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The problem of the minorities’ status in the European Union represents a research topic still less analyzed in Romanian historiography. Usefulness lies in deepening the clarification of concepts like "minority", "national minority", "linguistic minority", etc. and the establishment of certain criteria and scientific methodological approach to minority issues. Our contribution in this article consists in presenting the evolution of historical, sociological and legal concerns regarding the fate of the people belongs to national minorities, summarizing the achievements, butalso the failures of this development in European area.

Background: The tumor histological grade is closely related to the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer (EC). Multiparametric MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), provides information about the cellular density that may be useful to differentiate between benign and malignant uterine lesions. However, correlations between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and histopathological grading in endometrial cancer remain controversial. Material and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 92 patients with endometrial cancers, including both endometrioid adenocarcinomas (64) and non-endometrioid adenocarcinomas (28). All patients underwent DWI procedures, and mean ADC values were calculated in a region of interest. These values were then correlated with the tumor grading offered by the histopathological examination, which was considered the gold standard. In this way, the patients were divided into three groups (G1, G2, and G3). The ADC values were then compared to the results offered by the biopsy to see if the DWI sequence and ADC map could replace this procedure. We also compared the mean ADC values to the myometrial invasion (50%) and lymphovascular space invasion. Results: We have divided the ADC values into three categories corresponding to three grades: >0.850 × 10−3 mm2/s (ADC1), 0.730–0.849 × 10−3 mm2/s (ADC2) and −3 mm2/s (ADC3). The diagnostic accuracy of the ADC value was 85.71% for ADC1, 75.76% for ADC2, and 91.66% for ADC3. In 77 cases out of 92, the category in which they were placed using the ADC value corresponded to the result offered by the histopathological exam with an accuracy of 83.69%. For only 56.52% of patients, the biopsy result included the grading system. For each grading category, the mean ADC value showed better results than the biopsy; for G1 patients, the mean ADC value had an accuracy of 85.71% compared to 66.66% in the biopsy, G2 had 75.76% compared to 68.42%, and G3 had 91.66 compared to 75%. For both deep myometrial invasion and lymphovascular space invasion, there is a close, inversely proportional correlation with the mean ADC value. Conclusions: Mean endometrial tumor ADC on MR-DWI is inversely related to the histological grade, deep myometrial invasion and lymphovascular space invasion. Using this method, the patients could be better divided into risk categories for personalized treatment.

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) produced a pandemic since March 2020 by affecting more than 243 million people with more than 5 million deaths globally. SARS-CoV-2 infection is produced by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme, which among other sites is highly expressed in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels, pericytes and the heart, as well as in renal podocytes and proximal tubular epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are interconnected by risk factors association with an increased incidence of the disease and by determining de novo cardiac complications. At the same time, COVID-19 disease can lead to acute kidney injury directly, or due to sepsis, multi-organ failure and shock. Therefore, the pre-existence of both CVD and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is linked with a higher risk of severe disease and worse prognosis. Methods The main aim of this study is to assess the CV risk in a CKD (stage 3 to 5), dialysis and kidney transplanted population, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, with focus on the endothelial dysfunction as compared to a control group of matched patients. By using clinical evaluation, flow-mediated dilatation, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, echocardiographic parameters, lung ultrasound, bioimpedance spectroscopy and a series of novel biomarkers, the investigators will determine the long-term impact of this disease on CV and renal outcomes. Discussion This study will address the challenges and implications in long-term CV sequeale of COVID-19 and focus on a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and possible therapeutic options. Trial registration Patient enrolment in the trial started in January 2021 and is expected to finish at the end of 2022. The study can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov database with NCT05125913 identifier. Registered on 18 November 2021 - Retrospectively registered.

(1) Objective: Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important tool in medicine in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment evaluation, and its role will increase over time, along with the improvement and validation of AI models. We evaluated the applicability of AI in predicting the depth of myometrial invasion in MRI studies in women with endometrial cancer. (2) Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, and clinicaltrials.gov databases for research papers from inception to May 2023. As keywords, we used: “endometrial cancer artificial intelligence”, “endometrial cancer AI”, “endometrial cancer MRI artificial intelligence”, “endometrial cancer machine learning”, and “endometrial cancer machine learning MRI”. We excluded studies that did not evaluate myometrial invasion. (3) Results: Of 1651 screened records, eight were eligible. The size of the dataset was between 50 and 530 participants among the studies. We evaluated the models by accuracy scores, area under the curve, and sensitivity/specificity. A quantitative analysis was not appropriate for this study due to the high heterogeneity among studies. (4) Conclusions: High accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rates were obtained among studies using different AI systems. Overall, the existing studies suggest that they have the potential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the myometrial invasion evaluation of MRI images in endometrial cancer patients.

Abstract Background Older adults at a higher risk of adverse outcomes and mortality if they get infected with Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2). These undesired outcomes are because ageing is associated with other conditions like multimorbidity, frailty and disability. This paper describes the impact of frailty on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management and outcomes. We also try to point out the role of inflamm-ageing, immunosenescence and reduced microbiota diversity in developing a severe form of COVID-19 and a different response to COVID-19 vaccination among older frail adults. Additionally, we attempt to highlight the impact of frailty on intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes, and hence, the rationale behind using frailty as an exclusion criterion for critical care admission. Similarly, the importance of using a time-saving, validated, sensitive, and user-friendly tool for frailty screening in an acute setting as COVID-19 triage. We performed a narrative review. Publications from 1990 to March 2021 were identified by searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL and SCOPUS. Based on this search, we have found that in older frail adults, many mechanisms contribute to the severity of COVID-19, particularly cytokine storm; those mechanisms include lower immunological capacity and status of ongoing chronic inflammation and reduced gut microbiota diversity. Higher degrees of frailty were associated with poor outcomes and higher mortality rates during and after ICU admission. Also, the response to COVID-19 vaccination among frail older adults might differ from the general population regarding effectiveness and side effects. Researches also had shown that there are many tools for identifying frailty in an acute setting that could be used in COVID-19 triage, and before ICU admission, the clinical frailty scale (CFS) was the most recommended tool. Conclusion Older frail adults have a pre-existing immunopathological base that puts them at a higher risk of undesired outcomes and mortality due to COVID-19 and poor response to COVID-19 vaccination. Also, their admission in ICU should depend on their degree of frailty rather than their chronological age, which is better to be screened using the CFS.

Background: A bidirectional kidney–gut axis was described in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). On the one hand, gut dysbiosis could promote CKD progression, but on the other hand, studies reported specific gut microbiota alterations linked to CKD. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the literature on gut microbiota composition in CKD patients, including those with advanced CKD stages and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), possibilities to shift gut microbiota, and its impact on clinical outcomes. Materials and methods: We performed a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases to find eligible studies using pre-specified keywords. Additionally, key inclusion and exclusion criteria were pre-defined to guide the eligibility assessment. Results: We retrieved 69 eligible studies which met all inclusion criteria and were analyzed in the present systematic review. Microbiota diversity was decreased in CKD patients as compared to healthy individuals. Ruminococcus and Roseburia had good power to discriminate between CKD patients and healthy controls (AUC = 0.771 and AUC = 0.803, respectively). Roseburia abundance was consistently decreased in CKD patients, especially in those with ESKD (p < 0.001). A model based on 25 microbiota dissimilarities had an excellent predictive power for diabetic nephropathy (AUC = 0.972). Several microbiota patterns were observed in deceased ESKD patients as compared to the survivor group (increased Lactobacillus, Yersinia, and decreased Bacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium levels). Additionally, gut dysbiosis was associated with peritonitis and enhanced inflammatory activity. In addition, some studies documented a beneficial effect on gut flora composition attributed to synbiotic and probiotic therapies. Large randomized clinical trials are required to investigate the impact of different microbiota modulation strategies on gut microflora composition and subsequent clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Patients with CKD had an altered gut microbiome profile, even at early disease stages. Different abundance at genera and species levels could be used in clinical models to discriminate between healthy individuals and patients with CKD. ESKD patients with an increased mortality risk could be identified through gut microbiota analysis. Modulation therapy studies are warranted.

Abstract Background In routine intensive care unit (ICU) practice, fluids are often administered without a safety limit, which may lead to fluid overload and decreased survival. Recently, B-lines score (BLS) has been validated as a lung ultrasound (LUS) quantification of pulmonary congestion. This suggests that LUS may provide a safety threshold to conduct fluid therapy and to avoid overhydration. However, there is no randomized study to test the utility of LUS in guiding fluid management in ICU patients by using a pre-specified BLS cut-off value as a threshold for fluid removal. Methods LUS Guided Fluid Management Protocol for the Critically Ill Patient is a prospective, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial. Five hundred ICU patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio, to protocolized LUS-based fluid management or usual care. The trial intervention will start on ICU admission and will consist in daily assessment of BLS and triggered evacuation of excessive fluids with loop diuretics (Furosemide) when BLS ≥ 15. If rebalancing volume status with diuretics fails, forced evacuation by ultrafiltration will be used. The main endpoint is death from all causes at 28 days from randomization. The secondary outcomes are presence and time-course evolution of organ dysfunctions, ICU- and hospital length of stay, all-cause mortality at 90 days, and health economics data. Discussion If study results will show that LUS guided fluid management protocol improves outcome in ICU patients, it will be the base for other studies to refine this protocol or track those categories of critically ill patients to whom it may bring maximum benefits. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03393065. Registered on 8 January 2018.

The University of Iași participated to the World War I effort, providing to the army its own human resources and its learning spaces for the central state institutions, given that the royal family, the Parliament and the Government sought refuge in Iași. Not lastly, the University became involved – through conferences hosted in the Hall – in the effort to maintain the trust in the final victory and in the achievement of the 1918 unions. The campaign of 1916-1918 mobilized important teachers of the University, personalities of the national scientific and cultural life or young academics. The students were among the direct combatants and they took part actively in the ample health operations behind the front-line. The paper addresses a fragment of institutional history, by presenting the contribution to the war effort of the teachers and the students, by identifying, listing and systematizing the information regarding the university staff and the educational spaces involved in the war, among the battle lines or behind the front-line, in the period 1916-1918.

Background/Aims: The clinical utility of the new biomarker, high sensitivity cardiac T troponin (hs-cTnT) is still unclear in dialysis patients. Furthermore, the prognostic value of combining N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and hs-cTnT has not been explored so far. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the utility of hs-cTnT alone versus hs-cTnT in combination with NT-proBNP for predicting death in a stable hemodialysis cohort. Methods: A prospective observational pilot study including 98 chronic asymptomatic hemodialysis patients with a follow up period of 24 months was designed. The cut-off values for NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, using mortality as an end-point. Based on the cut-off values, the cohort was divided into four groups. Group 1 - NT-proBNP 69.48 ng/l; group 3 - NT-proBNP > 14275 pg/ml and hs-cTnT 14275 pg/ml and hs-cTnT > 69.48 ng/l. Survival for each group was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Results: During the follow-up period 16 patients died. According to the ROC curves analysis, the cut-off point for hs-cTnT and for NT-proBNP were 69.43 ng/l (AUC = 0.618; p = 0.04) and 14275 pg/ml (AUC = 0.722; p = 0.003), respectively. In univariate Cox analysis, both hs-cTnT (HR = 3.34; p = 0.016) and NT-proBNP (HR = 5.94; p = 0.01) were predictors of death. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, only NT-pro-BNP levels above the cut-off value remained an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. The combined elevation of both biomarkers did not improve significantly the prognostic value compared with NT-proBNP alone (HR = 6.15 versus HR =4 .78; p = 0.338). Conclusion: NT-pro-BNP is a strong predictor of overall mortality in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients. The addition of hs-cTnT did not improve the prognostic accuracy compared with NT proBNP alone.

For more than 6 decades, many patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) have undergone surgical parathyroidectomy (sPTX) for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) mainly based historical clinical practice patterns, but not on evidence of outcome.We aimed in this meta-analysis to evaluate the benefits and harms of sPTX in patients with SHPT. We searched MEDLINE (inception to October 2016), EMBASE and Cochrane Library (through Issue 10 of 12, October 2016) and website clinicaltrials.gov (October 2016) without language restriction. Eligible studies evaluated patients reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD 3-5 stages) with hyperparathyroidism who underwent sPTX. Reviewers working independently and in duplicate extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. The final analysis included 15 cohort studies, comprising 24,048 participants. Compared with standard treatment, sPTX significantly decreased all-cause mortality (RR 0.74 [95% CI, 0.66 to 0.83]) in End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients with biochemical and / or clinical evidence of SHPT. sPTX was also associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.59 [95% CI, 0.46 to 0.76]) in 6 observational studies that included almost 10,000 patients. The available evidence, mostly observational, is at moderate risk of bias, and limited by indirect comparisons and inconsistency in reporting for some outcomes (eg. short term adverse events, including documented voice change or episodes of severe hypocalcaemia needing admission or long-term adverse events, including undetectable PTH levels, risk of fractures etc.). Taken together, the results of this meta-analysis would suggest a clinically significant beneficial effect of sPTX on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients with SHPT. However, given the observational nature of the included studies, the case for a properly conducted, independent randomised controlled trial comparing surgery with medical therapy and featuring many different outcomes from mortality to quality of life (QoL) is now very strong.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and nephropathy—now the leading cause of end-stage renal disease and dialysis in Europe and the United States. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a pivotal role in the development of diabetic complications. Silymarin, an herbal drug with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may improve glycemic control and prevent the progression of the complications. In a systematic review and meta-analysis including five randomized controlled trials and 270 patients, routine silymarin administration determines a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels (−26.86 mg/dL; 95% CI −35.42–18.30) and HbA1c levels (−1.07; 95% CI −1.73–0.40) and has no effect on lipid profile. Benefits for silymarin on proteinuria and CKD progressions are reported in only one small study and are uncertain. However, being aware of the low quality of the available evidence and elevated heterogeneity of these studies, no recommendation can be made and further studies are needed.

Chronic subclinical volume overload occurs very frequently and may be ubiquitous in hemodialysis (HD) patients receiving the standard thrice-weekly treatment. It is directly associated with hypertension, increased arterial stiffness, left ventricular hipertrophy, heart failure, and eventually, higher mortality and morbidity. We aimed to assess for the first time if the relationship between bioimpedance assessed overhydration and survival is maintained when adjustments for echocardiographic parameters are considered.A prospective cohort trial was conducted to investigate the impact of overhydration on all cause mortality and cardiovascular events (CVE), by using a previously reported cut-off value for overhydration and also investigating a new cut-off value derived from our analysis of this specific cohort. The body composition of 221 HD patients from a single center was assessed at baseline using bioimpedance. In 157 patients supplemental echocardiography was performed (echocardiography subgroup). Comparative survival analysis was performed using two cut-off points for relative fluid overload (RFO): 15% and 17.4% (a value determined by statistical analysis to have the best predictive value for mortality in our cohort).In the entire study population, patients considered overhydrated (using both cut-offs) had a significant increased risk for all-cause mortality in both univariate (HR = 2.12, 95%CI = 1.30-3.47 for RFO>15% and HR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.72-4.78 for RFO>17.4%, respectively) and multivariate (HR = 1.87, 95%CI = 1.12-3.13 for RFO>15% and HR = 2.72, 95%CI = 1.60-4.63 for RFO>17.4%, respectively) Cox survival analysis. In the echocardiography subgroup, only the 17.4% cut-off remained associated with the outcome after adjustment for different echocardiographic parameters in the multivariate survival analysis. The number of CVE was significantly higher in overhydrated patients in both univariate (HR = 2.46, 95%CI = 1.56-3.87 for RFO >15% and HR = 3.67, 95%CI = 2.29-5.89 for RFO >17.4%) and multivariate (HR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.42-3.77 for RFO >15% and HR = 4.17, 95%CI = 2.48-7.02 for RFO >17.4%) Cox regression analysis.The study shows that the hydration status is associated with the mortality risk in a HD population, independently of cardiac morphology and function. We also describe and propose a new cut-off for RFO, in order to better define the relationship between overhydration and mortality risk. Further studies are needed to properly validate this new cut-off in other HD populations.

Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are major health problems and key features to develop cardiovascular disease. Data on the effects of lifestyle interventions in diabetics with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been conflicting.Systematic review.Diabetes patients with CKD stage 3 to 5. SEARCH STRATEGY AND SOURCES: Medline, Embase and Central were searched to identify papers.Effect of a negative energy balance on hard outcomes in diabetics with CKD.Death, cardiovascular events, glycaemic control, kidney function, metabolic parameters and body composition.We retained 11 studies. There are insufficient data to evaluate the effect on mortality to promote negative energy balance. None of the studies reported a difference in incidence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events. Reduction of energy intake does not alter creatinine clearance but significantly reduces proteinuria (mean difference from -0.66 to -1.77 g/24 h). Interventions with combined exercise and diet resulted in a slower decline of eGFR (-9.2 vs. -20.7 mL/min over two year observation; p

BACKGROUND: Calcimimetic agents lower serum parathyroid hormone levels in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but treatment effects on patient-relevant outcomes are uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the benefits and harms of calcimimetic therapy in adults with CKD and used cumulative meta-analysis to identify how evidence for calcimimetic treatment has developed in this clinical setting. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Cochrane and Embase databases (through February 7, 2013) were electronically searched to identify randomized trials evaluating effects of calcimimetic therapy on mortality and adverse events in adults with CKD. Two independent reviewers identified trials, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Eighteen trials comprising 7,446 participants compared cinacalcet plus conventional therapy with placebo or no treatment plus conventional therapy in adults with CKD. In moderate- to high-quality evidence (based on Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria) in adults with CKD stage 5D (dialysis), cinacalcet had little or no effect on all-cause mortality (relative risk, 0.97 [95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.05]), had imprecise effect on cardiovascular mortality (0.67 [0.16-2.87]), and prevented parathyroidectomy (0.49 [0.40-0.59]) and hypercalcemia (0.23 [0.05-0.97]), but increased hypocalcemia (6.98 [5.10-9.53]), nausea (2.02 [1.45-2.81]), and vomiting (1.97 [1.73-2.24]). Data for clinical outcomes were sparse in adults with CKD stages 3-5. On average, treating 1,000 people with CKD stage 5D for 1 y had no effect on survival and prevented about three patients from experiencing parathyroidectomy, whilst 60 experienced hypocalcemia and 150 experienced nausea. Analyses were limited by insufficient data in CKD stages 3-5 and kidney transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Cinacalcet reduces the need for parathyroidectomy in patients with CKD stage 5D, but does not appear to improve all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. Additional trials in CKD stage 5D are unlikely to change our confidence in the treatment effects of cinacalcet in this population.