Category Archives: Online

Emotional disorders associated to multiple sclerosis and psychological interventions: a literature review

Alina Schenk1, Cosmin Octavian Popa2, Cristiana Manuela Cojocaru1

1. The Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Ethics and Social-Sciences, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2021-0042

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable neurologic disease affecting 2.8 million people worldwide. Individuals with MS experience multiple physical and psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain that impact their general functioning and quality of life. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of psychological interventions in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms associated with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Cognitive and behavioral techniques are also useful in relieving the specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, few studies have captured the psychological processes involved in reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety, which is why greater concern is recommended in future studies in order to develop better psychological interventions tailored for patients with multiple sclerosis.

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The antibacterial potential of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using beech bark and spruce bark extracts

Anca Delia Mare1, Adrian Man1, Felicia Toma1, Bianca Tudor1, Lavinia Berța2, Corneliu Tanase3, Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea1

1. Department of Microbiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
3. Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2021-0043

Introduction: Lately, nanotechnology focuses on the green synthesis of AgNPs, using different plant materials, as this method is accessible, cost-efficient, and ecological. The study aimed to investigate the antibacterial potential of AgNPs synthesized using beech/spruce bark extracts (BBE/SBE) and silver salts (acetate/nitrate).
Method: The growth rates of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were evaluated in the presence of the AgNPs solutions. The checkerboard method was performed to evaluate if these solutions exert synergistic activity with gentamicin.
Results: For E. coli, synergistic effects were observed for the combination of gentamicin 0.25mg/L with AgNP BBE Nit (0.145mg/mL) and with AgNP SBE Ac (0,09mg/mL). For S. aureus, no synergistic effects were observed. Overall, the AgNP BBEs solutions combined with gentamicin presented lowest values of fractional inhibitory concentration than the ones registered for the combination of AgNP SBEs with gentamicin, for both bacterial strains. The growth rate of S. aureus was inhibited by all the tested AgNPs at the measured time points. For E. coli, after 24 hours of incubation, the growth rate was inhibited only in the presence of AgNP SBE Ac. After 6 hours of incubation, the growth rate of E. coli was almost stationary in the presence of AgNP BBE Nit.
Conclusions: The biosynthesis of AgNPs is a valuable choice for obtaining substances with antibacterial potential.

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Apathy as Non-Motor Manifestation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Anca Moțățăianu1, Ioana Ormenișan2, Rodica Bălașa1

1. Neurology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
2. Neurology I Clinic, County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2021-0041

Although the term of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often used interchangeably with motor neuron disease, ALS is universally accepted as a multisystem disorder. Cognitive impairment is an acknowledged feature of ALS, affecting language, memory and behaviour, and apathy is considered to be the prevalent behavioural alteration in ALS. It can be divided in three subtypes: executive, emotional and initiation apathy. Out of the three subtypes, initiation apathy is common among patients with ALS. Even in patients that do not meet the criteria for ALS with frontotemporal dementia, low-key neuropsychiatric and cognitive changes can be observed. Apathy has also been found to be systematically associated with disruptions in medial frontal cortex and subcortical structures in several neuroimaging studies that confirm the pre-existing brain lesions in the early stages of this disease. Thus, there is a growing body of evidence that motor signs and symptoms are accompanied or even preceded by cognitive and behavioural alterations, and screening for non-motor signs and symptoms can be clinically relevant.

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