Greek Site Research Articles

Molecular Diagnostics and Treatment Patterns in Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Real World Evidence from Greece: LACHESIS Study.

Lung cancer, primarily non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. In Greece in 2020, 8,960 new cases were reported. NSCLC's 5-year survival rates range from 54% (stage I) to less than 2% (stage IV); however, innovative therapies like immune check points inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted treatments have notably enhanced outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the 1st and 2nd line treatment patterns with the introduction of new treatment modalities. Additionally, we evaluated biomarker testing approaches in NSCLC. LACHESIS was a retrospective multinational study, collecting and analyzing data from adult patients from Russia, Bulgaria, and Greece with metastatic NSCLC either newly diagnosed or relapsed from earlier stages, who had the option to undergo biomarker testing (genetic alterations/programmed death-ligand 1 protein expression levels, PD-L1), and who received 1st line treatment for squamous (SQ) or non-squamous (N-SQ) NSCLC. Subsequent lines of therapy were also reported. The Greek site registered retrospective data from 250 NSCLC patients, of whom 206 were newly diagnosed (ND) metastatic NSCLC patients and 44 were patients relapsed from earlier stages. Seventy-two had SQ NSCLC and 169 had N-SQ NSCLC. For these patients, treatment patterns including immunotherapy±chemotherapy combinations were recorded. Biomarker testing patterns, including genetic alterations and PD-L1 expression levels were also documented. LACHESIS provides treatment patterns and biomarker testing data. Greek patients were treated according to international guidelines, with immunotherapy as a viable option, particularly for PD-L1 levels over 50%. Biomarker testing, crucial for non-squamous (N-SQ) cases, should yield timely results for driver mutations, prioritizing patient benefits.

Integration of Geophysical Survey Data for the Identification of New Archaeological Remains in the Subsoil of the Akrai Greek Site (Sicily, Italy)

For more than a decade now, geophysical prospecting has been considered an integral part of archaeological research; the ability to quickly investigate large areas and locate objects buried in the ground without directly interacting with it is a key feature that makes such surveys essential for identifying and locating, with good accuracy, buried archaeological remains. In this study, two extensive magnetic and electromagnetic surveys were carried out in two different areas of the Akrai archaeological site, where given the distribution of archaeological remains already found at the site, it was likely that additional buried remains were present. The surveys were performed using a proton precession magnetometer and a multifrequency electromagnetic device with a frequency range of 2.5–250 kHz. By processing the data, the vertical magnetic gradient and electrical conductivity maps were obtained. Furthermore, 3D models of electrical conductivity distribution were reconstructed. On comparing the results, it was notable that many anomalies characterized by low vertical gradient values were identified within areas characterized by low electrical conductivity values. These anomalies detected by both surveys can be associated with good probability with buried archaeological remains made up of limestones. In fact, they exhibit shapes and sizes comparable to those of the wall remains already found at the site.

How Different Mulch Materials Regulate Soil Moisture and Microbiological Activity?

As a result of climate change, the frequency of droughts across Europe is showing an increasing trend. The solution to this problem can be various soil cover techniques, which help to preserve soil moisture and soil biological activity, thereby increasing crop yield. In our research, we examined how different mulch materials affect the regulation of soil moisture and the microbiological activity of the soil. The experiments were set up on two sites: a sandy soil with a low soil organic matter content (Királyhalom, Serbia) and an coarse loamy soil with a higher water capacity (Thessaloniki, Greece). The treatments were set up in 4 repetitions with pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). Daily intensive irrigation with wool mulch, agrotextile, straw mulch and control treatments was used on the Serbian site. The irrigation was carried out every 6 days at the Greek site, where the treatments were as follows: wool mulch with plants, wool mulch without plants, plants without mulch and the control without plants. The yield was measured, and the moisture content, β-glucosidase activity and active (permanganate oxidizable) carbon content of the soils at the time of sampling were examined every 2 weeks. In the Serbian area, wool mulch showed significantly lower β-glucosidase activity compared to the other treatments. This was presumably due to the good water absorption capacity of the wool mulch and the fact that the soil could not aerate in addition to the intensive irrigation, thus the enzyme activity decreased. All mulch treatments increased the active carbon content compared to the untreated control, with the straw mulch to the greatest extent. In the extensively irrigated Greek soil, β-glucosidase was significantly higher in pepper plots covered with wool mulch compared to the control area without plants, but also higher compared to pepper plots not covered with wool mulch. The higher yield results measured on the mulched plots indicate that, in addition to water retention, biological activity also plays a major role in the development of yields. The effect of each mulching method on soil biological activity depends on the degradability of the mulch material, the frequency of irrigation, and the soil's water-holding capacity.

Officina di IG XIV2 – Three New Votive Inscriptions from the Sanctuary of the Spring of Saturo (TA)

The paper provides the first edition of three vase inscriptions, brought to light in 1976 from the so called ‘Santuario della Sorgente’, in the Greek site of Saturo. The texts, dating from 6th to 5th c. BC, are all related to local cults: two of them are dedicated to the Basilìs, a local goddess attested by other dedications, while the third is devoted to the cult of an anonymous goddess. The latter inscription also presents the verb ἀποδίδωμι, in a formula rarely attested elsewhere at this age. The cults practice witnessed by these new documents shows some similarities between the site of Saturo and inland Messapian sanctuaries.

Officina di IG XIV2 – Three New Votive Inscriptions from the Sanctuary of the Spring of Saturo (TA)

The paper provides the first edition of three vase inscriptions, brought to light in 1976 from the so called ‘Santuario della Sorgente’, in the Greek site of Saturo. The texts, dating from 6th to 5th c. BC, are all related to local cults: two of them are dedicated to the Basilìs, a local goddess attested by other dedications, while the third is devoted to the cult of an anonymous goddess. The latter inscription also presents the verb ἀποδίδωμι, in a formula rarely attested elsewhere at this age. The cults practice witnessed by these new documents shows some similarities between the site of Saturo and inland Messapian sanctuaries.

P926: DARATUMUMAB, BORTEZOMIB AND DEXAMETHASONE FOR TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RELAPSED OR REFRACTORY MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND SEVERE RENAL IMPAIRMENT: RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 2 GMMG-DANTE TRIAL

Background: Renal function impairment is one of the main characteristics of multiple myeloma (MM) leading to diagnosis and defining treatment requirement in first-line and subsequent relapse. However, limited data exist on safety and efficacy of anti-MM regimens in patients (pts) with severe renal impairment and those requiring hemodialysis as pts are mostly excluded from clinical trials and specific trials in this indication are rare. Proteasome inhibitors as bortezomib (BTZ) are known to represent one of the preferable drug classes in patients with renal impairment due to rapid response, lack of dose adjustment and renoprotective effects. Daratumumab (DARA) is an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody which enhances response rates and efficacy when added to standard of care regimens, both in newly diagnosed and relapsed and refractory (RR)MM. The combination of BTZ, dexamethasone (DEX), and DARA (DVd) has been shown to be efficacious and safe in RRMM in the phase 3 study CASTOR (Palumbo et al., NEJM 2016). In the CASTOR trial, pts with a GFR < 20 ml/min were excluded. Aims: Here, we present results from the primary analysis of the investigator-initiated multicenter GMMG-DANTE (NCT02977494) trial investigating DVd in RRMM pts with severe renal impairment including pts on hemodialysis. Methods: RRMM pts with measurable disease who had received at least 1 prior line of therapy and a GFR < 30 ml/min or undergoing hemodialysis were eligible. Pts received DVd in the approved schedule with 8 cycles (21 d/cycle) of BTZ (1.3 mg/m2, SC) on Days 1, 4, 8, and 11 and DEX (20 mg, PO or IV) on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12 + DARA (16 mg/kg, IV) given weekly for cycles 1-3, Q3W for cycles 4-8, and Q4W thereafter. 36 patients were planned to be included into the trial. The trial was closed prematurely after 22 patients due to inferior recruitment. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Key secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. Response assessment was performed using the IMWG criteria. Results: 22 pts from 6 German and one Greek site were included from 2017-2020. Analyzed population included 21 patients. Median age was 70 years. Median GFR was 21.0 ml/min, 8 patients were under hemodialysis. Median number of prior lines was 2 (range 1-10). All patients started DVd treatment. For one patient it was not possible to obtain a response. ORR was 67% (14/20) with 6 pts (29%) showing a partial response (PR), 6 pts (29%) a very good partial response (VGPR) and 2 pts (10%) a complete response (CR). Median treatment duration was 24 weeks (range 2-106). After a median follow-up of 28 months, median PFS was 10.4 months, median OS was not reached (OS after 24 months until 39 months plateau 0.504). The most frequent toxicity ≥ grade 3 was hematologic, with anemia in 23.8%, thrombocytopenia in 23.8% and neutropenia in 9.5%. Main non-hematologic adverse events (AEs) ≥ grade 3 were infections (23.8%) with mainly pneumonias. Polyneuropathy all grade was described in 52.4%. Summary/Conclusion: In this phase II prospective trial we demonstrated that DVd shows relevant efficacy in RRMM pts with severe renal impairment and can be safely administered. Efficacy is comparable to the one reported in patients with no severe renal impairment. Toxicity does not differ from previously reported data on DVd. Acknowledging the generally reported impaired outcome of MM pts showing severe renal impairment, PFS and OS underline the importance of effective MM regimens which can be safely administered in a difficult to treat population.

Het onzichtbare Olympia

Abstract Although ancient Olympia is usually viewed as a Classical Greek site, most buildings that are visible nowadays were not there yet when Pindar celebrated famous victors or Peisistratos and Alcibiades won their races. More generally, even though new research has substantially improved our knowledge, the early history of the site is often still neglected in introductory presentations of the site. In this article some important main issues are discussed. First, new excavations have revealed that Bronze Age occupation of the area cannot be connected to the later cult, as some scholars have argued in the past. The older remains were covered by flooding of the nearby rivers when the sanctuary was founded in the 11th century BCE. Up to the late 7th century the sanctuary remained an open area around a large ash altar. Its main structure was a large dam protecting it from floods. The temple now associated with Hera, built around 600 BCE, was the first monumental building of the sanctuary. Recent research suggests this may originally have been dedicated to Zeus, but this cannot be proven conclusively. The common idea that this temple was originally a wooden construction has now also been debunked.

The Village beyond the Village: Communities in Rural Landscapes in Ancient Greek Countrysides

Villages in the Classical Greek world consisted of more than a nucleated settlement: the human relationships of rural village communities linked together a variety of spaces and locations in the wider countryside. This means that no one site or location in the landscape makes sense without reference to others with which it was entwined. Moreover, these relationships, and hence the uses of particular sites and places, changed rapidly over time. These aspects of the Classical village are most evident in the occupation histories of excavated small, rural sites. Five such sites from across the Greek world are Pyrgouthi (Berbati Valley, near Mycenae), Sant'Angelo Vecchio and Fattoria Fabrizio (chora of Metaponto, Basilicata), the Vari House (Mt. Hymettus, Attica), and the Umbro Greek site (Bova Marina, southern Calabria).

Exploring variation in infant feeding practices in Byzantine Greece using stable isotope analysis of dentin serial sections

AbstractInfant feeding practices are explored in the early Byzantine Greek site of Nemea (5th–6th centuries) to better understand breastfeeding, weaning, and early diet of children in ancient Greece. Dentin serial sections were obtained from the permanent first molars and first premolars of 26 adults (seven males, eight females, and 11 of unknown sex) and analyzed for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. The isotopic data demonstrated that most individuals were breastfed and were fully weaned by around 2.6 years on average (range 1.8 to 3.6 years). A range of infant feeding practices was observed at Nemea. Some individuals were breastfed, while others were never breastfed or consumed breast milk for a short period of time, yet survived to adulthood. Sex‐based differences were not found as males and females were fully weaned at an average of 2.5 (1.9–3.3 years) and 2.4 (1.9–3.6 years) years, respectively. This is an important finding given the contradictory evidence of written sources regarding preferential treatment of male and female infants. Compared with traditional bulk analyses of subadult bone collagen, this study illustrates the utility of additional information obtained from dentin serial sections for capturing the nuances of infant feeding practices in ancient societies.

Kynos Through Time: Decorated Pottery Sherds from Eleven Strata of a Homeric Greek Site.

Excavations at the Kynos settlement, a Homeric site and the home of an early school of key Greek pictorial pottery painting, revealed extensive remains of several chronological horizons which continuously span the period from Middle Helladic (∼2100 BC) to Byzantine times (330 AD onwards), along with thousands of decorated sherds. The scope of the present study is the exploration of the technological traits of this pottery, which would contribute substantially to the archaeological understanding of the site. Samples from a sizeable assembly of decorated sherds were studied by means of analytical techniques, i.e., scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analyzer, micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF). Results indicate that the dark decorations have been achieved by versions of the iron reduction (IRe) technique using mostly materials identical to those of the red decorations, while for the white decorations contrast-enhancing Ca-Mg-enriched clays were used. All coexisting red and dark hues reflect similar compositions while the color difference is due to the thicker application of the darker decorations, which are thus not affected by the last oxidative firing stage of the IRe technique. X-ray fluorescence analysis focusing on several clay-origin markers shows that only a minority of samples is of non-local character and continuity in Kynos pottery tradition, at least as far as raw materials is suggested. Some of the local body-clays exhibit a puzzling enhanced level of Ni, Cu, and Zn at a nearly fixed ratio. Finally, we find that XRF may provide valuable nondestructive analysis in the case of fine pottery decorative layers of cultural significance.

Morgantina Revisited: An Architect’s Recollections

The ancient Greek site of Morgantina in central Sicily is well known to students of architecture, city planning, numismatics, and other related fields in Classical Studies. It was first settled on the Cittadella hill in the Bronze and Iron Ages. The arrival of Greeks in the early sixth century BC resulted in the creation of a settlement also on Cittadella with a shrine (naiskos) decorated with brightly colored architectural terracottas and with houses. Imported Greek pottery found within the settlement and in the tombs bears witness to extensive trade, and Morgantina also minted its own coins.

In Search of Agamemnon: Early Travellers to Mycenae

In Search of Agamemnon: Early Travellers to Mycenae

The MossesAschisma carniolicum,Campylostelium strictumandTimmiella flexisetaon the Eastern Aegean Islands, New to Greece, and a Second Locality forSyntrichia latifolia

Abstract: Blockeel, T. L. 2016. The mosses Aschisma carniolicum, Campylostelium strictum and Timmiella flexiseta on the Eastern Aegean Islands, new to Greece, and a second locality for Syntrichia latifolia. — Herzogia 29: 52–58. The mosses Campylostelium strictum and Timmiella flexiseta, previously known from Macaronesia and the western Mediterranean region are reported new to Greece from the Eastern Aegean islands. The moss Aschisma carniolicum is also new to Greece, and an extant Greek site for Syntrichia latifolia on the island of Samos is confirmed. Some diagnostic characters for these species are illustrated from the Greek material.

Are Catalans ignoring archaeology?

So declares the new introduction to the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia (MAC), in Barcelona. It is too modest. The collection is big. It concentrates on Catalonia and its culture area but there are finds from further afield, notably Bronze Age Argaric material. Extensive space is devoted to the late prehistory of the Balearic Islands, a magnificent collection from the Greek and Roman site of Empúries (Ampurias, ancient Emporium, Emporiae), and to the late prehistoric 'Iberian' culture, including the Tivissa treasure. There is also a good collection of Visigothic material. To the visitor from northern Europe, the museum is a reminder of how much there is to find in a country for so long heavily populated.

Underwater archaeologists studying one of many column sections lying on the seafloor just off the ancient Greek site of Kaulonia, Ionian Sea margin of Calabria, southern Italy

Underwater archaeologists studying one of many column sections lying on the seafloor just off the ancient Greek site of Kaulonia, Ionian Sea margin of Calabria, southern Italy

Giraffidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Kalimantsi and Hadjidimovo, Southwestern Bulgaria

The various Late Miocene localities around the Bulgaria yielded a rich collection of giraffes, including Helladotherium duvernoyi, Bohlinia attica and Palaeotragus rouenii. These are the same species as at Pikermi, suggesting that there is no great age difference between these localities, but the limb-bones of both former species are stouter at Kalimantsi than in the Greek site, a difference which is perhaps of ecological origin. The absence of Samotherium, known in the geographically close sites of Greek Macedonia might be a consequence of the isolation of the river basins.

Components of short‐term invasibility in experimental Mediterranean grasslands

The paper reports findings of a natural invasibility study in constructed Mediterranean grasslands, located in the Greek site of the BIODEPTH project. Three different components of invasibility, i.e. species richness, abundance and rarity of invaders, have been monitored in experimental plots where the resident diversity ranged from monocultures to 18‐species mixtures. Invaders’ richness and abundance were negatively correlated to the resident diversity, while the occurrence of rare invaders was strongly positively correlated to the resident diversity. Standing biomass explained also a significant part of the variation of communities’ invasibility. Soil nutrients and structural traits of the constructed vegetation such as the space‐filling showed no influence in the definition of the overall pattern of invasibility in these communities. A verbal model of selection of invaders at the neighbourhood scale is proposed to explain these diverging trends of invasibility.

PLFA profiles of microbial communities in decomposing conifer litters subject to moisture stress

The influence of moisture stress on microbial communities in decomposing coniferous litters was investigated using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling. Studies were carried out in German and Greek forest plots under contrasting climatic conditions from the late summer to the early winter periods. Litterbags containing spruce (Germany) or pine (Greece) needles were subjected to different irrigation treatments over 4 months. The influences of climate and litter type on microbial community structure were larger than those imposed by irrigation or moisture stress treatments. In the German spruce litter, the PLFA signatures indicated that there was initially a larger bacterial than fungal biomass and both components decreased with time. Concentrations of individual PLFA, proportions of PLFA subgroups and principal component (PC) scores showed that, apart from sample date, mesh size was more important than irrigation treatment in determining microbial community structure; though treatment effects were less apparent in the third (winter) sample. Pine litter in the Greek site, with a Mediterranean climate, had a larger fungal than bacterial biomass. Little effect of treatment on individual PLFA concentrations or PC scores was measured, though both fungal and bacterial communities increased significantly with regular irrigation in the third (winter) sample. Effects of mesh size in the German spruce litter were related to differences in the abundance of microarthropods. This effect was absent from the Greek pine litter where there was a relatively low abundance of fauna. The final spruce litter sample, taken in winter, exhibited very different PC scores from other samples, suggesting marked changes in the microbial community in response to snow melt. Certain long chain fatty acids associated with eukaryotes were only found on this occasion. This study has shown that structure of bacterial communities associated with decomposing conifer litters is highly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. There was, however, little indication that these differences in biota were functionally important for the initial phases of plant litter decomposition.

Hidden diversity and productivity patterns in mixed Mediterranean grasslands

A detailed study of the variation in productivity across a diversity gradient in an experimental Mediterranean grassland examines the effects of a dominant perennial grass species upon the overall diversity–productivity relationship. The experiment took place at the Greek site of the European‐wide BIODEPTH programme. The experimental design is characterized by the use of a number of communities containing annuals and perennials within the total set of manipulated plots. The main results are: 1) a log‐linear relationship between diversity and productivity exists in Mediterranean grasslands synthesized by annuals only, 2) in mixed communities where multiple growth forms coexist, the performance of a dominant or keystone species may reverse or hide the diversity–productivity pattern of a functional or growth form group of species taken separately, and 3) the introduction of the dominant grass in the low‐diversity mixtures creates an ‘inverted’ sampling effect which can produce as an artefact a constant productivity response across the diversity gradient.

Technology of Production of Fine Pottery Excavated on a Western Greek Site Investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy Coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Detection

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray detection was used to study fragments of fine pottery excavated on the archaeological site at Locri Epizephiri (Southern Italy). The fragments analysed were specimens of black coated ware and included pieces suspected to have been produced on the site in the course of the fourth and third centuries BC and suspected imports from foreign centres of production. Comparison between the composition of slip and body of the samples indicated that selection and refinement of clays led to silicon and calcium depletion and aluminium, iron and potassium enrichment in the coating. In addition, pronounced depletion of magnesium was observed in the slip of the imported wares and the earlier local products, but not of the later local wares; this might account for the low quality of some 3rd century products with respect to the earlier pieces. Examination of SEM images indicated that the thickness of the surface slip reaches up to about 20-25 μm on the imported sherds, but measures ca. 10-20 μm on most of the local products.