Category Archives: Original Research

Assessment of Periodontal Status of Surgically Exposed and Orthodontically Aligned Impacted Maxillary Canines

Coșarcă Adina¹, Păcurar Mariana², Petrovan Cecilia¹, Ormenișan Alina¹

1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
2 Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0002

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the periodontal status of impacted canines after 5 years following completion of the combined surgical and orthodontic treatment.
Materials and methods: We examined 20 labially impacted canines and 20 palatally impacted canines at 5 years after the end of treatment. We assessed the periodontal status of these teeth.
Results: Different outcomes were found regarding the probing depth and the amount of keratinized gingiva in the two mentioned groups of teeth.
Conclusions: The assessed periodontal indices may signal the appearance of a periodontal disease around the teeth that were surgically and orthodontically treated.

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Anastomotic Leaks after Colorectal Surgery: a Prognostic Score

Caziuc Alexandra1, Mironiuc A2

1 First Surgical Clinic, ”Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Second Surgical Clinic, ”Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj Napoca, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0001

Introduction: Anastomotic leaks are one of the most dreaded complications in colorectal surgery. At the ground of this problem remain the nefarious prognostic over the patient’s life, the difficulties in early diagnosis and the optimal choice of therapeutical methods. The goal of our research was to evaluate the significance of possible risk factors in the postoperative evolution of patients following colorectal interventions and to design a prognostic score.
Material and methods: We performed a retrospective study on 298 cases of patients with inflammatory, neoplastic or traumatic lesions for which there was chosen a digestive anastomosis including the colon. The presumed risk factors in our analysis were: age, comorbidity evaluated by Charlson Score, etiology, toxics, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances or corticoids, parameters such as leucocytes, hemoglobin, urea, total seric bilirubin, glycaemia, albumins, neoadjuvant therapy, type of suture, quantity of fluids received intraoperatory. All data were analyzed using R-Commander.
Results: All parameters for which we demonstrated a statistical significance (p <0.05) for an unfavorable evolution were included in a prognostic score, designed in correlation with the statistical relation between the factors. We obtained values that certified a strong association (0.75) between a high prognostic score and an increased number of anastomotic leaks.
Conclusions: The practical utility of the score is mainly for the anticipation of postoperative complications. A high level score underlines that prior to surgery it is essential to balance the biochemical abnormalities and to choose properly the moment and type of surgical intervention.

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The Monitoring of Immunosuppressive Therapy with Tacrolimus in Patients with Kidney Transplant, Based on the Pharmacokinetic Criteria

Stoica Ciprian Mihai1, Căldăraru Carmen Denise2*, Vari Camil Eugen3, Tarța Dorin Ionuț1, Dogaru Maria Titica3, Carașca Emilian4, Dogaru Grigore Aloiziu1

1 Department of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România
2 Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România
3 Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România
4 Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mureş, România

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0082

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) with kidney transplant, represents a major post transplant concern due to the characteristics of this special category of patients, particularities which can generate changes of the pharmacokinetic profile of the administered medication.
Material and methods: The current study is a retrospective pharmacokinetic study, over a period of 50 months, including a group of 36 kidney transplanted patients with CKD. Tacrolimus blood concentration was determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC), at a 12 hour time interval from the last administration of the immunosuppressive medication and before the following dose (Residual concentration, Cmin(trough)).
Results: During the monitoring of therapy, based on the pharmacokinetic criteria, 252 measurements of blood concentration were determined, 58 of these being outside the therapeutic window.
Conclusions: The results obtained show that it is mandatory to continue to monitor closely medical therapy based on the pharmacokinetic criteria in view of improving drug administration. The other ways of monitoring therapy: the clinical and biochemical criteria should not be overlooked. In addition, the interindividual variability of patients should be considered, as well as drug interaction which can alter the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus.

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Prevalence of Physiological, Pathological and Behavioral Risk Factors in Patients Treated with Antidiabetic Sulfonylureas

Confederat Luminita*, Stefan Roxana, Constantin Sandra, Hăncianu Monica, Profire Lenuta

University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, Iași , Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0080

Diabetes mellitus is an important public health problem because of its increased incidence and its devastating complications. In addition to this, it was observed an increase in prevalence for diabetes risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the pathophysiological and behavioral risk factors among patients treated with oral hypoglycemic sulfonylureas.
Material and methods: It were analyzed the observation sheets of 200 patients ambulatory treated at the “Providența” Medical Center.
Results and discussions: Most of the patients were aged over 65 years, being 48.5% women and 51.5% men. The obesity was the most frequent (88%) risk factor in patients; the majority of them were included in the “overweight” and “first- degree obesity” class (72%). Regarding associated comorbidities, hypertension was found in 77% of cases, followed by dyslipidemia. In terms of physiological and behavioral aspects, age and alcohol consumption were predominant.
Conclusions: A significant percentage of diabetic patients treated with hypoglycemic sulfonylureas present a high prevalence of the risk factors and even two or three factors associated.

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The Assessment of Romanian Customers’ Level of Satisfaction with Pharmaceutical Providers

Cherecheș Marius Călin1*, Timofe Mara Paula2, Oniga Ovidiu1

1 Faculty of Pharmacy, ”Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Cluj School of Public Health, College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0079

The aim of the current study is to assess the level of satisfaction towards pharmaceutical services among Romanian customers. Moreover, we were interested in building the socio-demographical profile of a Romanian satisfied customer. The study has a transversal design and uses a quantitative approach. Data was collected at the national level in June 2012 by using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) and resulted in 1,478 valid questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were performed in order to properly present the sample of interest according to socio-demographic characteristics, as well as general attitudes towards pharmaceutical market. According to our analysis, only half of the respondents have a favorite pharmacy (50,4%). Regarding their level of satisfaction, the majority of respondents (53%) declared themselves as being quite satisfied with the pharmacy that they usually collaborate with, whereas 42% of respondents are very satisfied with their favorite pharmacies. According to our analysis, the most satisfied customer has the following socio-demographic characteristics: female (N=351), aged between 56 and 70 years old (N=259), having high school as the highest level of education (N=184), living in an urban area (N=343), having a monthly income of 501-1000 RON (N=217), married (N=396), having no chronic disease (N=312), having a family composed of two members (N=185). Customer’s satisfaction represents a personal evaluation on the pharmaceutical services and providers and is an essential part of the quality of health care. Therefore, it is vital to assess the customer’s expectation and satisfaction in order to ensure the success of the pharmaceutical company.

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Association of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Components of Metabolic Syndrome

Anda-Mihaela Cerghizan1, Simona Bățagă2, L. Cozlea1, I.D. Tarța3, B. Chibelean 4, Carmen Căldăraru5*, G. Dogaru3

1 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu-Mures, Romania
2 1st Gastroenterology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu Mures, Romania
3 Department of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu-Mures, Romania
4 Department of Urology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu-Mures, Romania
5 Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu-Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0078

The aim of the current study was to find any possible associations between elements of metabolic syndrome and echocardiographic characteristics (grade of diastolic dysfunction) in normoponderal and overweight patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. A retrospective observational analytical study was performed on 130 patients presenting heart failure with documented ejection fraction over 50%. They were divided into two groups based on their body mass index. The first group included 56 normal weight patients and the second group included 74 overweight patients. Elements of the metabolic syndrome analysed in the current study were arterial hypertension, high triglyceride levels, low HDL-cholesterol and diabetes. None of the components of metabolic syndrome alone had a role in the evolution of diastolic dysfunction in either group. Three or four elements present in obese patients were negatively associated with grade 2 diastolic dysfunction, high values of blood pressure (over 180/110 mmHg) were more often encountered in obese patients with first and second grade of diastolic dysfunction.

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Links Between Surgical Landmarks of the Temporal Bone and Cochlear Implant Approaches

Lostun Gabriel1*, Gușavan Diana Elena2, Genes Ionela1, Lostun Alexandra3, Brînzaniuc Klara4

1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu-Mureș, Romania
2 Department of Radiology, Emergency County Hospital Tîrgu-Mureș, Romania
3 Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu-Mureș, Romania
4 Department of Human Anatomy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu-Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0075

Objective: We aimed to underline the surgical importance of the distances between the landmarks of the temporal bone, important for quantifying the benefits and disadvantages of two different cochlear implant techniques.
Methods: We have gathered all data from the Radiology Department in Emergency County Hospital in Tîrgu Mureș, namely computed tomography imagistic studies in order to perform the required measurements, according to pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. The time interval was 5 months.
Results: The comparison between the sets of data shows a good match for the risk/benefit ratio for the two types of technique for cochlear implantation.
Conclusions: The middle cerebral fossa approach for the electrode insertion into the cochlea is a viable and needed surgical technique as the classic approach has reached its boundaries and new challenges appear. As surgical decisions are largely based on radiology data, our work underlines the importance of solving the borderline pathology, the extreme cases and the role of surgery in improving the quality of life for every patient with cochlear implant indication.

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First Study of the Prosthesis Indication Deafnesses in Mureș County

Lostun Gabriel1*, Lostun Alexandra2, Brînzaniuc Klara3

1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
2 Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mures, Romania
3 Department of Human Anatomy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0074

Objective: The aim of this study was to asses the frequency of the deafness pathology in the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of the Emergency County Hospital in Tîrgu Mureș and two other private institutions that have an ear linked profile, with a special interest on those with indication for prosthesis. This is a pilot study, being conceived as a part of a larger one used to measure the number of possible cochlear implant recipients nationwide.
Methods: We gathered data from the interval 2011-2013, including in the study all the patients for which an audiometry testing was performed in this time interval. This was followed by a process of selection/exclusion applied to the original group in order to obtain significant statistical data.
Results: The most important part of the study was to quantify the different types of hypoaccusia and the relative number of candidates for various prosthesis available these days.
Conclusions: This study quantifies the rising need for hearing prosthesis and triggers a signal.

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Analytical Performance of an HPLC and CZE Methods for the Analysis and Separation of Perindopril Erbumine and Indapamide

Ion Valentin*, Imre Silvia, Cârje Anca Gabriela, Muntean Daniela Lucia

Department of Analytical Chemistry and Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0073

Introduction: Perindopril, as an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and indapamide, as a thiazide like diuretic, can be administrated together for the treatment of high blood preasure and other cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to develop two simple and reliable separation methods for perindopril and indapamide by high performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis in order to evaluate their behaviour under separation conditions, for simultaneous separation.
Materials and methods: Standard solutions of perindopril erbumine and indapamide in proper solvents were analized. An Agilent 1100 series HPLC system was used for the separation of the two analytes on a C18 stationary phase (Zorbax Stable Bond 3.5 µm), under an isocratic elution. As a comparative method, an Agilent 7100 series capillary electrophoresis system was used for the development of the electrophoretic method.
Results: Both developed methods turned to comply to the separation performance parameters such as resolution and selectivity, with low limits of detection, wide range of liniarity. No statistical difference concerning precision of the qualitative parameters was observed. Time analysis less than 5 minutes both for chromatographic and electrophoretic separations proved to generate cost and time effective analysis methods.
Conclusions: Two analytical methods, HPLC and CZE respectively, for the separation of perindoprile erbumine and indapamide have been successfully developed, both recording satisfactory analytical parameters.

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Amisulpride – an athypical antipsychotic?

Echim George2, Sorina Cucuiet3*, Bianca Osz1, Alexandra Grosan4, Gal Zsolt1,2, Maria Dogaru1

1 Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
2 Doctoral School, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
3 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
4 Pharmacy of The University of Tîrgu Mureş, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0072

Aim: the purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of amisulpride at different doses on body weight, glucidic and lipidic metabolism.
Material and method: Thirty-six white Wistar rats were treated daily for 9 weeks with amisulpride 1mg/kg and 10mg/kg body weight. Another group received distilled water and served as control group. At the end of the treatment period blood samples were collected and the follow biochemical parameters were determined: serum cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, GOT, GPT. Body weight gain was also assessed weekly.
Results: After treatment with amisulpride in doses of 1mg/kg and 10 mg/kg for a period of nine weeks, weight gains were recorded for both groups compared with the initial weight and the control group. Blood glucose concentrations in the group treated with 1 mg amisulpride/kg body weight were significantly increased (p<0.05 vs control group), but in the group treated with 10 mg/kg body weight glucose levels were not statistically significant increased compared to controls. Other biochemical parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, GOT, GPT) showed no statistically significant differences compared to control group.
Conclusions: amisulpride administered over a period of 9 weeks, in doses of 1mg/kg and 10mg/kg showed a slight increase of body weight regardless of gender, increased blood glucose only when was administered in the low dose, and does not affect lipid metabolism, even though decreased cholesterol and triglycerides levels. This results highlight a real benefit of treatment with amisulpride, comparatively with other athypical antipsychotics.

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