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Flavonoids are a group of plant polyphenols which received an increased attention during the recent past due to their important antimicrobial activities. Those compounds could be a reliable source of new antifungals, used to efficiently control infections caused by pathogenic fungi such as Candida spp. Candida species represents a leading cause of mortality all around the world, posing a serious threat to medical systems. Therefore, finding new compounds with antifungal activity for treatment of Candida infections is a real challenge of modern medicine. This review focuses on the antifungal activity of natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic flavonoids against the most prevalent pathogenic Candida species. In addition, the review outlines the mechanisms of action and the possible use of flavonoids as anti-virulence agents to withstand Candida pathogenicity and antifungal resistance.

Flavonoids are a group of plant polyphenols which received an increased attention during the recent past due to their important antimicrobial activities. Those compounds could be a reliable source of new antifungals, used to efficiently control infections caused by pathogenic fungi such as Candida spp. Candida species represents a leading cause of mortality all around the world, posing a serious threat to medical systems. Therefore, finding new compounds with antifungal activity for treatment of Candida infections is a real challenge of modern medicine. This review focuses on the antifungal activity of natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic flavonoids against the most prevalent pathogenic Candida species. In addition, the review outlines the mechanisms of action and the possible use of flavonoids as anti-virulence agents to withstand Candida pathogenicity and antifungal resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the evolution of the final consumption in Romania, as part of gross domestic product during the period 2009 - 2014. The analysis of the final consumption shows concern especially by observing the evolution of its two components: actual consumption achieved by households and the one achieved by public administrations. Final consumption has a high share within the gross domestic product, but the trend is one of diminishing it. The situation in which our country is found is no different from what occurs in other EU countries, where the final consumption has a significant share in GDP.

The consumers’ various and constantly dynamic needs are met by the consumers through the consumption of goods and services. Achieving prosperity and continuously raising the living standards are obvious desires of people in today’s society. The possibility to quantify the standard of living is achieved through consumption or rather through the total expenditure made in a household. So, naturally, in this paper we wish to highlight the relationship between the total revenue and the total expenditure specific to a household in Romania. For the period 2010 – 2014 in our country the total expenditure recorded a growth rate faster than the total revenue. Between the two indicators there is a very strong relation and its meaning is positive, thus the total revenue obviously influences the total expenditure.

Romanian consumers are the result of the demographic changes that occurred in our country after the revolution of 1989. The impact of population reduction and aging, of decrease in the birth rate and increase of mortality is reflected in consumption. The goods and services offered to the Romanian consumer must take into account the changes occurred in the population’s structure. Our country is not a singular case regarding population aging; Romania is part of the global trends. The changes occurred in the population’s structure will have negative effects both in consumption and in the workforce

At present, consumers focus on meeting their higher needs, as opposed to previously meeting the base ones. However this trend is not among priorities for the Romanian consumer. He/she uses almost 43% of the total consumption expenditures for the purchase of food, being restricted in his/her choices by the income and the price of products. The food products analysed in the period 2001 – 2012 have an upward trend, but with no substantial differences. The only product category that has a downward trend is represented by wine and wine products. Consumption in Romania was negatively influenced by the effects of the global crisis for the products analysed, except for meat and meat products. Despite the fact that we are far from the average annual meat consumption, however, the highest quantity recorded in our country was in 2009.

Background: Absorbable or non-absorbable sutures can be used for superficial skin closure following excisional skin surgery. There is no consensus among clinicians nor high-quality evidence supporting the choice of suture. The aim of the present study was to determine current suture use and complications at 30 days after excisional skin surgery. Methods: An international, prospective service evaluation of adults undergoing excision of skin lesions (benign and malignant) in primary and secondary care was conducted from 1 September 2020 to 15 April 2021. Routine patient data collected by UK and Australasian collaborator networks were uploaded to REDCap©. Choice of suture and risk of complications were modelled using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Some 3494 patients (4066 excisions) were included; 3246 (92.9 per cent) were from the UK and Ireland. Most patients were men (1945, 55.7 per cent), Caucasian (2849, 81.5 per cent) and aged 75-84 years (965, 27.6 per cent). The most common clinical diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma (1712, 42.1 per cent). Dermatologists performed most procedures, with 1803 excisions (44.3 per cent) on 1657 patients (47.4 per cent). Most defects were closed primarily (2856, 81.9 per cent), and there was equipoise in regard to use of absorbable (2127, 57.7 per cent) or non-absorbable (1558, 42.2 per cent) sutures for superficial closure. The most common complications were surgical-site infection (103, 2.9 per cent) and delayed wound healing (77, 2.2 per cent). In multivariable analysis, use of absorbable suture type was associated with increased patient age, geographical location (UK and Ireland), and surgeon specialty (oral and maxillofacial surgery and plastic surgery), but not with complications. Conclusion: There was equipoise in suture use, and no association between suture type and complications. Definitive evidence from randomized trials is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida pathogenic species represent a serious public health problem due to increasing resistance to antifungal agents. Resistance to traditional drugs such as fluconazole and amphotericin B is largely due to their ability to form biofilms. Biofilm cells are up to 1000 times more resistant to antifungal agents than planktonic cells. Identifying new effective molecules represents a priority in medical research. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of a synthetic flavonoid (BrCl) on biofilm formation by Candida species. In this context, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), biomass of the formed biofilm, cell surface hydrophobicity in the presence of hydrocarbons and cell adhesion time were assessed. The effect of BrCl flavonoid on biofilm formation produced by C. krusei was also evaluated. Investigation showed that only C. krusei and C. glabrata strains produced the highest amount of biofilm and showed a high affinity for hydrocarbons. The optimal adhesion time of C. krusei cells was 8 hours. The MIC value determined for BrCl was 15.62 µg/ml and MFC was 31.25 µg/ml. In the presence of BrCl flavonoid subinhibitory concentration (equivalent to ½ MIC and ¼ MIC), C. krusei biofilm formation was inhibited 77.2% and 66.49%. The results suggest that BrCl flavonoid has an important activity on C. krusei biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased resistance to antifungal agents and their toxicity is a major concern in the therapy of diseases caused by pathogenic fungi such as Candida sp. Therefore, the discovery of new drugs with high efficacy and low toxicity is a priority in scientific research. A possible solution is the use in therapy of flavonoids, natural compounds known for a long time for their antifungal, antioxidant, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to natural flavonoids, synthetic flavonoids are interesting due to their higher antimicrobial activity. In this context, we investigated the antifungal activity of a tricyclic flavonoid with iodine and chlorine as halogen substituents against Candida albicans ATTC 10239. The influence of I-Cl flavonoid on cell growth and viability and the synergistic effect with fluconazole were assessed. The mechanism of action was investigated using biofilm formation and hyphae formation assays. I-Cl flavonoid showed a very good antifungal activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 7.8 μg/ml and a fungistatic effect recorded for more than 34 hours. In the presence of the tested flavonoid, Candida cells lost viability (total kill) within only 4 hours. Synergistic and additive effects were observed when the flavonoid was used in combination with fluconazole. Flavonoid I-Cl inhibited the formation of hyphae and showed anti-biofilm activity. Our results that flavonoid I-Cl has a high potential to be used as an efficient antifungal agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]