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A 1-year monitoring study is presented on the chemical status of two surface water reservoirs in a decentralized Mediterranean island. Water samples were collected at varying depths in the two surface water reservoirs and different seasons between November 2015 and September 2016, covering both wet and dry periods of the year. Samples were analyzed in order to determine major chemical parameters and priority substances based on the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the latest revision of the Priority Substances Policy Directive (2013/39/EU). Tested parameters in both reservoirs did not exceed the set limits. Increased pollutant concentrations were observed in the bottom samples. More than 200 pesticide active substances were determined but none of them was above the parametric trigger value (0.1 µg L-1). Toxic metals were not detected in the examined water samples, whereas the relatively high concentrations of Mn and Cu in the bottom samples are mainly attributed to geogenic background concentrations. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the chemical situation of both water reservoirs is considered acceptable; however, continuous monitoring should be implemented in the area.

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BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the arterial stiffness and myocardial deformation in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus type 2 before and after glycemic control by optimal medication. METHODS: In 50 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes(age:52±10years)and 25 controls of similar age and sex and no atherosclerotic risk factors we measured at baseline and 6 months after glycemic control a) carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(PWVc m/sec-Complior SP ALAM),central systolic blood pressure(cSBP -mmHg),augmentation index(AI%), of the aortic pulse wave(ArteriographTensioMed) b)S',E'(m/sec)andE'/A'of mitral annulus by Tissue Doppler c)LV longitudinal strain(GLS-%),systolic(LongSr-l/sec)and diastolic(LongSrE-l/sec)strain rate, twisting(Tw-deg),peak twisting(Tw)and untwisting(unTw-deg/sec)velocity using speckle tracking echocardiography.The degree of LV untwisting was calculated as the percentage difference between peak twisting and untwisting at MVO(%dp PeakTw-UntwMVO)and between peak twisting and untwisting at peak and end of the mitral inflow E wave d)perfusion boundary region(PBR- micrometers)of the sublingual arterial microvessels(ranged from 5-25 micrometers)using Sideview,Darkfield imaging(Microscan,Glycocheck).Increased PBR is considered an accurate index of reduced endothelial glucocalyx thickness because of a deeper RBC penetration in the glucocalyx e) Flow mediated dilatation(FMD) of the brachial artery and percentage difference of FMD (FMD%). RESULTS: Compared to controls,diabetics had higher PWVa(10.3±2.2 vs. 8.1±1.9), AI(27.9±15 vs. 19.4±14.7), PWVc(11.8±3.2 vs. 8.8±1.3),cSBP(136±20 vs. 119±18),PBR (2.1±0.2 vs 1.89±0.1)and lower GLS(-15±3 vs. -18±3),LongSr(-0.78±0.1 vs. -0.96±0.2),LongSrE(0.77±0.29 vs. 1.2±0.3),S',E' and E/A(p<0.05 for all comparisons). Baseline FMD was related with Untw at peak E%(r=0,65, p<0.05). Six months after the modification of antidiabetic medication all patients achieved glycaemic control and there was a reduction of PWVc(12.3±2.9 vs. 11.3±3.2,p<0.05) in parallel with a increase of Untw velocity (-73±27 vs. -98±43,p<0.05),Untw MVO%(20±9 vs. 30±2),Untw peak E% (40±14 vs. 50±16)and FMD%(7.8±3 vs. 13.6±11,p<0.01).Reduced PWVc was related with reduced SBP(r=0.62),cSBP(r=0.55)and increased LongsrE(r=-0.50), Untw at end E(r=-0.56)respectively(p<0.05 for all associations). CONCLUSION: Glycaemic control after optimizing medical treatment improves arterial stiffness, LV myocardial strain, twisting and untwisting velocity in diabetics.

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Congenital lymphangiectasia with lymphedema is a disorder constituting the main defect in many different genetic syndromes. Herein we describe a 23-year-old male patient with congenital lymphangiectasia and severe lymphedema of the right leg, scrotum, and abdominal wall, who presented with end-stage renal disease, presumably due to cystic renal lymphangiectasia, and is undergoing chronic hemodialysis treatment.

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The eye movements of 13 dyslexics, 10 normal, and 16 retarded readers were recorded while they sequentially fixated 7 equidistantly spaced digits from left to right (L----R) and right to left (R----L). This nonreading task simulated the sequential motor components of the reading process. Dyslexics and their controls were selected on the basis of comprehensive and quantifiable criteria. All three groups were of the same chronological age. The dyslexics and retarded readers had also the same reading difficulties, but the causes of their problems were different. Dyslexics made significantly more regressions than the normal or the retarded readers in both directions (L----R and R----L). These results were in line with the ones reported in similar studies and suggest that the dyslexics' erratic eye movements and their excessive number of regressions are present even in nonreading, nonverbal sequential tasks. It may, therefore, be possible to use the eye movement records from nonreading sequential tasks for the objective diagnosis of dyslexia. As such tasks do not depend on reading, they may even be used before reading age.

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Studies of dyslexia often produce contradictory results. Studies of eye movement are not an exception to this rule. The differences between Black, et al.'s 1984 and Pavlidis's 1981 eye-movement results are mainly due to differences in: (a) unquantifiable and variable criteria for selection of subjects, (b) incompatible experimental designs and procedures, (c) varying stimulus characteristics, and (d) major differences in the methods of data acquisition and analysis. The solution of these problems requires the establishment of quantifiable Research Diagnostic Criteria for Dyslexia and the use of compatible methods of data acquisition and analysis. The adoption of these standards would lead to a better understanding of dyslexia and would also make possible meaningful replications of major studies.

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The results of the Pavlidis' dyslexia studies are consistent with the existing literature and have also been recently replicated using the same subject selection criteria, instructions to subjects, experimental procedures, tests and analyses. Stanley et al.'s: (a) subject selection criteria, (b) instructions to subjects, (c) experimental procedures, (d) temporo-spatial characteristics of the sequentially illuminated LEDs and (e) data analysis procedures differ from those used in the Pavlidis' studies and, therefore, also differ their results.

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