AIM： To evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg） in 13 581 women at reproductive age and the hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg）/anti-HBe status as well as serum hepatitis B virus （HBV）-DNA ...AIM： To evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg） in 13 581 women at reproductive age and the hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg）/anti-HBe status as well as serum hepatitis B virus （HBV）-DNA levels in a subgroup of HBsAg（＋） pregnant women at labor in Greece. METHODS： Serological markers were detected using enzyme immunoassays. Serum HBV-DNA was determined by a sensitive quantitative PCR assay. Statistical analysis of data was based on parametric methodology. RESULTS： Overall, 1.156% of women were HBsAg（＋） and the majority of them （71.3%） were Albanian. The prevalence of HBsAg was 5.1% in Albanian women, 4.2% in Asian women and 1.14% in women from Eastern European countries. The prevalence of HBsAg in African （0.36%） and Greek women （0.29%） was very low. Only 4.45% of HBsAg （＋） women were also HBeAg（＋） whereas the vast majority of them were HBeAg（-）/anti-HBe（＋）. Undetectable levels of viremia （〈200 copies/mL） were observed in 32.26% of pregnant women at labor and 29.03% exhibited extremely low levels of viral replication （〈400 copies/mL）. Only two pregnant women exhibited extremely high serum HBV- DNA levels （〉10 000 000 copies/mL）, whereas 32.26% exhibited HBV-DNA levels between 1 500 and 40 000 copies/mL. CONCLUSION： The overall prevalence of HBsAg is relatively low among women at reproductive age in Greece but is higher enough among specific populations. The HBeAg（-）/anti-HBe（＋） serological status and the extremely low or even undetectable viral replicative status in the majority/of HBsAg（＋） women of our study population, suggestthat only a small proportion of HBsAg（＋） women in Greece exhibit a high risk for vertical transmission of the infection.展开更多
The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide. Included in high risk group are people who have light common phenotypic factors (hair, skin, eyes), have high number of naevi, report previous sunburns and have a ...The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide. Included in high risk group are people who have light common phenotypic factors (hair, skin, eyes), have high number of naevi, report previous sunburns and have a family history of skin cancer. Protecting the skin from the sun by wearing protective clothing, using sunscreen and avoiding sun exposure are recommended among primary preventive activities. The purpose of this study was to describe the current patterns of sun protection measures adopted by nurses and to examine the association between compliance with sun protection measures and the main risk factors of melanoma. This cross sectional study was conducted in 2007 during the Annual Greek National Conference of Nursing. Nurses most commonly chose to use sunscreen, to wear glasses, to use an umbrella or to seek for shade in order to protect themselves against sun exposure. Finally, phenotypic factors, previous sunburns and common naevi presence were found to affect nurses’ attitude towards protective measures. This study poses the necessity of targeting high risk groups for melanoma through campaigns aiming to foster sun protection behaviours.展开更多
文摘AIM： To evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg） in 13 581 women at reproductive age and the hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg）/anti-HBe status as well as serum hepatitis B virus （HBV）-DNA levels in a subgroup of HBsAg（＋） pregnant women at labor in Greece. METHODS： Serological markers were detected using enzyme immunoassays. Serum HBV-DNA was determined by a sensitive quantitative PCR assay. Statistical analysis of data was based on parametric methodology. RESULTS： Overall, 1.156% of women were HBsAg（＋） and the majority of them （71.3%） were Albanian. The prevalence of HBsAg was 5.1% in Albanian women, 4.2% in Asian women and 1.14% in women from Eastern European countries. The prevalence of HBsAg in African （0.36%） and Greek women （0.29%） was very low. Only 4.45% of HBsAg （＋） women were also HBeAg（＋） whereas the vast majority of them were HBeAg（-）/anti-HBe（＋）. Undetectable levels of viremia （〈200 copies/mL） were observed in 32.26% of pregnant women at labor and 29.03% exhibited extremely low levels of viral replication （〈400 copies/mL）. Only two pregnant women exhibited extremely high serum HBV- DNA levels （〉10 000 000 copies/mL）, whereas 32.26% exhibited HBV-DNA levels between 1 500 and 40 000 copies/mL. CONCLUSION： The overall prevalence of HBsAg is relatively low among women at reproductive age in Greece but is higher enough among specific populations. The HBeAg（-）/anti-HBe（＋） serological status and the extremely low or even undetectable viral replicative status in the majority/of HBsAg（＋） women of our study population, suggestthat only a small proportion of HBsAg（＋） women in Greece exhibit a high risk for vertical transmission of the infection.
文摘The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide. Included in high risk group are people who have light common phenotypic factors (hair, skin, eyes), have high number of naevi, report previous sunburns and have a family history of skin cancer. Protecting the skin from the sun by wearing protective clothing, using sunscreen and avoiding sun exposure are recommended among primary preventive activities. The purpose of this study was to describe the current patterns of sun protection measures adopted by nurses and to examine the association between compliance with sun protection measures and the main risk factors of melanoma. This cross sectional study was conducted in 2007 during the Annual Greek National Conference of Nursing. Nurses most commonly chose to use sunscreen, to wear glasses, to use an umbrella or to seek for shade in order to protect themselves against sun exposure. Finally, phenotypic factors, previous sunburns and common naevi presence were found to affect nurses’ attitude towards protective measures. This study poses the necessity of targeting high risk groups for melanoma through campaigns aiming to foster sun protection behaviours.
