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Inflammation is the front-line biological reaction of the immune system to infections, iritation or injuries. Its persistence determines the installation of chronic inflammation that plays a key role in the development and progression of many chronic diseases, including autoimmunity, metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis and obesity, but also tumoral pathologies. Studies reveal that various foods, but manly fruits, vegetables and legumes, contain high levels of phytochemicals that have antiinflammatory effects, but their mechanisms of action have not been fully identified. The aim of this paper is to discuss recent findings concerning the antiinflammatory effects of certain foods that can be used as natural modulators of proinflammatory gene expression and, thus, as natural strategies to promote a better health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal supplements consumption experienced high growth in Romania, with the rising awareness and the amounts that people are willing to pay for improving their health. Since this segment is difficult to monitor by market research companies, our paper aims at processing the data available at national level, based on a holistic approach. Following a 10-year survey (period 2001-2010), we analyzed some specific statistical parameters, such as: top and value sales of dietary supplements in Romania; the average consumption of herbal supplements per capita; crop area, production of medicinal and aromatic plants and indigenous industry capability in harnessing the potential of ethnopharmacology; educational attainment by age group; death rates of chronic diseases; life expectancy at age 65. In conclusion, the annual average consumption per capita is lower than in other European countries, but forecasts are optimistic. Education, health and life expectancy have improved over the studied period, and follow a positive forecast. We found significant correlations between herbal supplements consumption, educational attainment and health indicators (r = 0.9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is among the most common types of leukemia. Recent studies suggest that a population of clonal B cells with the phenotype of CLL, can be detected in the general population, a condition now designated monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL). Although all cases of CLL appear to be preceded by MBL, the majority of individuals with MBL will not develop a hematologic malignancy. The biologic characteristics and clinical implications of MBL appear to differ based on whether it is identified during the diagnostic evaluation of lymphocytosis or incidentally discovered through screening of individuals with normal lymphocyte counts as part of research studies using highly sensitive detection methods. In this paper, we provide a state of the art review on the nomenclature, diagnosis and the role of MBL in the etiology of CLL [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this paper was the ecographic monitorisation of the thyroid gland dimension at the patients with active chronic hepatitis with HVC and HVB during the treatment with Peginterferon α 2A 180μg. Methods: The clinical study was effectuated on a lote of 45 patients,aged between 18 - 65 years,from witch 25 patients with active chronic hepatitis with HVC and 20 patients with active chronic hepatitis with HVB. The distribution on sex comprised in the lote of active chronic hepatitis with HVC 15 female patients and 10 male patients and in the lote of those with active chronic hepatitis with HVB 11 female patients and 9 male patients.The dimension of the thyroid gland was established ecographically at the beggining and in the end of the therapy with Peginterferon α 2A. It has been established a medium volume of the thyroid gland for every category of the fourth categories of patients at the beggining and at the re-evaluation.The status of the patient regarding the thyroid dysfunction before the beginning of the treatment wasn't taken into consideration.The patients were selected from the clinic and the ambulatory of the Clinic and Emergency Hospital of Sibiu. In the study there weren't included the patients that at the beginning of the treatment presented thyroid dysfunction. The evaluation also excluded the patients with a thyroid pathology set up during therapy.Results: The result of the determinations was a medium significant increase with percents comprised between 11 - 20 % secondary the therapy with Interferon.Conclusion: The female patients with chronic active hepatitis with HVC presented a percentage difference between the volumes of the thyroid gland at the beggining and after treatment increased in contrast with the female patients with chronic active hepatitis with HVB.For the male patients the percentage difference between the volumes of the thyroid gland was increased in the case of patients with active chronic hepatitis with HVB in contrast with the patients with chronic active hepatitis with HVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]