Master of Science in HPB Surgery

I attended the postgraduate program in HPB Surgery, during the academic year 2004-2005 ( http://alex.eled.duth.gr/med/En/index.htm).

I was very satisfied from the theoretical unit, with Greek and foreign professors with special experience in HPB Surgery. I was also satisfied from the practical unit that included Workshops in the Experimental Surgery Operating Theatre, where all students had the chance to get practical skills in HPB Surgery and Laparoscopic Surgery.

I was also satisfied by the Laboratory experience I acquired, with immunohistochemistry techniques and PCR techniques. And finally I was very much satisfied by my mentor, Ms Ekaterini Chatzaki, Lecturer in Pharmacology and Molecular Biologist, who was dedicated and helped me very much to enter an exotic world,the world of basic research.

I persisted in doing a study about CRF and liver, which was one of the options. I feel justified for this choice now.

CRF has been studied from neuropsychiatric specialties much more than any other specialty. Before I start studying , I had never even heard of the word "urocortins".

CRF has been correlated to anorexia and alcoholism.

The device for the immunohistochemistry experiment.

Mrs Sofia Kyriaki, biologist, was my "boss" in the RT-PCR experiment.

When RT-PCR has finished, the result is interpeted by a band like this. The white areas are positive and the black negative for the existance of CRF system genetic material.

I had to study a lot about CRF( Corticotropin Releasing Factor) and its family. Some scientists prefer to call it as CRH ( Corticotropin Releasing Hormone). CRF has very much to do with stress and stress is the life-style of surgeons, do you agree?

CRF levels are increased in schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome. Current research targets to the development of a new antidepressive drug based on the CRF system neuropeptides.

The detection of CRF and urocortins in periphery is very important because the axes of neuroendocrinology are in real much more complicated that we could imagine. Also, the autocrine or paracrine effects of neuropeptides produced in the periphery have been recognised.I worked with liver.

The speciments have been put in the cycler for the RT-PCR experiment.

Urocortin-positive specimen after immunohistochemistry experiment

Mrs Maria Labropoulou, Lecturer in Histology and Mrs Irene Apostolou, the laboratory technician, helped me step by step for the immunohistochemistry experiment. Thanks to them, all seemed more easy.

Me and Dr.Ch.Euthimiadis worked in the same laboratory on experiments for the CRF system. Dr.Euthimiadis worked with  choledochal cysts(Neuroendocrinology. 2005;82(3-4):177-84).