Category Archives: Number

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

Togănel Rodica1, Făgărăşan Amalia1, Muntean Iolanda1, Şuteu Carmen2, Blesneac Cristina3,
Sglimbea Anca1, Gozar Liliana2, Paşc Sorina2, Koncsag-Szasz E.3

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tg. Mures, Department of Paediatric IIIrd
2 Pediatric Cardiology Department, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Transplant Tg. Mureş
3 County Emergency Clinic Hospital Tg. Mureş

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

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Rheological Behavior of Sodium Valproate Suppositories

Tăurean Alexandrina1, Ciurba Adriana2, Todoran Nicoleta2, Bumb Doina3, Cazacincu R.4

1 Clinical County Hospital Mureş, Pharmacy number 3, Tg. Mureş, Romania
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tg. Mureş, Romania
3 Regional Center of Public Health, Tg. Mureş, Romania
4 Department of Pharmaceutical Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Ovidius”, Constanţa, Romania

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.

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Syndactyly as Symptome or Part of Plurimalformative Syndrome in Pediatric Patology. Clinical and Therapeutical Considerations

Szilveszter Mónika¹, Albean M.2, Pap Z.3

1 Sfantu Gheorhe County Hospital
2 Pediatric University Hospital,Braşov
3 Second Pediatric Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, UMPh Targu Mures

Background: Syndactyly is the most common congenital malformation of the limbs. Syndactyly can be classified as simple when it involves soft tissues only and classified as complex when it involves the bone or nail of adjacent fingers. Syndactyly can occur as isolated condition or in conjuction with other symptoms as one aspect of a multi-symptom disease.
Aim: The author’s purpose is to present this condition in hospitalized patients in order to make some considerations about the frequency of association with other anomalies and the treatment of this condition.
Material and methods: Between 2000–2009, 83 cases of hand malformations were diagnosed and treated at Plastic Surgical Department of Children Hospital Brasov and Fogolyan Kristof Hospital Sfantu Gheorghe. Observational retrospective study on this group found that 39 of these were syndactyly and 44 polidactyly (control group).
Results: We have found 2 cases of sinpolidactyly and 12 cases of plurimalformation. The Apgar score as well the birth weight of children with plurimalformations were lower than of those with simple syndactyly (p = 0.0153). The average age of surgical intervention was 3.370 years (SD = 4.267, p = 0.0001). The hand malformation was bilateral in 26 cases. Out of the 39 cases of syndactyly, 17 needed full-thickness skin graft.
Conclusions: The goal of syndactyly release is to create a functional hand with the fewest surgical procedures while mimimizing complication. Reconstruction of the web commisure is the most technically challenging part of the operation, followed by separation of the remaining digits.

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Characterization and Molecular Modelling of Cyclodextrin/Fluoroquinolone Inclusion Complexes

Székely-Szentmiklósi Blanka1, Tőkés B.2

1 Gedeon Richter Romania S.A., Târgu Mureş
2 Department of Physical-Chemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu Mureş

Background: Cyclodextrins are widely used as complexing agents to increase the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs, to improve their bioavailability and stability, to reduce or prevent gastrointestinal or ocular irritation, to reduce or eliminate unpleasant smells or tastes and to prevent drug-drug or drug-additive interactions. In recent years, cyclodextrins have been proven to be effective as host compounds in molecular recognition and chiral separation.
Aim: To evaluate the complexation role of cyclodextrins toward fluoroquinolones (FQ) in an attempt to assess their potential as new formulation additives for more efficient fluoroquinolone delivery and as chiral selectors in case of racemic mixture compounds.
Material and methods: Guest-host interactions of three second generation quinolones, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin with two parent cyclodextrins, beta-cyclodextrin (b-CD), gamma-cyclodextrin (g-CD) and a beta-cyclodextrin derivative, 2-hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP-b -CD), were tested. Computer aided molecular modelling (ChemBio3D Ultra 12.0) was utilized to predict the preferred orientation of fluoroquinolones in the cyclodextrin cavity and the main structural features responsible for the enhancement of their solubility and photostability. Ciprofloxacin/b-cyclodextrin complex was prepared and the formation of inclusion complex was
demostrated by IR spectroscopy.
Results: Our studies show that the orientation with the piperazinyl group included in the CD cavity is energetically more favorable.
Conclusions: The CDs act as complexing agents with the three FQ derivatives, which enter inside the CD torus, and interact with the hydroxyl groups of CD by Van der Waals, electrostatic forces ang hydrogen bonding. Our results suggest the 1:1 stoichiometry in the complex formation.

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Surgical Strategies in the Differentiated Cancers of the Thyroid

Sala Daniela1, Copotoiu C.2, Borda Angela3,5, Bancu Ş.1, Neagoe R.1, Popescu G.1, Cătană Ramona4,
Boilă Adela5

1 Discipline of Surgery I, Clinic of Surgery I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu-Mures
2 Discipline of Surgery I, Clinic of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu-Mures
3,5 Discipline of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu-Mures
4 Discipline of Endocrinology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu-Mures
5 Discipline of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu-Mures

Introduction: Amongst all epithelial cancers of the thyroid, the papillary and folicular types are usually histologically differentiated and have a more favourable outcome compared to the undifferentiated tumours. The aim of our study is to evaluate the surgical treatment of differentiated thyroid neoplasms both in terms of surgical indication and type of surgery.
Material and method: The study was conducted on 1349 patients suffering from different thyroid diseases that requested surgery between 2005–2009, within the First and Second Department of Surgery Tg-Mures.
Result: There have been taken into account data regarding the demographic aspecs, the pre- and postoperative diagnosis, surgical indication and the type of surgical procedure according to the histological type.
Conclusions: Surgery has proven to be the most efficient therapy in the differentiated forms of thyroid cancer including different types of total/near-totally thyroidectomies, and partial thyroidectomy comes into question only in exceptional cases.

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Physical and Chemical Study of Simvastatin Inclusion Complexes

Rédai Emőke1, Tőkés B.2, Kiss A.3, Sipos Emese1, Ciurba Adriana1, Todoran Nicoleta1

1 Pharmaceutical Technology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș
2 Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș
3 Organic Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen

Background: Simvastatin is an inhibitor of hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Aim: To enhance his bioavailability through inclusion complexation, as host molecule hydroxypropyl-b-cyclodextrin had been used. The objective of this study is to present our results of the study of some simvastatin and hydroxypropil-b-cyclodextrin (HPbCD) inclusion complexes. We analyzed the products by phase solubility study, dissolution test and Fourier-transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR).
Methods: Complexes were prepared by kneading molecular ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 and compared also with physical mixtures. Solubility studies were performed in the presence of various HPbCD concentrations and the stability constant was calculated. The inclusion complexation was evaluated by dissolution and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy.
Results: When compared with the pure drug, the dissolution of simvastatin is improved in the presence of b-cyclodextrin derivates, depending on the complex preparation method.
Conclusions: The solubility of simvastatin increases as a function of HPbCD concentration. FT-IR study suggests the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between simvastatin and HPbCD in inclusion complex.

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Improvements of Amoxicillin Stability in Acidic Environment

Rad I.1, Croitoru M.D.2, Gyéresi Á.2

1 “Dimitrie Cantemir” College, Tg. Mures
2 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tg. Mures

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a gram negative bacteria responsible for a series of gastrointestinal diseases: gastric and gastroduodenal ulcers. Usually used in combinations with other drugs, amoxicillin is effective against this germ. Amoxicillin has better stability than other penicillins in solutions with pH between 4 and 7, but stability is decreased at low pH values (gastric acidity).
Aim: Our goal was to improve amoxicillin’s stability by using auxiliary substances such b-cyclodextrin (b-CD), 2-hydroxypropil-bcyclodextrin (2-HP-b-CD), magnesium glutamate and magnesium aspartate.
Methods: Influence of these excipients on amoxicillin stability was assessed at pH value of 1.2 and also in weakly alkaline environment. High pressure liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography were used to quantitate these influences.
Results: All the studied excipients improved the stability of amoxicillin, best results being recorded when amoxicillin was associated with cyclodextrins in a mole ratio of 1:5.
Conclusions: Poor stability of amoxicillin in acidic environments can be overcome by using cyclodextrins and magnesium salts of glutamic and aspartic acids.

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Medical Versus Revascularization Therapy in the Management of Stable Angina Pectoris

Pretorian A.1, Borda Angela2, Suciu C.3, Pretorian Ana-Maria4

1 Municipal Hospital Gheorgheni, Cardiology Department
2 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, UMPh Târgu Mureş
3 Department of Interventional Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Transplantation, Târgu Mureş
4 Municipal Hospital Gheorgheni, Cardiology Department

Background: In patients with stable coronary artery disease, there are very few studies that compare the value of optimal medical therapy with revascularization therapy in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
Aim: To compare three therapeutic options for stable angina pectoris: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and medication alone.
Methods: We studied 98 randomized patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent coronarography and had objective evidence of significant coronary disease. We assigned 36 patients to undergo PCI, 28 patients to undergo CABG, both subgroups with optimal medical therapy, and 34 patients with optimal medical therapy alone. Primary outcomes were cardiac death and non fatal myocardial infarction, during a follow-up period of 3 years.
Results: There were 3 primary events in the medical-therapy group, 1 event in the CABG group and 1 event in the PCI group. The 3-year cumulative primary-event rates were 2.8% in the PCI group, 3.6% in the CABG group and 11.8% in the medical-therapy group (P = 0.16).
Conclusion: In patients with disabling stable angina pectoris without high-risk criteria, the revascularization has the advantage of improving the long-term quality of life. In some patients with high-risk criteria, the percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting stents can be a viable alternative to surgical revascularization.

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General Characteristics of the Romanian Medical Webscape

Nădăşan V.1, Ancuceanu R.2, Tarcea Monica3, Grosar C.M.4, Ureche Ramona3

1 Editura Prisma, Tîrgu Mureş
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and Cell Biology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest
3 Hygiene Department, University of Medicine anf Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş
4 “Am Brunnenberg” Rehabilitation Hospital, Bad Elster, Germany

Background: Although the percentage of Romanians who use the Internet to find health information is 16% and the proportion of Romanians looking for health information on the web has tripled from 2006 to 2009, no attempt has been made so far to assess the quality of information in the Romanian medical webscape.
Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate some general characteristics of the Romanian health related websites.
Methods: We investigated a sample of 317 medical sites randomly selected from the largest Romanian web directory. Two of the authors collected independently data about the number of unique visitors/month, medical specialty, site ownership, main purpose of the site and target audience. Disagreements were identified and a final common decision was taken by the evaluators through consensus.
Results: Our results suggest that the Romanian medical webscape represents a relatively small portion of the Romanian webscape. In terms of number of sites, we found that the most prominent categories were the complementary and alternative medicine sites and multispecialty sites ranking first and second respectively. With more then 80% of the total traffic recorded by the medical websites, multispecialty sites clearly dominate the virtual health space. A very small number of medical websites have a real potential to influence health
information seeking Internet users, since almost 90% of the medical websites draw an insignificant number of visitors.
Conclusions: The results of our study might be representative beyond its statistical population to the general Romanian webscape but this has yet to be verified.

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Studies Concerning the Synthesis and Characterization of Hydroxyapatite Powder

Gurgui-Ionescu Cătălina1, Balosache Oana2, Mocanu Adriana2, Flori Cornelia2, Moga S.3, Ducu C.3,
Neamțu J.2

1 University of Craiova
2 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova
3 Research Centre for Advanced Materials, University of Pitesti

Introduction: Recently, a special attention was given to the growth of some biomaterials with the goal of renewal and/or reconstruction of bone tissue. Of these biomaterials, hydroxyapatite (HA) presents a series of properties such as biocompatibility and bioactivity, being frequently used for bone grafts realization and to cover some metallic components of some prosthesis used in orthopedics. Although HA is available on the market as synthetic material for more than 15 years, being used for ceramic implants for more than 10 years, new solutions are looked for the inclusion in its structure of some anionic or cationic substitutes in order to bring its composition closer to the biologic apatite.
Aim: The aim of this study was to synthetise and characterize hydroxyapatite powder.
Method: Of the synthesis methods of HA, we used the wet-precipitation method. The obtained compound using this method was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR microspectroscopy and laser difractometry.
Results: The XRD spectra showed that the obtained material is HA and we managed to establish the optimum parameters for obtaining HA uncontaminated by impurities and crystalline.
Conclusions: Using a method of chemical synthesis through precipitation, we obtained a HA powder, crystalline and stoechiometric.

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