The genomic history of the Aegean palatial civilizations.

The Cycladic, the Minoan, and the Helladic (Mycenaean) cultures define the Bronze Age (BA) of Greece. Urbanism, complex social structures, craft and agricultural specialization, and the earliest forms of writing characterize this iconic period. We sequenced six Early to Middle BA whole genomes, along with 11 mitochondrial genomes, sampled from the three BA cultures of the Aegean Sea. The Early BA (EBA) genomes are homogeneous and derive most of their ancestry from Neolithic Aegeans, contrary to earlier hypotheses that the Neolithic-EBA cultural transition was due to massive population turnover. EBA Aegeans were shaped by relatively small-scale migration from East of the Aegean, as evidenced by the Caucasus-related ancestry also detected in Anatolians. In contrast, Middle BA (MBA) individuals of northern Greece differ from EBA populations in showing ∼50% Pontic-Caspian Steppe-related ancestry, dated at ca. 2,600-2,000 BCE. Such gene flow events during the MBA contributed toward shaping present-day Greek genomes.

Multidrug-resistant organism bloodstream infection and hospital acquisition among inpatients in three tertiary Greek hospitals during the COVID-19 era.

From 2019 (pre-COVID-19) to 2022 (COVID-19 years), three tertiary Greek hospitals monitored MDRO bloodstream infection (BSI) and hospital acquisition relying on laboratory data. Surveillance covered carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs. Non-ICUs experienced significant increases in CRE, CRAB and VRE during the pandemic. In ICUs, CRE increased in 2021, CRAB in 2020 and 2021, and VRE in 2021 and 2022. KPC predominated among CRE. MDRO BSI and hospital acquisition incidence rates increased, driven by CRE and CRAB.

Candida auris: Outbreak, surveillance and epidemiological monitoring in Northern Greece.

Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen associated with multi-drug resistance rates and widespread outbreaks in hospitals and healthcare units worldwide. Sequencing studies have revealed that different clonal lineages of the fungus seem to be prevalent among distinct geographical sites. The first case of C. auris in Northern Greece was reported in Thessaloniki in October 2022, almost 2 years after the first isolation in Greece (Athens 2019). The Mycology Laboratory of the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki stands as the reference laboratory for fungal diseases in Northern Greece and a meticulous search for the yeast, in plenty of suspicious samples, has been run since 2019 in the Lab as well as a retrospective analysis of all its yeasts' collection, back to 2008, with negative results for the presence of C. auris. Here, are presented the findings concerning the outbreak and surveillance of C. auris in Northern Greece, mainly the region of Thessaloniki and the broader area of Macedonia, from October 2022 until August 2023. The isolates from Northern Greece continue to fall in Clade I and present with an almost equal and stable sensitivity profile until now.

The study concerns the outbreak of Candida auris in Northern Greece since October 2022 and the effort for surveillance and epidemiological monitoring. All isolates continue to fall in Clade I and present with an almost equal and stable sensitivity profile till now.

Genetic prospective of a local invader: the strange pattern of Pontastacus leptodactylus population structure in Greece and Turkey based on microsatellite DNA.

BACKGROUND: The combination of the increasing demand of freshwater crayfish exports, the reduced population sizes due to overfishing, the crayfish plague epidemics and the habitat degradation, have led to unrecorded translocations of Pontastacus leptodactylus in Greek lakes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study, the genetics of five narrow clawed crayfish (P. leptodactylus) populations were studied, namely three translocated populations inhabiting in Northern Greece, one native Greek population from Evros river and one potential progeny source population from Turkey. Nine microsatellite loci previously designed for the specific species were investigated, in order to assess the levels of genetic diversity and further to confirm the origin of these translocated populations some decades after the translocation events. Our results confirmed that the source population for the translocated Greek population is the Turkish lake Egirdir. Further, despite the low values of the number of alleles, heterozygosity, and FST the populations were generally diverse, providing evidence for local adaptation. CONCLUSIONS: The low values of FIS for the translocated populations in combination with the high values of gene flow, possibly indicate the existence of re-introducing events. Apart from the translocated populations, high levels of genetic diversity and heterozygosity were observed in Evros population, suggesting it as a possible unit for future conservation purposes both as a donor population for reintroduction purposes as well as a unique gene pool protection source. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study dealing with the genetic composition of Greek P. leptodactylus populations from Nothern Greece, operating as a first step towards the development of proper management practices for restocking events and monitoring of translocated populations.

Seasonal patterns of communicable disease incidence and antibiotic prescribing in Moria refugee camp, Greece.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases remain a major risk for refugees living in camps. Limited research has been undertaken into the burden and impact of infections in the current refugee crisis around the Mediterranean.This analysis examines the frequency and incidence rates of common infections, and use of antibiotics at a healthcare facility inside Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesvos, Greece, during the winter and summer seasons of 2019. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of routinely, prospectively collected service data from the main acute healthcare facility inside Moria camp. RESULTS: Of a total of 9601 consultations, 25.16% were for infections (winter: 31.53%, summer: 19.45%). Respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal infections were the most frequent, with incidence rates up to 3.5 times, 50 times and twice as high as those in Western Europe, respectively. Antibiotic prescribing was high (27.7% of all respiratory infections) with high use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (40.2%), raising concerns about induction of antimicrobial resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of infectious diseases in refugee camps remains high throughout all seasons. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes should be adapted to refugee camp settings to prevent the development of unnecessary antimicrobial resistance. Improving living conditions and access to healthcare in refugee camps is likely to reduce infection rates and antimicrobial resistance among refugees.

Asbestos ban policies and mesothelioma mortality in Greece.

BACKGROUND: Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that mostly affects the pleura and has a strong link to asbestos exposure. Greece banned the use of asbestos in 2005, however, the public was already aware of this substance in the 1980s. This research aims to present an overview of Greece's mesothelioma age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) from 1983 to 2019 by age, gender, and geographic region and to determine whether the actions to ban asbestos impacted these rates. METHODS: Data were retrieved by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (HSA) from death certificates that mentioned mesothelioma as the cause of death from 1983 to 2019 with details on the residence, gender, and age. Statistical analysis was performed using PRISM 6.0 software, a two-way ANOVA test, Trend analysis was conducted using Joinpoint Regression Program 5.0 software. The linear and non-linear model was used to calculate the age-standardized rates of annual percentage change (APC) and its 95% confidential interval (95% CI). RESULTS: From 1983 to 2019, 850 total mesothelioma deaths were recorded, the majority of whom were males (634). A rate of 74.6% accounts for males and 25.4% for females, and the ratio of Males: Females was 3:1. Males' ASMR and the whole population's ASMR reached their highest levels in 2011 (0.93/100000person-years and 0.53/100000person-years, respectively). To look for potential changes between the first two decades of the 21st century, we compared the mean ASMR of each geographic region in Greece between two different 10-year subperiods (2000-2009 and 2010-2019). Except for Epirus, all regions of Greece had elevated regional ASMRs, particularly in those with the highest asbestos deposits. Notably, the ASMR in Epirus decreased from 0.54/100000person-years (2000-2009) to 0.31/100000person-years (2010-2019). After 2011, the ASMR for men and the general population stabilized. This stability is important since mesothelioma in men is associated with occupational asbestos exposure. The intriguing discovery of a lower ASMR in Epirus emphasizes the need to raise awareness of the condition and implement effective public health measures. CONCLUSIONS: In Greece, the annual ASMR for males and the whole population reached its highest level in 2011, which is positive and encouraging and may be a sign that the rate will stabilize during the following years. Moreover, this study showed that the actions made in the 1980s regarding public awareness and surveillance directly impacted the decrease in Epirus rates. Future research, continual awareness, information, and recording are needed to monitor the mesothelioma epidemic. The possible benefit of a mesothelioma registry and the epidemiological surveillance of asbestos-related diseases, particularly mesothelioma mortality, need to be addressed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

The genitourinary system in ancient Greece: a historical perspective.

The Ancient Greeks were great innovators in all academic fields, including medicine. Hippocrates of Kos, the Father of Medicine, established many terms for the genitourinary (GU) system, such as nephros, urethra, urogenital, and adenocarcinoma. According to Hesiod's Theogony, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was born off the coast of Kythera, from the foam produced by Uranus's genitals, after his son Cronus had thrown them into to the sea. In this review, we present the etymology of the GU vocabulary, review the Ancient Greeks' understanding of the GU system and the origins of Greek myths related to the male genitals.

Status of Fishery Discards and By-Products in Greece and Potential Valorization Scenarios towards a National Exploitation Master Plan.

The valorization of aquaculture/fishery processing by-products, as well as unavoidable/unwanted catches and discards in Greece, is currently an underutilized activity despite the fact that there are several best practices in Northern Europe and overseas. One of the main challenges is to determine whether the available quantities for processing are sufficient to warrant the valorization of discards and fish side streams. This is the first attempt to systematically record and analyze the available quantities of fish by-products and discards in Greece spatially and temporally in an effort to create a national exploitation Master Plan for the valorization of this unavoidable and unwanted biomass. A thorough survey conducted within the VIOAXIOPIO project unveiled a substantial biomass of around 19,000 tonnes annually that could be harnessed for valorization. Furthermore, the production of various High-Added-Value Biomolecules (HAVBs) was investigated and experimental trials were conducted to assess the potential yields, with the collected data used to formulate four valorization scenarios.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial enteropathogens in Crete, Greece, during 2011-2022.

Diarrheal diseases are of great concern worldwide and are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the epidemiology and the antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial enteropathogens among diarrheal patients of all ages in Crete, Greece during 2011-2022. Stool specimens were tested by conventional cultural methods for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (EPEC, STEC), Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas species and Clostridioides difficile. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method for Enterobacterales, Campylobacter and Aeromonas, and by the gradient diffusion method for C. difficile. Of the 26,060 stool samples from patients of any age, 1,022 (3.9%) were positive for bacterial enteropathogens. Campylobacter spp. were the most commonly isolated bacteria (56.4%), followed by Salmonella enterica (32.3%), and E. coli (EPEC, STEC) (6.5%). Toxigenic C. difficile was isolated from 341 out of 8,848 diarrheal specimens examined (3.9%). Resistance to ampicillin was observed in 12.4% of Salmonella, 66.7% of Shigella and 34.8% of E. coli (EPEC, STEC) isolates. Resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was observed in 5.8% of Salmonella, 33.3% of Shigella, and 15.1% of E. coli (EPEC, STEC) isolates. High rates of ciprofloxacin resistance (77.3%) were detected among Campylobacter isolates, while resistance to erythromycin was observed in 2.4% of them. All C. difficile isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole. Our findings suggest declining trends in prevalence of bacterial enteropathogens, except for Campylobacter spp. and changes in the susceptibility rates to antimicrobials. Continuous surveillance of prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial enteropathogens is mandatory for implementing targeted and effective prevention and infection control measures.

Is the European badger a new host for Dirofilaria immitis? The first records in Greece.

Dirofilaria immitis is a ubiquitous nematode parasite with zoonotic potential, transmitted by mosquitoes, that causes heartworm disease in various animal species. Dogs are the parasite's typical final host, and wild carnivores represent the parasite's reservoir in nature. Studies on D. immitis infections in wild animals are essential to assess infection pressure for domestic animals, and until now, there has been only one infection case reported in a European badger (Meles meles). The current report describes the first two European badger cases with cardiovascular dirofilariosis in Greece. Two adult male badgers were rescued in Heraklion and Chania, Crete Island, and admitted to "ANIMA -Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre" in Athens. The detailed clinical examination revealed that the first badger suffered from severe broncho-pneumonitis while the second one displayed clinical signs associated with severe brain trauma. Blood samples were taken for haematology and biochemistry analyses during their short hospitalisation period. In addition, different routine diagnostic tests were carried out, including heartworm antigen testing (ELISA) and the modified Knott's test for microfilariae. Both badgers were positive in both tests. The animals died a few hours after their admission and the detailed necropsies followed, revealed the presence of three parasites in each animal's right heart, morphologically identified as adults of D. immitis. These findings add the European badger in the list of additional potential reservoir hosts for D. immitis and highlight the potential role of wildlife for companion animals and human health.

Increase in candidemia cases and emergence of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis and C. auris isolates in a tertiary care academic hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, Greece, 2020 to 2023.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of Candida auris have changed the epidemiological landscape of candidaemia worldwide.AimWe compared the epidemiological trends of candidaemia in a Greek tertiary academic hospital before (2009-2018) and during the early COVID-19 (2020-2021) and late COVID-19/early post-pandemic (2022-2023) era.MethodsIncidence rates, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility profile and antifungal consumption were recorded, and one-way ANOVA or Fisher's exact test performed. Species were identified by MALDI-ToF MS, and in vitro susceptibility determined with CLSI M27-Ed4 for C. auris and the EUCAST-E.DEF 7.3.2 for other Candida spp.ResultsIn total, 370 candidaemia episodes were recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infection incidence (2.0 episodes/10,000 hospital bed days before, 3.9 during the early and 5.1 during the late COVID-19 era, p < 0.0001), C. auris (0%, 9% and 33%, p < 0.0001) and fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis species complex (SC) (20%, 24% and 33%, p = 0.06) infections increased over time, with the latter not associated with increase in fluconazole/voriconazole consumption. A significant increase over time was observed in fluconazole-resistant isolates regardless of species (8%, 17% and 41%, p < 0.0001). Resistance to amphotericin B or echinocandins was not recorded, with the exception of a single pan-echinocandin-resistant C. auris strain.ConclusionCandidaemia incidence nearly tripled during the COVID-19 era, with C. auris among the major causative agents and increasing fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis SC. Almost half of Candida isolates were fluconazole-resistant, underscoring the need for increased awareness and strict implementation of infection control measures.

COVID-19 vaccination roll-out and uptake among refugees and migrants in Greece: a retrospective analysis of national vaccination routine data.

OBJECTIVES: Refugees and migrants (R&Ms) exhibited higher risk of COVID-19 infection, and higher mortality rates during the pandemic. Acknowledging these risks, R&Ms early in the pandemic were identified by WHO as a priority vaccination group in need of protection. The aim of this study was to assess the vaccination roll-out and uptake among R&Ms residing in Reception Identification Centers (RICs) and Reception Sites (RSs) in Greece, relative to the general population. STUDY DESIGN: Nationwide observational study. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of national vaccination routine data and population census data, collected and triangulated from multiple official/governmental sources. Weekly vaccine roll-out and uptake were calculated for the general Greek population and the R&M population, through the first year of the vaccination programme in Greece (December 2020-December 2021). RESULTS: Vaccine roll-out among migrants in RICs/RSs started with a 22-week delay, compared to the general population. By the end of the first year of the vaccination programme in Greece in December 2021, the national vaccination uptake among registered R&Ms residing in official reception facilities was 27.3 % for 1st dose and 4.7 % for booster dose; considerably lower compared to the general population (69.5 % uptake for 1st dose, 64.7 % for 2nd dose, and 32.0 % for 3rd dose). CONCLUSION: Delayed vaccine roll-out and low vaccine uptake among R&Ms in Greece are signs of low prioritisation and implementation failures in the R&M vaccination strategy. In face of future public health threats, lessons should be learned, and vaccine equity should be insured for all socially vulnerable and high-risk population groups.

A retrospective of deaths related to migration along the southeasternmost land borders of Europe: an update encompassing the years 2015-22.

This study presents an update of forensic accounting of the numbers and demographics of migrants found deceased in the Evros region of Greece in the years from 2015-22. Compared to data from 2000-14, this update reflects the mounting number of border-related deaths in the region, as well as the changing demographic trends associated with the migrants who perish crossing the Greek-Turkish border. Specifically, the paper documents a broadening of locations from which migrants originate, the increasing diversity of migrant death locations, and a shift in the leading causes of death. It contains important forensic accounting of the unique humanitarian crisis occurring along the Greek-Turkish land border while also providing an additional context for the global migration crisis. The data presented here offer insights into other forensic stakeholders impacted by the global migration crisis, with respect to what factors contribute to and detract from identification rates, and can help stakeholders make informed policy decisions.

Hippocrates: A Pioneer in Orthopaedics and Traumatology.

PURPOSE: Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, is considered the father of Medicine; however, his contributions to Orthopaedics and Traumatology have not been highlighted enough. The present historical review represents an effort to present and categorize his work, in this field, per clinical disorder and anatomical region. METHODS: The "Hippocratic Corpus" original text was thoroughly studied to identify all Hippocrates' contributions in Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Volume III of his works, especially "On Fractures", "On Joints", and "Mochlicon" includes a plethora of information regarding the management of traumas, as well as other disorders and clinical entities of the musculoskeletal system. RESULTS: In particular, Hippocrates describes reduction techniques for fractures, as well as joint dislocations, elaborates on the biology of the fractures' healing process and the basic principles of fracture management and fixation, presents the signs and symptoms of gangrene, teaches the treatment of osseous infections and offers valuable insight on the biomechanics and treatment of spinal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Hippocrates' contributions in Orthopaedics and Traumatology are unprecedented, making him a true pioneer in this field, while the basic principles that he presented were further studied and confirmed in the 19th and 20th centuries.

DNA Barcoding and Fertilization Strategies in Sideritis syriaca subsp. syriaca, a Local Endemic Plant of Crete with High Medicinal Value.

Herein, we applied DNA barcoding for the genetic characterization of Sideritis syriaca subsp. syriaca (Lamiaceae; threatened local Cretan endemic plant) using seven molecular markers of cpDNA. Five fertilization schemes were evaluated comparatively in a pilot cultivation in Crete. Conventional inorganic fertilizers (ChFs), integrated nutrient management (INM) fertilizers, and two biostimulants were utilized (foliar and soil application). Plant growth, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, and color were assessed and leaf content of chlorophyll, key antioxidants (carotenoids, flavonoids, phenols), and nutrients were evaluated. Fertilization schemes induced distinct differences in leaf shape, altering quality characteristics. INM-foliar and ChF-soil application promoted yield, without affecting tissue water content or biomass partitioning to inflorescences. ChF-foliar application was the most stimulatory treatment when the primary target was enhanced antioxidant contents while INM-biostimulant was the least effective one. However, when the primary target is yield, INM, especially by foliar application, and ChF, by soil application, ought to be employed. New DNA sequence datasets for the plastid regions of petB/petD, rpoC1, psbK-psbI, and atpF/atpH were deposited in the GenBank for S. syriaca subsp. syriaca while the molecular markers rbcL, trnL/trnF, and psbA/trnH were compared to those of another 15 Sideritis species retrieved from the GenBank, constructing a phylogenetic tree to show their genetic relatedness.

Ancient Conceptions of the Human Uterus: Italic Votives and Animal Wombs.

The numerous votive uteri found across the central Italian peninsula from the fourth to first centuries BCE are puzzlingly evocative of the human simplex uterus, which is visually distinct from the bicornuate uteri characteristic of most other mammals. However, human dissection is not attested for this time and place, while animal butchery was common. This article uses modern veterinary anatomical imagery to argue that animal uteri - specifically as they appear when pregnant - were indeed models underlying the votive depictions. Some of the variant forms of the votives are highly evocative of various features of the pregnant bicornuate uterus. Further, medical views on the human uterus throughout classical antiquity were informed by animal uteri. Taken together, the visual and textual evidence indicate that animal models were inextricably integrated into ancient conceptions of the human uterus across the classical world, including in the production of the Italic votives in question.

Temporal variations of spring hydrochemistry as clues to the karst system behaviour: an example of Louros Catchment.

Effectively managing water resources in karst systems requires a thorough understanding of their general conduit network along with their seasonal dynamics. Their investigation has involved well construction or several advanced natural tracer data, most of which are not always available. Hence, this work showcases a pragmatic approach that makes use of basic hydrochemical variables of springs with coarse temporal resolution in characterising a karst system. In this study's example, physicochemical variables like major ion concentrations/ratios, Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH and water temperature (Tw) were measured on 20-day basis for a hydrological year at the Louros Catchment, Greece. We further performed the frequency distribution and variation analysis of EC and Tw, principal component analysis (PCA), scatter plots of carbonate ions vs sulphate and hydrochemographs to determine relevant hydrochemical processes and hydrogeological features. PCA and the scatter plots showed that the simple-type upper karst level is entirely dominated by carbonate dissolution, whereas the complex-type middle and lower levels also involve gypsum and dolomite dissolution. Presence of mixing between karst units was also detected. EC and Tw analyses revealed the degree of karstification of different units and relative depths of flow systems. Hydrochemographs reflected the seasonality of limestone and gypsum dissolution's contributions linked to the dominant flow type (conduit vs diffuse). This study thus was able to demonstrate the usefulness of such holistic hydrochemical analyses to better understand karst systems. Given their cost-effectiveness, they can be easily applied to any understudied karst system worldwide.

Nurses quietly quit their job more often than other healthcare workers: An alarming issue for healthcare services.

AIM: To assess the level of quiet quitting among healthcare workers (HCWs) and identify possible differences between nurses, physicians, and other HCWs. We investigated the impact of sociodemographic variables, job burnout, and job satisfaction on quiet quitting levels. BACKGROUND: The quiet-quitting phenomenon is not new but has been frequently discussed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, the level of quiet quitting among HCWs has not been measured yet. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample. We measured sociodemographic variables, job burnout, job satisfaction, and quiet quitting. We adhered to STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies. FINDINGS: Among our sample, 67.4% of nurses were quiet quitters, while the prevalence of quiet quitting for physicians and other HCWs was 53.8% and 40.3%, respectively. Multivariable linear regression analysis identified that the levels of quiet quitting were higher among nurses than physicians and other HCWs. Moreover, greater job burnout contributed more to quiet quitting, while less satisfaction implied more quiet quitting. HCWs who work in shifts and those working in the private sector experienced higher levels of quiet quitting. DISCUSSION: More than half of our HCWs were described as quit quitters. Levels of quiet quitting were higher among nurses. Job burnout and job dissatisfaction were associated with higher levels of quiet quitting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND NURSING POLICY: Measurement of quiet quitting and identification of risk factors are essential to prevent or reduce quiet quitting levels among HCWs. Our study provides information on this field helping managers and organizations to identify quiet quitters within HCWs. Policymakers and managers should develop and implement interventions both at an organizational level and at an individual level.

A preliminary study of carrion insects in Greece and their attraction to three animal baits: a forensic entomology perspective.

The current study provides data on the composition of the dipteran and coleopteran fauna attracted to three different animal baits (chicken stomach, beef liver, fish) in the urban ecosystem of Athens, Greece. An additional objective was to examine the effect of bait choice by the collected taxa. Three trap locations were established within the Agricultural University of Athens. At each location two different types of baited traps were used to capture and record the local dipteran and coleopteran biodiversity. During the sampling period, a total of 2416 dipteran and coleopteran specimens representing 43 species were collected and identified. The three most abundant dipteran taxa were Sarcophaga sp. (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The results showed that the structure of the local insect community associated with the decomposition of animal baits depends on the bait used for sampling. This study reinforced the feasibility of using animal tissues as attractants to a wide diversity of medical, parasitological and forensically important taxa. Overall, beef liver attracted the most insects with Diptera preferring beef liver and Coleoptera preferring chicken stomach. Furthermore, this study revealed that baits of one animal tissue did not attract all species but in combination a much better understanding of this biodiversity was achieved. Finally, from a forensic entomology perspective this study highlights the lack of understanding of the value of entomological data related to case work in Greece.

Assessing the Impact of Bilingualism on the Linguistic Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Greece: A Scoping Review.

(1) Background and Objectives: This review aims to identify the latest literature on the possible effect of bilingualism on the linguistic skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) residing in Greece. (2) Materials and Methods: The literature was searched in the databases of Scopus and PubMed by selecting articles and by reviewing four studies published in peer-reviewed journals. This Scoping Review is based on the standards of PRISMA recommendations for scoping reviews, while the PCC framework was used as a guide to construct clear and meaningful objectives and eligibility criteria. (3) Results: The publications included in the review addressed a variety of language-related skills, including morphology, the syntax-pragmatics interface, narrative ability, as well as both receptive and expressive language skills. (4) Conclusions: Three out of four studies provide evidence that bilingual ASD children are not disadvantaged compared to monolingual peers but rather enjoy some benefits, to a certain extent, due to bilingualism. However, the number of the reviewed studies as well as the limitations of the studies themselves render this conclusion tentative. Additionally, the findings set guidelines that speech therapists, educators, psychologists, and doctors in the Greek context need to follow when treating or educating bilingual children with ASD.