National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

BMAL1-Mediated Circadian Regulation of Oocyte Quality and IVF Outcomes

Successful embryo development transpires far before fertilization inside the meticulously regulated microenvironment of the ovarian follicle. Increasing data indicates that circadian regulatory systems influence several processes that define oocyte competence, including mitochond...

Genetic Architecture of Synaptic Failure in Dementia with Lewy Bodies: From α-Synuclein Proteoforms to GBA1-Mediated Plasticity Deficits

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is increasingly conceptualised not merely as a disorder of neuronal death but as a primary synaptopathy in which the functional collapse of synaptic transmission and plasticity precedes, and predicts, neurodegeneration and clinical decline. Two gen...

Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Red Blood Cells Under Oxidative Stress Using Optical Tweezers

Abstract Red blood cells (RBCs) rely on their mechanical and electrostatic properties to maintain microvascular circulation and oxygen delivery. Oxidative stress, a hallmark of many diseases, disrupts these properties by damaging membrane lipids and cytoskeletal proteins. In this...

Evaluation of the Pulp Space Morphology of the Mandibular Premolars in a Greek Population by Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Background/Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the pulp space morphology (PSM) of both first and second mandibular premolars in a sample of a Greek population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Two hundred and ninety nine CBCTs of a Greek population were ass...

European S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa Part 1. Epidemiology, diagnosis and clinical assessment

BACKGROUND: This first part of the S2k guidelines is an update of the 2015 S1 European guidelines based on the structured assessment of clinically relevant topics by the panel of experts. It is complemented by Part 2, which deals with treatments. OBJECTIVES: These guidelines aim...

A Machine Learning Platform for Imputing Missing Critical Quality Attributes in Pharmaceutical Development

Quality control is fundamental to drug development, with critical quality attributes (CQAs) serving as key indicators of product performance. However, missing or incomplete CQA data remains a persistent challenge throughout pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. In this study...

Career plans and seafaring intentions among maritime students in China, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom: A cross-national comparative study

Abstract Concerns about current and future officer shortages have intensified interest in understanding maritime students’ career plans. While previous research has primarily examined motivations for entering maritime education and training (MET), comparative evidence on students...

The Political Economy of Modern Monetary Theory: A Marxist Critique

Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) has emerged as a significant heterodox challenge to neoclassical orthodoxy, arguing that sovereign currency-issuing governments face no intrinsic financial constraints and can use fiscal policy to achieve full employment. MMT offers important critique...

Association of non-invasive liver-related scores with cardiovascular disease and a four-domain cardiovascular–renal–hepatic–metabolic phenotype in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and MASLD

Abstract Objective Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a systemic disorder associated with cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic comorbidities. We evaluated cardiovascular disease (CVD), four-domain cardiovascular–renal–hepatic–metabolic (CRHM) invo...

Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Glycemic Control, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

ABSTRACT Objectives Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and increased cardiometabolic and inflammatory burden. Zinc plays a key biological role in insulin synthesis, storage, signalling and antiox...

Circulating Tumor DNA for Minimal Residual Disease Detection and Recurrence Prediction in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Scoping Review

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising non-invasive biomarker for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) and predicting recurrence after curative treatment, yet evidence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and gastric cancer has...

Experiencing Tourism in Cruise Destinations: How Place Attachment and Quality of Life Shape Resident Attitudes

Cruise tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry, generating significant economic benefits while also creating challenges related to overtourism, congestion, environmental pressure, and residents’ quality of life. Understanding residents’ attit...

Differentiating Sciatica from Hip Osteoarthritis: Diagnostic Challenges and the Role of the Athena Sign

Background/Objectives: Sciatica and hip osteoarthritis (OA) are common causes of lower extremity pain and functional impairment. Because both conditions may produce overlapping symptoms, distinguishing them can be challenging. Misdiagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatment, del...

Simultaneous Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture After Low-Energy Trauma in a 73-Year-Old Man: A Case Report and Literature Review

Simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture is an exceptionally rare injury of the knee extensor mechanism and may present a diagnostic challenge, particularly after low-energy trauma. Prompt recognition is essential to restore knee extension and ambulatory function. We repo...

Safety and efficacy of delivering systemic treatments concomitantly with whole-brain radiotherapy: a prospective, observational, single-institution study

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of delivering systemic treatments concurrently with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Methods: A single-institution, prospective observational study was conducted in Athens, Greece, including 99 patients treated wit...

Compression Moulding Technique: A Silicone-Guided Modification of the Injection Moulding Workflow for Direct Composite Restorations

Background/Objectives: Injection moulding has become a predictable technique for transferring a diagnostic wax-up to direct composite restorations. However, conventional workflows that rely exclusively on injectable flowable composites may have limitations in material handling, m...

Neurogenic bladder in the multiple sclerosis population: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and a proposed evaluation algorithm

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic bladder (NGB) is one of the most common and debilitating manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS), substantially impairing quality of life and increasing the risk of secondary complications. OBJECTIVE: To determine the pooled prevalence of NGB and its subt...

Online Negative Reviews and Complaints in Healthcare and Dentistry: A Narrative Review of Patient Experiences

Background: The widespread use of online review platforms has transformed how patients evaluate healthcare providers and has created a valuable source of patient-generated feedback on healthcare quality. Negative online reviews provide valuable insights into patient experiences a...

HetCA/STOCSY‐Guided Dereplication of Artemisia arborescens Reveals Furofuran Lignans with Antileishmanial Effects

Natural products represent an important source of bioactive compounds; however, their complexity often challenges conventional discovery approaches. In this study, an ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia arborescens (Vaill.) L. was investigated prior to any isolation using an integ...

Prevalence of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most frequently reported anatomical variant of the thoracic systemic venous system. While its association with congenital heart disease (CHD) is well recognized, its prevalence within CHD populations and its relative occurrence co...