Micronutrient dietary intakes and their food sources in adults: the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS).

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to assess micronutrient intake among Greek adults and to identify the main food sources that contribute to it. METHODS: Food consumption data from 2389 participants in the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS), collected with 24-h recalls, was used to calculate micronutrient intakes. Usual nutrient intake was estimated according to the National Cancer Institute method. Nutrient adequacy was estimated using the estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-point method, when available, or adequate intake otherwise. The probability approach was used to determine iron intake adequacy in females of reproductive age. Food group contribution for each nutrient assessed was derived to identify their main food sources. RESULTS: Almost all individuals had vitamin D intake below EAR, whereas vitamins A, E, K and C, as well as potassium intake, were also insufficient in a considerable percentage of the population (>70% in most age groups). Calcium intake was substantially below the EAR for females aged >50 years and males >70 years; the same for magnesium in males >70 years. Furthermore, 50% of females, including those of reproductive age, had intake of folate below EAR. More than 50% of the population (to 79%) exceeded the upper tolerable limit for sodium (2300 mg day-1 ). Food contribution analysis revealed that most vitamins were derived from low-quality foods (i.e. fast-food). CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of adults residing in Greece have low nutrient intake and poor food selections. These results provide guidance to public health policy makers for developing strategies to improve the dietary quality in Greece.

Management of Precancerous Lesions of the Uterine Cervix according to Demographic Data.

Aims. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women, but screening prevents cancer by detecting precancerous lesions. The purpose of this study is to present the treatment profile for precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix, according to demographic data. Methods. An annual retrospective study was conducted in two public primary health care centres in Greece. The total number of Pap smears and colposcopies performed as well as the management of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was collected and analysed. Results. Demographic characteristics and correlations with levels of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) and treatment path are presented. For each case, we noted the patients' age, the marital and educational status, and the professional and insurance type. From a total of 238 diagnostic procedures, 118 (49.5%) showed precancerous lesions, 83.3% of these were high grade while 16.7% were low grade. Conclusions. This study provides an estimate of the extensiveness of precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix. Management of CIN should be accounted for when balancing the benefits and unfavourable effects of this screening.

Predictors of mortality of Acinetobacter baumannii infections: A 2-year prospective study in a Greek surgical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections are a frequent and continuously increasing problem worldwide, have a rapidly increasing multidrug resistance to antibiotics, and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to evaluate Acinetobacter baumannii infection incidence in our surgical intensive care unit (SICU), the clinical features and outcome of these patients, and, particularly, to investigate predictors of A baumannii infection-related mortality. METHODS: Ours was a prospective study of all patients with ICU-acquired A baumannii infection from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007. RESULTS: Among 680 patients, 60 (8.8%) sustained A baumannii infection. Mean age was 68.4 ± 6.2 years, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score on SICU admission 20.6 ± 8.1 and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on infection day 9.5 ± 4.2 (women: 50%). Multidrug resistance, morbidity, and mortality were 45%, 65%, and 46.6% (n = 28), respectively. In multivariate analysis, age (P = .03; odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.018-1.259), acute renal failure (P = .001; OR, 17.9; 95% CI: 6.628-75.565), and thrombocytopenia (P = .03; OR, 26.4; 95% CI: 1.234-56.926) complicating the infection and subsequent Enterococcus faecium bacteremia (P = .01; OR, 3.5; 95% CI: 1.84-6.95) were mortality predictors. CONCLUSION: A baumannii infections are frequent and associated with high drug multiresistance, morbidity, and mortality. Age, renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and subsequent E faecium bacteremia were predictors of A baumannii infection-associated mortality.

Acinetobacter baumannii infections in a surgical intensive care unit: predictors of multi-drug resistance.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate Acinetobacter baumannii infections incidence in our Surgical Intensive Care Unit, clinical features and outcome of these patients, and multi-resistance incidence to identify predictors of such a resistance. METHODS: Prospective study of all patients with ICU-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii infection from June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2005. Patients with multi-resistant infection, susceptible exclusively to colistin, were compared with those sustaining non-multi-drug resistant infection. RESULTS: Among 411 patients, 52 (12.6%) developed Acinetobacter infection. Their mean age was 66.3 +/- 8.4 years and APACHE II 20.4 +/- 7.3 (men: 51.9%). Infection sites were: bloodstream (46.2%), respiratory tract (32.7%), central venous catheter (11.5%), surgical site (7.7%), and urinary tract (1.9%). High multi-resistance (44.2%), morbidity (63.4%), and mortality (44.2%) were identified. Colistin was the most effective antibiotic (100% susceptibility), whereas resistance against all other antibiotics was >60%. Previous septic shock (p = 0.04), previous adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (p = 0.01), number of previous antibiotics (p = 0.01), previous aminoglycoside use (p = 0.04), and reoperation (p = 0.01) were risk factors for multi-resistance in univariate analysis. Morbidity in the multi-resistant group was significantly higher than the non-multi-resistant group (82.6% vs. 48.2%, p = 0.02). Mortality in the multi-resistant group also was higher; however, this difference did not marginally reach statistical significance (60.8% vs. 31.1%, p = 0.06). Multivariate analysis identified previous septic shock (p = 0.04; odds ratio (OR), 9.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.003-96.29) and reoperation (p = 0.01; OR, 8.45; 95% CI, 1.52-46.85) as independent predictors of multi-resistance. CONCLUSION: Acinetobacter baumannii infections are frequent and associated with high morbidity, mortality, and multi-resistance. Avoidance of unnecessary antibiotics is a high priority, and specific attention should be paid to patients with previous ARDS and, particularly, previous septic shock and reoperation. When such risk factors are identified, colistin may be the only appropriate treatment.