Lower Extremity Amputations Among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Five-Year Analysis in a Clinical Hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) represent a significant health problem. The aim of our study was to analyse the type and trends of diabetes-related LEAs in patients hospitalized in one surgical centre in Bucharest between 2018 and 2021. The second aim was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trends of LEAs.

Multivariate Analysis of the Determinants of Total Mortality in the European Union with Focus on Fat Intake, Diabetes, Myocardial Infarction, Life Expectancy, and Preventable Mortality: A Panel Data Fixed-Effects Panel Data Model Approach.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the European Union (EU), and while the mortality rates of diabetes, myocardial infarction, and the total fat intake have been extensively studied, we believe that understanding the interaction between such closely correlated determinants is crucial to the development of effective health policies in the EU. Our paper's novelty is represented by the econometric modelling, and its ability to capture both temporal and unit variations. The research methodology consists of using a panel data model with fixed effects for the 27 EU member states over the period 2010-2021.

Pregnancy-Related Thromboembolism-Current Challenges at the Emergency Department.

Thrombotic events during pregnancy are burdened by an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, despite innovations in their diagnosis and treatment. Given their multifactorial etiology, it is important to understand all the pathophysiological mechanisms but especially to achieve correct and timely diagnosis. Pulmonary embolism (PE) during pregnancy represents a rare event, with an incidence of 1 per 1000 pregnancies, but it is also one of the leading causes of death during pregnancy.

mTOR Dysregulation, Insulin Resistance, and Hypertension.

Worldwide, diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent serious health problems associated with unhealthy diet and sedentarism. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR) and hypertension. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase with key roles in glucose and lipid metabolism, cell growth, survival and proliferation.

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Retrospective Cohort Study Conducted at "Dr. Carol Davila" Central Military Emergency University Hospital in Bucharest.

Objective: To evaluate patients with prosthetic valves who developed infective endocarditis by comparing treatment outcomes in both early- and late-onset IE episodes following prosthetic valve replacement surgery. This study sought to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of these methodologies. The insights derived from this assessment can be utilized to enhance the quality of care for individuals with infective endocarditis who have undergone prosthetic valve replacement surgery.

Clinical and Metabolic Particularities of a Roma Population with Diabetes-Considering Ethnic Disparities in Approaching Healthcare Management.

The Roma population is Europe's largest ethnic minority, yet data on the prevalence of non-communicable diseases remain scarce in medical literature. This study aimed to compare the clinical and metabolic particularities of a Roma population with diabetes with a group of non-Roma. We conducted an observational, transversal study and evaluated 808 adult patients with diabetes mellitus, from a tertiary diabetes care hospital.

Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease to Dialysis in the Roma Population With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Comparison With Caucasian Patients.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant health challenge among patients, contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality outcomes. However, there remains a paucity of data within the medical literature on the Roma population, one of the most significant minority groups globally, with studies indicating that these individuals are disproportionately affected by CKD compared to the general population, with higher prevalence rates. Materials and methods We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study from October 2022 to March 2024, evaluating 735 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, of which 402 were Roma, aged 18 to 89 years, following the hospital's standard protocols for diabetes management, at the "Nicolae Malaxa" Clinical Hospital in Bucharest, Romania, a tertiary care center for diabetes.

Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, with more than 1 million cases diagnosed every year. represents the main risk factor, being responsible for 78% of the cases. Increased amounts of salt, pickled food, red meat, alcohol, smoked food, and refined sugars negatively affect the stomach wall, contributing to GC development.

Red Blood Cells' Area Deformation as the Origin of the Photoplethysmography Signal.

The origin of the photoplethysmography (PPG) signal is a debatable topic, despite plausible models being addressed. One concern revolves around the correlation between the mechanical waveform's pulsatile nature and the associated biomechanism. The interface between these domains requires a clear mathematical or physical model that can explain physiological behavior.

A Pilot Study on the Association between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Calcification in a Group of Patients Investigated via Cardiac Computed Tomography in a European Country with High Cardiovascular Risk.

(1) Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide; the prevention and early detection of coronary artery disease are of critical importance; and the coronary artery calcium score is a powerful method in the assessment of coronary artery disease. Among European countries, Romania ranks as a country with a very high risk of cardiovascular diseases, but the data are limited in regard to the prevalence of the calcium score. (2) Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to establish the coronary calcium score in a group of patients investigated via cardiac CT and to determine the correlation with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors.

Reliability of cardiac computed tomography examination in cardiac pathology - a case series and literature review.

Due to the technological progress in the last decade, the medical practice of cardiology relies more and more on the information provided by cardiac computed tomography. Current guidelines propose coronary computed angiography as a first-line anatomic investigation in patients with low and intermediate probability of coronary atherosclerosis. At the same time, anatomical information is obtained about the rest of the cardiac structures and about cardiac function.

A Pilot Study on the Role of Computed Tomography in the Management of Patients with Coronary Artery Anomalies in Romania.

Coronary artery anomalies may occur during embryogenesis and can lead to changes in the vascularization of the heart, possible ischemia, and an increased risk of sudden death. A retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the prevalence of coronary anomalies in a Romanian sample of patients, investigated with computed tomography angiography for coronary artery disease. The objectives of the study were to identify the anomalies of the coronary arteries and to conduct an anatomical classification according to Angelini.

Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

The administration of an anticoagulant in patients with liver disease (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-NASH, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-NAFLD, chronic hepatitis, or cirrhosis) who have an indication (atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism) is challenging because there is an imbalance between thrombosis and bleeding. There is a need to focus our attention on preventing risk factors because diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, smoking, and sedentary behavior are risk factors for both NASH/NAFLD and AF, and these patients require anticoagulant treatment. Patients with advanced liver disease (Child-Pugh C) were excluded from studies, so vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are still recommended.

Links between Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: The Relationship with the Current Antidiabetic Drugs.

Hypertension poses a significant burden in the general population, being responsible for increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, leading to adverse outcomes. Moreover, the association of hypertension with dyslipidaemia, obesity, and insulin resistance, also known as metabolic syndrome, further increases the overall cardiovascular risk of an individual. The complex pathophysiological overlap between the components of the metabolic syndrome may in part explain how novel antidiabetic drugs express pleiotropic effects.

Oral Arginine Supplementation in Healthy Individuals Performing Regular Resistance Training.

Resistance exercise training is well documented as having cardiovascular benefits, but paradoxically, it seems to increase arterial stiffness, favoring the development of high blood pressure. The present study investigates the potential effects of oral supplementation with arginine in healthy individuals performing exercise resistance training. We studied 70 non-smoking male subjects between the ages of 30 and 45 with normal or mildly increased blood pressure on ambulatory monitoring (for 24 h) and normal blood samples and echocardiography, who performed regular resistance exercise training for at least five years with a minimum of three workouts per week.

Classification of Pulmonary Damage Stages Caused by COVID-19 Disease from CT Scans via Transfer Learning.

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced social and economic changes that are still affecting our lives. The coronavirus is proinflammatory, it is replicating, and it is quickly spreading. The most affected organ is the lung, and the evolution of the disease can degenerate very rapidly from the early phase, also known as mild to moderate and even severe stages, where the percentage of recovered patients is very low.

Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer: From Molecular to Clinical Aspects.

Although pancreatic cancer (PC) was considered in the past an orphan cancer type due to its low incidence, it may become in the future one of the leading causes of cancer death. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most frequent type of PC, being a highly aggressive malignancy and having a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Non-modifiable (family history, age, genetic susceptibility) and modifiable (smoking, alcohol, acute and chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, intestinal microbiota) risk factors are involved in PC pathogenesis.

Cardiovascular Disease in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Raising Clinicians' Awareness.

In the ever evolving landscape of systemic immune mediated diseases, an increased awareness regarding the associated cardiovascular system impairment has been noted in recent years. Even though primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is one of the most frequent autoimmune diseases affecting middle-aged individuals, the cardiovascular profile of this specific population is far less studied, at least compared to other autoimmune diseases. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and disease specific risk factors are inextricably intertwined in this particular case.

Burnout and Online Medical Education: Romanian Students in Lockdown and Their Residency Choices.

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of burnout in Romanian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Students (MBI-GS(S)). The presence of burnout was assessed based on Exhaustion (EX), Cynicism (CY) and Professional Efficacy (PE) subscales. The secondary aim of the study was to identify the presence of intentional shift in medical specialty compared to their initial pursued choice within the population investigated.

Prognostic markers in the pathology of cardiac failure: echocardiography and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Introduction: Chronic heart failure is a major health problem worldwide and despite the therapeutic advances, the mortality and morbidity still remain high. Echocardiography is the gold standard for left ventricular function assessment and may provide prognostic information for predicting future heart failure events.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed the main echocardiographic markers used for the prognostic of chronic heart failure patients such as the ejection fraction, diastolic impairment and the collapse of inferior vena cava.