Assessment of Frailty Scores Among Geriatric Patients Hospitalized in the North-Western Region of Romania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The global demographic trend of population aging is evident across all regions, with a notable increase in the proportion of elderly individuals. Romania exemplifies this phenomenon, as 17% of its population is currently aged 65 years or older-a figure projected to rise to 25% by 2050. This demographic shift underscores the pressing need for comprehensive measures to address the health and social requirements of this growing population segment.

Tackling the primary healthcare workforce crisis: time to talk about health systems and governance-a comparative assessment of nine countries in the WHO European region.

Background: Primary healthcare has emerged as a powerful global concept, but little attention has been directed towards the pivotal role of the healthcare workforce and the diverse institutional setting in which they work. This study aims to bridge the gap between the primary healthcare policy and the ongoing healthcare workforce crisis debate by introducing a health system and governance approach to identify capacities that may help respond effectively to the HCWF crisis in health system contexts.

Methods: A qualitative comparative methodology was employed, and a rapid assessment of the primary healthcare workforce was conducted across nine countries: Denmark, Germany, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom/ England.

The European Researchers' Network Working on Second Victim (ERNST) Policy Statement on the Second Victim Phenomenon for Increasing Patient Safety.

Background: The second victim phenomenon refers to the emotional trauma healthcare professionals experience following adverse events (AEs) in patient care, which can compromise their ability to provide safe care. This issue has significant implications for patient safety, with AEs leading to substantial human and economic costs.

Analysis: Current evidence indicates that AEs often result from systemic failures, profoundly affecting healthcare workers.

Applying a "medical deserts" lens to cancer care services in the North-West region of Romania from 2009 to 2022 - a mixed-methods analysis.

Background: Medical deserts pose significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, leading to unmet healthcare needs and exacerbated health issues, particularly in underserved regions.

Methods: This study aims to characterise cancer care services in the North-West region of Romania through the lens of medical desertification, employing a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis - descriptive statistics - of secondary data from the Activity of Healthcare Units reports from 2009 to 2022, along with qualitative data - thematic analysis - from interviews with cancer patients and healthcare professionals, were employed to uncover the current state of cancer care in Romania.

Unlocking the Genetic Secrets of Acromegaly: Exploring the Role of Genetics in a Rare Disorder.

Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by the excessive production of growth hormone (GH) in adulthood. Currently, it is understood that certain pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) exhibit a hereditary predisposition. These tumors' genetic patterns fall into two categories: isolated and syndromic tumors.

BRAF Detection in FNAC Combined with Semi-Quantitative Tc-MIBI Technique and AI Model, an Economic and Efficient Predicting Tool for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules.

Background: Technology allows us to predict a histopathological diagnosis, but the high costs prevent the large-scale use of these possibilities. The current liberal indication for surgery in benign thyroid conditions led to a rising frequency of incidental thyroid carcinoma, especially low-risk papillary micro-carcinomas.

Methods: We selected a cohort of 148 patients with thyroid nodules by ultrasound characteristics and investigated them by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)and prospective BRAF collection for 70 patients.

Changes in body composition, adipokines, ghrelin, and FGF23 in growth hormone-deficient children during rhGH therapy.

Introduction: Beyond growth acceleration, growth hormone (GH) therapy improves body composition of GH-deficient (GHD) children due to the interaction of GH with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, possibly mediated by adipokines secreted by adipose tissue and ghrelin. To promote linear growth, it is essential to have normal phosphate homeostasis. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a known regulator of serum phosphorus and may be responsible for the increased renal phosphorus reabsorption observed during GH therapy.

Coincidence or Causality: Parathyroid Carcinoma in Chronic Kidney Disease-Case Report and Literature Review.

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been well investigated in recent years. Data regarding PC evolution in secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) are, however, scarce. Most features that raise the suspicion of PC in PHPT are part of the usual SHPT evolution in CKD, mirroring the natural changes undergone by the parathyroid glands.

Chiropractors in Multidisciplinary Teams: Enablers of Colocation Integration in GP-Led Primary Healthcare.

The aim of this study was to explore and document the enablers and barriers of chiropractic care colocation in general practice at a large-scale private primary care centre in Australia. This study focused on the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding this integration. The research setting was a large integrated primary care centre located in an outer metro, low-socioeconomic area in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia.

Exploring female medical students' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions related to breast cancer screening: a scoping review.

Early detection measures for breast cancer, such as breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammography, have considerable benefits in effectively reducing breast cancer-related mortality. As the incidence of breast cancer is steadily increasing, it is crucial to raise awareness on early detection. This scoping review assessed the current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions of breast cancer screening among female medical students.

Building capacity for equitable healthcare workforce policy, learning from migrant healthcare workers: A qualitative study with Romanian physicians working in Germany during COVID-19.

Background: Attention to the healthcare workforce has increased, yet comprehensive information on migrant healthcare workers is missing. This study focuses on migrant healthcare workers' experiences and mobility patterns in the middle of a global health crisis, aiming to explore the capacity for circular migration and support effective and equitable healthcare workforce policy.

Methods: Romanian physicians working in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic served as an empirical case study.

The mental health needs of healthcare workers: When evidence does not guide policy. A comparative assessment of selected European countries.

Background: The healthcare workforce (HCWF) globally is facing high stress levels and deteriorating mental health due to workplace, labour market and policy deficiencies that further exacerbate the existing crisis. However, comprehensive and effective action is missing.

Aims: We adopt a health system and governance perspective to address the mental health needs of healthcare workers (HCWs), considering the nature of interventions and the levels and actors involved in governance.

Preptin: A New Bone Metabolic Parameter?

Preptin is a 34-aminoacid peptide derived from the E-peptide of pro-insulin-like growth factor 2 (pro-IGF2) that is co-secreted with insulin and upregulates glucose-mediated insulin secretion. High serum preptin levels were described in conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2M). Insulin and also IGF2 are known to be anabolic bone hormones.

Migrant healthcare workers during COVID-19: bringing an intersectional health system-related approach into pandemic protection. A German case study.

Introduction: Migrant healthcare workers played an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic, but data are lacking especially for high-resourced European healthcare systems. This study aims to research migrant healthcare workers through an intersectional health system-related approach, using Germany as a case study.

Methods: An intersectional research framework was created and a rapid scoping study performed.

Defining medical deserts-an international consensus-building exercise.

Background: Medical deserts represent a pressing public health and health systems challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the gap between people and health services, yet a commonly agreed definition of medical deserts was lacking. This study aims to define medical deserts through a consensus-building exercise, explaining the phenomenon to its full extent, in a manner that can apply to countries and health systems across the globe.

Thyroid, Gonadal and Adrenal Dysfunction in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Review for the Clinician.

While chronic kidney disease-associated mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) prevail in the endocrinological assessment of CKD patients, other endocrine abnormalities are usually overlooked. CKD is associated with significant thyroid, adrenal and gonadal dysfunction, while persistent and de novo endocrinological abnormalities are frequent among kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Low T3 levels prior to transplantation may help identify those at risk for delayed graft function and are often found in KTR.

A five-year (2017-2021) time series evaluation of patient-reported informal healthcare payments in Romania.

Low wages of health professionals are widely recognized as one of the drivers of informal payments in Romania's healthcare system. In January 2018, the government increased wages by an average of 70% to 172% in the public healthcare sector. This study examined the trends in patient-reported informal healthcare payments, discussing the effect of a one-time wage increase in 2018 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health: A Web-Based Study Among Romanian Adults.

Background In Romania, as in other parts of the world, the family doctor is the first to make contact with a healthy patient and is also the first to notice even the smallest pathological changes. In the context of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the patient's communication with the family doctor became even closer and some behavioral changes could be easily noticed. Objective To assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression in the Romanian population using social media platforms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Going Remote: Evaluating a Global Health Practicum Program During COVID-19 Travel Restrictions.

Background: Short-term experiences in global health (STEGHs) are an important part of global health degree programs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel was not possible for students planning to participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health's Global Health Established Field Placement (GHEFP) program in 2020. Working with willing faculty mentors, in-country collaborators, and students, the Center allowed students to complete their practicums remotely so that students could gain practicum experience despite not being able to travel, and faculty and collaborators could receive the planned support on their projects.

Tribological Aspects Concerning the Study of Overhead Crane Brakes.

The aim of the study is the tribological analysis of the crane drum brakes. A theoretical analysis of the wear processes for brake lining was performed and the coefficient of friction under tribological conditions was determined experimentally simulating the operating conditions for three types of brakes. The theoretical study of the wear was oriented towards of determining the lifetime of the brake lining.