Histopathological and clinical traps in lichen sclerosus: a case report.

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and limited systemic scleroderma (acrosclerosis) are inflammatory skin diseases that ultimately evolve into two distinct modes of atrophic scar formation, but which can easily be confused clinically. They are very rarely associated. The literature has reported cases in which lichen sclerosus was associated with various forms of scleroderma, but often with localized morphea.

THE PATIENT-DOCTOR-PSYCHOLOGIST TRIANGLE IN A CASE Of SEVERE IMUNOSUPRESSION IN THE HIV INFECTION.

In the last two years the Romanian adult population infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has increased due to sexual transmission, both heterosexual and homosexual. The case presented is that of a 33 year-old man, admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Iasi with acute respiratory failure and a confirmation of Kaposi's sarcoma. Tests later proved positive for HIV, the patient being included in the stage AIDS C3 (acute immunodeficiency syndrome).

NADPH OXIDASE: STRUCTURE AND ACTIVATION MECHANISMS (REVIEW). NOTE I.

NADPH oxidase (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase), with its generically termed NOX isoforms, is the major source of ROS (reactive oxigen species) in biological systems. ROS are small oxygen-derived molecules with an important role in various biological processes (physiological or pathological). If under physiological conditions some processes are beneficial and necessary for life, under pathophysiological conditions they are noxious, harmful.

Dyadic adjustment in HIV sero-concordant and sero-discordant couples.

Aim: The HIV infected population in Romania is at an age when engaging in a serious relationship is more and more an issue. Dyadic adjustment is the process which most couples go through, in their attempt to form a steady relationship. It is represented by important changes that appear in one's perception of himself and the significant other.

[PPARs: physiological functions and pharmacological roles of agonists in human diseases. Note II].

Increasing attention paid to the main family of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors--PPARs is generated, on one hand by the multiple functions of its members in numerous metabolically active tissues, and on the other hand by the therapeutic benefits expresed by some specific ligands that are used in certain metabolic diseases treatment plan. PPARalpha stimulates the beta-oxidative degradation of fatty acids and controls plasma lipid transport through the mediated action upon the triglycerides and fatty acids metabolism and by modulation of biosynthesis and catabolism of bile acids in the liver. PPARgamma promotes adipocytes differentiation and fat storage.

[PPARs: structure, mechanisms of action and control. Note I].

PPARs (peroxisome proliferator activated receptors) are proteine receptors that act as transcription factors activated by ligands. There are three known isoforms of PPARs (alpha, beta/delta, gamma) with similar modulated structure, consisting of distinct regions with specific functions. PPARs activate transcription of their target genes by forming cytoplasmatic heterodimers (PPARs:RXR) with his partner RXR (retinoid X receptor), and once translocated into the nucleus bind to specific DNA sequence called PPRE (peroxisome proliferator response elements) and modulate the expression of genes.

[Statins and oxidative stress].

Statins, as inhibitors of the first regulatory enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis --HMG-CoA reductase--have a special impact in medical practice. Given their therapeutic efficacy, statins are believed to be the strongest class of agents in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, besides decreasing total cholesterol and C-LDL levels, numerous fundamental and clinical researches suggest that statins also have an antiinflammatory effect.

[Complementary therapies in the treatment of bronchial asthma].

The clinical and paraclinical benefits of drugs that are not included in the standard therapy strategies, to patients suffering from bronchial asthma, are illustrated in a particularly rich specialty literature. Magnesium, furosemide, heparins, antioxidative drugs, nitric oxide donor substances have real qualities, that make them useful in the management of patients suffering from asthma. The tremendous amount of studies that inspired this work suggests that, for the asthmatic patients, there are other alternative therapies, which can be administrated as adjuvant medication to the classical medication.