Epidemiology of kidney biopsy from regional referral center in Romania: 10-year review.

Purpose: To provide epidemiologic data on kidney biopsy from Romania.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of kidney biopsy records for adult patients from a referral center in the north-western part of Romania, reported for 2014-2023.

Results: 556 biopsies were performed, corresponding to an incidence of 12 biopsies/m person-year with over 50% increase over the last reported year.

Biomarkers as Predictors of Mortality in Sepsis and Septic Shock for Patients Admitted to Emergency Department: Who Is the Winner? A Prospective Study.

: Sepsis and septic shock remain significant contributors to high early mortality rates among patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to identify among newer biomarkers those with the highest sensitivity in early mortality prediction. : This prospective, unicentric, observational study enrolled 47 adult patients admitted to the ED between November 2020 and December 2022.

Synthetic Grafts in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in Professional Female Handball Players-A Viable Option?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACR) rupture is a frequent injury in professional sports players. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including 41 professional female handball players, undergoing ACR reconstruction surgery, using a Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) graft ( = 12) or a Soft Tissue (ST) graft ( = 29). After return-to-play, the patients were asked to take a survey, reporting subjective and objective performance indexes before the injury and after return-to-play.

Can We Improve Mortality Prediction in Patients with Sepsis in the Emergency Department?

: Sepsis represents a global health challenge and requires advanced diagnostic and prognostic approaches due to its elevated rate of morbidity and fatality. Our study aimed to assess the value of a novel set of six biomarkers combined with severity scores in predicting 28 day mortality among patients presenting with sepsis in the Emergency Department (ED). : This single-center, observational, prospective cohort included sixty-seven consecutive patients with septic shock and sepsis enrolled from November 2020 to December 2022, categorized into survival and non-survival groups based on outcomes.

The Impact of Chromosomal Mosaicisms on Prenatal Diagnosis and Genetic Counseling-A Narrative Review.

Genetic disorders represent a high-impact diagnosis for both patients and their families. Prenatal screening methods and, when recommended, genetic testing allow parents to make informed decisions about the course a pregnancy is going to take. Although offering certainty about the potential evolution and prognosis of the pregnancy, and then the newborn, is usually not possible, genetic counseling can offer valuable insights into genetic disorders.

Leptin Is Associated with Testosterone, Nutritional Markers, and Vascular Muscular Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes specific hormonal disturbances, such as variations in leptin and testosterone levels and function. These disturbances can promote errors in signaling interaction and cellular information processing and can be implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study investigates the factors that affect leptin in CKD patients and examines how leptin is related to markers of vascular disease.

Metabolomic Markers in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among Children and Adolescents-A Systematic Review.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by clinical diversity, poses diagnostic challenges often reliant on subjective assessments. Metabolomics presents an objective approach, seeking biomarkers for precise diagnosis and targeted interventions. This review synthesizes existing metabolomic insights into ADHD, aiming to reveal biological mechanisms and diagnostic potentials.

Predictors for anaemia, blood transfusion and outcome in plastic surgery patients.

Objective: In patients undergoing plastic surgery, to identify specific risk factors for anaemia and use of blood products, and assess their impact on patient outcome.

Method: For this retrospective study, data were analysed from patients who attended the Plastic Surgery Department at our hospital over a three-year period (2018 to 2020). Adult patients who presented with traumatic injuries, oncologic patients who underwent reconstructive procedures, and patients with soft tissue infections (STIs) who required plastic surgery for tissue coverage were included.

Geographical Origin Authentication-A Mandatory Step in the Efficient Involvement of Honey in Medical Treatment.

Nowadays, in people's perceptions, the return to roots in all aspects of life is an increasing temptation. This tendency has also been observed in the medical field, despite the availability of high-level medical services with many years of research, expertise, and trials. Equilibrium is found in the combination of the two tendencies through the inclusion of the scientific experience with the advantages and benefits provided by nature.

Survival Rates of Glass versus Hybrid Ceramics in Partial Prosthetic Restorations: A Scoping Review with Emphasis on Adhesive Protocols.

As dental practices and methodologies evolve, the emergence of novel materials adds complexity to clinical choices. While glass ceramics, particularly those based on lithium disilicate and leucite-reinforced variants, have been extensively researched and are well regarded for their attributes, hybrid ceramics remain relatively recent area of research that is less investigated. This review aims to evaluate the durability of glass and hybrid ceramics while assessing the role of various adhesive techniques on restoration longevity.

Blood transfusions in non-major burns patients.

Background: Blood transfusions are essential to treating anaemia of burn injuries. It has recently been observed that patients with non-major burns < 20%TBSA may also develop anaemia requiring transfusion of blood products. Due to the morbidity and mortality rate associated with blood transfusions better understanding of risk factors may guide clinical practices to improve patient care.

Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Genotypes and Reproductive Outcomes in a Group of Infertile Women: A Romanian Study.

A growing body of evidence suggests that endometrial immune disorders may be responsible for endometrial dysfunctions that can lead to gynecological and obstetrical pathology. The aim of this study was to explore the potential relationship between different killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes and reproductive outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study that included 104 infertile patients undergoing an in vitro fertilization procedure.

Triiodothyronine and Protein Malnutrition Could Influence Pulse Wave Velocity in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the first cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) mortality. For personalized improved medicine, detecting correctable markers of CVD can be considered a priority. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the impact of nutritional, hormonal and inflammatory markers on brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) in pre-dialysis CKD patients.

Extent of intraspecific trait variability in ecologically central and marginal populations of a dominant alpine plant across European mountains.

Background And Aims: Studying trait variability and restricted gene flow between populations of species can reveal species dynamics. Peripheral populations commonly exhibit lower genetic diversity and trait variability due to isolation and ecological marginality, unlike central populations experiencing gene flow and optimal conditions. This study focused on Carex curvula, the dominant species in alpine acidic meadows of European mountain regions.

Urinary arsenic and spontaneous pregnancy loss - a hypothesis-generating case-control investigation in western Romania.

Arsenic occurs as a natural contaminant of drinking water supplies in arsenic endemic areas, posing a threat to public health. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between urinary arsenic concentrations and spontaneous pregnancy loss in a population with low-moderate level drinking water arsenic exposure (mostly <10 μg/L). We enrolled 150 women with incident spontaneous pregnancy losses and 150 controls with ongoing pregnancies matched by gestational age.

Advanced ImageJ Analysis in Degenerative Acquired Vitelliform Lesions Using Techniques Based on Optical Coherence Tomography.

Acquired vitelliform lesions (AVLs) are associated with a large spectrum of retinal diseases, among which is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this study was to characterize AVLs' evolution in AMD patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology and ImageJ software. We measured AVLs' size and density and followed their impacts over surrounding retinal layers.

The Beneficial Effect of Swimming Training Associated with Quercetin Administration on the Endothelial Nitric Oxide-Dependent Relaxation in the Aorta of Rats with Experimentally Induced Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is related to the vascular oxidative and nitrosative stress, the trigger for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. The effects of moderate swimming training associated with quercetin oral administration were evaluated in aorta of rats with experimentally induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), by analysing the nitric oxide-endothelial dependent relaxation (NO-EDR). T1DM rats received daily quercetin 30 mg/kg and followed the protocol of 5-weeks swimming exercise (30 min/day; 5 days/week).

Neurotoxicity of Bisphenol A and the Impact of Melatonin Administration on Oxidative Stress, ERK/NF-kB Signaling Pathway, and Behavior in Rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure can be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders due to impairment of cell proliferation and synaptic development. Our study evaluated the effects of melatonin (MEL) on ambulatory activity, lipid peroxidation, cytokines, ERK/NF-kB signaling pathway in the hippocampus and frontal lobe, and histopathological changes in the hippocampus of the BPA-treated rats. The animals were divided into 4 groups: control, BPA, BPA + MEL I, and BPA + MEL II.

Impact of Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) Polymorphism on the Efficiency of Co-Treatment with Growth Hormone in a Group of Infertile Women from Romania.

“Poor responders” (PR) are an important category of infertile women who experience a modest response to controlled ovarian stimulation. In this study, we evaluated response to growth hormone (GH) administration among PR patient subtypes stratified by follicle stimulation hormone receptor (FSHR) polymorphism (c.2039A > G p.

Xanthogranuloma of the Sellar Region: A Comprehensive Review of Neuroimaging in a Rare Inflammatory Entity.

Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region is a rare chronic inflammatory lesion resulting from secondary hemorrhage, inflammation, infarction, and necrosis of an existing Rathke's cleft cyst, craniopharyngioma, or pituitary adenoma. Sellar xanthogranulomas are challenging to differentiate from other cystic lesions preoperatively due to the lack of characteristic imaging features. We performed a literature overview of the clinical and paraclinical features, treatment options, and long-term outcomes of patients with sellar xanthogranuloma, focusing on the preoperative radiological diagnosis.

Dysregulation of miR-21-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-200c-3p and miR-205-5p in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Potential Biomarkers Panel?

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is considered the sixth most common cancer worldwide. To reduce the high mortality of the disease, sensitive and specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed. Non-coding RNA, microRNAs (miRNAs), which are short length non-coding transcripts, or long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) seem to be potential biomarkers, considering that they have an important role in regulation of cell fate being involved in a wide range of biological processes.

State of the Art in the Current Management and Future Directions of Targeted Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Two-thirds of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with distant metastases would be classified as radioactive iodine-refractory (RAIR-DTC), evolving into a poor outcome. Recent advances underlying DTC molecular mechanisms have shifted the therapy focus from the standard approach to targeting specific genetic dysregulations. Lenvatinib and sorafenib are first-line, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) approved to treat advanced, progressive RAIR-DTC.

SD-OCT Biomarkers and the Current Status of Artificial Intelligence in Predicting Progression from Intermediate to Advanced AMD.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the Western World. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has revolutionized the diagnosis and follow-up of AMD patients. This review focuses on SD-OCT imaging biomarkers which were identified as predictors for progression in intermediate AMD to late AMD, either geographic atrophy (GA) or choroidal neovascularization (CNV).