Division of Social Medicine - (Research Activities)
LABORATORY OF THE CLINIC OF SOCIAL & PREVENTIVE MEDICINE(A. Philalithis) Post-graduate students: 10, Technicians: 15, Post-doctoral students: 1 - Nutrition and health: How does the Mediterranean diet affect reproductive health, allergies and asthma in children, metabolic syndrome. Effect of nutrition in pregnancy and child health. Obesity, prevalence and aetiology, physical activity. Metabolic syndrome. Early biological and molecular markers of effects of nutrition and food contaminants on health. Long-term health effects of nutrition (cardiovascular system). Evaluation of health education in schools. Chemical pollutants and health: Drinking water contaminants and effects on new-borns and children (e.g. underweight, early pregnancy, asthma). Air- pollution and effects on new-borns and early childhood. Hormone disrupters (dioxins, phthalates and pesticides) and effects on male genitourinary system, allergies and neurodevelopment. Exposure to heavy metals and health. Interaction of chemical exposures and genetic factors (polymorphisms).Psycho-social factors: Psycho-social factors in the work environment. Their relation with musculoskeletal disorders, other physical symptoms and disability. Psycho-social factors and mother and child health. Prevalence and cause of postpartum depression. Effect of social capital on mother and child health. Psycho-social stress effects in adolescents. Evaluation and aetiology of neurodevelopment in children.Smoking and health: Effects of mothers' smoking and passive smoking on newborns and children. Evaluation of biological genotoxic markers (e.g. Micronuclei in cord blood) in relation to smoking. |
HEALTH PLANNING UNIT(A. Philalithis) |
LABORATORY OF THE CLINIC OF SOCIAL & FAMILY MEDICINE(Ch. Lionis) Involvement of Primary Health Care services in dealing with partner violence and development of tools and means for quality of care improvement on the basis of European experience. Study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management in Primary Health Care and General Practice. Student practice in Primary Health Care. Epidemiological and molecular study of Hepatitis viruses in a well defined rural area of Crete. Iron deficiency anaemia in Primary Health Care: Study in select General Medicine practices in Crete, Greece. Biological, psychological and social determinants of coronary disease among a low risk population in rural Crete, Greece. Epidemiologic study of herpes zoster. Vaccination coverage of first year students at the University of Crete and clinical effectiveness of interventions aimed towards their needs. |
BIOSTATISTICS LABORATORY(G. Chlouverakis, J. Moschandreas) The Biostatistics Lab provides guidance in the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of biomedical investigations, and aims to ensure that the results are of the highest scientific integrity and meet rigorous biostatistical standards. Research at the Biostatistics Lab is undertaken across a wide range of topics in medical statistics, in collaboration with other units within the medical school. As a participant in collaborative studies, the lab contributes to: study design; development of data collection forms; data management with emphasis on protocol adherence and data quality; development of new statistical methodology; statistical analysis of results; and preparation of scientific reports and publications. Recent work has involved mixed effects modelling in longitudinal data analysis, validation studies and the analysis of clustered data. Current independent research being undertaken is in the field of dietary exposure assessment in nursery school children in collaboration with nine other European countries. Faculty members at the Biostatistics Lab also contribute to the advancement of the quality of research by teaching Biostatistics both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. |
HISTORY OF MEDICINE & MEDICAL ETHICS RESEARCH LABORATORY(C. Trompoukis) Paleoradiology and palaeopathology: Application of modern medical imaging methods, primarily computed tomography and microtomography (micro-CT) for imaging the details of bone structure and its disorders. The role of imaging results in the development and history of diseases. History of illnesses: The role of an interdisciplinary approach in the evolution of diseases and the effects of illnesses on global history. Illness as a factor in historical and cultural development. Medicine as a factor in the formation of historical conditions. Documentation and creation of a complete digital database for Greek medicine, with the aim of linking it to similar international databases. The role of the history of medicine in the formation of the medical thought of the contemporary physician. Showcasing the contribution of Greek medicine during the ancient and medieval periods for the formation of contemporary medical thought. The role of Byzantine medicine in resolving great medical issues. |
