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Preeclampsia, affecting 5-10% of pregnancies, is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. The complications include intrauterine growth restriction, eclampsia, placental abruption, and HELLP syndrome. Effective first-trimester screening, recommended by international societies, considers maternal risk factors such as the PlGF (placental growth factor) value, the pulsatility index of the uterine arteries, and the mean blood pressure. Advances in soluble biomarkers, especially the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, offer improved early diagnosis and management by predicting preeclampsia weeks before the symptoms appear. Preventive measures – notably, low-dose aspirin – have been validated by the ASPRE study, showing a 62% reduction in preterm preeclampsia risk when administered from 11-14 weeks of gestation. Implementing these screening and prevention strategies nationwide, especially in resource-limited areas, is essential to reduce the incidence and to improve the outcomes for mothers and babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) is the first infectious agent proven to cause cancer, and it is considered among the most potent carcinogens for humans. HTLV-1 is estimated to have infected 5-10 million individuals, with only about 5% of people that contract the virus expected to de)velop any associated disease. Within Europe, Romania appears to be the only region endemic to HTLV-1. There are two primary diseases associated with HTLV-1, T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM), or tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). Each is linked to a distinct mode of transmission: ATL with breastfeeding, and HAM/TSP with blood transfusion. The main ways of viral transmission are from mother to child by breastfeeding, via blood transfusions, or through sexual intercourse. Vertical infection rate has been found to be 14.2%. In Romania, HTLV is included in the screening for blood donors, but not in prenatal screenings. Vertically transmitted infections can be reduced with up to 87% by avoiding breastfeeding. New research supports the effectiveness of prenatal screening followed by avoiding breastfeeding in reducing new cases of HTLV in endemic areas, and such measures must be taken in Romania as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]