Introduction
The detection of the initial prodrome of schizophrenia (SK) before the first episode psychosis remains a major concern in current psychiatric research.
Objectives
In this paper we aimed ...to analyse clinical and psychopathological aspects of prodromes leading to first-lifetime psychotic episodes and to highlight the high-risk features in order to establish preventive strategies and to provide early intervention in SK.
Methods
This is a retrospective observational descriptive study conducted in the ‘Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia’ Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry in Bucharest, Romania. We collected data from the medical records of 139 patients previously diagnosed with SK who were admitted to our clinic. For all included patients, diagnoses were recorded according to the DSM-IV TR and ICD-10 classification criteria. Data collected included patient demographics and clinical information. All analyses were conducted using SPSS package.
Results
Of the 139 patients included in this study, 130 patients (93,5%) presented prodromal symptoms. 73 of these patients (52,5%) presented with negative symptoms that were more common in our study in single male patients that had low academic performance and a family history of mental illness, findings consistent with the literature. A decline in social functioning decline was observed in 64 patients (46%) prior to their first admission. 87 patients (62,6%) had a prodromal phase which lasted more than one year.
Conclusions
These findings support the value of early psychopathology in predicting the diagnosis of SK, but clinical guidelines are needed for a more systematic evaluation of the SK prodrome.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
The study proposes a dynamic spatio‐temporal profile of the distribution of tuberculosis incidence and air pollution in Romania, where this infectious disease induces more than 8,000 new cases ...annually. The descriptive analysis for the years 2012–2021 assumes an identification of the structuring patterns of mycobacterium tuberculosis risk in the Romanian population, according to gender and age, exploiting spatial modeling techniques of time series data. Through spatial autocorrelation, the degree of similarity between the analyzed territorial systems was highlighted and the relationships that are built between the analysis units in spatial proximity were investigated. By modeling the geographical distribution of tuberculosis, the spatial correlation with particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution was revealed. The identification of clusters of infected persons is an indispensable step in the construction of efficient tuberculosis management systems. The results highlight the link between the distribution of tuberculosis, air pollution and socio‐economic development, which requires a detailed analysis of the epidemiological data obtained in the national tuberculosis surveillance and control program from the perspective of geographical distribution.
Plain Language Summary
The study aims to identify the main geographical areas of tuberculosis concentration in Romania, which are among the highest in Europe. At the EU level, public health policies aim to strengthen integrated care services and further implement patient‐centered approaches. Annual data at the level of territorial administrative unit, by age and gender from the national demographic statistics, published on the official website of the National Institute of Statistics, were used to relate the number of cases to the population. The maps were produced using geospatial data published by the National Agency for Cadastre and Real Estate Publicity and the official nomenclature of administrative territorial units of Romania, called SIRUTA. Statistical data on the distribution of tuberculosis cases in Romania were obtained from the annual reports of the National Tuberculosis Prevention, Surveillance and Control Program in Romania. The research aimed to compare the geographical distribution of tuberculosis over the distribution of areas with the highest values of particulate matter (PM2.5). Accurate identification of tuberculosis concentration areas and correlation with PM2.5 provides relevant data to optimize disease management policies.
Key Points
The study creates a dynamic spatio‐temporal profile of the tuberculosis frequency distribution (incidence) in Romania
The study analyses the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic period on the evolution of the disease in Romania
The exploratory spatial autocorrelation method is used to identify spatial hotspots of tuberculosis concentration in Romania
The objective of this study was to identify spatial disparities in the distribution of cancer hotspots within Romania. Additionally, the research aimed to track prevailing trends in cancer prevalence ...and mortality according to a cancer type. The study covered the timeframe between 2008 and 2017, examining all 3,181 territorial administrative units. The analysis of spatial distribution relied on two key parameters. The first parameter, persistence, measured the duration for which cancer prevalence exceeded the 75th percentile threshold. Cancer prevalence refers to the total number of individuals in a population who have been diagnosed with cancer at a specific time point, including both newly diagnosed cases (occurrence) and existing cases. The second parameter, the time continuity of persistence, calculated the consecutive months during which cancer prevalence consistently surpassed the 75th percentile threshold. Notably, persistence of elevated values was also evident in lowland regions, devoid of any discernible direct connection to environmental conditions. In conclusion, this work bears substantial relevance to regional health policies, by aiding in the formulation of prevention strategies, while also fostering a deeper comprehension of the socioeconomic and environmental factors contributing to cancer.
Plain Language Summary
This study presents the inaugural spatial geographical map of cancer fatality and the distribution of high cancer prevalence across all types of cancer in Romania. Conducted between 2008 and 2017, this research aimed to identify patterns in the territorial distribution for all reported cancer within the country's territorial administrative units, by calculation of the two main parameters, namely cancer persistence and the time continuity of its persistence. The findings reveal a decline in total cancer cases, while certain subcategories displayed an upward trend. The analysis of mortality demonstrated a pronounced increase in overall prevalence. By emphasizing the connection between cancer prevalence, outcomes, and geographical factors in Romania, this study provides crucial insights for refining national and European policies in the fight against cancer.
Key Points
This study reveals geographical disparities in the prevalence of all cancer types in Romania
The analysis spans the period from 2008 to 2017
It was observed that cancer prevalence increased in correlation with anthropogenic interventions in the region
A transcriptional modular network cascade with general activation/repression coupling is analysed. It is shown that in certain conditions (the Hill coefficient is unity) it is equivalent to a cascade ...made of the same type of gene, and moreover the dynamics is linearisable. The protein production is shown to be a travelling kink wave on the cascade showing a successive gene expression along it. Also a cellular automaton description for both open and closed (plasmid) cascades is provided.
A 59-year-old patient presented in the ER with wound dehiscence and skin necrosis on the right ankle, with osteosynthesis implant visible, after open reduction and fixation with plate and screws, ...performed abroad, 16 days prior to the presentation, for a bimalleolar fracture. The patient was admitted to the plastic surgery department, where surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue was initially performed. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with Negative-pressure wound therapy (VAC dressing) and Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Upon obtaining granulation tissue without signs of infection, a sural fasciocutaneous flap was performed to cover the skin defect. Proper graft integration and healing was observed.
A 31-year-old patient presented in the Emergency Department with a tibial fracture following a car accident that crushed the lower third of his thigh and the proximal and median part of his calf. ...Tibial fracture fixation with an intramedullary rod, was complicated by a Morel-Lavallée lesion. Sequential debridement procedures were performed with partially successful granulation tissue proliferation under NPWT (Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy). To further promote the already delaying granulation, plastic surgeons opted for PRP/PRF (Platelet Rich Plasma/Platelet Rich Fibrin) which allowed appropriate skin grafting. In our opinion, PRP/PRF should be considered as a viable adjuvant therapy to promote granulation.
Rat experimentation is the first line of research by which a medical hypothesis is usually tested. Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is a relatively new bio-material that has shown promise to enhance ...healing in the field of bone research and tissue engineering. In order to perform PRF based experiments on rats, a proper protocol of obtaining PRF from rats needs to be established.
35 Wistar rats were used to obtain PRF by using cardiac puncture blood draw and quick subsequent centrifugation. The PRF samples wereanalyzed and compared to standard literature PRF composition.
PRF samples analysis showed persistent results pertaining to known PRF composition.
Our experiment has shown that our protocol of obtaining PRF is capable of providing high quality PRF from rats.
Platelets play a crucial role in wound healing as they are reservoirs of growth factors and cytokines which play a fundamental role in homeostasis and tissue remodeling. Recently, fields such as ...dermatology and plastic and reconstructive surgery have become interested in the tissue regenerative properties of these compounds, especially since it promotes wound healing, improves scar outcomes and has rejuvenating effects on the skin and other tissues. We evaluated the effects of Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) in full thickness skin graft healing. Our study included 40 male Wistar rats. Skin grafts were assessed macroscopically using planimetry. The full thickness skin grafts in the test group, displayed a lower necrosis rate compared to the control group. Our study displays the potential benefits of using Platelet Rich compounds to facilitate wound healing and integration of full thickness skin grafts.
