Search

Claudiu Ionut Vasile,1,2 Mihaela Camelia Vasile,1,3,* Monica Laura Zlati,4,5,* Elena Emanuela Herbei,6,* Lorena Lepădatu,7,* Cristina Munteanu,2,* Alexandru Nechifor,8,* Alin Laurențiu Tatu8– 10 1Clinical Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunărea de Jos” University, Galați, România; 2“Elena Doamna” Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Galaţi, România; 3Infectious Diseases Department, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases “Sf. Cuvioasa Parascheva”, Galați, România; 4Business Administration Department, Dunărea de Jos University, Galați, România; 5Accounting, Audit and Finance Department, Stefan Cel Mare University, Suceava, România; 6Department of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Centre of Nanostructures and Functional Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University “Dunărea de Jos”, Galaţi, România; 7“Sf Ap Andrei” Emergency County Clinical Hospital, Galați, România; 8Research Center in the Field of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, ReFORM-UDJ, Galați, România; 9Dermatology Department, “Sf Cuv Parascheva” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Galați, România; 10Multidisciplinary Integrated Center of Dermatological Interface Research MIC DIR, Dunărea de Jos” University, Galați, România*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mihaela Camelia Vasile; Elena Emanuela Herbei, “Dunărea de Jos”University, 47 Domnească Street, Galați, 800010, Romania, Tel +40724571976 ; +40723015307, Email mihaela272006@yahoo.com; elena.valcu@ugal.roAbstract: Corona virus (COVID-19) is an epidemy of respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus and it was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a global health pandemic emergency. Due to the neuropsychiatric manifestation of Covid-19 that have been associated with psychotic disorders, in this paper we choose to present a case from “Elena Doamna” Psychiatric Hospital from Galati, Romania and to correlate it with other cases from literature in a mini review presentation. In our paper, we present the case of a patient of 44-year-old men, with no past psychiatric history whose behavior included psycho-motor agitation, perception and thinking disorders, disorganized behaviour, attempted suicide by stabbing. The last perspectives from the two years of pandemic together with psychiatric disease linked the virus infections with psychosis to the main concern that Covid-19 could determine psychiatric disorders. There were also presented same literature studies of patients with no personal pathological history in the psychiatric field which developed psychiatric disorders after COVID-19 infection. SARS-CoV-2 has a psychological impact on the mental health status of the worldwide and, especially when it is associated with psychotic symptoms and can affect the quality-of-life. In some cases, the virus affected the brain and as a result, the psychosis symptoms could be an emerging phenomenon associated with the corona virus. Based on the DSM V and ICD-10 criteria, the diagnosis was of acute psychiatric disorders with symptoms of schizophrenia (F23.1). The case report and review reliefs that there is a causal link between the SARS CoV-2 infection and mental disorders, which is currently being investigated.Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatric disorders, DSM V and ICD-10 criteria

Wissam Aljundi,1 Shady Suffo,1 Cristian Munteanu,1 Achim Langenbucher,2 Berthold Seitz,1 Alaa Din Abdin1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center UKS, Homburg, Saar, Germany; 2Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, GermanyCorrespondence: Wissam Aljundi, Tel +4968411622387, Fax +4968411622400, Email wissam.aljundi@uks.euPurpose: To detect the impact of intravitreal injection (IVI) therapy with sole anti-vascular-endothelial-growth-factor (VEGF) or combined with steroids treating diabetic macular edema (DME) on activity of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) based on total number of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) spots needed within 2 years.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of 102 eyes with primary-onset PDR and minimum follow-up of 24 months divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (G1) 40 eyes received only PRP and did not develop DME. Group 2 (G2) 62 eyes received additional IVI-therapy due to concomitant DME, with anti-VEGF only (subgroup 2a, G2a) or in combination with steroids (subgroup 2b, G2b). Main outcomes: central macular thickness (CMT, μm), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, LogMAR) and total number of needed PRP spots and IVI after 24 months.Results: CMT was significantly higher in G2 compared to G1, initially (p < 0.01) and after 24 months (p = 0.01). CMT was significantly higher in G2b compared to G2a, both initially (p = 0.01) and after 24 months (p < 0.01). BCVA was significantly higher in G1 compared to G2, initially and after 24 months (p = 0.01). BCVA was not significantly different between the two subgroups, initially (p = 0.54) and after 24 months (p = 0.29). The total number of PRP spots was significantly higher in G1 compared to G2 (p < 0.01) but not significantly different between the subgroups (p = 0.8).Conclusion: Regardless of severity of concomitant DME, IVI with sole anti-VEGF or combined with steroids reduced the total number of PRP spots needed within 2 years significantly indicating a favorable effect on activity of PDR.Keywords: proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, intravitreal injection, panretinal photocoagulation, anti-VEGF, steroids

Shady Suffo, Mohammed El Halabi, Berthold Seitz, Alaa Din Abdin, Cristian Munteanu, Loay Daas Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center (UKS), Homburg, Saar, GermanyCorrespondence: Mohammed El HalabiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße 100, Bldg. 22, Homburg, 66421, GermanyTel +491739920686Email mohammed.elhalabi@uks.euBackground and Objectives: The Homburg cross-stitch marker, according to Suffo, was developed in 2017 in the Department of Ophthalmology at Saarland University Medical Center. With this instrument, a surgeon can precisely define and mark the points of the first and second continuous cross-stitch sutures, according to Hoffmann. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the functional outcomes of Hoffmann’s double continuous cross-stitch suture in penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) with vs without the Homburg cross-stitch marker in inexperienced surgeons.Methods: A total of 130 eyes from 130 patients with central corneal scars, corneal dystrophies and advanced keratoconus were included. All eyes underwent elective excimer laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (excimer laser PKP) with a diameter of 8.0/8.1mm. In 65 eyes each, surgery was performed without (group 1) or with (group 2) the Homburg cross-stitch marker. Corrected distance visual acuity, topographic astigmatism, and refractive cylinder were obtained 6 weeks, 10 months post-PKP as well as 6 weeks after the first and after the second suture removal, respectively. The rate of early postoperative single interrupted suture addition was compared between the two groups.Results: Visual acuity, astigmatism and refractive cylinder values were significantly more favorable in group 2 (with device) compared to group 1 (without device) before and after suture removal. Postoperative single interrupted suture addition was performed in 34.4% of patients in group 1 compared to 10.6% in group 2 (P = 0.001, Fisher’s Exact Test).Conclusion: The use of the Homburg cross-stitch marker for excimer laser PKP in young cornea specialists results in significantly better visual acuity before and after suture removal, significantly lower astigmatism and cylinder value before suture removal, as well as a reduced necessity of early postoperative single interrupted suture addition.Keywords: excimer laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty, Hoffmann cross-stitch suture, Homburg cross-stitch marker, corrected distance visual acuity, astigmatism, refractive cylinder

In the Cold Spraying technology, the coatings are produced as a result of the supersonic acceleration of the particles in a gas jet, at temperatures below the melting/phase transformation point of the sprayed material. In this paper, the morphology of a Ni/CrC cold spray coating is studied, based on the identification of the particle's characteristic at various magnifications, both on cross-section and on the surface of the samples. The layer appearance is continuous, uniform and sinuous, no adhesion defects were observed at the substrate-coating interface, and the plastic deformation of the steel was highlighted. The elemental chemical analysis on the sample cross-section, together with the distribution map shows that the carbide particles have retained their sphericity to a large extent, being uniformly embedded in the Ni matrix, as a result of the plastic deformation. This allows a higher thickness of the cold spray coatings comparatively to the ones obtained with the other thermal spray methods that imply high temperatures of the gas jet and layered microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we studied how alloying with different percentages of TiO2 influences the microstructure of Cr2O3 base matrix coatings deposited by plasma spray (APS). Thus, five different types of coatings were made, in which the percentage of TiO2 varied as 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. The samples were analysed morphologically both on the surface and in cross-section using direct observation and electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that none of the TiO2-containing coatings is a simple blend of distinct phases, but are coatings with a specific layered lamellar structure, with coarser and smooth areas, depending on the Ti wt.% presence. All the coatings analysed show micro cracks, porosities and inhomogeneous structure, but with a higher density directly proportional to the percentage of TiO2 in the composition of the coated powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents some aspects concerning mechanical contact fatigue and corrosion wear and the links of these two kinds of wear in the common deterioration of the contact layer. The surface state, for both presented areas, is analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in order to confirm the double action of corrosion and wear during the experimental test. 2 and 3D insights were taken from the worn area, corrosion compounds were identified and analyzed. Linear and cyclic potentiometry were performed on the base materials after the OCP was established in salt solution. When the level of the thermal and the mechanical stress are located at the same depth under the contact surface the resulting stress is greater and has the opportunity to develop the first crack to the surface. The metallic material surface presents a double type of corrosion: one based on oxidation and the other one based on oxidation plus wear (tribo-corrosion), the difference is being given by the material quantity and type involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism in which the coatings made by thermal spraying adhere to the substrate is in most cases of a mechanical nature, thus being dependent on the morphology of the substrate surface. This paper study how the texture of the substrate influences the behavior of dry sliding wear, a behavior based on the adhesion to the substrate of the analyzed coatings. For this purpose, a Co - base powder, was chosen for atmospheric plasma spraying. For the substrate, a rectangular profile made of low-alloy steel was chosen, the surface of which was textured by mechanical abrasion, in order to obtain different degrees of roughness: sample S1 - Ra1 = 1.59 µm, sample S2 - Ra2 = 2.32 µm, sample 3 - Ra3.1 = 1.25 µm, Ra3.2 = 3.88 µm. In the case of sample 3, the texturing was done on one direction, with an elongated profile, so that the effect of the main direction of dry sliding wear on the quality of the coating could be studied. The tests were performed on an Amsler test machine, at constant load, for 1 hour. The samples were mounted in a fixed position, and the wear occurred on the basis of the rotation of the metal disc, without lubrication. It was found that the coating of sample 1 was the most affected, resulting even a partial delamination, and the best behavior was recorded in the case of sample 3.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]