Long-Term Resveratrol Supplementation as a Secondary Prophylaxis for Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, as well as a source of long-term disabilities and huge socioeconomic costs. This study investigates the effects of resveratrol, an antioxidant supplement, on blood pressure, weight status, glucose, and lipid profile in patients who had a stroke in the last 12 months. Two hundred and twenty-eight patients were divided into three groups: group I received only allopathic treatment (control group), while groups II and III received allopathic treatment with a daily supplementation of oral resveratrol (100 and 200 mg, resp.) for 12 months. In all groups, the changes of the studied parameters were monitored at 6 and 12 months from the initial evaluation. In groups II and III, resveratrol induced significant changes (p<0.05) in the blood pressure, body mass index, as well as all parameters of the lipid profile, and glucose (in nondiabetic patients), compared to the control group. The supplementation of the allopathic treatment with resveratrol had a beneficial effect on all monitored parameters, which serve as major risk factors for stroke

Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils

In recent few years, the high efficacy of herbal antioxidant products in various diseases has been reported [...

Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils

In recent few years, the high efficacy of herbal antioxidant products in various diseases has been reported [...

Aspects of excessive antibiotic consumption and environmental influences correlated with the occurrence of resistance to antimicrobial agents

International audienceThis article explores the correlation between specific aspects of antibiotic usage, their resistance development, and environmental factors. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics led to environment contamination, selection and spreading of antibiotic-resistant organisms, and alteration of the microbial ecosystems balance. Sociobehavioural environmental factors and changes in the natural environment are major contributors to resistance development. Resistant bacteria strains' isolation in food, water, soil etc. demonstrates the environmental influence on the strains through antibiotics accumulation in the environment. It is difficult to assess the impact of antibiotic consumption on public health and the environment. Reducing irrational consumption, restoring microbial ecosystems, adopting methodologies to control antimicrobial resistance in case of in-hospital infections, implementation of measures included in national/international health policies are the main solutions for this problem

Highlighting the Benefits of Rehabilitation Treatments in Hip Osteoarthritis

Background and objectives: Due to its frequency and possible complications, hip arthrosis or hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) has a high social impact, its advanced stages eventually leading to irreversible lesions involving major complications or surgery. In the early stages, conservative treatment plays a key role in the prophylaxis of complications and in slowing down the degenerative process. The association between an appropriate drug therapy (DT) and a rehabilitation treatment (RT)—including individualized physical therapy (PT) and adapted occupational therapy (OT)—provides good results. Our objective was to highlight the benefits of associating RT with DT in patients with hip OA. Materials and Methods: An observational follow-up study was conducted between 2018–2021, which included 100 patients with hip OA divided into two groups: the study group—group A (50 subjects who complied with RT) and the control group—group B (who did not comply with RT). To evaluate them, the evolution of the Lequesne hip index (LHI), Tinetti test (TT) and the hip joint mobility: flexion (FH) and abduction (AH) were monitored before the beginning of the study (T0) and after one-year (T1) for each patient. The mean values of the parameters, the standard deviations, the frequency intervals, as well as the tests of statistical significance were calculated using the Student method (t-test) and χ2, ANOVA (Bonferroni) being used to compare the means. Results: Compared to the evolution of group B, improvements were observed in group A, as follows: in LHI group A (p = 0.023) vs. group B (p = 0.650); in TT group A (p = 0.011) vs. group B (p p = 0.001) vs. group B (p = 0.025); in AH group A (p = 0.001) vs. group B (p p = 0.223) and B (p = 0.513). Evaluating group A, the most significant improvements of the studied parameters were observed in the age group 41–50 years. Conclusions: The study reveals the benefits of combining RT with DT in patients with especially early-stage hip OA, aged up to 50 years old

Left Ventricle Outflow Tract Velocity-Time Index and Right Ventricle to Left Ventricle Ratio as Predictors for in Hospital Outcome in Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

Accurate estimation of risk with both imaging and biochemical parameters in intermediate risk pulmonary embolism (PE) remains challenging. The aim of the study was to evaluate echocardiographic parameters that reflect right and left heart hemodynamic as predictors of adverse events in intermediate risk PE. This was a retrospective observational study on patients with computed tomography pulmonary angiography diagnosis of PE admitted at Cardiology department of the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Oradea, Romania between January 2018—December 2021. Echocardiographic parameters obtained at admission were studied as predictors of in hospital adverse events. The following adverse outcomes were registered: death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, hemodynamic deterioration and need of rescue thrombolysis. An adverse outcome was present in 50 patients (12.62%). PE related death was registered in 17 patients (4.3%), resuscitated cardiac arrest occurred in 6 patients (1.51%). Another 20 patients (5.05%) required escalation of therapy with thrombolysis and 7 (1.76%) patients developed haemodynamic instability. Echocardiographic independent predictors for in hospital adverse outcome were RV/LV ≥ 1 (HR = 3.599, 95% CI 1.378–9.400, p = 0.009) and VTI ≤ 15 mm (HR = 11.711, 95% CI 4.336–31.633, p p p < 0.001). A combined criterion (LVOT VTI ≤ 15 and RV/LV ≥ 1) showed a positive predictive value of 75% and a negative predictive value of 95% regarding in hospital adverse outcomes. Low LVOT VTI and increased RV/LV are useful for identifying normotensive patients with PE at risk for short term adverse outcomes. Combining an LVOT VTI ≤ 15 cm with a RV/LV ≥ 1 can identify with increased accuracy PE patients with impending risk of clinical deterioration

Highlighting the Benefits of Rehabilitation Treatments in Hip Osteoarthritis

Background and objectives: Due to its frequency and possible complications, hip arthrosis or hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) has a high social impact, its advanced stages eventually leading to irreversible lesions involving major complications or surgery. In the early stages, conservative treatment plays a key role in the prophylaxis of complications and in slowing down the degenerative process. The association between an appropriate drug therapy (DT) and a rehabilitation treatment (RT)&mdash;including individualized physical therapy (PT) and adapted occupational therapy (OT)&mdash;provides good results. Our objective was to highlight the benefits of associating RT with DT in patients with hip OA. Materials and Methods: An observational follow-up study was conducted between 2018&ndash;2021, which included 100 patients with hip OA divided into two groups: the study group&mdash;group A (50 subjects who complied with RT) and the control group&mdash;group B (who did not comply with RT). To evaluate them, the evolution of the Lequesne hip index (LHI), Tinetti test (TT) and the hip joint mobility: flexion (FH) and abduction (AH) were monitored before the beginning of the study (T0) and after one-year (T1) for each patient. The mean values of the parameters, the standard deviations, the frequency intervals, as well as the tests of statistical significance were calculated using the Student method (t-test) and &chi;2, ANOVA (Bonferroni) being used to compare the means. Results: Compared to the evolution of group B, improvements were observed in group A, as follows: in LHI group A (p = 0.023) vs. group B (p = 0.650); in TT group A (p = 0.011) vs. group B (p &lt; 0.001); in FH group A (p = 0.001) vs. group B (p = 0.025); in AH group A (p = 0.001) vs. group B (p &lt; 0.001). BMI changes were non-significant in both groups A (p = 0.223) and B (p = 0.513). Evaluating group A, the most significant improvements of the studied parameters were observed in the age group 41&ndash;50 years. Conclusions: The study reveals the benefits of combining RT with DT in patients with especially early-stage hip OA, aged up to 50 years old

Chlorate Electrochemical Removal from Aqueous Media Basedon a Possible Autocatalytic Mechanism

International audienceThe electrochemical chlorate reduction at the Pt electrode in 0.5 M H2SO 4 deaerated solutions has beenstudied using potentiostatic steady-state voltammetry. The kinetics parameters (Tafel slope, charge transfercoefficient, current density, and reaction order) were evaluated in function of chlorate concentration (1x10-4 – 0.2 M KClO). The process of chlorate reduction is a complex one that implies two charge transfer 3controlled steps with formation of free radicals and an extent potential region controlled by the concentrationpolarization. The current density dependence of chlorate concentration tends to an exponential growth atconcentration ≥ 0.1 M KClO3 and becomes exponential in the conditions of the Cl−3/Cl− catalyst systempresence. In the second charge transfer, a surface reaction between free radical ·Cl- 2and platinum electrodewith formation of complex anions PtCL 42- and PtCL 62- is responsible for the rapid increase of the reactionrate

Aspects Regarding the Pharmaceutical Waste Management in Romania

The issue of drug disposal, as well as the development and implementation of efficient collection strategies, represents an important concern at the highest European level. This research looks into the factors that could have an impact on the efficiency of pharmacies in collecting and disposing the medicinal waste of the population. There were 521 pharmacists from all over the country who filled in a questionnaire on their opinion/attitude related to the system of collecting and disposing the pharmaceutical waste of the population. Of the surveyed pharmacists, 16% work in pharmacies that do not collect unused/expired drugs from the population, and nearly 33% of those investigated have refused, at least once, to take the unused medicines from the people. Pharmacists&rsquo; most important reasons for refusing to collect the pharmaceutical waste were the lack of procedure, incomplete legislation, exceeding the amount contracted with the operators, and high costs. Results show that pharmacies in Romania face several deficiencies in the pharmaceutical waste collection services. The lack of implemented programs has contributed considerably to lower standards of pharmaceutical waste management in Romania. This study is the first research on this topic in Romania, a country where the management of drug-based waste generated by the population is at the beginning. The results shown in this survey can provide a reference point for competent authorities in developing and implementing a take-back program for waste medicine whose efficiency is superior to the existing ones

Effects of the Hormone Replacement Therapy and of Soy Isoflavones on Bone Resorption in Postmenopause

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common form of osteoporosis and one of the major public health problems in developed countries. The prevalence of this condition, associated with the physiological stage of menopause, is continuously increasing. This study evaluated the effectiveness of soy isoflavones as compared to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in low doses, on the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, by determining bone mineral density (BMD) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-pyr) in physiological postmenopausal women. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months, on three parallel groups, which included a total of 325 postmenopausal women (HRT group: n = 95; phytoestrogens group: n = 124; control group: n = 106). At the one-year evaluation, we observed T-score normalization in a small number of cases (5.26%, 2.42% and 0.00%, respectively). The average values of D-Pyr decreased by 11.38% in the group treated with phytoestrogens (p &lt; 0.05) and by 15.32% in the group that followed HRT (p &lt; 0.05); it increased by 4.38% in the control group (p &gt; 0.05). Both therapies have beneficial effects on bone metabolism, leading to a significant decrease in the evolution of bone resorption and there are no major differences between the efficacy of HRT and phytoestrogens in terms of the effects on BMD and bone resorption