Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant threat to perinatal mental health. This study examined differences in clinically significant depression, anxiety, and co-morbid symptoms among pregnant and postpartum women across several countries and compared prevalence of perinatal depression and anxiety before and during the pandemic in each participating country. Methods: Participants were 3326 pregnant and 3939 postpartum women (up to six months postpartum) living in Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. An online survey was completed between June 7th and October 31st 2020, and included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7). The pre-pandemic studies were identified through literature review. Results: Prevalence of clinically significant depression (EPDS≥13), anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10), and co-morbid (EPDS≥13 and GAD-7 ≥ 10) symptoms was 26.7 %, 20 % and 15.2 %, in pregnant women, and 32.7 %, 26.6 % and 20.3 %, in postpartum women, respectively. Significant between-country differences were found in all mental health indicators in both perinatal periods. Higher levels of symptoms were observed during (versus before) the pandemic, especially among postpartum women. Limitations: Participants were mostly highly educated and cohabiting with a partner. The online nature of the survey may have limited the participation of women from vulnerable socio-economically backgrounds. Conclusions: Our findings expand previous literature on the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health, by highlighting that this may be influenced by country of residence. Mental health care policies and interventions should consider the unique needs of perinatal women in different parts of the world.

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic is a unique stressor with potentially challenging and negative consequences on the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women. International literature highlights the pandemic’s negative impact on women’s perinatal experiences. This is the first study in the scientific literature reporting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, on the perinatal experiences of a large sample of women living in Cyprus. Aim: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences, concerns and needs of pregnant and postpartum women in Cyprus. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to January 2021. A total of 695 women, 355 pregnant and 340 postpartum women (with infants up to 6 months of age), residing in Cyprus were surveyed. Results: The great majority of the participants (80.9%) perceived the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their life as negative. The greatest sources of stress were identified and quantified for their impact on the participants. Our findings indicate that 74.1% of the pregnant women were concerned about changes due to COVID-19 measures impacting the presence of their family at the time of delivery, 57.2% about their newborn’s health, and 43.1% about changes related to perinatal care. Postpartum women’s concerns were mainly related to the welfare and health of their child (70.3%), whilst half of them (49.1%) expressed concerns about how they were going to care for their baby because of pandemic-related changes. Qualitative data revealed emerging themes as the basis of the pregnant and postpartum women’s concerns and needs. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated imposed measures and restrictions had adverse effects on pregnant and postpartum women’s perinatal experiences in Cyprus. The women’s concerns emphasized the need for the development of specialized, evidenced-based support systems which are essential particularly in pandemic-like situations, when pregnant and postpartum women are more vulnerable to isolation.

Background: Anxiety is increasingly acknowledged as a common mental health issue during the perinatal period. Its prevalence as well as the associated adverse effects constitute screening imperative. This study evaluates the psychometric properties and underlying factor structures of a Greek version of GAD-7 among pregnant and postpartum women (up to 6 months) in Cyprus. Methods: This study was conducted from June to December 2020. A total of 457 Cypriot women in the perinatal period (222 pregnant and 235 postpartum) were surveyed. The assessment included anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (EPDS), and psychosocial factors related with anxiety. The internal consistency and factor structure of GAD-7 were evaluated using reliability coefficients, Cronbach’s Alpha and McDonald's Omega, and factor analysis, both Exploratory as well as Confirmatory. Results: GAD-7 demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.907; Ω = 0.909). Horn's parallel analysis indicated a single factor as the most appropriate. CFA using the standard ML method indicated a good model fit, χ2 = 21.207, p = 0.096; CFI = 0.999; SRMR = 0.027. More studies are needed to determinate the cut-off point and the maximisation of the scale’s sensitivity and specificity in pregnant and postpartum Greek Cypriot women. Conclusions: GAD-7 is a valid and reliable measure and healthcare professionals should utilize GAD-7 as a standard instrument for the screening of anxiety symptoms in pregnant and postpartum Greek Cypriot women.

Introduction: Paternal peripartum depression (P-PPD) is a serious and understudied public health problem associated with impaired family functioning and child development. The lack of recognition of P-PPD may result in limited access to both information and professional help. Objective: The aim of the study was to review studies on paternal peripartum depression and to identify issues and questions where future research and theory formation are needed. Methods: A literature search for systematic reviews, meta-analyses and primary studies was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Medline, PsychInfo and Informit databases. Key results within the retrieved articles were summarised and integrated to address the review objectives. Results: Based on the literature, the knowledge related to prevalence, screening, risk factorsunique to fathers, management strategies and outcomes of P-PPD is lacking. Currently, there is no consensual understanding of the definition of P-PPD and recommendations for dealing with P-PPD. Limited data were available regarding the barriers preventing fathers from accessing support systems. Conclusion: Emerging issues that need to be addressed in future research include: P-PPD definition and pathogenetic pathways; prevention strategies and assessment tools; self-help seeking and engagement with interventions; the cost-effectiveness of P-PPD management; needs of health professionals; effect on child development, and public awareness. Future studies and clinical practice should account the complexities that may arise from the father’s perceptions of health care services. Results from this review highlights the critical issues on how to plan, provide and resource health services, to meet the health needs of fathers.

There is currently insufficient evidence of a beneficial effect to recommend vitamin D supplementation for optimizing glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Taking into consideration the significant extra-skeletal effect of vitamin D on pancreatic β-cell function and insulin secretion and the large number of scientific evidence supporting the inverse association between vitamin D status and hyperglycemia, this review article aims to examine whether vitamin D supplementation therapies are beneficial to patients with T2DM considering specific factors through randomized controlled trials (RCTs). EBSCOhost and Medline databases were searched from the beginning of 2009 until the end of 2014 for RCTs in patients with T2DM. Parameters, such as baseline vitamin D levels, frequency/dosage of supplementation, length of the study and type of supplementation, were independently assessed, based on their effect on glycemic status. Although all different types of supplementation were safe and effective in the achievement of vitamin D sufficiency in a dose-dependent way, the impact on glycemic status was different. 14 RCTs were included with daily supplementations ranging from 400-11.200 IU/daily, 40.000-50.000 IU/weekly and 100.000-300.000 IU/intramuscularly or once given, for a period from 8 to 24 weeks. Daily supplementation of vitamin D (up to 11.200 IU) showed no effect, whereas combined supplementation, with calcium (≥300 mg), and with vitamin D doses similar to the RDA, showed positive effects. Additionally, high weekly doses of vitamin D (40.000-50.000 IU) were effective on glycemic outcomes but available data are limited.

Various anatomic structures including bone, muscle, or fibrous bands may entrap and potentially compress branches of the mandibular nerve (MN). The infratemporal fossa is a common location for MN compression and one of the most difficult regions of the skull to access surgically. Other potential sites for entrapment of the MN and its branches include, a totally or partially ossified pterygospinous or pterygoalar ligament, a large lamina of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, the medial fibers of the lower belly of the lateral pterygoid muscle and the inner fibers of the medial pterygoid muscle. The clinical consequences of MN entrapment are dependent upon which branches are compressed. Compression of the MN motor branches can lead to paresis or weakness in the innervated muscles, whereas compression of the sensory branches can provoke neuralgia or paresthesia. Compression of one of the major branches of the MN, the lingual nerve (LN), is associated with numbness, hypoesthesia, or even anesthesia of the tongue, loss of taste in the anterior two thirds of the tongue, anesthesia of the lingual gums, pain, and speech articulation disorders. The aim of this article is to review, the anatomy of the MN and its major branches with relation to their vulnerability to entrapment. Because the LN expresses an increased vulnerability to entrapment neuropathies as a result of its anatomical location, frequent variations, as well as from irregular osseous, fibrous, or muscular irregularities in the region of the infratemporal fossa, particular emphasis is placed on the LN.

The education of Roma children presents many challenges throughout the world because of poverty, issues of isolation and discrimination. In many countries where Roma reside, laws exist that prohibit discrimination against this minority group. A variety of conflicting issues exist for Roma children. On one hand, the Roma communities practice cultural norms that are in conflict with a typical schooling environment that requires significant structure and lack of independent support. Conversely, schools fail to provide appropriate bilingual instruction for Roma children who usually do not speak the local language. In most countries discrimination attitudes create segregated schools and insufficient social services. Many efforts and organizations are in place to positively impact these challenges to provide quality education for all Roma children.

Με δεδομένη την έλλειψη καταλογισμού ποινικών ευθυνών στα νομικά πρόσωπα στην ελληνική έννομη τάξη, η συγκεκριμένη μελέτη αναδεικνύει συγκεκριμένα προβλήματα που αφορούν την ατομική ποινική ευθύνη των διευθυνόντων/ διοικητών, αλλά και των εκπροσώπων επιχειρήσεων, σε περιπτώσεις που με τις πράξεις των τελευταίων τελείται άδικη ποινική πράξη. Μετά την παρουσίαση κάποιων βασικών στοιχείων που αφορούν το ποινικό δίκαιο της επιχείρησης, γίνεται μία παρουσίαση κάποιων συγκεκριμένων ζητημάτων που ανακύπτουν κατά την απόδοση ατομικών ποινικών ευθυνών στα φυσικά αυτά πρόσωπα των επιχειρήσεων. Ακολουθεί μία προσπάθεια θεμελίωσης αυτών με τη βοήθεια των παγιωμένων κανόνων του Ποινικού Δικαίου, τόσο αυτών της ελληνικής, όσο και αυτών της γερμανικής θεωρίας και νομολογίας, παραθέτοντας κάθε φορά τις απαιτούμενες προϋποθέσεις για την πλήρωση της νομοτυπικής υπόστασης κάθε μηχανισμού απόδοσης ποινικών ευθυνών. Γενικότερος στόχος στη συγκεκριμένη μελέτη είναι να γίνει όσο το δυνατόν πιο σαφές για το αν και με ποιο τρόπο ευθύνονται τα παραπάνω πρόσωπα σε περιπτώσεις, που η επιχείρηση αναπτύσσει εγκληματική δραστηριότητα.