Unveiling Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Hepatitis D Among Vulnerable Communities in Romania.

Background: Hepatitis B (HBV) and Delta (HDV) virus infections pose critical public health challenges, particularly in Romania, where HDV co-infection is underdiagnosed.

Methods: This study investigates the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of HBV/HDV co-infection in vulnerable populations, leveraging data from the LIVE(RO2) program. Conducted between July 2021 and November 2023, the program screened 320,000 individuals across 24 counties, targeting socially disadvantaged groups such as rural residents, the Roma community, and those lacking health insurance.

Polymer-Free Electrospinning of β-Cyclodextrin-Oligolactide for Magnolol and Honokiol Pharmaceutical Formulations.

Magnolol (MG) and honokiol (HK) are bioactive compounds extracted from and trees with significant pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and antibacterial activity. However, their poor water solubility and low bioavailability limit the therapeutic potential. To address these limitations, this study aims to develop MG and HK formulations by co-electrospinning using custom-synthesized β-cyclodextrin-oligolactide (β-CDLA) derivatives.

In Vivo Assessment of Healing Potential of Ointments Containing Bee Products, Vegetal Extracts, and Polymers on Skin Lesions.

The present experiment aimed to formulate four ointments that included mixtures of plant extracts (, , , and ), apitherapy products (honey, propolis, and apilarnil) and natural polymers (collagen, chitosan, and the lyophilisate of egg white) in an ointment base. : In order to investigate the therapeutic properties of the ointments, experimental in vivo injury models (linear incision, circular excision, and thermal burns) were performed on laboratory animals, namely Wistar rats. The treatment was applied topically, once a day, for 21 days.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease linked with significant social and economic burdens worldwide. The scientific community has minimal information on echinococcosis in Romanian people, and hospital medical records are the only sources that may be used to investigate its status. A 7-year retrospective clinical study on pediatric patients with CE from Southeast Romania was performed, and 39 children and adolescents were included, aged 2-15 years old.

Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson Disease-A Narrative Review of Diagnosis and Management.

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) is a significant non-motor manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD), that substantially affects patient disability and has a powerful impact on the quality of life of PD patients, while also contributing to increased healthcare costs. This narrative review aims to summarize key insights into the diagnosis and management of NOH in individuals with PD. For diagnosing NOH, a recently introduced and valuable metric is the ΔHr/ΔSBP index.

Infections: Bridging Clinical Observations and Epidemiological Insights.

Purpose: is the main etiologic agent implicated in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). It is also known as the brain-eating amoeba because of the severe brain inflammation following infection, with a survival rate of about 5%. This review aims to identify infections and evaluate patients' progression.

Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins Orchestrate All Hallmarks of Cancer.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins dynamically build the buffering and adapting interface between oncogenic mutations and environmental stressors, on the one hand, and cancer cell structure, functioning, and behavior. Aberrant PTMs can be considered as enabling characteristics of cancer as long as they orchestrate all malignant modifications and variability in the proteome of cancer cells, cancer-associated cells, and tumor microenvironment (TME). On the other hand, PTMs of proteins can enhance anticancer mechanisms in the tumoral ecosystem or sustain the beneficial effects of oncologic therapies through degradation or inactivation of carcinogenic proteins or/and activation of tumor-suppressor proteins.

Variabilities in Retinal Hemodynamics Across the Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Women Identified Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Numerous conditions, both physiological and pathological, can influence changes in the retinal vascular architecture. In order to be able to highlight pathological aspects of systemic diseases with ocular activity, it is necessary to understand how physiological fluctuations can influence circulation at the retinal level. The present study attempts to evaluate retinal and choroidal vascular and structural changes in healthy female subjects over the course of a menstrual cycle using OCT-A.

Gene Polymorphisms (rs2070744 and rs1799983) and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Investigating Associations with Clinical Outcomes.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with genetic factors playing an important role in its development and progression. This study investigated the association between nitric oxide synthase 3 () gene polymorphisms (-786T>C or rs2070744 and Glu298Asp or c.894T>G or rs1799983) and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of DTC, aiming to evaluate their potential as biomarkers for prognosis.

Navigating Emergency Management of Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study on First-Time, End-Stage, and Other Established Diagnoses in a High Turnover Emergency County Hospital.

: The incidence and prevalence of cancers are increasing worldwide, with special emphasis placed on prevention, early detection, and the development of new therapeutic strategies that strongly impact patient outcomes. Limited data are available about emergency care's role in treating patients with cancer. This study aims to determine the burden of end-stage and first-time diagnosis of cancer on emergency care in a high-turnover emergency care center.

Deep Neck Infections: The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Management and Bacteriological Profile.

: Deep neck infections (DNIs) are severe diagnoses that can cause serious complications. However, there are insufficient data to predict the evolution of this pathology. This study aims to review the microbiology of DNIs and to identify the factors that influence prolonged hospitalization.

Etiological Aspects of Infectious Endocarditis in a Tertiary Hospital in Northeastern Romania.

: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe, life-threatening infection of the endocardial surface. Its incidence has shifted towards older, immunocompromised patients and those with cardiac devices. : This study was conducted at the "Sf.

Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma of Nasopharynx and Paranasal Sinuses in Children Diagnosis and Treatment-Review of the Literature and Case Report.

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is a rare pediatric malignant tumor with a poor prognosis, particularly when located in the rhinopharynx and sphenoidal floor, which complicates diagnosis and increases the risk of misclassification as benign growths. The specific genotype of aRMS is associated with a worse clinical outcome. In young children, especially those aged 4 to 12 years, rhinopharyngeal masses are often attributed to chronic adenoiditis; however, other benign (e.

Cardiovascular Profile and Cardiovascular Imaging After Bariatric Surgery: A Narrative Review.

: Up until now, behavioral interventions and pharmacological therapies were the main approach available for the management of obesity. Diet and exercise, when used as a singular therapeutic method, are inadequate for a successful outcome. Research shows promising results for the surgical treatment of obesity, especially in the area of bariatric surgery (BaS).

Multimodal Screening for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Systemic Scleroderma: Current Methods and Future Directions.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immuno-inflammatory rheumatic disease that can affect both the skin and internal organs through fibrosis. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of the most severe secondary complications. Structural changes in the vascular bed lead to increased pressures in the pulmonary circulation, severely impacting the right heart and significantly affecting mortality.

Prevalence of HDV, HCV, and HIV Infection in the Population of Patients Infected with HBV in a Romanian Cohort.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections remain a significant global health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to healthcare services is often limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infections in a cohort of 426,528 patients tested for HBsAg in Romania between 2018 and 2023. Of the 17,082 HBsAg-positive individuals (4.

Peptides: Emerging Candidates for the Prevention and Treatment of Skin Senescence: A Review.

One class of cosmetic compounds that have raised interest of many experts is peptides. The search for ingredients with good biocompatibility and bioactivity has led to the use of peptides in cosmetic products. Peptides are novel active ingredients that improve collagen synthesis, enhance skin cell proliferation, or decrease inflammation.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Vancomycin in Hemodialysis Patients in a Hospital in North-East Romania.

: Vancomycin is a reserve antibiotic that is frequently prescribed for central venous catheter (CVC)-associated infections in hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients are very fragile patients and the presence of CVCs increases the risk of sepsis. We conducted a prospective study, evaluating the needs of changes in vancomycin dosing for treatment based on the use of the new 2020 vancomycin dosing guidelines, to increase drug safety (preventing subtherapeutic or supratherapeutic doses and offering therapeutic concentrations of the drug) in a particular group of patients with sepsis caused by catheter infections and being on intermittent hemodialysis.

Impact of Extended Membrane Rupture on Neonatal Inflammatory Responses and Composite Neonatal Outcomes in Early-Preterm Neonates-A Prospective Study.

: Prolonged prelabour rupture of membranes (PROMs), and the resulting inflammatory response, can contribute to the occurrence of adverse neonatal outcomes, especially for early-preterm neonates. This prospective study aimed to measure neonates' inflammatory markers in the first 72 h of life based on ROM duration. The second aim was to examine the relationship between PROMs, serum inflammatory markers, and composite adverse neonatal outcomes after controlling for gestational age (GA).

Chronic Microvascular Complications in Sulfonylureas-Treated Diabetic Patients: Correlations with Glycemic Control, Risk Factors and Duration of the Disease.

: Diabetes has become one of the most challenging public health problems due to the alarming increase in prevalence and the morbidity and mortality attributed to its acute and chronic complications. This study aimed to investigate the development of chronic microvascular complications in sulfonylureas-treated diabetic patients and their correlations with glycemic control, risk factors and duration of the disease. : This study included 200 patients that presented to "Providența" Medical Center, Iași.

Practical Implications in Contemporary Dental Aesthetics-Shade Selection Assessment Using Intraoral Scanners.

Aesthetics is a challenging aspect to restore for both dentists and dental technicians. One of the characteristics of aesthetic restoration is the shade. The purpose of the study is to assess the accuracy of the shade selection feature of intraoral scanners (CEREC Omnican, 3Shape TRIOS) in comparison with an already established method-the VITA Easyshade V spectrophotometer (VE)-and test if there is any significant difference between the three devices.

Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of Different Dental Resin-Based Materials After Submersion in Acidic Beverages.

: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of acidic beverages on the mechanical properties of various dental resin-based materials. : A total number of 160 samples were prepared using four types of resin-based materials-Group A ( = 40): flowable composite, Group B ( = 40): heavy-flow composite, Group C ( = 40): resin-based sealant and Group D ( = 40): nano-hybrid composite. Then, the samples were distributed into four subgroups according to the submersion solution: ( = 10): artificial saliva, ( = 10): coffee, ( = 10): cola and ( = 10): red wine.

Association with Outcome of the Regurgitant-Volume Adjusted Right Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: In patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) may not accurately reflect the actual RV systolic performance since a considerable amount of the RV stroke volume (SV) is regurgitated back into the right atrium. To overcome this limitation, we explored the association with the outcome of the effective RVEF (eRVEF), which accounts for the tricuspid regurgitant volume (RegVol).

Methods: 513 patients with STR (mean age 75±13 years, 39% atrial STR, 58% severe) underwent complete two-, three-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography.

ENDOCRINOLOGICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN ASSESSING INFERTILITY AT REPRODUCTIVE AGE.

Introduction: Infertility is a very discussed problem in many endocrinological and gynecological courses and congresses. In a rapidly revolving environment women tend to postpone pregnancy to have security in their financial life and career.We discuss primary and secondary infertility and the hormonal results in women that presented for a desire to conceive with their partner.