 7) underwent 60 min of ischemia and 15 min of reperfusion, respectively. Groups 2 (n = 8) and 4 (n = 7) were subjected to the same procedure but, in addition, they received 2.5 mg/kg TMZ into the tail vein 2 h prior to the left renal artery occlusion. A significant elevation of MDA after 60 min of ischemia (1.43 vs. 2.1, p < 0.001), which was augmented after 15 min of reperfusion (1.4 vs. 3.72, p < 0.001) was observed. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction of renal tissue MDA in ischemic rats treated with TMZ (group 3) (2.1 vs. 1.52, p < 0.001). The maximum reduction of renal tissue MDA was observed in ischemic-reperfused rats (group 4) that had received TMZ (3.72 vs. 1.36, p < 0.001). It is suggested that lipid peroxidation is a critical event in postischemic acute renal failure, and TMZ is a useful protective agent of renal damage from oxygen free radicals.

(1) Background: To explore the effects of the 2008 economic crisis on maternal, perinatal and infant mortality in Greece and the socio-economic determinants associated with them; (2) Methods: The annual rates of stillbirth (SBR), perinatal mortality (PMR), infant mortality (IMR), neonatal mortality (NNMR), post-neonatal mortality (PNMR), low birth weight (LBW), and maternal mortality (MMR) were calculated for the years 2000–2016. Average Annual Percent Changes (AAPC) were calculated by the period before and after 2008. The expected rates of 2009–2016 and the observed-to-expected rate ratios (RR) were calculated. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the impact of socio-economic variables on health outcomes; (3) Results: A reverse in downwards trends of PNM, IMR, and NNMR is observed since 2009. All observed values of 2009–2016 were found significantly higher than the expected ones by 12–34%. All indicators except SBR were found negatively correlated with GDP and DHI. A positive correlation was found between IMR, NNMR, and LBW and long-term unemployment, and no association with public health expenditure; (4) Conclusions: Economic crisis was associated with remarkable adverse effects on perinatal outcomes and infant mortality, mainly determined by long-term unemployment and income reduction. The findings stress a need for interventions to protect maternity and child health during crises.

Population screening and prenatal diagnosis are significantly facilitated by these data. Furthermore, the detailed distribution tables of beta-thalassemia mutations are essential for counseling and extraction of genetic diversity estimates for population genetic studies in other inherited disorders.

Background Greece experienced the largest reduction in its health care budget of any European country during the economic crisis of 2008–15. Here, we test the hypothesis that budget reductions worsened health system performance in Greece, using the concept of Amenable Mortality to capture deaths which should not occur in the presence of effective and timely health care. Methods Amenable mortality was calculated from national mortality statistics, using age-standardized deaths from 34 conditions amenable to medical intervention in Greece during 2000–16, with further analysis by sex, age, region and cause. Mortality rate ratios and their 95% CI were also computed. Interrupted time series analyses were performed to compare trends prior to austerity measures (2001–10) with those after (2011–16), adjusting for historical trends. Results Prior to austerity measures, amenable mortality rates were declining. After 2011, coinciding with the inception of budget reductions, the slope of decline diminished significantly. The average annual percent of change in standardized death rates was 2.65% in 2001–10, falling to 1.60% in 2011–6. In 10 of 34 conditions, the SDR increased significantly after the crisis onset, and in five more conditions the long-term decline reversed, to increasing after 2011. The age-specific mortality rates observed in 2011–16 were significantly higher than those expected at ages 0–4 and 65–74 but not significantly higher in all other age groups. Conclusions Health system performance in Greece worsened in association with austerity measures, leading to a deceleration of the decline in amenable mortality and increased mortality from several conditions amenable to medical interventions.