Publications by authors named "Roxana Folescu"

Article Synopsis
  • Psychotic disorders in youth present major challenges for mental health services, with this review examining how resilience factors can help lessen the negative impact of risk factors on developing psychosis in individuals under 25.
  • The review analyzed nine studies involving over 140,000 participants and found that strong familial and community support significantly lowered the risk of developing psychotic symptoms, while neurobehavioral deficits increased risk.
  • It highlights the need for early interventions focusing on enhancing resilience to better support at-risk youths and potentially alter the course of psychosis development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative blood transfusions in correcting anemia for pediatric patients with congenital malformations (CMs) versus those with acute abdomen (AA) conditions. The study hypothesized that the response to transfusions might vary significantly between these groups due to the differences in the underlying pathology and clinical status.

Methods: The study included 107 pediatric patients admitted to Timisoara 'Louis Turcanu' Emergency Hospital for Children between January 2015 and May 2023, who required blood transfusions for preoperative anemia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The plasma level of antipsychotics and their metabolites depends on the activity of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system in the liver. This research aims to test the individual response variability to atypical antipsychotic drugs, depending on the activity of the CYP2D6 enzyme.

Methods: In a prospective, noninterventional study, we included 56 adolescents, 51.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the relationship between genital infections, antibiotic use, and the risk of preterm birth among pregnant women, analyzing data from 71 preterm births and 94 full-term deliveries.
  • The findings indicate that higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and genital herpes, along with certain antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant infections, are strongly linked to increased odds of preterm birth.
  • Key pathogens, particularly those with multidrug resistance, significantly elevate the risk of preterm birth, emphasizing the need for screening and treatment of infections during pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study conducted a detailed analysis of the vaginal microbiota in pregnant women to explore its correlation with preterm birth (PTB) outcomes. The primary objective was to identify microbial variations associated with increased PTB risk. Secondary objectives included investigating how changes in microbial composition relate to the local immune environment and PTB.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The rise of multidrug-resistant organisms has significantly complicated the clinical management of urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in the context of pregnancy. This study aimed to identify and analyze the significant differences in microbial species and multidrug resistance patterns associated with UTIs in preterm versus full-term births, determine the bacterial species significantly associated with preterm birth, and describe the antibiotic resistance patterns affecting pregnant women with UTIs. This case-control study was conducted in western Romania and focused on pregnant women with UTIs admitted from 2019 to 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * In children, VIPomas are less common and often linked to neurogenic tumors located in the retroperitoneum or mediastinum, rather than the pancreas.
  • * A case study of an infant with chronic diarrhea revealed a VIPoma in the retroperitoneum, diagnosed through imaging, leading to successful tumor removal and normalization of both diarrhea and electrolyte levels, confirming the tumor as ganglioneuroblastoma through further tests.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR), an identifiable variant of FGR, exhibits divergences in its severity, management, and placental pathologies when juxtaposed with late-onset FGR. The objective of this cross-sectional investigation was to scrutinize placental pathologies in pregnancies afflicted by early-onset FGR, emphasizing a comparative analysis between cohorts with and without preeclampsia (PE).

Patients, Materials And Methods: The study encompassed a cohort of 85 expectant mothers who received a diagnosis of early-onset FGR.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat recognized by the WHO, fueled by inappropriate antibiotic use and legislative gaps, impacting humans, animals, and the environment.
  • Essential oils (EOs) show promising antimicrobial properties based on research, but are underutilized in clinical settings due to a lack of data on their effectiveness and safety.
  • This review explores the causes of AMR, global response strategies, and the potential of EOs as alternative treatments, focusing on their effectiveness against six urgent pathogens identified by the WHO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

(1) Background: The main challenge in cases of early onset fetal growth restriction is management (i.e., timing of delivery), trying to determine the optimal balance between the opposing risks of stillbirth and prematurity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy are at a higher risk of preterm birth, especially if the infection occurs in the third trimester.
  • A study involving 428 pregnant patients found that symptomatic COVID-19 infections during late pregnancy significantly correlated with premature births, although other factors like maternal anemia were stronger predictors.
  • Understanding these risks can lead to better management in pregnant patients with COVID-19, suggesting they should be monitored closely for complications related to anemia and inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has surprised the medical world with its devastating effects such as severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and cytokine storm, but also with the scant therapeutic solutions which have proven to be effective against the disease. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been proposed from the very beginning as a possible adjuvant treatment in severe cases. Our objective was to analyze the evolution of specific biological markers of the COVID-19 disease before and one day after a therapeutic plasma exchange session, how a change in these parameters influences the patient’s respiratory status, as well as the impact of TPE on the survival rate.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the oxidative stability and protective effects of a mixture of two types of oils (HAO and OBO) on 3D skin models for irritation and phototoxicity.
  • The analysis included fatty acid composition through GS analysis, lipid oxidation levels with a TBA assay, and effects on skin irritation using EpiDerm models.
  • Results showed that both oils have good oxidative stability and biocompatibility, with no irritant or phototoxic effects, suggesting that L. oil could be beneficial in preventing oxidative damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a globally present infection affecting both children and adults, and its diagnosis can be challenging due to the limitations of current testing methods.
  • Advances in nucleic acid testing have improved detection rates, revealing that HEV can manifest differently depending on the population and location.
  • While HEV is typically self-limiting in healthy individuals, it can cause severe issues, such as acute liver failure in pregnant women or chronic conditions in immunocompromised patients, leading to tailored treatment strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

One of the most important class of natural compounds with successful preclinical results in the management of cancer is the flavonoids. Due to the plethora of biological activities, apigenin (4',5,7 trihydroxyflavone) is a main representant of the flavone subclass. Although the antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects of apigenin were studied on a significant number of human and murine melanoma cell lines, in order to complete the data existing in the literature, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of apigenin on SK-MEL-24 human melanoma cell line as well as on tumor angiogenesis using the aforementioned cell line on the chorioallantoic membrane assay.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare condition, and this report discusses a case of a 65-year-old female with bilateral ED who experienced pain and a tumoral mass on her right side.
  • Imaging studies initially suggested a diagnosis of lipoma, but surgical excision of the tumor revealed ED after microscopic examination.
  • Due to potential complications and the asymptomatic nature of the contralateral tumor, the patient was monitored instead of undergoing further surgery on the left side.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Schwannomas are well-encapsulated, benign tumors arising from Schwann cell constituting the nerve sheaths. We report a case of a cystic conventional schwannoma, measuring 2.5×3 cm, located in the distal forearm of a 33-year-old female patient with no sign of neurofibromatosis type 2 or type 3.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • L. (from the Salicaceae family) is a popular tree in deciduous forests, with over 40 species mainly found in Europe and Asia, known for its potential pharmaceutical uses.
  • The review reveals that L. buds contain a variety of beneficial compounds, including phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and flavonoids, contributing to their therapeutic properties.
  • Studies highlight the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and other health benefits of L. buds, suggesting they could be a valuable source for treating various health issues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Black chokeberry fruits possess a wide range of biological activities, among which the most important that are frequently mentioned in the literature are their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antimicrobial properties. The present paper reports, for the first time, the encapsulation of the ethanolic extract of L. fruits into two mesoporous silica-type matrices (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is a locally aggressive tumor but with benignity features, representing approximately 18% of non-malignant bone tumors in European countries, with slight female predominance. Malignancy in GCT is rare, about <2% of cases and is more common at older ages. Is known that usually occurs at the epiphyses of long bones, but extremely rare may have another location, such as the pelvic bone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The purpose of this research was to identify a possible correlation between the morphometric characteristics of fibrocartilaginous tissue in the intervertebral herniated disc fragment and the clinical and imagistic characteristics of patients with back pain. Sixty-two samples were included in this study. Intervertebral herniated disc fragments obtained during surgery (microdiscectomy) were analyzed histologically and morphologically.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Lung cancer high mortality rate remains a major problem, despite the actual progress in its early detection and therapeutic design. Since lung cancer' treatment requires separation of tumors in small cell carcinoma and non-small cell carcinoma, the histopathological diagnosis focuses on this basic distinction, while immunohistochemistry contributes considerably to confirm the diagnosis accuracy. In order to check the assumption that p63 is a useful marker for squamous cellular differentiation, we used two antibodies: anti-p63 and anti-thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), based on their immunoexpression to differentiate small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) from poorly differentiated nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant soft tissue tumor representing 5-10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Most synovial sarcomas are found at the extremities, especially in the lower limbs. A 28-year-old female presented at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Dr.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ki-67 parameter is a proliferation marker in malignant tumors. The increased proliferation activity and the decreased prognosis in lung cancer determined us to investigate different parameters connected to the tumor's aggression, such as cellularity, Ki-67 positivity rate, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). We evaluated the proliferative activity in 62 primary lung tumors by determining the cell's percentage of Ki-67 and immunoreactive PCNA (using MIB-1 and PCNA monoclonal antibodies), classifying Ki-67 and PCNA immunoreactivity into three score groups.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Antidepressant medication influences cellular lipogenesis, being associated with metabolic side effects including weight gain. Due to the increasing use of antidepressants in children and adolescents, their metabolic and endocrine adverse effects are of particular concern, especially within this pediatric population that appears to be at greater risk. Genetic factors with a possible influence on antidepressant's adverse effects include CYP [cytochrome P450 (CYP450)] polymorphisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF