Michaela Dobre - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Michaela Dobre
An innovative method for wastewater sludge drying
Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 2013
Homeostatic Changes During Anticonvulsant Medication in Children
Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, ha... more Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, half of which are associated with fever Rezumat Aproximativ 3% din popula/ia pediatrică înregistrează un episod convulsiv până la vârsta de 15 ani, din care jumatate se asociază cu febra
Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but ... more Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but choosing one of these methods for a particular case represents quite a challenge, because the researcher must take into consideration many factors. In this article the authors are trying to present a comparative study of two methods, used currently in our laboratory, for identification of SNPs polymorphisms: ARMS -PCR (amplification refractory mutation system) and RFLP -PCR (restriction fragment length polymorphism). The two SNPs on which we focused belong to human VDR gene (vitamin D receptor gene) and are ApaI (a G→T base change in intron 8) and TaqI (a silent T→C base change in codon 352), named after the restriction enzymes which recognize these variations. Since
Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions becau... more Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions because in most autistic children, MRI studies showed a particular dynamics of brain and cranium development. Development peaks occur between 2 and 5 years of age, when cranial circumferences are above average and cerebral volume increases, and are followed, in adolescent and adult ages, by reduced cerebral dimension and function (Aylward et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010; Hazlett et al., 2011). The evaluation and monitoring of child development dynamics may be performed using WHO Anthro software (World Health Organization-WHO, 2011), made in accordance with WHO standards (WHO, 2007) for children aged between 0 and 5. For children above 5, statistical data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-USA (Kuczmarski et al., 2002). An in-depth and detailed analysis of the brain revealed some anomalies in component dimensions and especially in the ratio of white to grey matter: the corpus callosum is diminished (Frazier & Hardan, 2009; Just et al., 2007); the frontal lobes are enlarged due to an excess of white matter (Cheng et al., 2010); the temporal lobes have a reduced grey matter content; the cerebellum has an over 30% excess of white matter (Carper et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010). Microscopical post-mortem imagery revealed Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum. These particular cells are selectively vulnerable to hypoxia, ischemia, G-protein dysfunctions, viral infections, heavy metals, as well as to a wide range of metabolites and chemicals (Kern & Jones, 2006). Histological studies also showed numerical reductions in amygdala axons (Schumann & Amaral, 2006) and reduced cell sizes in the hippocampus, similar to what is seen in the case of a precocious maturation (Bauman & Kemper, 2005). The two cerebral formations are involved in emotional and memory process development, two aspects typically targeted by autism spectrum disorders (Kleinhans et al., 2009; Saitoh et al., 2001). The use of MRI-DTI for the microstructural analysis of pathways interconnecting hippocampus and amygdala with the mid-fusiform gyrus in the temporal lobe (which participates in number, word, color and physiognomy recognition) revealed dysfunctionalities of these connections in autistic subjects which took a face recognition test (Conturo et al., 2008). The cause for this diminished response to stimuli was considered to be the reduction of axon diameters as a result of hypermielinisation, which yields a lower neuron conduction speed. Hippocampus and amygdala dimensions, which vary with the age and functionality of the investigated subjects, suggest the incongruence of cerebral components in the developmental dynamics. A disharmonious development, a reduced corpus callosum volume and a small quantity of grey matter might justify the reduction in inter-hemispherical connectivity specific to autism (Hardan et al., 2009). Investigations using fMRI placed the causes for poor connectivity in the frontal insula, the superior temporal gyrus, the primary sensorimotor cortex, the lateral inferior premotor cortex and the superior parietal lobe (Anderson J.S. et al., 2010). The aforementioned areas are associated with social interaction management, social intelligence, new stimulus identification, sound processing and language linking, fine and gross motor activities, thereby encompassing all areas damaged by autism. Specific modifications in verbal communication in autism spectrum disorders incriminate the reduced volume of grey matter in the Broca area (where the primary motor complex is responsible for talking motions in the left hemisphere), considering the fact that insufficient neural connectivity between the Wernicke and Broca areas lead to difficulties in lexical and semantic processing (Yamasaki et al., 2010). The comprehension and elaboration of language also depends, however, on auditory sensorial integration, which serves to perceive and analyze sound patterns. In the Knaus et al. study, linguistic scores were correlated with grey www.intechopen.com Clinical Evaluations on the Diagnosis of Autism 387 matter deficits found in frontal and temporal lobes, autistic subjects manifesting a typical lateralization of language (Knaus et al., 2010). Temporal auditory associative areas, where mono-and multimodal auditory sensor integration crosses, are involved in the transfer of information to the internal structures of the limbic and frontoparietal integration systems. By measuring cerebral blood flow using high resolution PET as well as high resolution SPECT, the superior temporal region of the autistic child's brain was shown to have bilaterally localized hypoperfusions in the superior temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus, centered on the multimodal associative temporal cortex and auditory associative areas (Boddaert & Zilbovicius, 2002; Ohnishi et al., 2000; Zilbovicius et al., 2000). This hypoperfusion was presumed to impair the transfer of auditory information and social perception (eye contact and facial expression), relational difficulties characteristic of autistic children. Ulterior studies, which undertook a neurofunctional perspective, reported diminished responses to auditory stimuli (Gomot et al., 2006) and visual stimuli (Bölte et al., 2008), along with hemodynamic modifications (Zilbovicius et al., 2006). The autistic brain reacts faintly to stimuli variations, a fact which agrees with some of the basic diagnosis criteria, such as a reduced interest for all surroundings, resistance to change and stereotypical activities. Admitting that a diminished neural connectivity, due to an excess of white matter, and some cerebral area hypoperfusions are responsible for the functional afflictions specific to autism, it would be expected that a normalization of the blood flow would improve subject behavior. Positive developments as concerning hyperactivity, irritability, stereotyping as well as improvements in verbal communication were observed during prolonged periods of pathological fever, presumably responsible for an increased flow of blood to the cortex (Curran et al., 2007). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), as proposed by Rossignol (Rossignol & Rossignol, 2006) also registered temporary improvements for autistic behavior (Chungpaibulpatana et al., 2008), oxygen supplementation techniques being well known also for their anti-inflammatory effects and their ability to regulate tissue perfusion and reduce oxidative stress. Grey matter is not only present in reduced volume in the autistic brain, but also badly distributed, as it is found in a thin layer in cerebral areas associated with socialization and all that which it entails: audiovisual and olfactory stimuli processing, face recognition, imitation and language (Hadjikhani et al., 2006). This situation corresponds to the mirror neuron system, activated in the normal brain when observing and imitating an action, and also considered responsible for empathy and mentalization. The mirror neuron system is dysfunctional in autistic subjects, as enforced by fMRI, MEG and EEG findings (Dapretto et al., 2006; Oberman et al., 2005; Perkins et al., 2010). Modern neuroimaging supports neuropsychological hypotheses concerning the causes of autism, i.e. the limbic system hypothesis, the weak central coherence hypothesis, the executive function hypothesis and the mentalization theory, but without being able to validate them (Bade-White et al., 2008; Joseph, 1999). The limbic system, presumed responsible for memory deficits that negatively impact communication and social interaction, was associated through imaging with structural and functional changes especially in the hypothalamus and amygdala, known to be correlated with affective and emotional behavior, sense of smell and long term memory. Weak central coherence, which implies a difficulty to integrate separately perceived elements into a whole, is associated with restricted interest and behaviour. Poor central
Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions becau... more Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions because in most autistic children, MRI studies showed a particular dynamics of brain and cranium development. Development peaks occur between 2 and 5 years of age, when cranial circumferences are above average and cerebral volume increases, and are followed, in adolescent and adult ages, by reduced cerebral dimension and function (Aylward et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010; Hazlett et al., 2011). The evaluation and monitoring of child development dynamics may be performed using WHO Anthro software (World Health Organization-WHO, 2011), made in accordance with WHO standards (WHO, 2007) for children aged between 0 and 5. For children above 5, statistical data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-USA (Kuczmarski et al., 2002). An in-depth and detailed analysis of the brain revealed some anomalies in component dimensions and especially in the ratio of white to grey matter: the corpus callosum is diminished (Frazier & Hardan, 2009; Just et al., 2007); the frontal lobes are enlarged due to an excess of white matter (Cheng et al., 2010); the temporal lobes have a reduced grey matter content; the cerebellum has an over 30% excess of white matter (Carper et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010). Microscopical post-mortem imagery revealed Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum. These particular cells are selectively vulnerable to hypoxia, ischemia, G-protein dysfunctions, viral infections, heavy metals, as well as to a wide range of metabolites and chemicals (Kern & Jones, 2006). Histological studies also showed numerical reductions in amygdala axons (Schumann & Amaral, 2006) and reduced cell sizes in the hippocampus, similar to what is seen in the case of a precocious maturation (Bauman & Kemper, 2005). The two cerebral formations are involved in emotional and memory process development, two aspects typically targeted by autism spectrum disorders (Kleinhans et al., 2009; Saitoh et al., 2001). The use of MRI-DTI for the microstructural analysis of pathways interconnecting hippocampus and amygdala with the mid-fusiform gyrus in the temporal lobe (which participates in number, word, color and physiognomy recognition) revealed dysfunctionalities of these connections in autistic subjects which took a face recognition test (Conturo et al., 2008). The cause for this diminished response to stimuli was considered to be the reduction of axon diameters as a result of hypermielinisation, which yields a lower neuron conduction speed. Hippocampus and amygdala dimensions, which vary with the age and functionality of the investigated subjects, suggest the incongruence of cerebral components in the developmental dynamics. A disharmonious development, a reduced corpus callosum volume and a small quantity of grey matter might justify the reduction in inter-hemispherical connectivity specific to autism (Hardan et al., 2009). Investigations using fMRI placed the causes for poor connectivity in the frontal insula, the superior temporal gyrus, the primary sensorimotor cortex, the lateral inferior premotor cortex and the superior parietal lobe (Anderson J.S. et al., 2010). The aforementioned areas are associated with social interaction management, social intelligence, new stimulus identification, sound processing and language linking, fine and gross motor activities, thereby encompassing all areas damaged by autism. Specific modifications in verbal communication in autism spectrum disorders incriminate the reduced volume of grey matter in the Broca area (where the primary motor complex is responsible for talking motions in the left hemisphere), considering the fact that insufficient neural connectivity between the Wernicke and Broca areas lead to difficulties in lexical and semantic processing (Yamasaki et al., 2010). The comprehension and elaboration of language also depends, however, on auditory sensorial integration, which serves to perceive and analyze sound patterns. In the Knaus et al. study, linguistic scores were correlated with grey www.intechopen.com Clinical Evaluations on the Diagnosis of Autism 387 matter deficits found in frontal and temporal lobes, autistic subjects manifesting a typical lateralization of language (Knaus et al., 2010). Temporal auditory associative areas, where mono-and multimodal auditory sensor integration crosses, are involved in the transfer of information to the internal structures of the limbic and frontoparietal integration systems. By measuring cerebral blood flow using high resolution PET as well as high resolution SPECT, the superior temporal region of the autistic child's brain was shown to have bilaterally localized hypoperfusions in the superior temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus, centered on the multimodal associative temporal cortex and auditory associative areas (Boddaert & Zilbovicius, 2002; Ohnishi et al., 2000; Zilbovicius et al., 2000). This hypoperfusion was presumed to impair the transfer of auditory information and social perception (eye contact and facial expression), relational difficulties characteristic of autistic children. Ulterior studies, which undertook a neurofunctional perspective, reported diminished responses to auditory stimuli (Gomot et al., 2006) and visual stimuli (Bölte et al., 2008), along with hemodynamic modifications (Zilbovicius et al., 2006). The autistic brain reacts faintly to stimuli variations, a fact which agrees with some of the basic diagnosis criteria, such as a reduced interest for all surroundings, resistance to change and stereotypical activities. Admitting that a diminished neural connectivity, due to an excess of white matter, and some cerebral area hypoperfusions are responsible for the functional afflictions specific to autism, it would be expected that a normalization of the blood flow would improve subject behavior. Positive developments as concerning hyperactivity, irritability, stereotyping as well as improvements in verbal communication were observed during prolonged periods of pathological fever, presumably responsible for an increased flow of blood to the cortex (Curran et al., 2007). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), as proposed by Rossignol (Rossignol & Rossignol, 2006) also registered temporary improvements for autistic behavior (Chungpaibulpatana et al., 2008), oxygen supplementation techniques being well known also for their anti-inflammatory effects and their ability to regulate tissue perfusion and reduce oxidative stress. Grey matter is not only present in reduced volume in the autistic brain, but also badly distributed, as it is found in a thin layer in cerebral areas associated with socialization and all that which it entails: audiovisual and olfactory stimuli processing, face recognition, imitation and language (Hadjikhani et al., 2006). This situation corresponds to the mirror neuron system, activated in the normal brain when observing and imitating an action, and also considered responsible for empathy and mentalization. The mirror neuron system is dysfunctional in autistic subjects, as enforced by fMRI, MEG and EEG findings (Dapretto et al., 2006; Oberman et al., 2005; Perkins et al., 2010). Modern neuroimaging supports neuropsychological hypotheses concerning the causes of autism, i.e. the limbic system hypothesis, the weak central coherence hypothesis, the executive function hypothesis and the mentalization theory, but without being able to validate them (Bade-White et al., 2008; Joseph, 1999). The limbic system, presumed responsible for memory deficits that negatively impact communication and social interaction, was associated through imaging with structural and functional changes especially in the hypothalamus and amygdala, known to be correlated with affective and emotional behavior, sense of smell and long term memory. Weak central coherence, which implies a difficulty to integrate separately perceived elements into a whole, is associated with restricted interest and behaviour. Poor central
Review Article Biosensors Areas of Application
Based on the pattern of natural biosensors in the living world, researchers in different areas as... more Based on the pattern of natural biosensors in the living world, researchers in different areas as electronic, biological, chemical, physical joined to give to the world access to modern technologies, simple or complex, in order to be widely used by individuals, by the entire population, by environmental institutions or at an industrial level. The simplest expression of these technologies is the biosensor. It has multiple applications in different fields, especially in health-care. The biosensor is already on the market and underlies structures increasingly complex called biodevices.
med.ugal.ro
La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine m... more La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine moins utilisé dans la pratique médicale en raison de l'insuffisance des méthodes appliquées dans certains laboratoires. L'analyseur Vitros 950 pour la biochimie sèche, donc l'Hôpital Clinique d'Urgence pour les Enfants «St. Jean» du Galatzi est doté, est capable de mesurer les fractions indépendantes de bilirubine et d'estimer la valeur de la bilirubine delta, sa présence dans le sérum se corrélant, selon la littérature, avec le diagnostic de l'ictère obstructif. Pendant les années 2005-2010, DELB a été remarqué chez 57 enfants traités dans notre hôpital, 30 filles et 27 garçons âgés de 1-17 ans. Quand la bilirubine indirecte est en excès (plus de 80% bilirubine totale), il a été constaté que la bilirubine directe est constituée, presque entièrement, de DELB (16 cas). Pour 16 malades, avec une augmentation proportionnelle de la bilirubine non conjuguée et conjuguée, DELB représente aussi un pourcentage significatif de bilirubine directe. Quand le taux de bilirubine directe monte plus de 50% de la bilirubine totale, correspondant aux phénomènes d'obstruction biliaire, la concentration de bilirubine delta est environ la moitié de DBIL, avec un rapport DELB / bilirubine totale inférieure à 0,3. DELB est une fraction de la bilirubine avec demi-vie prolongée dans le sang qui est associée à des phénomènes obstructifs persistants. Comme indicateur de dysfonctionnement hépato-biliaire, sa détermination est recommandée dans le diagnostic et le suivi de l'ictère cholestatique, y compris les enfants.
Deep Facial Wrinkle Treatment Outcome After First Injection of Reticulated Hyaluronic Acid
Skin aging is a complex multifactorial biological process that affects different skin components.... more Skin aging is a complex multifactorial biological process that affects different skin components. Even if the skin aging mechanism is not fully elucidated yet, it is shown that with time, the epidermis loses the hyaluronic acid (HA), resulting in decreased skin tonicity and hydration level. HA properties – as glycosaminoglycan, present in all conjunctive and epithelial tissues and as biological skin moisturizer that attracts and retains averagely 70% of its weight in water – lead to its usage as dermocosmetic. When talking about wrinkles incidence, they can appear in all persons, depending on age, genes, environmental and dietary factors, etc. The present study is about the use of reticulated HA of non-animal origin in treating deep wrinkles, assessing its effects in time, as well as the side-effects. The study was conducted in aBeauty Clinique centres in Romania, on 164 subjects. Treatment outcomes were evaluated according to biological factors, habits or lifestyle as risk factors,...
Supplementary Material for: Overweight and Underweight Prevalence Trends in Children from Romania - Pooled Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies between 2006 and 2015
Review Article Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the South-East Romanian Pediatric Population
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of the disease characterized by the accumulation of immatu... more Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of the disease characterized by the accumulation of immature B or T lymphocytic cells in the marrow or extramedullary regions. In order to obtain the best possible outcome, given the rapid evolution of the disease, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential for the correct choice of the treatment. Hematological cell morphology criteria are the main indicators of acute lymphoblastic leukemia but the diagnosis is confirmed through genetic and immunophenotyping techniques. In the South-East Romanian pediatric population, acute lymphoblastic leukemia has an incidence rate of 1.4/100.000, affecting predominantly males. The main types of leukemia diagnosed in children have been described.
Homeostatic Changes During Anticonvulsant Medication in Children
Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, ha... more Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, half of which are associated with fever [8]. Around 1% of children exhibit epilepsy-recurring seizures. Although having known side effects, carbamazepine and valproic acid still hold supremacy in the hierarchy of anticonvulsant therapy. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of abnormal haematological and biochemical values in children receiving carbamazepine or valproic acid therapy who attended Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, Galati, Romania, assessing the vulnerability of the paediatric population to the side effects caused by this type of medication. Moreover, simultaneous measurement of serum concentrations of carbamazepine and valproic acid represents a practical way of assessing the quality of treatment, facilitating dose adjustment in order to obtain an optimum cost/therapeutic benefit ratio.
Prader-Willi syndrome – case report
Study objective. The objective of the present study is to introduce the diagnosis steps of a rare... more Study objective. The objective of the present study is to introduce the diagnosis steps of a rare disease, Prader-Willi Syndrome. Materials and methods. The patient, aged 15 years, was admitted to the Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children “Sf. Ioan” with productive cough and dyspnea. Considering the morbid obesity, mental retardation and other phenotypic aspects noticed when she was admitted, further specialized tests and examinations were recommended (neurological, ENT, endocrinology, orthopedics, gynecology). After the correlation of this disease history with clinical examination and laboratory results, the suspected diagnosis was that of Prader-Willi Syndrome. The genetic analysis was recommended for diagnostic evaluation. Results. Laboratory tests revealed glucose metabolism disorder and hypothyroidism, endocrinological examination suggesting hypothalamic-pituitary etiology of morbid obesity. Gynecological exam found normal anatomically conformation, absent pituitary function...
Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but ... more Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but choosing one of these methods for a particular case represents quite a challenge, because the researcher must take into consideration many factors. In this article the authors are trying to present a comparative study of two methods, used currently in our laboratory, for identification of SNPs polymorphisms: ARMS - PCR (amplification refractory mutation system) and RFLP - PCR (restriction fragment length polymorphism). The two SNPs on which we focused belong to human VDR gene (vitamin D receptor gene) and are ApaI (a G→T base change in intron 8) and TaqI (a silent T→C base change in codon 352), named after the restriction enzymes which recognize these variations. Since the results obtained by both methods were confirmed by direct sequencing, we concluded that ARMS-PCR method is the most adequate for detecting the alternative genotypes determined by single base mutations. The simplicity o...
La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine m... more La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine moins utilisé dans la pratique médicale en raison de l’in suffisance des méthodes appliquées dans certains la boratoires. L’analyseur Vitros 950 pour la biochimie sèche, don c l’Hôpital Clinique d’Urgence pour les Enfants «St . Jean» du Galatzi est doté, est capable de mesurer les fra ctions indépendantes de bilirubine et d'estimer la valeur de la bilirubine delta, sa présence dans le sérum se corr élant, selon la littérature, avec le diagnostic de l'ictère obstructif. Pendant les années 2005-2010, DELB a été remarqué c hez 57 enfants traités dans notre hôpital, 30 filles et 27 garçons âgés de 1-17 ans. Quand la bil iru ine indirecte est en excès (plus de 80% bilirub ine totale), il a été constaté que la bilirubine directe est con stituée, presque entièrement, de DELB (16 cas). Pou r 16 malades, avec une augmentation proportionnelle de l a bilirubine non conjuguée et conjuguée, DE...
Mental retardation (RM) and autism spectrum disorde rs (ASD) are mental illnesses that severely i... more Mental retardation (RM) and autism spectrum disorde rs (ASD) are mental illnesses that severely impair individual development and have serious consequence s that affect both family and community. The freque ncy of such illnesses is increasing, calling for a unitary collective effort towards diagnose and treatment. The study involved 62 patients diagnosed with RM and/or ASD, as sociated with anemia, hearing or sight impairments, epilepsy and also 14 cases of viral hepatitis type B. The study aimed to corroborate clinical information with paraclinical evidence in order to survey individual pati ent health evolution. Tests showed that patients wi th intellectual disabilities, whether receiving neuroleptic treatme nt or not, are frequently afflicted by anemia and w ater imbalances and very often exhibit metabolic acidosis. Su ch identified metabolic abnormalities should be jus tified by genetic and/or environmental factors. The complexit y of autism spectrum disorders etiology invokes t...
Cutaneous adverse reactions in a lung cancer patient treated with pembrolizumab: A case report
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
Applied Sciences
Considering the growing interest in functional foods, the identification of the individual specie... more Considering the growing interest in functional foods, the identification of the individual species of elements is of great importance in understanding specific nutraceutical properties. The present study aims to compare the dynamic of the elemental content (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Se), total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity of Trifolium pratense L. and Medicago sativa L. sprouts in different germination stages. The elemental profile was established by atomic absorption spectroscopy after the microwave acid digestion of the samples, while total polyphenols and anti-radical activity were evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. Phenolic compounds and anti-radical activity of both alfalfa and red clover sprouts varied with germination stages. Germination can significantly increase the anti-radical activity in the first 3 days of germination, followed by a decline in the following days. An increase in total polyphenols was noticed, starting from the second day of g...
Metamizole for Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Subarachnoid Anesthesia
American Journal of Therapeutics
Environmental Engineering and Management Journal
The Waste Management activity (WM) is an urban action becoming more and more important in the mun... more The Waste Management activity (WM) is an urban action becoming more and more important in the municipal economy. In many cities, this activity is linked to significant revenues from the selective waste collection services. Because the current economic situation requires an increasing efficiency and profitability in order to succeed in cutting the operational costs, and as an important part of revenue comes from this selective waste collection activity, the effectiveness must be improved. In the specific case of Galati (250 000 inhabitants) which is presented in this article, the WM activity has been redesigned. The main aspect is given by the successful implementation of the selective collecting waste management system in order to succeed in reaching the current economic commands. In this article we present results obtained after 122 days of monitoring. Our approach has certain elements of novelty. Based on the data records we studied the possibility of obtaining a mathematical model which would be able to describe the time evolution of the amount of waste deposited in the collecting points. The simplest mathematical model was investigated, basing on the fact that a neural network approaching was not possible. For this purpose, we applied a set of three different methods of identifying the mathematical model which corresponds to the most accurate assessments. In the final part, is presented the related algorithm and the results obtainable by using this approach. The used procedure is based on a dynamical optimization process considering a specific Dijgistra algorithm. In this way, it could be build dynamical maps by eliminating a series of points whose contribution are not important for that moment. Finally, are presented specific results based on this dynamical optimization process.
Obesity Facts, 2016
Aim: High-quality national representative data on obesity in Romanian children are needed to shap... more Aim: High-quality national representative data on obesity in Romanian children are needed to shape public health policies. To provide a unified data landscape on national prevalence, trends and other factors associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity in Romanian children aged 6-19 years, across the last decade (2006-2015). Methods: Using a common protocol, we selected published and unpublished studies that measured Romanian children in schools between 2006 and 2015. Children's BMI was classified using the current WHO, IOTF, and CDC references. Results: 25,060 children from 8 Romanian counties were included in the analysis. The prevalence of underweight children was 5%/4.5%/8.5% (WHO/IOTF/CDC), while the prevalence of overweight (including obese) children was 28.3%/23%/23.2% (WHO/IOTF/ CDC). The prevalence of overweight children did not change significantly over the last decade
An innovative method for wastewater sludge drying
Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 2013
Homeostatic Changes During Anticonvulsant Medication in Children
Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, ha... more Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, half of which are associated with fever Rezumat Aproximativ 3% din popula/ia pediatrică înregistrează un episod convulsiv până la vârsta de 15 ani, din care jumatate se asociază cu febra
Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but ... more Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but choosing one of these methods for a particular case represents quite a challenge, because the researcher must take into consideration many factors. In this article the authors are trying to present a comparative study of two methods, used currently in our laboratory, for identification of SNPs polymorphisms: ARMS -PCR (amplification refractory mutation system) and RFLP -PCR (restriction fragment length polymorphism). The two SNPs on which we focused belong to human VDR gene (vitamin D receptor gene) and are ApaI (a G→T base change in intron 8) and TaqI (a silent T→C base change in codon 352), named after the restriction enzymes which recognize these variations. Since
Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions becau... more Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions because in most autistic children, MRI studies showed a particular dynamics of brain and cranium development. Development peaks occur between 2 and 5 years of age, when cranial circumferences are above average and cerebral volume increases, and are followed, in adolescent and adult ages, by reduced cerebral dimension and function (Aylward et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010; Hazlett et al., 2011). The evaluation and monitoring of child development dynamics may be performed using WHO Anthro software (World Health Organization-WHO, 2011), made in accordance with WHO standards (WHO, 2007) for children aged between 0 and 5. For children above 5, statistical data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-USA (Kuczmarski et al., 2002). An in-depth and detailed analysis of the brain revealed some anomalies in component dimensions and especially in the ratio of white to grey matter: the corpus callosum is diminished (Frazier & Hardan, 2009; Just et al., 2007); the frontal lobes are enlarged due to an excess of white matter (Cheng et al., 2010); the temporal lobes have a reduced grey matter content; the cerebellum has an over 30% excess of white matter (Carper et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010). Microscopical post-mortem imagery revealed Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum. These particular cells are selectively vulnerable to hypoxia, ischemia, G-protein dysfunctions, viral infections, heavy metals, as well as to a wide range of metabolites and chemicals (Kern & Jones, 2006). Histological studies also showed numerical reductions in amygdala axons (Schumann & Amaral, 2006) and reduced cell sizes in the hippocampus, similar to what is seen in the case of a precocious maturation (Bauman & Kemper, 2005). The two cerebral formations are involved in emotional and memory process development, two aspects typically targeted by autism spectrum disorders (Kleinhans et al., 2009; Saitoh et al., 2001). The use of MRI-DTI for the microstructural analysis of pathways interconnecting hippocampus and amygdala with the mid-fusiform gyrus in the temporal lobe (which participates in number, word, color and physiognomy recognition) revealed dysfunctionalities of these connections in autistic subjects which took a face recognition test (Conturo et al., 2008). The cause for this diminished response to stimuli was considered to be the reduction of axon diameters as a result of hypermielinisation, which yields a lower neuron conduction speed. Hippocampus and amygdala dimensions, which vary with the age and functionality of the investigated subjects, suggest the incongruence of cerebral components in the developmental dynamics. A disharmonious development, a reduced corpus callosum volume and a small quantity of grey matter might justify the reduction in inter-hemispherical connectivity specific to autism (Hardan et al., 2009). Investigations using fMRI placed the causes for poor connectivity in the frontal insula, the superior temporal gyrus, the primary sensorimotor cortex, the lateral inferior premotor cortex and the superior parietal lobe (Anderson J.S. et al., 2010). The aforementioned areas are associated with social interaction management, social intelligence, new stimulus identification, sound processing and language linking, fine and gross motor activities, thereby encompassing all areas damaged by autism. Specific modifications in verbal communication in autism spectrum disorders incriminate the reduced volume of grey matter in the Broca area (where the primary motor complex is responsible for talking motions in the left hemisphere), considering the fact that insufficient neural connectivity between the Wernicke and Broca areas lead to difficulties in lexical and semantic processing (Yamasaki et al., 2010). The comprehension and elaboration of language also depends, however, on auditory sensorial integration, which serves to perceive and analyze sound patterns. In the Knaus et al. study, linguistic scores were correlated with grey www.intechopen.com Clinical Evaluations on the Diagnosis of Autism 387 matter deficits found in frontal and temporal lobes, autistic subjects manifesting a typical lateralization of language (Knaus et al., 2010). Temporal auditory associative areas, where mono-and multimodal auditory sensor integration crosses, are involved in the transfer of information to the internal structures of the limbic and frontoparietal integration systems. By measuring cerebral blood flow using high resolution PET as well as high resolution SPECT, the superior temporal region of the autistic child's brain was shown to have bilaterally localized hypoperfusions in the superior temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus, centered on the multimodal associative temporal cortex and auditory associative areas (Boddaert & Zilbovicius, 2002; Ohnishi et al., 2000; Zilbovicius et al., 2000). This hypoperfusion was presumed to impair the transfer of auditory information and social perception (eye contact and facial expression), relational difficulties characteristic of autistic children. Ulterior studies, which undertook a neurofunctional perspective, reported diminished responses to auditory stimuli (Gomot et al., 2006) and visual stimuli (Bölte et al., 2008), along with hemodynamic modifications (Zilbovicius et al., 2006). The autistic brain reacts faintly to stimuli variations, a fact which agrees with some of the basic diagnosis criteria, such as a reduced interest for all surroundings, resistance to change and stereotypical activities. Admitting that a diminished neural connectivity, due to an excess of white matter, and some cerebral area hypoperfusions are responsible for the functional afflictions specific to autism, it would be expected that a normalization of the blood flow would improve subject behavior. Positive developments as concerning hyperactivity, irritability, stereotyping as well as improvements in verbal communication were observed during prolonged periods of pathological fever, presumably responsible for an increased flow of blood to the cortex (Curran et al., 2007). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), as proposed by Rossignol (Rossignol & Rossignol, 2006) also registered temporary improvements for autistic behavior (Chungpaibulpatana et al., 2008), oxygen supplementation techniques being well known also for their anti-inflammatory effects and their ability to regulate tissue perfusion and reduce oxidative stress. Grey matter is not only present in reduced volume in the autistic brain, but also badly distributed, as it is found in a thin layer in cerebral areas associated with socialization and all that which it entails: audiovisual and olfactory stimuli processing, face recognition, imitation and language (Hadjikhani et al., 2006). This situation corresponds to the mirror neuron system, activated in the normal brain when observing and imitating an action, and also considered responsible for empathy and mentalization. The mirror neuron system is dysfunctional in autistic subjects, as enforced by fMRI, MEG and EEG findings (Dapretto et al., 2006; Oberman et al., 2005; Perkins et al., 2010). Modern neuroimaging supports neuropsychological hypotheses concerning the causes of autism, i.e. the limbic system hypothesis, the weak central coherence hypothesis, the executive function hypothesis and the mentalization theory, but without being able to validate them (Bade-White et al., 2008; Joseph, 1999). The limbic system, presumed responsible for memory deficits that negatively impact communication and social interaction, was associated through imaging with structural and functional changes especially in the hypothalamus and amygdala, known to be correlated with affective and emotional behavior, sense of smell and long term memory. Weak central coherence, which implies a difficulty to integrate separately perceived elements into a whole, is associated with restricted interest and behaviour. Poor central
Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions becau... more Imaging is useful in diagnosing autism first of all by measuring brain component dimensions because in most autistic children, MRI studies showed a particular dynamics of brain and cranium development. Development peaks occur between 2 and 5 years of age, when cranial circumferences are above average and cerebral volume increases, and are followed, in adolescent and adult ages, by reduced cerebral dimension and function (Aylward et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010; Hazlett et al., 2011). The evaluation and monitoring of child development dynamics may be performed using WHO Anthro software (World Health Organization-WHO, 2011), made in accordance with WHO standards (WHO, 2007) for children aged between 0 and 5. For children above 5, statistical data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-USA (Kuczmarski et al., 2002). An in-depth and detailed analysis of the brain revealed some anomalies in component dimensions and especially in the ratio of white to grey matter: the corpus callosum is diminished (Frazier & Hardan, 2009; Just et al., 2007); the frontal lobes are enlarged due to an excess of white matter (Cheng et al., 2010); the temporal lobes have a reduced grey matter content; the cerebellum has an over 30% excess of white matter (Carper et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2010). Microscopical post-mortem imagery revealed Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum. These particular cells are selectively vulnerable to hypoxia, ischemia, G-protein dysfunctions, viral infections, heavy metals, as well as to a wide range of metabolites and chemicals (Kern & Jones, 2006). Histological studies also showed numerical reductions in amygdala axons (Schumann & Amaral, 2006) and reduced cell sizes in the hippocampus, similar to what is seen in the case of a precocious maturation (Bauman & Kemper, 2005). The two cerebral formations are involved in emotional and memory process development, two aspects typically targeted by autism spectrum disorders (Kleinhans et al., 2009; Saitoh et al., 2001). The use of MRI-DTI for the microstructural analysis of pathways interconnecting hippocampus and amygdala with the mid-fusiform gyrus in the temporal lobe (which participates in number, word, color and physiognomy recognition) revealed dysfunctionalities of these connections in autistic subjects which took a face recognition test (Conturo et al., 2008). The cause for this diminished response to stimuli was considered to be the reduction of axon diameters as a result of hypermielinisation, which yields a lower neuron conduction speed. Hippocampus and amygdala dimensions, which vary with the age and functionality of the investigated subjects, suggest the incongruence of cerebral components in the developmental dynamics. A disharmonious development, a reduced corpus callosum volume and a small quantity of grey matter might justify the reduction in inter-hemispherical connectivity specific to autism (Hardan et al., 2009). Investigations using fMRI placed the causes for poor connectivity in the frontal insula, the superior temporal gyrus, the primary sensorimotor cortex, the lateral inferior premotor cortex and the superior parietal lobe (Anderson J.S. et al., 2010). The aforementioned areas are associated with social interaction management, social intelligence, new stimulus identification, sound processing and language linking, fine and gross motor activities, thereby encompassing all areas damaged by autism. Specific modifications in verbal communication in autism spectrum disorders incriminate the reduced volume of grey matter in the Broca area (where the primary motor complex is responsible for talking motions in the left hemisphere), considering the fact that insufficient neural connectivity between the Wernicke and Broca areas lead to difficulties in lexical and semantic processing (Yamasaki et al., 2010). The comprehension and elaboration of language also depends, however, on auditory sensorial integration, which serves to perceive and analyze sound patterns. In the Knaus et al. study, linguistic scores were correlated with grey www.intechopen.com Clinical Evaluations on the Diagnosis of Autism 387 matter deficits found in frontal and temporal lobes, autistic subjects manifesting a typical lateralization of language (Knaus et al., 2010). Temporal auditory associative areas, where mono-and multimodal auditory sensor integration crosses, are involved in the transfer of information to the internal structures of the limbic and frontoparietal integration systems. By measuring cerebral blood flow using high resolution PET as well as high resolution SPECT, the superior temporal region of the autistic child's brain was shown to have bilaterally localized hypoperfusions in the superior temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus, centered on the multimodal associative temporal cortex and auditory associative areas (Boddaert & Zilbovicius, 2002; Ohnishi et al., 2000; Zilbovicius et al., 2000). This hypoperfusion was presumed to impair the transfer of auditory information and social perception (eye contact and facial expression), relational difficulties characteristic of autistic children. Ulterior studies, which undertook a neurofunctional perspective, reported diminished responses to auditory stimuli (Gomot et al., 2006) and visual stimuli (Bölte et al., 2008), along with hemodynamic modifications (Zilbovicius et al., 2006). The autistic brain reacts faintly to stimuli variations, a fact which agrees with some of the basic diagnosis criteria, such as a reduced interest for all surroundings, resistance to change and stereotypical activities. Admitting that a diminished neural connectivity, due to an excess of white matter, and some cerebral area hypoperfusions are responsible for the functional afflictions specific to autism, it would be expected that a normalization of the blood flow would improve subject behavior. Positive developments as concerning hyperactivity, irritability, stereotyping as well as improvements in verbal communication were observed during prolonged periods of pathological fever, presumably responsible for an increased flow of blood to the cortex (Curran et al., 2007). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), as proposed by Rossignol (Rossignol & Rossignol, 2006) also registered temporary improvements for autistic behavior (Chungpaibulpatana et al., 2008), oxygen supplementation techniques being well known also for their anti-inflammatory effects and their ability to regulate tissue perfusion and reduce oxidative stress. Grey matter is not only present in reduced volume in the autistic brain, but also badly distributed, as it is found in a thin layer in cerebral areas associated with socialization and all that which it entails: audiovisual and olfactory stimuli processing, face recognition, imitation and language (Hadjikhani et al., 2006). This situation corresponds to the mirror neuron system, activated in the normal brain when observing and imitating an action, and also considered responsible for empathy and mentalization. The mirror neuron system is dysfunctional in autistic subjects, as enforced by fMRI, MEG and EEG findings (Dapretto et al., 2006; Oberman et al., 2005; Perkins et al., 2010). Modern neuroimaging supports neuropsychological hypotheses concerning the causes of autism, i.e. the limbic system hypothesis, the weak central coherence hypothesis, the executive function hypothesis and the mentalization theory, but without being able to validate them (Bade-White et al., 2008; Joseph, 1999). The limbic system, presumed responsible for memory deficits that negatively impact communication and social interaction, was associated through imaging with structural and functional changes especially in the hypothalamus and amygdala, known to be correlated with affective and emotional behavior, sense of smell and long term memory. Weak central coherence, which implies a difficulty to integrate separately perceived elements into a whole, is associated with restricted interest and behaviour. Poor central
Review Article Biosensors Areas of Application
Based on the pattern of natural biosensors in the living world, researchers in different areas as... more Based on the pattern of natural biosensors in the living world, researchers in different areas as electronic, biological, chemical, physical joined to give to the world access to modern technologies, simple or complex, in order to be widely used by individuals, by the entire population, by environmental institutions or at an industrial level. The simplest expression of these technologies is the biosensor. It has multiple applications in different fields, especially in health-care. The biosensor is already on the market and underlies structures increasingly complex called biodevices.
med.ugal.ro
La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine m... more La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine moins utilisé dans la pratique médicale en raison de l'insuffisance des méthodes appliquées dans certains laboratoires. L'analyseur Vitros 950 pour la biochimie sèche, donc l'Hôpital Clinique d'Urgence pour les Enfants «St. Jean» du Galatzi est doté, est capable de mesurer les fractions indépendantes de bilirubine et d'estimer la valeur de la bilirubine delta, sa présence dans le sérum se corrélant, selon la littérature, avec le diagnostic de l'ictère obstructif. Pendant les années 2005-2010, DELB a été remarqué chez 57 enfants traités dans notre hôpital, 30 filles et 27 garçons âgés de 1-17 ans. Quand la bilirubine indirecte est en excès (plus de 80% bilirubine totale), il a été constaté que la bilirubine directe est constituée, presque entièrement, de DELB (16 cas). Pour 16 malades, avec une augmentation proportionnelle de la bilirubine non conjuguée et conjuguée, DELB représente aussi un pourcentage significatif de bilirubine directe. Quand le taux de bilirubine directe monte plus de 50% de la bilirubine totale, correspondant aux phénomènes d'obstruction biliaire, la concentration de bilirubine delta est environ la moitié de DBIL, avec un rapport DELB / bilirubine totale inférieure à 0,3. DELB est une fraction de la bilirubine avec demi-vie prolongée dans le sang qui est associée à des phénomènes obstructifs persistants. Comme indicateur de dysfonctionnement hépato-biliaire, sa détermination est recommandée dans le diagnostic et le suivi de l'ictère cholestatique, y compris les enfants.
Deep Facial Wrinkle Treatment Outcome After First Injection of Reticulated Hyaluronic Acid
Skin aging is a complex multifactorial biological process that affects different skin components.... more Skin aging is a complex multifactorial biological process that affects different skin components. Even if the skin aging mechanism is not fully elucidated yet, it is shown that with time, the epidermis loses the hyaluronic acid (HA), resulting in decreased skin tonicity and hydration level. HA properties – as glycosaminoglycan, present in all conjunctive and epithelial tissues and as biological skin moisturizer that attracts and retains averagely 70% of its weight in water – lead to its usage as dermocosmetic. When talking about wrinkles incidence, they can appear in all persons, depending on age, genes, environmental and dietary factors, etc. The present study is about the use of reticulated HA of non-animal origin in treating deep wrinkles, assessing its effects in time, as well as the side-effects. The study was conducted in aBeauty Clinique centres in Romania, on 164 subjects. Treatment outcomes were evaluated according to biological factors, habits or lifestyle as risk factors,...
Supplementary Material for: Overweight and Underweight Prevalence Trends in Children from Romania - Pooled Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies between 2006 and 2015
Review Article Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the South-East Romanian Pediatric Population
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of the disease characterized by the accumulation of immatu... more Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of the disease characterized by the accumulation of immature B or T lymphocytic cells in the marrow or extramedullary regions. In order to obtain the best possible outcome, given the rapid evolution of the disease, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential for the correct choice of the treatment. Hematological cell morphology criteria are the main indicators of acute lymphoblastic leukemia but the diagnosis is confirmed through genetic and immunophenotyping techniques. In the South-East Romanian pediatric population, acute lymphoblastic leukemia has an incidence rate of 1.4/100.000, affecting predominantly males. The main types of leukemia diagnosed in children have been described.
Homeostatic Changes During Anticonvulsant Medication in Children
Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, ha... more Approximately 3% of the paediatric population presents one seizure episode till the age of 15, half of which are associated with fever [8]. Around 1% of children exhibit epilepsy-recurring seizures. Although having known side effects, carbamazepine and valproic acid still hold supremacy in the hierarchy of anticonvulsant therapy. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of abnormal haematological and biochemical values in children receiving carbamazepine or valproic acid therapy who attended Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, Galati, Romania, assessing the vulnerability of the paediatric population to the side effects caused by this type of medication. Moreover, simultaneous measurement of serum concentrations of carbamazepine and valproic acid represents a practical way of assessing the quality of treatment, facilitating dose adjustment in order to obtain an optimum cost/therapeutic benefit ratio.
Prader-Willi syndrome – case report
Study objective. The objective of the present study is to introduce the diagnosis steps of a rare... more Study objective. The objective of the present study is to introduce the diagnosis steps of a rare disease, Prader-Willi Syndrome. Materials and methods. The patient, aged 15 years, was admitted to the Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children “Sf. Ioan” with productive cough and dyspnea. Considering the morbid obesity, mental retardation and other phenotypic aspects noticed when she was admitted, further specialized tests and examinations were recommended (neurological, ENT, endocrinology, orthopedics, gynecology). After the correlation of this disease history with clinical examination and laboratory results, the suspected diagnosis was that of Prader-Willi Syndrome. The genetic analysis was recommended for diagnostic evaluation. Results. Laboratory tests revealed glucose metabolism disorder and hypothyroidism, endocrinological examination suggesting hypothalamic-pituitary etiology of morbid obesity. Gynecological exam found normal anatomically conformation, absent pituitary function...
Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but ... more Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now possible by many techniques, but choosing one of these methods for a particular case represents quite a challenge, because the researcher must take into consideration many factors. In this article the authors are trying to present a comparative study of two methods, used currently in our laboratory, for identification of SNPs polymorphisms: ARMS - PCR (amplification refractory mutation system) and RFLP - PCR (restriction fragment length polymorphism). The two SNPs on which we focused belong to human VDR gene (vitamin D receptor gene) and are ApaI (a G→T base change in intron 8) and TaqI (a silent T→C base change in codon 352), named after the restriction enzymes which recognize these variations. Since the results obtained by both methods were confirmed by direct sequencing, we concluded that ARMS-PCR method is the most adequate for detecting the alternative genotypes determined by single base mutations. The simplicity o...
La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine m... more La bilirubine delta (DELB), également connue comme biliprotéine, est une fraction de bilirubine moins utilisé dans la pratique médicale en raison de l’in suffisance des méthodes appliquées dans certains la boratoires. L’analyseur Vitros 950 pour la biochimie sèche, don c l’Hôpital Clinique d’Urgence pour les Enfants «St . Jean» du Galatzi est doté, est capable de mesurer les fra ctions indépendantes de bilirubine et d'estimer la valeur de la bilirubine delta, sa présence dans le sérum se corr élant, selon la littérature, avec le diagnostic de l'ictère obstructif. Pendant les années 2005-2010, DELB a été remarqué c hez 57 enfants traités dans notre hôpital, 30 filles et 27 garçons âgés de 1-17 ans. Quand la bil iru ine indirecte est en excès (plus de 80% bilirub ine totale), il a été constaté que la bilirubine directe est con stituée, presque entièrement, de DELB (16 cas). Pou r 16 malades, avec une augmentation proportionnelle de l a bilirubine non conjuguée et conjuguée, DE...
Mental retardation (RM) and autism spectrum disorde rs (ASD) are mental illnesses that severely i... more Mental retardation (RM) and autism spectrum disorde rs (ASD) are mental illnesses that severely impair individual development and have serious consequence s that affect both family and community. The freque ncy of such illnesses is increasing, calling for a unitary collective effort towards diagnose and treatment. The study involved 62 patients diagnosed with RM and/or ASD, as sociated with anemia, hearing or sight impairments, epilepsy and also 14 cases of viral hepatitis type B. The study aimed to corroborate clinical information with paraclinical evidence in order to survey individual pati ent health evolution. Tests showed that patients wi th intellectual disabilities, whether receiving neuroleptic treatme nt or not, are frequently afflicted by anemia and w ater imbalances and very often exhibit metabolic acidosis. Su ch identified metabolic abnormalities should be jus tified by genetic and/or environmental factors. The complexit y of autism spectrum disorders etiology invokes t...
Cutaneous adverse reactions in a lung cancer patient treated with pembrolizumab: A case report
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
Applied Sciences
Considering the growing interest in functional foods, the identification of the individual specie... more Considering the growing interest in functional foods, the identification of the individual species of elements is of great importance in understanding specific nutraceutical properties. The present study aims to compare the dynamic of the elemental content (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Se), total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity of Trifolium pratense L. and Medicago sativa L. sprouts in different germination stages. The elemental profile was established by atomic absorption spectroscopy after the microwave acid digestion of the samples, while total polyphenols and anti-radical activity were evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. Phenolic compounds and anti-radical activity of both alfalfa and red clover sprouts varied with germination stages. Germination can significantly increase the anti-radical activity in the first 3 days of germination, followed by a decline in the following days. An increase in total polyphenols was noticed, starting from the second day of g...
Metamizole for Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Subarachnoid Anesthesia
American Journal of Therapeutics
Environmental Engineering and Management Journal
The Waste Management activity (WM) is an urban action becoming more and more important in the mun... more The Waste Management activity (WM) is an urban action becoming more and more important in the municipal economy. In many cities, this activity is linked to significant revenues from the selective waste collection services. Because the current economic situation requires an increasing efficiency and profitability in order to succeed in cutting the operational costs, and as an important part of revenue comes from this selective waste collection activity, the effectiveness must be improved. In the specific case of Galati (250 000 inhabitants) which is presented in this article, the WM activity has been redesigned. The main aspect is given by the successful implementation of the selective collecting waste management system in order to succeed in reaching the current economic commands. In this article we present results obtained after 122 days of monitoring. Our approach has certain elements of novelty. Based on the data records we studied the possibility of obtaining a mathematical model which would be able to describe the time evolution of the amount of waste deposited in the collecting points. The simplest mathematical model was investigated, basing on the fact that a neural network approaching was not possible. For this purpose, we applied a set of three different methods of identifying the mathematical model which corresponds to the most accurate assessments. In the final part, is presented the related algorithm and the results obtainable by using this approach. The used procedure is based on a dynamical optimization process considering a specific Dijgistra algorithm. In this way, it could be build dynamical maps by eliminating a series of points whose contribution are not important for that moment. Finally, are presented specific results based on this dynamical optimization process.
Obesity Facts, 2016
Aim: High-quality national representative data on obesity in Romanian children are needed to shap... more Aim: High-quality national representative data on obesity in Romanian children are needed to shape public health policies. To provide a unified data landscape on national prevalence, trends and other factors associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity in Romanian children aged 6-19 years, across the last decade (2006-2015). Methods: Using a common protocol, we selected published and unpublished studies that measured Romanian children in schools between 2006 and 2015. Children's BMI was classified using the current WHO, IOTF, and CDC references. Results: 25,060 children from 8 Romanian counties were included in the analysis. The prevalence of underweight children was 5%/4.5%/8.5% (WHO/IOTF/CDC), while the prevalence of overweight (including obese) children was 28.3%/23%/23.2% (WHO/IOTF/ CDC). The prevalence of overweight children did not change significantly over the last decade