Browsing by Author "Tsirkas, Panagiotis"

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    Prevalence and clinical risk factors of stroke among hypertensive patients: A Cross-sectional study
    (Peninsula Press, 2026-03-09) Adamopoulos, Ioannis; Eslahi, Aida Vafae; Syrou, Niki; Mishra, Harshit; Tsirkas, Panagiotis; Ali, Guma
    Background: Stroke continues to be a primary cause of death and disability which mainly affects patients who have high blood pressure. The research set out to determine how often strokes occur together with their associated clinical risk factors in this specific patient group. Methods: Our research applied a quantitative method to perform a cross-sectional study which included 1,024 patients who had hypertension. Our research team conducted an analysis of 15 variables which included numerical data about patient age and their blood pressure readings and cholesterol measurements and categorical data about their gender and their heart disease status. Our research team conducted statistical analyses to identify which factors most strongly predicted the development of stroke in our patient population. Variables significant only in univariate analysis (p<0.05) but not retained after adjustment are displayed in the Univariate‑only section. ORs are plotted on a logarithmic scale, follows conventions consistent with Stata 17, data analysis through descriptive statistics and machine learning approaches while using Python and Excel as their main software applications. Results: Our research findings demonstrated that 25% of patients with hypertension developed strokes while age emerged as the most critical factor which increased stroke risk. The highest occurrence of 45% appeared in patients who were 70 years old or older. The research showed that glucose levels above 126 mg/dL together with obesity defined by a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher served as important predictive factors which achieved statistical significance through p-values of 0.002 and 0.01. The presence of heart disease was also linked to increased stroke risk (p 0.001), emphasizing the need for comprehensive assessments in this demographic. Conclusion: The research findings reveal an urgent requirement for focused treatment programs which target adjustable risk elements including patient age and high blood sugar levels and excess body weight in people with hypertension. Our research shows that active control of these risk elements will lower the chance of stroke development which proves that patients need to follow specific lifestyle changes and maintain their health through scheduled checkups to achieve better results for their condition. Article
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    Prevalence and health risk factors of nomophobia among students in private colleges
    (Modestum DOO, Serbia, 2026-03-31) Mahajan, Sunita; Thapa, Pramila Pudasaini; Sharma, Prakash; Tsirkas, Panagiotis; Ali, Guma; Diamanti, Konstantina; Adamopoulos, Ioannis Pantelis
    Nomophobia is the fear of being out of smartphone contact. This study examines its prevalence and potential links to socio-demographic and risk factors. Modern technologies have led to nomophobia, a psychosocial risk factor causing technostress. This fear of new technologies is influenced by ergonomics, which studies how humans physically react to and fit with devices. Technostress is a result of altered behaviors resulting from the use of modern technologies at work and home. The primary goal of this research was to assess the prevalence of nomophobia among college students with specific objectives and research questions. Researchers used a quantitative cross-sectional design to assess nomophobia among 231 higher secondary students. Participants completed a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire, and the study maintained ethical considerations. Researchers analyzed the data using SPSS version 26. The respondents had a mean age of 17.18 years. The study found that 49.8% used smartphones for more than 1-3 hours daily, while 28.1% checked their phones for notifications a few times daily. Findings revealed that 32% of respondents experienced mild nomophobia, 34.2% had a moderate level, and 33.8% suffered from severe nomophobia. Sixty-seven-point-five percent of respondents used smartphones primarily for social media. The study found no significant association between socio-demographic factors and nomophobia levels. However, daily smartphone usage showed a substantial correlation with nomophobia severity. These results indicate that most respondents experienced some degree of nomophobia, with its prevalence likely increasing. Effective management of nomophobia requires early detection and proactive intervention strategies.
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    The impact of microplastics on global public health, distribution, and contamination: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    (Springer Nature, 2025-10-27) Adamopoulos, Ioannis; Valamontes, Antonios; Karantonis, John T.; Syrou, Niki; Mpourazanis, George; Tsirkas, Panagiotis; Mpourazanis, Pantelis; Ali, Guma; Mijwil, Maad M.; Tornjanski, Vesna; Frantzana, Aikaterini; Vogiatzis, Romanos; Dounias, George; Lamnisos, Demetris
    Purpose: Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are an emerging environmental contaminant of concern due to their widespread presence in air, water, food, and human tissue. Although the evidence has identified MPs in the bloodstream, placentas, and excrement, suggesting chronic internal exposure, MPs' health outcomes and biological mechanisms remain inadequate. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis follow PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and the Coherence risk of bias tools to evaluate MPs' exposure pathways and health risks. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and other databases identified 2441 initial records. 78 studies met the inclusion criteria. Ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact pathways were analysed, and observational and toxicological studies were assessed. Results: Ingestion accounted for ~ 74% of MP exposure pathways, followed by inhalation (22%) and dermal absorption (4%). MPs were detected in 33–65% of human faecal and blood samples across national surveys. Meta-analysis-random-effects models and test of overall effect size z = 1.18, p-value = 0,24 were used to account for inter-study variance. Homogeneity: Q  = 1.16 and Heterogeneity: H-squared = 1,00. Conclusions: Animal studies suggest MPs induce oxidative stress, inflammation, immune disruption, and endocrine effects. However, causality in human populations remains unverified due to inconsistent study designs and exposure quantification methods. Subgroup analysis revealed stronger associations with reproductive, gastrointestinal, and neurotoxic markers in rodent models. MPs exposure is recognised as a ubiquitous and potentially hazardous public health concern. This study underscores the pressing need for long-term studies and effective public risk strategies to mitigate human exposure and safeguard the ecosystem.