Classic and molecular cytogenetic findings in leukemia patients from the Western part of Romania.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of leukemia in childhood and rare in adults, while acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is less common in children and more common in older adults. The aim of the study was to present our experience for the diagnostic of leukemia by using the classic and molecular cytogenetic methods. The study was conducted between 2009 and 2019 within the Classic and Molecular Genetic Laboratory of the Oncohematology Department from the Louis Ţurcanu Emergency Hospital for Children, Timişoara, Romania.

Educational readiness among health professionals in rheumatology: low awareness of EULAR offerings and unfamiliarity with the course content as major barriers-results of a EULAR-funded European survey.

Background: Ongoing education of health professionals in rheumatology (HPR) is critical for high-quality care. An essential factor is education readiness and a high quality of educational offerings. We explored which factors contributed to education readiness and investigated currently offered postgraduate education, including the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) offerings.

Histomorphometrical and CBCT Evaluation of Tissue Loss Progression Induced by Consecutive, Alternate Ligatures in Experimental Peri-Implantitis in a Dog Model: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: Soft and hard tissue breakdown was histologically and radiologically assessed around implants with alternate, consecutively placed ligatures on the same edentulous dog hemimandible. The influence of ligatured implants (LI) on adjacent non-ligatured implants (NLI, as a possible naturally induced peri-implantitis) was also evaluated.

Material And Methods: Three months after tooth extraction, five dental implants were placed in the dog hemimandible.

Nicotine Exerts Cytotoxic Effects in a Panel of Healthy Cell Lines and Strong Irritating Potential on Blood Vessels.

The use of tobacco products is a major global public health issue, as it is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. In addition, nicotine (NIC) is a key component of electronic and conventional cigarettes. Although nicotine's addictive potential is well known, its health effects are not entirely understood.

In Vitro Toxicological Profile of Labetalol-Folic Acid/Folate Co-Administration in H9c2(2-1) and HepaRG Cells.

Background and Objectives: The consumption of dietary supplements has increased over the last decades among pregnant women, becoming an efficient resource of micronutrients able to satisfy their nutritional needs during pregnancy. Furthermore, gestational drug administration might be necessary to treat several pregnancy complications such as hypertension. Folic acid (FA) and folate (FT) supplementation is highly recommended by clinicians during pregnancy, especially for preventing neural tube birth defects, while labetalol (LB) is a β-blocker commonly administered as a safe option for the treatment of pregnancy-related hypertension.

The Experiences of Functioning and Health of Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Multicenter Qualitative European Study.

To identify a spectrum of perspectives on functioning and health of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) from the five European countries in order to reveal commonalities and insights in their experiences. A multicenter focus group study on the patients with pSS about their perspectives of functioning and health was performed. Focus groups were chaired by trained moderators based on an interview guide, audiotaped, and transcribed.

Using Portable Ultrasound to Monitor the Neuromuscular Reactivity to Low-Frequency Electrical Stimulation.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is useful for muscle strengthening and for motor restoration of stroke patients. Using a portable ultrasound instrument, we developed an M-mode imaging protocol to visualize contractions elicited by NMES in the quadriceps muscle group. To quantify muscle activation, we performed digital image processing based on the Teager-Kaiser energy operator.

Exposure to cadmium and copper triggers cytotoxic effects and epigenetic changes in human colorectal carcinoma HT-29 cells.

Recent scientific evidence suggests a link between epigenetic changes (DNA methylation) and tumorigenesis. Moreover, a potential carcinogenic mechanism of cadmium was associated with changes in DNA methylation. In this study we investigated the impact of CdCl and CuSO aqueous solutions on DNA methylation in HT-29 cells by quantifying DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B) mRNA expression.

Predicting functional disability in patients with spondyloarthritis using a CRP-based algorithm: A 3-year prospective study.

This prospective study explored the link between values of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with SpA (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, or arthritis-related inflammatory bowel disease) and functional disability in order to derive an algorithm that may predict functional disability based on disease activity. Patients diagnosed with Spa were classified into five groups based on the type of therapy and they were followed up for 3 years. Group 1: Symptomatic medication alone; Group 2: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); Group 3: DMARDs and 30 rehabilitation sessions twice a year; Group 4: Group 3 therapy and biologic anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) drugs; and Group 5: Group 4 therapy and, in addition, a daily home-adapted kinesiotherapy program.

2020 EULAR points to consider for the prevention, screening, assessment and management of non-adherence to treatment in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases for use in clinical practice.

Background: Non-adherence to treatment could preclude reaching an optimal outcome. Thirty to 80% of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) do not adhere to the agreed treatment.

Objectives: The objective was to establish points to consider (PtCs) for the prevention, screening, assessment and management of non-adherence to (non-)pharmacological treatments in people with RMDs.

Prevention, screening, assessing and managing of non-adherent behaviour in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: systematic reviews informing the 2020 EULAR points to consider.

Objective: To analyse how non-adherence to prescribed treatments might be prevented, screened, assessed and managed in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

Methods: An overview of systematic reviews (SR) was performed in four bibliographic databases. Research questions focused on: (1) effective interventions or strategies, (2) associated factors, (3) impact of shared decision making and effective communication, (4) practical things to prevent non-adherence, (5) effect of non-adherence on outcome, (6) screening and assessment tools and (7) responsible healthcare providers.

Intravenous iron infusion as an alternative to minimize blood transfusion in peri-operative patients.

Despite the reported benefits of intravenous iron therapy (IVIT) for correcting iron deficiency anemia (IDA) before any major surgery and the evidence thereof, perioperative allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) practice is still considered as the only viable option by some clinicians worldwide. As ABT increases the likelihood of infections, cardiac complications, longer hospital stays and mortality among the patients, the practice of ABT should only be reserved for critical cases (Hb level < 7 g/dl). Timely iron studies and iron replenishment (oral/IV) of prospective surgical patients could help decrease the ABT practice, and prove beneficial from both the clinical and economic standpoint.

2019 EULAR points to consider for non-physician health professionals to prevent and manage fragility fractures in adults 50 years or older.

Objective: To establish European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) points to consider for non-physician health professionals to prevent and manage fragility fractures in adults 50 years or older.

Methods: Points to consider were developed in accordance with EULAR standard operating procedures for EULAR-endorsed recommendations, led by an international multidisciplinary task force, including patient research partners and different health professionals from 10 European countries. Level of evidence and strength of recommendation were determined for each point to consider, and the mean level of agreement among the task force members was calculated.

Prevention and management of osteoporotic fractures by non-physician health professionals: a systematic literature review to inform EULAR points to consider.

Objective: To perform a systematic literature review (SLR) about the effect of non-pharmacological interventions delivered by non-physician health professionals to prevent and manage osteoporotic fractures.

Methods: Eight clinical questions based on two criteria guided the SLR: (1) adults≥50 years at high risk of osteoporotic fracture and (2) interventions delivered by non-physician health professionals to prevent and manage osteoporotic fractures. Interventions focused on diagnostic procedures to identify risk of falling, therapeutic approaches and implementation strategies.

Association between arterial stiffness, disease activity and functional impairment in ankylosing spondylitis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Cardiovascular risk is an important factor for increased morbidity and mortality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The aim of this study is to assess arterial stiffness in relation to the disease activity and functional limitation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Twenty-four patients (mean age 45.

Do patient-reported outcome measures cover personal factors important to people with rheumatoid arthritis? A mixed methods design using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as frame of reference.

Background: Personal factors (PFs) are internal factors that determine functioning and the individuals' experience of disability. Their coverage by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has not been examined in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) so far. The aims of this study were to identify PFs important in the life stories of people with RA and to determine their coverage by PROMs used in RA.

Patient education, disease activity and physical function: can we be more targeted? A cross sectional study among people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and hand osteoarthritis.

Introduction: In order to target educational needs of patients more effectively, an Austrian-German educational needs assessment tool (OENAT) was developed, the educational needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and hand osteoarthritis (HOA) were described and the relationships between educational needs, gender, disease activity and function were explored.

Methods: The English ENAT was adapted into Austrian-German using Beaton's cross-cultural adaptation process. Internal construct validity was assessed by Rasch analysis.