Publications by authors named "Cosmin Citu"

Cardiovascular disease risk can exist in utero, influenced by maternal health factors. This study evaluates maternal characteristics and biochemical markers that correlate with the fetal intima-media thickness (IMT), aiming to identify interventions that could minimize prenatal influences on later cardiovascular disease. In this observational study approved by the Institutional Review Board at The Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Timisoara Municipal Emergency Hospital, we recruited pregnant women aged 15-40 years, divided into groups based on their lipid profiles and gestational diabetes risk.

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  • - This systematic review explores the connection between serum magnesium levels and remission rates in Crohn's disease (CD), analyzing whether magnesium supplementation could be beneficial for managing the condition.
  • - The review examined eight studies involving 453 CD patients and 292 controls, finding that CD patients had significantly lower magnesium levels and a high prevalence of hypomagnesemia.
  • - Results suggest that low magnesium levels may relate to increased disease activity and worse sleep quality in CD patients, indicating potential benefits of magnesium supplementation, but more research is needed to establish clear guidelines.
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(1) Background: This study evaluates the predictive effectiveness of biomarkers in diagnosing newborn sepsis. (2) Methods: This was a case-control study conducted on neonates hospitalized at the Clinical Hospital "Louis Turcanu", Timisoara, Romania, from October 2018 to July 2023. Using a vacutainer collection device, venous blood was collected at admission for complete blood tests, including ferritin, hemoglobin, LDH, and blood culture analysis.

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This study investigates the complex interplay among genital infections, antibiotic usage, and preterm birth. This study aims to identify common genital pathogens associated with preterm births, assess the impact of various antibiotic treatments on pregnancy outcomes, and understand antibiotic resistance patterns among these pathogens. This study included 71 pregnant women who experienced preterm birth and 94 women with genital infections who delivered at term.

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This study conducted a detailed analysis of the vaginal microbiota in pregnant women to explore its correlation with preterm birth (PTB) outcomes. The primary objective was to identify microbial variations associated with increased PTB risk. Secondary objectives included investigating how changes in microbial composition relate to the local immune environment and PTB.

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During the last decades, a growing number of studies have shown that infections during pregnancy have an important impact on both pregnant women and their fetuses. Our goal was to include newborns from pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 infection and to investigate the extension of neonatal complications using cardiac, abdominal, and cerebral ultrasonography; hearing testing; and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Likewise, neonates whose mothers were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy and those from pathology-free pregnancies were examined.

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The rise of multidrug-resistant organisms has significantly complicated the clinical management of urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in the context of pregnancy. This study aimed to identify and analyze the significant differences in microbial species and multidrug resistance patterns associated with UTIs in preterm versus full-term births, determine the bacterial species significantly associated with preterm birth, and describe the antibiotic resistance patterns affecting pregnant women with UTIs. This case-control study was conducted in western Romania and focused on pregnant women with UTIs admitted from 2019 to 2023.

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  • A study conducted in Romania from 2020 to 2022 examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on contraceptive awareness and mental well-being among young women aged 15-25, focusing on those with histories of pregnancy.
  • Results indicated a significant increase in contraceptive knowledge from 52% in 2020 to 68% in 2022, leading to improved mental health scores and a better quality of life.
  • Participants with higher contraceptive awareness exhibited reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, as evidenced by lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores, and there were notable improvements in quality of life measures across various scales during the study period.
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  • The study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on high school students’ behavior, mental health, and sexual education during the 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 academic years.
  • Key findings show significant increases in COVID-19 vaccination rates, mental health support perceptions, and reproductive health discussions, alongside a decrease in anxiety related to returning to in-person learning.
  • Overall, students demonstrated improvements in physical and mental health metrics and contraceptive knowledge, highlighting their adaptability and resilience during the pandemic.
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(1) Background: The main challenge in cases of early onset fetal growth restriction is management (i.e., timing of delivery), trying to determine the optimal balance between the opposing risks of stillbirth and prematurity.

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Multidrug-resistant microorganisms have made treating bacterial infections challenging. Resistance to antibiotics is expected to overcome efforts to produce new, effective antibacterial medication that is lifesaving in many situations. Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening infection that affects 5-15 per 100,000 patients annually and requires rapid antibiotic therapy to prevent morbidity and mortality.

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Premature birth is a worldwide health issue, posing a high mortality risk for newborns, as well as causing emotional and financial difficulties, and long-term health issues for patients. Identifying effective predictors for preterm birth is essential for prolonging gestation or improving obstetric care. As invasive methods are costly, risky, and not universally available, we aim to assess the predictive capacity of various serum parameters in pregnant women during the third trimester, as a non-invasive alternative.

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The great majority of existing studies suggests that the prognosis and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections are improved with adequate vitamin D levels, with or without supplementation. Simultaneously, whether vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy lessens the chance of developing gestational hypertension is controversial. The objective of the present research was to evaluate whether vitamin D levels during pregnancy differ substantially among pregnant women who develop gestational hypertension following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Background: Caesarean section rates have continued to trend upward in most countries, including Romania, creating a number of economic challenges. In the public health system, there is no regulation for performing Caesarean sections on demand; it is often done unlawfully, and in private hospitals, it is a real business. Thus, this study aims to investigate the budgetary impact at a hospital level and the profit per procedure by introducing on-demand caesarean sections for a fee.

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  • Women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy are at a higher risk of preterm birth, especially if the infection occurs in the third trimester.
  • A study involving 428 pregnant patients found that symptomatic COVID-19 infections during late pregnancy significantly correlated with premature births, although other factors like maternal anemia were stronger predictors.
  • Understanding these risks can lead to better management in pregnant patients with COVID-19, suggesting they should be monitored closely for complications related to anemia and inflammation.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasingly frequent disorder that is likely to become the third leading cause of morbidity worldwide. It significantly degrades the quality of life of patients affected and poses a significant financial burden to the healthcare systems providing treatment and rehabilitation. Consequently, our study’s purpose was to compare conventional inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) with virtual (online) PR using a mobile phone application.

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Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) affects between 1% to 5% of women of reproductive age. It is widely believed that RPL is a complex disorder that is influenced by chromosomal abnormalities, genetic mutations, uterine anatomic deformity, endocrine dysfunction, immunologic factors, infections, and the environment. Thrombotic disorders are a frequent cause of RPL, accounting for almost half of all cases; however, in the rest of the cases, the cause of RPL remains unclear.

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  • Preterm birth, occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, is a leading cause of infant mortality and health issues, with inflammation being a key factor in its development.
  • This study aimed to assess the predictive value of various blood cell ratios (like NLR and PLR) in identifying risks for premature delivery by analyzing 243 cases of preterm births against matched controls.
  • Findings indicated that preterm birth groups showed higher inflammatory markers and specific blood ratios, particularly the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, which had the best predictive capacity and sensitivity compared to other ratios tested.
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Many elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 infections are admitted to intensive care units. Age was previously identified as an independent risk factor for death and contributed to the greater severity of COVID-19. The elderly may have diminished lung functions, poor reactions to artificial ventilation, and compromised immune systems.

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Measles causes in vaccinated children, with some exceptions, a mild disease, while the unvaccinated can suffer complications that result in serious consequences and even death. Although the introduction of the measles vaccine has reduced the number of cases and the viral spread, the current downward vaccination trend has resulted in the resurgence of the disease. Currently, Romania has a measles vaccination coverage below the 95% safety threshold.

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Several investigations have revealed that COVID-19 causes a significant death rate due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, alterations in the quantity of ACE2 receptor expression, or the intensity of cytokine storm. Similarly, patients with hepatic impairment that are co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to display upregulations of ACE2 receptors and cytokine storm overload, which exacerbates hepatic impairment, potentially increasing the death rate. Moreover, it is expected that the aging population develops a higher degree of hepatic fibrosis in association with other comorbid conditions that are likely to influence the course of COVID-19.

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Patients with respiratory pathologies are the risk group most affected by air pollution, being directly exposed, especially those diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this observational study, which included 79 patients, we evaluated whether COPD patients with the frequent exacerbating phenotype or the infrequent exacerbating phenotype live in residences with higher values of air pollution. An air quality monitoring station was installed in each patient's house for at least 24 h and PM 1.

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Background: This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature on epithelioid trophoblastic tumors (ETTs), the rarest type of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Methods: A systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was performed, using ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The only filter used was the English language.

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Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific illness that is hypothesized to occur due to vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation in early pregnancy should be explored for preventing preeclampsia and promoting neonatal well-being. The present study follows a case-control analysis that aims to determine the effect of vitamin D supplements on reducing the probability of recurrent preeclampsia.

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