#Charis Papadopoulos

[persinsala]

The Backyard of Miracles - Η Αυλη των Θαυματων

The Backyard of Miracles – Η Αυλη των Θαυματων

Between the old walls, an iron staircase, a few pots of flowers and a mattress for bed, one wonders what the miracle is. Iakovos Kambanellis’ play, The Backyard of Miracles, gives the opportunity to the Greek audience to stand in front of its own lives and history, and eventually find the answer to this question. (more…)

[cancersfakianakis1]

Perinatal and early life risk factors for childhood brain tumors: Is instrument-assisted delivery associated with higher risk?

Publication date: April 2019

Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 59

Author(s): Marios K. Georgakis, Nick Dessypris, Vassilios Papadakis, Athanasios Tragiannidis, Evdoxia Bouka, Emmanuel Hatzipantelis, Maria Moschovi, Evgenia Papakonstantinou, Sophia Polychronopoulou, Spyridon Sgouros, Eftichia Stiakaki, Apostolos Pourtsidis, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Eleni Th. Petridou, Charis Bourgioti, Helen Dana, Savvas Papadopoulos, Georgios Sfakianos, Marios Themistocleous, Kalliopi Stefanaki

Abstract

Background

The childhood peak of brain tumors suggests that early-life exposures might have a role in their etiology. Hence, we examined in the Greek National Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid tumors (NARECHEM-ST) whether perinatal and early-life risk factors influence the risk of childhood brain tumors.

Methods

In a nationwide case-control study, we included 203 cases (0–14 years) with a diagnosis of brain tumor in NARECHEM-ST (2010–2016) and 406 age-, sex-, and center-matched hospital controls. Information was collected via interviews with the guardians and we analyzed the variables of interest in multivariable conditional logistic regression models.

Results

Instrument-assisted delivery was associated with higher (OR: 7.82, 95%CI: 2.18–28.03), whereas caesarean delivery with lower (OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.45-0.99) risk of childhood brain tumors, as compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy (OR: 2.35, 95%CI: 1.45–3.81) and history of living in a farm (OR: 4.98, 2.40–10.32) increased the odds of childhood brain tumors. Conversely, higher birth order was associated with lower risk (OR for 2nd vs. 1st child: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.40-0.89 and OR for 3rd vs. 1st: 0.34, 95%CI: 0.18-0.63). Birth weight, gestational age, parental age, history of infertility, smoking during pregnancy, allergic diseases, and maternal diseases during pregnancy showed no significant associations.

Conclusions

Perinatal and early-life risk factors, and specifically indicators of brain trauma, exposure to toxic agents and immune system maturation, might be involved in the pathogenesis of childhood brain tumors. Larger studies should aim to replicate our findings and examine associations with tumor subtypes.

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[persinsala]

Oedipus Tyrannus - Οιδιπους Τυραννους

Oedipus Tyrannus – Οιδιπους Τυραννους

In the context of the 1st Meeting of Young Artists of Southeast Europe Ancient Drama and Politics, Tracing Limits and Possibilities, director Giorgos Kolovos gives a contemporary spin to Sopochles’ Oedipus Tyrannus, building a bridge between Thebes’ governance and today’s heads of state, asking out loud: «Does the contemporary political situation permit such leaders?». The answer seems to get…