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Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the frequency of self-declared status regarding smoking in a group of pregnant women from Mures county, Romania and the high levels of Salivary Cotinine (SC) like biomarkers. Material and methods: It was conducted a retrospective study among 230 pregnant women presented for prenatal care at 50 General Practitioners cabinets in Mures county, Romania, in 2015. Data were collected with a validated questionnaire which included age, level of education, socioeconomic status and ethnicity, also the self-reported smoking status. The Salivary Cotinine level was evaluated using NicAlert Saliva test kits. Results: Using salivary test we identified a high prevalence of involuntary exposure to cigarette smoke among both non-smokers and those who quit smoking before pregnancy. Also we registered pregnant women that although declared smoking cessation before pregnancy their salivary Cotinine levels were high, almost like to an active smoker, probably because of second-hand exposure or because they didn't say the truth about their habit. Conclusions: We underline the importance of implementing more efficient community interventions among this vulnerable group in order to reduce the frequency of smoking and sustain quitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the underground drinking water mineral composition in fluoride, iodine and iron from different sources, with variable locations in Romania. Methods: It was a prospective laboratory study based on Hanna Instruments C99 colourimeter, that tested the mineral parameters levels in 70 water samples from several underground water supply sources from 10 different romanian counties. Results: Our data shows low concentrations of fluoride and iodine in underground water sources all over our country, especially Ardeal teritory, with impact on population health status with risk of exposure by deficiency. In Brasov we encountered high iron levels and in Salaj the highest fluoride and nitrates concentrations and increased water hardness were recorded. Conclusion: We must stress upon the importance of monitoring water supplies, to evaluate both the quality parameters and mineral composition, in order to estimate the influence on the health status of the consumer population in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the water quality of several local sources from the Toplița-Deda region, as well as from the Gheorgheni basin, in order to inform the population about the water quality and about the importance of the drinking water control. Method: Repeated water samples were collected from a total number of 41 sources in the two studied regions during 2010. A multiparametric colorimeter, Hanna Instruments C99 was used to determine certain physical and chemical parameters. A number of current and specific microbiological analyses were also carried out. Results: The average values and the percentage of the positive samples with values above permitted limits were calculated. The highest accepted levels were based on Law no. 458/2002 regarding drinkable water quality. Among the mineral indicators iron exceeded the limit in 18.18% and water samples were poor in fluoride (83.65%) and in iodine (98.18%). A small percentage of sources (3.63%) indicated pollution, 10.9% had high nitrate level. Analyzing the microbiological content, our water samples were within the drinkability limits required by law. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the importance of monitoring water supplies, the awareness of the water quality according to mineral composition, pollution estimation and microbiological characteristics in order to prevent the unexpected influence on the health status of the consumer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common pathologies of the 21st century characterized by a chronic hyperglycemic status that affects certain organs such as nerves, eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels. Objective: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the risk factors in relation to the clinical manifestations of diabetes, to obtain an early diagnosis and to prevent complications, to an adult sample from Targu Mures city. Material and methods: We selected 120 diabetic patients from the Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases of the County Clinical Hospital in Targu Mures, in 2018, who answered to a validated questionnaire after their consent, along with specific laboratory parameters from their hospital files. Results: We found that type 2 diabetes has an increased incidence in people with a family history, also the main risk factors are: female gender (55%), age over 60 (60,83%), obesity (48,33%) and sedentarism (42,5%), body mass index over 30 kg/m2 (48,33%) and abdominal circumference greater than 102 cm (64,16%). Analyzing the lifestyle of the patients, we found that 86.66% of them had a high level of daily stress, 65% had a low fruit and vegetable diet, and 50% had 3 meals a day. During its evolution, diabetes leads to the occurrence of multiple acute and chronic complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma, retinopathy, nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy as well as vascular diseases. Conclusions: The risk factors involved in development of diabetes are due to an unhealthy lifestyle characteristic of modern society, that can be managed by proper community interventions and regular population screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to analyze obesogenic behavioral patterns of adolescents living in Mureş County, Romania, as well as to establish a relationship between these behaviors and their Body Mass Index (BMI), in an attempt to provide effective prevention strategies for obesity. Material and Methods: 153 students between 9th to 12th grade, aged between 14 and 19 years old, from the Vocational and Art Highschool of Târgu Mureş were included in the study. All the candidates filled out an evaluation questionnaire of lifestyle and risky behaviors. The analyzed data were sex, age, residence, BMI and risky eating behavior defined as the consumption of carbohydrates (bread, potatoes, sweets), sodas, junk food, alcohol (wine, distilled beverages, beer), beer separately, level of physical activity (school and extra-school sports activities), sedentary behaviors (=2 hours/day in front of a screen: personal computer-PC and television-TV), and spending =2 hours/day separately on the PC and on the TV. Results: A statistically significant association was observed between BMI and consumption of fast-food, tobacco, beer, sedentary behavior and spending =2 hours/day in front of the PC. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference between the BMI values of adolescents presenting all studied risk behaviors compared to those who did not. Conclusions: Obesity among adolescents from Mure? County is influenced by lifestyle choices like fast-food, tobacco, beer, sedentary behavior and spending =2 hours/day in front of the PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of snacking and to explore the relationship between snacking and several demographic, anthropometric, functional and biochemical factors. Methods: The study included 756 individuals over 18 years of age from Medias, Romania. Demographics and data about snacking were collected by trained volunteers. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure were measured with standard equipment according to accepted procedures. Blood glucose and cholesterol were measured by experienced nurses using portable devices. Associations between variables were checked with the Pearson Chi-square test. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to measure the association between binary variables. Results: About half of the subjects in the studied sample reported snacking less than 2 times / week, 34.5% between 3-4 times / week and 14.8% more than 4 times / week. Statistical analysis found that snacking was associated with gender (males being less likely to snack than females), ethnicity (non-Romanians being less likely to snack than Romanian ethnics), marital status of the subjects (not married people being less likely to snack than married people ), systolic blood pressure (people consuming more often snacks being less likely to have high systolic blood pressure values), and blood sugar level (people eating more frequently between meals being more likely to have higher blood glucose levels). Conclusions: Snacking was a widespread eating habit among the study participants and was significantly associated with gender, ethnicity, marital status, systolic blood pressure and blood glucose levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Graves' disease (GD) is one of main clinical presentations of AITD (autoimmune thyroid disease), featuring thyrotoxicosis, goiter, ophthalmopathy (GO), and in rare cases pretibial myxedema. As GD is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body produces antibodies to the receptor for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TRAb), it can be associated with other organ specific, or systemic autoimmune diseases in the same patient. Case report: A 45 female patient attended the endocrinology department for a relapse of GD, presenting anxiety, tachyarrhythmia, hypotension, diaphoresis and flapping tremor. Other complaints were: weight loss, insomnia, arthralgia with insidious onset during the last two month. Lab tests came out positive for thyrotoxicosis, but negative for nonspecific inflammatory syndrome. The patient was examined by a cardiologist and an ophthalmologist - diagnosed with cardiothyreosis and inactive Graves ophthalmopathy (no corticoid therapy was applied). The treatment was initiated with anti thyroid drugs, antiarrhythmics, diuretics. General condition has improved over the next 40 days, but polyarthralgia with local edema were amplified, especially in wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. New tests revealed positive antibody panel for rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusions: GD patients with nonspecific clinical signs or symptoms for the primary thyroid disease, should be appropriately screened for the presence of other autoimmune disorders. Early diagnosis and proper therapy greatly improved the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]