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The Greenway Plan is a Network of green corridors, including open spaces and parks in Athens.Its objective is to bring together strategies for parks and urban landscapes, creating a novel andaltern...

Aim: The current study examined symptoms of irritation reported by non-smokers passively exposed to e-cigarette aerosols and their timing and association with the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced. Methods: 40 healthy non-smoking adults were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols for 30 min in a 35 m3 room. Second-hand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA) was produced by an experienced e-cigarette user using a standardized topography and two resistance settings (exposure 0.5 Ohm and 1.5 Ohm), in addition to a control session (no emissions). PM2.5 and PM1.0 were continuously measured over the duration of exposure, while Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) were recorded at 0, 15 and 30 min (t0, t15 and t30) of exposure. Each participant completed an irritation questionnaire at t0, t15, t30 of exposure and t60 (30 min post-exposure) on ocular, nasal, throat-respiratory symptoms of irritation and general complaints. Kruskal-Wallis H test for PM comparisons, repeated measures ANOVA for VOCs and Generalized Estimating Equations for symptoms of irritation and association with VOCs were used for statistical analysis. Results: 20 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD = 4.3) and exhaled CO < 7 ppm participated. PM concentrations in both experimental sessions were higher than the Control (p < 0.001). The most commonly reported symptoms were burning, dryness, sore throat, cough, breathlessness and headache. During both experimental sessions, ocular, nasal, throat-respiratory symptoms and general complaints increased significantly (p < 0.05). Ocular and nasal symptoms returned to baseline by t60 (p > 0.05) while throat-respiratory symptoms were still significantly higher at t60 (p = 0.044). VOCs were significantly associated with reported nasal and throat-respiratory symptoms in both experimental sessions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A 30-min exposure to SHA provoked symptoms of sensory irritation and general complaints that lasted up to 30 min after the exposure and were positively associated with the concentrations of the VOC mixture emitted. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Background: Population data on tobacco use and its determinants require continuous monitoring and careful inter-country comparison. We aimed to provide the most up-to-date estimates on tobacco smoking from a large cross-sectional survey, conducted in selected European countries. Methods: Within the TackSHS Project, a face-to-face survey on smoking was conducted in 2017–2018 in 12 countries: Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, representing around 80% of the 432 million European Union (EU) adult population. In each country, a representative sample of around 1,000 subjects aged 15 years and older was interviewed, for a total of 11,902 participants. Results: Overall, 25.9% of participants were current smokers (31.0% of men and 21.2% of women, P < 0.001), while 16.5% were former smokers. Smoking prevalence ranged from 18.9% in Italy to 37.0% in Bulgaria. It decreased with increasing age (compared to Conclusions: These smoking prevalence estimates represent the most up-to-date evidence in Europe. From them, it can be derived that there are more than 112 million current smokers in the EU-28. Lower socio-economic status is a major determinant of smoking habit in both sexes.

IntroductionExposure to secondhand aerosol from e-cigarette (SHA) may pose harmful effects to bystanders. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, duration and determinants of SHA exposure in various indoor settings in 12 European countries.MethodsIn 2017–2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study, the TackSHS survey, on a representative sample of the population aged ≥15 years in 12 European countries (Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain). We described the prevalence and duration of exposure to SHA in several indoor settings among 11 604 e-cigarette non-users. Individual-level and country-level characteristics associated with SHA exposure were also explored using multilevel logistic regression analyses.ResultsOverall, 16.0% of e-cigarette non-users were exposed to SHA in any indoor setting at least weekly, ranging from 4.3% in Spain to 29.6% in England. The median duration of SHA exposure among those who were exposed was 43 min/day. ‘Other indoor settings’ (eg, bar and restaurant) was reported as the place where most of e-cigarette non-users were exposed (8.3%), followed by workplace/educational venues (6.4%), home (5.8%), public transportation (3.5%) and private transportation (2.7%). SHA exposure was more likely to occur in certain groups of non-users: men, younger age groups, those with higher level of education, e-cigarette past users, current smokers, those perceiving SHA harmless and living in countries with a higher e-cigarette use prevalence.ConclusionsWe found inequalities of SHA exposure across and within European countries. Governments should consider extending their tobacco smoke-free legislation to e-cigarettes to protect bystanders, particularly vulnerable populations such as young people.Trial registration numberNCT02928536.

SUMMARYThe striatum is organized into two major outputs formed by striatal projection neuron (SPN) subtypes with distinct molecular identities. In addition, the histochemical division into patch and matrix compartments represents an additional spatial organization, proposed to mirror a functional specialization in a motor-motivation dimension. To map the molecular diversity of SPNs in the context of the patch and matrix division, we genetically labeled mu-opioid receptor (Oprm1) expressing striatal neurons and performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). This allowed us to establish new molecular definitions of the patch-matrix compartments, resulting in a molecular code for mapping patch SPNs at the cellular level. In addition, Oprm1 expression labeled exopatch SPNs, which we found to be molecularly distinct from both patch as well as neighboring matrix SPNs, thereby forming a separate molecular entity. At the cell-type level, we found an unexpected SPN diversity, leading to the identification of a new Col11a1+ striatonigral SPN type. At the tissue level, we found that mapping the spatial expression of a number of markers revealed new definitions of spatial domains in the striatum, which were conserved in the non-human primate brain. Interestingly, the spatial markers were cell-type independent and instead represented a spatial code that was found across all SPNs within a spatially restricted domain. This spatiomolecular map establishes a formal system for targeting and studying the striatal subregions and SPNs subtypes, beyond the classical striatonigral and striatopallidal division.

Introduction The current study examined characteristics and behaviours of employees who reported being smokers at a private college in Greece in 2018 and compare occasional and regular smokers for differences prior to the implementation of a smoke-free campus. Methods A sub-analysis of 50 smokers was conducted from a sample of 219 college employees. Smokers were categorized into two groups; occasional ( 20 cigarettes in last 30 days). Characteristics and behaviours in relation to smoking and tobacco control policies were presented as percentages. All comparisons were conducted using Fishers Exact test with significant p

Introduction Given that smoking is prohibited in all places of Healthcare and Education in Greece including uncovered areas, the aim of the current study was to report smoking prevalence, awareness of smoking health effects and attitudes towards the implementation of a smoke-free campus at a private college that provides secondary and tertiary education to students over 11 years old. Material and Methods A sample of 219 employees including faculty and staff of the college volunteered to complete an electronic survey in 2018, consisting of questions regarding attitudes and beliefs on the smoking ban law and health effects of active and passive smoking. Results Age distribution of the sample was 5% between ages 20-29, 23.3% between 30-39, 36.1% between 40-49, and 33.8% over 50 years old. Gender distribution was 33% males and 67% females. Smoking prevalence of college employees was 22.8%, in which 64% reported they would like to quit. Among non-smokers, 50.7% reported they had never smoked, while 26.5% reported being an ex-smoker. 98.6% of employees were aware that nicotine is addictive and that smoking causes lung cancer and/or other types of cancer, while 25.6% were aware that nicotine cravings last six seconds. 95.4% were aware of the harm from passive smoking and 93.6% reported they agree with the implementation of smoking bans in indoor public places. 59.8% reported they would contribute to the gradual implementation of a smoke-free campus. Conclusions Smoking prevalence among the college employees was lower than that of the Greek public reported in 2017. There was a high percentage of ex-smokers and high rate of cessation attempts among current smokers. All the employees were highly aware of health effects of smoking and were supportive towards the implementation of a smoke-free campus.

Introduction The current analysis aimed to identify individual factors associated with COPD and possible differences among those who reported COPD in two age groups. Methods A secondary, cross-sectional, nationally representative analysis using data from 2014 Hellenic Statistical Authority was conducted.(Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), 2014) The current study divided data from 8,223 respondents into two groups for analysis; those between ≥40 and ≤64 years old (group A; n= 3,365) and ≥65 years old (group B; n=2,681). Individual factors included smoking, activity status (daily physical activity and mobility limitation) and depression, in addition to socio-economic and demographic factors. Logistic regression was used to identify individual factors associated with COPD in study groups. A χ2 test was used to compare subgroups ACOPD and BCOPD. All results were weighted and presented as proportions with a p-value threshold set to

Menee a partir de plusieurs etudes de cas, cette analyse des differentes approches de l’espace dans les institutions museales, montre comment la forme architecturale et spatiale du musee a des consequences sur l’experience de visite des publics et sur la maniere dont les visiteurs percoivent les expositions.

Our aim was to provide a systematic review of studies on the burden of disease due to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure, reviewing methods, exposure assessment, diseases causally linked to SHS, health outcomes, and estimates available to date. A literature review of studies on the burden of disease from SHS exposure, available in PubMed and SCOPUS, published 2007–2018 in English language, was carried out following the PRISMA recommendations. Overall, 588 studies were first identified, and 94 were eligible. Seventy-two studies were included in the systematic review. Most of them were based on the comparative risk assessment approach, assessing SHS exposure using mainly surveys on exposure at home/workplaces. Diseases more frequently studied were: lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and breast cancer in adults; lower respiratory tract infection, otitis media, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome and low birth weight in children. The SHS exposure assessment and the reported population attributable fractions (PAF) were largely heterogeneous. As an example, the PAF from lung cancer varied between 0.6% and 20.5%. Moreover, PAF were estimated applying relative risks and SHS exposures with no consistent definitions or with different age classes. The research gap on the SHS exposure burden is shrinking. However, estimates are not yet available for a number of countries, particularly the Middle Eastern and African countries, and not all diseases with the strongest evidence of causation, such as sudden infant death syndrome, have been explored. Moreover, in some cases the applied methodology revealed relatively low quality of data. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

Οι διατάσεις είναι γνωστές στο χώρο του αθλητισμού και της άσκησης ως ένα μέρος της προθέρμανσης του αθλητή/ασκούμενου και αρκετές φορές και μέρος της αποθεραπείας. Τα τελευταία χρόνια η κοινότητα της προπονητικής και της αθλητικής έρευνας έχει διχαστεί με την χρήση της διάτασης και τη διάρκεια αυτής. Ορισμένοι υποστηρίζουν πως προσφέρει μεγάλα οφέλη κατά τη διάρκεια της προθέρμανσης, ενώ άλλοι αναφέρουν πως οι διατάσεις λειτουργούν αρνητικά στην απόδοση των αθλητών, σε αθλήματα όπου η δύναμη παίζει πρωταρχικό ρόλο. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν να διαπιστωθεί εάν οι στατικές διατάσεις διαφορετικής διάρκειας επηρεάζουν την απόδοση στο κατακόρυφο άλμα. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 8 νεαροί αθλητές ηλικίας μεταξύ 14-16. Οι συμμετέχοντες προχώρησαν σε εκτέλεση κατακόρυφων αλμάτων με το ένα πόδι, ύστερα από διάταση του γαστροκνήμιου και τετρακέφαλου μυός για 15 s και 30 s σε δύο διαφορετικές ημέρες. Παράλληλα, έγιναν άλματα με το πόδι που δεν έκανε διατάσεις (πόδι ελέγχου) ώστε να διαπιστωθεί η επίδραση της διάτασης διαφορετικής διάρκειας στην αλτική ικανότητα. Η διαδικασία έγινε σε δύο διαφορετικές ημέρες οι οποίες απείχαν 1 εβδομάδα, σε τυχαία και αντισταθμισμένη σειρά ως προς τη διάρκεια της διάτασης (15 ή 30 s). Όλα τα άλματα μαγνητοσκοπήθηκαν, προκειμένου να μετρηθεί το ύψος άλματος. Μετά από την ολοκλήρωση της διαδικασίας αυτής, τα βίντεο των δειγμάτων αναλύθηκαν και συγκρίθηκαν τα άλματα που έγιναν με το πόδι ελέγχου και το πόδι που εκτελούσε τη διάταση των 15 ή 30 s. Βρέθηκε ότι οι στατικές διατάσεις δεν μειώνουν την απόδοση στο κατακόρυφο άλμα όταν διαρκούν 15 ή 30 s. Επίσης, τα επαναλαμβανόμενα άλματα κάθε δύο λεπτά με το ένα πόδι προκαλούν αύξηση της επίδοσης στα πρώτα 2-4 λεπτά. Συμπεραίνεται ότι ο συνδυασμός στατικών διατάσεων με επαναλαμβανόμενα άλματα μετά τη διάταση μπορεί άφοβα να χρησιμοποιηθεί ως μέρος της προθέρμανσης για αλματικά αγωνίσματα. Stretching is known in the field of sports and exercise as a part of the warm-up of the athlete / trainee and several times part of the recovery. In recent years, the community of training and athletic research has been divided by the use of stretching and duration. Some argue that it offers great benefits during warm-up, while others say that stretching works negatively on athletes' performance in sports where power plays a leading role.The purpose of this study was to find out whether static stretching of varying duration affects performance in the vertical jump. 8 young athletes aged between 14-16 participated in the study. The participants proceeded to perform vertical jumps with one leg, after stretching the gastricum and quadriceps muscle for 15 s and 30 s on two different days.At the same time, jumps with a non-stretched leg (control leg) were made to determine the effect of stretching different duration on the capability. The procedure was performed on two different days which lasted 1 week, in random and offset order of duration of stretch (15 or 30 s). All jumps were recorded to measure the height of the jump. After the completion of this process, the videos of the samples were analyzed and the jumps made with the control leg and the leg that performed the 15 or 30 s stretch were compared.

Olive oil possesses a predominant role in the diet of countries around the Mediterranean basin, whereas it is a known constituent of several sectors of human culture. The polyphenolic composition of olive oil seems to be a key factor in its beneficial biological properties. Based on the above, the aim of this study was to correlate the polyphenolic composition of five extracts derived from a Greek olive oil variety with their antioxidant potency and antimutagenic activities in vitro with chemical-based techniques and cell culture-based assays. According to the results obtained, the polyphenol samples with higher concentration of hydroxytyrosol (HT) were more potent in antioxidant and antimutagenic activity in vitro, as indicated by their ability to scavenge ABTS+ radical and to protect the strand of plasmid DNA from free radical-induced breaking compared to the corresponding samples with higher levels of tyrosol (T) and its derivatives. However, this observation was not evident in the cell culture model (i.e., the HeLa cervical cancer cell line) to which the tested extracts were administered. Specifically, the T-rich extracts more effectively increased endogenous GSH levels measured by flow cytometry than did the HT-rich compounds. Also, olive oil compounds contributed variously to the expression of genes implicated in the cell antioxidant machinery, as indicated by quantitative PCR. Therefore, the relationship between structure and function in redox regulation is complex and merits the combination of tests. Given that factors like the production and storage regimen of the plants are major determinants of the composition of the generated extracts, we propose that specific conditions should be adopted in order to achieve their maximum biological activity. These results followed by others in the same direction could provide a solid basis for the production of functional foods enriched in olive oil extracts with potential antioxidant action in vivo. Copyright © 2019 Paraskevi Kouka et al.

Our aim was to provide a systematic review of studies on the burden of disease due to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure, reviewing methods, exposure assessment, diseases causally linked to SHS, health outcomes, and estimates available to date. A literature review of studies on the burden of disease from SHS exposure, available in PubMed and SCOPUS, published 2007-2018 in English language, was carried out following the PRISMA recommendations. Overall, 588 studies were first identified, and 94 were eligible. Seventy-two studies were included in the systematic review. Most of them were based on the comparative risk assessment approach, assessing SHS exposure using mainly surveys on exposure at home/workplaces. Diseases more frequently studied were: lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and breast cancer in adults; lower respiratory tract infection, otitis media, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome and low birth weight in children. The SHS exposure assessment and the reported population attributable fractions (PAF) were largely heterogeneous. As an example, the PAF from lung cancer varied between 0.6% and 20.5%. Moreover, PAF were estimated applying relative risks and SHS exposures with no consistent definitions or with different age classes. The research gap on the SHS exposure burden is shrinking. However, estimates are not yet available for a number of countries, particularly the Middle Eastern and African countries, and not all diseases with the strongest evidence of causation, such as sudden infant death syndrome, have been explored. Moreover, in some cases the applied methodology revealed relatively low quality of data.

The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) is a complex binding European Union (EU) legislative document. The aim of the TPD is to preserve a high level of European public health and support the functioning of the internal market of tobacco products in the EU. The European Commission concluded that the European Union Member states need additional assistance in this daunting task. Over the 3 years period (2017-2020) the TPD will come into full swing and the wealth of information that will be available to regulators will be unprecedented. The Joint Action for Tobacco Control (JATC) presents action oriented, evidence-based initiative that should provide support the implementation of the TPD. This collaboration between 30 partners from 23 European countries is funded through the European Commission’s 3rd Health program. The aim of the JATC is to harmonize the regulation of tobacco products in all EU Member States, through the analysis of data submitted by the tobacco industry to EU regulators and development of actions needed to take place in tobacco product licensing and regulation. Objective of the symposium is to provide information on the TPD and JATC and to foster communication and collaboration between relevant stakeholders. The symposium target audiences are EU Regulators and Policymakers, International and National Tobacco Control Stakeholders and researchers who will benefit from the findings and the project’s broader policy implications – as the largest current European Public Health Policy in implementation. The nine work packages of the JATC are Coordination, Dissemination, Evaluation, Integration into National Policies and Sustainability, EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG) data, Extraction and Handling, Tobacco Product Evaluation, E-cigarette Product Evaluation, Laboratory Verification, Collaboration and Analyses and Additives Subject to Enhanced Reporting Obligations. Under the TPD (2014/40/EU), manufacturers and importers of tobacco products, have to submit key information to the authorities in the Member States in which they plan to market the products. This submission of information is performed through the EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG). While the EU-CEG IT-system is owned by the European Commission, each EU MS own their data in the EU-CEG. TPD states that EU MS should share data with other EU MS and with the Commission. Furthermore, this data is, to the extent possible, to be released to the public. Actions within this package bring significant added value as it addresses the issue of tobacco product monitoring at an EU wide level – an activity that would be impossible to be done by one, or a few, EU MS by themselves. One of the specific aims of the JATC is dissemination of information and project’s results to the public, regulators and researchers. Dissemination of information relevant to Tobacco Products Directive and tobacco control in general is essential for maximizing the impact of the JATC. Finding the most appropriate way of dissemination with protection of sensitive data is of great importance. However, despite the numerous available communication tools, dissemination of information is challenging. Funding JATC has received funding from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020).

Introduction Introduced in Greece in 2009, the smoking ban law was never fully implemented in indoor public spaces. This study aimed to explore exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in Greece and, to investigate the public opinion regarding the non-implementation of the smoking ban law. Methods A cross sectional survey on exposure to SHS and attitudes of the Greek public towards the non-implementation of the smoking ban law, was conducted in June 2017 by the Institute of Public Health-American College of Greece. A nationally representative sample of 2,054 adults from 13 regions in Greece, were interviewed through using computer-aided phone interview (CAPI). Results The majority of Greek citizens (88.1%) responded that they consider the national aim for smoking reduction as important or very important. Almost all Greek people (96.6%) reported that they were exposed to SHS in the past year. 74.2% reported being upset whenever they visited an indoor public space where the smoking ban law was violated. 76.1% of the Greek public reported being upset that Greece is the only European Union Member State that has not comprehensively enforced the smoking ban law. 93% of Greek people did not believe that the State has done everything in its power to enforce the smoking ban law in hospitality venues. Furthermore, 83.8% of Greek citizens consider the smoking ban violation as a sign of cultural decline in Greece. Conclusions In addition to the supportive legal premise for implementation of the smoking ban law, the current study on the attitudes of the Greek public showed that the necessary supportive cultural context also exists for the Greek State to successfully enforce the smoking ban law in all public spaces. Funding This work is supported by a George D. Behrakis Foundation Grant.

Introduction The current study aimed to examine the effect of passive exposure to e-cigarette emissions on respiratory mechanics and exhaled inflammatory biomarkers. The study was part of the European project, “Tackling second hand tobacco smoke and e-cigarette emissions: exposure assessment, novel interventions, impact on lung diseases and economic burden in diverse European populations” (TackSHS Project, Work Package 6, ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03102684). Methods 40 non-smokers, 18-35 years old, BMI

Introduction The current study aimed to investigate the smoking prevalence in Greece using two nationally representative sets of data conducted before and after the implementation of tobacco prevention programs through school-based interventions in Greece since 2009 Material and Methods 4 cross-sectional surveys were used to summarize the prevalence of smoking in Greece using the “Kaparesearch” Surveys and Statistics Company surveys of 2012 (S12) and 2017 (S17) and two surveys from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (HSA) conducted in 2009 (S09) and 2014 (S14). For surveys S12 and S17, 1,066 individuals in 2012 and 2,054 in 2017 >17 years of age, were interviewed by telephone using an electronic questionnaire. Surveys S09 and S14 included a sample of 6,172 and 8,223 individuals, respectively, via in-person interviews. Annual data on legally taxed cigarettes in Greece from 2007 to 2016 were also obtained from the Hellenic Ministry of Economy and Development. Results Smoking prevalence in Greece was 37.9% in S09, 36.7% in S12, 32.5% in S14 and 27.1% in S17. A total of 28.5% reduction of smoking was observed from 2009 to 2017, while those aged 16-24 years exhibited a 33% reduction from 2009 to 2014. The total number of legally taxed cigarettes in Greece showed a parallel trend, with 35.1 billion in 2007 and 17.9 billion in 2016 showing an overall 49% total reduction Conclusions Smoking prevalence in Greece has been steadily declining from 2009 to 2017 and supported by a parallel trend in billions of cigarettes taxed over time. This reduction was especially apparent among youth, which indicates the possible role of implemented school-based intervention programs. Funding This work is supported by a George D. Behrakis Foundation Grant.

Ponència presentada a la sessió 11 In the contemporary world both museum and city have acquired an increased significance, among other factors, through the competition of cities through culture, and the creation of open environments in response to social change, accelerated mobility and plural identities. This has led to a wide range of possibilities that link the museum and the city, from the museum building as a landmark for the city to the inclusive and participatory practices of contemporary museums. The links are expressed both in theory and in practice. Against this background, the paper proposes to focus on two key issues relating the spatial morphology of the museum to the city: first, how the museum uses urban ideas in its spatial design; and second, how it addresses urban communities through the way it organizes encounters between, on the one hand, objects and information and, on the other, visitors, in its architectural space. A key idea that guides the paper is that the physical encounter with the museum is fundamentally influenced by the relations between spaces and how they organize visitors’ exploration, viewing, and co-­‐awareness and co-­‐presence with others. To analyse the paper’s case studies spatially, we use theoretical and analytical tools offered by space syntax, that allow us to bring to the surface the role of architectural and spatial design in the interaction between museum and city. In the first part of the paper, we will show that, through the idea of axiality and connectivity, the space of the museum is integrated to varying degrees into the contextual street-­‐system and its social spaces can be activated by dense links to the surrounding urban context; while through the concept of informality, generated by the combination of the street-­‐network museum layout and the variety of uses and activities in the museum interior, visitors’ random patterns of exploration can be linked to the way people move in, and occupy, streets, public spaces and parks. The second part of the paper will argue that this circulation flexibility is also related to the principle of inclusiveness in contemporary museums which abandon rigid classificatory schemes to privilege situated meanings, shared experiences, personal perceptions and experiential dissonance. The final part of the paper brings together the findings, constructing a taxonomy of spatial ideas and urban objectives, and proposes an interpretation of the phenomenon of the museum as an urban space in the contemporary city through the concept of urban sociability.

INTRODUCTION The present work examined the effect of passive exposure to electronic-cigarette (e-cigarette) emissions on respiratory mechanics and exhaled inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS A cross-over experimental study was conducted with 40 healthy nonsmokers, 18-35 years old with normal physical examination and spirometry, with body mass index < 30 kg/m(2), who were exposed to e-cigarette emissions produced by a smoker, according to a standardized protocol based on two resistance settings, 0.5 ohm and 1.5 ohm, for e-cigarette use. All participants underwent a 30-minute control (no emissions) and two experimental sessions (0.5 and 1.5 ohm exposure) in a 35 m(3) room. The following Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) parameters were measured at pre and post sessions: impedance, resistance, reactance, resonant frequency (fres), frequency dependence of resistance (fdr=R5-R20), reactance area (AX), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Differences between pre and post measurements were compared using t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons between experimental sessions (registered under ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03102684). RESULTS IOS and FeNO parameters showed no significant changes during the control session. For IOS during the 1.5 ohm exposure session, fres increased significantly from 11.38 Hz at baseline to 12.16 Hz post exposure (p=0.047). FeNO decreased significantly from 24.16 ppb at baseline to 22.35 ppb post exposure in the 0.5 ohm session (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS A 30-minute passive exposure to e-cigarette emissions revealed immediate alterations in respiratory mechanics and exhaled biomarkers, expressed as increased fres and reduced FeNO.

Die zeitgenössische griechische Bildhauerei als Kritikmittel der sozialpolitischen Ereignisse der letzten Jahre in Griechenland ist ein vielschichtiges Thema mit unterschiedlichen Gesichtspunkten, die im Versuch des Aufbaus einer kulturellen Identität zutage treten. Die „letzten Jahre“ beziehen sich hier auf den Zeitraum zwischen 1974 und 2014. Da die neuere Geschichte Griechenlands – die Metapolitefsi ist ein zentraler Teil davon – weitaus komplexer ist als landläufig angenommen wird, wäre es unzulässig, sie auf die dramatische Erfahrung der gegenwärtigen Krise zu beschränken. Ziel dieser Forschung ist es zunächst, in einer ausführlichen, informativen Zusammenfassung der Geschichte, Politik und Soziologie Griechenlands nachzuspüren, jenen Bereichen also, die als Haupteinflüsse auf die zeitgenössischen Bildhauer gelten. Alle Künstler, die in dieser Studie genannt werden, haben sowohl in Griechenland als auch im Ausland gelebt und gearbeitet und wurden im Zeitraum von 1968 bis 1982 geboren. So ist es möglich, von einem gleichartigen Erfahrungsraum dieser Künstler auszugehen, die ähnliche sozialpolitische Ereignisse durchlebt haben und von vergleichbaren Einflüssen geprägt worden sind. Kunst, insbesondere die Bildhauerei, wird als essentieller Bestandteil unserer Wahrnehmung und der Konstruktion einer sozialen Kritik begriffen., Contemporary Greek sculpture as a criticism of the socio-political events of the recent years in Greece is a multi-layered subject with various aspects that arise in the attempt to build a cultural identity. „Recent years” here refer to the period between 1974 and 2014. Since the recent history of Greece - Metapolitefsi is a central part of it - is far more complex than is commonly assumed, it would be inadequate to limit it to the dramatic experience of the current crisis. The aim of this research is, first, to trace the history, politics and sociology of Greece in a detailed, informative summary, i.e. those areas that are considered to be major influences on contemporary sculptors. All the artists named in this research have lived and worked both in Greece and abroad and were born in the period between 1968 and 1982. Thus, it is possible to assume a similar range of experiences of these artists who have lived through similar socio-political events and have consequently been affected by comparable influences. Art and especially sculpture is understood as an essential part of contemporary perception and construction of a social critique.

Background and objective: This study investigated the duration of immediate respiratory effects of e-cigarette smoking (ECS) and tested the hypothesis that ECS has more prominent effects in asthmatics compared with healthy smokers (HS). Methods: Fifty-four smokers, 27 healthy (HS group) and 27 with intermittent asthma (mild asthma (MA) group) underwent a control session (no liquid, no resistor coil inside e-cigarette cartridge) and an experimental session of ECS using standardized puffing settings. Impulse oscillometry impedance (Z), resistance (R), reactance (X) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured before and 0, 15 and 30 min after control and experimental sessions. Results: Control session revealed no significant changes. In the experimental session, immediately post-ECS, both groups exhibited a significant increase in respiratory system total impedance at 5 Hz (Z5) (P < 0.001), respiratory system resistance at 5 Hz (R5) (P < 0.001), respiratory system resistance at 10 Hz (R10) (P < 0.001), respiratory system resistance at 20 Hz (R20) (P < 0.05), resonant frequency (P < 0.001) and reactance area (P < 0.05). MA exhibited higher baseline values and a more prominent effect immediately after ECS compared with HS for Z5 (P = 0.022), R5 (P = 0.010) and R10 (P = 0.013). FeNO decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.001); HS returned to baseline values in ≤15 min while the MA maintained significantly lower values for an additional 15 min (P < 0.05) and returned to baseline values at 30 min post-ECS. Conclusion: A single session of ECS had respiratory mechanical and inflammatory effects, which were more prominent in smokers with asthma. © 2017 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology

BACKGROUND: A follow‐up thoracentesis is proposed in suspected atypical tuberculosis cases. The study aimed to define the variability of pleural ADA values across repeated thoracenteses in different types of pleural effusions (PEs) and to evaluate whether ADA variance, in regard to the cutoff value of 40 U/L, affected final diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 131 patients with PEs of various etiologies underwent three repeated thoracenteses. ADA values were subsequently estimated. RESULTS: 82% and 55% of patients had greater than 10% and 20% deviation from the highest ADA value, respectively. From those patients who had a variance of 20%, 36% had only increasing ADA values, while 19% had only decreasing values. Considering the cutoff value of 40 U/L, only in two cases, ADA decreased below this threshold, which concerned a man with tuberculous pleurisy and a woman with lymphoma both in the course of treatment. Furthermore, only in two cases with rising values, ADA finally exceeded the cutoff limit, which concerned a man with rheumatoid pleurisy and a man with tuberculous pleurisy. Surprisingly, malignant PEs (MPEs) showed a higher percentage of increasing values compared to all other exudates that did not, however, exceed the threshold. CONCLUSION: The determination of pleural ADA levels is a reproducible method for rapid tuberculosis diagnosis. The detected measurement deviations do not appear to affect final diagnosis. In specific situations, repeated ADA measurements may be valuable in directing further diagnostic evaluation. More investigation is needed to elucidate the possible prognostic significance of the increasing trend in ADA values in MPEs.

Introduction Smoking rates among the general population and among youth are decreasing in Greece. Low compliance with smoke-free legislation in indoor places in Greece renders non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke, especially when frequenting bars. The aim of the current study was to identify the factors related to support for smoking bans in bars in Greece. Methods A cross-sectional secondary data analysis was conducted on the 2013 Greek Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Multivariate regression was used to analyze individual factors and their relation to support for the smoking ban in bars. The total sample was nationally representative of the Greek population and included 3961 residents over the age of 15 with 2061 supporting a ban in bars. Results Overall, 50.5% (95% CI: 46.5-54.4) of Greeks supported the smoking ban in bars. Among them, 1,832 (74.9%, 95% CI=70.1-79.1) were non-smokers and 229 (13.7%, 95% CI=10.6-17.5) were smokers. Age over 65 years was significantly related to increased support for the smoking ban in bars compared to those aged 15-24 years (p

This study investigated the duration of immediate respiratory effects of e-cigarette smoking (ECS) and tested the hypothesis that ECS has more prominent effects in asthmatics compared with healthy smokers (HS).Fifty-four smokers, 27 healthy (HS group) and 27 with intermittent asthma (mild asthma (MA) group) underwent a control session (no liquid, no resistor coil inside e-cigarette cartridge) and an experimental session of ECS using standardized puffing settings. Impulse oscillometry impedance (Z), resistance (R), reactance (X) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured before and 0, 15 and 30 min after control and experimental sessions.Control session revealed no significant changes. In the experimental session, immediately post-ECS, both groups exhibited a significant increase in respiratory system total impedance at 5 Hz (Z5) (P 0.001), respiratory system resistance at 5 Hz (R5) (P 0.001), respiratory system resistance at 10 Hz (R10) (P 0.001), respiratory system resistance at 20 Hz (R20) (P 0.05), resonant frequency (P 0.001) and reactance area (P 0.05). MA exhibited higher baseline values and a more prominent effect immediately after ECS compared with HS for Z5 (P = 0.022), R5 (P = 0.010) and R10 (P = 0.013). FeNO decreased significantly in both groups (P 0.001); HS returned to baseline values in ≤15 min while the MA maintained significantly lower values for an additional 15 min (P 0.05) and returned to baseline values at 30 min post-ECS.A single session of ECS had respiratory mechanical and inflammatory effects, which were more prominent in smokers with asthma.

Introduction Proper enforcement of the tobacco control law in schools prevents students from smoking. Our study aimed to investigate compliance with tobacco control legislation in Greek schools and teachers’ attitudes towards smoking prevention and tobacco control policies. Material and Methods Twenty-six schools of Athens and Thessaloniki were selected during 2014-2015 school year. An online registration system was created and an electronic questionnaire was used to collect data. A total of 1.032 teachers were enrolled in the study. Results A large proportion of teachers (63.8%) reported that smoking is permitted on school premises. Of those teachers who smoke, 19.0% reported smoking on school premises. No disciplinary measures were reported for teachers who smoke on school premises, except for 1.6% who recalled receiving a reprimand from their principal. Over half of the respondents (52.4%) reported that their students smoke on school premises. Almost all teachers (98.4%) stated they would take measures to prevent students from smoking and 17.9% believe that they serve as health models for their students. The majority of teachers (92.1%) reported that they support smoking bans in public places, as well as their enforcement in outdoor public spaces (82.5%). Conclusions Tobacco control law in the school grounds is violated, both from teachers and students. Smoke-free school environment in Greece remains a challenge. Enforcement of tobacco control law must be placed at the top of the health policies agenda for Greece. Funding This survey was supported by an ESPA grant (MIS372829) and the George Behrakis Foundation

Introduction Teachers play a key role in students’ attitudes and behavior towards smoking. We aimed to investigate characteristics and attitudes towards tobacco smoking among Greek teachers. Material and Methods The sampling frame consisted of schools in the two biggest cities of Greece. Teachers were invited to register online and complete an electronic questionnaire. Altogether, 1.032 participants enrolled in the study. Results Current smoking was reported by 25.6% of the respondents. 13.6% reported smoking during the first 60 minutes after awakening, 2.7% reported difficulty refraining from smoking in places were it is forbidden and 5.6% reported smoking even if sick and in bed most of the day. A total of 22.6% reported successful smoking cessation and 15.5% reported unsuccessful quit attempts. Of those who reported smoking, 20.6% expressed health concerns, 18.1% reported intention to quit and 9.5% stated they would consult a physician or a smoking cessation clinic. The majority (98.4%) classified nicotine as an addictive substance, yet a smaller proportion of the respondents (66.2%) compared the addictive effect of nicotine to that of heroin and cocaine. Almost all teachers (98.5%) agreed with the development of smoking prevention activities among students. Conclusions Greek teachers display a lower smoking rate as compared to the general adult Greek population, a similar smoking rate to the general adult European population and a considerable percentage of smoking cessation rate. Public health efforts should focus on bridging teachers’ intention to quit with efficient cessation support and on pairing smoking prevention programs with their intention to participate. Funding This survey was supported by an ESP grant (MIS372829) and the George Behrakis Foundation

Introduction Compliance of bars in Greece to the smoke-free legislation is non-existent, leaving nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke when visiting bars. The aim of the current study was to determine individual factors associated with support for smoking bans in bars among adult smokers and non-smokers in Greece to assist policymakers in efforts to improve compliance of the bans. Material and Methods A secondary analysis of the 2013 Greek Global Adult Tobacco Survey was conducted using multiple logistic regression to analyze individual factors associated with support of smoking ban in bars. Results Smokers were less likely to support the ban than non-smokers. Individual factors associated with support for smoking bans in bars among smokers and non-smokers in Greece included older age, beliefs of secondhand smoke and knowledge of diseases caused by smoking. Those aged over 65 years and older were more likely to support the ban than those aged 15-24 years (p

Taking as its starting point the idea that the organisation of movement is a concept inherent in museum design, this paper aims to study the relation between observable patterns of visitor movement and museum intent, as expressed in the architectural layout of spaces and the curatorial arrangement of objects. Against the background of overviews of historical concepts and approaches to movement, five case studies of museums with different intent are presented. It is shown that the ways these museums structure movement paths are critical to how exhibits are perceived by visitors through spatial and visual relations and affect the experience of the museum as a public space by shaping visitors' physical copresence and visual coawareness. These differences relate closely to current debates on museum and exhibition design, while their deeper understanding can provide architects and curators with a more informed basis on which to assess the likely consequences of design decisions.

The increase in interest in urban cultivation of edible eco-products has been the principle of the creation of movements and various groups of initiatives with a focus on agriculture, public health and information. Their aim is to return to nature, address the nutritional economy, organic nutrition, social relationships, and acquire specialist knowledge. The claim for the creation of urban agriculture areas such as public gardens and more specifically in inactive camps is based on ecologically sustainable and socially equitable development, the use of available natural resources in a sustainable manner and the rehabilitation of the bioclimatic intervention site. As a case study was selected, the inactive camp (area of 689.000 m2), where the self-managed venture of the group “Peri-urban Cultivators” was developed. The aim is, to acquire a triple role in the area: green vegetable garden, recreation area and leisure park, without disturbing the historicity. The proposal is based on the principle of simplicity, using native flora, recyclable and eco-friendly materials and the existing infrastructure. Particular gravity was given to preserve the existing balance of space, with the functions, which have developed over time. The elements of originality of the present work are identified by the use of more methodological tools such as: recording and analysis of existing state of the site, processing of questionnaires distributed to the self-managing group of growers and lastly, the processing of results from the open consultation of the municipality with the society the future sustainable development of the site. Questions were used with elements of landscape architecture design focusing on: approaching the view of the general ecological park design and expanding and shaping the vegetable gardens with social and sustainable criteria. The results of the survey were elaborated using the statistical program S.P.S.S. highlighting the bases for a balanced proposal to redevelop an inactive camp. The research has highlighted the mistakes of the past in many areas and has mobilized the world with the aim of surviving or improving its life, in terms of quality and not just quantity. It also highlighted the sensitivity of the world to the environment and its preference for the use of eco-products.