University of Crete

About: University of Crete is a education organization based out in Rethymno, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 8681 authors who have published 21684 publications receiving 709078 citations. The organization is also known as: Panepistimio Kritis.

Necrotising fasciitis of upper and lower limb: A systematic review

Abstract: Necrotising fasciitis is a rapidly progressive, life threatening soft tissue infection. In a significant proportion of patients, the extremities are involved as a result of trauma, needle puncture or extravasation of drugs, often leading to limb loss and devastating disability. In this systematic review of necrotising fasciitis of the upper and lower extremities, we report on the clinical characteristics, the predisposing factors, the associated diseases, the pathogenic bacteria, the surgical treatment and the final outcome in terms of limb loss and mortality. Data for a total of 451 patients were analysed for each parameter of interest. A percentage of 22.3% of the reviewed patients underwent amputation or disarticulation of a limb following failure of multiple debridements to control infection and the mortality rate was estimated as high as 21.9%.

Phosphorylated EGFR and PI3K/Akt signaling kinases are expressed in circulating tumor cells of breast cancer patients

Abstract: Introduction The phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, operating downstream of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2, is implicated in cell migration and survival. EGFR and HER2 are expressed in circulating tumor cells, but the activation status of downstream signaling molecules has not yet been reported.

FIRM: a class of distributed scheduling algorithms for high-speed ATM switches with multiple input queues

Abstract: Advanced input queuing is an attractive, promising architecture for high-speed ATM switches, because it combines the low cost of input queuing with the high performance of output queuing. The need for scalable schedulers for advanced input queuing switch architectures has led to the development of efficient distributed scheduling algorithms. We introduce a new distributed scheduling algorithm, FIRM, which provides improved performance characteristics over alternative distributed algorithms. FIRM achieves saturation throughput 1 with lower delay than the most efficient alternative (up to 50% at high load). Furthermore, it provides improved fairness (it approximates FCFS) and tighter service guarantee than others. FIRM provides a basis for a class of distributed scheduling algorithms, many of which provide even more improved performance characteristics.

DNA methylation in the human placenta and fetal growth (review).

Abstract: Throughout in utero development, the placenta plays a key role in controlling growth and development. The placenta acts not only as a gatekeeper of nutrient and waste exchange between mother and developing fetus, but also as a regulator of the intrauterine environment. Its functions can be influenced by the environment encountered throughout pregnancy, thereby altering the appropriate genetic programming needed to allow for appropriate fetal growth. Epigenetic alterations related to environmental exposures have been linked to aberrant fetal growth. DNA methylation, which is the best known DNA epigenetic modification, may provide an attractive mechanism linking environmental cues to placental pathology, with consequences for fetal growth and adult life. Alteration of the methylation patterns of genes expressed in the placenta has recently been found to modify gene expression and subsequently impair function of the placenta. Although there is strong evidence to demonstrate that the environment can affect the pattern of DNA methylation of the placenta during fetal development, a direct association between environmental conditions, methylation alterations and gene expression is difficult to confirm. DNA methylation in the placenta has mainly been investigated in the context of imprinted and non-imprinted genes transcription. Several environmental factors have also been assessed in regard to their association with changes to the epigenetic motives of embryonic and extraembryonic tissues and their impact on pregnancy outcome. In this review, we briefly present the available evidence regarding the role of DNA methylation patterns of the placenta on aberrant fetal growth.

MR enteroclysis: technical considerations and clinical applications.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance enteroclysis (MRE) is an emerging technique for the evaluation of small bowel abnormalities. Adequate luminal distention, achieved by the administration of iso-osmotic water solution through a nasojejunal catheter, in combination with ultrafast sequences, such as single-shot turbo spin echo, true fast imaging with steady precession, half-Fourier acquired single-shot turbo spin echo, and 3D fast low-angle shot, results in excellent anatomic demonstration of the small bowel. Magnetic resonance fluoroscopy can be performed during MRE examination and might be useful in studying low-grade stenosis or motility-related disorders. Magnetic resonance enteroclysis is very promising in detecting the number and extent of involved small bowel segments in patients with Crohn's disease, and in disclosing lumen narrowing and extramural manifestations and complications of the disease. Initial experience shows that MRE is very efficient in the diagnosis of small bowel tumors and can be used in the evaluation of small bowel obstruction.