Theocharis Koufakis
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View article: Preliminary Study on Circulating REG3α and Its Associations with Vitamin D Supplementation and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Adults with Overweight and Obesity
Preliminary Study on Circulating REG3α and Its Associations with Vitamin D Supplementation and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Adults with Overweight and Obesity Open
Objective: Obesity is characterized by chronic inflammation and gut dysbiosis, yet circulating markers reflecting intestinal immune activation remain limited. Regenerating islet-derived protein 3 alpha (REG3α), an antimicrobial peptide sec…
View article: Safety and Efficacy of Salt Restriction Across the Spectrum of Heart Failure
Safety and Efficacy of Salt Restriction Across the Spectrum of Heart Failure Open
Dietary sodium restriction is widely recommended in heart failure (HF) management; however, its benefits and risks remain a subject of ongoing debate. While moderate sodium reduction may improve symptoms and quality of life in selected pat…
View article: Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB): Pathophysiological Mechanisms Related to Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease
Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB): Pathophysiological Mechanisms Related to Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease Open
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease caused by the resistance of tissues to the actions of insulin as well as the progressive failure to produce adequate amounts of insulin in pancreatic β-cells. Research has further shown …
View article: Gaps in Glycaemic Monitoring and Underuse of Cardioprotective Glucose-lowering Agents: Challenges of inpatient diabetes care identified by EFIM’s Diabesity Day Survey 2024
Gaps in Glycaemic Monitoring and Underuse of Cardioprotective Glucose-lowering Agents: Challenges of inpatient diabetes care identified by EFIM’s Diabesity Day Survey 2024 Open
We observed an underuse of cardioprotective glucose-lowering therapies, low rates of glycaemic monitoring, and low availability of HbA1c readings, concluding that clinical guidelines are not sufficiently implemented in everyday practice in…
View article: Strong Association Between MiRNA Gene Variants and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Caucasian Population
Strong Association Between MiRNA Gene Variants and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Caucasian Population Open
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, have emerged as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for various diseases. However, their role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains insufficiently defined. This…
View article: Exploring the Role of Presepsin in the Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: Results from the PLACEBO Study
Exploring the Role of Presepsin in the Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: Results from the PLACEBO Study Open
Background: Presepsin, a soluble CD14 subtype released during immune activation, has emerged as a marker of inflammation in cardiometabolic disorders. Given the links between inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and atrial fibrillation (…
View article: Pursuing remission in type 2 diabetes: Competing strategies or complementary paths?
Pursuing remission in type 2 diabetes: Competing strategies or complementary paths? Open
View article: Interleukin-6-Related Inflammatory Burden in Type 1 Diabetes: Evidence for Elevation with Suboptimal Glycemic Control
Interleukin-6-Related Inflammatory Burden in Type 1 Diabetes: Evidence for Elevation with Suboptimal Glycemic Control Open
Background/Objectives: Inflammation is a hallmark of diabetes, with interleukin-6 (IL-6) emerging as a key mediator linking immune activation with metabolic regulation. Although IL-6 has been studied in both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabete…
View article: Dual incretin agonism and the gut microbiome: does the heart of metabolic regulation beat in the gut?
Dual incretin agonism and the gut microbiome: does the heart of metabolic regulation beat in the gut? Open
View article: Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Isolates from Hospitalized Medical Patients; An Emerging Pathogen in the Non-Critically Ill
Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Isolates from Hospitalized Medical Patients; An Emerging Pathogen in the Non-Critically Ill Open
Until recently, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was considered a low-virulence pathogen, usually found as an environmental commensal and colonizer of moist abiotic surfaces. Lately, it has increasingly been implicated in invasive infections w…
View article: Divergent Interleukin-6 Responses to Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Insights From Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Divergent Interleukin-6 Responses to Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Insights From Continuous Glucose Monitoring Open
View article: Efficacy of Biologic Agents and Small Molecules for Endoscopic Improvement and Mucosal Healing in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Efficacy of Biologic Agents and Small Molecules for Endoscopic Improvement and Mucosal Healing in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Open
Background and Aim: The therapeutic landscape for ulcerative colitis (UC) is rapidly evolving, with an increasing number of biologic agents available. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized randomized controlled trials (RCTs)…
View article: <scp>CONFIDENCE</scp> in the safety and efficacy of dual therapy with an <scp>SGLT</scp> ‐2 inhibitor and finerenone in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes
<span>CONFIDENCE</span> in the safety and efficacy of dual therapy with an <span>SGLT</span> ‐2 inhibitor and finerenone in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes Open
View article: Metabolomics Insights into the Benefits of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes
Metabolomics Insights into the Benefits of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes Open
SGLT2 inhibitors consistently induce a metabolic shift away from glucose utilization toward more energy-efficient substrates, including ketone bodies, fatty acids, and certain amino acids. These metabolomic adaptations may underlie their o…
View article: Continuous Glucose Monitoring During Recreational Diving in Type 1 Diabetes: Navigating Clinical and Technical Uncertainties
Continuous Glucose Monitoring During Recreational Diving in Type 1 Diabetes: Navigating Clinical and Technical Uncertainties Open
Recreational diving with self-contained underwater breathing devices is gaining popularity worldwide as a sport and leisure activity. People living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (PLT1D) are no exception, although historically diabetes mell…
View article: And the Dog Was Barking: Transforming Quality of Life in Diabetes Through Innovative Hypoglycemia Detection
And the Dog Was Barking: Transforming Quality of Life in Diabetes Through Innovative Hypoglycemia Detection Open
View article: Efficacy of Dual Glucagon and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Across the Cardiometabolic Continuum: A Review of Current Clinical Evidence
Efficacy of Dual Glucagon and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Across the Cardiometabolic Continuum: A Review of Current Clinical Evidence Open
The global surge in cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, has reached pandemic levels, demanding bold and innovative solutions. Dual glucagon (Gcg) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) re…
View article: Circulating Beta-Defensin 2 Levels Correlate with Conventional Inflammatory Markers in Infection-Free Individuals with Overweight and Obesity: An Exploratory Study
Circulating Beta-Defensin 2 Levels Correlate with Conventional Inflammatory Markers in Infection-Free Individuals with Overweight and Obesity: An Exploratory Study Open
Background/Objectives: The role of intestinal dysbiosis as an important driver of inflammation in metabolic disorders is becoming increasingly evident. Beta-defensin 2 is an antimicrobial peptide that contributes to innate immunity, while …
View article: Pediatric Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Targeting Intestinal Absorption and Other Therapeutic Strategies
Pediatric Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Targeting Intestinal Absorption and Other Therapeutic Strategies Open
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder marked by significantly elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) since childhood, substantially increasing the risk of premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascu…
View article: Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis Presenting With Disseminated Streptococcus constellatus Pyogenic Infection
Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis Presenting With Disseminated Streptococcus constellatus Pyogenic Infection Open
View article: High Diagnostic Performance of the Indicator Plaster Neuropad for the Detection of Established Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
High Diagnostic Performance of the Indicator Plaster Neuropad for the Detection of Established Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy Open
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of the Indicator Plaster Neuropad in detecting established Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy (DAN). Methods: We studied 180 patients with Diabetes Mellitus (D…
View article: Evaluating Guideline Alignment by Analyzing Patient Profiles of Elderly People with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Treated or Not with SGLT2 Inhibitors
Evaluating Guideline Alignment by Analyzing Patient Profiles of Elderly People with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Treated or Not with SGLT2 Inhibitors Open
Background/Objectives: Current guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) strongly recommend the use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to alleviate cardiorenal …
View article: “Experience Is Simply the Name We Give to Our Mistakes”: A New Opportunity to Improve Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes
“Experience Is Simply the Name We Give to Our Mistakes”: A New Opportunity to Improve Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Open
View article: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Myocardial Perfusion: Bridging Mechanisms to Clinical Outcomes
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Myocardial Perfusion: Bridging Mechanisms to Clinical Outcomes Open
Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a key contributor to myocardial ischemia and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in individuals with metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). While conventional therapies prim…
View article: Presepsin: An Emerging Biomarker in the Management of Cardiometabolic Disorders
Presepsin: An Emerging Biomarker in the Management of Cardiometabolic Disorders Open
Background/Objectives: Systemic and tissue inflammation play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic disorders. Presepsin is a newly discovered marker of acute phase inflammation that is produced by monocytes or macrophage…
View article: Obesity, but Not Overweight, Is Associated with Increased Presepsin Levels in Infection-Free Individuals: An Exploratory Study
Obesity, but Not Overweight, Is Associated with Increased Presepsin Levels in Infection-Free Individuals: An Exploratory Study Open
Background/Objectives: Intestinal dysbiosis and systemic inflammation are involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and its complications. Presepsin is a recently discovered inflammation marker, being the soluble form of the bacterial lip…
View article: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of the SUMOylation Pathway in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of the SUMOylation Pathway in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Open
Epigenetics encompasses heritable and stable changes in gene expression caused by external chromosomal modifications, without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications, established during early development and maintain…
View article: Insights into the results of Resmetirom trials: Can a thyroid hormone receptor agonist be the holy grail of MASH therapy?
Insights into the results of Resmetirom trials: Can a thyroid hormone receptor agonist be the holy grail of MASH therapy? Open
Despite the heavy individual patient and socioeconomic burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), until recently, no pharmacological therapy for MASH was approved, with available treatment options geared towards ass…
View article: Editorial: Weighing the impact of being overweight on female reproductive function and fertility
Editorial: Weighing the impact of being overweight on female reproductive function and fertility Open
View article: Hepatic Iron Overload and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Insights into Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches
Hepatic Iron Overload and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Insights into Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches Open
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer, is rising in global incidence and mortality. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease…