Quality of Life Evaluation Before and After Pulmonary Lobe Resection for Benign Diseases: A Comparative Study Among Patients with Tuberculosis, Bronchiectasis, and Benign Lung Nodules.

Background: Pulmonary lobe resection is a common surgical intervention for various benign lung diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), bronchiectasis, and benign lung nodules. While immediate clinical outcomes are well documented, the impact on patients' quality of life (QoL) remains less explored. This study aims to evaluate QoL before and after pulmonary lobe resection over a 6-month period among patients with benign lung diseases.

Comparative Analysis of qSOFA, PRIEST, PAINT, and ISARIC4C Scores in Predicting Severe COVID-19 Outcomes Among Patients Aged over 75 Years.

Background: Elderly patients, particularly those over 75 years old, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, exhibiting higher rates of severe outcomes, such as ICU admissions and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various clinical scoring systems-qSOFA, PRIEST, PAINT, and ISARIC4C-in predicting ICU admission, the need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality among elderly COVID-19 patients.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study conducted at two tertiary care hospitals, 131 elderly patients (aged ≥ 75) and 226 younger controls (aged < 65) with confirmed COVID-19 were included.

Hydroxyapatite from Mollusk Shells: Characteristics, Production, and Potential Applications in Dentistry.

Modern dentistry is turning towards natural sources to overcome the immunological, toxicological, aesthetic, and durability drawbacks of synthetic materials. Among the first biomaterials used as endosseous dental implants, mollusk shells also display unique features, such as high mechanical strength, superior toughness, hierarchical architecture, and layered, microporous structure. This review focusses on hydroxyapatite-a bioactive, osteoconductive, calcium-based material crucial for bone healing and regeneration.

Quantitative analysis of the caloric restriction versus isocaloric diets models based on macronutrients composition: impacts on body weight regulation, anthropometric, and bioimpedance parameters in women with obesity.

Introduction: Obesity is a growing public health issue, especially among young adults, with long-term management strategies still under debate. This prospective study compares the effects of caloric restriction and isocaloric diets with different macronutrient distributions on body composition and anthropometric parameters in obese women during a 12-week weight loss program, aiming to identify the most effective dietary strategies for managing obesity-related health outcomes.

Methods: A certified clinical nutritionist assigned specific diets over a 12-week period to 150 participants, distributed as follows: hypocaloric diets-low-energy diet (LED, 31 subjects) and very low-energy diet (VLED, 13 subjects); isocaloric diets with macronutrient distribution-low-carbohydrate diet (LCD, 48 subjects), ketogenic diet (KD, 23 subjects), and high-protein diet (HPD, 24 subjects); and isocaloric diet without macronutrient distribution-time-restricted eating (TRE, 11 subjects).

Relative effectiveness of the second booster COVID-19 vaccines against laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers: VEBIS HCW VE cohort study (1 October 2022-2 May 2023).

Introduction: Repeated COVID-19 booster vaccination was recommended in healthcare workers (HCWs) to maintain protection. We measured the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of the second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine compared to the first booster, against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study among HCWs from 12 European hospitals, we collected nasopharyngeal or saliva samples at enrolment and during weekly/fortnightly follow-up between October 2022 and May 2023.

Clinical Performance and Safety of Cerviron® Vaginal Ovules in the Management of Symptomatic Cervical Lesions: A National, Multicentric Study.

Background: Cervical ectropion is frequently associated with vaginal symptoms requiring therapeutic intervention. However, no scientific consensus has been reached regarding the use of local re-epithelialization therapy to prevent severe bleeding, wound inflammation, and infection of cervical lesions.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the aspect of the cervix by colposcopy after a 3-month treatment with an intravaginal medical device in the context of postoperative care of the symptomatic ectropion.

A Three-Year Analysis of Mortality in Clostridioides difficile Patients in a Tertiary Center.

Background/objectives: , an anaerobic bacillus ubiquitous in nature, is the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea and one of the main causes of mortality by nosocomial infections. We aimed to identify the main predictors of the risk of dying and the characteristics of a three-year cohort of patients hospitalised in our clinic that eventually had an unfavourable outcome.

Methods: We collected retrospectively available data for all patients hospitalised between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023.

The highs and lows of monoamine oxidase as molecular target in cancer: an updated review.

The global burden of cancer as a major cause of death and invalidity has been constantly increasing in the past decades. Monoamine oxidases (MAO) with two isoforms, MAO-A and MAO-B, are mammalian mitochondrial enzymes responsible for the oxidative deamination of neurotransmitters and amines in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues with the constant generation of hydrogen peroxide as the main deleterious ancillary product. However, given the complexity of cancer biology, MAO involvement in tumorigenesis is multifaceted with different tumors displaying either an increased or decreased MAO profile.

Adipose tissue as target of environmental toxicants: focus on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Obesity, diabetes, and their cardiovascular and hepatic comorbidities are alarming public health issues of the twenty-first century, which share mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation as common pathophysiological mechanisms. An increasing body of evidence links the combined exposure to multiple environmental toxicants with the occurrence and severity of metabolic diseases. Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are ubiquitous chemicals or mixtures with persistent deleterious effects on the living organisms beyond the endocrine system impairment; in particular, those known as metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs), increase the risk of the metabolic pathologies in adult organism or its progeny.

The Prognostic Value of Serum Creatinine Dynamics in Neonates-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in neonates with increased mortality and longer hospitalization. Few studies have evaluated AKI outcomes in relation to serum creatinine dynamics in neonates from the first day of life. We performed an observational, retrospective, single-center study on newborns admitted to the "Louis Turcanu" Emergency County Hospital for Children between 2014 and 2022.

A Comparative Study of Temperature Variations in Incisor Root Surfaces During Root Canal Preparation Using Various Rotary Systems and Irrigation Protocols.

This study investigates the temperature changes on the external root surface during root canal preparation using different rotary systems and assesses the impact of irrigation temperatures. Sixty extracted human maxillary incisors were divided into four groups based on the rotary system used: ProTaper Next (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), Reciproc Blue (VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany), WaveOne Gold (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), and TruNatomy (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland). These systems differ in cutting efficiency and design.

A Global Perspective on Transition Models for Pediatric to Adult Cystic Fibrosis Care: What Has Been Made So Far?

Interest in the transition of care for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has grown significantly over time, driven by advancements in treatment that have extended life expectancy. As more CF patients survive into adulthood, the need for structured transition strategies has become a priority for healthcare systems worldwide. Transition programs for CF differ globally, reflecting varying resources and healthcare systems.

CT-Guided Transthoracic Core-Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary Nodules: Current Practices, Efficacy, and Safety Considerations.

CT-guided transthoracic core-needle biopsy (CT-TTNB) is a minimally invasive procedure that plays a crucial role in diagnosing pulmonary nodules. With high diagnostic yield and low complication rates, CT-TTNB is favored over traditional surgical biopsies, providing accuracy in detecting both malignant and benign conditions. This literature review aims to present a comprehensive overview of CT-TTNB, focusing on its indications, procedural techniques, diagnostic yield, and safety considerations.

The Prevalence and Characteristics of Anemia in Romanian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Anemia is a prevalent comorbidity of diabetes, and although various mechanisms have been shown to link these two conditions, their interaction has not been sufficiently explored. Our cross-sectional, non-interventional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and its subtypes, as well as their interactions, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A total of 227 patients previously diagnosed with T2D were enrolled.

Smoking and Health Profiles of Hypertensive Patients with COVID-19: An Exploratory Study of Key Physiological Markers.

: Smoking and hypertension are major contributors to cardiovascular diseases, with smoker hypertensives typically presenting with exacerbated health risks. These factors are associated with COVID-19 aggravation, but their cumulative impact in the context of this disease remains understudied. Our hypothesis was that hypertensive smokers display a more vulnerable health profile (versus non-smokers) upon hospital admission for COVID-19.

Assessing Fat Grafting in Breast Surgery: A Narrative Review of Evaluation Techniques.

Fat grafting has gained prominence in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, necessitating accurate assessment methods for evaluating graft volume retention. This paper reviews various techniques for assessing fat and fat grafts, including their benefits and limitations. Three-dimensional (3D) scanning offers highly accurate, non-invasive volumetric assessments with minimal interference from breathing patterns.

A Dual Challenge: Endocarditis in a Patient with Familial Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm-Case Report and Literature Review.

: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are potentially life-threatening medical conditions, and their etiology involves both genetic and multiple risk factors. endocarditis is one of the most frequent causes of blood culture-negative infective endocarditis (BCNIE) in patients with previous cardiac surgery. Our review aims to emphasize the importance of genetic testing in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms but also the importance of additional testing in patients with suspected endocarditis whose blood cultures remain negative.

Risk Factors Influencing Mortality in Open Necrosectomy for Acute Pancreatitis: A Comparative Analysis.

: Patients undergoing open necrosectomy (ON) for acute pancreatitis (AP) often face high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with adverse outcomes by comparing survivors and non-survivors of ON. : A retrospective analysis was conducted on 74 patients who underwent ON for AP.

Risk Factors for Cataracts in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most impactful health problems worldwide. It affects ocular health in multiple ways and is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Our study aimed to evaluate the most important systemic risk factors related to the occurrence of cataracts in patients with DM.

Predicting Severe COVID-19 Outcomes in the Elderly: The Role of Systemic Immune Inflammation, Liver Function Tests, and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio.

: Patients aged 80 years and above are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), aspartate-aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI), aspartate-aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) in predicting severe disease, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality among COVID-19 patients aged 80 years and older. : In this retrospective cohort study, 138 elderly patients (≥80 years) and 215 younger controls (<65 years) with confirmed COVID-19 were included.

The Role of Spirituality and Religion in Improving Quality of Life and Coping Mechanisms in Cancer Patients.

Background/objectives: This systematic review aimed to comprehensively evaluate the role of spirituality and religion in the journey of patients with cancer and assess their impact on various aspects of well-being and coping mechanisms.

Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar following the PRISMA guidelines. This study focused on the period from 2014 to 2024, the time chosen for the emerging integration of spirituality and religion in cancer treatment.

Exploring the Shared Pathogenesis Mechanisms of Endometriosis and Cancer: Stemness and Targeted Treatments of Its Molecular Pathways-A Narrative Review.

Endometriosis is a benign disease but with malignant behavior, sharing numerous features with cancers. Endometriosis is the development of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, with the presence of both glands and stroma. Approximately 10% of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis; it involves high social costs and affects the patient's quality of life.

The Influence of L. Extract and Ellagic Acid on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Bone Regeneration Biomarkers.

Bone regeneration is a highly dynamic and complex process that involves hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal cells, collagen fibers, non-collagenous proteins and biomolecules from extracellular matrices, and different cytokines and immune cells, as well as growth factors and hormones. Some phytochemicals due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects can modulate the bone signaling pathways and improve bone healing and thus can be a good candidate for osteoregeneration. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of L.