Short and Medium Chain Fatty Acids in a Cohort of Naïve Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Pre- and Post-Interferon Beta Treatment Assessment.

Introduction: Alterations in intestinal permeability and microbiota dysregulation have been linked to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are products of gut bacteria fermentation which are involved in immune regulation processes. In MS, SCFA have important immunomodulatory properties both in the periphery and the central compartment.

Impact of Immunohistochemical Biomarkers on Predicting the Risk of Biochemical Recurrence for Patients that Underwent Radical Prostatectomy: A Literature Review.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a significant global health issue, exhibiting a spectrum of clinical behaviours from indolent to aggressive. Biomarkers are crucial for risk assessment, treatment selection and prognosis prediction. Despite their importance, accurately evaluating PCa aggressiveness and guiding personalised treatment strategies present challenges.

Osteopontin predicts late-time salience network-related functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis.

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has been widely utilized to investigate plasticity mechanisms and functional reorganization in multiple sclerosis (MS). Among many resting state (RS) networks, a significant role is played by the salience network (SN, ventral attention network). Previous reports have demonstrated the involvement of osteopontin (OPN) in the pathogenesis of MS, which acts as a proinflammatory cytokine ultimately leading to neurodegeneration.

Iodothyronine Deiodinase 3 Gene Expression in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Pilot Study to Contribute to Risk Assessment.

Background: In the realm of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), understanding the molecular landscape and prognostic factors is crucial for effective management. The deiodinase 3 gene (DIO3), known for its role in thyroid hormone regulation and cell proliferation, has emerged as a potential player in GIST pathogenesis. Our study investigated DIO3 expression in GIST samples and its correlation with tumor characteristics, aiming to enhance prognostic stratification and personalized treatment strategies.

Radiomics in the CT diagnosis of ovarian cystic malignancies - a pilot study.

Background And Aims: The conventional computed tomography (CT) appearance of ovarian cystic masses is often insufficient to adequately differentiate between benign and malignant entities. This study aims to investigate whether texture analysis of the fluid component can augment the CT diagnosis of ovarian cystic tumors.

Methods: Eighty-four patients with adnexal cystic lesions who underwent CT examinations were retrospectively included.

Levodopa-Entacapone-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel in the Treatment of Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Single Center Real-World Experience.

Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion is a relatively new treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease. We aimed to describe and analyze the characteristics of de novo levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel therapy in 20 consecutive patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. We assessed the profile of motor complications by evaluating the following: motor fluctuations, dyskinesias, and the freezing phenomenon at baseline (before the testing period) and before discharge.

Starting with 24-h levodopa carbidopa intestinal gel at initiation in a large cohort of advanced Parkinson's disease patients.

Continuous intra-jejunal infusion of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) is a long-term proven and effective treatment in advanced Parkinson's Disease (APD). Efficacy and safety of 16-h administration of LCIG has already been established. Additional benefits of 24-h LCIG administration have been reported in several case series and small clinical studies.

Assessing the Impact of Long-Term High-Dose Statin Treatment on Pericoronary Inflammation and Plaque Distribution-A Comprehensive Coronary CTA Follow-Up Study.

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has validated the use of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation as a credible indicator of coronary inflammation, playing a crucial role in coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of high-dose statins on PCAT attenuation at coronary lesion sites and changes in plaque distribution. Our prospective observational study included 52 patients (mean age 60.

Sleep Patterns and Influencing Factors in Romanian Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Wave Ecological Study.

Introduction Sleep quality among students is variable with sleep disturbances being common worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to major changes, including in the educational system. In this study, we aimed to analyze sleep patterns and screen time of medical students, and the effect of COVID-19.

Comprehensive Analysis of Perioperative Factors Influencing the Risk of Biochemical Recurrence in Patients with Radical Prostatectomy.

Purpose: To analyze the perioperative factors that influence the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with localized PCa undergoing radical prostatectomy Materials and Methods: A total of 457 patients, operated by 2 surgeons in our high-volume oncological center were included in the initial database. Patients who underwent RP for clinically localized PCa in our clinic from 2016 to 2021 were included in the study. Perioperative data were retrospectively reviewed for this study.

Assessment of the Diaphragm Thickness Decrease in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: Could Computed Tomography Be of Aid Regarding Diaphragm Muscle Mass?

Introduction: The diaphragm has a significant clinical value on respiratory performance. There is little literature on the use of thorax computed tomography for the purpose of identifying alterations in diaphragm thickness in critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The present study aims to investigate dynamic changes in muscle thickness and its association with clinical outcomes.

Total Psoas Area and Psoas Density Assessment in COVID-19 Patients Using CT Imaging - Could Muscle Mass Alteration During Intensive Care Hospitalization be Determined?

Background: Since its debut, as reported by the first published studies, COVID-19 has been linked to life-threatening conditions that needed vital assistance and admission to the intensive care unit. Skeletal muscle is a core element in an organism's health due to its ability to keep energy balance and homeostasis. Many patients with prolonged hospitalization are characterized by a greater probability prone to critical illness myopathy or intensive care unit-acquired weakness.

Textural Analysis of the Hyperdense Artery Sign in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Predicts the Outcome of Thrombectomy.

Textural analysis is pivotal in augmenting the diagnosis and outcomes of endovascular procedures for stroke patients. Due to the detection of changes imperceptible to the human eye, this type of analysis can potentially aid in deciding the optimal type of endovascular treatment. We included 40 patients who suffered from acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion, and calculated 130 different textural features based on the non-enhanced CT scan using an open-source software (3D Slicer).

Impact of Infusion Therapies on Quality of Life in Advanced Parkinson's Disease.

A high burden of motor and non-motor parkinsonian symptoms is known to have a significant negative impact on the quality of life (QoL) of people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Effective control of these symptoms with therapies that enable patients to maintain a good QoL is therefore a key treatment goal in PD management. When symptom control can no longer be accomplished with oral or transdermal PD treatment regimens, device-aided therapies (DAT), namely levodopa and apomorphine infusion therapies, and deep brain stimulation, are valuable options to consider.

GATA4 rs61277615, rs73203482, and rs35813172 in Newborns with Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Congenital heart disease is the most common malformative pathology in newborns, with a worldwide incidence at 0.4-5%. We investigated the possible relationship between variations in nucleotide sequences and specific cardiac malformations in the GATA-binding factor 4 (GATA4) exon 1 region by using Sanger sequencing.

Neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte, platelet‑to‑lymphocyte and lymphocyte‑to‑monocyte ratios are associated with amputation rates in patients with peripheral arterial disease and diabetes mellitus who underwent revascularization: A Romanian regional center study.

Inflammation plays an important role in peripheral artery disease (PAD), contributing to the onset and progression of atherosclerosis, as well as to the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Studies have revealed that due to their inflammatory nature, leucocytes play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. A retrospective study was conducted involving 203 patients with PAD admitted to Targu Mures Emergency County Hospital for revascularization surgery between January 2017 and June 2019 (of which 47 were treated by endovascular intervention, and 156 underwent classical surgical intervention).

Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel in Advanced Parkinson's Disease: Observations and Dilemmas after 10 Years of Real-Life Experience.

Advanced Parkinson's disease (APD) cannot be treated efficiently using the classical medications however, in recent decades invasive therapeutical methods were implemented and confirmed as effective. One of these methods makes it possible to continue the levodopa (LD) supplementation as a gel administered directly into the upper intestine. However, there are a number of unanswered questions regarding this method.

Acute Respiratory Failure, Ischemic Modifications on Electrocardiogram: Alternative Etiology-A Case of Morgagni Hernia.

We discovered a rare pathology described in adulthood, followed by the development of a long asymptomatic evolution, which underlined the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. We present the case of a 62-year-old female smoker patient, with a known previous medical history of chronic ischemic heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gastric ulcer and gastritis. The patient was rushed to the emergency room (ER) with acute respiratory failure, chest discomfort, ankle and facial edema and a chest X-ray showing a right lower pulmonary lobe consolidation, with an alarming ischemic electrocardiogram (ECG) modification without increasing myocardial cytolysis indicators.

CT in the Differentiation of Gliomas from Brain Metastases: The Radiomics Analysis of the Peritumoral Zone.

Due to their similar imaging features, high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and solitary brain metastases (BMs) can be easily misclassified. The peritumoral zone (PZ) of HGGs develops neoplastic cell infiltration, while in BMs the PZ contains pure vasogenic edema. As the two PZs cannot be differentiated macroscopically, this study investigated whether computed tomography (CT)-based texture analysis (TA) of the PZ can reflect the histological difference between the two entities.

Management Challenges of Severe, Complex Dyskinesia. Data from a Large Cohort of Patients Treated with Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel for Advanced Parkinson's Disease.

Background: In the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease (APD), complex forms of dyskinesia may severely impair the patient's quality of life.

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to analyze the evolution under LCIG therapy of the most important motor fluctuations and complex disabling dyskinesias, including diphasic dyskinesia.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the characteristics of patients with APD who had at least 30 min of diphasic dyskinesia (DID) in 3 consecutive days, were considered responders and were treated with LCIG in our clinic.

Calcification patterns in femoral and carotid atheromatous plaques: A comparative morphometric study.

This comparative study was designed to focus on the mineral patterns in human atherosclerotic plaques based on quantitative measurements of calcium deposits through the morphometric method. A total of 101 atherosclerotic plaques were harvested by conventional transluminal angioplasty from the carotid artery (CA) and different segments of the femoral-popliteal axis (FPA), fixed in formalin and sent for histological processing. The histological grade of the atherosclerotic plaque and the calcification pattern were evaluated, followed by a morphometric analysis of the mineral deposits.

Dysfunction of the Neurovascular Unit in Ischemic Stroke: Highlights on microRNAs and Exosomes as Potential Biomarkers and Therapy.

Ischemic stroke is a damaging cerebral vascular disease associated with high disability and mortality rates worldwide. In spite of the continuous development of new diagnostic and prognostic methods, early detection and outcome prediction are often very difficult. The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a complex multicellular entity linking the interactions between neurons, glial cells, and brain vessels.

Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Infusion Therapy Discontinuation: A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis of 204 Treated Patients.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disease. In the advanced stages, the continuous delivery of levodopa (LD) as levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) has demonstrated significant improvement of motor and nonmotor complications and improvement of the patients' quality of life (QoL). Despite the growing global experience with this treatment, anumber of unsolved practical issues remain, and currently, the data on the reasons that can lead to the discontinuation of LCIG are scarce.