Publications by authors named "SERBAN A"

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely utilized synthetic polymer, favored in various applications for its desirable physicochemical characteristics and widespread accessibility. However, its extensive utilization, coupled with improper waste disposal, has led to the alarming pollution of the environment. Thus, recycling PET products is essential for diminishing global pollution and turning waste into meaningful materials.

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Monorchidism is an uncommon condition in tomcats, defined by the congenital absence of one of the testicles. Due to the lack of information regarding possible biomarkers, most monorchidism cases require laparotomy in order to differentiate it from cryptorchidism. Human data suggest that monorchid patients have lower serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels when compared to cryptorchids, premises that has been also scrutinized in veterinary medicine.

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Background And Purpose: Interferon (IFN) signaling plays an important role in antitumor immune responses. Inhibitors of the DNA damage response, such as ATR inhibitors, can increase IFN signaling upon conventional radiotherapy with X-rays. However, it is not known whether such inhibitors also enhance IFN signaling after irradiation with high linear energy transfer (LET) particles.

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We propose a deep learning method to model and generate synthetic aortic shapes based on representing shapes as the zero-level set of a neural signed distance field, conditioned by a family of trainable embedding vectors with encode the geometric features of each shape. The network is trained on a dataset of aortic root meshes reconstructed from CT images by making the neural field vanish on sampled surface points and enforcing its spatial gradient to have unit norm. Empirical results show that our model can represent aortic shapes with high fidelity.

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The use of biomarkers in cardiovascular surgery is an evolving field with promising potential; however, current research remains largely limited, requiring further validation for routine clinical application. This review explores the application of biomarkers in cardiovascular surgery, focusing on heart failure, cardiac ischemia, and organ dysfunction, including renal, cerebral, pulmonary, and splanchnic impairments. Additionally, it examines the significance of biomarkers in assessing the inflammatory state and oxidative stress during the perioperative period, particularly in the context of major surgical trauma and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

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Introduction: The increasing prevalence of infertility in male dogs in clinical practice mirrors current trends seen in human medicine. Acquired infertility is notably more common in dogs compared to congenital causes, with conditions such as testicular degeneration leading to irreversible loss of fertility. Current diagnostic methods for testicular degeneration, such as histopathological and cytological examinations, rely on testicular biopsy or fine needle aspiration, making them less feasible for routine use.

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Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) is a potentially cost-effective technology for green hydrogen production. Although the normal current densities of AEMWEs are below 3 A ⋅ cm, operating them at higher current densities represents an efficient, but little-explored approach to decrease the total cost of hydrogen production. We show here that a benchmark AEMWE has an operational lifetime of only seconds at an ultrahigh current density of 10 A ⋅ cm.

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Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has become a pivotal subject in the study of testicular descent, maturation, integrity, and male fertility. Recent studies explored its roles and implications across various domestic species. A prominent approach involved the understanding of the modulation of AMH in reproductive disorders, including cryptorchidism.

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Developing of functional foods is a promising strategy to reduce the increasing burden of colorectal cancer worldwide. Fruit pomace, particularly polyphenol and anthocyanin-rich chokeberry and blueberry, is a valuable ingredient for functional foods and nutraceuticals. Our study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of chokeberry and blueberry pomace extracts on C2BBe1 colorectal carcinoma cells and explore the underlying signaling pathways.

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Eying the increasing impact of hyaluronic acid (HA) and its multifaceted applications, this study employs a non-toxic, one-pot strategy to develop injectable, self-healing hydrogels for biomedical applications. Phytic acid (PA), a plant-derived organic acid with high biocompatibility and numerous hydroxyl groups, can act as a cross-linking agent to form hydrogen-bonded networks with the HA chains. The study examined the optimal mass ratio of HA to PA to achieve superior hydrogel performance.

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The objective of this study was to identify and classify the spectrum of mutations found in the and genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer in female patients in Romania. Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations were investigated in a cohort of 616 female patients using NGS and/or MLPA methods followed by software-based data analysis and classification according to international guidelines. Out of the 616 female patients included in this study, we found that 482 patients (78.

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In recent years, increasing interest has been accorded to polyester-based polymer microstructures, driven by their promising potential as advanced drug delivery systems. This study presents the preparation and characterization of new polymeric microparticles based on poly(ethylene brassylate-co-squaric acid) loaded with norfloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Polymacrolactone was synthesised in mild conditions through the emulsion polymerization of bio-based and renewable monomers, ethylene brassylate, and squaric acid.

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This paper presents the design and prototype of a constant volume (isochoric) vessel that can be used for the preservation of large organs in a supercooled state. This prototype is a preliminary version of a more advanced design. The device consists of a cooling bath operated by a mechanical vapor compression refrigeration unit and an isochoric chamber made of stainless steel.

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist and have a major impact on patient prognosis. Organ fibrosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardio-renal syndrome (CRS), explaining the high incidence of heart failure and sudden cardiac death in these patients. Various mediators and mechanisms have been proposed as contributors to the alteration of fibroblasts and collagen turnover, varying from hemodynamic changes to the activation of the renin-angiotensin system, involvement of FGF 23, and Klotho protein or collagen deposition.

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Article Synopsis
  • Oral leukoplakia (OLK) is a significant oral disorder with a malignant transformation (MT) rate that varies widely from study to study, prompting uncertainty in treatment approaches.
  • A retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 30 OLK patients over five years, revealing a very low yearly MT rate of 0.2%, with diverse outcomes ranging from complete healing to recurrence.
  • The findings suggest that due to the varied clinical features of OLK, a personalized treatment strategy is essential, emphasizing histopathological confirmation for accurate assessment of malignant transformation potential.
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The multiple uses of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) originate from their availability from renewable resources, and are due to their physico-chemical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility. At the same time, reducing sensitivity to humidity, increasing interfacial adhesion and hydrophobic modification of the CNF surface to diversify applications and improve operation, are current targets pursued. This study focuses on the preparation of a novel gel structure using cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and poly(ethylene brassylate-co-squaric acid) (PEBSA), a bio-based copolymacrolactone.

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  • The Kleihauer-Betke (KB) test is used to detect fetal red blood cells in maternal blood and assess potential fetal-maternal hemorrhages, but can yield inaccurate results in cases of maternal hemoglobinopathy.
  • A new staining protocol was developed to enhance the detection and quantification of fetal red blood cells, tested on samples from patients with both normal and abnormal hemoglobin.
  • Results showed that the new method improved accuracy from 78% to 85%, increased specificity from 56% to 70%, and reduced false positives by 30%, making it a more reliable technique for clinicians.
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Three incongruent melting LaNdGdYSc(BO) (LGYSB:Nd) crystals with different concentrations ( = 0.15, 0.05, and 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers found distinct patterns of miRNA expression after 4 weeks of AFSC differentiation into endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, with several miRNAs being significantly upregulated or downregulated.
  • * Understanding these miRNA networks could lead to significant advancements in biomedical applications, particularly in areas related to cell growth, differentiation, and vascular health.
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The immune response encompasses innate and adaptive immunity, each with distinct and specific activities. The innate immune system is constituted by phagocytic cells, macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils, the cascade system, and different classes of receptors such as toll-like receptors that are exploited by the innate immune cells. The adaptive immune system is antigen-specific, encompassing memory lymphocytes and the corresponding specific receptors.

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The insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) promotes cell growth by overactivating the IGF system in an autocrine loop in adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs). The cytoskeleton protein filamin A (FLNA) acts as a repressor of IGF2 mitogenic signalling in ACC cells. The aims of this study were to test FLNA expression by immunohistochemistry in 119 ACCs and 26 adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) and to evaluate its relationship with clinicopathological features and outcome in ACCs.

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  • * The study focused on the effects of using ethanol infusion in the vein of Marshall during mitral isthmus ablation procedures on patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation or peri-mitral flutter.
  • * Results showed a high success rate (94.2%) in achieving acute mitral isthmus block with ethanol infusion, while complications were minimal, highlighting this technique's potential effectiveness in treating these heart conditions.
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