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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop MNREAD acuity charts in the Greek language (MNREAD-GR) and establish their repeatability in a normal-sighted population. METHODS: One hundred and eighty Greek sentences were constructed based on the design principles of the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test. The software used to validate them for width was adjusted to the parameters of the non-Latin characters used in the Greek language (MNTest-GR) and width-validated sentences were then checked for literacy by two language teachers. Pilot testing followed in 20 adults and two groups of 20 children. Subsequently, three versions of the MNREAD-GR chart were printed and validated for repeatability: 20 adults read MNREAD-GR charts 1, 2 and 3 in random order over two sessions. A linear mixed-model analysis was performed for near visual acuity (VA), maximum reading speed and critical print size to identify the contribution of each source (individual subject, session, chart and residual error) to the total variance. Subject variance determined the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: One hundred of the initial 180 sentences were validated with MNTest-GR and approved for literacy correctness. Of those, 57 sentences were selected after pilot testing, and used in the final printed chart in random distribution among three versions. The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.72 for VA, 0.87 for maximum reading speed and 0.46 for critical print size. The between-charts within-session within-subject component accounted for a maximum five per cent of the variance. The between-sessions within-subject component had a maximum of one per cent. The coefficient of repeatability was 0.08 logMAR for VA, 46.96 words per minute for maximum reading speed and 0.10 logMAR for critical print size. CONCLUSION: The created MNREAD-GR acuity chart is a standardised clinical test that can be used reliably to measure near acuity, reading speed and critical print size in Greek-speaking literate patients of all ages.
Clinical and Experimental Optometry 09/2012; · 1.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The epidemiology of human bocavirus (HBoV) infections has not been described in Greece, a south-eastern European country. To define the epidemiological profile and the clinical characteristics associated with HBoV infection in a population of children hospitalized with respiratory tract infection.
During a one-year period throat swab samples were collected from 370 previously healthy children, aged 14 days to 13 years, admitted to two different paediatric wards because of respiratory tract infection. Samples were tested for HBoV by PCR amplifying a part of the NS1 gene.
Human bocavirus was detected in 12 children (3.2%). Four of the 12 cases were co-infections, 3 of them with influenza A and 1 with coronavirus OC43. Cases were observed only during the cold months. The mean age of children was 1.8 years (range 2 months to 4 years). The most common symptoms were fever, cough and various degrees of respiratory distress. All children were clinically diagnosed as having lower respiratory tract infections, mainly pneumonia and acute laryngotracheobronchitis, and recovered uneventfully.
HBoV infections occur in Greece mostly among very young children. They accounted for 3.2% of children hospitalized with acute respiratory disease. Cases were observed only in late autumn to early spring.
Archives of medical science : AMS. 03/2010; 6(1):100-3.
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ABSTRACT: Seven hundred and three ticks collected in November and June of 2004-2006 from domestic animals in four localities of Halkidiki prefecture, Northern Greece, were tested for the presence of ricketsial DNA. Rickettsia slovaca was detected in one pool of Rhipicephalus bursa ticks, representing the first report of detection of R. slovaca in Greece.
Experimental and Applied Acarology 07/2009; 50(1):93-6. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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Emerging Infectious Diseases 06/2009; 15(5):834-5. · 6.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: During 2003 to 2006 samples from 34 Albanian patients with suspected Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) were tested by serology and PCR for CCHF virus; negative samples were further tested for hantaviruses, Leptospira spp. and Rickettsia spp. CCHF virus was detected in 38.2% of cases, hantaviruses in 11.7%, and leptospirosis and rickettsiosis were diagnosed in 29.4% and 2.9% of cases, respectively. There is a seasonal and clinical overlapping among the 4 diseases in Albania, suggesting that testing for these agents is necessary in cases with fever and haemorrhagic manifestations.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 07/2008; 40(11-12):978-80. · 1.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Louping ill virus (LIV) are viruses in the Mammalian tick-borne virus group/genus Flavivirus, causing central nervous system disease. Greek goat encephalitis virus (GGEV), which was isolated from the brain of a newborn goat with neurological symptoms, is currently classified in the TBEV group. The vector of GGEV has not yet been specifically identified but is considered likely to be Ixodes ricinus. A total of 3,144 Ixodidae ticks collected during 2003-2006 from goats and sheep in rural areas of Northern Greece were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of TBEV-specific RNA. Two pools of I. ricinus ticks were shown to be RNA-positive. Sequence analysis showed that the virus was GGEV. The RNA-positive ticks were detected in regions where high prevalence of TBE antibodies in humans was present. Prevalence in ticks varied according to year, season, and geographic region. TBEV is not endemic in Greece, and most probably the seroprevalence of TBE antibodies in humans is due to cross-reactivity to GGEV.
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 06/2008; 8(3):351-4. · 2.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A strain of Greek goat encephaltitis virus was isolated from engorged Ixodes ricinus ticks that had fed on goats in northern Greece. The strain was almost identical to the prototype strain isolated 35 years ago.
Emerging infectious diseases 03/2008; 14(2):330-2. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis, presenting in epidemic or endemic form.
To determine the causative agent of an aseptic meningitis outbreak in autumn, 2005 in Patras, Greece.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples taken during May 2005-February 2006 from children admitted to the Children Hospital of Patras with signs of aseptic meningitis were tested for the presence of enteroviral RNA. Typing was performed by nucleotide analysis.
Enteroviruses were detected in 11 (57.9%) of 19 tested CSF samples. In a 12-day period (27 October-7 November 2005) five aseptic meningitis cases were observed. Echovirus 15 was detected in all five cases, and differed from the prototype strain by 27.6%. Enteroviruses before and after this cluster of cases were of different serotypes (Echovirus 9, Echovirus 6). All patients with Echovirus 15 infection were male with a mean age of 7.7 years (2 months-13 years), all recovered successfully.
This is the first report of a cluster of aseptic meningitis cases caused by Echovirus 15. The causative agent was a new variant of Echovirus 15.
Journal of Clinical Virology 10/2007; 40(1):77-9. · 3.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. The human herpesviruses and especially Epstein-Barr virus have been implicated in the etiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a number of studies.
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and Epstein-Barr virus.
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sera were collected from 63 patients out of whom 17 suffered of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 46 of other interstitial lung diseases. Sera from 50 healthy, age-matched individuals were also collected. Antibodies to the early, nuclear, and capsid antigens of Epstein-Barr virus were determined by enzyme immunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence. Additionally polymerase chain reaction was performed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in order to investigate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA. Positive polymerase chain reaction results were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing.
Statistically significant differences were observed in the frequency of IgA antibodies to viral capsid antigen among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, patients with other interstitial lung diseases and healthy controls (60%, 24.4% and 22% respectively, p = 0.013). Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 3 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis but in none of the patients with other diseases (p = 0.024).
The results of this study support the association between IPF and EBV, at least in some cases, and provide evidence that BALF is an alternative for the detection of viral DNA in patients with IPF. However further investigation is required concerning the etiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and diffuse lung diseases: official journal of WASOG / World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders 10/2007; 24(2):134-40. · 1.27 Impact Factor
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Emerging infectious diseases 07/2007; 13(6):947-9. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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Emerging infectious diseases 06/2007; 13(5):805-6. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Serum samples from 921 apparently healthy individuals living in different prefectures of Northern Greece were investigated for the presence of antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus. In addition, serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples of 302 patients with central nervous system (CNS) infection were tested for the presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies and TBE virus RNA. Two percent of the general population was found to have antibodies to the virus, with no significant differences among the age groups. Most of the seropositive individuals were male farmers, while seroprevalence varied among different prefectures (0%-5.8%). TBE was not confirmed by laboratory findings in any of the patients with CNS infection. Results of this study revealed that a flavivirus of the TBE serocomplex is circulating in Greece, yet is not a major public health problem.
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 02/2007; 7(4):611-5. · 2.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus causes severe disease in humans with a mortality reaching 30%. A CCHF outbreak took place in Albania in 2003. As in other viral hemorrhagic fevers cytokines may be involved and play a role in the pathogenesis and outcome of the disease.
To investigate the levels of TNF-alpha, sTNF-R, IL-6 and IL-10 in serum samples obtained from laboratory confirmed CCHF cases and relate them to the severity of the disease.
A study population of 51 was divided into three groups: group A, consisting of PCR-positive cases; group B, consisting of PCR-negative and serology-positive cases; group C, consisting of doubly negative cases. Concentrations of serum TNF-alpha, sTNF-R, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured during the illness.
High levels of all cytokines tested were present in one fatal case. Statistically significant differences between the groups were obtained for TNF-alpha and IL-6: TNF-alpha was detected in 3 cases in group A, and in none of the other groups, while IL-6 was elevated in 10/16 patients in group A, 4/9 in group B, and 4/26 in group C. sTNF-R was not significantly different for the three groups. High concentration of IL-10 was detected only in the fatal case.
TNF-alpha and IL-6 are the cytokines most often detected during a CCHF viral infection. TNF-alpha was associated with the severe form of CCHF, while IL-6 was elevated in both severe and mild cases.
Journal of Clinical Virology 09/2006; 36(4):272-6. · 3.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Hantaviruses are endemic in the Balkan Peninsula. An outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome occurred in 2002 in Serbia and Montenegro. The epidemiologic characteristics and genetic relatedness of Dobrava/Belgrade virus strains responsible for most cases are described.
Emerging infectious diseases 07/2006; 12(6):1015-8. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Enteroviruses (EVs) are the most commonly identified cause of aseptic meningitis. Rapid detection and characterization of EV meningitis is essential in making decisions for patient management and treatment. A total of 52 cases of acute aseptic meningitis that occurred from March 2003 to April 2005 were investigated for EVs using viral culture and/or molecular methods directly in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). EVs were detected in 21 out of 52 (40.4%) patients using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and/or tissue culture. EVs were isolated from six out of 37 (16.2%) cultured specimens, while 20 out of 52 (38.4%) specimens yielded positive results when 5'non-coding region (5'NCR) RT-PCR assay was used. One specimen that was culture-positive was RT-PCR-negative. Using the VP1-2A RT-PCR and sequence analysis, 14 of the 21 positive EVs were identified as: four strains of Coxsackie virus B5, five echovirus 11, two echovirus 9, one echovirus 5, one echovirus 14, and one Coxsackie virus A9. Fever, headache, vomiting, and stiff neck were the most pronounced symptoms. Pleocytosis with the predominance of lymphocytes and mild elevated protein levels characterized the CSF specimens. Coxsackie virus B5 and echovirus 11 were the predominant serotypes during the study period. Although there was seasonal enteroviral activity (April-November), cases also occurred in the cold months. The 5'NCR and VP1-2A RT-PCR with sequence analysis were found to be superior to conventional methods for direct diagnosis and the typing of EVs.
Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis 02/2006; 20(5):177-83. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although herpes viruses have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic and aggressive periodontitis, few data in the literature refer to quantification of these viruses in periodontal sites, especially in relation to serological findings.
The aim of the present study was to compare Epstein--Barr virus (EBV) DNA load in subgingival specimens from chronic periodontitis patients and in periodontally healthy subjects, in relation to serologic testing of IgM and IgG antibodies to EBV.
A total of 22 chronic periodontitis patients and 13 controls participated in the present study. Seventy-nine subgingival specimens (one pooled, one from a deep and one from a shallow site), sampled with paper points, were analysed with real-time polymerase chain reaction for EBV. Subjects were also examined for anti-EBV IgG and IgM levels in serum, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
One subject was seronegative for EBV. Three subjects (one patient and two controls) displayed anti-EBV IgM. Their data were excluded from further analysis. All three displayed EBV in their subgingival samples. Nine out of the remaining 20 chronic periodontitis patients and 10 out of 11 controls did not display EBV subgingivally. A statistically significant difference in viral load was observed between pooled and shallow-pocket samples from periodontitis patients but not between samples from deep and shallow pockets (Kruskall--Wallis anova, Dunn's multiple comparisons test).
Data from the present study do not strongly support the pathogenetic significance of EBV in chronic periodontitis lesions. The data do, however, suggest that parallel serological assessments provide a useful insight into the association of viruses with periodontal disease.
Journal of Periodontal Research 09/2005; 40(4):294-8. · 1.69 Impact Factor
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Emerging infectious diseases 10/2004; 10(9):1692-3. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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Emerging infectious diseases 10/2004; 10(9):1696-7. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report the epidemiologic characteristics of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Bulgaria, as well as the first genetic characterization of the virus strains circulating in the country in 2002 to 2003 that caused disease in humans.
Emerging infectious diseases 09/2004; 10(8):1465-7. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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Emerging infectious diseases 06/2004; 10(5):963-4. · 6.17 Impact Factor
