Publications by authors named "Constantinescu M"

Background: Tremor in essential tremor and in tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease is assessed by subjective observations in patients undergoing focused ultrasound thalamotomy, a minimally invasive procedure intended to alleviate tremor in these patients.

Objective: To develop an objective tool for tremor analysis to be used before and after focused ultrasound thalamotomy treatment in the treated hand (contralateral to ablation) and non-treated (ipsilateral to ablation).

Methods: Using image processing and signal processing that utilized images of a Archimedes spiral drawing, we created a tool to analyze tremor.

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: The aim is to bring attention to the existence of a rare type of trauma of the hand, high-pressure injection injury, that appears to be minor with negligible signs and symptoms within the first hours after the accident, but in reality, produces significant tissue destruction with severe consequences. Recognizing this type of trauma by medical personnel, understanding the mechanisms involved, and knowing the etiological and prognostic factors can lead to early treatment initiation and avoid severe mutilating sequelae. : A retrospective study on 16 patients diagnosed with high-pressure injection injuries, including water, air, paint, paint mixed paint with thinner, petroleum jelly, and lime (washable paint containing calcium oxide).

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  • Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) occurs when blood flow is restored after a period of interrupted supply, leading to inflammatory responses and neutrophil recruitment that release NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps).
  • In a study on pig forelimbs, researchers examined the effects of different durations of ischemia (1 hour vs. 9 hours) and monitored various indicators of tissue damage and NET formation.
  • Findings indicated that longer ischemia worsens damage, with a significant increase in NETs and citrullinated fibrinogen levels in the 9-hour ischemia group compared to the 1-hour group, highlighting the detrimental role of NETs in IRI.
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  • This study explores the immune rejection of cartilage in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), which is vital for restoring motor function in joint transplants.
  • Using a swine model, researchers analyzed tissue samples from grafts that experienced severe skin rejection and found evidence of immune attacks on cartilage but with less severity than skin and muscle.
  • The findings indicate that cartilage is not immune from rejection in VCA, showing significant immune response activity, including markers of cell death, although it endures milder inflammation compared to other tissues.
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The surgical-oncological treatment of pelvic and perineal malignancies is associated with a high complication rate and morbidity for patients. Modern multimodal treatment modalities, such as neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy for anal or rectal cancer, increase the long-term survival rate while reducing the risk of local recurrence. Simultaneously, the increasing surgical radicality and higher oncological safety with wide resection margins is inevitably associated with larger and, due to radiation, more complex tissue defects in the perineal and sacral parts of the pelvic floor.

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The standard of care approach to identify sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in clinically non-metastatic cutaneous melanoma patients is technetium (Tc)-based lymphoscintigraphy. This technique is associated with radiation exposure, a long intervention time, high costs, and limited availability. Indocyanine green (ICG)-based near-infrared fluorescence imaging offers a potential alternative if proven to be of comparable diagnostic accuracy.

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  • The current standard for preventing rejection in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) uses systemic immunosuppression, which poses significant side effects, leading to interest in local immunosuppression methods.
  • Researchers investigated a local drug delivery system for tacrolimus (TGMS-TAC) to reduce toxicity and enhance graft survival, showing promising results in a porcine model, although some rejection signs were noted.
  • Results indicated that while systemic immune responses remained stable, local tissue analysis revealed infiltration of immune cells and involvement of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the rejection process, highlighting the need for better understanding of VCA graft rejection mechanisms.
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  • Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) is a promising technique for restoring limbs or facial features but struggles with high rejection rates due to immune responses.
  • Researchers used pig models to study immune rejection by analyzing tissue samples and gene expression, comparing those with moderate and severe rejection to healthy controls.
  • Findings showed upregulation of genes linked to innate immunity and immune responses, particularly involving CD8 T cells and macrophages, providing insights for improving VCA outcomes.
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Climate neutrality for the year 2050 is the goal assumed at the level of the EU. As Romania is no exception, it has assumed the gradual mitigation of pollution generated by the energy sector, and by 2030, according to 'Fit for 55', the share of energy from renewable sources must reach 42.5% from total energy consumption.

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The technique of encapsulating different materials into matrices that can both protect and release their contents under specific circumstances is known as encapsulation. It serves the primary function of shielding delicate components from outside influences, including heat, light, and humidity. This can be accomplished by a variety of procedures that, depending on the method and materials selected, result in the creation of particles with various structures.

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The Yamnaya archaeological complex appeared around 3300BCE across the steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas, and by 3000BCE reached its maximal extent from Hungary in the west to Kazakhstan in the east. To localize the ancestral and geographical origins of the Yamnaya among the diverse Eneolithic people that preceded them, we studied ancient DNA data from 428 individuals of which 299 are reported for the first time, demonstrating three previously unknown Eneolithic genetic clines. First, a "Caucasus-Lower Volga" (CLV) Cline suffused with Caucasus hunter-gatherer (CHG) ancestry extended between a Caucasus Neolithic southern end in Neolithic Armenia, and a steppe northern end in Berezhnovka in the Lower Volga.

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Seroma formation is a common postoperative complication. Fibrin-based glues are typically employed in an attempt to seal the cavity. Recently, the first nanoparticle (NP)-based treatment approaches have emerged.

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Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) VIM-thalamotomy has established efficacy and safety in tremor relief in patients with essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. The efficacy and safety in patients with atypical parkinsonism have not been reported.

Objective: To report on the efficacy and safety of FUS VIM-thalamotomy in 8 patients with parkinsonism, multiple system atrophy-Parkinsonian type (MSA-P) ( = 5), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) ( = 3).

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Food waste is one of the biggest societal problems in the globe due to its detrimental consequences on the environment. According to estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization, this comes to about 1.3 billion tonnes per year.

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  • - Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most prevalent type of kidney cancer, making up 60%-70% of adult cases, and is strongly linked to mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau gene on chromosome 3p, found in over 90% of cases.
  • - Other tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 3p also play a role in the development of these tumors, with specific mutations leading to unique histopathological characteristics.
  • - The report details two cases of clear cell RCC with distinct mutations, highlighting aggressive features, including high-grade nuclei, eosinophilic granules, and the presence of rhabdoid and sarcomatoid cells, indicating a severe clinical outcome.
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Until reaching climate neutrality by attaining the EU 2050 level, the current levels of CO must be mitigated through the research and development of resilient technologies. This research explored potential approaches to lower CO emissions resulting from combustion fossil fuels in power plant furnaces. Different nanomaterials (MOFs versus silica nanoparticles) were used in this context to compare their effectiveness to mitigate GHG emissions.

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The genomic landscape of Stone Age Europe was shaped by multiple migratory waves and population replacements, but different regions do not all show similar patterns. To refine our understanding of the population dynamics before and after the dawn of the Neolithic, we generated and analyzed genomic sequence data from human remains of 56 individuals from the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Eneolithic across Central and Eastern Europe. We found that Mesolithic European populations formed a geographically widespread isolation-by-distance zone ranging from Central Europe to Siberia, which was already established 10,000 years ago.

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  • Free tissue transfer is the preferred method for reconstructing major defects in head and neck surgery, evaluated through a 15-year study at a university hospital.
  • The study analyzed 353 procedures, noting that most defects were due to cancer surgery, with a high prevalence of patient comorbidities like smoking and alcohol use.
  • Overall success rates for flaps were 97.7%, but complications occurred in 45.9% of cases; effective management by a multidisciplinary team is crucial for maintaining successful outcomes despite these challenges.
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  • Joint allotransplantation (JA) shows promise for reconstructing severely damaged joints but faces challenges primarily due to immune rejection, limiting its clinical use.
  • A systematic review of current literature identified 14 studies, with most research conducted on small animals showcasing short-term success, while human applications are rare and have had poor outcomes.
  • Overcoming issues like graft survival and immune suppression is crucial for advancing JA; continued research is needed to explore new immunosuppressive strategies to improve its feasibility and effectiveness.
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  • Soft tissue and bone sarcomas require careful management, often involving reconstructive surgeons for limb salvage post-resection.
  • Over a 5-year study, 90 patients received flap reconstruction, with 26 using free flaps and 64 using pedicled flaps; complications were common, affecting nearly 38% of patients.
  • Factors such as diabetes and preoperative treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy increased various postoperative complications, making reconstructive surgery challenging but generally reliable.
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Background: Unilateral focused ultrasound ablation of the internal segment of globus pallidus has reduced motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease in open-label studies.

Methods: We randomly assigned, in a 3:1 ratio, patients with Parkinson's disease and dyskinesias or motor fluctuations and motor impairment in the off-medication state to undergo either focused ultrasound ablation opposite the most symptomatic side of the body or a sham procedure. The primary outcome was a response at 3 months, defined as a decrease of at least 3 points from baseline either in the score on the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, part III (MDS-UPDRS III), for the treated side in the off-medication state or in the score on the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS) in the on-medication state.

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  • The study focuses on the osteocutaneous variants of the superficial circumflex iliac perforator (SCIP) flap, which offer benefits like customizability and low donor site issues, yet haven't been widely adopted.
  • A retrospective review of six patients who received osteocutaneous SCIP flaps shows successful surgical, functional, and aesthetic outcomes, despite one case requiring emergency revision.
  • The conclusion highlights that these flaps provide effective tissue reconstruction options with minimal complications, emphasizing their potential for broader use in osteoplastic surgeries.
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The capitalization of agri-food waste is essential for the sustainability of a circular economy. This work focuses on a solution to eliminate such waste, meat and bone meal (MBM), which is produced in large quantities by the food industry and is prohibited for use as animal feed under the European directives. Therefore, with the focus of converting waste to energy, the catalytic pyrolysis of MBM in the presence of mesoporous silica nanocatalysts (SBA-3 and SBA-16 materials and metallic derivates) was investigated in a home-made reactor for the production of renewable energy.

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  • Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy using radiocolloid and blue dye is standard for early-stage melanoma but has drawbacks like radiation exposure and allergic reactions.
  • Indocyanine green (ICG) is a promising alternative fluorescent dye that can be detected with near-infrared imaging, showing high sensitivity in identifying SLNs.
  • The study involving 93 melanoma patients found ICG's overall SLN detection sensitivity to be 96.1%, and suggests that ICG/NIRFI could replace traditional methods for certain patients, especially considering factors like body mass index.
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