Cystic Echinococcosis in the Early 2020s: A Review.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by metacestodes, the larval stage of . Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined CE as a neglected disease, it is the second most important foodborne parasitic disease, and it remains an important public health issue, considering its zonal endemicity and potential morbidity. The control and prevention of CE is a relevant WHO target, especially from a One Health perspective, as the disease affects not only animals and humans but also the food chain.

Recent Advances in the Management Strategies for Buruli Ulcers.

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a bacterial skin infection that is caused by and mainly affects people who reside in the rural areas of Africa and in suburban and beach resort communities in Australia. The infection typically begins as a painless papule or nodule that gradually develops into a large ulcer that can cause substantial impairment, damaging soft tissues and even bones. Early detection and immediate treatment are crucial to preventing further tissue damage and any potential complications, although it is worth noting that access to proper therapeutic resources can be limited in certain areas.

Complicated Clinical Course of a Patient with Multivisceral Cystic Echinococcosis Requiring Extensive Surgical and Medical Treatment.

Cystic echinococcosis is an often-overlooked condition that otherwise negatively impacts both the individual and the community, prompting major public health concerns. Early diagnosis and treatment, as well as collaboration between specialties including surgery and parasitology, are essential for avoiding complications and disease relapse. To better illustrate this, we present the case of an elderly person with a rare localization of the disease at the muscular level.

Oxidative Stress in Chronic Hepatitis B-An Update.

In recent years, the role of oxidative stress has been investigated in an increasing number of infections. There is a close link between the inflammation that accompanies infections and oxidative stress. Excessive reactive oxygen species induce harmful effects on cell components, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Phenotypic and genotypic detection methods for antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPE pathogens (Review).

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing public health problem worldwide. Infections with such bacteria lead to longer hospitalization times, higher healthcare costs and greater morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a greater need for rapid detection methods in order to limit their spread.

Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis in Skin Diseases.

Oxidative stress represents the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants and has been associated with a wide range of diseases. Thiols are the most important compounds in antioxidant defense. There is an equilibrium between thiols and their oxidized forms, disulfides, known as dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH).

Recent Advances in Understanding the Inflammatory Response in Malaria: A Review of the Dual Role of Cytokines.

Malaria is a serious and, in some unfortunate cases, fatal disease caused by a parasite of the genus. It predominantly occurs in tropical areas where it is transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. The pathogenesis of malaria is complex and incompletely elucidated.

Oxidative Stress in Cutaneous Lichen Planus-A Narrative Review.

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin condition that mainly affects the skin (cutaneous LP, CLP) and oral mucosa (oral LP, OLP). However, the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the disease are not fully elucidated. Over time, several theories that could explain the appearance of LP lesions have been postulated.

spp. infection - a continuous threat worldwide.

Acute diarrheal disease remains a major public health issue. spp. infection is one of the leading causes of acute diarrheal disease despite the preventive measures implemented.

Antibiotic resistance profiles in cultivable microbiota isolated from some romanian natural fishery lakes included in Natura 2000 network.

Background: The present study aims the characterization of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and encoding genes in bacterial strains isolated from some Romanian aquatic fishery lowland salted lakes.

Material/methods: This study was conducted on 44 bacterial strains, mainly belonging to species used as microbiological indicators of fecal pollution isolated from four natural fishery lakes. All strains were tested for their antibiotic susceptibility by disk diffusion method.

Knowledge and Attitudes on Vaccination in Southern Romanians: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire.

Vaccines are fundamental instruments upon which all modern medicine is hinged. This has recently come into the light because of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of the public regarding vaccination.

The Role of Beta HPV Types and HPV-Associated Inflammatory Processes in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common form of skin cancer with a complex but not fully understood pathogenesis. Recent research suggests the role of beta human papillomavirus (HPV) types and HPV-associated inflammatory processes in cSCC development. Beta HPV types are components of the normal flora; however, under the influence of certain cofactors, the virus may trigger a malignant process.

A Romanian experience of syphilis in pregnancy and childbirth.

Objective: to establish the incidence of syphilis in a group of childbearing women and their newborn babies in Romania and to identify the major risk factors of materno-fetal transmission in order for midwives to develop strategies to help prevent congenital syphilis.

Material And Methods: a descriptive study of a group of 982 childbearing women who gave birth during a three-month period at an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Romania. The women completed a questionnaire, which consisted of three sections: general data, general knowledge of syphilis and birth and pregnancy data.

Snapshot of Phylogenetic Groups, Virulence, and Resistance Markers in Uropathogenic Strains Isolated from Outpatients with Urinary Tract Infections in Bucharest, Romania.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Uropathogenic (UPEC) are among the most common infections worldwide, including Romania. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed on a significant number of community-acquired (CA) UPEC strains isolated from Romanian outpatients, aiming to evaluate and establish potential correlations among the phylogenetic groups (PG), resistance profiles, and the virulence factors (VF) genes of the CA-UPEC isolates.

Materials/methods: The present study was performed on a total of 787 UPEC nonrepetitive isolates consecutively isolated during one month from outpatients with CA-UTIs, visiting one of the biggest laboratories in Bucharest, Romania, receiving patients from all over the country.

Medical and surgical management of a rare and complicated case of multivisceral hydatidosis; 18 years of evolution.

Hydatidosis (echinococcosis) is a parasitic disease caused by the development in the human host of the larval form of the Echinococcus spp. tapeworm. Among the parasitic diseases transmitted from animal to human, hydatidosis represents the main Romanian helminthic zoonosis in humans, due to the severity of the clinical presentation and the complications of this illness.

[Delayed diagnosis in a case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) with initial predominance of joint involvement].

The authors present the case of a 53-year-old female, initially admitted in a rheumatology department for fever and diffuse arthritis--being diagnosed with sero-positive rheumathoid arthritis. Although the chest X-ray and CT scan of thorax showed several abnormal features (medium lobe atelectasis, pseudo-cyst in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe with satellite milliary nodules, mediastinal lymph node enlargement), the investigations performed in our pneumology department couldn't establish the etiology of radiological abnormalities. With non-steroidal antiinflamatory treatment, the patient got worse, being readmitted in our hospital after 3 months for high fever, diffuse arthralgia with functional impairment, small hemoptysis, loss of hearing and left ear ache and on chest X-ray with bilateral macronodules, some of these with cavitation.

A bisphosphonate tweezers and clickable PEGylated PAMAM dendrons for the preparation of functional iron oxide nanoparticles displaying renal and hepatobiliary elimination.

The functionalization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) with PEGylated PAMAM dendrons through a bisphosphonate tweezers yielded 15 and 30 nm dendritic nano-objects stable in physiological media and showing both renal and hepatobiliary elimination.

Endowing carbon nanotubes with superparamagnetic properties: applications for cell labeling, MRI cell tracking and magnetic manipulations.

Coating of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) imparts novel magnetic, optical, and thermal properties with potential applications in the biomedical domain. Multi-walled CNTs have been decorated with iron oxide superparamagnetic NPs. Two different approaches have been investigated based on ligand exchange or "click chemistry".

Effect of the nanoparticle synthesis method on dendronized iron oxides as MRI contrast agents.

Aqueous suspensions of dendronized iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have been obtained after functionalization, with two types of dendrons, of NPs synthesized either by coprecipitation (leading to naked NPs in water) or by thermal decomposition (NPs in situ coated by oleic acid in an organic solvent). Different grafting strategies have been optimized depending on the NPs synthetic method. The size distribution, the colloidal stability in isoosmolar media, the surface complex nature as well as the preliminary biokinetic studies performed with optical imaging, and the contrast enhancement properties evaluated through in vitro and in vivo MRI experiments, have been compared as a function of the nature of both dendrons and NPs.

Serodiagnosis of environmental mycobacterial infections.

To demonstrate the usefulness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of mycobacterioses due to environmental mycobacteria we utilized a panel of glycolipid antigens selective for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium xenopi, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum and Mycobacterium gordonae. The levels of circulating antibodies were determined against the environmental mycobacteria, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus-negative and -positive patient sera. The method used immunomagnetic separation of the antigens, with covalent immobilization of antibodies to superparamagnetic amine and carboxyl terminated particles in solutions of the specific antigens.

Nanoscale precipitation coating: the deposition of inorganic films through step-by-step spray-assembly.

Thin films and surface coatings play an important role in basic and applied research. Here we report on a new, versatile, and simple method ("precipitation coating") for the preparation of inorganic films, based on the alternate spraying of complementary inorganic salt solutions against a receiving surface on which the inorganic deposit forms. The method applies whenever the solubility of the deposited material is smaller than that of the salts in the solutions of the reactants.