Sensorial evaluation of new developed biscuits enriched with organic apple and basil powders: preliminary study

Abstract The purpose of the study is to harness ingredients obtained from organic farming, in order to develop a new type of biscuits. Based on the original recipe, these were obtained from seeds and hemp flour and enriched with lyophilized organic apple (pieces and powder) and lyophilized organic basil powder. The organic powders were realized in the framework of the SusOrgPlus project at the Research Centre for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, and biscuits were obtained in the Bakery Pilot Station, both of University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. The consumer acceptance testing was performed on 33 consumers and consists of the evaluation of general appearance, colour, taste, aroma, and consistency (Hedonic 5-point scale). The obtained results showed that the new biscuits enriched with lyophilized apple and basil powders were easily accepted by the consumers

The prevalence and risk factors for visceral hemangiomas in children with infantile cutaneous hemangiomas

One of the most frequent benign tumor pathology in children is represented by infantile hemangiomas (IHs). Although they are mostly cutaneous, sometimes they can develop at visceral level, the liver being the most common localization. Objectives. Estimating visceral hemangiomas (VHs) prevalence, and identification of risk factors for VHs in patients with infantile cutaneous hemangiomas (ICHs). Materials and methods. 6 years cross-sectional study (2012-2017) including children diagnosed with ICHs, admitted in I.N.S.M.C “Alfred-Rusescu“. All patients underwent an ultrasound screening for the detection of VHs. In order to identify possible risk factors, we collected demographic and perinatal data. Outcomes. 138 patients diagnosed with infantile cutaneous hemangiomas (ICHs) were included, with a slight predominance of girls (58%). The prevalence of the VHs in our study was 7,24% (10 patients). The liver was the most common visceral localization (7 patients). Conclusions. Female gender, preterm birth, low birth weight, and multiple gestations were described as potential risk factors for IHs. In our study, only multiple gestations tend to be associated with visceral hemangiomas, but without a significant statistical correlation

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

First Case of COVID-19 Treated with Monoclonal Anti-Spike Antibodies in a Patient with Cystic Fibrosis in Romania

Patients with chronic lung conditions, including cystic fibrosis, may be prone to severe COVID-19. Therefore, therapeutic intervention should be prompt and tailored to all associated comorbidities. We report the case of a 17-year-old male adolescent with cystic fibrosis and multiple chronic conditions (bronchiectasis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, chronic multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, nasal polyposis, chronic sinusitis, ventricular extrasystoles and multiple drug allergies), who presented with an acute episode of productive cough, and was confirmed with moderate COVID-19 based on positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and lung imaging showing isolated foci of interstitial pneumonia. Intravenous treatment with the monoclonal antibody cocktail casirivimab and imdevimab was administered. The evolution was favorable, with rapid remission of the inflammatory syndrome and gradual decrease of cough, without progression to severe or critical COVID-19, but with complications such as repeated hemoptysis, which was due to the patient&rsquo;s underlying conditions, and which required close monitoring for timely adjustment of the patient&rsquo;s chronic treatment

Complex Trauma of Abandoned Children and Adoption as a Healing Process

AbstractAbandonment is an intensive traumatic event for children. Very often prior to abandonment, the children were exposed to different stress factors. In order to understand what happens with a child's development following the abandonment we have to be aware of: the child's current conditions, background, and the ideals regarding the future. This analysis is focused on the developmental history of 40 Romanian children adopted at young age (0-4) by Romanian families. The adopted children are between 11-16 years old and the evaluation is done with complex instruments within the attachment theory framework. The conclusions highlight the connections between the three factors mentioned above

Experimental Investigation of the Melt Shear Viscosity, Specific Volume and Thermal Conductivity of Low-Density Polyethylene/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites Using Capillary Flow

Understanding the flow behavior of polymer/carbon nanotube composites prior to melt processing is important for optimizing the processing conditions and final product properties. In this study, the melt shear viscosity, specific volume and thermal conductivity of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated for representative processing conditions using capillary rheometry. The experimental results show a significant increase in the melt shear viscosity of the LDPE/MWCNT composite with nanotube loadings higher than 1 wt.%. Upon increasing shear rates, the composites flow like a power-law fluid, with a shear-thinning index less than 0.4. The specific volume decreases with increasing pressure and nanotube loading, while the pVT transition temperature increases linearly with increasing pressure. The thermal conductivity of the LDPE/MWCNT composite is nearly independent of nanotube loading up to the thermal percolation threshold of 1 wt.% and increases linearly with further increases in nanotube loading, reaching 0.35 W/m&middot;K at 5 wt.%. The Carreau&ndash;Winter and Cross viscosity models and Tait equation, respectively, are able to predict the shear viscosity and specific volume with a high level of accuracy. These results can be used not only to optimize processing conditions through simulation but also to establish structure&ndash;property relationships for the LDPE/MWCNT composites

ABORDUL INTRAOSOS, METODA CLASICĂ DE ACCES VASCULAR REVENITĂ ÎN ACTUALITATE

75-80% dintre situaţiile ameninţătoare de viaţă, cu stop cardio-respirator neaşteptat, se petrec în afara spitalului (1). De aceea este întâlnită frecvent situaţia unei resuscitări difi cile. Principala cauză de eşec este obţinerea tardivă a unei căi de acces vascular pentru administrarea fl uidelor şi medicaţiei necesare în aceste situaţii (2). Abordul intraosos este folosit în tratamentul pacienţilor afl aţi în situaţii ameninţătoare de viaţă şi care nu au alt acces vascular instalat anterior (3). Lucrarea de faţă trece în revistă aspecte ale dezvoltării acestei tehnici de acces vascular rapid şi aplicaţiile ei actuale în medicina de urgenţă, prin prisma noilor ghiduri de resuscitare la copil, apărute sub egida European Resuscitation Council (4)

INTRAOSSEOUS ACCESS – A CLASSICAL METHOD FOR VASCULAR ACCESS THAT REGAINS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS RESUSCITATION TOOL

75-80% of life threatening situations, with unexpected arrest, are documented out of hospital (1). This situation generates frequently a diffi cult resuscitation. Main cause for failure is delay in gaining vascular access for fl uid and drug delivery (2). Intraosseous access (IO) is used for treatment in patients without a previously placed intravenous line that experience abrupt-onset life threatening situations (3). Authors revisit data from initial development of this method and document the role of IO access as a valuable tool during resuscitation according to European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2010 (4). Particular aspects of technique, improvisations and real life trouble shooting issues are presented from a single pediatric Emergency Department experience

PARENTAL PERCEPTION ON NEBULIZED MEDICATION AND POTENTIAL REASONS FOR OFF-LABEL USAGE OF DEXAMETHASONE IN CHILDREN FROM ROMANIA

Background and aim. In the last decade a significant increase of nebulized medication usage has been documented in Romania. Authors are aiming to describe parental and physician’s change of perspective regarding nebulized medication in the new era of online communication and education. Material and methods. Two different questionnaires were posted in a large and representative group (more than 60,000 followers) of Romanian parents and physicians, Virtual Children’s Hospital („Spitalul Virtual de Copii”). Results. More than 4,000 answers were submitted. 94.4% responders confirmed using at least once wetnebulized medication in children. A particular aspect documented was dexamethasone off-label usage via nebulizer in 67.8% children. Additional 7% of responders confirmed that they received an indication to nebulize a normal saline suspension with dexamethasone phosphate for parenteral usage, but they didn’t follow the indication and used an approved treatment. Conclusions. Upon our knowledge this is the first large study on nebulized dexamethasone in Romanian literature. 95% of Romanian children receive nebulized medication. Nebulizer is regarded by parents as a simple and friendly tool that can solve virtually all issues related to airway diseases in our country. 75% of children that received nebulized medication had a prescription for off-label use of dexamethasone

On the Feasibility of Printing 3D Composite Objects Based on Polypropylene/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

In this paper, the feasibility of 3D printing polypropylene/ multi-walled carbon nanotube (PP/MWCNT) composites by fused deposition modeling. First, the rheological behavior of PP with 0.3, 0.5 and 1 wt.% of MWCNT was investigated in order to determine the printability in terms of melt shear viscosity and flow activation energy. Second, the filament extrusion process was optimized by the trial-and-error method in order to obtain round and constant filaments. Finally, tensile specimens were printed and tested in order to determine the mechanical properties at various printing direction. Experimental results show that the PP/MWCNT composite filaments with MWCNT loading up to 1 wt.% have good printability characteristics and can be successfully 3D printed with good mechanical performance