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Background: The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in human health, and recent research has highlighted its potential impact on ocular health through the gut–eye axis. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiota, has been implicated in various ocular diseases. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant keywords in major electronic databases, prioritizing recent peer-reviewed articles published in English. Results: The gut microbiota influences ocular health through immune modulation, maintenance of the blood–retinal barrier, and production of beneficial metabolites. Dysbiosis can disrupt these mechanisms, contributing to ocular inflammation, tissue damage, and disease progression in conditions such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, and glaucoma. Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiome through probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation shows promise in preclinical and preliminary human studies. Conclusions: The gut–eye axis represents a dynamic and complex interplay between the gut microbiome and ocular health. Targeting the gut microbiome through innovative therapeutic strategies holds potential for improving the prevention and management of various ocular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognostic value of baseline inflammatory markers in sepsis remains controversial, with conflicting evidence regarding their association with mortality. The dynamic changes in these markers over time might offer additional insights into disease progression and patient outcomes. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 138 patients with severe infections. The inflammatory biomarkers procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate (LAC) were measured at three time points: upon hospital admission (baseline), approximately 24–48 h after admission (second measurement; M2), and 48–72 h after admission (third measurement; M3). The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. A Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the biomarker levels between the survivors and non-survivors. A Spearman's correlation was used to assess the relationships between the baseline parameters. A logistic regression and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were employed to evaluate the prognostic value of the baseline markers and their dynamic changes. Results: The baseline LAC and SOFA score were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. The percentage decrease in PCT, CRP, and LAC from the baseline to M3 emerged as strong predictors of survival, with the ROC curve analysis demonstrating superior discriminatory ability compared to the baseline values. CRP_Delta exhibited the highest AUC (0.903), followed by PCT_Delta (0.843) and LAC_Delta (0.703). Conclusions: The dynamic changes in these inflammatory biomarkers, particularly PCT, CRP, and LAC, offer valuable prognostic information beyond their baseline levels in predicting 30-day mortality in severe infections. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring biomarker trends for early risk stratification and potential treatment guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of mortality globally, emphasizing the need for early detection and effective risk assessment to improve patient outcomes. Advances in oculomics, which utilize the relationship between retinal microvascular changes and systemic vascular health, offer a promising non-invasive approach to assessing CVD risk. Retinal fundus imaging and optical coherence tomography/angiography (OCT/OCTA) provides critical information for early diagnosis, with retinal vascular parameters such as vessel caliber, tortuosity, and branching patterns identified as key biomarkers. Given the large volume of data generated during routine eye exams, there is a growing need for automated tools to aid in diagnosis and risk prediction. The study demonstrates that AI-driven analysis of retinal images can accurately predict cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular events, and metabolic diseases, surpassing traditional diagnostic methods in some cases. These models achieved area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.71 to 0.87, sensitivity between 71% and 89%, and specificity between 40% and 70%, surpassing traditional diagnostic methods in some cases. This approach highlights the potential of retinal imaging as a key component in personalized medicine, enabling more precise risk assessment and earlier intervention. It not only aids in detecting vascular abnormalities that may precede cardiovascular events but also offers a scalable, non-invasive, and cost-effective solution for widespread screening. However, the article also emphasizes the need for further research to standardize imaging protocols and validate the clinical utility of these biomarkers across different populations. By integrating oculomics into routine clinical practice, healthcare providers could significantly enhance early detection and management of systemic diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Fundus image analysis thus represents a valuable tool in the future of precision medicine and cardiovascular health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food neophobia involves avoiding new foods due to reluctance, aversion, or disgust. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) is the most reliable and common adult food neophobia test. It helps compare food neophobia across cultures by being translated into numerous languages. This study adapted, translated, and validated the FNS for Romania. This translated version was piloted in November 2023 on 59 students in the medical field from two distinct Romanian cities. Between December 2023 and February 2024, 375 adults were surveyed, representing Romania's population within a 90% confidence interval. The average age of responders was 38.07 years, with a standard deviation of 10.75 and a 4:1 female-to-male sex ratio. The Cronbach's alpha test was used to validate the questionnaire. Our study found that the mean FNS value was 31.86; most Romanian respondents (69.20%) were neutral towards trying new foods, with a significant portion being neophobes (18.21%) outnumbering neophiles (12.59%). When compared to international study results, Romanian adults, on average, exhibited a higher percentage of neophobes compared to those in Korea (13%), Hungary (16.8%), Italy (17%), and Brazil (17.5%), but a lower percentage than those in Lebanon (21.5%). The findings indicate that the translated scale can be utilized to assess neophobia among Romanian speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the measures taken by UVVG to modernize the educational process is the pioneering undertaking regarding the introduction of a course on Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM). Such an action has to face several challenges, at three levels, starting from its inclusion in the curricular vision of the university, its positioning in the didactic program as well as the content of the syllabus suitable for medical students. The first part presents the necessity and opportunity of introducing the course in the current context of the rapid growth of AIM applications. The second part refers to the concrete implementation of the introduction of the course in the curriculum, while the last and most developed part is dedicated to the preparation of the syllabus starting from the premises that the field is growing very fast and we should provide the basic knowledge to assure an easy understanding and a smooth assimilation of further developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The recent increase in oropharyngeal cancer cases in Western countries prompted this research, which focuses on evaluating the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the incidence of this cancer type in Romania. This study employed p16 overexpression as a biomarker to distinguish HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers from those attributed to other etiologies, like smoking and alcohol consumption. Comparative analysis of treatment responses revealed a markedly improved prognosis in patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal cancers, underscoring the significance of HPV in the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of these malignancies. Background: Oropharyngeal cancer is a global health concern due to its multifaceted nature. Recent molecular studies have linked p16 overexpression, associated with the human papillomavirus, to oropharyngeal cancer and its prognostic implications. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study in Western Romania examined 60 patients, categorizing them based on p16 biomarker status: 28 were p16 positive, and 32 were p16 negative. Statistical tests, including Fisher's exact and chi2, were used for analysis. Results: Patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer exhibited a better prognosis (3-year survival, p = 0.0477; midtreatment, p = 0.0349) and reported lower alcohol (p = 0.0046) and tobacco (p < 0.0001) use. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of p16 testing in oropharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis. It suggests modifying treatment approaches based on p16 status and underscores the differing prognoses associated with p16-positive and p16-negative cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the 21st century, cancer is considered the main obstacle to increasing life expectancy worldwide and represents the most important cause of death before the age of 70. Romania ranks second in terms of the incidence of cervical cancer at the European level and the first place in mortality due to this pathology. DALY (the burden of disease) is a measurement that combines the problem of disease and death by disease in a single number, being a method of determining the overall burden of the disease to which the World Health Organization calls. Materials and method: The cases were collected unrandomized from the statistical data, registers and protocols of the oncology section and supplemented with the data from the patient's observation sheets. Results: The 2616 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed between 1957 and 2017 were followed by 1570 deaths. The mean age to diagnose cervical cancer is 52.42 years, and the death occurs at the average age of 60.9 years. Total life years lost (YLL) by premature death due to cervical cancer are 264.6 per thousand, and years of cervical cancer disability (YLD) represent 30.6 years for every one thousand women. Conclusions: Insufficient medical education and lack of knowledge or interest in health programs aimed at reducing, preventing or treating malignant disease in the early stages contributes to increasing the burden of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Contraception is largely used worldwide to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Romania has had a negative history related to unsafe abortion and prohibition of the contraceptive methods during the communist regime. Although Romania is a member of the European Union and now contraceptive methods are available on a large scale, there are still a great number of unwanted pregnancies for which abortion is demanded by the female population. Material and method: Statistical analysis of the data regarding abortion performed in state hospital or private medical facilities was performed for the period 2013-2016. Age groups, place of living, way of performing the procedure were investigated. Results: For the period 2013-2016, there were 3068 abortions performed, out of which 2749 were performed on the patients request. 16 abortions were performed in unsafe conditions and the rest were represented by incomplete abortions. 35-38% of the TOP performed on the patients request were done in private medical facilities. Persons with more than 5 abortions were registered frequently; most of these procedures being asked for by the age group 30-34 and 35-39 years old. Majority of TOP were performed by dilation and curettage technique. Conclusions: The rates of abortion in Romania are one of the highest in Europe and the way of performing it can generate a lot of complication (D&C method). Official data is scarce regarding abortions as not all private facilities need to declare this procedure. As persons appeal several times for TOP, we conclude there is a poor contraceptive education and abortion is still considered a contraceptive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: HPV infection is considered the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide and affects both sexes, but women are more prone to the occurrence of symptomatology or dysplasic or neoplastic lesions especially in the uterine cervix. The study pursued highrisk HPV prevalence, as single or associated genotypes and the chance of infection in Arad County. Material and method: 180 samples were analyzed, tested HPV on automatic platform Cobas 4800 (Roche Diagnostics), real-time PCR method, taken from January 2016 to December 2017, with samples being positive HPV high risk 3.07% o for women between 18-58 Years. Results: The HPV frequency and high risk associations reach 29.44% (P = 0.0001) of the samples, the 25-29 age group presenting this infection with a 1% prevalence for genotypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 51 , 58, 59, 16 + 33, 16 + 45, 16 + 56, 18 + 68, 51 + 52 + 59, Odds ratio 5.4106 (95% CI 1.2438 to 23.5363, P = 0.0244) . HPV and low-risk associations reach 6.66% of samples, and other 19.44% HPV genotypes. Positive patients come from 58 (77, 44%) of the 75 administrative units of the county, with no statistically significant differences in the living environment. Conclusions: Cobas HPV testing can intercept patients with cervical cancer, knowing that one of ten positive HPV 16 and 18 women already have a precancerous lesion even if the Pap test is normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most frequent cancer after lung and breast cancer according to GLOBOCAN data and the 4th cause of cancer related death with more than 7 million deaths per year and at least 1.3 million new cases diagnosed per year and by al these it constitutes a major healthcare problem. Materials and method: Our team analyzed the data of the patients admitted for this pathology in the Arad County Clinical Hospital putting an accent on genetic factors, family history, aging, unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, physical activity, obesity, diabetes and intestinal inflammatory disease. Results: We found that at least 70% of the colorectal cases have at least one of these features, most of them having multiple association of risk factors, but also that there was a lack of continuity in the management of these cases as they were admitted on different departments of our clinical hospital, a high number of cases being diagnosed in advanced stages. Results were better since last year, when a European project was implemented in order to have a better management of these patients in a multidisciplinary team. Conclusions: Insufficient medical education and lack of knowledge or interest in health programs aimed at reducing, preventing or treating malignant disease in the early stages contributes to increasing the burden of the disease and its impacts on society, while implementing a multidisciplinary approach for this pathology reveals better outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]