A short observational study regarding the lifestyle intervention in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients - cohort 2010

To evaluate the results in metabolic control at newly discovered type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients regarding the lifestyle optimization only. In this short (1 year) observational study we included a number of 1855 newly discovered T2DM patients. We compared body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, triglycerides (TG), high density level cholesterol (HDLc) all these recorded initially at the diagnosis and then 1 year later. At baseline 52.91% males and 52.41% females were recommended only lifestyle and the rest was treated with metformin, sulfonylurea or insulin. After one year the patients who remained on lifestyle only decreased with only 5%, demonstrating that lifestyle optimization remains one of the most important "therapeutic" tools in the metabolic control of T2DM patients studied.Adipobiology 2012; 4: 103-106

Skin metastases: three-year study of 50 cases in a university center

Introduction. Skin metastases are rare metastases of internal or cutaneous tumors, commonly diagnosed after the primary cancer. Sometimes, they can be the first manifestation of a malignancy. Cutaneous metastases associate a poor prognosis for the patient and the survival rate decreases considerably. The objective of the study was to analyze the clinico-epidemiological and histological characteristics of skin metastases, in order to better understand different types of malignancies and their prognosis, as well as to highlight the particularities of this rare localization of the metastases. Material and methods. We conducted a retrospective study, in which we included 50 cases of skin metastases diagnosed in the Pathology Department of the University Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania, over a period of three years. We analyzed the cases from all epidemiological, clinical, gross and histological data, based on the records of the hospital. Results. The patients’ ages ranged from 16 to 92 years old, with a mean age of 60.1 years. Almost half of the patients were females (26 cases). Most of the patients were diagnosed with primary melanoma (17 cases), followed by primary tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (9 cases) and breast carcinomas (8 cases). 29 cases presented with complications, such as ulceration, infection or necrosis. Conclusions. Most of the skin metastases were of malignant melanoma, but any kind of primary tumor can, eventually, disseminate to the skin, conferring a poor prognosis on the patient. Also, any site can be involved, but some malignancies do have preferred areas for dissemination

Genetic analysis of populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from the Romanian Carpathians

The Carpathian Mountains are one of the most complex orogenetic areas of Europe, with unique fauna, including the brown trout (Salmo trutta). In this study we performed population genetic analysis of 12 different S. trutta populations using two types of molecular markers: nine microsatellites and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. The following working hypothesis was considered: the Romanian Carpathians and their surrounding lowlands can be key relief units based on which the S. trutta genetic diversity, spread, distribution, connectivity, relative isolation and genetic divergence can be at least partially explained. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of sequences were grouped in the Danubian clade. The high haplotype diversity of the 12 analyzed brown trout populations can be explained by the high nucleotide diversity. The microsatellite analysis revealed an inbreeding event for all the loci and for the populations analyzed. The Romanian Carpathians' shape and geographic orientation play a zoogeographical key role driving force in respect to the S. trutta populations

Isolation and Characterization of New Microsatellite Markers for the Invasive Softshell Clam, Mya arenaria (L.) (Bivalvia: Myidae)

The invasive softshell clam (Mya arenaria Linnaeus, 1758) is native to the northwestern region of the Atlantic Ocean. This species has been introduced in the northeast Pacific and along the European coasts, due to intense naval transports and aquaculture, and it is now present in all the European seas. In this paper we describe seven new microsatellite loci for Mya arenaria. The isolated loci are polymorphic with a number of alleles per locus between 6 and 14. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.417 to 0.951, and from 0.643 to 0.895, with an average of 0.716 and 0.775, respectively. These microsatellite markers should be useful in analyzing this species’ genetic diversity, which could explain various processes of its invasion history

Studiul combaterii biologice a tripsului comun la ardei

The trials of tripsattack and ecological control of pests were performed at Vegetable Research and Development Station Bacau –Romania, during 2016 -2017. The dynamic of trips attack in pepperand effectiveness of Amblyseius swirskii At.-H. (Arachnida, Mesostigmata, Phytoseiidae) releases in control of onion tripsat pepper collection of cultivars in tunnelswasstudied. The trial of A. swirskii in tripscontrol was performed at the followingrelease rates: V1 –500,000 mites/ha; V2 –700,000 mites/ha; V3 –900,000 mites/ha; V4. 1 million mites/ha; V5 -Control.On observed that the reducing trips degree attack by release of A. swirskii at pepper is effective in August -September usingthe release rates between 700,000 ex /ha -1,000,000 ex/ ha

Prognostic indicators and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients with neurological disease: An individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Neurological COVID-19 disease has been reported widely, but published studies often lack information on neurological outcomes and prognostic risk factors. We aimed to describe the spectrum of neurological disease in hospitalised COVID-19 patients; characterise clinical outcomes; and investigate factors associated with a poor outcome. METHODS: We conducted an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of hospitalised patients with neurological COVID-19 disease, using standard case definitions. We invited authors of studies from the first pandemic wave, plus clinicians in the Global COVID-Neuro Network with unpublished data, to contribute. We analysed features associated with poor outcome (moderate to severe disability or death, 3 to 6 on the modified Rankin Scale) using multivariable models. RESULTS: We included 83 studies (31 unpublished) providing IPD for 1979 patients with COVID-19 and acute new-onset neurological disease. Encephalopathy (978 [49%] patients) and cerebrovascular events (506 [26%]) were the most common diagnoses. Respiratory and systemic symptoms preceded neurological features in 93% of patients; one third developed neurological disease after hospital admission. A poor outcome was more common in patients with cerebrovascular events (76% [95% CI 67-82]), than encephalopathy (54% [42-65]). Intensive care use was high (38% [35-41]) overall, and also greater in the cerebrovascular patients. In the cerebrovascular, but not encephalopathic patients, risk factors for poor outcome included breathlessness on admission and elevated D-dimer. Overall, 30-day mortality was 30% [27-32]. The hazard of death was comparatively lower for patients in the WHO European region. INTERPRETATION: Neurological COVID-19 disease poses a considerable burden in terms of disease outcomes and use of hospital resources from prolonged intensive care and inpatient admission; preliminary data suggest these may differ according to WHO regions and country income levels. The different risk factors for encephalopathy and stroke suggest different disease mechanisms which may be amenable to intervention, especially in those who develop neurological symptoms after hospital admission

Prognostic indicators and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients with neurological disease: An individual patient data meta-analysis.

BackgroundNeurological COVID-19 disease has been reported widely, but published studies often lack information on neurological outcomes and prognostic risk factors. We aimed to describe the spectrum of neurological disease in hospitalised COVID-19 patients; characterise clinical outcomes; and investigate factors associated with a poor outcome.MethodsWe conducted an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of hospitalised patients with neurological COVID-19 disease, using standard case definitions. We invited authors of studies from the first pandemic wave, plus clinicians in the Global COVID-Neuro Network with unpublished data, to contribute. We analysed features associated with poor outcome (moderate to severe disability or death, 3 to 6 on the modified Rankin Scale) using multivariable models.ResultsWe included 83 studies (31 unpublished) providing IPD for 1979 patients with COVID-19 and acute new-onset neurological disease. Encephalopathy (978 [49%] patients) and cerebrovascular events (506 [26%]) were the most common diagnoses. Respiratory and systemic symptoms preceded neurological features in 93% of patients; one third developed neurological disease after hospital admission. A poor outcome was more common in patients with cerebrovascular events (76% [95% CI 67-82]), than encephalopathy (54% [42-65]). Intensive care use was high (38% [35-41]) overall, and also greater in the cerebrovascular patients. In the cerebrovascular, but not encephalopathic patients, risk factors for poor outcome included breathlessness on admission and elevated D-dimer. Overall, 30-day mortality was 30% [27-32]. The hazard of death was comparatively lower for patients in the WHO European region.InterpretationNeurological COVID-19 disease poses a considerable burden in terms of disease outcomes and use of hospital resources from prolonged intensive care and inpatient admission; preliminary data suggest these may differ according to WHO regions and country income levels. The different risk factors for encephalopathy and stroke suggest different disease mechanisms which may be amenable to intervention, especially in those who develop neurological symptoms after hospital admission

Using uncertainty as a learning opportunity during pre-lesson conferences in the teaching practicum

This qualitative study examined transcripts and video-data from 32 pre-lesson conferences of 14 cooperating teacher-student teacher dyads during the teaching practicum. It used a linguistic approach to capture student teacher uncertainty, while also considering their teaching experience and pedagogical content knowledge. Cooperating teachers' responses to uncertainty were explored in relation to student teachers’ instructional quality (as perceived by the student teachers and their pupils). This study illustrates the potential of using uncertainty as a learning opportunity and suggests new possibilities for how cooperating teachers could constructively respond to uncertainty in mentoring conversations