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The reason this research topic is of interest lies in the fact that the first year after birth is a major transition for all parents, especially for mothers. Thus, the objective of the present paper is to analyze certain psychosocial factors surrounding new mothers during this period and the way in which they can accentuate feelings of incapacity and powerlessness that can contribute to the development of low self-esteem and a negatively perceived body image. These factors can adversely impact the postpartum period. Furthermore, this topic has been very little explored in the Romanian population.

Preserving fruits and vegetables by freezing is one of the most important methods of keeping their quality, for a long period of time. In this research, various ways of the freezing behaviour of ‘Augusta’ and ‘Simultan’ blueberry cultivars were examined. Freezing systems used were a classical freezer, cooler, fast freezing tunnel and an experimental model (equipment) for fast freezing in a nitrogen atmosphere designed by INMA. Experiments were focused on sensory quality, and nutritional value of frozen fruits and changes in texture, taste and biochemical components namely vitamin C. In the same time a number of factors such as freezing time and rate, which have direct influence on the final quality of the frozen product have been followed and determined. The results confirmed that blueberry fruit lends itself to preservation by freezing and that a quick-freezing process is recommended. ‘Simultan’ presented better features compared to ‘Augusta’. The presented results allow establishing the freezing methods easy to use in Romania rural areas, within family farms whose technical equipment is deficient.

Soil fumigation has been an essential component of greenhouse crops since the 1960s. Growing vegetables without soil fumigants has remained a challenge, in part because commercially acceptable pepper cultivars produced through conventional breeding lack resistance to many soil borne plant pathogens. In field production, crop rotation is important to prevent infestation of diseases and pests. However, crop rotation is rarely practiced in greenhouse production, which allows soil borne pathogens and pests to accumulate, progressively reducing crop yields and fruit quality. Grafting cultivars with high quality and productivity on rootstocks that are resistant to the soil pests and diseases is a method known from years ago, which was improved and quickly spread in the last years. The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance of grafted peppers on some rootstocks, in greenhouse conditions. Marketable yield, fruit quality and nutritional qualities (total soluble solids contents, titratable acidity, soluble carbohydrates, vitamin C content) have been determined. The marketable yield and fruit number were positively influenced by rootstock compared with ungrafted peppers. The obtained results showed that grafting has improved the commercial quality of pepper fruits. There were no significant differences on the nutritional qualities of fruits peppers coming from the grafted or ungrafted plants.

Background Arterial stiffness is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the arterial stiffness and myocardial deformation in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus type 2 before and after glycemic control by optimal medication. Methods In 50 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes(age:52±10years)and 25 controls of similar age and sex and no atherosclerotic risk factors we measured at baseline and 6 months after glycemic control a) carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(PWVc m/sec-Complior SP ALAM),central systolic blood pressure(cSBP -mmHg),augmentation index(AI%), of the aortic pulse wave(ArteriographTensioMed) b)S',E'(m/sec)andE'/A'of mitral annulus by Tissue Doppler c)LV longitudinal strain(GLS-%),systolic(LongSr-l/sec)and diastolic(LongSrE-l/sec)strain rate, twisting(Tw-deg),peak twisting(Tw)and untwisting(unTw-deg/sec)velocity using speckle tracking echocardiography.The degree of LV untwisting was calculated as the percentage difference between peak twisting and untwisting at MVO(%dp PeakTw-UntwMVO)and between peak twisting and untwisting at peak and end of the mitral inflow E wave d)perfusion boundary region(PBR- micrometers)of the sublingual arterial microvessels(ranged from 5-25 micrometers)using Sideview,Darkfield imaging(Microscan,Glycocheck).Increased PBR is considered an accurate index of reduced endothelial glucocalyx thickness because of a deeper RBC penetration in the glucocalyx e) Flow mediated dilatation(FMD) of the brachial artery and percentage difference of FMD (FMD%). Results Compared to controls,diabetics had higher PWVa(10.3±2.2 vs. 8.1±1.9), AI(27.9±15 vs. 19.4±14.7), PWVc(11.8±3.2 vs. 8.8±1.3),cSBP(136±20 vs. 119±18),PBR (2.1±0.2 vs 1.89±0.1)and lower GLS(-15±3 vs. -18±3),LongSr(-0.78±0.1 vs. -0.96±0.2),LongSrE(0.77±0.29 vs. 1.2±0.3),S',E' and E/A(p

Background: We describe the clinical characteristics, treatments and in-hospital case-fatality rates in an unselected population of patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction. Methods: From January 2000 to June 2007, we tracked consecutive patients who were admitted to 7 tertiary referral and 21 county hospitals in Romania for medical treatment of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. These patients were enrolled in the Romanian Registry for ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. For this prospective study, we collected data on demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, various aspects of treatment for myocardial infarction, and in-hospital death. Results: The 9186 patients in the study group had a mean age of 63.8 years. The median time from onset of symptoms to thrombolysis was 230 (interquartile range 120-510) minutes. Of the 9186 patients, 4986 (54.3%) had hypertension, 1974 (21.5%) had diabetes mellitus, 3545 (38.6%) had lipid disorders and 4653 (50.7%) were smokers. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12.7% (1170 deaths). The study group consisted of 2893 women and 6293 men. The women were older than the men and had higher rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus but were less likely to be smokers. A smaller proportion of women than men presented within 2 hours after onset of symptoms (23.1% v. 34.4%, p < 0.001). Smaller proportions of women received thrombolytics (40.8% v. 53.5%, p < 0.001), anticoagulants (93.4% v. 95.2%; p = 0.001), antiplatelet agents (88.3% v. 91.2%, p < 0.001) and primary percutaneous coronary interventions (1.5% v. 2.2%, p = 0.030). The risk of in-hospital death was greater for women, even after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.56; p < 0.001). Interpretation: The rates of reperfusion therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction were low, and in-hospital case-fatality rates were high in this study. Excess in-hospital mortality was more pronounced among women.

The classical streptokinase regimen (1.5 M.U. over 60 min) may be too slow in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).To compare the efficacy and safety of four streptokinase regimens in STEMI patients.1880 consecutive patients admitted within 6 h of STEMI onset were allocated one of the following four streptokinase regimens: 1.5 M.U. over 60 min (n=517); 1.5 M.U./30 min (n=355); 1.5 M.U./20 min (n=507); 0.75 M.U./10 min, repeated or not after 50 min if no electrocardiographic criteria of reperfusion (n=501).Rates of coronary reperfusion (non-invasively detected) for SK1.5/30 (72.39%), SK1.5/20 (75.34%) and SK0.75/10 (72.85%) were similar and higher than for SK1.5/60 (64.03%, p=0.019, p0.0001, and p=0.006, respectively). In-hospital mortality was significantly lower for SK1.5/20 (7.10%) and SK0.75/10 (7.38%) and at the limit of significance for SK1.5/30 (7.60%) compared with SK1.5/60 (11.60%, p0.0001, 0.006, and 0.053, respectively). Intracerebral haemorrhage and other major bleeding had similar incidence in the four groups.Compared to the classical 1.5 M.U. over 60 min streptokinase regimen, significantly higher rates of coronary reperfusion and lower in-hospital mortality can be obtained by infusing the same dose over only 20 min, or either one or two half doses over only 10 min, without risk increase.

SummaryTwelve-lead electrocardiogram were studied in 40 consecutive patients with angiographic left main coronary artery disease. The ECG were analysed during chest pain. The most frequent pattern was a ST elevation (> 0.1 mV) in lead aVR alone or with ST depression (> 0.2 mV) in the anterior or lateral leads. In coronary artery disease patients, the 12-Iead electrocardiogram at rest remains the best test to dctcct patients at higher risk for massive myocardial infarction or death.

(ARB), in essential hypertensive patients not adequately controlled by amlodipine monotherapy.This was a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study in patients with essential hypertension. After a washout period followed by a single-blind amlodipine 10 mg run-in period, patients with mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (msDBP)or =90 mmHg and110 mmHg were randomised to receive amlodipine/valsartan (10/160 mg o.d.) or amlodipine (10 mg o.d.) for 8 weeks.NCT00171002.The primary efficacy variable was change from baseline in msDBP at study endpoint. Secondary efficacy variables were change from baseline in mean sitting systolic blood pressure (msSBP), responder rate (msDBP90 mmHg oror =10 mmHg reduction from baseline) and DBP control rate (msDBP90 mmHg).Of the 1283 patients enrolled in single-blind period, 944 were randomised to receive amlodipine/valsartan 10/160 mg (n = 473) and amlodipine 10 mg (n = 471). Statistically significant greater reductions (p0.0001) from baseline in msSBP/msDBP were observed with combination therapy (12.9/11.4 mmHg) compared to monotherapy (10.0/9.3 mmHg). Responder rate was significantly greater (p = 0.0011) with combination therapy (79.0%) compared to monotherapy (70.1%). The percentage of patients with controlled DBP was also significantly (p0.0001) higher with combination therapy (77.8%) compared to monotherapy (66.5%). Incidence of peripheral oedema was slightly higher with amlodipine monotherapy (9.4%) compared to combination therapy (7.6%).The combination of amlodipine/valsartan in this 8-week double-blind study provided additional BP control and was well tolerated in patients inadequately controlled with amlodipine monotherapy. Results should be interpreted with the knowledge that study entry criteria may limit application to a wider population.

Objective: Jupiter Study supports the clinical use of the inflammatory status to limit cardiovascular events.Inflammation is now a theoretic concept which will start to be applied in practice to evaluate CV risk and the therapeutic target. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between the classical cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation markers (hsCRP, TNF-alpha, MPO-mieloperoxidase, AOPP-advance oxidation protein products) in an adult patients group with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Design and method: MPO and AOPP were assessed spectrophotommetrically, hs-CRP and TNF-alpha by sandwich ELISA, and all the other risk factors (BMI, fasting glucose, lipid profile) by validated standard procedures, respectively, in a group of 108 patients diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome, free of coronary desease or cardiac insufficiency and without having any treatment vs. 33 age-, and sex-matched control group patients (C). Results: The CV SCORE risk for MetS group was moderate. The MPO level was not statistical significantly different between the two groups.The AOPP level and the other inflammatory markers consideredwas were higher in MetS group. TNF-alpha was strongly correlated with the number of inclusion criteria in MetS, was average correlated with weight, waist, BMI, FPG, serum TG, HDL-c and is not correlated with the values of blood pressure, uric acid, LDL-c, TC. HsCRP are significantly higher than the control group and are strongly correlated with the number of criteria for MetS, waist, FPG, HbA1c, LDL-C and has an average correlation with SBP, BMI. Conclusions: The MPO level was not statistical significantly different between the two groups, probably because of one of the inclusion criteria, the absence of the coronary disease, which translate into the absence of an important atherosclerotic plaque, which can potentially break down. Moreover for the MetS group we found higher values not only for the AOPP level, but also for all the other inflammatory markers considered, probably due to the inclusion of patients with DM type II or with modified glucose tolerance who already have an endothelial dysfunction, even though most of the patients were non-smokers and were not diagnosed with end organ damage.