Rojas Gil Andrea Paola

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Peloponnese

Bladder cancer has a high incidence worldwide and is characterized by a high recurrence rate, metastatic potential, and a significant socioeconomic burden. Conventional treatment modalities usually exhibit serious adverse complications, which also negatively affect patients’ quality of life. In the context of exploring new treatment approaches with...

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by postprandial dysmetabolism, which has been linked to post-meal redox disturbances. Oleocanthal (OO), one of the most potent bioactive phenols of extra virgin olive oil, has shown redox modulating properties in vitro. However, its acute, in vivo antioxidant properties have never been st...

Introduction Data overlapping of different biological conditions prevents personalized medical decision-making. For example, when the neutrophil percentages of surviving septic patients overlap with those of non-survivors, no individualized assessment is possible. To ameliorate this problem, an immunological method was explored in the context of se...

Exogenous and endogenous advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of renal disease. This is a one-month controlled dietary counseling trial that restricts nutritional AGEs in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing haemodialysis (n = 22 participants in the intervention and n = 20 particip...

Background Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by immune and metabolic dysregulation. Apo1/Fas is implicated in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. Cytokeratin-18 (cCK-18) is a predictive marker of liver disorders in T2DM. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is considered to increase susceptibility to diabetes mellitus...

Pediatric thyroid nodules (TNs) present a higher malignancy rate compared to adults. We sought to diagnose the frequency and characteristics of TNs in children and adolescents with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and their outcomes after levothyroxine (LT4) therapy. A total of 256 children with TNs and SH were followed every semester from 2006 to 2...

Obesity is an emerging threat and a current challenge for children and adolescents worldwide. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relationship between the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) and the weight status of students in early adolescence. A sample of 1580 students aged 10–12 years from 47 primary schools in Greece were enrolled. Ant...

Gratitude is a psychological notion that has been associated with numerous beneficial outcomes for individuals and communities. The Short Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test (S-GRAT), one of the most widely used measure to detect trait gratitude, comprises three subscales that assess lack of a sense of deprivation, appreciation for simple pl...

Obesity in children and adolescents has been associated with oxidative stress (OS). The lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) that oxidatively modify proteins (Pr) (i.e., PrMDA and PrTBARS, respectively) represent markers of OS-associated lipid peroxidation. We aimed to assess OS in...

Postprandial dysmetabolism is a common entity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may act as a daily stressor of the already dysfunctional diabetic platelets. This study aims to investigate whether oleocanthal-rich olive oils (OO), incorporated into a carbohydrate-rich meal, can affect postprandial dysmetabolism and platelet aggregation. Oleocan...

Oxidative stress and apoptosis are involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases. This observational study investigates the antioxidant and apoptotic markers response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in a population of overweight children and adolescents, with normal (NGT) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Glucose, insulin, an...

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Cardiovascular diseases are common complications after chemotherapy due to the effect of the drug on lipid levels. This study aimed to explore the changes in lipid profiles in patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients with breast cancer participa...

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Cardiovascular diseases are common complications after chemotherapy due to the effect of the drug on lipid levels. This study aimed to explore the changes in lipid profiles in patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients with breast cancer participa...

Inflammatory proteins activate platelets, which have been observed to be directly related to cancer progression and development. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the possible association between Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and cancer (diagnostic capacity of MPV, relation to survival, the severity of the disease, and metastasis). A...

The aim of the present work was two-fold. Firstly, to evaluate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed beverages (UPB) on preadolescents’ likelihood of being obese. Secondly, to investigate the potential impact of family and school environmental stressors on this unhealthy lifestyle habit. A cross-sectional study was conducted am...

Citation: Gketsios, I.; Tsiampalis, T.; Kanellopoulou, A.; Vassilakou, T.; Notara, V.; Antonogeorgos, G.; Rojas-Gil, A.P.; Kornilaki, E.N.; Lagiou, A.; Panagiotakos, D.B.; et al. The Synergetic Effect of Soft Drinks and Sweet/Salty Snacks Consumption and the Moderating Role of Obesity on Preadolescents' Emotions and Behavior: A School-Based Epidemi...

An epidemiological study was conducted among 1728 10–12-year-old students (55.1% girls) and their parents during 2014–2016 in Greece. This study aimed to identify the dominant clusters of physical activity/sedentariness among preadolescents and investigate their association with self-reported sources of stress. Children’s physical activity levels a...

Over the last few decades, childhood overweight and obesity tend to reach epidemic proportions. The present study aimed to examine whether the composition of breakfast, through the prism of its macronutrient content, could play a part in the development of excess body weight in children. A sample of 1728 Greek students from 47 primary schools was e...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of environmental influences on Greek preadolescents’ junk food consumption. A cross-sectional study, was conducted among 1718 preadolescents (mean (standard deviation(SD)) age: 11.2(0.8) years old; 54% girls) and their parents, during the school years 2014–2016. Parental and child characterist...

Adding extra sugars in milk and the moderating effect of sleep has yet to be investigated, setting the aim of this study. A total of 1361 school-aged children were included, aged 10–12 years old, by randomly sampling schools. Data were interview-obtained by trained personnel using a validated 17-item food frequency questionnaire, with specifics on...

Given the evidence on how stress affects weight status in children, this research examined this association among Greek students aged 10–12 years old. Overall, 1452 children and their parents from several urban areas participated in an observational study conducted during the period 2014–2016. Participants completed validated questionnaires. Intern...

Milk consumption contributes greatly to children’s diet, playing a pivotal role in the development and structure of bones and the functioning of the musculoskeletal system and the heart. This study investigated the association between the type of milk and childhood overweight/obesity. In the school period 2014–2016, 1728 students aged 10–12 years a...

Background: Although the literature suggests that skipping breakfast, insufficient sleep, and reduced physical activity are associated with childhood obesity their co-influence and their in-between interactions on weight status have rarely been studied. Aim: To examine the co-influence of breakfast eating habits, sleep duration, and physical activi...

Objective: Obesity is characterized by hypertrophy and pathological expansion of adipocytes with impaired insulin signaling causing insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic dysfunction. We recently reported decreased expression of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) in cultured adipocytes from visceral and abdominal subcutaneous fat depots from patients wi...

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, even in early childhood. A mutation in genes which code homocysteine metabolism enzymes or deficiency of specific vitamin cofactors may cause hyperhomocysteinemia. Vitamin B complex has been correlated with serum homocysteine levels. Any abnormality in its metabolism or nutriti...

Aim Oleocanthal and oleacein (OC/OL) have important in vitro and in vivo antitumor properties; however, there is no data about their anticancer activity in humans. The aim of this pilot study was to test if patients at early stage of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) could adhere to and tolerate an intervention with high OC/OL extra virgin olive o...

This study examined the association between breastfeeding, type of childbirth, and family structure with childhood obesity. During 2014–2016, 1728 Greek students attending primary schools and their parents were enrolled. Children’s weight status was measured and classified according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. A self-administe...

Introduction The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is an unprecedented global health crisis with emotional and physical impact on health care workers. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of fatigue and burnout in nursing staff during the pandemic. Methods The present study involved nursing staff from hospitals in Greec...

Introduction Thyroxine is essential for nervous system development. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), also known as mild thyroid failure, is associated with impaired cognitive function in children and mood disorders in adults. Serotonin is also involved in brain development as well as in mood and behavior modulation. The possible interaction betwee...

A B S T R AC T Aim: To examine the association of nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior among preadolescents in the greater urban area of Athens. Methods: 615 school-aged children 10-12 years from the metropolitan area of Athens were enrolled in the study, in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Anthropometric data (height, weight, BMI z-score, waist circum...

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutritional habits, lifestyle, anxiety, and coping strategies. Background Anxiety is an underestimated and often undiagnosed subclinical disorder that burdens the general public of modern societies and increases illness suscentibility. Methods The study group consisted of 693 i...

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), a chronic metabolic disorder of autoimmune origin, has been associated with oxidative stress (OS), which plays a central role in the onset, progression and long-term complications of DM1. The markers of OS lipid peroxidation products, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), and also malondialdehyde (MDA) and thioba...

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), a chronic metabolic disorder of autoimmune origin, has been associated with oxidative stress (OS), which plays a central role in the onset, progression and long-term complications of the disease 1. The markers of OS lipid peroxidation products, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), and also malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbi...

Objective: Top-level competitive sports coaches repeatedly cope with situations of acute stress in order to succeed and manage high team performance. Occupational stress-induced biochemical and immune system markers are not well studied for this specific group of people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress-induced alterations of inflam...

Background: Apoptosis antigen 1/FAS receptor (APO1/Fas) signaling in endothelial cells plays a significant role in angiogenesis while increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is an important marker for platelet activation. We investigated the possible correlation between APO1/Fas and both metabolic parameters and platelet activity (indicated by the MP...

Adherence to certain dietary patterns influences obesity status in both children and adults. Weight perception influences dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine children’s dietary habits and obesity status, in relation to weight perception. One thousand seven hundred Greek students enrolled in this study during 2014–2016. Children’s c...

Objectives: Antimullerian hormone (AMH) causes regression of the mullerian ducts in the male fetus. The appendix testis (AT) is a vestigial remnant of mullerian duct origin, containing both androgen (AR) and estrogen (ER) receptors. The role of both AMH and AT in testicular descent is yet to be studied. We investigated the possible association of...

Background Over the past decade, the financial crisis has affected harshly the household income of Greek people. This study aimed to investigate whether the effect of the financial crisis on food spending has affected the dietary habits in the family environment. Methods Under a cross-sectional study conducted during 2014–2016, 1145 children and t...

Background: Data regarding the most suitable diagnostic method for the diagnosis of glucose impairment in asymptomatic children and adolescents are inconclusive. Furthermore, limited data are available on the reproducibility of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in children and adolescents who are obese (OB). Aim: To investigate the usefulne...

Study objectives: Sleep is an essential normal function for children's growth and development, but over the years lifestyle changes have resulted in insufficient sleep, a factor that may be associated with the increased childhood obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between sleep duration and, sleep patterns, separately o...

BACKGROUND Children’s dietary behaviors seem tract into adulthood and as a result preventing strategies to establish healthy behaviors from early stages of life are needed. Nutrition knowledge is essential for behavioral change. OBJECTIVE To examine whether the status of parental health related to their children’s nutrition literacy level through...

Children’s health literacy is a crucial pillar of health. This study is aimed to examine the association between health literacy and weight status among Greek schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old. A population-based, cross-sectional observational study enrolling 1,728 students (795 boys), aged 10 to 12 years old, was conducted during school years...

Childhood obesity rates have shown a rising trend in the past years, becoming a public health challenge and threat. The aim of this study was to examine the association between extracurricular activities and weight status, among children. A survey was performed in 1728 primary school Greek students, during school years 2014–2016. Dietary and lifest...

Introduction: Quality of Life (QoL) refers to a person's subjective view of their life-based on the frame of the cultural features and social value system in which they live. The use of addictive substances has devastating effects on health, society, and human relations. Substitution treatment can affect a patients' QoL in terms of their goals, exp...

Background Overweight and obesity during childhood consist two of the most important public health issues in the 21st century. Consumption of high-fat processed food has been increased alarmingly. Objective To examine the association between parental ultra-processed, high-fat products’ consumption and childhood overweight/obesity. Methods A cross...

Abstract Introduction: Abnormalities in adipose tissue AdipoR1; adaptor protein, phosphotyrosine interaction, PH domain, and leucine zipper containing 1 (APPL1); GTPase Rab5; adiponectin; leptin; and visfatin in adults with obesity have been associated with metabolic disturbances. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine whether pediat...

Background Childhood obesity is among the leading public health challenges, worldwide. Aim To examine the association between children’s adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and weight status taking into account family structure and related behaviors. Methods 1728 primary-school Greek students (46% males), from Athens metropolitan area, islan...

Background: Childhood overweight/obesity constitutes a serious issue, as may cause several health problems. The main characteristics of the Mediterranean Diet have been acknowledged as the most appropriate shield mainly for obesity. Methods: The study was performed on 1728 primary students, during school years 2014-2016, in Greece. Children and th...

Although the parental influence on children’s dietary habits has been widely studied, little is known about the effect of parental health status on children’s dietary behavior. Thus, the association between the parental burden of cardiometabolic disease and its impact on children’s eating habits and behaviors was examined. Material and Methods: 1,7...

Aim The appendix testis (AT) is a vestigial remnant of Müller's paramesonephric duct. Insulin‐like 3 hormone (INSL3) is produced in the Leydig cells of the testis. We investigated the possible correlation between AT length and plasma INSL3 concentrations in patients with congenital cryptorchidism (CCO) and patients with hydrocele, who served as con...

A positive correlation between T1DM onset and winter has been suggested by several studies. We investigated the seasonal variation of T1DM diagnosis and epidemiological parameters in children from Western Greece with T1DM. One hundred and five patients, 44 males, aged 1–16 years were studied. The month of the diagnosis, the order of birth, gestatio...

PurposeOxidative stress is closely related to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), playing a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease and progression of complications. It is characterized by loss of equilibrium between oxidative factors and antioxidant protective mechanisms. Several markers have been used to assess both components of oxidative statu...

PurposeAQP7, a water/glycerol transporting protein, regulates adipocyte glycerol efflux and influences lipid and glucose homeostasis. Altered AQP7 expression in adults leads to impaired glycerol dynamics, adipocyte hypertrophy, and a predisposition to obesity and diabetes. AQP7 gene promoter variants lead to impaired AQP7-mediated adipocyte glycero...

Background Growth hormone(GH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate cell growth and differentiation, and crosstalking between their signaling pathways is important for normal cellular development. Growth hormone transduction defect (GHTD) is characterized by excessive GH receptor (GHR) degradation, due to over-expression of the E3 ubiquitin l...

Background The appendix testis (AT) is the most common vestigial remnant of the human testis. Variations in the presence and expression of AT androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) have been reported in cryptorchidism. We studied the possible association of AR and ER expression of the AT with cryptorchidism. Methods ATs were resected fr...

Craving is a diagnostic criterion for substance use disorders. It is referred to as a subjective desire of relapsing to the use of a psychoactive substance after a time period of abstinence and it affects physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral parameters. Craving is inextricably linked to heroin addictive patients and usually known in the li...

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary fibres intake is associated with childhood obesity. From 2014 to 2016, a sample of 1728 Greek boys and girls students, 10–12 years and their parents were enrolled in the study. Dietary fibres intake was assessed through food questionnaires and child’s body mass status was defined according to th...

Aim The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are among the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis and development of chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the dietary AGE intake and to assess its correlation with hematological and biochemical markers of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialy...

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast consumption and childhood weight status, in relation to various socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted including 1728 children aged 10-12 years and their parents, during school years 2014-2016. Primary schools from five Greek c...

Purpose Morbid obesity (BMI > 40) is often accompanied by metabolic disorders. In adipose tissue, serine/threonine kinase PKBβ/AktΙΙ plays a role in glucose uptake, mediated by glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). The insulin pathway also affects aquaglyceroporin-7 (AQP7), which mediates lipolysis-derived glycerol efflux into the bloodstream. The aim of...

Purpose: To estimate the roles of triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio and uric acid in predisposition for metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in healthy children. Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical analyses were performed on 110 children, aged 5 to 12 years, from the Greek county of Laconia. The childre...

Background Insulin-like 3 hormone (INSL3) is involved in the process of testicular descent, and has been thoroughly studied in cryptorchidism. However, INSL3 allelic variations found in the human genome were heterozygous and only a few of them were found exclusively in patients with cryptorchidism. Under this perspective, we aimed to study the pres...

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a global health issue which is associated with high risk for microvascular and macrovascular complications. Its treatment is based on the co-operation of an interdisciplinary healthcare team which helps the patient to combine the suitable medication with balanced lifestyle habits. In recent years, emphasis has been given...

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity remains a major health issue. The understanding of the multifactorial nature of childhood obesity remains the cornerstone to eliminate the rising trends. This study aimed to examine the association between parental and childhood weight status, in relation to various socioeconomic (SE) factors. METHODS A cross-sectional...

Objective: In healthy individuals, leptin is produced from adipose tissue and is secreted into the circulation to communicate energy balance status to the brain and control fat metabolism. Corticotropin- releasing hormone (CRH) is synthesized in the hypothalamus and regulates stress responses. Among the many adipokines and hormones that control fat...

Purpose Growth hormone transduction defect (GHTD) is characterized by severe short stature, impaired STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) phosphorylation and overexpression of the cytokine inducible SH2 containing protein (CIS) and p21/CIP1/WAF1. To investigate the role of p21/CIP1/WAF1 in the negative regulation of the growth...

Introduction Brucellosis is a zoonosis with high occupational risk. However, seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies among occupational groups is not known, since studies in endemic countries are rare. Methods A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted among livestock farmers in an endemic region in Greece. A low-risk group of individuals...

Background Cardiovascular disease has the highest mortality rates than any other disease globally. Some major risk factors seem to be established in early stages of life suggesting preventive strategies as a major mean to reduce cardiovascular mortality. The aim of the present work was to investigate the role of socioeconomic status and family char...

Background Aquaporin 7 (AQP7), a water/glycerol transporting protein, regulates adipocyte glycerol efflux and influences lipid and glucose homeostasis. Altered AQP7 expression in adults leads to impaired glycerol dynamics, adipocyte hypertrophy and it predisposes them to obesity and diabetes. To assess its possible involvement in childhood obesity,...

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are adopted during childhood and adolescence. Health literacy at these ages remains the cornerstone of a healthy adult life. The aim of the study was to examine the role of gender regarding CVD risk factors’ awareness and to develop an evaluation tool for the assessment of CVD risk factors’ knowl...

Purpose: To investigate the effect of lifestyle habits in childhood Metabolic Syndrome (MTS). Design and methods: Descriptive correlation study with 480 participants (5-12 years old) using a specially designed questionnaire was conducted. Anthropometric and biochemical analyses were performed. Results: Fifteen percent of children exhibited pre...

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between optimism, general health perception, nutritional habits and lifestyle. A quantitative study was conducted on 500 Greek adults. A standardized questionnaire was used which consisted of the General Health Self-Assessment Questionnaire (GHSAQ), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (GrLOT-R)...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) transduction defect (GHTD) is a growth disorder with impaired signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation mediated by overexpression of cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS), which causes increased growth hormone receptor (GHR) degradation. This study investigated the role of...

Geriatric depression is more common in nursing homes and social support is a mechanism that mitigates the stressors of life factors and simultaneously promotes wellness and health. The purpose of the study was to assess the levels of depression and social support among elderly in nursing homes. During the period February 2016–March 2016 170 elderly...

Background: Anxiety combined with nervousness and apprehension consist a focal response to different life conditions. Lifestyle habits, anxiety and biochemical markers are in a constant interaction. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety in healthy adults and its possible association with biochemical factors-lipid profile, liver markers,...

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to develop and standardize a new questionnaire to examine the relationship between optimism, dietary habits, lifestyle and general health selfassessment. A pilot study was conducted in a sample of 114 individuals of general population in Sparti/Greece. The questionnaire combines a general health self-assessment qu...

Brucellosis is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution. The presence of antibodies after acute infection and the prevalence of positive serology in endemic area are not well documented. Patients hospitalized with acute brucellosis were relocated 3-13 years after the initial infection. Hospital records of the initial infection were retrieved, and exa...

Healthcare professionals have to deal with multiple roles. They are often considered as role models, regarding health, while they are expected to excel in such behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative and quantitative, cross-sectional study is to identify which factors affect the participants’ lifestyle, how they characterize health-care professi...

Authors' contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author SZ had the whole idea for this review manuscript. Author MM managed the literature searches and manuscript editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. ABSTRACT Background: There are many different theories on atherosclerosis pathophysiolog...

Introduction: Pressure ulcers consists one of the most important clinical problems for patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units. Purpose: To investigate the risk factors and their correlation with the incidence of pressure ulcers in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Material and Methods: Data collected studying 264 patients...

Objective: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) via their receptor, RAGE, are involved in diabetic angiopathy. Soluble RAGE, an inhibitor of this axis, is formed by enzymatic catalysis (sRAGE) or alternative splicing (esRAGE). Malondialdehyde (MDA) is an oxidative stress marker, and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) is an anti-oxidant cap...

Objective: Children with growth hormone transduction defect (GHTD) have impaired growth and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. Here, we examine the etiology of GHTD. Methods: Control (Cf) and GHTD (Pf) children's fibroblasts were induced with hGH, MG132, lactacystin or silence RNA/CIS (siCIS). Western immunobl...

Background: The effects of carbohydrate-restricted (keto-genic) diets on metabolic parameters in children have been incompletely assessed. Objective: To compare the effi cacy and metabolic impact of ketogenic and hypocaloric diets in obese children and adolescents. Subjects: Fifty-eight obese subjects were placed on one of the two diets for 6 month...