Article type: Commentary

The use of Laser Doppler vibrometry (Doppler principle) for middle ear research and diagnosis

The middle ear represents the middle component of the human ear. Its function is to transmit sound-waves from the external auditory canal (EAC) to the inner ear via the Tympanic Membrane (TM), the Ossicular Chain (OC), and Oval Window (OW) and at the same time to act as a transformer that produces a pressure gain in the sound wave, usually specified in literature as 27-30 dB. Although a very efficient biomechanical system, the OC has, within the human hearing range, minute vibration amplitudes of only a few nm which brings forward the problem of a reliable measuring technique for such movements The Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) also known as Laser Doppler Interferonometry (LDI) is a method of measuring such minute vibrations without contact with the anatomical structures. The laser beam can be aimed at chosen points of a structure and the movement will be recorded as a graphical representation. As such, the method has been studied and applied for numerous purposes and experiments over the last decades. The present work aims to present a comprehensive review of these experiments to define LDV as a reliable method for middle ear research and diagnostics.

Major radiological threats and emergencies requiring public health preparedness (the example of Greece)

Radiological emergencies carry the potential for major disruptions to public health care provision, due to their infrequency, unpredicted nature, delay in appearance of adverse effects and the grave psychological impact on sufferers and society. This study aims to describe and analyze the main categories of radiological hazards and emergencies that require hospital response and preparedness at a nation-wide level, taking into specific account the example of Greece. These radiological threats are either accidental, like reactor emergencies and accidents in hospital or industrial units implementing radiological sources of high activities, or deliberate, like detonation of nuclear devices and malicious use of various radionuclides.

Analysis of neuroprotective medication in patients with neurocognitive disorders: The efficacy and tolerability of highly purified animal tissues extracts

Neurocognitive disorders are extremely invalidating psychiatric disorders with chronic courses and significant negative impacts over all areas of cognitive functioning and behavioral activity. Although extensive research on these progressive neurodegenerative disorders has been conducted, pathogenetic treatments with long-term significant benefits are yet controversial. From a clinical perspective, there is an acute need to find therapeutic strategies that could delay cognitive impairment in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), etc. Also, slowing the transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to clinically significant AD is another important clinical aspect, with a major impact on the patient’s daily functioning, quality of life, and caregivers’ burden. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) are still the first line of treatment in AD patients, and they are also administered in the case of VaD or Parkinson’s dementia. Various nootropics have been studied in this population, as add-on agents. Highly purified animal tissue extracts (HPATE) are administered in patients with neurocognitive disorders due to their neurotrophic properties, but many questions remain unanswered regarding their pharmacodynamic characteristics. These extracts may be added to AChEI to enhance their pro-cognitive effect, but evidence to support the superior efficacity of this association versus AChEI monotherapy is mainly derived from low-to-medium quality clinical trials. In conclusion, HPATE may be a useful add-on to first-line pro-cognitive agents in AD and VaD, but larger trials with better methodology are needed. In particular cases, however, HPATE may be of significant interest for patients with mild-to-moderate AD, based on results from clinical practice.