Vitamin D-The Iceberg in Endometriosis-Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Although vitamin D has many known biological effects, very little research has been conducted on how vitamin D may be related or play a role in endometriosis. The aim of our study was to perform an evaluation regarding vitamin D levels and possible implications in endometriosis through a statistical analysis of the data collected from the included studies. (2) Methods: For this review, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, and PubMed/Internet portal of the National Library of Medicine databases using several keywords related to our topic.

Assessment of Physicians' Willingness to Work with Patients Not Yet Diagnosed with COVID-19 in a Romanian Sample.

Background: The risk to physicians who worked with patients without confirmed COVID-19 testing during the pandemic has been little studied. However, they were at high risk.

Methods: In the summer of 2020, 1285 Romanian physicians participated in a single-center study.

A Rare Cause of Urinary Incontinence: Vesicouterine Fistula-A Case Report.

Vesicouterine fistula is a rare complication occurring mainly after cesarean sections. We present here a particular case of vesicouterine fistula (VUF) whose only symptom was urinary incontinence. We describe the diagnostic methods used and the surgical treatment used to resolve the case.

Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Synbiotics-A Research Hotspot for Pediatric Obesity.

Childhood obesity is a major public health problem worldwide with an increasing prevalence, associated not only with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but also with psychosocial problems. Gut microbiota is a new factor in childhood obesity, which can modulate the blood lipopolysaccharide levels, the satiety, and fat distribution, and can ensure additional calories to the host. The aim of this review was to assess the differences and the impact of the gut microbial composition on several obesity-related complications such as metabolic syndrome, NAFLD, or insulin resistance.

Maternal Body Mass Index Trends and Weight Gain in Singleton Pregnancies at the Time of Fetal Anatomic Survey: Changes in the Last Decade and New Trends in the Modern Era.

(1) Background: the worldwide impact of overweight and obesity is rising, increasingly resembling an epidemic (a price we have to pay for our new way of living). (2) Methods: our study aims to evaluate the temporal trends and patterns of singleton pregnant women's BMI (body mass index) in our region during a 12-year time frame between 2010 and 2021. (3) Results: We noticed a statistically significant difference between the BMIs of nulliparous and multiparous women and a significantly increased pregestational BMI in women with previous ART (assisted reproductive technology) procedures.

Factors Associated with Increased Risk of Urosepsis during Pregnancy and Treatment Outcomes, in a Urology Clinic.

Urosepsis is a significant cause of maternal and fetal mortality. While certain risk factors for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women are well established, those associated with an elevated risk of urosepsis in pregnant women with upper UTIs remain less defined. This study aims to identify factors linked to an increased risk of urosepsis and examine urologic treatment outcomes in such cases.

A Nanostructured Protein Filtration Device for Possible Use in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease-Concept and Feasibility after In Vivo Tests.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with other neurodegenerative disorders, remains a challenge for clinicians, mainly because of the incomplete knowledge surrounding its etiology and inefficient therapeutic options. Considering the central role of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the onset and evolution of AD, Aβ-targeted therapies are among the most promising research directions. In the context of decreased Aβ elimination from the central nervous system in the AD patient, the authors propose a novel therapeutic approach based on the "Cerebrospinal Fluid Sink Therapeutic Strategy" presented in previous works.

Transvaginal Ultrasound vs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging: What Is the Optimal Imaging Modality for the Diagnosis of Endometriosis?

Endometriosis, an intriguing gynecological illness, poses a substantial health concern for women of reproductive age, despite its widespread occurrence and limited comprehension. The objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic precision of transvaginal sonography (TVS) and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the identification of deep infiltrated endometriosis (DIE). This study encompassed a cohort of 256 patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of endometriosis, with the aim of assessing the diagnostic accuracy over a span of four years.

Vitamin D and Its Association with Prevalence and Eradication: A Comprehensive Review.

Taking into account previous data that sustain a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and higher infection positivity rates, this review aims to assess the influence of vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency upon the prevalence of infection and its eradication success. Three major databases were searched for articles that analyzed a relationship between vitamin D status and infection. The literature search retrieved a total of 37 reports, after the article selection process.

Vitamin D and Mitosis Evaluation in Endometriosis: A Step toward Discovering the Connection?

(1) Background: The effects of serum vitamin D levels, the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and phosphohistone H3 (PHH3) in endometriosis were investigated in two cohorts of women with this pathology: those receiving hormonal treatment and those without treatment. (2) Methods: In 60 cases of women with endometriosis (26 with progestin treatment and 34 without), paraffin-embedded endometriosis tissue samples retrieved after surgery were immunohistochemically (IHC) analyzed to determine the expression statuses of VDR and PHH3. In addition, serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D were assessed for each patient.

Effects of Progestin on Modulation of the Expression of Biomarkers in Endometriosis.

Background: Our study aimed to examine the osteopontin (OPN) serum levels and tissue expression of CD44 and OPN in endometriosis-affected women both undergoing and not undergoing progestin treatment, and also to determine their involvement in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Methods: Using an ELISA kit, we evaluated the OPN serum levels of healthy and endometriosis-affected women both undergoing and not undergoing progestin treatment. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses were used to assess the endometriotic tissue expressions of CD44 and OPN.

Symptoms, Treatment, and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients Coinfected with : Single-Center Study from NE Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought new challenges across medical disciplines, particularly in infectious disease medicine. In Romania, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection increased dramatically since March 2020 until March 2022. Antibiotic administration for pulmonary superinfections in COVID-19 intensified and, consequently, increased rates of infection (CDI) were hypothesized.

Proton beam radiation therapy for vestibular schwannomas-tumor control and hearing preservation rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Proton beam therapy is considered, by some authors, as having the advantage of delivering dose distributions more conformal to target compared with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of proton beam for VSs, evaluating tumor control and cranial nerve preservation rates, particularly with regard to facial and hearing preservation.

Methods: We reviewed, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) articles published between 1968 and September 30, 2022.

Foreign Body Aspiration in Children-Retrospective Study and Management Novelties.

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a frequent diagnosis in children. In the absence of other lung conditions, such as asthma or chronic pulmonary infections, this manifests as a sudden onset of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. The differential diagnosis is based on a scoring system which takes into account the clinical picture as well as the radiologic aspects.

Physicians' Trust in Relevant Institutions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Binary Logistic Model.

Little research has been done on professionals' perceptions of institutions and governments during epidemics. We aim to create a profile of physicians who feel they can raise public health issues with relevant institutions during a pandemic. A total of 1285 Romanian physicians completed an online survey as part of a larger study.

Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Gut Microbiota in CoV and Non-CoV Patients in a Urological Clinic during the Pandemic: A Single Center Experience.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to compare the profile of COVID-19 (CoV)-infected patients with non-COVID-19 (non-CoV) patients who presented with a multidrug-resistant urinary tract infection (MDR UTI) associated with gut microbiota, as well as analyze the risk factors for their occurrence, the types of bacteria involved, and their spectrum of sensitivity.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study on patients admitted to the urology clinic of the "Parhon" Teaching Hospital in Iasi, Romania, between March 2020 and August 2022. The study group consisted of 22 CoV patients with MDR urinary infections associated with gut microbiota.

Syndecan-1: From a Promising Novel Cardiac Biomarker to a Surrogate Early Predictor of Kidney and Liver Injury in Patients with Acute Heart Failure.

(1) Background: Acute heart failure (HF) represents a complex clinical syndrome burdened by increased mortality and a high rate of systemic complications. Although natriuretic peptides (e.g.

Risk Scores for Prediction of Major Cardiovascular Events in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A No Man's Land?

Over the past 100 years, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries, and similar trends have occurred for chronic liver disease. Subsequent research also indicated that people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) had a twofold increased risk of CV events and that this risk was doubled in those with liver fibrosis. However, no validated CVD risk score specific for NAFLD patients has yet been validated, as traditional risk scores tend to underestimate the CV risk in NAFLD patients.

Intrathecal Pseudodelivery of Drugs in the Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Rationale, Basis and Potential Applications.

Intrathecal pseudodelivery of drugs is a novel route to administer medications to treat neurodegenerative diseases based on the CSF-sink therapeutic strategy by means of implantable devices. While the development of this therapy is still in the preclinical stage, it offers promising advantages over traditional routes of drug delivery. In this paper, we describe the rationale of this system and provide a technical report on the mechanism of action, that relies on the use of nanoporous membranes enabling selective molecular permeability.

Monitoring Perfusion Index in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department Due to Drug Use.

(1) Background: The perfusion index (PI) represents the ratio between pulsatile blood flow and non-pulsatile blood flow in the peripheral tissue. (2) We aimed to investigate the blood pressure perfusion of tissues and organs in ethnobotanical, synthetic cannabinoid and cannabis derivative consumers through the value of perfusion index. (3) Results: The patients enrolled were divided into two groups: group A, which included all patients who presented in the ED within the first three hours after consumption, and group B, which included those patients who presented more than three hours and up to 12 h after drug consumption.

The Clash of the Titans: COVID-19, Carbapenem-Resistant and First -Mediated Colistin Resistance in Humans in Romania.

(1) Background: Antibiotic resistance and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) represent a dual challenge in daily clinical practice, inducing a high burden on public health systems. Hence, we aimed to dynamically evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on patients with carbapenem-resistant (CRE) urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the antibiotic resistance trends after the onset of the pandemic. (2) Methods: We conducted a prospective study including patients with CRE UTIs who were enrolled both pre- and during the pandemic from 2019 to 2022.

Pediatric Emergency Department Management in Acute Poisoning-A 2-Year Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: Poisonings in children are common reasons for addressing ED and can potentially have serious complications. Our research aims to review risk factors leading to poisoning in children. (2) Methods: A retrospective review of all pediatric poisoning cases addressing the Children's emergency department of St Mary Hospital over a two-year period was performed.

An Overview of the Impact of Bacterial Infections and the Associated Mortality Predictors in Patients with COVID-19 Admitted to a Tertiary Center from Eastern Europe.

Unlabelled: 1.

Background: Literature data on bacterial infections and their impact on the mortality rates of COVID-19 patients from Romania are scarce, while worldwide reports are contrasting. 2.