Systemic infection, also known as cat-scratch disease (CSD), presents a diagnostic challenge due to the variability of clinical manifestations and the potential for serological cross-reactivity with other organisms. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics of pediatric patients diagnosed with systemic infection, to improve understanding and facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment. We conducted a 10-year retrospective study at the "Louis Turcanu" Children's Emergency Hospital and private clinics in Timisoara, Romania, reviewing records for confirmed cases of infection from January 2014 to January 2024.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH) is a rare genetic disease, also called hypersensitivity to vitamin D3. The molecular heterogeneity allows for the differentiation between the two forms; IIH type 1 caused by genetic variants and IIH type 2 associated with mutations. The affected individuals express a variety of symptoms: hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, suppressed intact parathormone levels (PTH), nephrocalcinosis, elevated levels of serum 1,25 (OH)2-vitamin D3 or inappropriately normal levels, and kidney phosphate wasting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pregnancy represents a state of increased oxidative stress and antioxidants, in which selenium (Se) plays a pivotal role, contribute to maintain the oxidative balance. If antioxidant defenses are depleted, placental function is disrupted, resulting in pregnancy complications, including pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Little is known about fetal selenium status in concomitant relation to maternal PIH, gestational age (GA) and birthweight (BW).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC) in terms of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), chronic liver failure acute decompensation (CLIF-AD), hospitalization, and mortality. In this retrospective study, we analyzed patients with known DLC who were admitted to the Gastroenterology Department with COVID-19. Clinical and biochemical data were obtained to compare the development of ACLF, CLIF-AD, days of hospitalization, and the presence of independent factors of mortality in comparison with a non-COVID-19 DLC group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelenium, residing in a series of selenoproteins, plays an important role in both female and male reproductive function. Of particular significance for reproduction is the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a main selenoenzyme, whose level is regulated by the availability of Se in the body. We hypothesized that changes in Se status, closely related to GPx activity, would result in an increased risk of reproductive dysfunction in individuals.
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