Occurrence and distribution of azole antifungal agents in eight urban Romanian waste water treatment plants.

Azole compounds are utilized to combat fungal infections in plants to protect them and also used for treating mycosis in humans. The LC-MS/MS method is a technique that combines liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of twelve azole compounds from wastewater (influent, effluent) and sewage sludge. The compounds were isolated from waste water using automatic extraction in the solid phase.

Effects of Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with L. Fruit Extract on the Aorta Wall in Rats with a High-Fat Diet and Experimental-Induced Diabetes Mellitus-An Imaging Study.

Diabetes mellitus and high-fat diets trigger the mechanisms that alter the walls of blood vessels. Gold nanoparticles, as new pharmaceutical drug delivery systems, may be used in the treatment of different diseases. In our study, the aorta was investigated via imaging after the oral administration of gold nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive compounds derived from fruit extract (AuNPsCM) in rats with a high-fat diet and diabetes mellitus.

Conductive Membranes Based on Cotton Fabric Coated with Polymers for Electrode Applications.

This paper presents the evaluation of some electrodes based on polymeric conductive membranes (polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)) for sensor applications. The electrodes were developed using textile support (weave structure-based 100% cotton yarns) and applying conductive membrane layers deposited on the textile surface. Coating the fabrics with thin layers of conductive membranes could generate new surfaces with the electrical resistance specific to conductive samples.

Reduction of Anastomotic Time Through the Use of Cyanoacrylate in Microvascular Procedures.

Ever since the description of the first microvascular anastomosis, numerous alternative methods have been described to the classical approach. Tissue adhesive has shown promising result in previous studies and can be a fast and efficient alternative which still requires more studies to allow its clinical implementation. A randomized comparative experimental study was conducted on rats' femoral arteries and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed in order to compare 2 anastomosis techniques.

The Evaluation of the Four-Chamber Cardiac Dissection Method of the Fetal Heart as an Alternative to Conventional Inflow-Outflow Dissection in Small Gestational-Age Fetuses.

The examination of very small fetal hearts requires special equipment and a specialist that are not available in many general pathology laboratories. Compared to conventional examination, the four-chamber cardiac dissection (4CCD) method can be performed by any pathologist using instruments generally available in pathology services. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the 4CCD method in the examination of small fetal hearts using post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (pm-MRI) at 7T as the standard.

Multivariate Correlation Analysis of the Electroconductive Textiles Obtained Using Functionalization by Radio-Frequency Oxygen Plasma Treatments.

This paper presents a study concerning the preliminary treatments in radiofrequency (RF)oxygen (O) plasma used to obtain a hydrophilic effect on raw cotton fabrics followed by electroconductive thin film deposition to obtain electroconductive textile surfaces. In addition, this study presents a multivariate correlation analysis of experimental parameters. The treatment using RF plasma O aimed to increase the hydrophilic character of the raw fabric and adherence of paste-based polymeric on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and nickel (Ni), silver (Ag) or copper (Cu) microparticles.

Assessment of Gold-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Negative T2 Contrast Agent in Small Animal MRI Studies.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are pharmaceuticals that enable a better visualization of internal body structures. In this study, we present the synthesis, MRI signal enhancement capabilities, in vitro as well as in vivo cytotoxicity results of gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO@AuNPs) as potential contrast agents.

Methods: FeO@AuNPs were obtained by synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles and gradually coating them with gold.

Potential clinical benefits and limitations of fetal virtopsy using high-field MRI at 7 Tesla versus stereomicroscopic autopsy to assess first trimester fetuses.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic accuracy of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 Tesla (T) compared with that of stereomicroscopic autopsy for assessing first trimester fetuses.

Methods: Nine consecutive cases of first trimester fetuses resulting from spontaneous and therapeutic pregnancy termination were considered. The cases were divided into two groups according to gestational age: the Embryo Group with cases of nine to 10 gestational weeks (GWs) and the Fetus Group with cases of 13 GWs.

Multidisciplinary approach of assessing malformed fetuses exemplified in a rare case of pentalogy of Cantrell associated with craniorachischisis, pulmonary extrophy and right-sided aortic arch with aberrant brachiocephalic artery.

We present the imagistic and pathological assessment of a unique case of complete pentalogy of Cantrell associated with craniorachischisis, pulmonary extrophy and right-sided aortic arch with aberrant brachiocephalic artery. For this particular case, the complete and correct diagnosis required a post-mortem imagistic high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 T and detailed stereomicroscopic autopsy. Also, we discussed the pathogenesis and possible etiology of pentalogy of Cantrell and the associated malformations of the case presented.

Ischemic damage and early inflammatory infiltration are different in the core and penumbra lesions of rat brain after transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Clinical and experimental observations emphasize that inflammation is a direct risk factor for stroke. We performed a detailed histological and immunohistochemical analysis, assisted by digital morphometry, to compare the representative brain lesions in the ischemic core and penumbra in a rat model. Focal neuronal necrosis and degeneration were significantly more intense in the core, whereas inflammatory infiltration, MPO, CD68, CD3, FXIII, Cox-2, iNOS2, Arg-1 expressions were stronger in the penumbra.

Wide-Range Columnar and Lamellar Photoluminescent Liquid-Crystalline Lanthanide Complexes with Mesogenic 4-Pyridone Derivatives.

A series of liquid crystals with various lanthanide ions (Eu , Sm , and Tb ) was designed and prepared starting from the corresponding lanthanide nitrates and N-alkylated 4-pyridone derivatives bearing mesogenic 3,4,5-tris(alkyloxy)benzyl moieties (alkyl=hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, or hexadecyl). These new lanthanidomesogens were investigated for their mesogenic properties by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their thermal stability was assessed by thermogravimetric analysis.

Imagistic and histopathological description of a cystic nephroma during early second trimester of gestation. Case report.

Cystic nephroma is a rare and benign renal tumour of unknown origin, usually diagnosed in the first years of childhood or during adult life. To our knowledge, there are no records in the literature of this particular tumour being descried prenatally. We present a case of a fetus diagnosed with cystic nephroma on 16 weeks of gestation.

Relaxation dynamics of Sierpinski hexagon fractal polymer: Exact analytical results in the Rouse-type approach and numerical results in the Zimm-type approach.

In this paper, we focus on the relaxation dynamics of Sierpinski hexagon fractal polymer. The relaxation dynamics of this fractal polymer is investigated in the framework of the generalized Gaussian structure model using both Rouse and Zimm approaches. In the Rouse-type approach, by performing real-space renormalization transformations, we determine analytically the complete eigenvalue spectrum of the connectivity matrix.

An endoscopic and pathological survey of digestive tract disorders in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus monitored in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases from Tirgu Mures, Romania.

Unlabelled: Gastrointestinal symptoms are among the most frequent complaints of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Purpose: An endoscopic and histopathological survey of digestive tract diseases among HIV-infected patients monitored in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases I from Tirgu Mures, Romania.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective, observational study, on a group of 38 HIV-positive patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases I from Tirgu Mures, Romania, during 2006-2013, undergoing upper/lower endoscopy.

Follow-up analysis of federal process of care data reported from three acute care hospitals in rural Appalachia.

Background: This investigation evaluated standardized process of care data collected on selected hospitals serving a remote rural section of westernmost North Carolina.

Methods: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data were analyzed retrospectively for multiple clinical parameters at Fannin Regional Hospital, Murphy Medical Center, and Union General Hospital. Data were analyzed by paired t-test for individual comparisons among the three study hospitals to compare the three facilities with each other, as well as with state and national average for each parameter.

Evaluation at patients with ventricular arrhythmias and coronary artery disease of myocardial revascularization effects.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to determine the relations between myocardial revascularization therapy--coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and coronary angioplasty (PTCA)--and ventricular potentially malignant arrhythmia (VPMA) (coupled VPC, VPC > 10/hour, NSVT--Morganroth classification), in patients (pts) with stable CAD.

Methods: 765 patients with stable angina and ventricular potentially malignant arrhythmia were evaluated angiochoronarographically, echographically, by programmed electrical stimulation (PES), standard ECG, Holter ECG, radiologically, and by stress test. From 765 patients with CAD and VPMA 169 pts.

Microcoil embolization for ablation of septal hypertrophy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background: Percutaneous transcatheter occlusion with ethanol injection of septal arteries is an efficient treatment procedure of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of septal artery embolization with microcoils.

Methods: The microcoils were delivered through the guide-wire lumen of a 2mm-diameter coaxial balloon positioned inside the target vessel as distally as possible.

Microcoil embolisation for ablation of septal hypertrophy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background And Aim: Percutaneous transcatheter occlusion with ethanol injection of septal arteries is an efficient treatment procedure of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of septal artery embolisation with microcoils.

Methods: Microcoils were delivered through the guide-wire lumen of a 2mm-diameter coaxial balloon positioned inside the target vessel as distally as possible.

[The epidemiological aspects and prevalence of markers in those with viral hepatitis C in some population categories in 1994-1997 in Iaşi County].

The results of the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory investigations, carried out in the 1994-1997 interval in the Iaşi district, on various populational groups, to indicate the prevalence of the antibodies anti-HVC possessors are presented. In 3611 patients with clinical-epidemiological HCV diagnosis, it was recorded a prevalence of the anti-HCV antibodies (AcHCV) presence of 22.7%.

[Seroepidemiological considerations of the incidence of viral hepatitis C in some population groups].

In the interval 1985-1994, in the Iaşi district, the reported cases of viral hepatitis (VH) have recorded annual morbidity rates ranging between 67/100,000 inhabitants in 1993 and 373/100,000 in 1990. VH attributed to HAV and HBV has represented, with yearly differences, 62% to 94% of all cases. Posttransfusion viral hepatitis (PTVH) has determined a morbidity of 0.

[The clinico-anatomical aspects of myasthenia gravis].

Based on muscle biopsies from 3 patients with stage II myasthenia gravis, the morphological alterations of the neuromuscular junction and the enzymatic disorders in the muscle fibres are studied. Abnormalities in the structure of nerve-endings (tumescence, irregularities and elongations of the fibres), more collaterals for the axon and motor plate, lymphocytic infiltrates, presence of antibodies for striated muscle fibre, rendered evident by immunofluorescence, were found. The enzymatic alterations (ATP-ase, succinyl dehydrogenase) induce a disturbance in the muscular energy metabolism.