Category Archives: Original Research

Resonance Frequency Analysis of Dental Implant Stability During the Healing Period (A Clinical Study)

Aim: The aim of this clinical study was to measure the implant stability quotient using a method called resonance frequency analysis of dental implants during the healing period.
Material and methods: A number of 27 patients received 50 internal hexagon implants (Biohorizons) either in the maxillary or in the mandibular arch. Implant stability was measured with an Osstell Mentor device (Osstel, AB, Sweden) using the resonance frequency analysis at the time of implant placement, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days post insertion.
Results: The mean implant stability quotient for all implants placed was 67.06. The lowest value of the implant stability quotient was at 30 days post insertion measuring 62.
Conclusions: In relation to the gender the implants placed in female patients showed a higher mean value of the implant stability quotient. In relation to the location within the dental arch the implants placed in the anterior areas had a higher implant stability quotient than the ones places in the posterior areas of the arch.

Full text: PDF

The Influence of Row Soy Diet on Gastrointestinal Tract in Animal Model

Background: Soybean is the vegetal product of soy, Glycine max fam. Fabaceae. It is well known that short-term ingestion of raw soy and plant trypsin inhibitors by mice greatly stimulates the exocrine pancreas, leading to increased enzyme production, organ enlargement and cellular hyperplasia.
The aim of this study is to examine changes that occur in the liver, an organ from the gastrointestinal tract less studied on this topic when row soy is administrated. Short time nutritional studies were conducted on C57BL/6J mice of four weeks.
Results showed a decrees in mice body mass after administration of row soybean. Histological analyze revealed an alteration of the pancreas showing the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrate, the phenomen of vascular congestion and edema of the parenchymal cells and of the liver highlighting fibrosis of the vascular wall, the presence of the intravascular infiltrate represented by fibrin and figurative elements (erythrocytes and leukocytes), of the Kupffer cells phagocyte active, and granulocytes with diapedez trend.
Conclusions: The main conclusion of this study is that row soybean diet has a negative action on the gastrointestinal tract in animal model affecting mostly the pancreas and the liver translated by decreasing body weight in mice.

Full text: PDF

Exposure to Aminoglycosides from Flu Vaccines and Susceptibility to Gentamicin Among Escherichia coli Strains in Urinary Isolates from Asthmatic Patients

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Escherichia coli, an important pathogen associated with urinary tract infections, in asthmatic adult patients previously repeatedly exposed to residual amounts of aminoglycosides from flu vaccines.
Material and methods: We determined the antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains isolated from the specimens of adult asthmatic subjects with urinary tract infections, hospitalized in an allergy university clinic in Bucharest. All patients were enrolled in the previous six months, are known with persistent asthma treated with controller medication, and received seasonal influenza vaccination annually at least the last two years, with or without a previous A/H1N1 pandemic flu vaccination, with vaccines containing traces of aminoglycosides. A control group included adult patients with a positive history of adverse drug reactions not vaccinated for influenza and not treated with aminoglycosides in the last two years. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.
Results: We found that overall the gentamicin susceptibility rate is high in analysed samples from the enrolled patients (94.82%). Gentamicin resistance is very low in both groups, with evidently no statistical increase in resistance to this antibiotic in the Escherichia coli isolated from the urine of asthmatic patients previously parenteral exposed to influenza vaccines containing residual amounts of neomycin or gentamicin.
Conclusion: The annually administration of injectable flu vaccines containing aminoglycosides in order to protect high-risk groups against the variable influenza virus seems not to influence gentamicin susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli strains.

Full text: PDF

Nutritional Parameters in Children with Acute Leukemia

Background: Nutritional problems with children suffering from cancer varies from extreme malnutrition to complex nutritional problems due to both disease and treatment.
Aim: In this study we intend to assess the nutritional status of the children with acute leukemia and the malnutrition effect on the evolution of the disease.
Material and method: We have performed a retrospective study on a group of 53 children suffering from acute leukemia who were diagnosed and treated in The Pediatric Clinic No. I Targu-Mures, The Department of Hematooncology within the period of 2001–2009. The nutritional status is assessed through anthropometric, hemathological and biochemical parameters before the initiation of chemotherapy.
Results: The group of study included 32 males and 21 females, with an average age of 7.2 years at the beginning of the malignant disease; out of 53 patients, 46 were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 7 with acute myeloblastic leukemia.
At the beginning of the malignant disease, 10 patients (18.9%) had the weight under percentage 5 . The height corresponding to the age was, at the beginning of the disease under percentage 5 with 6 patients (11.32%), showing a chronic state of
malnutrition. The hemoglobin is diminished to 88.67% of the patients. Sideremia was lowered to 3.77% of the patients and increased to 45.28%. 35.85% of the children had the serum proteins decreased, from which 28.30% had hypoalbuminemia.
We had in view a period of 6 months since the initation of chemotherapy the response to the treatment by: realising the remission, an occurance of relapse, infectious episodes, those of febrile neuthropenia and the rate of death. In our study we have found that along with the children with a proper nutritional status, the malnourished children show a higher amount of infectious episodes (9.66 versus 7,32 infectious episodes/child); the number of the febrile neutropenia episodes was higher (3.8 versus 2.01 episodes/child). The remission at 6 months was slightly inferior in malnourished children, yet, the rate of mortality has not been influenced.
Conclusions: 1. The prevalence of the assessed severe malnutrition based on the anthropometric indicators was 18.9% at the beginning of the malignant disease. 2. The children’s smaller height at the beginning of the tumoral disease is given by the chronic protein-caloric malnutrition,existing before the disease. 3. Among the malnourished patients, the frequency of the infectious episodes is higher and the remission at 6 months is inferior to those with a normal nutritional status, however the rate of death is not different.

Full text: PDF

No-reflow in Patients with ST Elevation Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of no-reflow after coronary recanalization in anterior acute myocardial infarction with ST-T segment elevation.
Methods: In a cohort of 80 consecutive patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction who were treated with primary angioplasty, we analysed angiographic and clinical characteristic of patients and the prevalence of pre-infarction angina. Successful angioplasty was defined as Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow and residual stenosis less than 50% after the angioplasty procedure. The phenomenon of no-reflow is defined as inadequate myocardial perfusion through a given segment of the coronary circulation without angiographic evidence of mechanical vessel obstruction.
Results: Successful angioplasty was achieved in 63 patients (78.75%). Mean age and gender were not different from patients with and without TIMI grade 3 flow. The no-reflow phenomenon was more frequently observed in patients with diabetes (29.41% vs 4.76%, p 0.0001). TIMI grade III flow was higher in the patients with pre-infarction angina (42.86% vs 11.76% p 0.02).
Conclusion: The no reflow phenomenon in patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty is present in 21.25% of patients. Pre-infarction angina is associated with preservation of the microvasculature, reflected by reduced no-reflow.

Full text: PDF

Comparative Study Between Echocardiography and Autopsy Results of Congenital Heart Defects

Background: Congenital heart disease is currently the world’s leading birth defect, with incidence estimated at 8 per 1000 live births. Confidence in the images obtained using echocardiography has continued to increase, with many patients referred for corrective or palliative surgery on the basis of echocardiographic imaging alone. This review outlines the manner in which echocardiography is used to plan and guide congenital heart surgery or intervention, along with some of the advantages and disadvantages of which to be aware.
Aim: To assess the degree of harmonization of echocardiography with postmortem diagnosis in congenital heart disease.
Material and method: We examined the morphology of congenital heart diseases by autopsy in the Morphopathology Department of the County Hospital of Tîrgu Mureş in 2008 and 2009. We analyzed the components of the congenital heart disease and we compared the echocardiographic results with the autopsy results also.
Results: In 2008 and 2009 621 necropsies were carried out, from which 49, meaning 7.89% were diagnosed with simple or complex cardiac malformations; the male-female ration was 1:0.9. We found a few differences between the echocardiography and autopsy results on the following malformations: total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, double outlet ventricle, univentricular heart.
Conclusions: Echocardiography is accepted as the first-line imaging modality for diagnosing most types of congenital heart defects but in some difficult cases surgeons must always keep in mind the possibility of the presence of other heart malformation too.

Full text: PDF

The Detection of Premalignant and Malignant Gastric Lesions by Conventional Endoscopy in a General Population Sample

Background and Aims: The identification of patients with premalignant lesions and endoscopic surveillance could improve the early detection of gastric cancer, with better therapy and prognosis. We performed conventional endoscopy with biopsies to identify the incidence rates of premalignant and malignant gastric lesions and the risk of patients for this pathology.
Methods: A total of 1651 patients were investigated with conventional endoscopy. We took biopsies from 1493 patients. Biopsy specimens were analyzed for gastric inflammation, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and neoplasia.
Results: We demonstrated that major symptoms had a sensitivity of 95.2%, and a specificity of 54.5% for the detection of gastric neoplasia, with a sensitivity of 61.6% and a specificity of 57.2% for the detection of premalignant lesions. We showed the risk of patients over 45 years, with major or minor symptoms, for premalignant and malignant gastric lesions (p < 0.001; RR = 3.34; 95%CI: 2.41–4.61). We emphasized the importance of histological evaluation by biopsies of entire gastric mucosa in case of polyps, ulcers, gastric atrophy detection or remnant stomach, for the evaluation of premalignant lesions (p < 0.,05). We showed that the prevalence of premalignant lesions increased with age and the presence of Hp infection. We demonstrated the risk of the inflammation in the gastric body for premalignant lesions.
Conclusions: The patient’s symptoms were not predictive of endoscopic and histologic findings. Not only symptoms, but also the age, the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, the histological detection of the extent and location of gastric inflammation and premalignant lesions define the risk for the dyspeptic patients.

Full text: PDF

Bacteriological Study of Urinary Stones

Background: Despite modern antibiotic therapy and technological advances in lithotripsy, the presence of infection in patients with urinary stones, as well as with infectious stones is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Recent findings lend more theories as to how infection leads to stone formation.
Aim: The bacteriological study of urine and stone samples from patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) and the correlation of the bacteriological analysis results of stones and urine culture.
Method: We enrolled patients admitted to the urology department of Mures Emergency Hospital, from December 2008 to March 2009; all 50 patients who were diagnosed by the urologist as having urinary stones were included in this study. Bacteriological study was conducted on pre-operative urine and operated renal stones. Pre-operative urine sam¬ples were collected aseptically for macroscopic and micro¬scopic examination. Both pre-operative urine and operated renal stones were processed for bacteriological culture. The isolated microorganisms were identified by standard techniques.
Results: From the 50 patients included in this study, 20 had both infected stones and UTI. While correlating the results of bacteriologi¬cal analysis of stones and urine culture, the same microorganisms from urine culture and stone culture were isolated in 12 (60%) out of 20 cases, but different microorganisms in 8 (40%). The bacteriological study of urine and stone samples revealed that the most common pathogens were E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Conclusion: The incidence of infectious urinary stones in patients with UTI was higher than in the sterile ones. The preponderant identified microorganisms were E. coli, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In more than half of the cases, the same microorganisms were found both in UTI and within the urinary stones.

Full text: PDF

Evaluation of Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy with Endothelin-Receptor Antagonist in Eisenmenger Syndrome

Objective: To assess the effect of treatment with endothelin-receptor anatagonists on patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, by monitoring oxygen saturation, exercise capacity and echocardiography.
Methods: A total of 14 pediatric patients diagnosed with Eisenmenger syndrome were evaluated clinically by systemic pulse-oximetry, 6-minute walk test and by echocardiography at the beginning of pulmonary vasodilator treatment with endothelin-receptor antagonist, at 3 and 6 months after treatment initiation.
Results: NYHA functional class, systemic arterial blood saturation and distance walked in 6 minutes improved after 3 and 6 months of pulmonary vasodilator treatment. In our study we observed that Tei index right ventricle has improved after 3 months of therapy. We found no statistically significant changes in other ecocardiographic parameters of pulmonary hypertension evaluation.
Conclusions: Endothelin-receptor antagonist improved exercise capacity and hemodynamics, without compromising peripheral oxygen saturation.
Study perfomed in the research project MAMI no. 41-042/2007, financed by the Roumanian Ministry of Education, Research and Youth

Full text: PDF

Rheological Behavior of Sodium Valproate Suppositories

Background: Because the valproic derivates are frequently used in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorders, major depression cases, migraines and other neurological disorders at children, the rectal administration is a real advantage.
Aim: In this study we aimed to assess the influence of the formulation on the rheological characteristics of lipophilic suppository bases Suppocire NAI, Witepsol W35, Massa Estarinum299, Lipex403, containing Cetyl alcohol and Solutol HS15, respectively.
Methods: Spreadability was determined by the Pozo Ojeda-Sune Arbussa method. Half a gram suppository was placed on the bottom plaque of the extensiometer, and the upper plaque was added over it. After equal intervals of time (1 minute) different weights (2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500 g) were placed. Following each weight addition, the diameters of the obtained circles were measured, and the corresponding area was calculated. The viscosity was determined using the Brookfield (DV-II +Pro) rotational viscosimeter. The measurements were performed at 37±0.5°C and 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 rpm.
Results: The experimental results demonstrated that sodium valproate as active substance induces an increase in viscosity and consequently a decrease in the spreading capacity of the lipophilic suppository bases used. Lipex403 (a base consisting in fatty acids) manifests the lowest viscosity compared to the bases consisting in mixtures of glycerides (Suppocire NAI, Witepsol W35, Massa Estarinum 299). Solutol HS15 as emulsifier determines a higher decrease in viscosities and a better spreading capacity than Cetyl alcohol. Sodium valproate suppositories obtained with Lipex403 as excipient base show plastic flow characteristics without thixotropy.
Conclusions: The experimental results demonstrated that sodium valproate as active substance induces an increase in viscosity and consequently a decrease in the spreading capacity of the lipophilic suppository bases used. Solutol HS15 determines a higher decrease in viscosities and a better spreading capacity than Cetyl alcohol.

Full text: PDF