In vivo systemic vancomycin determination from polymethyl methacrylate and morselized bone allograft used in two stage septic knee revision arthroplasty.

Introduction: This paper examines the use of local antibiotic therapy in one-stage septic revision surgery for late periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). This case study suggests that morselized bone allografts impregnated with antibiotics in powder form are a preferable alternative to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) because they can generate higher local antibiotic concentrations. Current research also recommends using vancomycin and aminoglycosides as the preferred choice of antibiotics, as they may have low diffusion in tissues when administered intravenously, but are effective when administered locally.

A Five-Bundle Intervention to Improve Blood Culture Use in a Tertiary Hospital in Romania.

: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of a five-bundle intervention and to decrease the number of cases in which only one set of blood cultures is collected prior to starting antimicrobials. : The study group consisted of the two hospital wards that have the highest collection rate (120 blood cultures/1000 patient days and 121.4 blood cultures/1000 patient days, respectively), and the control group consisted of the other three adult wards.

Outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis - a retrospective and statistical analysis of five years' experience.

This paper represents a retrospective study on 252 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), who received thrombolytic therapy between 2019-2023, in the Department of Neurology at the Emergency County Hospital in Craiova, Romania. We aimed to evaluate treatment complications and short-term outcomes of patients with AIS, treated with intravenous (i.v.

The Impact of Ecological Footprint, Urbanization, Education, Health Expenditure, and Industrialization on Child Mortality: Insights for Environment and Public Health in Eastern Europe.

The purpose of this study is to examine the connection between child mortality in Eastern Europe and ecological footprint, urbanization, education, health expenditure, and industrialization. The study acknowledges the significance of understanding how these factors influence the infant mortality rates in this region from 1993 to 2022. The Grossman Health Outcome (H-O) model investigates the theoretical framework.

Pseudo-outbreak of Bacillaceae species associated with poor compliance with blood culture collection recommendations.

Purpose: This study describes a pseudo-outbreak of Bacillaceae spp. bloodstream infections that spanned five months starting in May 2023 and the infection prevention measures implemented to control it.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary infectious disease hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

Allosteric inhibition of NMDA receptors by low dose ketamine.

Ketamine, a general anesthetic, has rapid and sustained antidepressant effects when administered at lower doses. Anesthetic levels of ketamine reduce excitatory transmission by binding deep into the pore of NMDA receptors where it blocks current influx. In contrast, the molecular targets responsible for antidepressant levels of ketamine remain controversial.

Quantitative phase imaging techniques for measuring scattering properties of cells and tissues: a review-part II.

Significance: Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is a non-invasive, label-free technique that provides intrinsic information about the sample under study. Such information includes the structure, function, and dynamics of the sample. QPI overcomes the limitations of conventional fluorescence microscopy in terms of phototoxicity to the sample and photobleaching of the fluorophore.

Association between Serum Lipids and Asthma in Adults-A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Asthma is a syndrome found in both adults and children, characterized by airflow obstruction caused by the inflammation of the airways. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have found that lipid metabolism influences both the development and symptomatology of asthma. Lipid metabolism plays an important role both in the occurrence of exacerbations and in the reduction of lung inflammation.

Roadmap on Label-Free Super-Resolution Imaging.

Label-free super-resolution (LFSR) imaging relies on light-scattering processes in nanoscale objects without a need for fluorescent (FL) staining required in super-resolved FL microscopy. The objectives of this Roadmap are to present a comprehensive vision of the developments, the state-of-the-art in this field, and to discuss the resolution boundaries and hurdles which need to be overcome to break the classical diffraction limit of the LFSR imaging. The scope of this Roadmap spans from the advanced interference detection techniques, where the diffraction-limited lateral resolution is combined with unsurpassed axial and temporal resolution, to techniques with true lateral super-resolution capability which are based on understanding resolution as an information science problem, on using novel structured illumination, near-field scanning, and nonlinear optics approaches, and on designing superlenses based on nanoplasmonics, metamaterials, transformation optics, and microsphere-assisted approaches.

Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in over 3 Years (2019-2021) in a Tertiary Hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

Background: The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of recorded a steep upward trend over the last two decades, among which carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) is one of the most concerning strains considering the development and spread of AMR. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of AMR for and to describe the risk factors of AMR for , including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on non-duplicative isolates collected from patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Bucharest, Romania, from January 2019 to December 2021.

Label-free, high-throughput holographic imaging to evaluate mammalian gametes and embryos†.

Assisted reproduction is one of the significant tools to treat human infertility. Morphological assessment is the primary method to determine sperm and embryo viability during in vitro fertilization cycles. It has the advantage of being a quick, convenient, and inexpensive means of assessment.

Estimating the Ca Permeability of NMDA Receptors with Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology.

In the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), fast excitatory transmission relies primarily on the ionic fluxes generated by ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs). Among iGluRs, NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are unique in their ability to pass large, Ca-rich currents. Importantly, their high Ca permeability is essential for normal CNS function and is under physiological control.

Estimating the Ca Block of NMDA Receptors with Single-Channel Electrophysiology.

In vertebrate central neurons, NMDA receptors are glutamate- and glycine-gated ion channels that allow the passage of Na and Ca ions into the cell when these neurotransmitters are simultaneously present. The passage of Ca is critical for initiating the cellular processes underlying various forms of synaptic plasticity. These Ca ions can autoregulate the NMDA receptor signal through multiple distinct mechanisms to reduce the total flux of cations.

Neuronal innervation regulates the secretion of neurotrophic myokines and exosomes from skeletal muscle.

Myokines and exosomes, originating from skeletal muscle, are shown to play a significant role in maintaining brain homeostasis. While exercise has been reported to promote muscle secretion, little is known about the effects of neuronal innervation and activity on the yield and molecular composition of biologically active molecules from muscle. As neuromuscular diseases and disabilities associated with denervation impact muscle metabolism, we hypothesize that neuronal innervation and firing may play a pivotal role in regulating secretion activities of skeletal muscles.

Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Tuberculosis Distribution in Romania and Particulate Matter Pollution Associated With Risk of Infection.

The study proposes a dynamic spatio-temporal profile of the distribution of tuberculosis incidence and air pollution in Romania, where this infectious disease induces more than 8,000 new cases annually. The descriptive analysis for the years 2012-2021 assumes an identification of the structuring patterns of mycobacterium tuberculosis risk in the Romanian population, according to gender and age, exploiting spatial modeling techniques of time series data. Through spatial autocorrelation, the degree of similarity between the analyzed territorial systems was highlighted and the relationships that are built between the analysis units in spatial proximity were investigated.

Late Complications after Laparoscopic Longitudinal Gastrectomy - Case Report.

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is now widely regarded as the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. It aims to enhance patients' health by achieving long-lasting weight loss, reducing associated comorbidities, and improving their quality of life.

Case Report: The case involves a 51-year-old female patient who underwent sleeve gastrectomy eight years ago to address morbid obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) = 43).

EVATOM: an optical, label-free, machine learning assisted embryo health assessment tool.

The combination of a good quality embryo and proper maternal health factors promise higher chances of a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure leading to clinical pregnancy and live birth. Of these two factors, selection of a good embryo is a controllable aspect. The current gold standard in clinical practice is visual assessment of an embryo based on its morphological appearance by trained embryologists.

Fusobacterium necrophorum intratonsillar abscess as a source of bacteremia in a patient with a history of substance abuse.

A 22-year-old male, with a history of recreational drug use, was admitted with a 24-hour history of sore throat, bilateral otalgia, fever, chills, sweats, and pain in the upper chest. The blood cultures were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum. A thoracic and neck soft tissue computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an intratonsillar abscess and pulmonary septic emboli.

Calcium- and calmodulin-dependent inhibition of NMDA receptor currents.

Calcium ions (Ca) reduce NMDA receptor currents through several distinct mechanisms. Among these, calmodulin (CaM)-dependent inhibition (CDI) accomplishes rapid, reversible, and incomplete reduction of the NMDA receptor currents in response to elevations in intracellular Ca. Quantitative and mechanistic descriptions of CDI of NMDA receptor-mediated signals have been marred by variability originating, in part, from differences in the conditions and metrics used to evaluate this process across laboratories.

The impact of financial development, health expenditure, CO2 emissions, institutional quality, and energy Mix on life expectancy in Eastern Europe: CS-ARDL and quantile regression Approaches.

In recent years, the interrelationships between the environment, energy, and health have received a growing amount of attention due to their substantial impact on the health of humans. By examining what influences Eastern Europeans' longevity between 1990 and 2021, this study hopes to contribute to this field of study. Energy consumption, health expenditure, pollution, institutional quality index (IQI), financial development, and other attributes profoundly impact human health.