10 research outputs found

    Current trends in scientific research in IT and Electrical and Electronics Engineering

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    From the vast research and development subjects in IT and Electrical and Electronics Engineering, some of the most important of them have been selected and are presented in this paper. Arguments that justify the chosen of these subjects among the most important in present are presented. The main selection criteria are the relevance for the current trends in these industries and the funding availability to insure the transition from theoretical and experimental research into practical applications. It might also help college students in shaping their preferences for a successful engineering carrier. Before approaching the specifics of the selected subjects the paper illustrates the interplay between learning strategies and scientific epistemological views to help framing an attitude toward science

    An Up-to-Date Narrative Review on Congenital Heart Disease Percutaneous Treatment in Children Using Contemporary Devices

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    Background: Congenital heart pathology has a significant burden regarding morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Several transcatheter interventions and devices have been designed as an alternative to surgical repair. Percutaneous interventions have been proven to yield good results in most cases but with less stress and trauma than that attributed to surgical treatment, especially in frail pediatric patients. We aimed to review the literature and to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of transcatheter interventions and implantable devices for congenital heart disease management in children. Methods: We performed a search in Scopus and MEDLINE databases using prespecified keywords to retrieve clinical studies published between 2000 and 2021. Results: This article provides an up-to-date review regarding the applicability of interventional techniques in simple inter-atrial or inter-ventricular defects, and in challenging congenital defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, or coronary artery fistula. Furthermore, we reviewed recent indications for defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy, and new and promising devices currently being tested. Conclusion: Transcatheter treatment represents a feasible and efficient alternative to surgical repair of congenital heart defects. Novel devices could extend the indications and possibilities of percutaneous interventions in pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases

    Tackling Dyslipidemia in Obesity from a Nanotechnology Perspective

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    Obesity and dyslipidemia are the main features of metabolic syndrome, expressed mainly by adipose tissue dysfunction and connected by similar pathways and pharmacotherapy. Conventional drugs used in these two associated disorders are limited due to poor drug efficiency, non-specificity, and toxic side effects. Therefore, novel solutions for tackling obesity-associated diseases and providing insights into the development of innovative or improved therapies are necessary. Targeted nanotherapy is a revolutionary technology, offering a promising solution for combatting the disadvantages of currently available therapies for treating obesity and dyslipidemia due to its superior features, which include specific cell targeting, the protection of drugs against physiological degradation, and sustained drug release. This review presents a brief assessment of obesity and dyslipidemia, their impacts on human health, current treatment, and limitations, and the role and potential use of nanotechnology coupled with targeted drug delivery and nutraceuticals as emerging therapies. To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents, for the first time in the literature, a comparison between obesity and dyslipidemia nano-formulations based on drugs and/or natural extracts applied in experimental studies

    Current Antithrombotic Therapy Strategies in Children with a Focus on Off-Label Direct Oral Anticoagulants—A Narrative Review

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    (1) Background: The incidence of thromboembolic events is relatively low in the general population, but it increases in hospitalized children and those who underwent thrombogenic procedures. Although the evidence regarding direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in children with venous thromboembolism (VTE) is growing, DOACs were excluded from existing guidelines due to the lack of reliable data at that moment. Therefore, current evidence on VTE management in children needs to be critically reviewed. (2) Methods: We have conducted a literature search in the Scopus, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases using prespecified keywords to retrieve studies published between 2010 and 2022. (3) Results: Clinical trials highlighted that rivaroxaban and dabigatran had predictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles in children, similar to those observed in adults. Dabigatran and rivaroxaban had a similar safety profile to standard therapy but improved thrombotic burden and resolution during follow-up. Most studies involving apixaban and edoxaban are ongoing, and results are awaited. (4) Conclusions: Dabigatran and rivaroxaban could be valid therapeutic options for VTE management in children. In the case of apixaban and edoxaban, results from ongoing clinical studies are required before using them in pediatric VTE

    Non-Cardiac Cause of Death in Selected Group Children with Cardiac Pathology: A Retrospective Single Institute Study

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    Background: Pediatricians and pediatric surgeons often face children with cardiomegaly and dilatative or hypertrophic cardiomyopathies presenting with or without symptoms. Some of these patients have already been diagnosed and received medication, and some present with completely unrelated pathologies. Methods: We performed a 4-year retrospective study on the causes and mechanisms of death of children with cardiac pathology who died outside the cardiology clinic of our hospital by studying the hospital charts and necropsy reports. All children who were in this situation in our hospital were included. Results: Most children in our study group were infants (81.82%), most were boys (81.82%), and in most cases, the cause or mechanism of death was unrelated to their heart condition, whether it had already been diagnosed or not (one case probably died as a result of a malignant ventricular arrhythmia). Additionally, 27.27% of children died as a consequence of bronchopneumonia, the same percentage died as a consequence of an acquired non-pulmonary disease or after surgery, and 18.18% died as a consequence of congenital malformations. Conclusions: Cardiac disease needs to be thoroughly investigated using multiple tools for all children presenting with heart failure symptoms, those with heart murmurs, and children scheduled for surgery of any type. The intensive care specialist and surgeon need to be aware of any heart pathology before non-cardiac surgical interventions

    Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children with Asthma

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    Background: Nowadays it is considered that a specific causal relationship exists between asthma and gastroesophageal reflux (GER), because of the aspiration of gastric refluate which leads to and maintain spasticity even real crisis of paroxystic expiratory dyspnea. This study explores this relationship and evaluates the results after treatment. Methods: 56 children diagnosed with asthma, hospitalized in a regional center of pediatric gastroenterology in Northeast Romania, underwent 24-hour continuous esophageal pH monitoring in order to establish the presence of GER. The Boix-Ochoa score was used to interpret the results. Proton pump inhibitors were administered to those with GER and the patients were reevaluated after 2 months. Results: 39 patients (69.64%) had GER, with a Boix-Ochoa score above normal (N < 11.99), and 17 patients (30.36%) had normal score. After administering proton pump inhibitors for 2 months, 7 patients still had high Boix-Ochoa score (17.95%). The result of this analysis shows that the presence of asthma increases the chance of GER by 2.86 times. Conclusions: In children with asthma we have to look for GER in order to treat, because it can help the treatment of asthma or even solve some cases resistant to standard treatment

    Multiple Faces of Cervical Lesions in Children

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    Pediatric sialolithiasis is a rare condition causing tumefaction, induration, redness, and pain of the affected gland. When the submandibular gland is involved, the lesion can be mistaken for an adenopathy. As there are few studies to elucidate this condition in children, we present a rare case of a 16-year-old female with suggestive symptoms, in which initial clinical examination and two ultrasound examinations mistook the lesion for an adenopathy. A computed tomography examination was performed and the correct diagnosis was established. The patient was sent for oro-maxilo-facial examination and sialolithotomy was performed. A 10-mm yellow calculus was extracted and postoperative case evolution was favorable under wide spectrum antibiotherapy, oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy and silagog alimentation. Although submandibular adenopathies are much more frequent in the pediatric age group, when faced with a firm, immobile submandibular lesion, the pediatrician should consider the sialolithiasis diagnosis

    Insulin Pump Therapy Efficacy and Key Factors Influencing Adherence in Pediatric Population—A Narrative Review

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    Objective: we aimed to highlight the state of the art in terms of pediatric population adherence to insulin pumps. This study intends to underline the significance of identifying and minimizing, to the greatest extent feasible, the factors that adversely affect the juvenile population’s adherence to insulin pump therapy. Materials and methods: articles from PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct databases were evaluated using the following search terms: adherence, pump insulin therapy, children, pediatric population, and type 1 diabetes, in combination with several synonyms such as compliance, treatment adherence, pump adherence, patient dropouts, and treatment refusal. Results: A better glycemic control is connected to a better adherence to diabetes management. We identify, enumerate, and discuss a number of variables which make it difficult to follow an insulin pump therapy regimen. Several key factors might improve adherence to insulin pump therapy: efficient communication between care provider and patients (including home-based video-visits), continuous diabetes education, family support and parental involvement, as well as informational, practical assistance, and emotional support from the society. Conclusions: every cause and obstacle that prevents young patients from adhering to insulin pumps optimally is an opportunity for intervention to improve glycemic control and, as a result, their quality of life

    Can Bioactive Food Substances Contribute to Cystic Fibrosis-Related Cardiovascular Disease Prevention?

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    Advances in cystic fibrosis (CF) care have significantly improved the quality of life and life expectancy of patients. Nutritional therapy based on a high-calorie, high-fat diet, antibiotics, as well as new therapies focused on CFTR modulators change the natural course of the disease. They do so by improving pulmonary function and growing BMI. However, the increased weight of such patients can lead to unwanted long-term cardiovascular effects. People with CF (pwCF) experience several cardiovascular risk factors. Such factors include a high-fat diet and increased dietary intake, altered lipid metabolism, a decrease in the level of fat-soluble antioxidants, heightened systemic inflammation, therapeutic interventions, and diabetes mellitus. PwCF must pay special attention to food and eating habits in order to maintain a nutritional status that is as close as possible to the proper physiological one. They also have to benefit from appropriate nutritional counseling, which is essential in the evolution and prognosis of the disease. Growing evidence collected in the last years shows that many bioactive food components, such as phytochemicals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants have favorable effects in the management of CF. An important positive effect is cardiovascular prevention. The possibility of preventing/reducing cardiovascular risk in CF patients enhances both quality of life and life expectancy in the long run

    Unusual Association of Diamond–Blackfan Anemia and Severe Sinus Bradycardia in a Six-Month-Old White Infant: A Case Report and Literature Review

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    Diamond–Blackfan anemia is a rare (6–7 million live births), inherited condition manifesting as severe anemia due to the impaired bone marrow production of red blood cells. We present the unusual case of a six month old infant with a de novo mutation of the RPS19 gene causing Diamond–Blackfan anemia who additionally suffers from severe sinus bradycardia. The infant was diagnosed with this condition at the age of four months; at the age of 6 months, she presents with severe anemia causing hypoxia which, in turn, caused severe dyspnea and polypnea, which had mixed causes (hypoxic and infectious) as the child was febrile. After correction of the overlapping diarrhea, metabolic acidosis, and severe anemia (hemoglobin < 3 g/dL), she developed severe persistent sinus bradycardia immediately after mild sedation (before central venous catheter insertion), not attributable to any of the more frequent causes, with a heart rate as low as 49 beats/min on 24 h Holter monitoring, less than the first percentile for age, but with a regular QT interval and no arrhythmia. The echocardiogram was unremarkable, showing a small interatrial communication (patent foramen ovale with left-to-right shunting), mild left ventricular hypertrophy, normal systolic and diastolic function, and mild tricuspid regurgitation. After red cell transfusion and appropriate antibiotic and supportive treatment, the child’s general condition improved dramatically but the sinus bradycardia persisted. We consider this a case of well-tolerated sinus bradycardia and foresee a good cardiologic prognosis, while the hematologic prognosis remains determined by future corticoid response, treatment-related complications and risk of leukemia
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