Citation: Tsanidou E, Gougoula V, Tselebonis A, Kontogiorgis C, Constantinidis TC, Nena E. Socio-demographic factors affecting initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a culturally diverse area of North Eastern Greece. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2019;61(4):566-71. AbstractBackground: Breastfeeding is not only important for the bond between the mother and the child but is also associated with many health benefits. Socio-demographic factors have been found to be important for the initiation and longer duration of breastfeeding.Aim: To record the breastfeeding characteristics and to explore possible associations with socio-cultural and demographic factors in a culturally diverse area in Greece. Materials and methods:A questionnaire including information about breastfeeding characteristics, medical history and demographics was completed by parents of children in the primary schools of the area. Results:The study included 700 school-age children (352 boys), mean age 9.4±1.9 years. Breastfeeding was reported in 54.9% of them, with median (IQR) duration of 120 (range 60-360) days. Prevalence of breastfeeding was slightly higher in semi-urban areas, versus rural or urban settlements, but the duration there was significantly lower (p<0.001). Better educated mothers tended to initiate or sustain breastfeeding for a longer period; however, this difference was not statistically significant. Children of the native Muslim minority had been breastfed for a longer time (median duration 360 vs. 120 days, p<0.001), however, no difference was noted in prevalence. Conclusion:Prevalence of breastfeeding in Greece is approximately 55%, similar to previous reports and along with duration is determined by certain socio-cultural factors.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder affecting a vast variety of the population. The onset of RA as well as the development of systematic immunization is affected by both genetic and environmental risk factors. This review aims to point out the role of natural products in the management of RA, focusing on the reports of basic research (in vitro and animal studies) emphasizing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties considered in the field of RA. A systematic screening of the relevant literature was carried out on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus with the following criteria: publication date, 2015–2020; language, English; study design, in vitro or animal models; and the investigation of one or several natural products in the context of RA, including, when available, the molecular mechanisms implicated. A total of 211 papers were initially obtained and screened. In vitro and animal studies referring to 20 natural products and 15 pure compounds were ultimately included in this review. The outcomes of this work provide an overview of the methods employed in basic research over the past five years, with emphasis on the limitations presented, while demonstrating the potential benefits of utilizing natural products in the management of RA as supported by in vitro and animal studies.

No abstract