Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common types of hearing impairment, even though it is preventable. However, awareness and protective behaviors among young adults remain limited. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of young adults in Greece regarding exposure to high-noise environments and the risk of NIHL. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 104 participants aged 18–30 years in Patras, Greece. A 27-item questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, patterns of noise exposure, use of personal listening devices, auditory symptoms, and preventive behaviors. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to examine relationships between demographic variables and participants’ responses. Results: Most participants (93.3%) recognized that prolonged exposure to high noise levels can harm hearing. However, only 6.7% reported having regular hearing checks, and almost half (45.2%) had never been tested. Remarkably, 19.2% of participants experienced tinnitus, while more than half (54.8%) reported fatigue after exposure to loud sounds. Younger participants (aged 18–22 years) were significantly more likely to listen at high volumes compared to older groups (p < 0.05). Males reported higher rates of tinnitus and ear discomfort, whereas females more often experienced headaches. Although general awareness of NIHL was high, preventive behaviors such as using hearing protection were rarely practiced. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for targeted educational campaigns and preventive screening programs to promote safe listening practices and reduce the overall prevalence of NIHL.

(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.

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience persistent difficulties in social communication, emotional regulation, and social engagement. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies, particularly socially assistive robots and intelligent sensing systems, have been explored as complementary tools to support psychosocial interventions in this population. Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate recent evidence on the effectiveness of AI-based interventions in improving social, emotional, and cognitive functioning in children with ASD. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed following PRISMA guidelines, targeting English-language studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies involved children with ASD and implemented AI-driven tools within therapeutic or educational settings. Eight studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed using the PICO framework. Results: The reviewed interventions included humanoid and non-humanoid robots, gaze-tracking systems, and theory of mind-oriented applications. Across studies, AI-based interventions were associated with improvements in joint attention, social communication and reciprocity, emotion recognition and regulation, theory of mind, and task engagement. Outcomes were assessed using standardized behavioral measures, observational coding, parent or therapist reports, and physiological or sensor-based indices. However, the studies were characterized by small and heterogeneous samples, short intervention durations, and variability in outcome measures. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that AI-based systems may serve as valuable adjuncts to conventional interventions for children with ASD, particularly for supporting structured social and emotional skill development. Nonetheless, methodological limitations and limited long-term data underscore the need for larger, multi-site trials with standardized protocols to better establish efficacy, generalizability, and ethical integration into clinical practice.

Epilepsy remains one of the most prevalent neurological disorders affecting school-aged children, often accompanied by social stigma and misconceptions that can hinder their academic and social development. Background and Objectives: Given the critical role of teachers and school professionals in the daily lives of children with epilepsy, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of primary school teachers and professionals in Greece regarding epilepsy. The findings are intended to identify gaps and inform the development of targeted educational interventions that support managing epilepsy effectively. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 546 primary education teachers in Western Greece using a questionnaire adapted from a validated Italian study. This survey collected demographic information and assessed knowledge, attitudes, and school-related practices concerning epilepsy. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS, employing descriptive and inferential statistics to explore relationships between demographics and responses. Results: Although most participants were generally aware of epilepsy, considerable gaps persisted in knowledge about prevalence, causes, and proper seizure management. Notably, over half of the participants were unsure how to manage an epileptic episode, and misconceptions about the effects of antiepileptic drugs on learning and behavior were prevalent. Participants with special education experience displayed more accurate knowledge and greater confidence in handling epilepsy-related situations. Conclusions: This study underscores the need for enhanced epilepsy education among primary school teachers and school professionals in Greece to address knowledge gaps, reduce stigma, and better support the educational and social needs of students with epilepsy. Coordinated efforts with educational authorities and health organizations are recommended to implement specialized teacher training programs.

Background, Aims, Methods, Results, Conclusions: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global challenge due to its ability to mutate into variants that spread more rapidly than the wild-type virus. The molecular biology of this virus has been extensively studied and computational methods applied are an example paradigm for novel antiviral drug therapies. The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population is driven, in part, by mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S-) protein, some of which enable tighter binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2). More stable RBD-ACE2 association is coupled with accelerated hydrolysis by proteases, such as furin, trypsin, and the Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2) that augment infection rates, while inhibition of the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) can prevent the viral replication. Additionally, non-RBD and non-interfacial mutations may assist the S-protein in adopting thermodynamically favorable conformations for stronger binding. This study aimed to report variant distribution of SARS-CoV-2 across European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries and relate mutations with the driving forces that trigger infections. Variants’ distribution data for SARS-CoV-2 across EU/EEA countries were mined from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) based on the sequence or genotyping data that are deposited in the Global Science Initiative for providing genomic data (GISAID) and The European Surveillance System (TESSy) databases. Docking studies performed with AutoDock VINA revealed stabilizing interactions of putative antiviral drugs, e.g., selected anionic imidazole biphenyl tetrazoles, with the ACE2 receptor in the RBD-ACE2 complex. The driving forces of key mutations for Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Kappa, Lambda, and Omicron variants, which stabilize the RBD-ACE2 complex, were investigated by computational approaches. Arginine is the critical amino acid in the polybasic furin cleavage sites S1/S2 (681-PRRARS-686) S2′ (814-KRS-816). Critical mutations into arginine residues that were found in the delta variant (L452R, P681R) and may be responsible for the increased transmissibility and morbidity are also present in two widely spreading omicron variants, named BA.4.6 and BQ.1, where mutation R346T in the S-protein potentially contributes to neutralization escape. Arginine binders, such as Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), could be a class of novel drugs for treating COVID-19.

Detecting and managing speech-language pathology symptoms in patients with post-COVID syndrome (long COVID) presents a significant challenge, as the condition is marked by persistent and varied symptoms such as cognitive deficits, communication difficulties, and voice disorders. To address these challenges, a Fuzzy Cognitive Map Decision Support System (FCM-DSS) was developed to model causal relationships and integrate expert knowledge. A systematic review approach, though not comprehensive, was utilized to identify key symptoms and their prevalence from 19 studies, focusing on brain fog, attention deficits, memory problems, dyspnea, and swallowing difficulties. The weighted prevalence of these symptoms informed the development of the FCM-DSS model, designed to link symptoms to medical specialties and recommend specialist referrals. Preliminary testing on four case studies demonstrated the tool’s potential, but further validation through pilot studies is necessary.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are systemic diseases frequently affecting the heart and vessels. The main cardiovascular complications are pericarditis, myocarditis, valvular disease, obstructive coronary artery disease and coronary microcirculatory dysfunction, cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiography, including transthoracic two and three-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler imaging, myocardial deformation and transesophageal echo, is an established and widely available imaging technique for the identification of cardiovascular manifestations that are crucial for prognosis in rheumatic diseases. Echocardiography is also important for monitoring the impact of drug treatment on cardiac function, coronary microcirculatory function, valvular function and pulmonary artery pressures. In this article we summarize established and evolving knowledge on the role of echocardiography for diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular abnormalities in rheumatic diseases.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating autoimmune disease. MS patients deal with motor and sensory impairments, visual disabilities, cognitive disorders, and speech and language deficits. The study aimed to record, enhance, update, and delve into our present comprehension of speech deficits observed in patients with MS and the methodology (assessment tools) studies followed. The method used was a search of the literature through the databases for May 2015 until June 2022. The reviewed studies offer insight into speech impairments most exhibited by MS patients. Patients with MS face numerous communication changes concerning the phonation system (changes observed concerning speech rate, long pause duration) and lower volume. Moreover, the articulation system was affected by the lack of muscle synchronization and inaccurate pronunciations, mainly of vowels. Finally, there are changes regarding prosody (MS patients exhibited monotonous speech). Findings indicated that MS patients experience communication changes across various domains. Based on the reviewed studies, we concluded that the speech system of MS patients is impaired to some extent, and the patients face many changes that impact their conversational ability and the production of slower and inaccurate speech. These changes can affect MS patients’ quality of life.

Background and Objectives: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Individuals with multiple sclerosis may require daily care and support from caregivers due to the disease’s progressive and unpredictable nature. However, the role of caregiving is not without its challenges, and caregivers themselves often face significant repercussions in terms of their quality of life, mental health, and stress levels. Our study aims to investigate the level of stress caregivers experience in their everyday life and the way stress affects their quality of life. Materials and Methods: We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional study from 11 November 2023 to 20 March 2024 in healthcare units in Western Greece. All 96 participants were adult caregivers of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). We assessed caregivers’ quality of life and stress levels using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey and Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale, respectively. Non-parametric tests (Spearman’s rho test, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests) were used to identify possible correlations between the aforementioned scales and between stress levels and caregiver characteristics. Results: Caregivers reported high stress, with an average KCSS score of 36.82 ± 0.851. The mean SF-36 physical component summary score (PCS) was 59.59 ± 2.77, whereas the mental component summary score (MCS) was 45.69 ± 2.32. Stress levels in the KCSS were negatively correlated with both PCS and MCS of SF-36 and female gender, education level, monthly income, limits of mobility, and patient’s level of dependence were associated with higher levels of stress. Conclusions: Stress was found to be negatively connected with caregivers’ quality of life, affecting both physical and mental health. Female caregivers, caregivers with a primary education level and a low monthly income, and caregivers of patients with serious illnesses who rely primarily on daily help were the most affected.

Cerebral palsy includes a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by brain damage, leading to impairment of movement, posture, and balance for a lifetime. There are many therapeutic interventions for cerebral palsy. One of them is hippotherapy, an alternative physical therapy. It is a type of equine-assisted activity and therapy where children with cerebral palsy and motor function skills interact with a horse. We aimed to study the effects of hippotherapy, as an alternative therapy, on the motor function of children with cerebral palsy. We performed a review of the latest literature on hippotherapy and cerebral palsy. The criteria we used were specific keywords, publication date, age of the subjects/studied population, and article type. The outcome of our research resulted in ten relevant studies. The findings demonstrate improvements in various aspects of motor function – more specifically in gross motor function skills, balance, coordination, gait parameters, and muscle strength. Two of ten studies used the Horse-Riding Simulator with significant improvements in postural control in sitting, motor function, and hip abduction range of motion. Hippotherapy can improve motor function skills of children between 2 and 14 years of age with cerebral palsy, affecting their well-being and overall quality of life. It can have a positive effect either as a standalone treatment or as a part of other traditional therapies. Extended research is needed to assess whether hippotherapy may present significant long-term changes in motor skills in children with cerebral palsy.