Infections and Antibiotherapy: Results of Four Years of Observation in a Romanian Tertiary Hospital.

infection (CDI) is one of the main causes of morbidity associated with antibiotic use, producing both healthcare-associated infections and community infections. This study aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics, the clinical outcomes, previous antibiotic exposure, and other risk factors of hospitalized patients with CDI in a tertiary infectious disease hospital in Bucharest, Romania. We performed a descriptive analysis based on four-year surveillance data, collected in a tertiary infectious disease hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

A Case Report of Modified Cabrol Technique in a 60-Year-Old Male with Coronary Origin Anatomical Variant.

Reconstruction surgery of the proximal aorta in most cases involves the use of an aortic conduit, followed by reimplantation of the coronary ostia. Although uncommon, the origin of the coronary arteries in certain anatomical variants poses additional difficulties when performing surgery on the aortic root and requires a different treatment rationale. Case report: We hereby present the case of a 60-year-old patient with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia), suffering from severe degenerative stenosis of a bicuspid aortic valve, associated with ascending aorta aneurysm and a significant extrinsic stenosis of the left coronary artery caused by the aneurysm.

Graphene nanoplatelets on recycled rubber: an experimental study of material properties and mechanical improvements.

This study presents an experimental investigation of the mechanical behaviour of recycled rubber pads coated with graphene nanoplatelets. The investigation is part of an effort to develop a novel rubber-based composite that aims to reroute rubber from end-of-life tyres from illegal landfills and incineration back into the market in the form of a novel composite for vibration isolation. Graphene nanoplatelets were deposited on rubber pads via ultrasonic spray coating.

Patterns and Emerging Trends in Acute Poisoning with Substances of Abuse Used for Recreational Purposes in Adolescents: A Six-Year Multicentre Study.

This six-year multicentre study investigated acute intentional poisoning with substances of abuse in adolescents to identify changes and patterns in substance use. Data from 562 adolescents were collected from three paediatric poison centres in Romania between January 2017 and December 2022. This study analysed the epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents, including age, gender, place of residence, history of substance abuse, psychiatric history, and history of institutionalised care.

Field enhancement induced by surface defects in two-dimensional ReSe field emitters.

The field emission properties of rhenium diselenide (ReSe) nanosheets on Si/SiO substrates, obtained through mechanical exfoliation, have been investigated. The n-type conduction was confirmed by using nano-manipulated tungsten probes inside a scanning electrode microscope to directly contact the ReSe flake in back-gated field effect transistor configuration, avoiding any lithographic process. By performing a finite element electrostatic simulation of the electric field, it is demonstrated that the use of a tungsten probe as anode, at a controlled distance from the ReSe emitter surface, allows the collection of emitted electrons from a reduced area that furtherly decreases by reducing the tip-sample distance, allowing a local characterization of the field emission properties.

Hybrid Immunity and the Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections during the Omicron Era in Frontline Healthcare Workers.

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic healthcare workers (HCWs) acquired immunity by vaccination or exposure to multiple variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Our study is a comparative analysis between subgroups of HCWs constructed based on the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccination, and the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the population. We collected and analyzed data using the χ test and density incidence of reinfections in Microsoft Excel for Mac, Version 16.

Influenza Vaccination of Romanian Medical Students during COVID-19 Times: From Knowledge to Behavior.

In Romania, influenza vaccination uptake among healthcare workers decreased over time despite access to the vaccine being constantly improved. The aim of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the knowledge and attitudes of Dental Medicine and Medicine students towards recommended vaccinations for healthcare workers, focusing on influenza vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the entire 2021-2022 academic year.

Neurological Manifestations of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pediatric Patients: A 3-Year Study on Differences between Pandemic Waves.

This study analyzed the neurological manifestation profiles of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection across pandemic waves in pediatric patients. The study collected data on patients aged between 0 and 18 years, diagnosed with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, admitted to a pediatric tertiary hospital between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2023. This study included 1677 patients.

Clinical Study and Microbiological Analysis of Periodontopathogenic Microflora Analyzed among Children and Adolescents with Cardiovascular Diseases Compared to Group with Good General Status.

Periodontal diseases, as an important part of oral pathology, present different characteristics when affecting children and adolescents or young adults. Studies have shown that adolescence and childhood are closely related to a high risk of periodontal disease, but the follow-up for periodontal health or damage at this age has been insufficiently appreciated until now. The aim of this study was to identify subgingival microorganisms using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a group of children and adolescents aged 7-17 years with and without cardiovascular disease.

2D Hybrid Perovskite Sensors for Environmental and Healthcare Monitoring.

Layered perovskites, a novel class of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, exhibit versatile photophysical properties of great interest in photovoltaics and optoelectronics. However, their instability to environmental factors, particularly water, has limited their utility. In this study, we introduce an innovative solution to the problem by leveraging the unique properties of natural beeswax as a protective coating of 2D-fluorinated phenylethylammonium lead iodide perovskite.

Botulism Cases in Romania-An Overview of 14-Year National Surveillance Data.

Botulism is a priority disease worldwide because it has a very severe course of evolution that can lead to death. This paper aims to describe the main epidemiological characteristics of botulism cases confirmed in Romania over 14 years (2007-2020). We performed a retrospective study using the publicly available national surveillance data and reported to the National Institute of Public Health.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Acute Plant Exposure in Patients Aged between 0 and 18 Years-A Six-Year Retrospective Study.

Background: Exposure to plants accounts for approximately 5% of human poisoning cases reported by poison control centers in North America and Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate acute plant poisoning in patients aged 0-18 years admitted to a Romanian pediatric poison center, focusing on epidemiological and clinical aspects.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2017 and 2022, analyzing medical records for demographic information, clinical features, biological findings, and outcomes.

The Dynamic Risk of COVID-19-Related Events in Vaccinated Healthcare Workers (HCWs) from a Tertiary Hospital in Bucharest, Romania: A Study Based on Active Surveillance Data.

Our study describes the frequency and severity of COVID-19 in HCWs and estimates the dynamic risk of COVID-19-related events. We actively surveyed all HCWs from a tertiary infectious disease hospital from 26 February 2020 to 31 May 2023. Of 1220 HCWs, 62.

Comparative Clinical Study on Periodontal Health Status and Early Diagnosis of Periodontal Diseases Quantified through Clinical Periodontal Indices on a Group of Children and Adolescents with and without Cardiovascular Diseases.

It is well known that bacterial plaque is the main etiological factor that causes the appearance of periodontal diseases and carious disease. Periodontal diseases can affect children and adolescents and are manifested in the form of gingivitis, but also the early form of chronic periodontitis as well as aggressive marginal periodontitis associated with local or general factors. Early periodontitis is frequently undiagnosed by clinicians due to a lack of knowledge of the specific symptoms.

Subthreshold Current Suppression in ReS Nanosheet-Based Field-Effect Transistors at High Temperatures.

Two-dimensional rhenium disulfide (ReS), a member of the transition-metal dichalcogenide family, has received significant attention due to its potential applications in field-effect transistors (FETs), photodetectors, and memories. In this work, we investigate the suppression of the subthreshold current during the forward voltage gate sweep, leading to an inversion of the hysteresis in the transfer characteristics of ReS nanosheet-based FETs from clockwise to anticlockwise. We explore the impact of temperature, sweeping gate voltage, and pressure on this behavior.

Temperature-Dependent Conduction and Photoresponse in Few-Layer ReS.

The electrical behavior and the photoresponse of rhenium disulfide field-effect transistors (FETs) have been widely studied; however, only a few works have investigated the photocurrent as a function of temperature. In this paper, we perform the electrical characterization of few-layer ReS-based FETs with Cr-Au contacts over a wide temperature range. We exploit the temperature-dependent transfer and output characteristics to estimate the effective Schottky barrier at the Cr-Au/ReS interface and to investigate the temperature behavior of parameters, such as the threshold voltage, carrier concentration, mobility, and subthreshold swing.

Vaccination and Factors Related to the Clinical Outcome of COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers-A Romanian Front-Line Hospital's Experience.

The study aims to describe the frequency of COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs) in a designated hospital for COVID-19 treatment in Bucharest, Romania, and to explore COVID-19 vaccination and other factors associated with the clinical outcome. We actively surveyed all HCWs from 26 February 2020 to 31 December 2021. Cases were laboratory-confirmed with RT-PCR or rapid test antigen.

Ultrafast Tunable Terahertz-to-Visible Light Conversion through Thermal Radiation from Graphene Metamaterials.

Several technologies, including photodetection, imaging, and data communication, could greatly benefit from the availability of fast and controllable conversion of terahertz (THz) light to visible light. Here, we demonstrate that the exceptional properties and dynamics of electronic heat in graphene allow for a THz-to-visible conversion, which is switchable at a sub-nanosecond time scale. We show a tunable on/off ratio of more than 30 for the emitted visible light, achieved through electrical gating using a gate voltage on the order of 1 V.

"Quo Vadis Diagnosis": Application of Informatics in Early Detection of Pneumothorax.

A pneumothorax is a condition that occurs in the lung region when air enters the pleural space-the area between the lung and chest wall-causing the lung to collapse and making it difficult to breathe. This can happen spontaneously or as a result of an injury. The symptoms of a pneumothorax may include chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Romania and the Benefits of the National Electronic Registry of Vaccinations.

Background: Recording real-time data of vaccinations performed, vaccine stocks, and adverse events following immunization is a particularly useful activity in the effective development of any vaccination campaign or vaccination program, guiding the decisions of public health authorities. The aim of this paper is to present the benefits of the National Electronic Registry of Vaccinations in providing useful information for the optimization of healthcare vaccination policies, specifically related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: We performed a descriptive study using data available in the reports generated from the National Electronic Registry of Vaccinations regarding COVID-19 vaccinations performed between 27 December 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Effectiveness of Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and the Relationship with Cervical Spine.

Temporomandibular dysfunctions are a heterogeneous group of conditions involving the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and periarticular musculoskeletal structures. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a physiotherapy program for TMJ dysfunctions and the relationship with cervical spine. The study design was a non-randomized clinical trial with two parallel treatment groups: 33 subjects in the experimental group that underwent conservative drug treatment and physiotherapy treatment, and 31 subjects in the control group that underwent only conservative drug treatment.

Application of Genetic Algorithm and U-Net in Brain Tumor Segmentation and Classification: A Deep Learning Approach.

The development of unusual cells in the cerebrum causes brain cancer. It is classified primarily into two classes: a noncarcinogenic (benign) type of growth and cancerous (malignant) growth. Early detection of this disease is a quintessential task for all medical practice professionals.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania: A Comparative Description with Its Border Countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major public health problem in most countries of the world, especially in developing countries with an underfunded healthcare system. We aim to present a comparative profile of the epidemiological characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania and neighboring countries, which have similar onset and a similar socio-cultural pattern. A descriptive comparative study was performed using COVID-19 data collected from various official websites regarding demography, morbidity, mortality, vaccination, and testing capacity.

Neurotoxicity and Other Clinical Manifestations of a Common European Adder ( Bite in Romania.

Most cases of envenomation by common European vipers () have not been reported to have neurotoxic manifestations. However, these manifestations have been demonstrated in some cases of envenomation by subspecies of , found in the Carpathian Basin region of south-eastern Europe. Here, we report the case of a 5-year-old girl from the south of Romania who presented symptoms of neurotoxicity, as well as other systemic and local symptoms, after being bitten by an adder of the subspecies.

mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Reactogenicity among Healthcare Workers: Results from an Active Survey in a Pediatric Hospital from Bucharest, January-February 2021.

In Romania, health and social workers were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination. We aimed to describe the vaccine adverse events identified through an active survey (using an electronic questionnaire) conducted among the staff of a pediatric hospital from Bucharest, vaccinated with the mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Data on the frequency and duration of adverse events were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel, Epi Info, and MedCalc.