The treatment of superficial bladder tumors with BCG

Urology Clinic of Targu Mures County Hospital, Romania, The 6th International Medical Congress for Students and Young Doctors, May 12-14, 2016Introduction: Bladder cancer is the 5th most common type of neoplasm regarding to incidence. Smoking is the primary risk factor in developing bladder cancer. Previous studies have shown that approximately 70% of the bladder tumors are nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is currently the standard conservative treatment of NMIBC. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective study, conducted during 6 years from 2010 to 2016 at the Urology Clinic of Tg-Mures County Hospital with a total of 78 patients diagnosed with NMIBC.We analyzed the following variables: age, gender, histopathological result, the number of BCG infiltration, in the first six weeks one every week, at three and six months, cystoscopy and the rate of relapse, the main criteria of evaluating the results of the treatment. Results: In the study that we conducted we had a number of 15 women (19,2%) and 63 men (80,8%). At the end of the first six weeks 89,7% of the patients completed all six infiltrations, 70,5% at 3 months and only 60,3% at 6 months. The results of cystoscopy were normal at 70,5%, 25, 6% did not have a cystoscopy performed. Patients were called for investigations first at three months, six months in the first year after finishing the therapy and then every year. In 63,8% of the patients who had the 6 month therapy, no relapse tumor was found in favor of 14,9% with relapse tumor

Investigation of Landslides Affecting a Romanian Railway

The study of the landslides that occurred on the hillside between Covurlui plateau and Brates Lake is presented, together with geotechnical investigations performed in order to establish the trigger mechanism of the registered cyclical instability phenomena. Laboratory test results showing the peculiarities of the clay strata, mineralogical, physical, and mechanical properties are discussed, and stability analysis results are commented, in order to substantiate the proposed consolidation measures

The Romantic l’entre-deux as an Aesthetic Operational Category in Wasted Genius

The present study demonstrates the character of l’entre-deux – the inadaptable – is an anthropological basis of Romanticism from both genetic and ontological perspectives, as well as a fundamental aesthetic category for the study of the 19th century. The notion of the maladjusted can be approached neither in absentia, nor as an absolute i.e., a subject for study established once and for all; this is the reason why the analysis of its essence and meanings requires a whole field of research, both in context and as individual instances of verbal art. This would not omit, on the one hand, the ideological, philosophical and literary context of the 19th century, when the notion was born and developed, and, on the other hand, the writer’s personal outlook and way of expression. The artistic realization of the inadaptable can be found in Mihai Eminescu’s literary works, particularly in Wasted Genius. This lyrical novel in the Wertherian vein reveals in what way the dialectics of the changes in the ideological and cultural paradigm generates various metamorphoses and hypostases of inadaptability in literature

La barrière intestinale, une nouvelle cible des œstrogènes et des xénoestrogènes : le cas du Bisphénol A

La barrière intestinale est la première surface exposée à tout élément ingéré par voie orale. Outre ses fonctions d'absorption et de maintien de l'équilibre hydrique, elle exerce un rôle de défense contre les agents délétères contenus dans la lumière intestinale et assure aussi le passage sélectif de faibles quantités d'antigènes afin de stimuler et éduquer le système immunitaire. Dans un premier temps, nous avons montré une modulation de la perméabilité intestinale chez la rate au cours du cycle sexuel traduite par une réduction de la perméabilité paracellulaire colique en phase folliculaire du cycle (dominance œstrogénique). Cette diminution de la perméabilité implique la voie de signalisation ERß et une surexpression des protéines transmembranaires des jonctions serrées (occludine et JAM-A). Cette propriété des oestrogènes est intéressante à considérer dans les pathologies associées à une hyperperméabilité intestinale, où la voie de signalisation ERb peut être envisagée comme cible thérapeutique. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons montré que le xénoestrogène BPA, largement exploité dans l'industrie des emballages alimentaires, affecte la perméabilité intestinale, un effet qui implique les ERs présents dans les cellules épithéliales. Le BPA présente aussi un impact sur la réponse inflammatoire dans le côlon adulte et rend l'intestin plus sensible à la douleur. Nos résultats ont aussi montré qu'une exposition périnatale au BPA augmentait le risque de développer une inflammation intestinale sévère à l'âge adulte, essentiellement chez la femelle, une conséquence d'une maturation imparfaite du système immunitaire associé aux muqueuses intestinales.The intestinal barrier is the first surface exposed to orally ingested compounds. The intestinal barrier fulfills multiple complex roles through its interaction with the gut flora and assurance of the selective permeability, by providing a barrier from the exterior and a platform for antigen presentation and immune stimulation. First, we showed a modulation of the epithelial barrier function in the female rat intestine throughout the estrous cycle, more specifically a decrease of the colonic paracellular permeability in the follicular phase of the cycle. The decrease of the intestinal permeability by estrogen involves estrogen receptor (ER) ß signaling pathway and is due to overexpression of transmembrane tight junction proteins, occludin and JAM-A. This ability of estrogen could be used as a future therapeutic target in pathologies associated with intestinal hyperpermeability. Thereafter, we demonstrated that the xenoestrogen BPA, widely used in food packaging industry, disrupts the physiology of intestinal barrier in adults, by reducing intestinal permeability. The BPA effect involves the ERs present in epithelial cells and overexpression of the occludin and JAM-A, narrowing the intercellular spaces. Moreover, BPA exposure reduces the inflammatory conditions in the colon and induces increased visceral sensitivity. In contrast, exposure to BPA during the perinatal period increases the risk of developing severe intestinal inflammation in adulthood, mainly in the female offspring. This fragility in the biological barrier function of the intestine is likely the result of dysregulation in the maturation process of the immune system associated with the intestinal mucosa

Mode and site of action of therapies targeting CGRP signaling

Calcitonin; Headache; MigraineCalcitonina; Dolor de cabeza; MigrañaCalcitonina; Mal de cap; MigranyaTargeting CGRP has proved to be efficacious, tolerable, and safe to treat migraine; however, many patients with migraine do not benefit from drugs that antagonize the CGRPergic system. Therefore, this review focuses on summarizing the general pharmacology of the different types of treatments currently available, which target directly or indirectly the CGRP receptor or its ligand. Moreover, the latest evidence regarding the selectivity and site of action of CGRP small molecule antagonists (gepants) and monoclonal antibodies is critically discussed. Finally, the reasons behind non-responders to anti-CGRP drugs and rationale for combining and/or switching between these therapies are addressed.The article-processing charges for the article has been sponsored by the European Headache Federation

Coronary involvement in hypertensive patients. Clinical and imaging correlation

University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu Mures, Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation in Targu Mures, Romania, The 6th International Medical Congress for Students and Young Doctors, May 12-14, 2016Introduction: Hypertention is a long term medical problem in wich the blood pressure is persistently elevated. Usually, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms, but long term hypertension is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed regarding to the period between september 2015 and february 2016 at Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation in Targu Mures, to assess coronary artery involvement in hypertensive patients. The study included a total number of 283 patients, males and females, with hypertension and coronarography intervention. Discussion results: From the total of 283 patients, it can be observed a predomination of male patients (67,1%) and the mean age is 62,41 years and the standard deviation is 9,039. The study reveals that the degree of coronary disease is increased in patients with severe stages of hypertension and diabetes. In patient with stage one of hypertension only 3,18% presented coronary disease, while in patients with second stage of hypertension the percentage is 53% and 15,5% in patients with third stage of hypertension, counting a total of 71,68% hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease. In the study we identified 74 cases of patients with hypertention and diabetes, in wich 89,1% have coronary disease. Conclusion: Patients with hypertention have a higher risk for developing coronary disease and we can say that this risk increases further in the case of patients with diabetes

Structural and physical characteristics of the dermal decellularized structures evaluation

Introduction: Decellularized biomaterials derived from the biological tissues are ideal for tissue engineering applications because they mimic the biochemical composition of the native tissue. The physical and structural properties of the scaffold are important in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Material and methods: Study material was 20 decellularized dermal grafts. 10 samples were obtained from piglets slaughtered in the slaughterhouse. Other tissues (n=10) were received from the donor from the Human Tissue and Cell Bank of the Republic of Moldova. Extracellular matrices were obtained by decellularization with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate/0.1% EDTA solution. The evaluation of the structural characteristics was carried out by the histological examination with hematoxylin and eosin, scanning electron microscopy and the quantification of the amount of deoxyribonucleic acids. Assessment of the physical characteristics included analysis of extracellular matrix volume porosity, density, and swelling rate. Results: Histological examination revealed fewer cells in decellularized tissues compared to non-decellularized ones. More than 80.5% of nucleic acids were removed from porcine matrix and 82.5% of genetic material – from decellularized human dermal structures. A mean correlation and inverse dependence of -0.43 was shown between porosity and swelling rate of decellularized dermis. Conclusions: The decellularization process significantly (P<0.05) removed the cellular components while preserving the connective three-dimensional structure of the dermal matrices clearly shown by quantification of the amount of DNA and microscopic examination of the structures

Self-Propelled Aero-GaN Based Liquid Marbles Exhibiting Pulsed Rotation on the Water Surface

We report on self-propelled rotating liquid marbles fabricated using droplets of alcoholic solution encapsulated in hollow microtetrapods of GaN with hydrophilic free ends of their arms and hydrophobic lateral walls. Apart from stationary rotation, elongated-spheroid-like liquid marbles were found, for the first time, to exhibit pulsed rotation on water surfaces characterized by a threshold speed of rotation, which increased with the weight of the liquid marble while the frequency of pulses proved to decrease. To throw light upon the unusual behavior of the developed self-propelled liquid marbles, we propose a model which takes into account skimming of the liquid marbles over the water surface similar to that inherent to flying water lily beetle and the so-called helicopter effect, causing a liquid marble to rise above the level of the water surface when rotating

A study of the knowledge of the romanian insurance system

University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tirgu Mures, Romania, The 6th International Medical Congress for Students and Young Doctors, May 12-14, 2016Introduction: High-quality health care affects health and wellness. A health insurance policy is a contract between an insurance company and a policy holder intended to safeguard against high and unexpected health care costs. In Romania, the health system is based on health insurance, a benefit provided through a government agency, private business, or a non-profit organization, which assures the patient full medical services when needed. Material and method: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge of the health insurance system in Romania among adults from different counties. In order to perform this study, we developed a questionnaire which includes 15 items reflecting various characteristics of the Romanian health system. The questionnaire was completed by 93 persons, males and females, aged between 18 and 75 years old. We have analyzed the subjects answers to the 15 items and included them in a data base, which served as the bases for the descriptive statistical analysis. Results: From the total number of 93 subjects who participated at this study, the majority was represented by females, 58%, while males were just 42%. Regarding to the age epidemiologic criterion, we observed that 50% of the respondents were between 18 and 29 years old. We have also noticed that more than a half from the total number of persons, 52%, mentioned high school as their highest level of education, while 45% of the total were students during the period of this study, and only 30% were employed and in contract with different health insurance policies. We analyzed the statistical differences between genders using the questionnaire calculated scores, 1 point for each item, totaling a maximum of 15 points; most of the subjects had a score of at least 10 points. We have compared the scores for males (mean of 9.48) and females (mean of 11.01) obtaining a P value of 0.0166, which is statistically significant. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents, according to the calculated scores, had at least a moderate level of knowledge about the Romanian health insurance system. Also, there are differences between genders, regarding the level of information about the health insurance system, which are statistically significant, females being more informed than males