Publications by authors named "STEFAN M"

Zeolites are a large family of minerals and the most studied is the naturally occurring clinoptilolite. They possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying properties which makes them valuable for medicinal use. Element analysis of zeolite's composition is necessary for its precise chemical characterization, and within this work development of a suspension method for the determination of manga nese, iron, and zinc by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spec-trometry (TXRF) was presented.

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Rationale: Early detection, standardized therapy, adequate infrastructure and strategies for quality improvement should constitute essential components of every hospital's sepsis plan.

Objectives: To investigate the extent to which recommendations from the sepsis guidelines are implemented and the availability of infrastructure for the care of patients with sepsis in acute hospitals.

Methods: A multidisciplinary cross-sectional questionnaire was used to investigate sepsis care in hospitals.

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Objective: A key component of determining that a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure is fit-for-purpose is to ensure that respondents understand its instructions and items. Any modification to a measure should be evaluated for relevance and understandability. The objective of the study was to assess comprehension of the adapted Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) questionnaire among adolescents aged populations with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and the modification to UAS question 2 to include patient-friendly terminology "wheals (hives).

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Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that's characterized by episodes of a complete or partial collapse of the upper airway with an associated decrease in oxygen saturation or arousal from sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), OSA is categorized based on polysomnography findings into mild, moderate, and severe. Objectives This study aims at determining the prevalence of the severities of OSA in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as discovering the predictors for severe OSA.

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Biological invasions are a major threat for many aquatic ecosystems. In contrast to higher plants and animals, microbial invasions are less obvious and more difficult to detect. One of the most prominent microbial invaders is the cyanobacterium Raphidiopsis raciborskii.

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The issue of antibiotic resistance stands as one of the foremost contemporary global challenges in healthcare. This study presents findings from a pilot survey conducted among Czech general practitioners, concentrating on their perception of antibiotic resistance risk and their knowledge of the AWaRe classification. This classification, in accordance with international guidelines, serves as the principal indicator for monitoring the quality of antibiotic prescriptions.

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Despite the advent of novel therapeutics, the efficient delivery of antineoplastic drugs remains a challenge. Biodegradable polymeric micelles represent a promising frontier by offering enhanced drug solubility, tumor targeting, and controlled release profiles. However, the underlying dynamics governing the drug encapsulation and solvation within these micellar structures is still vague and poorly understood.

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Background: Bowel urgency, the sudden and immediate need to have a bowel movement, is common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). While its impact in UC is well established, less is known about its importance in CD. Further, what level of bowel urgency control patients with UC or CD would consider to be acceptable or in remission has not been established.

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Although laparoscopy has some limitations related to tumor size or location along the colon, it has been demonstrated that the oncological results are just as good as for open surgery. One can also add to the benefits faster recovery and start of chemotherapy, with lower rates of complications. Our study aimed to compare open surgery to laparoscopy for non-complicated colon tumors operated in an average case-load center and appreciate its feasibility with regards to the T stage, lymph node yield and conversions.

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Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is considered the main cause of nosocomial and community-associated infections. Because of antimicrobial resistance, MRSA infections are difficult or impossible to treat, leading to high mortality rates and significant economic and societal costs. In view of the MRSA challenge to public health all over the world, the identification of new and effective anti-MRSA agents is a high medical priority.

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Background: In 2018, Romania established national guidelines for patient blood management (PBM), endorsed by the Romanian Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SRATI) and approved by the Ministry of Health. These guidelines emphasize managing anemia, coagulation issues, and the cautious use of allogeneic transfusions to improve patient outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A national survey was conducted among Romanian anesthesiologists to assess PBM guideline adoption.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A retrospective study in Romania analyzed 198 patients with venous thromboembolic disease, comparing those with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) COVID-19 during the pandemic's early waves.
  • * Results showed Group 1 had worse clinical markers, longer ICU stays, and a trend towards higher mortality, while the PESI score was only predictive of death in patients without COVID-19.
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The rapid emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant microorganisms is threatening our ability to treat common infections, with serious medical, social, and economic consequences. Despite substantial progress in the global fight against antibiotic resistance, the number of effective antibiotics is rapidly decreasing, underlying the urgent need to develop novel antimicrobials. In the present study, the green synthesis of novel iodine-substituted tricyclic flavonoids has been accomplished using an eco-friendly reagent, HPW-SiO, as a cyclization agent for the precursor 3-dithiocarmamic flavanones.

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This study evaluates antibiotic residues and bacterial loads in influent and effluent samples from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Romania, across four seasons from 2021 to 2022. Analytical methods included solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify antibiotic concentrations, while microbiological assays estimated bacterial loads and assessed antibiotic resistance patterns. Statistical analyses explored the impact of environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall on antibiotic levels.

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The effect of prior inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO) treatment on brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) outcomes remains unclear in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We conducted a retrospective multicenter analysis of 189 patients with relapsed/refractory ALL treated with brexu-cel. Over half of the patients received InO before brexu-cel (InO exposed).

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  • * Researchers created a new biodegradable polymer (polycaprolactone) with a maleimide group that effectively reduces glutathione levels in cancer cells and can carry the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX).
  • * The resulting micelles demonstrated high drug loading capacity and increased cytotoxicity against cancer cells, suggesting this method could enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments by depleting glutathione levels.
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Cultivated potato () is a major crop worldwide. It occupies the second place after cereals (corn, rice, and wheat). This important crop is threatened by the Oomycete , the agent of late blight disease.

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The leather industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world due to the large amounts of waste following raw hide processing but also due to the high content of chemical substances present in leather waste. The main problem with chromium-tanned leather solid waste is related to the storage, due to the ability of chromium to leach into soil or water, and also owing to the high ability of trivalent chromium to oxidize to its toxic form, hexavalent chromium. The purpose of this article is to present the most current methods of chromium extraction from solid tanned leather waste in order to obtain non-polluting leather, which can constitute secondary raw material in new industrial processes.

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Bile duct carcinomas have a different prognosis and genetic profile depending on their location; intrahepatic/extrahepatic or at the level of the gallbladder. Although in recent years there have been important advances in first-line therapy, second-line therapy in cholangiocarcinoma does not currently have a standard. Therefore at this level, there is an acute need for personalized treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses the challenge of unit non-response in surveys, where not all participants provide answers, complicating the estimation of totals.
  • It emphasizes the importance of auxiliary information from subpopulations (domains) to improve estimations, and suggests that even positively skewed supportive information can still lead to accurate results.
  • The proposed method integrates power-based estimation with calibration techniques, demonstrating through simulations that this combined approach offers better accuracy for estimating small domains compared to traditional methods.
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Amphiphilic functional polycaprolactone (PCL) diblock copolymers are excellent candidates for micellar drug delivery. The functional groups on the backbone significantly affect the properties of PCL. A systematic investigation of the effect of aromatic substituents on the self-assembly of γ-functionalized PCLs and the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) is presented in this work.

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Introduction: A new, citrate-free ixekizumab formulation, which is bioequivalent to the original formulation, was associated with significant reduction in injection site pain. This study evaluates patient satisfaction with the first injection experience of citrate-free ixekizumab in a real-world setting.

Methods: A non-interventional, observational, web-based survey of adults (≥ 18 years) with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis was conducted between August 2022 and March 2023.

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In this investigation, CoFeO-PVDF and CoFeO-ZnO-PVDF hybrid membranes were prepared using a modified phase inversion method in which a magnetic field was applied during the casting process to ensure a uniform distribution of nanomaterials on the membrane surface. Thus, better absorption of light and increased participation of nanoparticles in the photodegradation process is ensured. The influence of nanomaterials on the crystalline structure, surface morphology, and hydrophilicity properties of the PVDF membrane was investigated.

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The development of specific, safe, and potent monoclonal antibodies (Abs) has led to novel therapeutic options for infectious disease. In addition to preventing viral infection through neutralization, Abs can clear infected cells and induce immunomodulatory functions through engagement of their crystallizable fragment (Fc) with complement proteins and Fc receptors on immune cells. Little is known about the role of Fc effector functions of neutralizing Abs in the context of encephalitic alphavirus infection.

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