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Introduction. Low back pain has a direct and proportional impact on function and a general one on the quality of life. The present study aims to evaluate the functional impact of low back pain using specific self-assessment tools as indexes of appreciation and epidemiological correlations of potential risk factors involved. The conceptual model of our research is based on the importance of correlating symptoms with clinical assessment, using scales of pain, disability, quality of life, and determination of epidemiological correlations of these areas and the determined factors of the pathology. Material and method. The study group is made up of 106 cases with clinical diagnostic of low back pain, admitted from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021, at Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium of Techirghiol. After performing anamnesis, general clinical examination, specific neuro-musculo-skeletal examination, the patients filled the surveys highlighting the impact of their low back pain on functionality and disability deriving from it. The survey included the Oswestry Disability Index, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument and the Visual analog scale (VAS) score evaluated at the moment of hospitalization and at discharge. Statistical analysis of data was carried out and correlations between variables resulting from study were highlighted. The study was conducted according to the norms of deontology and medical ethics. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Results and discussions. Lumbar pathology is common in patients who are hospitalized for a complex balneary-physical-kinetic treatment at Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium of Techirghiol. About 80% of patients who have addressed to our unit in which the study was conducted, have presented low back pain. The majority of patients were females, representing 57,55% of the total number. Regarding the patients’ age, 58,5% of them were in the 50-70 years interval. The study reveals a major positive impact of our treatment on spinal symptomatology, an effect pointed out by the relevant statistical differences between the admittance and discharge VAS scores(p

Introduction: A great variety of medical issues can occur after the COVID-19 infection including fatigue, muscle weakness, locomotor disability, self-care dysfunction, polyneuropathy, persistent dyspnea on exertion and a hypercoagulable state. Materials and methods: This paper presents the case of a nonsmoker 49-year-old male with right lung lower lobe lobectomy for post tuberculosis bronchiectasis and diabetes mellitus, who developed multiple serious physicals, neurological, hematological and respiratory consequences, related to critical COVID-19 infection and prolonged hospitalization, Results: A favorable evolution of the patient’s respiratory sequels and motor impairment on both lower limbs was noticed after a complex individualized rehabilitation program started in the post COVID-19 Rehabilitation Department of Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium, Techirghiol, Romania, consisting in better functional parameters and exercise tolerance, significant improvement in daily activities, remission of exertional dyspnea, social and family reintegration. Conclusions: multidisciplinary approach and complex individualized programs of rehabilitation is required after a critical form of COVID in a patients known with tuberculosis, and other complex pathologies, in order to restore physical function and mobility and optimize respiratory parameters.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to approximately 3.5 million cases in Romania, causing systemic inflammation and over 200 symptoms affecting various body systems. This complexity has challenged rehabilitation systems, necessitating personalized plans tailored to each patient's illness stage and impairment level. The ISPRM-developed ClinFIT COVID-19 instrument, aligned with the ICF categories, assists in assessing patients during acute, post-acute, and long-term phases. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and assess functional impairments in post-COVID-19 patients in Romania, with a secondary goal of generating rehabilitation directions. Methods: Data were collected from patients at two Bucharest medical centers, including those with persistent symptoms post-acute phase. Participants were assessed using the adapted ClinFIT COVID-19 instrument, and descriptive statistics were applied. Conclusions: Findings revealed diverse functional impairments in physical, psychological, and social domains among post-COVID-19 patients, with severe impairments more common in those with long-term COVID-19. Complete impairment in complex movement and paid work was noted, affecting one-third of salaried employees and forcing some to retire. In the acute phase, the most frequent functional impairments were sleep, attention, pain sensation, and exercise tolerance functions. In contrast, the most severely affected functions were exercise tolerance and mobility joint functions. Age did not positively correlate with any of the analyzed functions. In the post-acute phase, sleep, energy, and drive functions remained the most frequently affected functions, while the most severely affected was, by far, the moving around function. In the post-acute period, respiratory and respiratory muscle functions strongly correlated with all tasks related to physical activity. In the long COVID-19 phase, remunerative employment was the most severely affected function, while attention functions remained the most frequently affected, similar to the acute phase. The ClinFIT COVID-19 instrument effectively captured these impairments, underscoring the need for comprehensive rehabilitation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of chronic wounds (CW) involves a multifaceted interplay of biochemical, immunological, hematological, and microbiological interactions. Biofilm development is a significant virulence trait which enhances microbial survival and pathogenicity and has various implications on the development and management of CW. Biofilms induce a prolonged suboptimal inflammation in the wound microenvironment, associated with delayed healing. The composition of wound fluid (WF) adds more complexity to the subject, with proven pro-inflammatory properties and an intricate crosstalk among cytokines, chemokines, microRNAs, proteases, growth factors, and ECM components. One approach to achieve information on the mechanisms of disease progression and therapeutic response is the use of multiple high-throughput 'OMIC' modalities (genomic, proteomic, lipidomic, metabolomic assays), facilitating the discovery of potential biomarkers for wound healing, which may represent a breakthrough in this field and a major help in addressing delayed wound healing. In this review article, we aim to summarize the current progress achieved in host–microbiome crosstalk in the spectrum of CW healing and highlight future innovative strategies to boost the host immune response against infections, focusing on the interaction between pathogens and their hosts (for instance, by harnessing microorganisms like probiotics), which may serve as the prospective advancement of vaccines and treatments against infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AMD (age-related macular degeneration) is the main cause of central vision loss in the population over 60 years old. AMD does not affect peripheral vision and complete blindness does not occur, instead, central vision is affected both for distance and for near. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the neovascular form of AMD treatment and compare ocular and systemic effects after intravitreal injection of aflibercept, respectively after bevacizumab when administered in comparable dosages and regimens. We conducted a retrospective, single-center study from June 2021 to December 2022 and enrolled 20 patients with neovascular AMD who had not received any prior treatment for this condition. We randomly assigned them to two groups of 10: group one received aflibercept and group two received bevacizumab as intravitreal injections under aseptic conditions. We excluded 2 patients who did not meet the criteria and ended up with two groups of 9 patients who received monocular treatment. We gave the patients 3 monthly injections of anti-VEGF agent and followed them up at 1 month, 3 months, and 9 months after the treatment. We assessed their visual acuity, intraocular pressure and OCT appearance at each follow-up visit. The primary outcome was visual acuity. All 18 patients included in the study reported an improvement in visual acuity after the intervention. When comparing the two anti-VEGF agents, data revealed the effect of aflibercept was prompter and more long-lasting. Areas of retinal ischemia appeared in both cases. However, they were observed faster in the case of patients treated with aflibercept. Thus, neovascular AMD is a disease that occurs with age, it can be early detected by OCT and slowed the progression to central blindness with intravitreal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lately, easier and shorter tests have been used in the functional evaluation of cardiac patients. Among these, walking speed (WS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests are associated with all-cause mortality, mainly cardiovascular and the rate of re-hospitalization, especially in the elderly population. We prospectively analyzed a group of 38 patients admitted to the Cardiology Clinic from Elias Hospital, Romania, with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) (n=22) and STEMI (n=16). We assessed the patients immediately after admission and before discharge with G-WALK between the 1st and 30th of September 2019. Our study group had a mean age of 62.7±12.1 years. Patients with a low WS were older (69.90±12.84 vs. 59.90±10.32 years, p=0.02) and had a lower serum hemoglobin (12.38±1.20 vs. 13.72±2.07 g/dl, p=0.02). The WS significantly improved during hospitalization (p=0.03) after optimal treatment. The TUG test performed at the time of admission had a longer duration in patients with heart failure (14.05 vs. 10.80 sec, p=0.02) and was influenced by patients' age (r=0.567, p=0.02), serum creatinine (r=0.409, p=0.03) and dilation of right heart chambers (r=0.399, p=0.03). WS and TUG tests can be used in patients with CCS and STEMI, and are mainly influenced by age, thus having a greater value among the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medic.ro is the property of MEDICHUB MEDIA, S.R.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and the main cause of disability in young people. Drug therapy cannot completely control many disabling symptoms in MS, such as cramps, pain, depression, and cognitive impairment. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technology can be used as a tool to regulate changes in cortical excitability and plasticity in MS patients, thereby improving the disability symptoms that affect such patients. Aims. Our objective was to explore the effectiveness and safety of non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods. We performed a literature review in different databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Medline, Google Scholar. Full text articles that used NIBS for exercise performance improvement in athletes were included (only articles in English were found). We searched for articles available in each database until 30 October 2019. We used articles published in journals, randomized or pseudo-randomized, sham-controlled clinical trials to evaluate the effects of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). The main result is the fatigue score before and after stimulation; the secondary result is the adverse event. Results. The general inverse variance method was used to aggregate data from cross-group and parallel group studies. A total of 14 studies (tDCS 11, TMS 2 and tRNS 1) which recruited 186 patients were included in the study. No qualified tACS, transcranial electrical therapy stimulation or non-invasive cortical electrical stimulation study with reduced impedance was found. The short-term and long-term therapeutic effects are for tDCS, TMS is significant, and TMS and tRNS are not superior to sham stimulation. Existing evidence supports the effectiveness of the 1.5 mA subgroup and the bilateral S1 subgroup of tDCS. Adverse events are mild and transient, but are comparable between real and sham stimulation. Conclusions. tDCS is a safe and effective way to treat fatigue in MS patients. However, there is further research needed to confirm our results in a large population and investigate the effectiveness of other NIBS subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lower limb ulcers are defined by a longstanding evolution, with no tendency to heal after three months of proper treatment or still not completely healed after twelve months Chronic wounds may be classified as typical and atypical. The majority of the typical chronic ulcers are localized on the lower limbs and are caused by chronic venous insufficiency, followed infrequency by other wound types arterial, of mixed etiology-arterial and venous, pressure, neuropathic and diabetic foot ulcers. Standard therapy of chronic ulcers begins with a few general principles which are applicable regardless of the lesions' cause: tissue debridement, control of the infection, moisture balance and management of the edges of the wound Negative pressure wound therapy is an alternative method shown to be effective in the treatment of wounds of various etiologies The appropriate negative pressure therapy type is chosen according to the clinical situation of the patient, the characteristics of the wound and the objective of the treatment. We aim to review the applications of negative pressure wound therapy in the management of typical chronic lower limb ulcers its impact on skin healing its adverse reactions as well as to provide information from our experience with this device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune condition of the connective tissue characterized by the appearance of inflammatory changes vascular abnormalities and fibrosis often with a multisystemic involvement. The ongoing vasculopathy, along with functional vasoconstriction and tissular damage, predisposes to ischemia, necrosis and skin ulcers There is little information in the scientific literature regarding the benefits of negative pressure therapy in the healing process of skin ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis. We report the case of' a 49-year-old female patient, who presented in our dermatology department for painful bilateral plantar ulcers the first one progressing for 9 months with local signs of infection and a recent rapid unfavorable evolution The presence of Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly and post-ulcerative digital scar lesions on both hands specific facial skin changes, specific autoimmune positive tests (positive antinuclear antibodies positive Anti-SCL-70 antibodies), histopathological examination and investigations to assess disease extension (cardiovascular, pulmonary and others confirmed the diagnosis of severe systemic sclerosis with vascular, lung and skin involvement. Arterial and venous Doppler ultrasound examination of the lower limbs revealed the presence of femoral vascular axes stenosis and the presence of distal popliteal and interdigital flows The bacteriological examination revealed an infection of skin ulcers with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. Therapeutic management was complex by merging systemic treatment (antibiotic therapy according to antibiogram results, alprostadil vasodilator treatment) with local therapy (surgical debridement, topical antiseptics topical application of skin-neutral ointment dressing in adittion to negative pressure wound therapy). The evolution was favorable with complete wound healing within 3 weeks. In conclusion negative pressure therapy has proven to be beneficial in healing plantar ulcers in a systemic sclerosis patient by: diminishing pain, removing the exudate, stimulating the development of granulation tissue and maintaining a sterile optimal local environment throughout the whole healing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy on functional capacity and oxidative stress in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF). Design: We included 30 consecutive patients admitted for AHF with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 50% who were randomized into two groups: NMES therapy added on conventional rehabilitation (CR) (n = 15, 67.2 ±13.35 years) and CR alone (n = 15, 63.26 ± 10.29 years). NMES therapy was performed at the level of the quadriceps muscle bilaterally, daily, for 60 minutes with a frequency of 10 Hz. Results: The mean duration of NMES therapy was 6.93 ± 2.54 days. Functional capacity assessed by the 6 minute walk test was significantly improved in the group with NMES therapy (p=0.036). The oxidized LDL value showed a decreasing trend compared to the admission value in the group with NMES therapy, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: This paper shows that for patients with AHF, NMES therapy used for a short term and initiated early during the hospitalization period improves exercise tolerance, suggesting the importance and possible necessity of including it as standard cardiac recovery therapy. NMES did not influence the plasmatic value of oxidized LDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dermatovenerologia Journal is the property of Societatea Romana de Dermatologie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. The definition of genu recurvatum is the presence of more than 5° hyperextension of the knee. Biomechanically, genu recurvatum appears during the stance phase, with the ground reaction force line passing anterior to the knee. From a practical point of view, retraining the gait in patients with genu recurvatum is relatively complex because of diverse etiologies. Aims. To present multiple approaches of rehabilitation strategies and their outcomes for treating patients with genu recurvatum. Methods. We performed a systematic literature review in different databases, PubMed, Science Direct, using the following key words: "genu recurvatum", "knee hyperextension", "rehabilitation". Results. Ten articles met our selection criteria. Three assessed retraining methods (functional electric stimulation or electrogoniometric feedback), five articles focused on orthoses and two articles on botulinum toxin. Conclusions. Genu recurvatum has a multifactorial etiology mechanism such as spasticity, muscle weakness and many others, and among post-stroke patients almost half of them develop genu recurvatum. Genu recurvatum is a disability factor, affecting gait, the quality of life of patients, generating pain and increasing the risk of fall-related injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. TXB-A injections are the first-line treatment of many movement disorders, and the safety of doing them is essential to the effectiveness of therapy. Aims. Evaluation of safety of TXB-A guided injections in upper limb spasticity of post-stroke patients. Methods. The study group comprised 60 patients distributed in 3 subgroups of 20 based on background medication administered in post-stroke management: 20 patients in the antiplatelet background subgroup, 20 patients in the subgroup of anticoagulant background medication, and 20 without anticoagulant/antiplatelet background medication. From the 60 patient group, based on the number of TXB-A injection cycles, 3 other subgroups were produced: 20 patients performed 3 injection cycles, 20 performed 2 cycles, and 20 completed a single injection cycle. Every patient received a total dose of 1000 UI of TXB-A. After each set of local injections, ultrasounds were performed at the injection site searching for local hematomas. The moments evaluated were: T0 (the initial time - injection time), T1 (one month after the injection), T2 (3 months from T0 or 2 months from T1), T3 (1 month after T2), T4 (3 months after T2 or 2 months after T3) and T5 (1 month after T4). Results. The lowest p value of the 3 possible comparisons of the anticoagulant, antiplatelet, no anticoagulant/antiplatelet group of patients was 0.856, showing a purely random distribution of adverse effects manifested by local hematomas following ultrasound guided injections. Conclusions. Multiple cycles of US guided TXB-A injections with a minimum 3-month frequency between injections do not increase the risk of local haematomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Spasticity is well known as one of the most common after stroke complications, providing a series of negative effects including decreased range of motion, muscle spasm, different levels of contracture, local pain in the affected area. Aims. Clinical-functional evaluation of the short and medium term effect of ultrasonographically guided injections with botulinum toxin type A (TxB-A) on the spasticity of the upper limb in post-stroke patients and the quantification of effects on international scales of spasticity and functionality. Methods. The groups studied were composed of 60 patients, which were divided based on the doses provided in each muscle of the hand and wrist flexors (250 IU versus 333 IU). Every patient received a total dose of 1000 IU of TxB-A. The parameters that were assessed were: Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL), international scales for spasticity and functionality. The moments evaluated were: T0 (the initial time - injection time), T1 (one month after the injection) and T2 (3 months from T0 or 2 months from T1). Results. Evaluation of MAS and ADL scales from T0 to T1 and T2 for the 250 IU group shows great improvements at T1 on both scales, MAS (<0.001) and ADL (<0.001), while maintaining the efficacy at T2, MAS (p-value 0.214 ), ADL (p-value 0.166). Evaluation of MAS and ADL scales from T0 to T1 and T2 for the 333 IU group also shows effective improvements on both scales at T1, MAS (<0.001), ADL (<0.001), and T2, MAS (0.849), ADL (0.013). Correlations between the two groups, 250 IU vs 333 IU, performed for each of the scales used in the study evidenced better results at T1 in favor of the 333 IU group on both MAS (p-value 0.034) and ADL score (p-value 0.078), with the proportion maintained in favor of the 333 IU group at T2, MAS (p-value 0.024), ADL (p-value 0.035). Conclusions. a) TxB-A is efficient as a prime line treatment for spasticity, helping the patients in the muscle neurorehabilitation effort; b) TxB A is effective in reducing spastic muscle tone (MAS); c) TxB A is a useful asset in managing hand function (ADL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To report the case of a 49-year-old female patient diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, with healing of bilateral plantar ulcerations by the use of negative pressure therapy. Methods: The anamnesis and clinical examination revealed chronic bilateral, intensely painful plantar ulcerations, with local signs of infection, progressing for 9 months, with a recent rapid extension in size and depth. The presence of Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, and post-ulcerative digital cicatricial lesions on the hands, Mauskopf facies, positivity of anti-SCL70+ antibodies, and histopathological examination established the diagnosis of systemic scleroderma. Arterial and venous Doppler ultrasound examination of the lower limbs revealed femoral vascular axes stenosis and the presence of distal popliteal and interdigital flows. Wound bacteriological examination was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. Results/ Discussion: Therapeutic management was complex by systemic treatment (antibiotics, alprostadil as vasodilator) and local therapy (surgical debridement, topical antiseptics, modern dressings, negative pressure wound therapy). The evolution was favorable with complete wound healing within 3 weeks. Conclusion: Negative pressure therapy has proven to be beneficial in healing plantar chronic ulcers in a systemic sclerosis patient by: diminishing pain, removing the exudate, stimulating the development of granulation tissue, and maintaining a sterile optimal local environment throughout the whole healing process. There is little information in the scientific literature about the usefulness of negative pressure therapy in healing skin ulcers in patients with systemic scleroderma. This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI -- UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-1225, within PNCDI III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health organization in early March 2020. The disease typically presents with viral respiratory symptoms that could progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Emerging evidence suggests different possible dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19, including: acral lesions (pernio-like, pseudo-chillblain), vesicular eruptions, macular and papular exanthema, urticaria, livedoid, purpuric and petechial rashes. However, specific skin manifestations of the COVID-19 disease have not yet been clearly established and the relationship between the appearance of skin lesions and SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear. These highly variable skin changes could represent a direct consequence of the viral infection, an immunological response to viral nucleotides, adverse reactions to drugs frequently used for the treatment of COVID-19, or other disorders. In a global effort to comprehend the exact cutaneous features of COVID-19, several international dermatological societies have initiated nationwide studies to analyze COVID-19 cutaneous manifestations during this pandemic. This paper represents a literature review of the scientific data available on the clinical characteristics and symptoms of the cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19. Such findings are extremely useful in establishing if dermatological manifestations in COVID-19 patients could harbor a diagnostic significance and subsequently be used as prognostic factors for outcomes of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune blistering diseases represent a group of chronic severe, disabling, and potentially fatal disorders of the skin and/or mucous membranes, primarily mediated by pathogenic auto-antibodies. Despite their rarity, these diseases are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and profound negative impact on the patient's quality of life and impose a considerable economic burden. Rituximab, an anti-CD-20 monoclonal antibody, represents the first line of therapy for pemphigus, regardless of severity and a valuable off-label therapeutic alternative for subepidermal autoimmune blistering diseases as it ensures high rates of rapid, long-lasting complete remission. Nevertheless, disease recurrence is the rule, all patients requiring maintenance therapy with rituximab eventually. While innate resistance to rituximab in pemphigus patients is exceptional, acquired resistance is frequent and may develop even in patients with initial complete response to rituximab, representing a real challenge for physicians. We discuss the various resistance mechanisms and their complex interplay, as well as the numerous therapeutic alternatives that may be used to circumvent rituximab resistance. As no therapeutic measure is universally efficient, individualization of rituximab treatment regimen and tailored adjuvant therapies in refractory autoimmune blistering diseases are mandatory.

With the increasing use of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections in the masseter muscles for both medical and aesthetic purposes, there is a constant need to continually enhance the efficacy of these treatments and reduce the risk of potential adverse events. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the masseter muscle's anatomical structure and essential landmarks and emphasizes the advantages of ultrasound (US) guidance in improving the precision of BoNT-A injections compared to conventional blind methods. The review is supplemented with comprehensive figures, including graphics, clinical images, and ultrasound visuals, to support the discussion. Potential complications such as paradoxical bulging, inadvertent injections into the risorius muscle or parotid gland, facial paralysis, and the risk of bone resorption are examined. Future research should aim at refining injection techniques and assessing the long-term effects of repeated treatments to ensure optimal patient care and safety.

Background: AMD (age-related macular degeneration) is the main cause of central vision loss in the population over 60 years old. AMD does not affect peripheral vision and complete blindness does not occur, instead, central vision is affected both for distance and for near. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the neovascular form of AMD treatment and compare ocular and systemic effects after intravitreal injection of aflibercept, respectively after bevacizumab when administered in comparable dosages and regimens. We conducted a retrospective, single-center study from June 2021 to December 2022 and enrolled 20 patients with neovascular AMD who had not received any prior treatment for this condition. We randomly assigned them to two groups of 10: group one received aflibercept and group two received bevacizumab as intravitreal injections under aseptic conditions. We excluded 2 patients who did not meet the criteria and ended up with two groups of 9 patients who received monocular treatment. We gave the patients 3 monthly injections of anti-VEGF agent and followed them up at 1 month, 3 months, and 9 months after the treatment. We assessed their visual acuity, intraocular pressure and OCT appearance at each follow-up visit. The primary outcome was visual acuity. All 18 patients included in the study reported an improvement in visual acuity after the intervention. When comparing the two anti-VEGF agents, data revealed the effect of aflibercept was prompter and more long-lasting. Areas of retinal ischemia appeared in both cases. However, they were observed faster in the case of patients treated with aflibercept. Thus, neovascular AMD is a disease that occurs with age, it can be early detected by OCT and slowed the progression to central blindness with intravitreal treatment., Competing Interests: None to declare., (Copyright © 2023, Medical University Publishing House Craiova.)

One of the fields of medicine in which artificial intelligence techniques have made progress is ophthalmology. Artificial intelligence (A.I.) applications for preventing vision loss in eye illnesses have developed quickly. Artificial intelligence uses computer programs to execute various activities while mimicking human thought. Machine learning techniques are frequently utilized in the field of ophthalmology. Ophthalmology holds great promise for advancing artificial intelligence, thanks to various digital methods like optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field testing. Artificial intelligence has been used in ophthalmology to treat eye conditions impairing vision, including macular holes (M.H.), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. The more common occurrence of these diseases has led to artificial intelligence development. It is important to get annual screenings to detect eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. These conditions can cause decreased visual acuity, and it is necessary to identify any changes or progression in the disease to receive appropriate treatment. Numerous studies have been conducted based on artificial intelligence using different algorithms to improve and simplify current medical practice and for early detection of eye diseases to prevent vision loss. Abbreviations: AI = artificial intelligence, AMD = age-related macular degeneration, ANN = artificial neural networks, AAO = American Academy of Ophthalmology, CNN = convolutional neural network, DL = deep learning, DVP = deep vascular plexus, FDA = Food and Drug Administration, GCL = ganglion cell layer, IDP = Iowa Detection Program, ML = Machine learning techniques, MH = macular holes, MTANN = massive training of the artificial neural network, NLP = natural language processing methods, OCT = optical coherence tomography, RBS = Radial Basis Function, RNFL = nerve fiber layer, ROP = Retinopathy of Prematurity, SAP = standard automated perimetry, SVP = Superficial vascular plexus, U.S. = United States, VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor., (#x00A9; The Authors.Romanian Society of Ophthalmology.)