The Impact of ZnO Nanofillers on the Mechanical and Anti-Corrosion Performances of Epoxy Composites.

Epoxy resins were reinforced with different ZnO nanofillers (commercial ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), recycled ZnO and functionalized ZnO NPs) in order to obtain ZnO-epoxy composites with suitable mechanical properties, high adhesion strength, and good resistance to corrosion. The final properties of ZnO-epoxy composites depend on several factors, such as the type and contents of nanofillers, the epoxy resin type, curing agent, and preparation methods. This paper aims to review the preparation methods, mechanical and anti-corrosion performance, and applications of ZnO-epoxy composites.

Speaking of the "Devil": Diagnostic Errors in Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Interstitial lung diseases are respiratory diseases, which affect the normal lung parenchyma and can lead to significant pulmonary fibrosis, chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and ultimately death. Reuniting more than 200 entities, interstitial lung diseases pose a significant challenge to the clinician, as they represent rare diseases with vague and insidious respiratory symptoms. As such, there are many diagnostic errors that can appear along the journey of the patient with ILD, which leads to significant delays with implications for the prognosis and the quality of life of the patient.

Gender Differences and Amputation Risk in Peripheral Artery Disease-A Single-Center Experience.

: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects both genders, but the knowledge of clinical and therapeutic aspects particular to each gender has a prognostic value, modulating the risk of amputation and helping to reduce the risk of death or the occurrence of an acute vascular event secondary to optimal management. : We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study that included 652 patients with PAD who were evaluated at "St. Spiridon" Hospital's Cardiology Department and divided into two groups according to gender: women (100 cases) and men (552 cases).

The Role Played by Novel Inflammatory Markers in Assessment of Peripheral Artery Disease.

: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial process in which inflammatory markers have both therapeutic and prognostic roles. Recent studies bring into question the importance of assessing new inflammatory markers in relation to the severity of peripheral artery disease (PAD), such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR). : We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study including 652 patients with PAD, who were divided into two groups according to the severity of the ankle-brachial index value: mild and moderate obstruction (257 patients) and severe obstruction (395 patients).

Infective Endocarditis during Pregnancy-Keep It Safe and Simple!

The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) during pregnancy is accompanied by a poor prognosis for both mother and fetus in the absence of prompt management by multidisciplinary teams. We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE for clinical studies addressing the management of infective endocarditis during pregnancy, with the aim of realizing a literature review ranging from risk factors to diagnostic investigations to optimal therapeutic management for mother and fetus alike. The presence of previous cardiovascular pathologies such as rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, prosthetic valves, hemodialysis, intravenous catheters or immunosuppression are the main risk factors predisposing patients to IE during pregnancy.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Tuberculosis: From Pathophysiology to Diagnosis and Complications-A Narrative Review.

Although primarily a lung disease, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can affect any organ or system. Of these, cardiovascular complications associated with disease or drug toxicity significantly worsen the prognosis. Approximately 60% of patients with TB have a cardiovascular disease, the most common associated pathological entities being pericarditis, myocarditis, and coronary artery disease.

Subendocardial Viability Ratio Predictive Value for Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertensive Patients.

Background: The subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), also known as the Buckberg index, is a parameter of arterial stiffness with indirect prognostic value in assessing long-term cardiovascular risk. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 70 patients with uncomplicated hypertension admitted to a county medical reference hospital. We analyzed demographics, laboratory data, arterial stiffness parameters and cardiovascular risk scores (SCORE and Framingham risk scores) and aimed to identify paraclinical parameters associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

CPAP Influence on Readily Available Inflammatory Markers in OSA-A Pilot Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive upper airway collapse, chronic hypoxia and a proinflammatory phenotype. The purpose of our study was to evaluate readily available inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), WBC-to-MPV ratio (WMR) and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR)) before and after CPAP in patients with moderate-severe OSA. We performed a prospective study that included patients with newly-diagnosed moderate-severe OSA.

Mortality Risk Assessment in Peripheral Arterial Disease-The Burden of Cardiovascular Risk Factors over the Years: A Single Center's Experience.

Atherosclerosis is the basis of the cardiovascular continuum in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. Limiting functional decline and increasing quality of life are the main objectives for these patients. We conducted a prospective cohort study on 101 patients with PAD admitted to a single center in Northeast Romania.

Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors on Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Aging-What Do We Know So Far? (A Narrative Review).

Vascular aging, early vascular aging or supernormal vascular aging are concepts used for estimating the cardiovascular risk at a certain age. From the famous line of Thomas Sydenham that "a man is as old as his arteries" to the present day, clinical studies in the field of molecular biology of the vasculature have demonstrated the active role of vascular endothelium in the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Arterial stiffness is an important cardiovascular risk factor associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events and a high risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in the presence of diabetes.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Mortality Risk Reduction in Peripheral Artery Disease at 6-Month Outcome.

The management of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is integrative and multidisciplinary, in which cardiac rehabilitation (CR) plays a prognostic role in terms of functional status, quality of life, and long-term impact on morbidity and mortality. We conducted a prospective cohort study on 97 patients with PAD admitted to a single tertiary referral center. Based on a prognostic index developed to stratify long-term mortality risk in PAD patients, we divided the cohort into two groups: low and low-intermediate risk group (45 cases) and high-intermediate and high risk group (52 cases).

Novel Biomarkers of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease-Latest Insights in the Research Field.

The atherosclerotic vascular disease is a cardiovascular continuum in which the main role is attributed to atherosclerosis, from its appearance to its associated complications. The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, population ageing, and burden on both the economy and the healthcare system have led to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the field. The better understanding or discovery of new pathophysiological mechanisms and molecules modulating various signaling pathways involved in atherosclerosis have led to the development of potential new biomarkers, with key role in early, subclinical diagnosis.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Peripheral Artery Disease in a Tertiary Center-Impact on Arterial Stiffness and Functional Status after 6 Months.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) plays an essential role in peripheral artery disease (PAD), leading to improved functional status, increased quality of life, and reduced arterial stiffness. We aimed to assess factors associated with clinical improvement 6 months after enrolment in a rehabilitation program at an academic medical center in north-eastern Europe. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 97 patients with PAD admitted to a single tertiary referral center.

Beta-Blocker-Related Atrioventricular Conduction Disorders-A Single Tertiary Referral Center Experience.

: Drug-related bradyarrhythmia is a well-documented major adverse event among beta-blocker users and a potential cause for hospitalization or additional interventions. Whether beta-blocker use is associated with specific bradyarrhythmia presentations, and how this relates to other predisposing factors, is not well known. We aim to evaluate the association between beta-blocker use and the type of atrioventricular (AV) conduction disorder in patients with symptomatic bradycardia.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease-A Literature Review in COVID-19 Era.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an integral part of the management of various cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), or chronic heart failure (CHF), with proven morbidity and mortality benefits. This article aims to review and summarize the scientific literature related to cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with PAD and how they were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of CR programs has been problematic since the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and work-related restrictions.

Acute myocardial infarction and extensive systemic thrombosis in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy characterized by the pentad of hemolytic anemia, fever, thrombocytopenia, renal failure, and neurological dysfunction. The formation of microthrombi in the arterioles and capillaries of various organs is one of the main pathophysiological mechanisms. Clinical manifestations of cardiac involvement in TTP patients are variable.

HPV vaccine for men: Where to? (Review).

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most widespread human pathogens. For a long time, it was treated as an opportunistic infection, but it is in actuality one of the most dangerous carcinogens. It is responsible for numerous malignancies: Cervical, penile, oropharyngeal, vaginal, vulvar and some anal neoplasia.

Pushing the Limits of Medical Management in HCM: A Review of Current Pharmacological Therapy Options.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common monogenic cardiac disease with a highly variable phenotypic expression, ranging from asymptomatic to drug refractory heart failure (HF) presentation. Pharmacological therapy is the first line of treatment, but options are currently limited to nonspecific medication like betablockers or calcium channel inhibitors, with frequent suboptimal results. While being the gold standard practice for the management of drug refractory HCM patients, septal reduction therapy (SRT) remains an invasive procedure with associated surgical risks and it requires the expertise of the operating centre, thus limiting its accessibility.

Tumoral markers in bladder cancer (Review).

Bladder tumors are frequently diagnosed urologic malignant diseases with an extremely high recurrence rate compared to other neoplastic tumors. Urothelial bladder carcinomas are mostly identified in their incipient form, as non-muscle invasive, but despite that, a third of them develop into aggressive recurrent disease. The diagnosis of bladder carcinoma at this moment is established using cytology and cystoscopy and is a great challenge for clinicians due to the lack of sensitivity.

The challenges of androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is an X-linked recessive genetic syndrome that occurs as result of an androgen receptor mutation; it affects the normal masculinization process in chromosomal male patients. More than 900 androgen receptor mutations that can lead to AIS have been identified. The complete androgen insensitivity is characterized by a total lack of response to androgens, usually in patients with 46XY karyotype but with feminine phenotype.

Malignant Priapism - What Do We Know About It?

Malignancy as an etiological factor involved in priapism pathogenesis is rare. Malignant priapism (MP) can arise as a result of penile tumor invasion, either from primary penile tumors or from metastatic penile tumors, or due to hematological malignancies. Non-urological penile metastases are associated with significant worse prognosis compared to urological penile metastases, the appearance of priapism in such cases affecting even more the prognosis and the survival of these patients.

Benefits of erectile function recovery programs after radical prostatectomy (Review).

Radical prostatectomy is one of the most frequent therapeutic options used for the management of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Normal erectile function after radical prostatectomy is a great problem for numerous patients and a real challenge for urologists worldwide. The advancements that have been made over the years in terms of minimally invasive surgery, as well as in terms of surgical techniques, have reduced the incidence of erectile dysfunction, but even so, its rate remains high and the post-operative recovery of erectile function is a long and costly process.

Penile carcinoma and HPV infection (Review).

Penile carcinoma is a relatively frequent health issue in the developing countries such as Africa, Asia and South America, usually affecting men aged between 50 and 70 years. It is a highly treatable disease in its early stages, but has serious physical and psychological consequences. Usually, penile carcinoma is located in the penile glans, in approximately half the cases, with the most frequent histological type being squamous cell carcinoma with its microscopic subtypes.

Mesh colposacropexy in the management of anterior vaginal compartment prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a frequent female pathology, often causing a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to present the results that we have achieved in 32 patients with anterior vaginal compartment prolapse, managed using the transvaginal mesh approach. Over a period of twelve months, we have performed 32 transvaginal reconstructive procedures using a four arms polypropylene mesh.