Effectiveness of 8-week Treatment with Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir in Treatment-naïve or -experienced HCV Patients: Results from an Observational Retrospective Study in Real-life Settings (ODYSSEY).

Background And Aims: Pan-genotypic ribavirin-free oral direct-acting antivirals, including the glecaprevir/pibrentasvir combination, are recommended for the treatment of most patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In Romania, the HCV-infected patient population receiving glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is not well characterized and data on treatment effectiveness is lacking. The ODYSSEY study aimed to provide insights into the characteristics and treatment outcomes of HCV-infected Romanian patients receiving 8-week therapy with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir.

Identifying New Areas of Endemicity and Risk Factors for subsp. Infection: Serosurvey in Rural Areas of Romania.

Background: Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by subsp. primarily prevalent in Mediterranean and Southern Europe. We aimed to evaluate MSF seroprevalence and risk factors in non-endemic rural areas of Romania.

Pathophysiological correlations between SARS-CoV-2 and arrhythmogenesis: a literature review.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 represents one of the most extensively researched pathogens in the last decade due to its major impact on humanity. Not only does this viral infection cause respiratory disturbances, but it also generates cardiovascular injury. Cardiac arrhythmias represent one of the main consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they can also occur in the context of antiviral treatment.

Incidence and Characteristics of Pediatric Patients with Acute Otitis Hospitalized in a Romanian Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Background: Otic involvement is common in children during acute infectious diseases, and is an important cause of morbidity and health service utilization.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of pediatric cases hospitalized in the largest infectious disease hospital in Romania between 2018 and 2023, with the aim of quantifying the incidence and impact of acute otitis (AO) according to pediatric age subgroups.

Results: A total of 1118 cases diagnosed with AO were eligible and included in the analysis.

Hospitalizations for Acute Otitis and Sinusitis in Patients Living with HIV: A Retrospective Analysis of a Tertiary Center in Romania.

Acute or chronic ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions in people living with HIV can lead to hospitalization and affect their quality of life. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of hospitalizations for acute sinusitis (AS) and acute otitis (AO) in people living with HIV. We performed a retrospective analysis over the course of six years (from January 2018 to December 2023), assessing all hospitalizations for AS and/or AO occurring in patients living with HIV, at the largest infectious diseases hospital in Romania.

Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in over 3 Years (2019-2021) in a Tertiary Hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

Background: The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of recorded a steep upward trend over the last two decades, among which carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) is one of the most concerning strains considering the development and spread of AMR. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of AMR for and to describe the risk factors of AMR for , including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on non-duplicative isolates collected from patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Bucharest, Romania, from January 2019 to December 2021.

Serosurvey of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection in Romania.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a disease with mandatory declaration in the EU since 2012. Information regarding the seroprevalence of the disease across Romania is limited, and only sporadic cases are rarely reported. We aimed to identify new areas of TBEV infection in different counties of Romania.

Investigation of Serum Endocan Levels in SARS-CoV-2 Patients.

Endocan is an endothelial-cell-specific proteoglycan (ESM-1) and has emerged as an endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory marker in recent years. Endocan can be used as a marker of inflammatory endothelial dysfunction in endothelium-dependent disease: cardiovascular disease, sepsis, lung and kidney disease and malignancies. Recent data suggest that endothelial dysfunction is a key mechanism in COVID-19 pathogenesis.

A Five-Year Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance Trends among Bacteria Identified in Positive Urine Samples in a Tertiary Care Hospital from Bucharest, Romania.

The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) has resulted in limited treatment options and poorer outcomes for patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the overall antibiotic resistance trends and distribution for pathogens identified in urine samples at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr.

Chronic Pelvic Puzzle: Navigating Deep Endometriosis with Renal Complications.

This case report delves into the intricacies of a challenging clinical scenario involving deep pelvic endometriosis, which manifested with renal complications. Endometriosis, a complex gynecological condition, is explored in this case, highlighting its multifaceted nature. The patient presented with a complex interplay of symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain, urinary tract issues, and severe deep adenomyosis.

Characteristics of Tuberculous Meningitis in HIV-Positive Patients from Northeast Romania.

Background And Objectives: One of the most severe forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is tuberculous meningitis (TBM), which is linked to significant morbidity and high mortality. It is well recognized that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive people are more likely to develop EPTB, including TBM, especially if they have severe immunodeficiencies. We aim to highlight the profile and the characteristics of TBM in HIV-infected patients.

Camillo Golgi's Impact on Malaria Studies.

Camillo Golgi was an esteemed Italian physician and biologist who made major advances in malaria research between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His groundbreaking contributions in histology, especially through the development of the Golgi staining technique, revolutionized our understanding of cell structures-including parasites-through visualization. Golgi staining also allowed researchers to observe its complex life cycle while documenting it.

First report of Candida auris in Romania: clinical and molecular aspects.

The emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida auris raises significant concerns for public health due to its outbreak potential, the associated high mortality, increased resistance to antifungals, challenging identification to species level, since commonly used diagnostic methods can confuse this fungus with other Candida spp. The present outbreak report describes probably some of the first Candida auris cases in Romania, providing clinical and epidemiological data, and also whole genome sequencing data. The cases were identified in three hospitals in Bucharest during the first eight months of 2022.

Etiology and Multi-Drug Resistant Profile of Bacterial Infections in Severe Burn Patients, Romania 2018-2022.

Infections in severe burns and their etiology are and will remain a big concern for the medical field. The multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria are a challenge of today's medicine. The aim of our study was to identify the etiological spectrum of bacterial infections in severe burn patients in Romania and their multi-drug resistant patterns.

Influence of Multiplex PCR in the Management of Antibiotic Treatment in Patients with Bacteremia.

The multiplex PCR assay can be a helpful diagnostic tool for patients with bacteremia. Herein, we assessed the impact of a Blood Culture Identification Panel (BCID) on both the diagnosis and treatment of patients with bacteremia. We performed a retrospective study using laboratory and clinical data to evaluate the impact of syndromic testing using a multiplex PCR testing system (BioFire FilmArray) for the management of patients with bloodstream infections.

Antimicrobial Resistance of Isolated between 2017 and 2022 from Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Romania.

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of isolation of from different pathological samples processed in the Microbiology Laboratory of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr. Matei Balș", Romania, between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2022, aiming to establish the ratio of methicillin-resistant to methicillin-susceptible strains and the antibiotic resistance pattern of isolated microorganisms.

SARS-CoV-2 Positive Serology and Islet Autoantibodies in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Cases of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Single-Center Cohort Study.

Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, although presenting less severe forms of the disease in children, seems to play a role in the development of other conditions, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). After the beginning of the pandemic, an increase in the number of T1DM pediatric patients was observed in several countries, thus leading to many questions about the complex relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and T1DM. Our study aimed to highlight possible correlations between SARS-CoV-2 serology and T1DM onset.

A Novel Risk Calculator to Predict Erectile Dysfunction in HIV-Positive Men.

HIV infection is considered to be a lifelong medical condition, requiring follow-up and treatment for decades. HIV-positive men are reported to have erectile dysfunction more often than age-matched healthy controls, and improving sexuality is known to potentially improve overall health-related quality of life. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the presence of ED in HIV-positive men and the associated contributing factors and to create a statistical model to assess the risk to develop ED in this population.

The Effect of Topical Celecoxib as an Anti-Psoriasis Agent.

Our previous research showed that, in a mice tail model for psoriasis, topical celecoxib might have an antipsoriatic effect by increasing granular layer development. The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of three celecoxib concentrations using a mice model for psoriasis. Topical application of celecoxib (2%, 4% and 8%), with two negative controls (untreated and white soft paraffin as ointment base) and one positive control (tretinoin 0.

Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.

Methods: The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Changes in Use of Blood Cultures in a COVID-19-Dedicated Tertiary Hospital.

Blood cultures should be collected within an hour in the setting of sepsis/septic shock. The contamination rate should be below 3%. Worldwide reports have described an increase in blood contamination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.