Oral Mucositis in Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: Six-Month On-Treatment Follow-Up.

. Oral mucositis (OM) is a common adverse reaction associated with chemotherapy. We conducted a six-month longitudinal study to estimate the cumulative incidence of OM during the first six months of chemotherapy in adult patients with cancer other than head and neck cancer.

Incidence and Antenatal Detection of Congenital Heart Malformations-Data from a Tertiary Obstetric Romanian Center.

Objectives: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are among the most frequent congenital defects, and they significantly burden the healthcare system due to their high mortality rate and high cost of care for survivors. We aimed to highlight the incidence of CHDs in a tertiary center in Western Romania.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out between 2018 and 2022 at the "Pius Brinzeu" Emergency County Hospital Timisoara.

Residency training programs in anesthesiology, intensive care and emergency medicine: from curriculum to practice.

Residency programs in anesthesiology and intensive care (AIC), and emergency medicine (EM) continually evolve to ensure well-prepared trainees for these critical fields of healthcare. The objective of this study was to collect comprehensive feed-back from AIC and EM residents, comprising opinions and attitudes on: curriculum and structure of the residency program; scope of training environment, opportunities and complexity; training guidance and mentorship; teaching approach. An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted among AIC and EM trainees during December 2023-January 2024 and June 2023-July 2023, respectively.

Analysis of the Pulpal Blood Flow Microdynamics during Prosthetic Tooth Preparation Using Diamond Burs with Different Degrees of Wear.

Pulpal modifications taking place during prosthetic tooth preparation using worn-out burs may represent a risk for the vitality of the dental pulp. The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate whether the wear of diamond burs has an influence on the vascular microdynamics at the level of the dental pulp, during vertical preparation for zirconia crowns. The study was performed with a split-mouth design and included 32 vital permanent monoradicular teeth (20 maxillary and 12 mandibular), from six subjects, aged between 20 and 50 years.

Epigenetic and Coping Mechanisms of Stress in Affective Disorders: A Scoping Review.

This review aims to explore the intricate relationship among epigenetic mechanisms, stress, and affective disorders, focusing on how early life experiences and coping mechanisms contribute to susceptibility to mood disorders. Epigenetic factors play a crucial role in regulating gene expression without altering the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence, and recent research has revealed associations between epigenetic changes and maladaptive responses to stress or psychiatric disorders. A scoping review of 33 studies employing the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Statement) guidelines investigates the role of stress-induced epigenetic mechanisms and coping strategies in affective disorder occurrence, development, and progression.

Non-Ventilated Patients with Spontaneous Pneumothorax or Pneumomediastinum Associated with COVID-19: Three-Year Debriefing across Five Pandemic Waves.

Spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum (SP-SPM) are relatively rare medical conditions that can occur with or independently of COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis of SP-SPM cases presented to the emergency departments (EDs) of two University-affiliated tertiary hospitals from 1 March 2020 to 31 October 2022. A total of 190 patients were identified: 52 were COVID-19 cases, and 138 were non-COVID-19 cases.

Perioperative Analgesia and Patients' Satisfaction in Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section: Fentanyl Versus Morphine.

Perioperative analgesia for cesarean section aims to ensure the mother's comfort, facilitate a smooth surgical experience, and promote a successful recovery. One-hundred-ninety patients were enrolled in a randomized double-blind study designed to assess the quality of perioperative analgesia, level of satisfaction, and incidence of adverse reactions in elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia when fentanyl or morphine was added to bupivacaine. Two treatment groups comprising 173 subjects were compared in the per-protocol analysis: F (fentanyl, standard dose 25 μg) and M (morphine, standard dose 100 μg).

The Prevalence of Liver Fibrosis Stages on More than 23,000 Liver Stiffness Measurements by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography: A Single Center Study.

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) was the first non-invasive method used for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Over the years, many studies have evaluated its performance. It is now used globally, and, in some countries, it represents the primary step in evaluating liver fibrosis.

Minimizing blood loss in laparoscopic myomectomy with temporary occlusion of the hypogastric artery.

Introduction: Uterine leiomyomas are common benign pelvic tumors. Currently, laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) is the preferred treatment option for women in the fertile age group with symptomatic myomas. The authors hypothesize that combining LM with a bilateral temporary occlusion of the hypogastric artery (TOHA) using vascular clips minimizes uterine blood flow during surgery and can significantly reduce surgery-associated blood loss.

Evaluation of the Pulp Chamber Temperature during Tooth Veneer Preparation Using Burs with Different Degrees of Wear-A Preliminary In Vitro Study.

The heat produced during tooth preparation could be a source of damage for dental pulp, and many variables are involved in this process. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate whether the different degrees of wear of the diamond burs significantly influenced the temperature changes in the pulp chamber during tangential veneer preparation. The sample comprised 30 intact permanent monoradicular teeth, randomly assigned to three study groups of 10 teeth each, of which 5 had the pulp tissue preserved and 5 had thermoconductive paste in the pulp chamber.

Maternal Fever and Reduced Fetal Movement as Predictive Risk Factors for Adverse Neonatal Outcome in Cases of Congenital SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data from Case Reports and Case Series.

Objectives: To determine risk factors for primary and secondary adverse neonatal outcomes in newborns with congenital SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar from January 2020 to January 2022.

Study Eligibility Criteria: newborns delivered after 24 weeks of gestation with confirmed/possible congenital SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to standard classification criteria.

Successive Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic Had an Increasing Impact on Chronic Cardiovascular Patients in a Western Region of Romania.

Three years since the COVID-19 pandemic started, there is still little information about patients with chronic medical conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), who become infected with SARS-CoV-2. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cardiovascular comorbidities hospitalized with positive RT-PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 during the highest peaks of the first three pandemic waves: April 2020, October 2020, and November 2021. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcomes were length of hospitalization and required mechanical ventilation to assess the disease severity.

Pregnancy Outcomes in SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients: A 20-Month Retrospective Analysis of Delivery Cases.

: The SARS-CoV-2 infection brings supplemental risks for pregnant women. Due to controversial hesitancy, their vaccination rate was lower in 2021 compared to the general population. In addition, access to maternal care was reduced during the pandemic.

Outcome of Newborns with Confirmed or Possible SARS-CoV-2 Vertical Infection-A Scoping Review.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been isolated from various tissues and body fluids, including the placenta, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord of newborns. In the last few years, much scientific effort has been directed toward studying SARS-CoV-2, focusing on the different features of the virus, such as its structure and mechanisms of action. Moreover, much focus has been on developing accurate diagnostic tools and various drugs or vaccines to treat COVID-19.

Perception and Knowledge of Dental Ergonomics among Romanian Dental Students.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are among leading factors for early retirement of dental practitioners while the application of ergonomic principles is often overlooked during dental education. The article aims to assess the need for dental ergonomics modules as an integrated part of the dental school curriculum and to quantify the significance and role of ergonomics in reducing musculoskeletal stress generated while undergoing dental training. The study design consisted of a three-part original close-ended multiple-choice questionnaire carried out among 75 sixth year students from "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography with Arrival Time Parametric Imaging as a Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tool for Liver Cirrhosis.

Liver biopsy is the gold standard method for staging liver fibrosis, but it is an invasive procedure that is associated with some complications. There are also non-invasive techniques for assessing liver fibrosis, such as elastography and biological tests, but these techniques can fail in detection or generate false measurements depending on the subject’s condition. This study aimed to determine whether liver fibrosis can be evaluated using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with arrival time parametric imaging using the ultrasound machine’s parametric image software, the method being called (CEUS-PAT).

Beyond the Digital Competencies of Medical Students: Concerns over Integrating Data Science Basics into the Medical Curriculum.

Introduction. Data science is becoming increasingly prominent in the medical profession, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting additional challenges and opportunities for medical education. We retrospectively appraised the existing biomedical informatics (BMI) and biostatistics courses taught to students enrolled in a six-year medical program.

Laser Er:YAG-Assisted Debonding May Be a Viable Alternative to the Conventional Method for Monocrystalline Ceramic Brackets.

In orthodontic practice, due to the increased interest among patients in smile aesthetics, different types of brackets are now being used, with those most frequently applied being ones made of polycrystalline and monocrystalline ceramic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the laser Er:YAG-assisted debonding technique compared to conventional methods for removing monocrystalline ceramic brackets from human teeth. The study sample included 60 vital teeth (frontals of the upper jaw) from 10 patients who had monocrystalline ceramic brackets and were in the final phase of orthodontic treatment.

Diagnostic Aspects of an Included Third Molar in an 88-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Included third molars in elderly patients are quite rare in dental practice, and therefore easily misdiagnosed, because these teeth are usually extracted in youth. Additional challenges to correctly diagnosing such a dental condition, and its associated complications, arise from frequent co-morbidities in elderly patients, and from difficult communication with the patient. We report a case of an 88-year-old female patient, who presented in the dental emergency room complaining of a discomfort caused by the sharp edges of her lower incisors, and requesting their extraction; the final diagnosis, of suppurated pericoronitis at tooth 48, was concluded based on the clinical elements and X-ray examination.

Role of Dual-Staining p16/Ki-67 in the Management of Patients under 30 Years with ASC-US/L-SIL.

Patients diagnosed with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion ((L-SIL) or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) are subjected to additional investigations, such as colposcopy and biopsy, to rule out cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ (CIN 2+). Especially in young patients, lesions tend to regress spontaneously, and many human papilloma virus (HPV) infections are transient. Dual-staining p16/Ki-67 has been proposed for the triage of patients with ASC-US or L-SIL, but no prospective study addressing only this subgroup of patients has been conducted so far.

Emerging Technologies for Dentin Caries Detection-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of emerging technologies, such as laser fluorescence (LF), transillumination, light-emitting diode devices, optical coherence tomography (OCT), alternating current impedance spectroscopy, fluorescence cameras (FC), photo-thermal radiometry, and modulated luminescence technology. In vivo and in vitro results of such non-ionizing, non-invasive, and non-destructive methods' effectiveness in non-cavitated dentin caries detection are sometimes ambiguous. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 34 relevant research articles published between 2011-2021 were selected.

Risk Factors, Characteristics, and Outcome in Non-Ventilated Patients with Spontaneous Pneumothorax or Pneumomediastinum Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background And Objectives: Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) have frequently been cited as complications associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, with especially poor prognosis in mechanically ventilated patients. The current literature is controversial regarding the potential risk factors for developing SP or SPM (SP-SPM) in non-ventilated COVID-19 patients. Our research addressed a twofold objective: (a) to investigate the characteristics of patients with SP-SPM (both with and without COVID-19) and compare them to patients with sole COVID-19; (b) to quantify the risk of in-hospital mortality associated with SP-SPM and COVID-19.