Publications by authors named "Horatiu Valeriu Popoviciu"

Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory autoimmune pathology with a significant genetic component and several interferences of immunological cells and their cytokines. The complex orchestration of psoriasis pathogenesis is related to the synergic effect of immune cells, polygenic alterations, autoantigens, and several other external factors. The major act of the IL-23/IL-17 axis, strongly influencing the inflammatory pattern established during the disease activity, is visible as a continuous perpetuation of the pro-inflammatory response and keratinocyte activation and proliferation, leading to the development of psoriatic lesions.

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  • Hyperuricemia is identified by serum uric acid levels over 6.8 mg/dL, but only 15-20% of hyperuricemic individuals develop gout; this study explores the "snowstorm" ultrasound feature for identifying hyperuricemia.
  • A study with 108 patients revealed a significant relationship (p=0.005) between the presence of hyperechogenic spots on ultrasound and serum uric acid levels, indicating a medium association with gout or asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
  • The research determined that urate begins to precipitate in synovial fluid at lower serum uric acid levels than previously thought, with a cut-off identified at 4.815 mg/dL, and
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Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogenous systemic inflammatory disorder that affects peripheral joints and skin, but also causes inflammation at entheseal sites, digits (dactylitis) and the axial skeleton. Despite considerable advances, our understanding of the pathogenesis and management of PsA is hampered by its complex clinical expression. We enrolled patients who met the ClASsification for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria for PsA ( = 17), and healthy controls ( = 13).

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Identifying certain serum biomarkers associated with the degree of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity can provide us with a more accurate view of the evolution, prognosis, and future quality of life for these patients. Our aim was to analyze the presence and clinical use of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and well-known cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) for patients with RA. We also wanted to identify the possible correlations between MMP-13 and these serological markers, as well as their relationship with disease activity indices, quality of life, and ultrasonographic evaluation.

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  • Shoulder disorders can cause pain, limited motion, and reduced strength, impacting daily activities; this study compared a new tech-supported proprioceptive training (KPT) to a traditional approach (CPT) added to regular physiotherapy.
  • The study involved 55 participants with various shoulder issues, who were divided into three groups receiving different treatment regimens over four weeks, with evaluations of joint position sense (JPS) and function before and after.
  • Both KPT and CPT groups showed significant improvements in JPS, pain, and function compared to the control group, but KPT did not provide significant additional benefits over the traditional CPT approach.
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There is limited evidence regarding the effects of aquatic-based physiotherapy on shoulder proprioception following post-traumatic injury to the joint. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of additional aquatic-based rehabilitation to a land-based physiotherapy program on shoulder joint position sense (JPS) rehabilitation. Forty-four individuals (mean age 44.

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Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory potentially destructive disease that requires early diagnosis and therapeutic approach. Its main pathogenic event and the condition's hallmark is considered to be enthesitis. Clinical examination of the enthesis can be a challenge in the clinical practice; thus, ultrasonography (US) has emerged as an indispensable imaging tool for evaluating both structural and inflammatory changes of this structure.

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Extrinsic allergic alveolitis is an occupational condition intensively studied and published about, unlike cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis. The coexistence of these two diseases is even more rare in the same patient with exposure to occupational pollutants of animal origin. We present the case of a 44-year-old man, a pigeon breeder admitted to hospital with a pruritic purpuric eruption and lower limb paresthesia, dyspnea on exertion, polymyalgia rheumatica, mixed polyarthralgias.

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