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Resume La remission spontanee de la maladie de Cushing est un evenement extremement rare. Nous decrivons un cas representatif et proposons une revue systematique des cas precedemment rapportes dans la litterature. Presentation de cas : une femme de 51 ans diagnostiquee avec la maladie de Cushing a subi un traitement unique avec de la metyrapone pendant neuf mois. Deux mois apres l’arret du traitement, elle a ete admise pour une insuffisance renale aigue. Apres encore quatre mois, en juin 2020, il n’y avait aucun signe d’hypercortisolisme, que ce soit cliniquement ou biochimiquement, ou d’hypocortisolisme, chez notre patient. Un an plus tard, elle est toujours en remission. Cas rapportes dans la litterature : sur 23 patients (dont notre cas), 87 % etaient des femmes avec un âge median de 32 ans. Parmi ceux qui avaient des tumeurs radiologiquement visibles, 10 patients avaient des microadenomes (44 %), tandis que 7 patients avaient des macroadenomes (30 %). Le delai moyen entre le diagnostic et la remission spontanee etait de 5 mois, plus court dans les macroadenomes (1 mois) que dans les microadenomes (13,5 mois). Avant la remission spontanee, les traitements etaient : l’absence de traitement (65 %), les inhibiteurs steroidiens (22 %), la surrenalectomie bilaterale et l’autotransplantation surrenale (5 %), la surrenalectomie bilaterale partielle (4 %), la chirurgie hypophysaire incomplete (4 %). L’apoplexie tumorale hypophysaire etait l’evenement incrimine le plus frequent (91 %), documente radiologiquement chez 43 % des patients. La periode moyenne de remission au cours du suivi etait de 28 mois, les remissions allant de 6 a 130 mois. Une recidive de la maladie de Cushing est survenue chez 39 % (n = 9) des patients. Bien que plusieurs mecanismes responsables de ce phenomene aient ete proposes, l’apoplexie tumorale hypophysaire cliniquement manifeste ou infra-clinique, cette derniere se presentant parfois de maniere atypique, semble etre l’evenement incrimine le plus frequent. Les medecins doivent en etre conscients, et un suivi regulier est obligatoire en raison de son imprevisibilite.

The ability of TiO2 to generate reactive oxygen species under UV radiation makes it an efficient candidate in antimicrobial studies. In this context, the preparation of TiO2 microparticles coated with Ca- and Cu-based composite layers over which Cu(II), Cu(I), and Cu(0) species were identified is presented here. The obtained materials were characterized by a wide range of analytical methods, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The antimicrobial efficiency was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative standard methods and standard clinical microbial strains. A significant aspect of this composite is that the antimicrobial properties were evidenced both in the presence and absence of the light, as result of competition between photo and electrical effects. However, the antibacterial effect was similar in darkness and light for all samples. Because no photocatalytic properties were found in the absence of copper, the results sustain the antibacterial effect of the electric field (generated by the electrostatic potential of the composite layer) both under the dark and in light conditions. In this way, the composite layers supported on the TiO2 microparticles’ surface can offer continuous antibacterial protection and do not require the presence of a permanent light source for activation. However, the antimicrobial effect in the dark is more significant and is considered to be the result of the electric field effect generated on the composite layer.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by oligo-anovulation and androgen excess is considered a high-risk condition for metabolic disorders. Herein, untargeted metabolomics analysis was applied to women with PCOS, aiming to provide deeper insights into lipidomics biomarkers signature of PCOS, for better diagnosis and management. This was a cross-sectional study in which 15 Caucasian women with PCOS and 15 Caucasian healthy, age-matched women were enrolled. Lipidomics analysis was performed using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time of Flight Electrospray Mass Spectrometry. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis retrieved the most important discriminative metabolites. Significantly increased levels of triacylglycerol (18:2/18:2/0-18:0) in addition to cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (18:0/0:0) and cholestane-5alpha (18:1/0:0) appeared as valuable variables to differentiate subjects with PCOS from controls. Acyl-carnitine 2-hydroxylauroylcarnitine was significantly elevated in PCOS in opposition to decreased phosphocholines metabolites (18:1/18:4, 18:3/18:2), to suggest a metabolic pattern linked to lipid peroxidation. A high fat intake or reduced fat energy consumption during nighttime due to diminished ability to switch to lipid oxidation during fasting time possibly contribute to hypertriglyceridemia found in PCOS. Furthermore, inflammatory mediators including metabolites of the prostaglandin (PG) E2 pathway and oxo-leukotrienes (LT) were increased in patients with PCOS. Potential lipidomics biomarkers were identified that could stratify between women with PCOS and healthy controls. The results show particular alterations in acylglycerols, PGs and LTs and phosphocholines and carnitine metabolites. The lipidomics profiles of PCOS indicate a higher risk of developing metabolic diseases.

Background and objectives: Medical devices such as catheters are used on a large scale to treat heart and cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, they present some important drawbacks (structure failure, calcifications, infections, thrombosis, etc.), with the main side effects occurring due to adhesion and proliferation of bacteria and living cells on the surface of the implanted devices. The aim of this work is to modify the surface of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), an affordable biocompatible material, in order to reduce these aforementioned side effects. Materials and Methods: The surface of PVC was modified by depositing a thin layer also of PVC that incorporates an active substance, dicoumarol (a well-known anticoagulant), by spin coating process. The modified surfaces were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to determine the surface morphology and behavior. The samples were tested for Gram-positive (S. aureus ATCC 25923) and Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) standard strains from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Results: The material obtained had a smooth surface with a uniform distribution of dicoumarol, which is released depending on the deposition parameters. The concentration of dicoumarol at the surface of the material and also the release rate is important for the applications for which the surface modification was designed. PVC modified using the proposed method showed a good ability to prevent salt deposition and decreased the protein adhesion, and the resistance to bacterial adherence was improved compared with standard PVC.

The paper presents the results obtained following the theoretical research of one rotation mechanism, regarding the dynamic behavior for one modern transfer system, a manipulator or robot in cylindrical co-ordinates, which belongs to a molding technological module based on the hydraulic presses. Using the mathematical modeling and the computer simulation, we can know the dynamic behavior of the rotation mechanism. Analyzing the dynamic behavior, it can identify the parameters with sensitive behavior and, finally, it can optimize the dynamic regimes according to the real requests of driving, in order to satisfy the technological processes.

Ioana Ilie,1 Razvan Ilie,2 Teodora Mocan,3 Flaviu Tabaran,4 Cornel Iancu,4 Lucian Mocan4 1Department of Endocrinology, 2Department of Microbiology, 3Department of Physiology, 4Third Surgery Clinic, Department of Nanomedicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Abstract: Recent data in the literature support the role of nicotinamide (NA) as a pharmacologic agent that stimulates pancreatic beta-cells to produce insulin in vitro. There are data showing that carbon nanotubes may be useful in initiating and maintaining cellular metabolic responses. This study shows that administration of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with nicotinamide (NA-MWCNTs) leads to significant insulin production compared with individual administration of NA, MWCNTs, and a control solution. Treatment of 1.4E7 cells for 30 minutes with NA-MWCNTs at concentrations ranging from 1 mg/L to 20 mg/L resulted in significantly increased insulin release (0.18 ± 0.026 ng/mL for 1 mg/L, 0.21 ± 0.024 ng/mL for 5 mg/L, and 0.27 ± 0.028 ng/mL for 20 mg/L). Thus, compared with cells treated with NA only (0.1 ± 0.01 ng/mL for 1 mg/L, 0.12 ± 0.017 ng/mL for 5 mg/L, and 0.17 ± 0.01 ng/mL for 20 mg/L) we observed a significant positive effect on insulin release in cells treated with NA-MWCNTs. The results were confirmed using flow cytometry, epifluorescence microscopy combined with immunochemistry staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. In addition, using immunofluorescence microscopy techniques, we were able to demonstrate that MWCNTs enhance insulin production via the macrophage migration inhibitory factor pathway. The application and potential of NA combined with MWCNTs as an antidiabetic agent may represent the beginning of a new chapter in the nanomediated treatment of diabetes mellitus. Keywords: carbon nanotubes, NA, insulin-producing cells, insulin, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, diabetes mellitus

The paper presents the results following the theoretical research of one prehension mechanism regarding the dynamic behavior for one modern transfer systems, a manipulator or robot in cylindrical co-ordinates, which belongs to a molding technological module based on the hydraulic presses. Using the mathematical modeling and the computer simulation, it can identify the parameters with sensitive behavior and, finally, it can optimize the dynamic regimes according to the real requests of driving.

The paper presents the theoretical results of extensive research on the dynamic behavior of linear hydraulic motors, carried out in INOE 2000-IHP, in the framework of the NUCLEU Programmer. The research has been conducted both theoretically and experimentally, but, in this paper, is presented only the theoretical research. Theoretical research has taken place with the modern means of mathematical modeling and computer numerical simulation. The article presents some theoretical interested results obtained in the research, results that are of real scientific interest, but, also, with practical value through their use in the design of fluid power components and equipments.

ObjectiveThere is plenty of evidence that osteoprotegerin (OPG) is linked to subclinical vascular damage and predicts cardiovascular disease in high-risk populations. Our aim is to investigate the relationships of OPG/free soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (sRANKL) to insulin resistance, brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, impaired glucose control, and endothelial injury.DesignA cross-sectional, observational study.MethodsHormonal and metabolic profiles, FMD, CIMT, serum OPG, and ampli-sRANKL were assessed in 64 young PCOS patients and 20 controls of similar age. Body composition was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsOPG was significantly lower in PCOS and related negatively to free testosterone and positively to estradiol (E2) levels. In multivariate analysis, OPG but not ampli-sRANKL correlated positively to fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity indices, and FMD. Neither OPG nor ampli-sRANKL was associated with CIMT. Significantly lower adjusted FMD values were demonstrated in women in the upper OPG quartile group (>2.65 pmol/l) compared with all other quartile groups together (P=0.012). In PCOS, multiple regression analysis retained E2/sex hormone-binding globulin ratio, fat mass, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance as independent predictors of OPG.ConclusionsIn PCOS, circulating OPG is related to both endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance, independent of obesity and androgen excess, suggesting OPG as a useful biomarker of these effects. Further studies are needed to evaluate OPG in relation to cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is possibly the most common endocrinopathy of reproductive age, characterized by hyperandrogenism and oligomenorrhea. Additionally, approximately one-third to one-half of all women and adolescent girls with PCOS tend to fulfill many of the metabolic syndrome criteria, and many view PCOS as a premetabolic syndrome condition, predisposing to a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction, impaired arterial structure, or proinflammatory markers are early features of atherosclerosis, and can be used as surrogate indicators of future coronary artery disease in women with PCOS. However, as the latest studies show, these symptoms are the result of deleterious effects that cardiovascular risk factors, in particular insulin resistance and obesity, produce on the vascular wall, rather than to the presence of PCOS per se. The relationship between hyperandrogenemia and the risk of cardiovascular disease is controversial and needs to be clarified. Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in PCOS, and to identify subtypes of PCOS in which the presence of cardiovascular risk factors may result in increased cardiovascular events, leading to high morbidity or mortality rates caused by cardiovascular disease.

Lucian Mocan,1 Ioana Ilie,2 Cristian Matea,1 Flaviu Tabaran,1 Ersjebet Kalman,1 Cornel Iancu,1 Teodora Mocan3 13rd Surgery Clinic, Department of Nanomedicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 2Department of Endocrinology, Department of Nanomedicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 3Department of Physiology, Department of Nanomedicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Abstract: Systemic infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacteria are responsible for millions of deaths worldwide, and much of this mortality is due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant organisms as a result of natural selection. Gold nanoparticles synthesized using the standard wet chemical procedure were photoexcited using an 808 nm 2 W laser diode and further administered to MRSA bacteria. Flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, contrast phase microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy combined with immunochemical staining were used to examine the interaction of the photoexcited gold nanoparticles with MRSA bacteria. We show here that phonon–phonon interactions following laser photoexcitation of gold nanoparticles exhibit increased MRSA necrotic rates at low concentrations and short incubation times compared with MRSA treated with gold nanoparticles alone. These unique data may represent a step forward in the study of bactericidal effects of various nanomaterials, with applications in biology and medicine. Keywords: MRSA, SPR, multi-drug resistant bacteria, infection, gold nanoparticles, laser

Background We are hereby investigating for the first time the effect of the association ethinylestradiol30μg-drospirenone 3mg (DRP/EE30μg) plus metformin and weight loss on endothelial status and C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods 25 young women with PCOS (mean age 22.76 ± 0.83 years, body mass index (BMI): 28.44 ± 6.23) who completed the study were prospectively evaluated. The oral contraceptive- DRP/EE30μg (21 days/month) and metformin (1700 mg daily) were administered for 6 months to the PCOS group. Additionally, the 15 overweight and obese patients (BMI > 25 kg/m2) were instructed in a diet of no more than 1500 cal daily. Primary outcome measures were surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease and included endothelial function, i.e. flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) on the brachial artery and endothelin-1 levels, as well as hsCRP concentrations, body composition (measured by whole-body dual-energy X-ray-absorptiometry) and insulin resistance. Variables were assessed at baseline, as well as after our medical intervention. Results The combination between DRP/EE30μg plus metformin combined with weight loss triggered a significant improvement in the FMD values (FMD-PCOSbasal 3.48 ± 1.00 vs FMD-PCOS6 months7.43 ± 1.04, p = 0.033), as well as body composition and insulin insensitivity (p 6months – PCOSbasal) difference. Conclusion A 6-month course of metformin- DRP/EE30μg (associated with weight loss) improves the endothelial dysfunction in PCOS and shows neutral effects on hsCRP concentrations as an inflammation marker. These data demand for reevaluation of the medical therapy in PCOS, particularly in women with additional metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01459445).

During the last decade, due to advances in functionalization chemistry, novel nanobiomaterials with applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have been developed. These novel materials with their unique physical and chemical properties are bioactive hierarchical structures that hold great promise for future development of human tissues. Thus, various nanomaterials are currently being intensively explored in the directed differentiation of stem cells, the design of novel bioactive scaffolds, and new research avenues towards tissue regeneration. This paper illustrates the latest achievements in the applications of nanotechnology in tissue engineering in the field of regenerative medicine.