AMM 2020, Volume 66, Number 4 | Acta Medica Marisiensis

The Anti-tobacco Legislation’s Impact on Air Pollution in Romanian Foster Care Homes

Nimród Tubák¹, Lorand Kocsis¹, Péter Balázs², Valentin Nădăşan¹, Iozsef Lorand Ferencz¹, Ágnes Tamás¹, Zoltán Ábrám¹

1. George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania
2. Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0019

Objective: The research aimed to investigate the impact of the anti-tobacco legislation (2016) on air quality in Romanian foster care homes.
Methods: The measurements took place in foster care homes situated in three Romanian counties. We recorded data three times (in 2014, in 2016 – six months after the implementation of the anti-tobacco legislation, in 2019). In 41 foster care homes were measured the indoor and outdoor Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) level in the air, using the TSI SidePak™ Personal Aerosol Monitor device. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used for data analysis (significant difference if p < 0.05).
Results: The indoor PM_2.5 values were higher in every year than outdoor values. Analyzing the anti-tobacco legislation’s impact on air quality, we found no difference between the indoor data measured in 2014 and in 2016, but there was a significant difference in the outdoor values (they were higher in 2016). Comparing the values measured after the implementation of the legislation (2016 vs. 2019) we found no difference in either indoor or outdoor values.
Conclusions: The anti-tobacco legislation has not influenced the indoor air pollution (PM_2.5) level. The increased outdoor PM_2.5 values suggest that the residents of the foster care homes are smoking more in front of the house after the introduction of the anti-tobacco legislation in 2016.

Asymptomatic Myxomatous Degeneration of the Mitral Valve, in a Young Male

Carmen Opris¹, Horatiu Suciu^1,2, Catalin Satala³, Cosmin Banceu², Cosmin Opris¹, Alexandra Stoica², Tudor Capilna², Simona Gurzu^3,4

1. Department of Adult and Children Cardiovascular Recovery, Emergency Institute for Cardio-Vascular Diseases and Transplantation, Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Surgery, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania
3. Department of Pathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania
4. Research Center (CCAMF), George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0018

Background: In young patients, the most common cause of mitral valve regurgitation is prolapse or flail of the valve, which is morphologically reflected by myxomatous degeneration. In rare cases, such this presented in this paper, this lesion might be incidentally identified, in young people.
Case presentation: A 43-year-old male, with familial history of hypertension, presented in our Department of Cardiology for a routine check-up. Despite of lack of symptoms, an intense murmur was detected at mitral auscultation area. The echocardiography revealed a severe mitral regurgitation caused by flail of posterior mitral valve. The patient was transferred to the Cardiac Surgery Department for surgical intervention consisting in mitral valve repair. The histopathological examination revealed severe myxomatous degeneration of the spongiosa and fibrosa layers. The recovery after surgery was very good with no postoperative complications. The patient was discharged seven days after surgery, with no significant mitral regurgitation at the three-month follow-up.
Conclusions: In young, asymptomatic patients, the proper time for mitral valve repair should be decided by an interdisciplinary team. For a better understanding of myxomatous degeneration particularities, histopathological assessment should be done in any replaced valve. Certification of such lesions, under microscope, might be an indicator for familial cardiovascular screening, in first degree relatives.