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Introduction. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of chronic pain in absence of clinically visible lesions of the oral mucosa. The etiology is uncertain and the therapeutic strategies still controversial. The objective of this prospective study is to analyze the efficacy of essential oils-based mouthwashes in the therapy of BMS. Material and method. This study included 16 patients affected by BMS who were treated with essential oils-based mouthwashes and glucose solution on alternated days for 30 days. Symptomatology was evaluated after 15, 30 and 90 days. Results and discussions. A the end of the treatment, most of the patients (67%) referred an improvement of symptoms up to complete remission in 90 days. Conclusions. Based on this study, essential oils-based mouthwashes could represent a valid aid in the treatment of BMS. Further studies are necessary in order to identify effective and standardized therapeutic protocols.

Introduction. The current treatment and prevention of oral disorders, dental caries, periodontal and gum diseases, follow a very non-specific control of plaque as the main causative factor. The main therapeutically approach is carried out on the sole perspective to keep the levels of oral bacteria in an acceptable range compatible with one-way vision of oral-mouth health, as something completely separated from a systemic microbial homeostasis (dysbiosis) concomitant present in the gut. A sealed compartmental view which sees separate and incommunicable responses to a specific condition without considering the presence of interacting confounding factors can negatively influence the diagnosis a diseases and of course its progression. A general non-specific antimicrobial with more general antiplaque therapy based mainly on oral care products together with surgery interventions represent at the moment the only mechanical responses in treating oral diseases. Material and method. The present paper is a narrative review concening interractions between oral and gut microbiota, with a focus on the interdisciplinary approach in antimicrobial treatment. Pubmed, Cochrane Library database were used for searching engines. Key words used were as follows: “inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)”, “ulcerative colitis”, “oral dysbiosis”, “gut dysbiosis”, “probiotics”, “periodontitis”. Results and discussions. Literature research showed that there are few issues to be discussed the ever increasing resistance to antibiotics, the high consumption of industrial food and sugars and their negatively effect on gut and oral microbiota. There is a need to highlight and develop a novel philosophical approach in the treatments for oral diseases that will necessarily involve non-conventional antimicrobial solutions. Such approaches should preferably reduce the consumption of both intestinal and oral microbiota, that are intimately connected and host approximately well over 1000 different species of bacteria at 108–109 bacteria per mL of mucous and saliva. Preventive approaches based upon the restoration of the microbial ecological balance, rather than elimination of the disease associated species, have been proposed. Conclusions. Having both oral-gut microbiota screened is an essential moment that influence the healthy immune modulatory and regenerative capacity of the body and, the new proposed formula integrates a wider screen on the patients where oral condition is strictly evaluated together with gut screen; therefore any proposed treatment will be inevitably sustained by the use of prebiotics and probiotics to promote health-associated bacterial growth.

Ioana Roxana Bordea,1,* Sebastian Candrea,2,* Tudor Sălăgean,3 Ioana Delia Pop,3 Ondine Lucaciu,1 Aranka Ilea,1 Marius Manole,4 Anida-Maria Băbțan,1 Adina Sirbu,1 Reem Hanna5,6 1Department of Oral Rehabilitation, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 2Department of Pedodontics, County Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 3Department of Land Measurements and Exact Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 4Department of Dental Propaedeutics and Esthetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj Napoca, Romania; 5Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, Laser Therapy Centre, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; 6Department of Oral Surgery, Dental Institute, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tudor Sălăgean Tel +40744707371Email tudor.salagean@usamvcluj.roAbstract: The unprecedented climate of the COVID-19 pandemic has some restrictions on oral care operational services, which heavily impacted the delivery of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). This led the health authorities to set up guidelines and policies that should be followed to minimize the virus spread and ensure safe and effective dental care delivery. This systemic review aimed to evaluate the current guidelines and strategies in providing safe dental services and ensuring efficacy of the current universal personal preventive and protective measures, as well the impact that this outbreak might have on practicing the dental profession in full scope. The review focus questions were as follows: are the current guidelines and measures in literature mitigated enough to ensure safe and effective oral care delivery to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic? Is it possible to highlight the essential and fundamental cross-infection control measures and policies? Twenty articles were chosen out of 180,248 after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in the period between January 1st and August 1st 2020. Our results highlighted effective safety measures that can be implanted in protecting healthcare professionals and patients and ensuring optimal dental care delivery in a safe and healthy environment, taking into consideration the risk assessment and management of AGPs. In conclusion, informative updated standardized policies and protocols are required when more knowledge on the virus behavior keeps evolving. Moreover, there is a need for evidence-based protective measures to be modified on a regular basis to be followed, until a safe vaccine is produced.Keywords: COVID-19, risk assessment, cross-infection control, diagnostic tests, dental care emergency guidelines, disinfectants, public health, aerosol generating procedures, airborne, healthcare personnel protection

Considering that osteosarcoma in children is the most common bone tumor and is characterized by an aggressive evolution, the problem arises of a more personalized treatment to increase the survival rate. In researching new and reliable biomarkers we identified IGF1 (insulin-like polypeptide hormone) and CRIP-1 (Cysteine-Rich Intestinal Protein 1). Their overexpression has been documented to have a significant prognostic impact on different. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the overexpression of IGF1 and CRIP-1 in pediatric osteosarcoma and assess their potential as a prognostic biomarker. Marterial and methods: We analyzed 65 samples from patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma at “Sf. Maria” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children from Iasi, between 2017 and 2021 The staining kits were used is Mouse and Rabbit Specific HRP/DAB (ABC) Detection IHC Kit from Abcam and monoclonal antibody antiIGF1 and polyclonal antibody CRIP 1.Results:Both Igf 1 and CRIP-1 were overexpressed in over 90% of the cases. The lower the degree of differentiation, the less CRIP-1 is overexpressed and the more frequently it is found in the nucleus.We don t identified the ov no exclusive nuclear expression, (associated with a favorable prognosis) for IGF1.Conclusion:Could this mean that CRIP-1 overexpression is associated with a better prognosis? Could this mean that IGF1 overexpression is associated with a poor prognosis? The study highlights the clinical implications of Igf1 and CRIP-1 in osteosarcoma, emphasizing their importance for prognosis, and personalized treatment strategies.

Abstract Background While Human Factors (HF) methods have been applied to the design of decision support systems (DSS) to aid clinical decision-making, the role of HF to improve decision-support for population health outcomes is less understood. We sought to comprehensively understand how HF methods have been used in designing digital population health DSS. Materials and methods We searched English documents published in health sciences and engineering databases (Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, Comendex, Inspec, IEEE Xplore) between January 1990 and September 2023 describing the development, validation or application of HF principles to decision support tools in population health. Results We identified 21,581 unique records and included 153 studies for data extraction and synthesis. We included research articles that had a target end-user in population health and that used HF. HF methods were applied throughout the design lifecycle. Users were engaged early in the design lifecycle in the needs assessment and requirements gathering phase and design and prototyping phase with qualitative methods such as interviews. In later stages in the lifecycle, during user testing and evaluation, and post deployment evaluation, quantitative methods were more frequently used. However, only three studies used an experimental framework or conducted A/B testing. Conclusions While HF have been applied in a variety of contexts in the design of data-driven DSSs for population health, few have used Human Factors to its full potential. We offer recommendations for how HF can be leveraged throughout the design lifecycle. Most crucially, system designers should engage with users early on and throughout the design process. Our findings can support stakeholders to further empower public health systems.

Abstract G protein-coupled receptors’ conformational landscape can be affected by their local, microscopic interactions within the cell plasma membrane. We employ here a pleiotropic stimulus, namely osmotic swelling, to alter the cortical environment within intact cells and monitor the response in terms of receptor function and downstream signaling. We observe that in osmotically swollen cells the β2-adrenergic receptor, a prototypical GPCR, favors an active conformation, resulting in cAMP transient responses to adrenergic stimulation that have increased amplitude. The results are validated in primary cell types such as adult cardiomyocytes, a model system where swelling occurs upon ischemia-reperfusion injury. Our results suggest that receptors’ function is finely modulated by their biophysical context, and specifically that osmotic swelling acts as a potentiator of downstream signaling, not only for the β2-adrenergic receptor, but also for other receptors, hinting at a more general regulatory mechanism.

Biological invasions pose an increasing risk to nature, social security and the economy, being ranked amongst the top five threats to biodiversity. Managing alien and invasive species is a priority for the European Union, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Alien plant species are acknowledged to impact the economy and biodiversity; thus, analysing the distribution of such species provides valuable inputs for the management and decision-making processes. The database presented in the current study is the first consolidated checklist of alien plant species that are present in Romania, both of European Union concern and of national interest. This database complements a prior published distribution, based only on records from literature, bringing new information regarding the occurrence of alien plants in Romania, as revealed by a nationwide field survey. We consider this database a valuable instrument for managing biological invasions at both national and regional levels, as it can be utilised in further research studies and in drafting management and action plans, assisting stakeholders in making informed decisions and implementing management actions.We present the results of the first nationwide survey of alien plant species in Romania, conducted between 2019 and 2022, in the framework of a national project coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests and the University of Bucharest. The present database complements and updates the database published by Sirbu et. al (2022), which included occurrence records published until 2019. The new database includes 98323 occurrence records for 396 alien plant species in 77 families, with most species belonging to the Asteraceae family. One alien plant species in our database, the black locust Robinia pseudoacacia L., had more than 10,000 occurrence records. The distribution database also includes information on newly-reported invasive alien plant species of European Union concern in Romania (i.e. the floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) P.H.Raven) and documents the presence of plants in 44 additional families compared to Sirbu et al. (2022). Each entry includes information on species taxonomy, location, year, person who recorded and identified the alien plant, geographical coordinates and taxon rank.

Introduction Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) is a non-invasive technique that is increasingly used in neurosurgery, especially in oncological pathology. The main advantage consists of offering a real time image and can help localize the lesion and guide the extent of resection. Material and Methods We describe our experience at Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital from a prospectively maintained database of malignant CNS tumors where IOUS was used over the past three years. Results Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) was routinely employed in the resection of brain tumors, proving helpful not only in localizing the lesion but also in determining the extent of resection. This was particularly useful for diffuse infiltrative lesions such as gliomas. Moreover, in patients with multiple metastases, where the neuronavigation system was limited due to brain shift following the resection of one lesion, IOUS was very efficient in determining the location. Conclusion Intraoperative ultrasound is a widely adopted technique in neurosurgery, aiding neurosurgeons achieve maximal safe resection of brain and spinal tumors. Its main advantages include quick, real-time image acquisition, compensation for brain shift, and integration with neuronavigation systems. The most significant limitation, however, is the relatively long learning curve associated with mastering the technique.

Background: The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse and disease progression remains unclear. Previous studies are limited by small sample sizes and most lack a propensity-matched control cohort. Objective: To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection on MS disease course with a large propensity-matched cohort. Design: This multi-centre cohort study analysed relapse and disability outcomes post-COVID-19 infection after balancing covariates using a propensity score matching method. The study period was from the 11th of September 2019 to the 16th of February 2023. The mean follow-up period was 1.7 years. Methods: Data were retrieved from the MSBase Registry. Propensity scores were obtained based on age, sex, disease duration, baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), MS course, relapses pre-baseline, disease-modifying therapy (DMT) class and country. Primary outcomes were time to first relapse, annualised relapse rate (ARR) and time to confirm EDSS progression. Secondary outcomes were time to EDSS of 3, 4 or 6. Sensitivity analyses with baseline DMT classes were performed. Results: The study included 2253 cases and 6441 controls. After matching, there were 2161 cases and an equal number of matched controls. Cases had a significantly higher ARR (ARR = 0.10 [95% CI 0.09–0.11]) compared to controls (ARR = 0.07 [95% CI 0.06–0.08]). Cases had a significantly greater hazard of time to first relapse compared to controls (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.54 [95% CI 1.29–1.84]). There was no association between COVID-19 infection and 24-week EDSS progression (HR = 1.18 [95% CI 0.92–1.52]), or time to EDSS of 3, 4 or 6. For patients on interferons and glatiramer acetate (BRACE), COVID-19 infection was associated with a greater hazard of time to first relapse (HR = 1.83 [95% CI 1.25–2.68]) and greater hazard of time to EDSS of 3 (HR = 2.04 [95% CI 1.06–3.90]) compared to patients on BRACE therapy without COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection was associated with a significantly increased MS relapse rate and a shorter time to first relapse. There was no effect on confirmed EDSS progression over the short term. These results support ongoing COVID-19 risk minimisation strategies to protect patients with MS.

Surface treatment of perovskite materials with their layered counterparts has become an ubiquitous strategy for maximizing device performance. While layered materials confer great benefits to the longevity and long‐term efficiency of the resulting device stack via passivation of defects and surface traps, numerous reports have previously demonstrated that these materials evolve under exposure to light and humidity, suggesting that they are not fully stable. Therefore, it is crucial to study the behavior of these materials in isolation and in conditions mimicking a device stack. Here, it is shown that perovskite capping layers templated by a range of cations on top of methylammonium lead iodide devolve in conditions commonly found during perovskite fabrication, such as exposure to light, solvent, and moisture. Photophysical, structural, and morphological studies are used to show that the degradation of these layered perovskites occurs via a self‐limiting, pinhole‐mediated mechanism. This results in the loss of whole perovskite sheets, from a few monolayers to tens of nanometers of material, until the system stabilizes again as demonstrated for exfoliated flakes of PEA2PbI4. This means that initially targeted structures may have devolved, with clear optimization implications for device fabrication.

IntroductionRenal dysfunction is a recognized complication of obesity with an incompletely characterized pathophysiology. Improvement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has been reported across all classes of renal function. Inter-gender differences with regard to correlates of renal function have been described, but the influence of body composition is an understudied area. We aimed to explore determinants of renal function in obesity and to assess its variations after MBS, with a focus on body composition parameters in males and females, respectively.Materials, methodsWe conducted a retrospective study on 196 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, evaluated preoperatively and 6 months after the intervention. Recorded data included clinical and biochemical assessment, as well as body composition estimation via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum creatinine-based formulas were used for the estimation of GFR.ResultsWe included a total of 196 patients (80 males and 116 females), with a mean age of 41.43 ± 10.79. Median baseline body mass index was 42.6 (6.61) kg/m2 and 6 months excess weight loss (EWL) reached 71.43 ± 17.18%, in females, estimated GFR correlated negatively with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass (rho=-.368) and this correlation was stronger in females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, women in the third VAT mass tertile were 5 times more likely to have reduced GFR compared to the first tertile. Renal function improved after MBS across all classes of filtration. In males, this improvement correlated with EWL (rho=.358) and lean mass variation (rho=-.412), while in females it correlated with VAT mass variation (rho=-.266).ConclusionsOur results are consistent with previous findings on the positive impact of MBS on renal function and suggest a more prominent impact of visceral adiposity on GFR in females.

Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant intraosseous tumour formed by tumour cells producing osteoid, bone or chondroid material (1). Considering the reserved prognosis of this neoplasia, we attempted to identify and analyze some biomarkers in order to perform a multivariate analysis and to assess the predictive power of the evolution. In search of new and reliable biomarkers we studied IGF1 overexpression in osteosarcoma. IGF1 is an insulin-like polypeptide hormone with a vital role in normal bone development by stimulating bone growth. We therefore decided to investigate the role of these biomarkers in osteosarcoma. For this purpose we analyzed 46 samples from 27 patients diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in the period 2017-2021 in the Children’s Emergency Clinical Hospital “Sf.Maria”, Iasi.

Abstract Background Double-lumen tubes (DLTs) are the preferred device for lung isolation. Conventional DLTs (cDLT) need a bronchoscopic position control. Visualisation of correct DLT positioning could be facilitated by the use of a video double-lumen tube (vDLT). During the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic, avoiding aerosol-generation was suggesting using this device. In a large retrospective series, we report both general and pandemic related experiences with the device. Methods All anesthesia records from patients aged 18 years or older undergoing surgery from April 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2021 in the department of thoracic surgery requiring intraoperative lung isolation were analyzed retrospectively. Results During the investigation period 343 left-sided vDLTs (77.4%) and 100 left-sided cDLTs (22.6%) were used for one lung ventilation. In the vDLT group bronchoscopy could be reduced by 85.4% related to the cDLT group. Additional bronchoscopy to reach or maintain correct position was needed in 11% of the cases. Other bronchoscopy indications occured in 3.6% of the cases. With cDLT, in 1% bronchoscopy for other indications than conforming position was observed. Conclusions The Ambu® VivaSight™ vDLT is an efficient, easy-to-use and safe airway device for the generation of one lung ventilation in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. The vDLT implementation was achieved easily with full interchangeability to the left-sided cDLT. Using the vDLT can reduce the need for aerosol-generating bronchoscopic interventions by 85.4%. Continuous video view to the carina enabling position monitoring of the DLT without need for bronchoscopy might be beneficial for both employee’s and patient’s safety.

Aim of the study: This review evaluates the necessity and effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing prosthetic joint infections (PJI) following dental procedures in patients with joint implants.Material and methods: An extensive literature review was conducted, focusing on studies evaluating the link between dental care and PJI. Sources included PubMed and other databases, using terms such as dental care, joint prosthesis, and antibiotic prophylaxis. The review spanned papers from 2003 to 2023, with a focus on hip and knee joint replacements and dental procedure-related prophylaxis guidelines.Results: The review found that the prevalence of dental pathology in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) varied significantly. Studies indicated no significant benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing PJI risk post-dental procedures. Furthermore, the incidence of PJI was not significantly different in patients receiving antibiotic prophylaxis compared to those who did not. It was observed that routine activities, such as chewing and brushing, contribute more to bacteremia and potential joint infection than dental procedures themselves.Conclusions: The evidence suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures in patients with joint prostheses is not universally beneficial and should not be routinely recommended. Emphasis on individual risk assessment, maintenance of good oral hygiene, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines is paramount. The study advocates for personalized approaches to PJI prevention, aligning with the goals of antibiotic stewardship and patient safety.