Potential therapeutic applications of infusions and hydroalcoholic extracts of Romanian glutinous sage (Salvia glutinosa L.)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Salvia glutinosa, also known as the glutinous sage, has been used in Romanian folk medicine in the treatment of inflammation, injuries, and mild infections. However, there is no direct scientific evidence to demonstrate these activities. Aim of the Study: The present research was based on evaluating antioxidant, antiproliferative, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of S. glutinosa extracts, as well as the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Materials and Methods: Infusions and 70% (v:v) ethanol solution extracts of S. glutinosa stems and leaves, collected from two different locations in Romania, were prepared. Ten phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using the LC-DAD-ESI/MSn method, and total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as in vitro antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays), antiproliferative, antiinflammatory and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities were determined. A rat model of induced inflammation with turpentine oil was used for the examination of in vivo effects of the extracts, using diclofenac as an antiinflammatory control. Results: The highest inhibitory α-glucosidase activity was determined to be IC50 = 0.546 mg/ml for the hydroalcoholic extract made with plant material collected on the road to Sighișoara. The highest cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line was determined to be GI50 = 131.68 ± 5.03 μg/ml, for the hydroalcoholic extract made with plant material from Sighișoara. In vivo administration of extract (200 mg lyophilized powder/ml) showed a significant reduction of NO production.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that S. glutinosa extracts exhibit antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, as well as a modest cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cell line. By in vivo administration, the extracts show antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity, which correlates with the traditional use of the species. The environmental conditions seemed to induce important changes in the chemical composition and the bioactivity of the herbal preparations derived from S. glutinosa.This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019–5360.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Insights into the pathogenesis of nicotine addiction. Could a salivary biosensor be useful in Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)?

Nicotine has gained the attention of the medical community due to its insidious addictive mechanisms which lead to chronic consumption. The multitude of compounds derived from tobacco smoke have local and systemic negative impacts, resulting in a large number of smoking-related pathologies. The present review offers insights into nicotine addiction physiopathology, as well as social and medical implications, with emphasis on its correlation with Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). Therapeutic strategies and new approaches to nicotine assessment and cessation treatment are discussed, noting that such strategies could take into account the possibility of slow and gradual nicotine release from a device attached to a prosthetic piece, based on salivary nicotine-concentration feedback. This approach could offer real-time and home-based self-therapy monitoring by the physician and the patient for follow-up and improve long-term cessation treatment success- Graphical abstract

The influence of the synoptic conditions in the dispersion of the air pollution indicator – the sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the Slatina area.

The sulphur oxides are among the most common pollutants, because the sulphur can be found in various forms in most of fuels and ores. The sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless, suffocating, irritating gas, which contributes significantly to the producing of the acid rains. The main objective of the study is to analyze the way of dispersion for the air pollution indicator – the sulphur dioxide (SO2), in the Slatina town area, in relation to the climatic and topographic factors, but also to the nature of the pollution sources. The analysis will highlight the atmospheric conservation role of the pollutants through the thermic inversions, the atmospheric calm and the high air moisture. At the end of the study, there are presented the authors’s conclusions formulated on the basis of the data from the German Meteorological Offenbach Service, the National Meteorological Administration and the Agency for Environmental Protection from the Olt County. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of an air pollution indicator constitutes a first step in ensuring the air quality management, which represents a component of the environmental management

Maternal and fetal outcome in HELLP syndrome in a tertiary care hospital in north east Romania

UMF “Gr.T.Popa”, Iaşi, Spitalul “Cuza Vodă”, IaşiObjective: Hepatic vascular injury in preeclampsia is responsible for HELLP syndrome (Haemolisis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count), sometimes without hypertension or proteinuria. The aim of the study was to evaluate maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with HELLP syndrome hospitalized in a third level maternal-fetal unit. Methods: Data concerning the clinical evolution of patients and laboratory analyzes were recuperated from the electronic archive of “Cuza Voda” Hospital. Statistical processing was performed with Microsoft Office Excel 2007 TM. Results: Between 01.01.2009-31.12.2013, in “Cuza Voda” Hospital, Iasi, a number of 29 352 births were recorded, 55 (0.187 %) being diagnosed with HELLP syndrome. Among them, only for 25 cases we could recover complete data for statistical processing. The 25 patients had a mean age of 29.2 years (range 19-39). The mean gestational age when HELLP syndrome was diagnosed, was 31.8 weeks of amenorrhea (range 27-38 ) and the mean biometric age at the preoperative ultrasound was 30.3 weeks of amenorrhea (range 24-37). Caesarean section was completed in 22/25 cases (88 %), the remaining 3 cases delivered vaginally, at a mean of 56.2 hours after admission (range 0.5 – 384 h). Maternal prognosis was burdened with the following complications: severe preeclampsia (10/25 cases), eclampsia (3/25 cases), uteroplacental apoplexy (4/25 cases), pulmonary edema (3/25 cases), acute renal failure (9/25 cases), disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (2/25 cases), maternal death (1/25 cases). Fetal evolution presented the following complications: antepartum fetal death (4/25 cases), RCIU (11/25 cases), prematurity (22/25 cases) with a premature birth between 27-34 weeks (17/25 cases) and between 34 -37 weeks (5 cases). One minute Apgar score was 0 in 4 cases, the remaining cases showing an average of 6.3 (range 1-9) at 1 minute and of 7.1 (range 1-9) at 5 minutes. Conclusions: Management and delivery of patients with HELLP syndrome should take place in a tertiary level unit with a trained multidisciplinary team (obstetrician, anesthetist, neonatologist, medical laboratory doctor, operating theater nurses, intensive care nurses, midwives) and technical facilities available. A rapid and accurate diagnosis and a prompt intervention can reduce the risk of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.Obiectiv: Atingerea hepatică vasculară în preeclampsie este responsabilă de sindromul HELLP (haemolisis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count), uneori fără HTA şi nici proteinurie. Scopul studiului a fost de a evalua prognosticul matern şi fetal la gravidele internate cu HELLP sindrom într-o unitate materno-fetală de nivel trei. Material şi metodă: Datele despre evoluţia clinică a pacientelor şi analizele de laborator au fost preluate din arhiva electronică a Spitalului “Cuza Vodă” cât şi din foile de observaţie. Prelucrarea statistică s-a efectuat utilizând programul Microsoft Office Excel 2007 TM. Rezultate: În perioada 01.01.2009-31.12.2013, în Spitalul Clinic de Obstetrică-Ginecologie Cuza Vodă, Iaşi au fost asistate un număr de 29352 naşteri, dintre care 55 (0.187%) au fost diagnosticate cu HELLP sindrom. Dintre acestea, doar pentru 25 cazuri s-au putut recupera datelele complete pentru prelucrarea statistică. Cele 25 paciente au avut o vârstă medie de 29.2 ani (interval 19-39). Vârsta gestaţională medie la care s-a instalat HELLP sindromul a fost de 31.8 săptămâni amenoree (interval 27-38) iar vârsta medie biometrică conform ecografiei preoperatorii a fost de 30.3 săptămâni amenoree (interval 24-37). Naşterea s-a finalizat prin cezariană în 22/25 cazuri (88%), restul de 3 cazuri care au născut natural internându-se cu naştere declanşată, la o distanţă medie de 56.2 ore de la internare (interval 0,5-384h). Prognosticul matern a fost grevat de următoarele complicaţii: preeclampsie severă (10/25 cazuri), eclampsie (3/25 cazuri), apoplexie utero-placentară (4/25 cazuri), edem pulmonar acut (3/25 cazuri), insuficienţa renală acută (9/25 cazuri), sindrom de coagulare intravasculară diseminată (2/25 cazuri), deces matern (1/25 cazuri). Evoluţia fetală a prezentat următoarele complicaţii: moarte fetală antepartum (4/25 cazuri), RCIU (11/25 cazuri), prematuritate (22/25 cazuri) din care naştere prematură între 27-34 săptămâni (17/25 cazuri), iar între 34-37 săptămâni (5 cazuri). Scorul APGAR la 1 minut a fost 0 în 4 cazuri, restul cazurilor prezentând o medie de 6.3 (interval 1-9) la 1 minut şi de 7.1 (interval 1-9) la 5 minute. Concluzii: Managementul şi naşterea pacientelor cu sindrom HELLP trebuie să aibă loc într-o unitate de nivel trei, cu o echipă multidisciplinară antrenată (obstetrician, anestezist, neonatolog, medic de laborator, asistente de bloc operator, reanimare, moaşe) şi facilităţi tehnice disponibile. Un diagnostic rapid şi corect şi o intervenţie promptă, pot reduce riscul de mortalitate şi morbiditate maternă şi fetală

Insights into the pathogenesis of nicotine addiction. Could a salivary biosensor be useful in Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)?

Nicotine has gained the attention of the medical community due to its insidious addictive mechanisms which lead to chronic consumption. The multitude of compounds derived from tobacco smoke have local and systemic negative impacts, resulting in a large number of smoking-related pathologies. The present review offers insights into nicotine addiction physiopathology, as well as social and medical implications, with emphasis on its correlation with Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). Therapeutic strategies and new approaches to nicotine assessment and cessation treatment are discussed, noting that such strategies could take into account the possibility of slow and gradual nicotine release from a device attached to a prosthetic piece, based on salivary nicotine-concentration feedback. This approach could offer real-time and home-based self-therapy monitoring by the physician and the patient for follow-up and improve long-term cessation treatment success- Graphical abstract

Biostimulation with low-level laser therapy and its effects on soft and hard tissue regeneration. Literature review

Objective. Low-Level Laser Therapy encourages the healing process, reduces inflammation and pain. The aim of this study is to identify the impact of Low-Level Laser Therapy on tissue regeneration with special attention to hard tissues and to compare the effect of several wave lengths in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Methods. The keywords used were “bone regeneration”, “laser therapy”, “photobiomodulation” OR “bio-stimulation”, “Low-Level Laser therapy” OR “LLLT”, “osteoblast proliferation” AND “differentiation”. Results. The bio-stimulation with Low-Level Laser Therapy also seems to interfere with the osseous integration of implants, by increasing its adherence on the bone-implant surfaces. Evidence has shown that Low-Level Laser Therapy influences the cellular proliferation and differentiation. Conclusions. Low-Level Laser Therapy is a promising therapy in the field of regeneration, but further studies are needed in order to define the standard protocol

Integrated modelling to assess N pollution swapping in slurry amended soils

In the present work, it was hypothesized that through modelling it is possible to overcome the constraints that arise in the quantification of N pollution swapping associated to slurry application practiceswhen using individual experimental data. For this, environmental N losses were assessed under two methods of dairy slurry application to a double cropping system (rainfed oats (Avena strigosa)/irrigated maize (Zea mays)) in two different soils. An integrated experimentation and modelling approach was applied using the RZWQM2 model. The modelwas first tested using four years of experimental data concerningN fluxes to/fromdifferent environmental compartments (soilmineralization, N gas emissions, and N leaching). Themodel estimated emissionswith overall efficiencies of ~70% and r2 ~ 0.75. Total N losses were higher for surface band application (95.4 and 40.2 kg ha−1 for the sandy and sandy loam soils, respectively). However, when slurry was injected, nitrate leaching considerably increased (by 107 and 64% for the sandy and sandy loam soils, respectively), even though gas emissions were minimized. This N swapping among path losses requires targeting of the N mitigation measures to the environmental compartment showing the highest vulnerability. Generally, the estimated emission factors (EFs) were lower than or equal to (slurry injection in the sandy loam soil) the IPCC default. The values showed high variability, reinforcing the need to use agricultural system specific EFs. The methodologies used in this study, focused on scenario analysis, can support policy as they can be used to set up integral strategies to decrease N emissions fromlivestock farming systems, taking into account possible synergies and antagonisms produced by the measures among NH3 and N2O emissions and NO3 − leachinginfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio