Dynamics of Nucleation in the Ising Model

Reactive pathways to nucleation in a three-dimensional Ising model at 60% of the critical temperature are studied using transition path sampling of single spin flip Monte Carlo dynamics. Analysis of the transition state ensemble (TSE) indicates that the critical nuclei are rough and anisotropic. The TSE, projected onto the free energy surface characterized by cluster size, N, and surface area, S, indicates the significance of other variables in addition to these two traditional reaction coordinates for nucleation. The transmission coefficient along N is ~ 0.35, and this reduction of the transmission coefficient from unity is explained in terms of the stochastic nature of the dynamic model.Comment: In press at the Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 7 pages, 8 figure

Characterization of Trametes versicolor: Medicinal Mushroom with Important Health Benefits

Trametes species represents a rich source of nutritive compounds with important pharmacological properties like antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-cancer properties. However, factors like genetic background, harvesting period, geographic location, climatic conditions and others are influencing the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds, their fingerprint and their concentration. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids content of two mushroom species, namely Tramestes versicolor (TV) and Trametes gibbosa (TG), mushrooms with potential health benefits, harvested from north-west part of Romania. In order to determine the phenolic compounds profile, water, methanol, and acetone mushroom extracts were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and LC-MS analysis. In total 28 compounds were tentatively identified as phenolic acids (11 compounds), flavonols (6 compounds), flavones (6 compounds), coumarins (2 compounds), flavanols, isoflavonoids and biflavonoids (1 compound). The highest antioxidant activity was determined for the methanolic extract while the highest total polyphenols content and total flavonoids content were determined for the water extract. The results obtained suggested that Trametes species can be considered important sources of bioactive compounds, their phenolics composition and content being influenced by a series of factors like geographic area origin and genetic background

Classic vs laparoscopic approach in colorectal cancer. Experience of a tertiary center, Surgery No 3 Clinic, Cluj-Napoca

Clinica Chirurgie 3, Cluj-Napoca, România, Al XIII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” și al III-lea Congres al Societății de Endoscopie, Chirurgie miniminvazivă și Ultrasonografie ”V.M.Guțu” din Republica MoldovaIntroducere: Cancerul colorectal este unul dintre cele mai frecvente cancere și cu tendință în creștere la nivel global. Majoritatea studiilor recente au demonstrat non inferioritatea și chiar o ușoară superioritate în abordul laparoscopic prin prisma rezultatelor obținute și a supraviețuirii la distanță. Material și metode: Au fost selectate retrospectiv 2186 de cazuri din baza de date completată prospectiv a Clinicii Chirurgie 3 pentru perioada ian 2013-dec 2018 (6 ani). Din acestea s-au exclus 76 cazuri laparoscopie/laparotomie exploratorie, 154 cazuri colostomii, 51 derivații interne; în final au fost analizate 1905 cazuri de cancer colorectal. Rezultate: Din 1905 cazuri s-au efectuat rezecții laparoscopice la un număr de 310 (16.27%) și clasice la un număr de 1595 cazuri (83.73%). Au fost analizați între cele două loturi următorii parametri: pregătire preoperatorie, durata operației, pierderi sangvine, complicații postoperatorii (fistulă, abces, hemoragie, ocluzie, complicații generale), supurații de plagă, zile spitalizare, necesar antibiotic, mobilizare postoperatorie, mortalitate. Concuzii: Abordul laparoscopic prezintă avantaje privind recuperarea postoperatorie, pierderi sangvine, zile spitalizare, necesar antialgice/antibiotic, lipsa supurațiilor de plagă. Dezavantajele sunt curba de învățare, aparatura specifică și dificultatea păstrării principiilor oncologice.Introduction: Colorectal cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed malignant pathologies with a continuously increasing rate worldwide. Most of the recent studies have shown the non-inferiority and slight superiority in the laparoscopic approach through obtained results. Material and methods: 2186 cases were selected retrospectively from a prospectively completed database of the Surgical no 3 Clinic in Cluj-Napoca over the course of 6 years (ian 2013 – dec 2018). Out of these cases, 76 cases were excluded for exploratory laparoscopy/laparotomy, 154 which underwent only colostomy, and 51 which underwent internal derivation. At the end of the study, 1905 cases were eligible. Results: Out of 1905 cases, 310 underwent a laparoscopic approach (16.27%) and 1595 cases underwent a classic approach (83.73%). Between the two approaches, a series of parameters were analyzed: preoperative care, duration of the surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications (fistula, abscess, hemorrhage, occlusion, general complications), antibiotic necessity, postoperative mobilization, mortality, prevalence of surgical site infection. Conclusions: The laparoscopic approach proves many advantages regarding postoperative care, blood loss, hospitalization care, necessity of antibiotics and painkillers, and surgical site infection, cosmetic advantages. Disadvantages are the learning curve, specific instruments requirements, difficulty of maintaining the oncology principles

Laparoscopic rectal resections: practical aspects

Abordul laparoscopic in chirurgia cancerului de rect este o considerat standardul de aur ce ofera rezultate oncologice similar cu o recuperare postoperatorie imbunatatita, si o rata minimala de complicatii. Pe fondul complexitatii crescute, cu toate astea, abordul laparoscopic ar trebui efectuat in centre tertiare, fiind rezervat chirurgilor cu o curba de invatare adecvata. O selectie atenta a cazurilor si o planificare adecvata ar trebui luata in considerare in cadrul acestui abord. Prezentarea de fata surprinde aspectele practice de baza precum si variatii tatice in cadrul rezectiilor de rect laparoscopice, precum si pasii potentiali in atingerea curbei de invatare.Laparoscopic approach is an already established procedure in rectal cancer which offers a similar oncological outcome, with improved postoperative recovery and fewer complications. Due to its increased complexity, however, the laparoscopic approach should be reserved for high-volume centers and for experienced surgeons with an adequate learning curve. Appropriate patient selection and planning must be carefully considered when opting for this approach. In this presentation, the primary practical aspects as well as certain tactical approaches will be covered regarding the laparoscopic rectal resections as well as the potential steps in achieving the learning curve

Health and life quality assessment of patients included in the COVID-19 electronic register

Introduction. COVID-19 infection remains a global medical, economical and societal challenge with clinical and management challenges requiring comprehensive and relevant research. Purpose. Complex assessment of confirmed COVID-19 cases treated in ten medical institutions from Chisinau for the analysis of the health impact of the infection in 2021. Material and methods. The software "Electronic Register of COVID-19 Patients" was developed based on a standardized form. In the register elaboration, the type, quality and scientific value of the information to be collected and stored were taken into account. The collected data included the medical records of COVID-19 patients hospitalized between 1.03.2020 - 30.06.2021. Results. The software was designed with 2 interactive subsystems: the information collection component, implemented in hospital medical institutions and processing component, implemented in USMF „N. Testemitsanu". The egistry included over 8,000 patients with COVID-19, and their number continues to grow. Epidemiological, socio-demographic, clinical, paraclinical data and information on the clinical management of COVID-19 patients are stored securely with different access levels. The created software allows the selection, visualization and statistical analysis of information with generation of different reports according to pre-established or free criteria. Conclusions. The register facilitates research by rapidly processing data on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, is a valuable support for scientific researchers and allows the life quality assessment of the hospitalized patients

Why do European primary care physicians sometimes not think of, or act on, a possible cancer diagnosis? : A qualitative study

Funding The Swedish application for ethical approval was funded by the Jämtland Cancer and Nursing Foundation. The study had no other external fundingPeer reviewedPostprin

Primary care practitioners’ diagnostic action when the patient may have cancer : an exploratory vignette study in 20 European countries

Availability of data To avoid the risk of identification of individual participants, the datasets generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available. However, they are available (with any possible identifying information redacted) from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Funding This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. ALN’s time is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Imperial Patient Safety Translation Research Centre, with her infrastructure support provided by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Acknowledgements We would like to thank all the PCPs who piloted the questionnaire and those who completed the survey. We would also like to thank the European GP Research Network for its support. We are grateful to Prof. Barbara Silverman and Prof. Lital Keinan for the data on cancer survival rates in Israel, and to Dr Yochai Schonmann for his work on those data. Two of the vignettes were used by kind permission of the ICBP; we also thank Dr Peter Murchie and Dr Rhona Auckland, who generously provided the other two vignettes. Prof. Antonius Schneider kindly organised the Technical University of Munich’s data collection.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Where Should Governments Invest? The Impact of Economic, Political, Social and Technological Factors on the Formation of New Firms

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that affect the creation of new firms. We take into consideration economic, political, social and technological factors which should also help governments realize the areas that we found to have the greatest impact. The study relies on data from international organizations from which we construct an ordered probit statistical analysis. The results indicate that investments in both ICT and education enhance the probability of generating new business