BackgroundRecent data indicate increasing rates of adult obesity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Greece. No data, however, are available on prevalence of overweight and obesity in relation to CVD risk factors among young adults in Greece.MethodsA total of 989 third-year medical students (527 men, 462 women), aged 22 ± 2 years, were recruited from the University of Crete during the period 1989–2001. Anthropometric measures and blood chemistries were obtained. The relationships between obesity indices (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], waist-to-hip ratio [WHpR], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]) and CVD risk factor variables (blood pressure, glucose, serum lipoproteins) were investigated.ResultsApproximately 40% of men and 23% of women had BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2. Central obesity was found in 33.4% (average percentage corresponding to WC ≥ 90 cm, WHpR ≥ 0.9 and WHtR ≥ 50.0) of male and 21.7% (using WC ≥ 80 cm, WHpR ≥ 0.8, WHtR ≥ 50.0) of female students. Subjects above the obesity indices cut-offs had significantly higher values of CVD risk factor variables. BMI was the strongest predictor of hypertension. WHtR in men and WC in women were the most important indicators of dyslipidaemia.ConclusionA substantial proportion of Greek medical students were overweight or obese, obesity status being related to the presence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Simple anthropometric indices can be used to identify these CVD risk factors. Our results underscore the need to implement health promotion programmes and perform large-scale epidemiological studies within the general Greek young adult population.

Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are common pathogens associated with a wide range of cutaneous and mucosal infections in childhood. Different HPV types can cause common warts, genital warts, low-grade as well as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Anogenital warts represent an issue with legal and clinical implications and evaluation of children for the possibility of sexual abuse should be considered in all cases. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis has also been associated with HPV infection in a variety of studies. The recently introduced HPV vaccination is expected to prevent HPV-related cervical cancer in adulthood; however, HPV infection will continue to affect children.

The results document a high prevalence of smoking among physicians-to-be in Greece. Tobacco use was strongly associated with a lipid profile predisposing to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Health promotion programmes should therefore be instituted not only during the first years of medical studies, but rather at a much earlier stage in life.

Background/Aims: We aimed at examining the intake of ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) among adolescents in Crete, Greece, and investigate relationships with health and diet indicators. Methods: A sample of 392 adolescents (183 boys, 209 girls) aged 15 ± 0.4 years, attending high schools of two major counties in Crete, was studied to determine consumption of RTEC using a frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed and blood was drawn for analysis of serum lipoproteins and blood glucose (BG). The physical fitness was assessed with the 20-meter shuttle run test (SRT) and the amount of time watching television was estimated. Nutrient intakes were calculated through 24-hour dietary recalls. Results: 42% (n = 77) of boys and 43% (n = 90) of girls reported consumption of RTEC at least once per week. Approximately 40% of the male and 47% of the female consumers reported eating RTEC only at meals other than breakfast. RTEC consumption was inversely related to the obesity indices and BG levels, and positively related to the SRT (p < 0.05 in all analyses). RTEC consumers had significantly higher intakes of fibre, magnesium, calcium, iron, folate, and vitamins A, B₂ and B₆ (p < 0.05 in all analyses). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated favourable associations between RTEC intake and health and diet indicators in Greek adolescents, with potential implications for improved health status and chronic disease risk reduction.

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Although the significance of the presence of HPV DNA in tonsillar and adenoid hyperplasias remains obscure, the PCR detection of high-risk HPV DNA should be evaluated cautiously.

Viral-induced carcinogenesis has been attributed to the ability of viral oncoproteins to target and interact with the host cellular proteins. It is generally accepted that Human papilloma virus (HPV) E6 and E7 function as the dominant oncoproteins of 'high-risk' HPVs by altering the function of critical cellular proteins. Initially it was shown that HPV E6 enhances the degradation of p53, while HPV E7 inactivates the function of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein Rb. However, recent studies during the last decade have identified a number of additional host cellular targets of both HPV E6 and E7 that may also play an important role in malignant cellular transformation. In this review we present the interactions of HPV E6 and E7 with the host cellular target proteins. We also present the role of DNA integration in the malignant transformation of the epithelial cell.

are considered to be the most frequent HPV types worldwide and are responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancer cases (6, 7). Low-risk HPVs have been associated with benign warts of oral and urogenital epithelium in adults as well as children, and are only rarely found in malignant tumors. Different HPV types vary in tissue distribution, oncogenic potential and association with anatomically and histologically distinct diseases.HPVs are double-stranded DNA viruses that comprise a remarkably heterogeneous family of more than 130 types (4, 8). HPV is a small virus of 55 nm in diameter, which consists of the viral genomic DNA and its coat. The viral genome is double-stranded circular DNA of nearly 8000 base pairs and encodes 8 proteins: E1, E2, E4, E5, E6, E7, L1 and L2. The early proteins E5, E6 and E7 are involved in cell proliferation and survival, with E6 and E7 playing a key role in HPV-associated carcinogenesis. The early proteins E1, E2 and E4 are involved in the control of viral gene transcription and viral DNA replication. The coat of the virus is made up of 2 proteins, the major one being L1 and the minor component L2. The coat proteins assemble into structures known as capsomeres and 72 of these come together to form the spherical coat.It is generally accepted that HPV E6 and E7 function as the dominant oncoproteins of high-risk HPVs by altering the function of critical cellular proteins. Expression of the E6 and E7 proteins as a consequence of viral integration is paramount to the establishment and maintenance of the tumorigenic state. In addition, expression of E6 and E7 increases the genomic instability of the host cell, thus INTRODUCTIONHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection has a global distribution and has been identified as the leading etiologic agent for cervical cancer and its precursors in adulthood (1). Different HPV types can cause a wide range of infections, including common warts, genital warts, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs), and cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women worldwide, with an estimated 493,000 new cases and 274,000 deaths in 2002. Cervical cancer is most prevalent in developing countries, where 80% of the cases occur, and it accounts for at least 15% of all female cancers.HPVs can be classified into cutaneous and mucosal types (2). Cutaneous types infect the squamous epithelium of the skin and produce common, plantar and flat warts, which usually occur on the hands, face and feet. Specific cutaneous types are also detected in Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare familial disorder which is related to the development of large cutaneous warts that can progress to skin cancer (3). Mucosal types infect the mucous membranes and can cause cervical neoplasia in adults as well as anogenital warts in both children and adults.Mucosal HPVs are classified into high-risk and lowrisk types. High-risk HPV types have been implicated in the development of SILs and their ...