Assessment of Biventricular Myocardial Function with 2-Dimensional Strain and Conventional Echocardiographic Parameters: A Comparative Analysis in Healthy Infants and Patients with Severe and Critical Pulmonary Stenosis.

Our aim was to compare the global longitudinal and regional biventricular strain between infants with severe and critical pulmonary stenosis (PS), and controls; to compare pre- and post-procedural strain values in infants with severe and critical PS; and to assess the correlations between echocardiographic strain and conventional parameters. We conducted a retrospective single-center study. The comparisons of echocardiographic variables were performed using separate linear mixed models.

Fetal Ovarian Cysts: Prenatal Diagnosis Using Ultrasound and MRI, Management and Postnatal Outcome-Our Centers Experience.

The present study provides our clinical experience regarding the imaging diagnosis, management and postnatal outcome of neonates prenatally suspected of having developed ovarian cysts. This multicenter observational study included patients diagnosed prenatally with fetal ovarian cysts and follow-up in the postnatal period. Descriptive statistics were used to render the information regarding the prenatal imaging aspect of the fetal pelvic masses using ultrasound and/or MRI, prenatal surveillance and postnatal neonate's immediate outcome, indications leading to surgery and pathologic aspect.

Curcumin Nanoparticles Enhance Antioxidant Efficacy of Diclofenac Sodium in Experimental Acute Inflammation.

We investigated the in vivo effect of curcumin nanoparticles (nC) in addition to diclofenac sodium on local edema and oxidative stress parameters in carrageenan-induced paw edema on rats. Seven groups were investigated: control group (C), the acute inflammation (AI) group, an AI group treated with Diclofenac (AID, 5 mg/kg b.w.

Surgical management of an adult patient with Cataract and bilateral Ectopia Lentis: a case report.

A 48-year-old female patient presented to the Ophthalmology Clinic with gradual loss of vision in both eyes over the last year. Upon slit lamp examination, cortical and nuclear opacities of the lens in BE and a 180-degree zonular dehiscence with moderate bilateral superotemporal dislocation of the lens were revealed. After a series of necessary investigations, the patient was admitted for surgery.

A perspective on the applications of furin inhibitors for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Currently, the world is facing a pandemic of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Identifying key targets in the viral infection lifecycle is urgently needed for designing therapeutic strategies to combat the virus. Furin is a subtilisin-like proprotein convertase with diverse cellular functions.

Profiling of Polyphenolic Compounds of Cass Callus Cultures Using UPLC/IM-HRMS and Screening of In Vitro Effects.

Cass. (edelweiss) is recognized as a frequent constituent of anti-aging skin care products, providing increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense. Considering the growing demand and the protected status of edelweiss in many countries, alternative methods of production have been developed, one of them being callus culturing.

Rationale for therapeutic decision-making in locally advanced and metastatic radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer, starting from a clinical case.

Iodine uptake and organification are the hallmarks of thyroid cells differentiation. The loss of these characteristics in thyroid cancer leads to radioactive iodine refractoriness, a rare condition that bears a low survival rate and poor prognosis. We present a 52-year-old patient presenting dry cough and dyspnea in the supine position.

Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Serum Level and the Role of +936C/T Gene Polymorphism in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a debilitating disease, with rising morbidity and mortality. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and airway remodeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between VEGF serum levels and VEGF +936 C/T gene polymorphism (rs3025039) with COPD, for the first time in a Romanian population.

Serum JAK/STAT profile is related to the IL expression but not with the outcome in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

Current genetic characterization of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) does not integrate the host reaction to cancer cells and cannot predict the response to chemo- or immunotherapy. The JAK/STAT pathway is an important factor of cytokine-mediated cancer inflammation, but its relationship with pancreatic carcinogenesis and the role of potential biomarkers is not established yet. Our study aimed to assess the significance of serum levels of JAK/STAT3 expression and inflammatory cytokines in PDAC in relation to the clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in healthy blood donors in Romania: an update.

Background: The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genogroup is the causative agent responsible for Lyme borreliosis, a common tick-borne infectious disease in some temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Unexplained hemorrhagic syndrome? Consider acquired hemophilia A or B.

There is a dire need to develop an algorithm to improve the recognition of acquired hemophilia A and B (AHA and AHB) in clinical practice. Initial and intensive care unit (ICU) management of the disorder is particular and represents a challenge for the internist/hematologist and the ICU physician. A delay in the proper treatment of bleeding episodes can lead to a life-threatening event.

A Systematic Literature Review of Quality Management Initiatives in Dental Clinics.

By considering the recently proposed definitions and metrics, oral healthcare quality management (OHQM) emerges as a distinct field in the wider healthcare area. The goal of this paper is to systematically review quality management initiatives (QMIs) implementation by dental clinics. The research methodology approach is a review of 72 sources that have been analyzed using the Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome Framework (CIMO).

Coping Strategies and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Background And Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities. While psychosocial determinants were intently studied, coping strategies with stress used by IBS patients were never comprehensively reviewed. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to summarize the coping strategies used by IBS patients and to identify which tools are frequently used to measure coping strategies.

The therapy of functional dyspepsia: an update.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder of the gut-brain interaction (previously named functional gastrointestinal disorders). Recent data evaluate its prevalence to 7% worldwide. FD is classified into epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) and PDS (PDS).

Association of Moral Distress with Anxiety, Depression, and an Intention to Leave among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Wide geographical variations in depression and anxiety rates related to the ethical climate have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic in intensive care units (ICUs). The objective was to investigate whether moral distress is associated and has predictive values for depression, anxiety, and intention to resign.

Methods: 79 consenting ICU nurses completed MMD-HP and PHQ-4 scales in this cross-sectional study between October 2020-February 2021, after ethical approval.

Novel Concepts in Systemic Sclerosis Pathogenesis: Role for miRNAs.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease with heterogeneous clinical phenotypes. It is characterized by the pathogenic triad: microangiopathy, immune dysfunction, and fibrosis. Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression without interfering with the DNA sequence.

Speckle-Tracking Global Longitudinal and Regional Strain Analysis in Neonates with Coarctation of Aorta: A Case-Control Study.

Our objectives are to compare speckle-tracking peak global longitudinal (pGLS) and regional strain values in neonates with coarctation of aorta (CoA) and control groups. Echocardiographic parameters measured by speckle-tracking were studied in a retrospective single-center study. A comparison of pGLS and segmental deformation between neonates with CoA and control group was performed using a three-way mixed ANOVA model.

High-Frequency Ultrasound Assessment of Skin and Oral Mucosa in Metabolic Syndrome Patients-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Exogenous factors (such as sun exposure, smoking habits, and diet) and endogenous (inflammatory status, general diseases) have a direct influence on skin and soft tissue characteristics. The study's objective was to assess the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) on characteristics of skin layers in sun-exposed and non-exposed maxillofacial tissues evaluated by high-frequency ultrasound (HFU), as a potential diagnosis and monitoring tool for the aging process.

Material And Methods: The present study included 102 subjects (24 with MS; 78 without MS).

Quality of Life in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

The depressive syndrome is commonly found in children suffering from chronic diseases, which is also present in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This study proposed to analyze depression's incidence in children with JIA. We also monitored the evolution of depression with the improvement of the disease under treatment.

Anemia in Sports: A Narrative Review.

Recent years have brought about new understandings regarding the pathogenesis of anemia in sports. From hemodilution and redistribution considered to contribute to the so-called "sports anemia" to iron deficiency caused by increased demands, dietary restrictions, decreased absorption, increased losses, hemolysis, and sequestration, to genetic determinants of different types of anemia (some related to sport), the anemia in athletes deserves a careful and multifactorial approach. Dietary factors that reduce iron absorption (e.

Epidemiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Albania.

Background And Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition, with a relatively high prevalence and represents a burden for the healthcare budgets. Knowing the prevalence of IBS is important for scientific and practical estimation of its impact. The recent Rome IV global study has shed light on the prevalence of IBS in many countries, but reports are lacking from other countries.