Sexual behaviour, attitudes and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections: A cross-sectional study in Romania

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are serious public health problems. Little is known about sex knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors among young adults in Romania; an effective preventive campaigns should be based on an appropriate understanding of these factors. The aim of the present study was to obtain data about sexual behavior, attitudes, and knowledge about STIs among university students aged 18-25 in Romania. 3872 persons completed an internet-based questionnaire, advertised on Facebook, regarding sexual behavior, attitudes, and knowledge about STIs from January 28 to February 28, 2016. 6.01% of the respondents had no sexual experience; of the remaining (N=3639, 945 men and 2694 women) 94% were heterosexual, 1.5% homosexual, and 4.6% bisexual. 53.7% of the respondents started their sexual activity between 14 and 18 years of age; only 2.3% become sexually active before 14 years of age. 30% of both sexes reported multiple sexual partners during the previous year. 25.9% of men and 23.3% of women used no contraception at sexual onset, the proportion being higher among those with an early sexual debut. 98% of the respondents knew that HIV could be contracted sexually, 75.8% knew that gonorrhea and 61.1% that Chlamydia trachomatis were sexually transmitted, and approximately one third knew that trichomoniasis and hepatitis B or C were STIs. We found a relatively high proportion of students engaged in risky sexual behaviors and insufficient knowledge about STIs. The results are important in planning future sexual education campaigns and they call for new preventive strategies.</p

Inflammatory Cytokines and Clinical Outcome Following Biological Therapy in Adult Bio-Naïve Psoriasis Patients

Inflammatory cytokines may hold the key to the clinical evolution of psoriasis. The aims of this study are to find a correlation between levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-23, IL-17A, and IL-17F and disease duration and severity scores in psoriasis; to test if the decrease in any of the aforementioned cytokines is correlated with an amelioration in disease severity scores; and to analyze if any of the four biologic agents used are linked with a greater decrease in overall cytokine levels. We enrolled 23 adult patients under treatment with ixekizumab, secukinumab, guselkumab, or adalimumab and measured psoriasis disease severity scores PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) and DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index), as well as the levels of the aforementioned cytokines at the start of therapy and after 3 months of continuous treatment. Inclusion criteria were the presence of psoriasis, age above 18 years and the need to initiate biological therapy (lack of response to standard treatment). Biological therapies resulted in an amelioration of PASI and DLQI scores, as well as levels of TNF-α, IL-23 and IL-17F. Disease duration and PASI and DLQI scores did not correlate with cytokine levels except DLQI and IL-23 score, in a paradoxically inversely proportional manner. IL-23, in particular, could be a useful biomarker for checking treatment response in psoriasis

Clinical performance of some resin-based materials in restoring non-carious cervical lesions

Objectives. The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical performance of two different resin-based materials 6 months after their placement in dental non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL). This study also aimed to evaluate the effects of the materials on periodontal tissues in terms of clinical changes of several periodontal parameters. Material and methods. NCCLs characteristics (localization, morphology, dimensions) were preoperatively recorded. The clinical behaviour of the restorations based on the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria and periodontal parameters (plaque index, bleeding index, probing depth, and attachment loss) were assessed at baseline and after 1, 3 and 6 months. Results. No significant modifications were recorded for the modified USPHS criteria 6 months after the placement of NCCL restorations excepting postoperative hypersensitivity which was associated with 4 restorations after 6 months. Significant improvements of plaque and bleeding indices were recorded, while no significant modifications were noted for the other periodontal parameters. Conclusions. Considering the clinical success related to the good clinical behaviour and the positive effect of the restorations on the periodontal status, the experimental conventional composites and giomers could be considered as a good therapeutic option for the restoration of NCCLs

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Physical Activity for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly

Cardiovascular diseases create an important burden on the public health systems, especially in the elderly, mostly because this group of patients frequently suffer from multiple comorbidities. Accumulating cardiovascular risk factors during their lifetime has a detrimental effect on an older adult&lsquo;s health status. The modifiable and non-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors are very diverse, and are frequently in a close relationship with the metabolic comorbidities of the elderly, mainly obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. In this review, we aim to present the most important cardiovascular risk factors which link aging and cardiovascular diseases, starting from the pathophysiological links between these factors and the aging process. Next, we will further review the main interconnections between obesity and Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases of the elderly. Lastly, we consider the most important aspects related to prevention through lifestyle changes and physical activity on the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly

Cytokines Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

NASH consists in lipid accumulation in hepatocytes that trigger oxidative stress, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines leading to steatohepatitis (NASH). The study aimed to investigate the levels of proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6) along with anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in patients with NASH and to correlate the cytokines’ level with their polymorphism. Sixty-six patients with NASH and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The plasmatic level of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were determined by ELISA. IL-10 -1082 G/A, IL-6 -174 G/C, and TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphisms were determined using the PCR-RFLP technique. IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with NASH. There was a positive correlation between proinflammatory cytokines and a negative correlation between IL-10 and proinflammatory markers. The G allele and GG genotype of IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism were more frequently noticed in NASH patients. Regarding IL-10 -1082 G/A polymorphism, the AA genotype was correlated with NASH and with a low plasmatic level of IL-10. The A allele in position 308 of the TNF-α gene was associated with high level of cytokine. In conclusion, there was an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in NASH patients. IL-10 -1082 G/A and TNF-α -308 G/A genotypes were correlated with the plasmatic levels of cytokines

Nigella Sativa’s Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects in Experimental Inflammation

Nigella sativa (NS) has been used for centuries in various inflammatory conditions because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in two models of acute (carrageenan-induced) and sub-acute inflammation (complete Freund&rsquo;s adjuvant induced) in rats. Materials and Methods: NSO was administered orally 1, 2 and 4 mL/kg in the acute phase. For subacute phase, NSO was administered 4 mL/kg, 7 days before or after inflammation induction, or in association with diclofenac 5 mg/kg. Results: The gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis showed that NSO is an important source of bioactive compounds, especially p-cymene and thymoquinone. In the acute phase, 1.5 h after administration, NSO (2 and 4 mL/kg) determined an anti-inflammatory effect comparable with that of diclofenac. In the sub-acute administration, NSO had no anti-inflammatory effect. The analgesic effect of NSO was observed only in the sub-acute inflammation in the analgesy-meter test. NSO as treatment proved its antioxidant effect through the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and increases in hydrogen donor capacity (DH) compared to the control group, but the effect was not as intense as that of diclofenac. Conclusion: The present study has proven inconstant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidative properties of NSO

Correlations between Diabetes Mellitus Self-Care Activities and Glycaemic Control in the Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Although it is well known that lifestyle changes can affect plasma glucose levels, there is little formal evidence for the sustained effectiveness of exercise and diet in diabetes mellitus (DM) management. Self-care in DM refers to the real-life application of the knowledge that the patient gained during the education programmes. The goals are to bring about changes in the patient’s behaviour, thus improving glycaemic control. We evaluated the influence of DM self-care activities (SCA) on glycaemic control in a total of 159 patients with DM. Plasma glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were used to monitor glycaemic control, while SCA were assessed using the standardised Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). In our study, 53% of the patients had a HbA1c ≥ 7%. In univariate linear regression models, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between the HbA1c (the dependent variable) and both the DSMQ Dietary Control Score (R2 = 0.037, p = 0.0145) and the DSMQ Sum Score (R2 = 0.06, p = 0.0014). The mean absolute change in the HbA1c% associated with one standard deviation (SD) change in the DSMQ Sum Score, independent of the other significant variables retained in the compacted multivariate regression model, was −0.419% (confidence interval: 95%: from −0.18 to −0.65). Although the impact of the DSMQ Score was modest when compared to the other independent variables in the multivariate model, the findings emphasise the importance of maintaining optimal lifestyle changes to avoid hyperglycaemia and its complications. In conclusion, enhanced self-management of DM is associated with improved glucose control. In patients with chronic diseases such as DM, the role of streamlining SCA encompassing physical activity and proper dietary choices is imperative because of a significantly reduced access to healthcare globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic