Bacterial Infections, Trends, and Resistance Patterns in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania-A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified concerns over bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Romania. This systematic review explores bacterial infection patterns and resistance during the pandemic to address critical gaps in knowledge. A systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines, was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Scopus, focusing on studies of bacterial infections from 2020 to 2022.

Are Pediatric Cancer Patients a Risk Group for Vitamin D Deficiency? A Systematic Review.

: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a global health concern, with potential implications for cancer development and progression. This systematic review investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric cancer patients and its potential impact on clinical outcomes. : A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify the relevant studies published between 2009 and July 2024.

Assessing the Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Respiratory Infections in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Objectives: Recent studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation and higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations may reduce the incidence of respiratory infections in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between different concentrations of vitamin D supplementation, serum 25-OHD concentrations, and the frequency of respiratory infections among individuals aged 1 to 18 years, for a duration of 2 years.

Methods: Concerning sun exposure in relation to vitamin D, the study took place in Romania, at approximately 45-degree northern latitude.

Predicting Mortality in Sepsis: The Role of Dynamic Biomarker Changes and Clinical Scores-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The prognostic value of baseline inflammatory markers in sepsis remains controversial, with conflicting evidence regarding their association with mortality. The dynamic changes in these markers over time might offer additional insights into disease progression and patient outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 138 patients with severe infections.

Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 among Pregnant Women in South-Western Romania.

Background: Pregnancy-related infections with the human herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains HSV-1 and HSV-2 are particularly noteworthy. There are numerous reported examples of intrapartum transmission of herpes infection, notwithstanding the extreme rarity of intrauterine transfer from mother to fetus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies in pregnant women in the western region of Romania.

Benefits of Respite Services on the Psycho-Emotional State of Families of Children Admitted to Hospice Palliative Care Unit: Preliminary Study on Parents' Perceptions.

Background: In children's palliative care, the term "respite" refers to a temporary break offered to primary caregivers of a child with a life-limiting illness. The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of parents who have benefited from respite care services in the Lumina Association, Bacău hospice unit and the benefits it can bring in improving their psycho-emotional state.

Methods: The study consisted of quantitative research involving 34 parents/caregivers who responded to a questionnaire with 26 questions, and qualitative research which involved the organization of a focus group with 12 parents who benefited from respite services.

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Roma Vulnerable Communities in Western Romania: Insights and Predictive Factors from a Retrospective Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected vulnerable populations like Roma patients in Western Romania due to marginalization and limited healthcare access.

Methods: A retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 cases between March 2020 and August 2022 using data from the Directorate of Public Health in Timis county. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were assessed, along with risk factors and biomarkers for ICU admission and mortality prediction.

Seroprevalence of Anti-Cytomegalovirus Antibodies in Pregnant Women from South-West Romania.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), in addition to other agents, is part of the TORCH complex (Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex viruses, and other agents). CMV infection is the most frequent cause of congenital malformations. This study aimed to establish the variation of prevalence of anti-CMV antibodies in pregnant women from the South-West region of Romania, according to demographic factors, such as age and area of residence, in two separate time periods (2013-2016 and 2019-2022).

Implementation of Parameter Observer for Capacitors.

This paper describes the implementation of a parameter observer () intended to estimate the capacitance and equivalent serial resistance of a capacitor (ESR). The implemented observer consists of a dynamic second-order discrete-time system. The input signal of the observer is the voltage at the terminals of the capacitor measured during its discharge across a variable resistance in two steps.

The Pattern of Second Primary Tumours in Postmenopausal Women with Prior Breast Cancer in Western Romania: A Retrospective, Single-Institution Study.

Unlabelled: With improved survival, more patients with prior breast cancer are at risk of having a second primary cancer diagnosed. The pattern and impact of second primary cancers following breast cancer is important for overall breast cancer therapeutic management. Our study is a first analysis of the trend of second primary tumours over time in terms of incidence, sites with significantly elevated risks and correlation with stage, molecular subtype and therapeutic strategies conducted in Eastern Europe in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

An Empirical Model for Predicting Biodegradation Profiles of Glycopolymers.

Pollution caused by plastic materials has a great impact on the environment. The biodegradation process is a good treatment solution for common polymers and biodegradation susceptible ones. The present work introduces new insight into the biodegradation process from a mathematical point of view, as it envisions a new empirical model for this complex process.

MicroRNA Expression is Associated with Sepsis Disorders in Critically Ill Polytrauma Patients.

A critically ill polytrauma patient is one of the most complex cases to be admitted to the intensive care unit, due to both the primary traumatic complications and the secondary post-traumatic interactions. From a molecular, genetic, and epigenetic point of view, numerous biochemical interactions are responsible for the deterioration of the clinical status of a patient, and increased mortality rates. From a molecular viewpoint, microRNAs are one of the most complex macromolecular systems due to the numerous modular reactions and interactions that they are involved in.

Causes and predictors of hospital readmissions in patients older than 65 years hospitalized for heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction in western Romania.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is more frequent in the elderly and is associated with important economic implications because of repetitive and prolonged hospitalizations, due to both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular causes.

Purpose: To identify the causes, as well as the clinical and biological markers, that could be used as predictors of hospital readmissions in HFpEF patients aged ≥65 years.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive eligible patients hospitalized for a first heart failure (HF) episode were prospectively included and divided into one of two age groups (elderly: ≥65 years; and nonelderly: <65 years).

Factors associated with prolonged hospitalization, readmission, and death in elderly heart failure patients in western Romania.

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to identify factors associated with prolonged hospitalization, readmission, and death in elderly patients presenting heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Patients And Methods: All consecutive patients aged ≥65 years discharged with a diagnosis of acute new-onset heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45% were included and followed up for 1 year. The variables associated with outcomes were analyzed in univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

[Functional secondary megaduodenum].

This paper aim is to present the case of a 72 year old male, diagnosed with functional secondary megaduodenum. We intend to discuss the pathogenic and positive diagnostic difficulties (the presence or absence of a mechanical obstructive factor or the participated of the megaduodenum in an intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndrome). Also we outline the rare frequency of this disease and especially the therapeutic difficulties: inefficiency of conservatory treatment, delicate problems of surgical tactics and technique.

[Tuberculous perforation of the small bowel].

The authors present their experience with two cases of acute peritonitis scattered characteristic lesions were secondary to the tuberculous of the bowel. It is noteworthy, as far as these two cases are concerned, the rarity of intestinal tuberculous fistulation occurrence in addition to the peculiarity of both their preoperative course with its related diagnostic and operative timing difficulties and their postsurgical recurrent perforation complicated evolution. This article also pin-points the special management problems due to the gravity of these cases.

[Microbiology of nosocomial infections in a general surgery department].

This paper aim is to outline the importance of nosocomial infections, characterized by great incidence, great mortality rate and specific bacteriology, in a surgery clinic. The study include 566 patients that developed 665 nosocomial infections (10.65% incidence), among the 5950 patients that underwent surgical operations in 5 years (1992-1996); 54 patients developed two or three nosocomial infections, which explain the incidence of nosocomial infection greater than number of patients.

[Post-operative temporary enteral nutrition methods].

The Aim: Of the present work is to promote duodenostomy as the postoperative enteral nutrition way, when surgery ends in an anastomosis in which one of the partners is the esophagus (esophagectomies, esogastrectomies and total gastrectomies).

Material And Method: Consisted of 45 cases 815 total gastrectomy, 14 esogastrectomy, 6 esophageal resections and 10-esophageal plasty) in which we used: nasofaringoesogastric or nasofaringoesojejunal probes (14 cases); Witzel jejunostomy (11 cases); gastrostomy (10 cases); duodenostomy (10 cases).

The Conclusions: Show the many advantages of duodenostomy as compared to other enternal nutrition methods: technical simplicity, patient's comfort, avoidance of complications involved by the use of nasopharingoesodigestive probe or by jejunostomy, etc.

[Thoracic esophageal neoplasm-therapeutical problems and post-surgery evolution].

The authors are presenting a few considerations on Thoracic Esophageal Neoplasm, as resulted from an 18-cases study performed on patients that were operated between 1994-1999. The esophageal resection rate was of 50%, as follows: 7 Esophageal Resections and 2 Superior Polar Esogastric Resections. The digestive transit was reestablished by means of intrathoracic transposition of the stomach (6 cases) or of the right ileo-colon (2 cases).

[Nosocomial infections in the Clinica Chirurgie CFR, Craiova].

The authors present Craiova CFR General Surgery Clinic experience on hospital infections from 1991 through 1996. This study shows that the frequency of hospital infections in our clinic is greater than all the other postoperative complications. Over the investigated period of time we witnessed an increase in the incidence of the postoperative septic complications in addition to those directly linked to the operated interventions (e.