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Iulia Cristina Roca,1,* Elena Cojocaru,2 Carmen Daniela Rusu,1 Laura Mihaela Trandafir,3 Cătălina Iulia Săveanu,4 Vasile Valeriu Lupu,3,* Lăcrămioara Ionela Butnariu,5 Viorel Ţarcă,6,* Mihaela Moscalu,6 Jana Bernic,7 Ancuța Lupu,3,* Elena Ţarcă1 1Department of Surgery II, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 2Department of Morphofunctional Sciences I – Pathology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 3Department of Mother and Child Medicine–Pediatrics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 4Surgical Department, Discipline of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania; 5Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, 700115, Romania; 6Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, 700115, Romania; 7Discipline of Pediatric Surgery, “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Carmen Daniela Rusu; Cătălina Iulia Săveanu, Tel +40765485446, Email carmen-daniela.rusu@umfiasi.ro; catalina.saveanu@umfiasi.roAbstract: Hemangiomas are vascular tumors resulting from the proliferation of endothelial-like cells; they are the most common childhood tumors, affecting approximately 5– 10% of newborns and infants. Besides hemangiomas, which are definitely benign tumors despite their overgrowth potential, there are other vascular tumors like hemangioendotheliomas, which may display intermediate characteristics between benign hemangiomas and highly malignant angiosarcomas. Standard therapy may be constricted by serious adverse effects, high cost, or traumatic influence. Diet is a major resource for health preservation, disease prevention, and treatment. The therapeutic property of edible berries, marine products, or medicinal plants have long been known and used in traditional medicine; a plant-based nutrition can prevent the development and progression of diseases associated with extensive neo-vascularization. The purpose of our review is to highlight those natural treatments that hemangioma and vascular tumor patients can receive in the future, both for their benefit and that of their families. We performed the review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis Statement. We used the Web of Science, PubMed, and EMBASE engines for the study, and searched for the association of hemangioma with naturopathic treatment/plant extract/plants in published articles. We found that natural extracts from plants and fruits are cost-effective and safe treatments for hemangiomas and vascular tumors, as well as for other forms of cancer. In any case, more in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to confirm the proposed signaling pathways in tumors and validate the improvement parameters after natural products administration. The era of molecularly targeted therapy and personalized medicine is approaching and naturally occurring substances are very useful tools for tumor treatment and prevention. Plant extract substances have strong specificity and pertinence, are non- toxic and have few side effects, and may become an emerging cancer treatment. Keywords: vascular abnormalities, plants, plant extract, naturopathic treatment

Elena Cojocaru,1 Cristian Cojocaru,2 Elena Cojocaru3 *, Cristian Iulian Oancea4 &#x002A1Morpho-Functional Sciences II Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania; 2Medical III Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania; 3Morpho-Functional Sciences I Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania; 4Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy ”Victor Babeș”, Timisoara, 300041, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Cristian Cojocaru, Medical III Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, Iasi, 700115, Romania, Email cristian.cojocaru@umfiasi.roBackground: The unprecedented exodus in the history of the European Union of more than 6 million Ukrainian refugees (May 13, 2022) is a cause for concern and could lead to a new difficult situation in terms of infectious disease control. Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Europe is facing a new challenge that could lead to a new wave of COVID-19 and an increase in the number of cases of tuberculosis or eradicated diseases, such as polio.Aim: The purpose of this analysis was to provide an overview of lung diseases and health risks that could be encountered in refugees from Ukraine and translated to European Union`countries.Methods: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, World Health Organization, the UN Refugee Agency and the government’s websites. Selected publications investigated the health problems arising from Ukrainian population migration from conflict areas and their impact on the public health system in the adoptive countries. The main potentially contagious diseases in Ukraine have also been reviewed.Results: The population of Ukraine has serious public health problems such as SARS-CoV-2 infection, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, high levels of drug resistance and difficulties with an effective vaccination program, so there are significant risks of developing epidemics in transit or host countries. The current crisis has major peculiarities because the migrants were not concentrated in the camps but there was a dispersion of them on large territories of European countries.Conclusion: In order to meet the health needs of refugees, it is necessary to adapt health systems culturally and linguistically, to train health workers on the particularities of existing diseases in the countries of refugee origin, and to facilitate collection of medical data on migrants’ health.Keywords: migrants, Ukraine, COVID-19, tuberculosis, polio, public health

Elena Tarca,1,* Laura Mihaela Trandafir,2 Elena Cojocaru,3 Claudia Florida Costea,4 Solange Tamara Rosu,5 Lacramioara Ionela Butnariu,6 Alin Constantin Iordache,7 Valentin Munteanu,8,* Alina Costina Luca2 1Department of Surgery II-Pediatric Surgery, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 2Department of Mother and Child Medicine–Pediatrics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 3Department of Morphofunctional Sciences I—Pathology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 4Department of Surgery II-Ophthalmology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 5Department of Nursing, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 6Department of Mother and Child Medicine–Genetics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 7Department of Surgery II-Neurosurgery, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 8Department of Biomedical Sciences, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania*The authors have equal contributionCorrespondence: Elena Cojocaru; Claudia Florida Costea, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Universității Street No. 16, Iaşi, 700115, Romania, Tel +40765485446, Email elena2.cojocaru@umfiasi.ro; claudia.costea@umfiasi.roAbstract: About 1% of childhood tumors can be malignant ovarian tumors and differential diagnosis with benign ones is sometimes difficult before surgery. Concerning the management of such tumors in adolescents for which future fertility is a concern, there is specific interest in their malignant potential and the possible use of ovarian-sparing operative techniques, as well the suitability of chemotherapy. To exemplify the difficulties of preoperative differential diagnosis, personalized approach and the difficulties of deciding to preserve the affected ovary, we report a rare case of a 14-year-old female adolescent with a growing abdominal painless mass and without any other chronic diseases. After physical examination and imaging investigations, laparoscopic surgical procedure is performed, the peritoneal cavity is explored and the well-delimited gigantic tumor is removed. Considering the normally looking pelvis and absence of adenopathy, as well as the patient’s age and wish to have children, both ovaries are preserved. Laparoscopy has become the gold standard in the management of this condition, although there are few studies that report this approach in children; the differential diagnosis between a benign and a malignant tumor cannot be established exactly until after the histological examination, which revealed in our case a cystic teratoma with mature tissues. A better understanding of clinical features and evolution of giant ovarian masses in adolescents could help clinicians better diagnose and treat such lesions.Keywords: cystic teratoma, ovarian tumor, adolescent, fertility

Ovidiu Rusalim Petris,1 Elena Cojocaru,2 Ariadna Petronela Fildan,3,* Cristian Cojocaru4,* 1Medical II Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania; 2Morpho-Functional Sciences II Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania; 3Internal Medicine 3rd Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, 900527, Romania; 4Medical III Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Elena Cojocaru Email elena.cojocaruu@umfiasi.roAbstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most challenging chronic disease nowadays due to increased morbidity and mortality, despite the multiple new therapies included in the therapeutic scheme. A possible cause may be insufficient approach to thromboembolic risk in these patients, scientific data being so far insufficient and relatively controversial. Areas covered: anticoagulant therapy is used mainly during severe exacerbations. There are data that have shown that therapy with low weight heparins injectable anticoagulants causes not only a reduction in thromboembolic risk but also an improvement in respiratory function parameters. Expert opinion: a number of COPD phenotypes are more prone to procoagulant status and thrombus formation. A layered approach to COPD patients in terms of antithrombotic prophylaxis is needed. Although current published clinical data have not provided irrefutable evidence, possibly due to the relatively heterogeneous approach to inclusion criteria, the frequent identification of autopsy holes in patients with COPD suggests that the high risk of mortality is due to specific bronchopulmonary changes and pulmonary embolism.Keywords: coagulation, prophylaxy, heparin, embolism

Elena Țarcă,1,2 Elena Cojocaru,2,3 Bogdan Caba,2,4 Alina Costina Luca,2,5 Solange Tamara Roșu,2,6 Viorel Țarcă,7 Laura Stătescu,8 Anca Chiriac,9 Valeriu Vasile Lupu,2,5 Eugenia Moroșan,2,3 Laura Trandafir2,5 1Department of Surgery II-Pediatric Surgery, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 2“Saint Mary” Emergency Children’s Hospital, Iași, Romania; 3Department of Morphofunctional Sciences I – Pathology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 5Department of Mother and Child Medicine–Pediatrics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 6Department of Nursing, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 7County Statistics Department, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 8Department of Dermatology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, 700115, Romania; 9Department of Dermatophysiology, Apollonia University, Iasi, 700613, RomaniaCorrespondence: Elena Cojocaru; Bogdan Caba“Grigore T. Popa“University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Universității Street No. 16, Iaşi, 700115, RomaniaTel +40765485446Fax +40232264266Email elena2.cojocaru@umfiasi.ro; bogdan-d-caba@umfiasi.roAbstract: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a recurrent chronic inflammatory condition of the skin with a debilitating potential, especially in adolescents who may experience psychosocial disorders and impaired quality of life. Recognition of typical, recurrent lesions, history of the disease and family investigation establishes the diagnosis. The rarity of the disease in males and the appearance of this condition in children, which is also rare, in two of our adolescent patients, respectively, are the reasons for publishing this article. We reviewed the literature and found that variation exists across international treatment for this HS, and much collaboration is needed to put forth unified and updated recommendations. It is of major importance that the early recognition of the condition and the establishment of treatment in the multidisciplinary team. Psychotherapy, health education, the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, the application of local prevention measures, and long-term medical treatment are components of a correct management. Extensive surgical treatment should be restricted only to severe cases because it may lead to complications, extend the hospitalization period and increase psychological problems in adolescents. The treatment will be personalized, performed according to the stage of evolution, and the approach will be a multidisciplinary one.Keywords: hidradenitis suppurativa, children, personalized management, multidisciplinary team

Dispersion of the fundamental confined modes in hollow-core all-silica Bragg fibers with nanosupports is analyzed. The transfer-matrix formalism is applied. Anomalies in the group-velocity dispersion are evidenced at long wavelengths, toward the upper limit of the bandgap. The results confirm that, as in microstructured photonic crystal fibers, this anomalous dispersion is due to prevention of the confined hollow-core modes from crossing the surface modes, the avoided crossings are more apparent in the variation of group velocity with wavelength. The dependence of these avoided crossings on the hollow-core radius and the layer thicknesses is briefly analyzed. OCIS codes: 060.2310, 060.2400, 230.1480, 230.7370.

Thin-film wavelets are further analyzed for the design of dichroic mirrors for ultrafast solid-state lasers that provide both high reflectance on the lasing wavelength range and high transmittance of the pump light. Discrete quarter-wave-thick dielectric thin-film structures of homogeneous refractive indices following a quintic-wavelet envelope are considered. Relations for the reflectance on the lasing wavelength range are given. Adding several index-matching quarter-wave layers to both sides of the discrete wavelet optimizes the transmittance of the pump light. The design is further optimized to get minimum phase distortion on the lasing wavelength range.

This article discusses a study conducted in Romania that aimed to analyze the clinical value of ultrasound features of breast lesions and axillary lymph nodes in predicting the risk of nodal metastases in patients with breast cancer. The study included 85 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery, and their ultrasound features and pathological results were collected. The results showed that there was a correlation between ultrasound and histological tumor size, and certain ultrasound features, such as the tumor vascular score and the distance between the tumor and the skin, were predictive of lymph node metastases. The authors conclude that ultrasound features can be useful in predicting nodal metastases and informing patients about the type of surgical intervention proposed. [Extracted from the article]

In case of tunable ultrashort-pulse lasers, besides the prism material, separation, and insertion, one may choose the central wavelength providing a better high-order dispersion compensation. Because of errors that accumulate in numerical iterations, the analytic approach may be preferable for high-order dispersion examination. Analytic expressions for the fourth--and the fifth--order dispersions of crossed prisms pairs, both at arbitrary and Brewster-angle incidences are presented. Examples are given for e-sapphire slabs and for one or two pairs of fused-silica prisms. Results are shown providing compensation of both the second-and the third-order dispersions, by keeping as low as possible the higher-order ones. OCIS codes: 230.5480, 260.2030, 350.5030, 160.4670, 140.3590, 140.7090.

Omnidirectional reflection from periodic and Fibonacci quasi-periodic multilayers that are embedded in an isotropic medium is further analyzed. Besides the isotropic structures, birefringent structures are considered that comprise uniaxial layers in the principal-axis system, alternating with isotropic layers so that the refractive index of isotropic layers is equal to the principal extraordinary refractive index of the uniaxial layers. The transfer-matrix method is applied, and the same formalism is used for both the isotropic and the uniaxial media in the principal-axis system. Simple and original relations are obtained for the invariant of the one-dimensional Fibonacci sequences at oblique incidence. Numerical examples are given comparatively for the isotropic and the birefringent structures in the case of periodic and Fibonacci quasi-periodic sequences at different values of the refractive indices. OCIS codes: 230.4170, 260.1180, 260.1440, 160.5470, 240.7040, 310.0310.

Periodic and quasi-periodic Cantor-like bandgap structures that bordered upon a medium of refractive index [n.sub.0] are analyzed. An immersion model is used with the assumption that each layer is embedded between two identical regions of refractive index [n.sub.0] and thickness [d.sub.0], where [d.sub.0] is set equal to zero. Transmittance and group velocity are determined Their dependence on [n.sub.0] is emphasized. Relations for the midgap value of the normalized group velocity are given. By use of these relations, diagrams are completed at different values of [n.sub.0], showing the pairs of quarter-wave-layer refractive indices at which there is an apparent superluminal tunneling through the finite periodic and quasi-periodic Cantor-like bandgap structures. OCIS codes: 230.4170, 240.7040, 310.6870, 350.5030, 230.1480, 120.2440.

Ray vector traces that can be obtained at the back of a biaxial crystal through crystal rotation are calculated numerically by variation of one of the three Euler angles. Negative and positive lossless biaxial crystals are considered at normal incidence. Interesting features of these traces are evidenced by reference to the circular ring that forms at internal conical refraction.

The extended Jones matrix method is applied for determination of the transmission and reflection matrices for a normally incident plane wave upon an homogeneous and lossless biaxial thin layer. The elements of these matrices ace expressed by simple analytical relations. By using these relations one can express analytically the polarization-dependent optical parameters to be determined by generalized ellipsometry.

The extended Jones matrix method is applied to one dielectrically anisotropic, homogeneous thin film at oblique incidence. Standard boundary conditions are imposed on resultant electric- and magnetic-field vectors at interfaces. Thus simple matricial relations are obtained for transmitted and reflected electric-field amplitudes at the two interfaces. In the limits of isotropy, they reduce to four well-known Abeles relations, and thus they may be considered as generalized Abeles relations for dielectrically anisotropic thin films. These matricial relations include multiple reflections while dealing with total fields. Thus they provide new insights into the 2 x 2 extended Jones matrix formalism.

Extraordinary-wave propagation within homogeneous uniaxial media is analyzed in the case of an arbitrary optic-axis orientation. Unit vectors along the electric- and magnetic-field directions are represented by direction cosines and vectorial relations. The extraordinary-ray path is determined simply by direction cosines. Numerical examples are given for extraordinary-ray tracings within a plane-parallel uniaxial plate. It is shown that a symmetrical convergent beam is asymmetrically imaged when it is incident normally and passes through the uniaxial plate with an arbitrary optic-axis orientation.

Zero-reflectance conditions for quarter-wave-thick, high-spatial-frequency, rectangular-groove dielectric gratings are analyzed further at oblique incidence by a combination of the effective medium theory and the anisotropic thin-film theory. Numerical examples are given for gratings on glass and silicon substrates with refractive indices of 1.5 and 3.5, respectively.

Three special angles associated with the external reflection of light at the surface of an absorbing medium are well known: the principal angle, the pseudo-Brewster angle, and the second Brewster angle. Another significant angle has been identified recently by Azzam and El-Saba [Appl. Opt. 28, 1365 (1989)]. At this angle, the slope of the differential reflection phase shift with respect to the angle of incidence is maximum negative. For convenience it is called the third Brewster angle. The nature of the contours of the constant third Brewster angle in a complex dielectric constant plane is considered both analytically and graphically in comparison with the other constant special-angle contours. Key words: Reflection, polarization, ellipsometry.

Single-layer coatings on total internal reflection boundaries that produce any specific phase retardation are analyzed. One- and two-reflection phase-retarding systems are considered. Simple quadratic equations are obtained for an unknown layer phase thickness at a given angle of incidence and phase retardation. Equations for specific multilayer coatings that are equivalent to single-layer designs are also deduced. Diagrams of solution zones for refractive indices are given comparatively for one- and two-reflection systems. Key words: Thin-film coatings, total internal reflection prisms, phase retarders.

Simple relations in terms of effective g parameters are given for linear resonators that contain laser rods with curved endfaces and for symmetrical and asymmetric ring resonators of solid-state lasers. The equivalence relationships of thick and thin lenses have been applied.

An analysis is given of the designs of thin-film coatings on totally reflecting boundaries that produce half-wave, quarter-wave, and half-quarter-wave phase retardations. Particular single-layer, double-layer, and symmetrical triple-layer coatings that contain only one non-quarter-wave layer are considered. Simple quadratic equations are presented for the non-quarter-wave-layer phase thickness. Useful diagrams of the solution zones for layer refractive indices are obtained.

Theoretical performances of single-wavelength thin-film polarizing cubes, Brewster polarizers, and polarizing plates at a 45' angle of incidence are comparatively analyzed both numerically and analytically.

Theoretical formulas are presented for calculating the trajectory of the extraordinary ray at the back of a rotating uniaxial birefringent plate.

The reflectance of an absorbing medium for incident light of arbitrary polarization can exhibit two extrema at angles of incidence [[Phi].sub.max] and [[Phi].sub.min]. The behavior of iso-[[Phi].sub.max] and iso-[[Phi].sub.min] contours in the complex plane of a dielectric constant for various incident polarizations is analyzed.

Simple algebraic expressions are presented for calculating the waist position measured from the vertex and the waist size of a Gaussian beam transmitted through thick lenses.

A specific behavior of the transmission spectrum from a quasiperiodic Cantor multilayer is the existence of isolated peaks inside the forbidden gap. Thus, the quasiperiodic Cantor multilayer may be an alternative to the periodic structure with defects. It has been shown by other authors that a Gaussian temporal pulse is compressed when transmitted by a Cantor filter if its frequency spectrum centered at the middle of the gap is enough wide to cover the isolated peaks. We analyzed further the compressing capacity of a three-stage Cantor filter in correlation with the magnitude of transmission at the center of the gap, the location and the width of the isolated peaks, for different nondispersive values of refractive indices. Simple relations for the transmittance at the center of the gap are obtained by using the Herpin equivalent. Diagrams are completed that show the pairs of layer refractive indices at which certain levels of the parameters characterizing the compressing capacity are attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships for refractive indices for zero-phase-shift quarter-wave coatings on metallic reflectors are given. Small variations in Lambda/4-layer phase thicknesses are also considered.

The design of quarter- and half-wavelength layer coatings to preserve light polarization on total reflection is approached analytically. Simple relations for refractive indices are given.

A specific triple-layer antireflection coating with equal refractive indices and thicknesses of the first and third layers is considered. Simple formulas for coating layer thicknesses are derived for nonabsorbing materials at normal incidence.