LIVER HISTOPATHOLOGY AT MICE WITH INDUCED DIABETES TREATED WITH VEGETAL EXTRACT OF SYLIBUM MARIANUM

In this study we have followed the liver’s histopathologic changes at CD-line mice (mice rederived from a nonconsanguineous stem) with alloxan-induced diabetes, treated with vegetal extract of Sylibum marianum. We have followed the liver’s changes of weight following the removal and its histopathologic changes. Thus, mice with weight ranging from 20 to 25 g were divided into three experimental lots, a witness lot, a lot of mice with alloxan-induced diabetes, and another lot with diabetes treated with vegetal extract of Sylibum marianum. Diabetes was induced by administering two doses of Alloxan monohydrate 0,2 ml (130 mg/kg body dissolved in physiological saline), following which 0.2 ml of vegetal extract of milk thistle was administered by gavage during two weeks. The results obtained for the liver blades sampled from the mice with diabetes showed the presence of hepatic steatosis; following the administration of the vegetal extract to the mice with diabetes a decrease of the blisters full of neutral lipids (hepatic triglycerides) can be noticed, which reveals the beneficial action of the vegetal extract of milk thistl

Actes du Symposium International - Le livre, la Roumanie, l’Europe / Proceedings of the International Symposium Books, Romania, Europe - 5ème édition 24-26 septembre 2012

Tome 2 des actes du Symposium International "Le livre, la Roumanie, L\u27Europe" qui s\u27est tenu les 24, 25 et 26 septembre 2012 à Mamaia, Roumanie, organisé par la Bibliothèque Métropolitaine de Bucarest. / Tome 2 of the Proceedings of the International Symposium "Books, Romania, Europe" held on 24, 25 and 26 September 2012 in Mamaia, Romania, organized by the Bucharest Metropolitan Library. Textes réunis et présentés par : Réjean Savard Chantal Stanescu Hermina G.B. Anghelescu Cristina Io

Translation of the Fugl-Meyer assessment into Romanian: Transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations and clinical validation

PurposeThe Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, which is widely used and highly recommended, is an appropriate tool for evaluating poststroke sensorimotor and other possible somatic deficits. It is also well-suited for capturing a dynamic rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to first translate the entire sensorimotor FMA scale into Romanian using the transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations of its official afferent protocols and to then validate it using the preliminary clinical evaluation of inter- and intra-rater reliability and relevant concurrent validity.MethodsThrough three main steps, we completed a standardized procedure for translating FMA's official afferent evaluation protocols into Romanian and their transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptation for both the upper and lower extremities. For relevant clinical validation, we evaluated 10 patients after a stroke two times: on days 1 and 2. All patients were evaluated simultaneously by two kinesi-physiotherapists (generically referred to as KFT1 and KFT2) over the course of 2 consecutive days, taking turns in the roles of an examiner and observer, and vice versa (inter-rater). Two scores were therefore obtained and compared for the same patient, i.e., being afferent to an inter-rater assay by comparing the assessment outcomes obtained by the two kinesi-physiotherapists, in between, and respectively, to the intra-rater assay: based on the evaluations of the same kinesi-physiotherapist, in two consecutive days, using a rank-based method (Svensson) for statistical analysis. We also compared our final Romanian version of FMA's official protocols for concurrent validity (Spearman's rank correlation statistical method) to both of the widely available assessment instruments: the Barthel Index (BI) and the modified Rankin scale (mRS).ResultsSvensson's method confirmed overall good inter- and intra-rater results for the main parts of the final Romanian version of FMA's evaluation protocols, regarding the percentage of agreement (≥80% on average) and for disagreement: relative position [RP; values outside the interval of (−0.1, 0.1) in only two measurements out of the 56 comparisons we did], relative concentration [RC; values outside the interval of (−0.1, 0.1) in only nine measurements out of the same 56 comparisons done], and relative rank variation [RV; all values within an interval of (0, 0.1) in only five measurements out of the 56 comparisons done]. High correlation values were obtained between the final Romanian version of FMA's evaluation protocols and the BI (ρ = 0.9167; p = 0.0002) for FMA–upper extremity (FMA-UE) total A-D (motor function) with ρ = 0.6319 and for FMA-lower extremity (FMA-LE) total E-F (motor function) with p = 0.0499, and close to the limit, with the mRS (ρ = −0.5937; p = 0.0704) for FMA-UE total A-D (motor function) and (ρ = −0.6615; p = 0.0372) for FMA-LE total E-F (motor function).ConclusionsThe final Romanian version of FMA's official evaluation protocols showed good preliminary reliability and validity, which could be thus recommended for use and expected to help improve the standardization of this assessment scale for patients after a stroke in Romania. Furthermore, this endeavor could be added to similar international translation and cross-cultural adaptations, thereby facilitating a more appropriate comparison of the evaluation and outcomes in the management of stroke worldwide

Zero to eight : young children and their internet use

EU Kids Online has spent seven years investigating 9-16 year olds’ engagement with the internet, focusing on the benefits and risks of children’s internet use. While this meant examining the experiences of much younger children than had been researched before EU Kids Online began its work in 2006, there is now a critical need for information about the internet-related behaviours of 0-8 year olds. EU Kids Online’s research shows that children are now going online at a younger and younger age, and that young children’s “lack of technical, critical and social skills may pose [a greater] risk” (Livingstone et al, 2011, p. 3).peer-reviewe

THE INFLUENCE OF THE TEMPERATURE AND THE WATER HARDNESS ON THE TOXICITY OF HERBICIDE FUSILADE FORTE 150 EC TO PRUSSIAN CARP (CARASSIUS AURATUS GIBELIO BLOCH 1782)

The temperature is an important physical parameter, playing the role of a natural catalyst, activator, restrictor and selector of the aquatic life. This study has been carried out in order to analyze the effects of the concentrations of the Fusilade Forte 150 EC herbicide (0.004 ml Fusilade Forte 150 EC/1 water, 0,008 ml Fusilade Forte 150 EC/ l water, 0,016 ml Fusilade Forte 150 EC/ l water) and calcium chloride (200 mg/l water, 400 mg/l water) on some physiologic indicators on the carp. The hardness of the water does not significantly influence the oxygen consumption of the carp individuals that are exposed to the action of the herbicide. The herbicide has had an inhibiting effect on the studied parameters for all the used concentrations, the toxic effect being less pronounced at high temperatures

Particularities of Neurological Manifestations in Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma: Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach—A Narrative Review

ATL is a rare but a highly aggressive T-cell neoplasm associated with human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a oncogenic retrovirus responsible for the development of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), but also for other non-malignant diseases, such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-1 has a higher prevalence in Japan, the Caribbean, South America, intertropical Africa, Romania, and northern Iran. ATL patients can have an extensive spectrum of neurological manifestations. Numerous factors can be implicated, such as central nervous system infiltrates, neurolymphomatosis, complications to medication or allogeneic stem cell transplantation, HAM/TSP, infections, metabolic disturbances. The neurological complications are not always easy to recognize and treat. Thus, this review underlines the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in ATL patients with neurological symptomatology

INVESTIGATION ON THE HYPOGLYCEMIANT EFFECT OF SOME VEGETAL EXTRACTS IN EXPERIMENTAL INTOXICATIONS AT CD-1 MICE

Using plants in treating some diseases has become a tradition, ‘the nature’s pharmacy’ being an important source of therapy. At present, the medicinal plants properties are being re-assessed due to progress made in chemical, pharmaceutical and clinical research of plants and due to forms obtained from vegetal products, but especially due to the advantages they offer. In the context of more frequent use of natural products with pharmaceutical and therapeutical aims, both at a national and at an international level, our research hints at highlighting and giving details about a series of effects produced by vegetal extracts of Aronia melanocarpa and Silybum marianum on certain physiological, biochemical and histopathological processes at CD1 mice. In this study, 2 hydro-alcoholic extracts obtained from 2 species of medicinal plants (Aronia melanocarpa and Silybum marianum), were tested in order to analyse the hypoglycemiant activity. The data accumulated in the specialty literature reveal that the phytotherapeutic use of extracts of Aronia melanocarpa and Silybum marianum is based only on the major pharmacologic effect while the intimate action mechanism of the two vegetal products, al cellular and subcellular level, is not known. Starting from these premises, we considered useful the initiation of a comparative study regarding the antidiabetic influence of fluid extracts of Aronia melanocarpa and Silybum marianum upon mice experimentally intoxicated with alloxan monohydrate solution. CDI mice were used as an experimental model in order to induce diabetes: alloxan monohydrate was injected intraperitoneal with concentration of 130 mg/kg body (Ahmed Saber Abu – zaiton, 2013), dissolved in physiological serum, during two weeks, at an interval of 3 days. Both extracts acted positively by lowering blood sugar and by returning to normal body weight in diabetic mice. Aronia extract has a pronounced effect compared to milk thistle extract for both parameters monitored in the experiments

Development of New Hybrid Casein-Loaded PHEMA-PEGDA Hydrogels with Enhanced Mineralisation Potential

Casein is a micellar protein rich in glutamic and aspartic acids as well as in phosphoserine. Considering its native affinity for calcium and the connection of sub-micelles through calcium phosphate nanoclusters, this protein holds promise for stimulating biomimetic mineralisation phenomena and direct binding with the mineral phase of hard tissues. In this work we prepared new hybrids based on casein embedded in a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-polyethyleneglycol diacrylate (PHEMA-PEGDA) hydrogel. The resulting materials were investigated structurally by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Casein modified the water affinity and the rheological properties of the hybrids. The microstructure was explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the distribution of the protein was established by combined SEM micrographs and elemental mapping considering the casein-specific elements (P, N and S) not contained by the synthetic hydrogel matrix. The effect of casein on the mineralisation potential and stability of the mineral phase was investigated by FT-IR and SEM when alternating incubation in Ca/P solutions is performed. Increasing casein content in the hybrids leads to improved mineralisation, with localised formation of nanoapatite phase on the protein areas in the richest sample in protein. This behaviour was proved microstructurally by SEM and through overlapping elemental distribution of Ca and P from the newly formed mineral and P, S and N from the protein. This study indicates that nanoapatite-casein-PHEMA-PEGDA nanocomposites may be developed for potential use in bone repair and regeneration

STUDY ON THE HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PLANTAGO MAJOR EXTRACT ON EXPERIMENTAL POISONING BY DICLOFENAC IN NMRI ALBINO MICE

Medicinal plants are alternative medicine’s key weapons. Thanks to the medicinal effects some plants turned out to have, they have been chosen by people to heal or at least ameliorate various affections. Nature is continuously changing: some species become extinct, others are born and some cross time. Despite the trend to enhance plant-based medicines, research data in this field is still incomplete. The experimental research in this paper aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective capacity of the Plantago major (plantain) species in albino mice –NMRI stain, after experimental poisoning by Diclofenac. Using physiological and biochemical methods and techniques, we researched potential structural and functional changes ocurred further to the experimental poisoning by Diclofenac

STUDY ON THE HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SILYBUM MARIANUM EXTRACT ON EXPERIMENTAL POISONING BY PARACETAMOL IN NMRI ALBINO MICE

Hepatoprotection is a matter of worldwide interest, since liver diseases are common, and liver transplant has increasedover the past years, drastically reducing the number of people able to meet the criteria for such a transplant. The experimental research in this paper aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective capacity of Silybum marianum species (thistle). In order to fulfil the purpose of the paper, thistle was administrated as hydr alcoholic extracts to animals, i.e. albino mice-NMRI strain. We used paracetamol solution for infusion known as Perfalgan (Bristol-Myers Squibb). The dose used was 400mg/kg/bod y substance, and we administrated ethanolic extracts of Sylibum marianum after the paracetamol poisoning. We conducted the research using biochemical methods and techniques, potential structural and functional changes occurred in the experimental animals’ internal organs poisoned with perfalgan then treated with Silybum marianum plant extract