MORPHO‐FUNCTIONAL RE‐ESTABLISHMENT OF CRANIO‐FACIAL GROWTH DISORDERS IN PITUITARY DWARFISM BY RHGH THERAPY

The present study evaluates the cranio‐facial growth disorders in a series of patients suffering from pituitary dwarfism, as a result of the therapy with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Included in the study were 15 children diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism in the Endocrinology Clinics of the ”Sf. Spiridon” Hospital of Iasi, subjected to a treatment with rhGH for 2 years. After the application of the therapy, the parameters of general physical development were followed and the dental ortho‐ pantomography and profile cephalometry were analyzed. The results obtained confirm a general physical growth of about 1.3 cm/month in the first year of treatment, followed by values around 1.1 cm/month in the second year. Cranio‐facial development was improved by the increase of both mandibular vertical branch and facial height. At the level of the dental arches, one could observe improved sagital and transversal relations at molar level, as well as a regulating tendency of dental eruption. The therapy with rhGH is thus influent at cranio‐facial level, favourizing the development of maxillaries, regulation of dental eruption and the aesthetic aspects

Exploring Perceptions and Practices in Organizing University Scientific Research

he development of transdisciplinary projects, crucial in the context of the complex challenges facing society. The organization of scientific research must prioritize the human factor and involve establishing the departments involved in university scientific research and the connections between them. This paper presents the perceptions of academic staff at a medical university regarding the organization and implementation of research within the university and the sources of research funding. The results highlight a clear orientation towards interdisciplinary research, albeit conducted within the organization itself, and a weak prioritization of fundamental research. Additionally, funding through international grants is seen as less accessible than national funding, despite the medical field being considered a priority in the funding programs. The research findings are relevant for decision-makers in the field of research funding at both the national and organizational levels

Влияние фактора некроза опухоли альфа на заболеваемость кариесом зубов у детей со злокачественными опухолями

The aim of this study was to study the impact of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) levels on dental caries demage in children with malignant tumors undergoing radiotherapy in the head and neck region. The case-control study included 48 children aged between 1 to 18 years divided into 2 identical groups by structure. The research group (Gr1) consisted of 24 children with malignant tumors in the head and neck region at a distance of 6 months - 2 years after the completion of radiotherapy (RT). 24 conventionally healthy children were included in the control group (Gr0). Were studied indications of carious experience, and the prediction of dental caries (DC) and the complex assessment of caries risk was performed with the application of Software Cariogram . TNF-α in oral fluid (OF) and blood serum was assessed by the method of immunoenzymatic on solid support. The analysis of the results of the study elucidated the high level of TNF-α in OF (5.53 times) and blood serum (10.19 times) of children with malignant tumors after completion of RT, compared to healthy subjects.Conclusions. Assessing the level of TNF-α in oral fluid and blood serum, in combination with other prognosis of dental caries, is an informative and important method in the early prediction of DC and the intense degree of activity of the caries process, necessary for the correction of preventive and treatment measures on the DC.Scopul prezentului studiu a fost studierea impactului nivelului Factorului de Necroză Tumorală-α (TNF-α) asupra afectării prin carie dentară a copiilor cu tumori maligne după administrarea radioterapiei în regiunea capului și gâtului. În studiul de tip caz-martor au fost incluși 48 de copii cu vârste cuprinse între 1 și18 ani repartizați în 2 loturi identice după structură. Lotul de cercetare (L1) a fost constituit din 24 de copii cu tu mori maligne în regiunea capului și gâtului la distanța de 6 luni - 2 ani după finalizarea administrării radioterapiei (RT). În lotul martor (L0) au fost incluși 24 de copii convenţional sănătoși. S-au studiat indicii de experiență carioasă. Predicţia cariei dentare (CD) și evaluarea complexă a riscului carios a fost efectuată cu aplicarea Software Cariogram. TNF-α în fluidul oral (FO) şi serul sangvin a fost apreciat prin metoda de analiză imunoenzimatică pe suport solid. Analiza rezultatelor studiului a elucidat nivelul crescut al TNF-α, în FO (de 5,53 ori) și serul sangvin (de 10,19 ori) al copiilor cu tumori maligne după finalizarea RT, comparativ cu subiecții sănătoși.Concluzii. Aprecierea nivelului TNF-α în fluidul oral şi serul sangvin, în complex cu alte metode de prognostic a cari- ei dentare, este o metodă informativă și importantă în predicția timpurie a CD și gradului intens de activitate a procesului carios, necesare pentru corecția măsurilor preventive și de tratament al CD.Целью данного исследования было изучение влияния уровня фактора некроза опухоли альфа (TNF-α) на заболеваемость кариесом зубов у детей со злокачественными опухолями после лучевой терапии в области головы и шеи. В исследование случай-контроль было включено 48 детей в возрасте от 1 года до 18 лет, разделенных на 2 идентичные по структуре группы. Группу исследования (Гр 1) составили 24 ребенка со злокачественными новообразованиями в области головы и шеи в сроки от 6 мес до 2 лет после окончания лучевой терапии (ЛТ). В контрольную группу (Гр 0) были включены 24 здоровых ребенка. Были изучены индексы для определения заболеваемости кариесом зубов. Прогнозирование кариеса зубов (КЗ) и комплексную оценку риска кариеса проводилис помощью программного обеспечения Cariogram. Содержание TNF-α в ротовой жидкости (РЖ) и сыворотке крови определяли методом твердофазного иммуноферментного анализа. Анализ результатов исследования выявил высокий уровень TNF-α в РЖ (в 5,53 раза) и сыворотке крови (в 10,19 раза) у детей со злокачественными новообразованиями после завершения ЛТ по сравнению со здоровыми лицами.Выводы. Оценка уровня TNF-α в ротовой жидкости и сыворотке крови в сочетании с другими методами выявления кариеса зубов являе

Свойства ротовой жидкости у детей со злокачественными новообразованиями головы и шеи

The aim of the present study was to estimate the relationship between TNF-α level and degree of microcrystallization (DMC) of oral fluid (OF) in children with malignant tumors in the head and neck region (HNR). In the case-control study, 72 children aged between 1 and 18 were included, divided into 2 identical groups according to structure. The research group (L1) consisted of 36 children with malignant tumors in the HNR. 36 conventionally healthy children were included in the control group (L0). We studied the combined biomarkers in OF samplesmorphological biomarkers (DMC of OF) and TNF-α cytokine level in OF in children with malignant tumors in HNR and conventionally healthy subjects. TNF-α in OF was evaluated by the immunoenzymatic analysis method. The analysis of the results of the study elucidated the increased level of TNF-α, in the OF of children with malignant tumors, compared to healthy subjects. Correlational analysis detected the significant inverse relationship (r=-0.83, р<0.01) between TNF-α level and DMC of OF in children with malignant tumors in RCG in I and II stages. At the same time, in conventionally healthy children, but also in children with malignant tumors in III and IV stages, the interdependence between the level of TNF-α in OF and DMC of OF was not observed.Conclusions. The assessment of combined biomarkers in OF samples (TNF-α level and morphological particularities) represents an innovative non-invasive analysis for the early detection of tumors and the assessment of the risk of oral malignancy. For the clinical use of OF biomarkers, it is necessaryto develop standardized protocols and to perform extensive studies in which the influence of various confounding variables is excluded.Rezumat.Scopul prezentului studiu a fost estimarea relației dintrenivelul TNF-α și gradul de microcristalizare (GMC) a fluidului oral(FO) la copiii cu tumori maligne în regiunea capului și gâtului (RCG). În studiul de tip caz-martor au fost incluși 72 de copii cu vârste cuprinse între 1 și18 ani repartizați în 2 loturi identice după structură. Lotul de cercetare (L1)a fost constituit din 36decopiicutumorimaligneînRCG. În lotul martor (L0)au fost incluși 36 de copii conventional sănătoși. S-au studiat biomarkerii combinați - morfologici (GMC al FO) și nivelul citokineiTNF-α în FO la copii cu tumori maligne în RCG și subiecții conventional sănătoși. TNF-α în FO a fost apreciat prin metoda de analiză imunoenzimatică. Analiza rezultatelor studiului a elucidat nivelul crescut al TNF-α, în FO al copiilor cu tumori maligne, comparativ cu subiecții sănătoși. Analiza corelațională a depistat relaţia inversă semnificativă (r=-0,83, р<0,01) dintre nivelul TNF-α și GMC a FO la copiii cu tumori maligne în RCG în stadiile I și II. Totodată, la copiii convențional sănătoși, dar și la copiii cu tumori maligne în RCG în stadiile III și IV nu s-au observat interdependența dintre nivelul TNF-α în FO și GMC al FO. Concluzii. Apreciereabiomarkerilorcombinați în probele de FO (niveluluiTNF-αșiparticularitățilormorfologice) reprezintă o analiză non-invazivă inovativă pentru depistarea precoce a tumorilor și evaluarea riscului la malignitate orală.Pentruutilizrea clinică a biomarkerilor FO este necesarsă se elaboreze protocoale standardizate șisă se efectueze studii ample în care să se excludă influența diferitelor variabile de confuzie.Целью данного исследования было оценить взаимосвязь между уровнем ФНО-α и степенью микрокристаллизации (СМК) ротовой жидкости (РЖ) у детей со злокачественными опухолями области головы и шеи (ОГШ). В исследование случай-контроль были включены 72 ребенка в возрасте от 1 года до 18 лет, разделенных на 2 идентичные по структуре группы. Группу исследования (Гр1) составили 36 детей со злокачественными новообразованиями в ОГШ. В контрольную группу (Гр0) были включены 36 условно здоровых детей. Были изученыкомбинированные биомаркеры РЖ (-морфологические СМК) и уровень цитокина ФНО-α в РЖ у детей со злокачественными опухолями в ОГШ и у здоровых детей. ФНО-α в РЖ определяли методом иммуноферментного анализа. Анализ результатов исследования выявил повышенный уровень ФНО-α в РЖ детей со злокачественными опухолями по сравнению со здоровыми детьми. Корреляционный анализ выявил достоверную обратную зависимость (r=-0,83, р<0,01) между уровнем ФНО-α и СМК РЖ у детей со злокачественными новообразованиями ОГШ в I и II стадий. В то же время у условно здоровых детей, а также у детей со злокачественными опухолями ОГШ III и IV стадий взаимозависимости между уровнем ФНО-αв РЖи СМКГМК РЖ не наблюдалось.Выводы. Оценка комбинированных биомаркеров в образцах РЖ (уровня ФНО-αи морфологических особенностей) представляет собой инновационный неинвазивный анализ для раннего выявления опухолей и оценки риска злокачественных новообразований полости рта. Для клинического использования биомаркеров РЖ необходима разработка стандартизированных протоколов и проведение исследований, в которых исключено влияние различных конфаундеров

Periodontal Implications of Hepatitis C Infection

Periodontal tissues exhibit important vascular, lymphatic, and nervous connections with the rest of the body. Thus, periodontal inflammation caused by the interaction between the subgingival bacterial biofilm and the host immune response has an impact reaching further than the oral cavity. The concept of “periodontal medicine” reunites the bidirectional relationships that exist between periodontal disease and systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease. The chronic inflammation of hepatic tissues during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes changes in the general homeostasis that can reverberate at periodontal level and influence periodontal inflammation. Various mechanisms such as insulin resistance or pro-inflammatory cytokines production could be the link between the two conditions. In addition, periodontal inflammation could impact HCV transmission, as HCV RNA molecules and antibodies have been found in infected patients’ saliva and gingival fluid. During periodontal inflammation, gingival bleeding is frequent, and the viral molecules could enter oral fluids while being carried by peripheral blood cells. Clinical particularities that suggest the onset of periodontal disease have also been frequently observed in HCV-infected patients. The connections between periodontal disease and hepatitis C need to take into consideration by practitioners of both specialties due to their important implications on clinical manifestations and treatment strategies

The profile of some inflammatory cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid of an young diabetic population

Rezumat. Interrelaţia diabet zaharat (DZ) status parodontal este un subiect care preocupa deopotriva lumea medicala stomatologica dar si pe cei in slujba ameliorarii si terapiei bolilor de nutritie si metabolism. In studiul de faţă ne‑am propus investigarea statusului parodontal pe un lot tanar cu DZ, prin monitorizarea clinică şi imunobiochimică la nivel local. Bilantul cli‑ nic (aprecierea statusului parodontal) şi investigaţiile de laborator (local în fluidul gingival — FCG) au fost realizate pe două loturi (44 copii si adolescenţi, cu varste intre 6‑18 ani), 22 fără afectare sistemică şi 22 cu DZ, ambele cu variate grade de alterare parodontală. Investigarea locală a răspunsului imunoinflamator generat în contextul sistemic, a vizat eva‑ luarea nivelelor locale ale unor citokine: interleukina 1β (IL‑1β), IL‑4 si IL‑5, precum şi factorul de necroză tumorală (TNF α), prin tehnici de flow citometrie. Studiul de faţă permite investigarea si evaluarea dereglarilor imunobiochimice rezultate in urma alterarii tesutului parodontal in con‑ textul bolii diabetice. Corelaţiile între potenţialul apoptotic al unora dintre citokine sugerează că afectarea atasamentului clinic la copiii şi adolescenţii cu DZ, poate fi, cel putin în parte, atribuită valorilor semnificativ crescute ale citokinelor din clasa TNF α, IL‑1β si IL‑5. La copiii si adolescentii cu diabet, este foarte importanta recunoaşterea şi manipularea terapeutică a sistemului imun, modularea ţintită a unor citokine specifice putand repre‑ zenta unul din factorii importanti în îngrijirea copilului si adolescentului diabetic.Summary. The bivalent relationship diabetes mellitus (DM) – periodontal health and disease (PD) has represented a significant interest over the years, both for dental doctors and those that treat metabolic and nutritional disorders. In this view, the present study investigated the periodontal status in a juve‑ nile population with DM, through the clinical and immune‑biochemical evaluation of some soluble chemical mediators in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Clinical (periodontal status) and laboratory investigations examining the interrelation between DM and PD were performed upon 44, systemically healthy (n=22) and diabetic (n=22) children and adolescents, both with various degrees of periodontal modification. Investigation of the local (GCF) expression of the interleukin 1β, IL‑4, IL‑5 and tumor necrotic factor — TNFα has been achieved by flow cytometry. Our study allowed evaluation of the immuno‑biochemical disequilibrium resulted from the diabetes‑induced periodontal tissue injury. Correlations between apoptotic potential of some cytokines suggest that clinical attachment loss in diabetic children and adolescents could be, at least partly attributed to significant elevated levels of TNFα, IL — 1β and IL‑5. Taking into consideration the binomial relationship between DM and PD, recognition and manipulation of the immune system by targeted modulation of some specific cytokines could represent one of the important facts in the diabetic child and adoles‑ cent care

Immunological Insights on Pathogenic Connections between Hepato-Digestive Disorders and Periodontal Conditions

The oral cavity is an integral part of the digestive tract and thus significant diseases, including periodontitis, can have an important impact on the normal nutritional functions of the body. Certain diseases of the hepato-digestive system have an inflammatory component, such as chronic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or gastric cancer. This inflammatory reaction is mainly driven by pro-inflammatory chemokines. This is also the case for periodontitis, a condition characterized by the inflammation of the supporting tissues of teeth. Thus, significant pathogenic connections mediated by pro-inflammatory chemokines could exist between periodontitis and diseases of the hepato-digestive system

Cytokines’ Involvement in Periodontal Changes

The bacterial challenge on the periodontal tissues triggers an inflammatory reaction, driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines, that eventually leads to the periodontal structures’ damage. The pathogenic mechanisms of this inflammatory reaction are complex and are influenced by the type of host-immune response and certain local and systemic factors. These factors can influence periodontal inflammation, through the action of the various pro-inflammatory cytokines. Periodontal disease and certain systemic conditions can have a mutual association, as the pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases can involve similar molecular and cellular elements. The concept of ‘periodontal medicine’ comprises these pathogenic connections, focusing on the key role that periodontal health has on the general homeostasis and well-being

IMPROVEMENT OF THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS - A PREMISE OF INCREASING THE UNIVERSITY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PERFORMANCE

The National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation 2007 – 2013, called herein the National Plan II, represents the main instrument used to implement the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation. Universities play a unique role in the development of the knowledge-based society, through its contribution to knowledge generation, transmission, dissemination and utilization. The essential role of the university is to shape the highly qualified human resource, a process that implies a symbiosis between the education and research, the education system performances contributing in this way to a great extent to the society development. The highly qualified human resource represents an important asset of a nation. This study is dedicated to the analysis of the assessment criteria for the Exploratory Research Projects (ERP) handed in the competitions in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 and to highlight the importance of improving the assessment criteria in order to improve their quality