Publications by authors named "Bogdan Popescu"

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a prevalent and escalating neurodegenerative disorder with significant societal implications. Despite being considered a proteinopathy, in which the aggregation of α-synuclein is the main pathological change, the intricacies of PD initiation remain elusive. Recent evidence suggests a potential link between gut microbiota and PD initiation, emphasizing the need to explore the effects of microbiota-derived molecules on neuronal cells.

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  • The EuroHeart project aims to establish standardized definitions for outcome measures in cardiovascular clinical studies to enhance the evaluation of medical interventions and care.
  • A group of 82 experts formed five Working Groups to identify key outcome measures for various cardiovascular conditions, using a systematic review and consensus methods to define these measures.
  • In total, 24 mandatory (Level 1) and 48 optional (Level 2) outcome measures were established across five cardiovascular disease areas, providing a foundation for improved research and patient care quality.
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Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystemic autoimmune disorder in which cardiac involvement is frequent and portends negative prognosis. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is one of the most common cardiac alterations in these patients, and left atrial (LA) reservoir strain (Ɛ) measurement using speckle tracking echocardiography has been proposed as a novel parameter for a better assessment of LV diastolic function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the prognostic value of Ɛ in a large multicenter cohort of SSc patients.

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Background/objectives: Changes in nuclear morphology, alterations to the nuclear pore complex (NPC), including loss, aggregation, and dysfunction of nucleoporins (Nups), and nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) abnormalities have become hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous RNA sequencing data utilizing knockdown of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) identified enrichment for pathways and changes in RNAs related to nuclear morphology and showed differential expression of key nuclear targets. This suggests that dysfunction of hnRNP A1, which is observed in neurodegenerative diseases, may contribute to abnormalities in nuclear morphology, NPC, and NCT.

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  • Research highlights that despite improvements in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments, neurodegeneration remains a key factor contributing to disability and disease progression, particularly through the dysfunction of the RNA binding protein hnRNP A1 and the presence of smoldering/slowly expanding lesions (SELs).
  • The study utilized immunohistochemistry to compare hnRNP A1 pathology in brains of healthy individuals and those with MS, finding a significant correlation between high hnRNP A1 dysfunction and increased neurodegeneration markers in progressive MS cases.
  • Findings suggest that hnRNP A1 dysfunction not only plays a role in neurodegeneration but may also be worsened by SELs; notably, some neurons were discovered to be injured but not
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  • * A working group, including experts from the European Society of Cardiology, conducted a systematic review and reached consensus on mandatory (Level 1) and optional (Level 2) measures through a Delphi process.
  • * The final catalogue includes five Level 1 and two Level 2 outcome measures, along with five additional monitoring outcomes, which will enhance research quality and improve heart failure care.
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults. The highly dynamic nature of MS lesions has made them difficult to study using traditional histopathology due to the specificity of current stains. This requires numerous stains to track and study demyelinating activity in MS.

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Immunosenescence, the gradual deterioration of immune function with age, holds profound implications for our understanding and management of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Traditionally diagnosed in young adults, advancements in disease-modifying therapies and increased life expectancy have led to a growing number of older individuals with MS. This demographic shift underscores the need for a deeper investigation into how age-related alterations in immune function shape the course of MS, influencing disease progression, treatment effectiveness, and overall patient outcomes.

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Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked rare disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene. Women with FD have been less enrolled in studies and less treated compared with men. The aim of the present study is to describe the complete phenotype of the women cohort with FD diagnosed and evaluated in Romania and compare it to the male population.

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions of people and rapidly increasing over the last decades. Even though there is no intervention yet to stop the neurodegenerative pathology, many efficient treatment methods are available, including for patients with advanced PD. Neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the human brain to adapt both to external changes and internal insults and pathological processes.

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: Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that lead to abnormal movements and postures; it has a major impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to examine the HRQoL of Romanian patients with dystonia using the EQ-5D-5L instrument. : Responses to the EQ-5D-5L and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were collected alongside demographic and clinical characteristics.

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Background: Echocardiography is widely used to evaluate left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patients suspected of heart failure. For patients in sinus rhythm, a combination of several echocardiographic parameters can differentiate between normal and elevated LV filling pressure with good accuracy. However, there is no established echocardiographic approach for the evaluation of LV filling pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation.

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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and invalidating condition despite available therapy. Addressing complications such as left main coronary artery compression (LMCo) due to the dilated pulmonary artery (PA) may improve symptoms and survival. Nevertheless, clear recommendations are lacking.

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  • The study aims to create a diagnostic algorithm for distinguishing between the two most common types of systemic amyloidosis: ATTR and AL.
  • Researchers analyzed 81 patients over four years, reviewing clinical evaluations and biomarker levels, finding notable differences in age and heart-related measurements between the two groups.
  • A scoring system developed from the data helps differentiate between ATTR and AL patients, with a score of 4 or higher indicating a higher likelihood of having AL over ATTR.
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Aims: The European Unified Registries On Heart Care Evaluation and Randomized Trials (EuroHeart) aims to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease. The collaboration of acute coronary syndrome/percutaneous coronary intervention (ACS/PCI) registries is operational in seven vanguard European Society of Cardiology member countries.

Methods And Results: Adults admitted to hospitals with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are included, and individual patient-level data collected and aligned according to the internationally agreed EuroHeart data standards for ACS/PCI.

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate if the presence of a pulsatile femoral vein pattern is an indicator of venous congestion in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: Three medico-surgical university-affiliated ICUs.

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Introduction: Oropharyngeal cancer requires a comprehensive evaluation of treatment options, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. It is crucial to customize these treatments based on the stage of the tumor and the overall health of the patient, enabling personalized or combined approaches. Transoral surgical techniques have regained popularity due to the advancements and limitations of non-surgical strategies.

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Background: For Parkinson disease (PD) patients who have been diagnosed with advanced disease that can no longer be effectively controlled with optimized oral or transdermal medications, a range of device-aided therapies (DAT) are available, comprising either deep brain stimulation or infusion therapies providing continuous dopaminergic stimulation. Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) infusion is the latest DAT for advanced PD (APD) that was approved in Romania in 2021.

Study Question: What is the experience to date in real-world clinical practice in Romania regarding the efficacy and tolerability of LECIG in APD?

Study Design: A retrospective evaluation of 74 APD patients treated with LECIG at 12 specialized APD centers in Romania.

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Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent cardiac remnant of fetal anatomy that may pose a risk factor for stroke in some patients, while others can present with asymptomatic white matter (WM) lesions. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with a PFO who have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, compared to those without such a history, have a different burden and distribution of cerebral WM hyperintensities. Additionally, we tested the association between PFO morphological characteristics and severity of shunt, and their impact on the occurrence of ischemic cerebral vascular events and on the burden of cerebral WM lesions.

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  • Several neurological issues can persist in patients who have recovered from COVID-19, and this study focused on their outcomes at the 6-month mark.
  • The research involved over 1,000 patients and found that approximately 52% showed stable or improved functional status, while 46% experienced worse outcomes, with factors like age and hospitalizations influencing these results.
  • Among the neurological symptoms that persisted, fatigue and memory or concentration problems were the most common, highlighting the need for awareness of long-term effects in COVID-19 survivors.
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Aims: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is commonly observed in patients with severe left-sided valvular heart disease (VHD). This study sought to assess TR frequency, management and outcome in this population.

Methods And Results: Among 6883 patients with severe native left-sided VHD or previous left-sided valvular intervention enrolled in the EURObservational Research Programme prospective VHD II survey, moderate or severe TR was very frequent in patients with severe mitral VHD (30% when mitral stenosis, 36% when mitral regurgitation [MR]), especially in patients with secondary MR (46%), and rare in patients with severe aortic VHD (4% when aortic stenosis, 3% when aortic regurgitation).

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Article Synopsis
  • - This document serves as an evidence-based guideline for naming and classifying congenital bicuspid aortic valve and its associated conditions, aimed at a wide range of medical professionals.
  • - It is designed for use by pediatricians, cardiologists, surgeons, and researchers, ensuring clarity across various healthcare fields.
  • - The consensus is subject to updates as new research and key findings emerge, highlighting its dynamic nature in adapting to evolving medical knowledge.
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