The SARS-CoV2 pandemic obligated most of the European countries to implement strict measures and lockdowns to minimize the spread of the virus. Universities closed and on-line classes started. Howe...

Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) is a rare and heterogenous disease for which surgery is the cornerstone of treatment. However, the local recurrence rate is much higher than in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities since wide resection is usually unfeasible in RPS due to its large size, indistinct tumour borders, anatomical constraints and the thinness of the overlying peritoneum. Local recurrence is the leading cause of death for low-grade RPS, whereas high-grade tumours are prone to distant metastases. In recent decades, the role of emerging therapeutic strategies, such as more extended surgery and (neo)adjuvant treatments to improve oncological outcome in primary localised RPS, has been extensively investigated. In this review, the recent data on the evolving multidisciplinary management of primary localised RPS are comprehensively discussed. The heterogeneity of RPS, with their different histological subtypes and biological behaviour, renders a standard therapeutic ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach inappropriate, and treatment should be modified according to histological type and malignancy grade. There is sufficient evidence that frontline extended surgery with compartmental resection including all ipsilateral retroperitoneal fat and liberal en bloc resection of adjacent organs and structures, even if they are not macroscopically involved, increases local tumour control in low-grade sarcoma and liposarcoma, but not in leiomyosarcoma for which complete macroscopic resection seems sufficient. Additionally, preoperative radiotherapy is not indicated for all RPSs, but seems to be beneficial in well-differentiated liposarcoma and grade I/II dedifferentiated liposarcoma, and probably in solitary fibrous tumour. Whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy is of benefit in high-grade RPS remains unclear from retrospective data and is subject of the ongoing randomised STRASS 2 trial, from which the results are eagerly awaited. Personalised, histology-tailored multimodality treatment is promising and will likely further evolve as our understanding of the molecular and genetic characteristics within RPS improves.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) require specialized therapeutic interventions. The decreased renal function that modulates the physiology and presence of comorbidities is often associated with variations in the pharmacological response, thus increasing the risk of adverse drug events or reactions (ADE/ADRs) from co-administered drugs. Methods: A cross-sectional study to record comorbidities, drug–drug interactions (DDIs), ADE/ADRs in patients with chronic kidney disease of stage five in Greece. The study enrolled 60 patients of mean age 64.8 ± 12.9 years, undergoing hemodialysis three times a week. Demographic and social factors, comorbidities, laboratory test data, medication regimens, DDIs and the reporting of ADE/ADRs were analyzed. Results: Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes were the main comorbidities. In total, 50 different DDIs of various clinical significance were identified. CNS, GI-track, and musculoskeletal-system-related ADE/ADRs were most often reported by patients. ADE/ADRs as clinical outcome from DDIs were associated in 64% of the total identified DDIs. There was a positive trend between number of medications, ADE/ADRs report and DDIs. Conclusions: The impact of ADE/ADRs in ESRD patients should be always considered. Guidelines as well as continuous training in the context of evidence-based clinical practice by healthcare personnel on therapy administration and prevention of adverse events are important.

Introduction: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and is widely known as the main causative agent for cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of young Greek adults concerning prevention of HPV infection and HPV immunization. Material and Methods: This constitutes a cross-sectional online survey. A convenience sample of young Greek adults (n = 883) residing in Greece, aged 17 to more than 35 years was surveyed from December 2020 to March 2021. Two validated questionnaires were used to collect data. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge about HPV infection and vaccination, with a mean knowledge score of 53.26 (SD ± 20.65) and 38.92 (SD ± 17.58), respectively. Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.77 and 0.80. Female participants were better informed than males. Approximately 52.3% of respondents had been vaccinated and 65.5% were willing to get vaccinated in the future. Vaccination rate was significantly associated with gender (OR = 11.99; 99% CI = 6.59–21.84), knowledge about the HPV vaccine (OR = 1.04; 99% CI = 1.03–1.04) and age (OR = 0.07; 99% CI = 0.03–0.15). Reasons for vaccine refusal were insufficient information (36.8%) and fear of side effects (19%). Correlates of positive vaccination intention were knowledge about HPV (OR = 1.02; 99% CI = 1.01–1.02). Conclusions: The findings suggest that the Greek government’s continuing HPV promotion efforts and education on the risks of HPV infection among young people are likely to increase vaccination acceptance among this group.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students have had a key role in supporting the healthcare sector. They can join healthcare professionals in clinical practice or provide information to increase citizens’ levels of knowledge and their compliance with the restriction measures. The study aimed to develop and validate a tool to measure knowledge of and attitudes toward COVID-19 among nursing students in Greece. Methods: A questionnaire was developed through theoretical research and expert consultation. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 348 undergraduate nursing students of the Department of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, recruited by convenient sampling. Validity and reliability were analyzed. Results: The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure was 0.84, indicating that the sample size was adequate for factor analysis. In addition, the p-value for Bartlett’s test of sphericity was <0.001, denoting that the correlation matrix was suitable for factor analysis. The construct validity of the questionnaire was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which revealed that 16 items lead to four factors: knowledge, attitude toward restriction measures, compliance with them, and volunteering. One of the key findings of this study was that participants preferred to receive information from valid sources rather than social media during the crucial period of the “infodemic”. Conclusions: The questionnaire was shown to have satisfying psychometric properties and, therefore, can be used as a tool in future research in the area of nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, compliance, and volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic.