Case Report: Coexistence of generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) and maternal infections with cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii-unexpected fatal complication in a newborn

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by the storage of calcium at the level of internal elastic membrane of arteries. The main consequences are intimal fibrous thickening and arterial occlusion. We present the case of a preterm male infant, born from an improperly dispensed pregnancy. At birth, the newborn presented generalized edema and hypotonia, and abolished heart sounds, without response to stimulation. Despite the mechanical ventilation, the infant died 2 h after birth. The death was clinically presumed to be related to the maternal infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii. The infant's mother affirmed the history of 6 previous miscarriages and a non-consanguineous marriage. At autopsy, microscopic examination showed generalized vasculitis secondary to minimal calcification of the large and medium-sized vessels of the lungs, liver, and tongue. These findings supported the diagnosis of GACI. Hydrothorax, non-infective ascites, and necrosis of the brain parenchyma were also associated. The premature infant died due to tonsillar herniation associated with decreased vessel compliance and refractory pulmonary hypertension thus leading to congestive cardiac failure. CMV was not detected on histopathological assessment nor were signs of any other infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of GACI occurring in a baby from a mother co-infected with CMV and T. gondii

Cunoştinţe şi atitudini a medicilor stomatologi generalişti faţă de managementul afecţiunii parodontale

Department of Dental Propedeutics „Pavel Godoroja” Department of Therapeutical Dentistry Department of Pediatric Oro–maxillo–facial Surgery, Pedodontics and Orthodontics State University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Nicolae Testemiţanu”Summary The aim of the present study was to assess the current status of periodontal diagnosis and treatment performed by general dental practitioners (GDP). Materials and methods. Our survey was conducted from late October 2015 till May 2016. The assessment of periodontal management among GDP was performed by the use of questionnaires, consisting of 33 questions. Results. A total of 328 questionnaires were distributed, 316 were completely filled and assessed for the survey. 50.1±2.26 % of participants work in privat area, 45.6±2.29 % in public area and 4.1±0.79% in University. 82.6% of GDP are from urban area and 16.8% from rural area. 52.0±30.13 % and 49.5±24.05% of practitioners from the urban area perform periodontal examination and root surface debridement respectively. In rural area the percentage of the same procedures are 39.9±28,56% and 31.7±24.28 respectively. Conclusion. Such studies should be performed at regular time in order to appreciate the changes in the trends of national periodontal management. Scopul actualului studiu a fost de a evalua statusul curent a diagnosticului şi tratamentului parodontal, manopere realizate de medicii stomatologi generalişti (MSG). Material şi metode. Cercetarea noastră a fost condusă din sfârşitul lunii octombrie 2016 şi finisată în mai 2017. Aprecierea realizării managementului parodontal de către MSG, a fost efectuată prin utilizarea chestionarelor, care conţineau 33 de înrebări. Rezultate. Un total de 328 de chestionare au fost distribuite, iar 316 au fost completate în totalitate şi analizate pentu studiu. 50,1±2.26 % dintre participanţi activează în domeniul privat, 45,6±2,29 % în instituţie publică, iar 4,1±0,79% în cadrul Universităţii. 82,6% din MSG sunt din zona urbană, iar 16,8% din cea rurală. 52,0±30,13 % şi 49,5±24,05% din practicieni din zona urbană realizează examinarea parodontală şi respectiv debridarea suprafeţei radiculare. În zona rurală procentajul pentru aceleaşi manopere a constituit 39,9±28,56% şi 31,7±24,28 respectiv. Concluzii. Studii similare sunt necesar de a fi realizate la intervale regulate de timp în scopul aprecierii modificărilor tendin- ţelor mangamentului parodontal naţional

Naşterea vaginală după operaţie cezariană: protocol clinic naţional PCN-260

USMF „Nicolae Testemițanu”, IMSP Institutul Mamei şi CopiluluiProtocolul clinic naţional este elaborat în conformitate cu ghidurile internaționale actuale şi experienței autorilor acumulată în problema uterului cicatriceal. Acesta va servi în elaborarea protocoalelor clinice instituționale, în baza posibilităților reale ale fiecărei instituţii în anul curent. La recomandarea MS pentru monitorizarea protocoalelor clinice instituționale pot fi folosite formulare suplimentare, care nu sunt incluse în protocolul clinic național

Naşterea vaginală după operaţie cezariană. Protocol clinic naţional

Catedra Obstetrică şi Ginecologie FEMCMF, USMF "N.Testemiţanu˝, IMSP Institutul Mamei şi Copilulu

Regulation of cellular sterol homeostasis by the oxygen responsive noncoding RNA lincNORS

We hereby provide the initial portrait of lincNORS, a spliced lincRNA generated by the MIR193BHG locus, entirely distinct from the previously described miR-193b-365a tandem. While inducible by low O2 in a variety of cells and associated with hypoxia in vivo, our studies show that lincNORS is subject to multiple regulatory inputs, including estrogen signals. Biochemically, this lincRNA fine-tunes cellular sterol/steroid biosynthesis by repressing the expression of multiple pathway components. Mechanistically, the function of lincNORS requires the presence of RALY, an RNA-binding protein recently found to be implicated in cholesterol homeostasis. We also noticed the proximity between this locus and naturally occurring genetic variations highly significant for sterol/steroid-related phenotypes, in particular the age of sexual maturation. An integrative analysis of these variants provided a more formal link between these phenotypes and lincNORS, further strengthening the case for its biological relevance

Replication Data for: Corruption and Ideological Voting

This article examines the effect of corruption on ideological voting. Linking previous studies of political corruption with theories of ideological voting, I argue that when corruption is high, voters place less importance on ideology in voting than they otherwise would. The reason for this effect is related to voters' reduced ability to accurately perceive parties' positions and to their low political efficacy in these contexts. Using data from 97 elections from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, I show that in countries with high corruption, voters consider ideology less in their voting decisions, partially because they face difficulties identifying parties' ideological positions and/or they do not believe that parties can implement their electoral programmes. These relationships hold when I control for socio-economic and political confounders and for voters' increased likelihood of abstaining when corruption is high

Considerations on the Benefits of Using Recyclable Materials for Road Construction

A current worldwide economy problem includes both the responsible management of the planet's non-renewable resources and the waste management. The benefits of using recyclable materials and recycling technologies with asphalt mixtures consist mainly of reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It is well known that oil (from which bitumen is obtained) is a non-renewable resource, hence the its price increase. Therefore, at present, the world is looking for solutions that will lead to a better use of natural resources and to an economic integration of sub-products from various industries. This paper intends to raise awareness of the possibilities for asphalt mixtures recycling and of the recyclable materials that can be used as additives with benefits of each

Public opinion on healthcare

This chapter explores public opinion on healthcare from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. It critically reviews the literature surrounding public opinion on healthcare, teasing out the main concepts used—support for public healthcare provision/spending, overall evaluations of the healthcare systems, and the political salience of healthcare—while also discussing implications, gaps, and potential new research avenues. The chapter examines the operationalization of these key measures in large-scale survey items and compares trends in Europe over time. While Europeans mostly agree that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure adequate healthcare, there is much more regional variation when it comes to satisfaction with healthcare systems, and their political salience. The chapter concludes by arguing for the need to further examine the link between these key public opinion measures and their impact on health policy reform

Peculiarities and Consequences of Different Angiographic Patterns of STEMI Patients Receiving Coronary Angiography Only: Data from a Large Primary PCI Registry

Background. Inappropriate cardiac catheterization lab activation together with false-positive angiographies and no-culprit found coronary interventions are now reported as costly to the medical system, influencing STEMI process efficiency. We aimed to analyze data from a high-volume interventional centre (>1000 primary PCIs/year) exploring etiologies and reporting characteristics from all “blank” coronary angiographies in STEMI. Methods. In this retrospective observational single-centre cohort study, we reported two-year data from a primary PCI registry (2035 patients). “Angio-only” cases were assigned to one of these categories: (a) Takotsubo syndrome; (b) coronary embolisation; (c) myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries; (d) myocarditis; (e) CABG-referred; (f) normal coronary arteries (mostly diagnostic errors); and (g)others (refusals and death prior angioplasty). Univariate analysis assessed correlations between each category and cardiovascular risk factors. Results. 412 STEMI patients received coronary angiography “only,” accounting for 20.2% of cath lab activations. Barely 77 patients had diagnostic errors (3.8% from all patients) implying false-activations. 40% of “angio-only” patients (n = 165) were referred to surgery due to severe atherosclerosis or mechanical complications. Patients with diagnostic errors and normal arteries displayed strong correlations with all cardiovascular risk factors. Probably, numerous risk factors “convinced” emergency department staff to call for an angio. Conclusions. STEMI network professionals often confront with coronary angiography “only” situations. We propose a classification according to etiologies. Next, STEMI guidelines should include audit recommendations and specific thresholds regarding “angio-only” patients, with specific focus on MINOCA, CABG referrals, and diagnostic errors. These measures will have a double impact: a better management of the patient, and a clearer perception about the usefulness of the investments

Digital globalization and its impact on economic and social life

Research background: While some researchers see digital globalization as a new form of globalization, others liken digitalisation to the globalization that needs to be managed and driven so that institutions and businesses can meet the challenge of digitalisation together. Digitization has encompassed all aspects of economic and social life. In increasingly fierce competition, technological advances and the challenges of science are becoming catalysts for globalization. There is research that suggests that conventional wisdom would say that globalization has stopped arguing that global trade in goods has flattened and cross-border capital flows have fallen sharply since the economic crisis of 2008. However, research shows that globalization is not reversing but enters a new phase that could be defined by a sustained increase in data and information flows. More than a decade later, the new global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is strengthening the role of information and communication technologies in both the economy and social life. Purpose of the article: The aim of this paper is to highlight the main characteristics of digital globalization that have a major impact on current and future economic and social life. Methods: Documentary analysis and review of the literature are the main research methods. These are doubled by a bibliographic analysis of IT tools. Findings & Value added: Following the documentary analysis, we identified a series of characteristics that allow us to consider that global digitalization can become the determining factor of the economy with direct implications in social life