Category Archives: Volume 66

Genitourinary Bacterial Infection: a Cause of Infertility in Men? A Cases Series and Short Review of Literature

Răzvan Lucian Coșeriu1, Camelia Vintilă1, Bianca Irina Kosovski2, Anca Delia Mare3, Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea3

1. Department of Immunology, Mures County Clinical Hospital – Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Physiopathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
3. Department of Microbiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0024

Introduction: The role of bacterial infections on the onset and the development of male infertility is still highly controversial, as the clinical cases have different outcomes and the practitioners have no guidelines that will help them select the cases that could better benefit from antibiotic treatment.
Case presentation: Four case reports are presented in order to emphasize the possible clinical implications of genitourinary bacterial infections on male infertility. The first patient had two bacterial strains isolated from the semen culture, Escherichia coli, and then Enterococcus faecalis. The antibiotic treatment was not effective. The second patient had a semen culture positive with Enterococcus faecalis. The treatment was successful: the bacteria were eradicated and the patient was able to conceive a baby. Enterococcus faecalis was also identified in the third and the fourth case. These patients were able to conceive, despite the different clinical management strategies of the cases.
Conclusion: Bacterial prostatitis might play a role in male infertility, but the clinical cases are still highly unpredictable. Every case presents a different viewpoint and raises awareness of the complexity of the problem.

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Ovarian Endometriosis and Malignant Transformation in Clear Cell Carcinoma

Ioana Maria Maier1, Adrian Cornel Maier2

1. Doctoral school, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University “Dunarea de Jos” Galati, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0023

Atypical endometriosis is considered to be precursors for malignancy. Coexistence of atypical endometriosis and ovarian neoplasm has been found in some studies. We describe the case of a 48-year old women diagnosed with clear cell carcinoma of ovary. The review of histological slide confirms the presence of benign endometriosis in both ovaries, the atypical endometriosis and clear cell carcinoma in the right ovary and the presence of uterine leiomyoma.

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Controls in Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Based Techniques

Elena Moldovan1, Valeriu Moldovan2

1. Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, Targu Mures, Romania
2. George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0025

From its discovery in the 1980s, Polymerase chain reaction was further developed and is nowadays used as the foundation for the various PCR-based techniques used in molecular diagnosis across different species, and numerous types of samples. Real-Time PCR enables the user to monitor the amplification of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or complementary DNA (cDNA) target during the PCR run, in real-time, and not at the end, as it is the case in conventional PCR. The most frequent types of applications include gene expression analysis, gene silencing, variant analysis, and fusion temperature analysis. Given its vast field of application, a key question remains, and it is related to the controls (negative controls, positive controls, internal exogenous and endogenous controls) and their purpose in a Real-Time PCR experiment. In this paper, we set out to find how and when to use them, and which type of controls are suitable for certain experiment types, since the use of appropriate controls during Real-Time PCR experiments will reduce the effects of variables aside from the independent variable within the sample, therefore yielding accurate results, be it in research or diagnostic purposes.

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SARS-CoV2 Infection in a Multiple Sclerosis Patient Treated with Natalizumab – A Case Presentation

Georgiana Șerban, Rodica Bălașa

George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0022

Introduction: The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2, has rapidly spread worldwide and led to an intense collaboration among both physicians and researchers in order to stop its dissemination. Little is yet known about how this virus behaves, but recent studies have suggested the role of integrins in the viral penetration of target cells. Natalizumab is an anti-α4-β1 integrin monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative auto-immune disease affecting primarily young adults. MS patients have a greater susceptibility to develop severe infections especially enhanced by the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) which are currently recommended for their treatment. Natalizumab is considered the safest high-efficacy DMT in times of COVID-19 outbreak.
Case presentation: We hereby describe the first case from Romania of a MS patient treated with Natalizumab who subsequently acquired SARS-CoV2 infection and whose recovery was excellent, with no functional neurological or respiratory sequelae.
Conclusion: The favourable evolution of our patient supports the potential therapeutic effect Natalizumab might have in SARS-CoV2 treatment by specifically blocking integrins and by its immunosuppressant characteristics.

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The Role of Acceptance and Planning in Stress Management for Medical Students

Cosmin Octavian Popa1, Alina Schenk2, Adrian Rus3, Simona Szasz1, Nicoleta Suciu1, Dan Alexandru Szabo1, Cristiana Cojocaru4

1. George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania
2. Save the Children, Romania
3. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Southwestern Christian University, Bethany, OK, USA
4. Braun Dialysis Centre, Sighisoara, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of two coping mechanisms, namely Acceptance and Planning, in stress management among medical students.
Methods: This research included two groups, a target group consisting of medical students (N = 100; Mage = 22.34) and a control group which was composed of physical education and sports students (N = 100; Mage = 20.11). For the target group, a low level of stress was induced, the students being informed that their overall behavior during an examination would be analyzed later by a group of psychologists, after which they were filmed while taking the exam. The students from the control group performed a physical exercise while they were filmed, and they were told that the correctness of the exercise would be evaluated by experts in physical education and sports on the basis of the recorded images. After completing the tasks, both the students in the target group and those in the control group completed the COPE questionnaire.
Results: The statistical data interpretation revealed a significant statistical difference regarding the two coping mechanisms, namely Acceptance [M = 10.73; t (19) = 3.79, p <0.001; CI -1.91, -0.60], and Planning [M = 9.47; t (19) = 4.70, p <0.01; CI -1.99, -0.81]. According to statistical data analysis, we did not find another significant statistical difference among the remaining 13 coping mechanisms.
Conclusions: To efficiently manage stress during exams, medical students use Acceptance and Planning coping mechanisms, which may increase their emotional regulation abilities and help them focus on problem-solving.

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Ambulatory Treatment of Pressure Sores in a Patient without Neurological Lesions

Anca Cighir, Paul Antoniu Adrian Boțan

George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0021

Introduction: Pressure sores have been defined as areas of localized soft tissue ischemic necrosis caused by prolonged pressure related to posture, which usually occur over a bony prominence. The most affected areas are those that undergo a lot of tension such as trochanters, sacrum, malleoli, heels and occiput. Most people that are affected by pressure sores have an underlying pathology that makes them immobile, confining them to chairs or bed for longer periods of time. Pressure ulcers may have direct causes (pressure, shear, friction, immobility, loss of sensation) or indirect causes.
Case presentation: This paper will present the case of a 53-year-old male. After about 3 weeks of being immobilized in bed in dorsal decubitus due to an acute respiratory distress which required intubation and mechanical ventilation, the patient developed very large pressure sores on the left sacral and buttock area and left sole. He was treated in the outpatient department using multiple therapeutic protocols based on the alternation of antibiotic creams and modern absorbent dressings.
Conclusions: The evolution of this patient was long but favorable, the left sacral and buttock area eschar closing completely while the sole eschar had a good evolution, but is still undergoing treatment.

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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 (PM2.5) 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 PM2.5 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 (PM2.5) level. The increased outdoor PM2.5 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.

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

Carmen Opris1, Horatiu Suciu1,2, Catalin Satala3, Cosmin Banceu2, Cosmin Opris1, Alexandra Stoica2, Tudor Capilna2, Simona Gurzu3,4

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.

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Establishing the Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Serum Interleukin 6 Levels in Sepsis

Iudita Maria Badea, Agota Evelyn Timar, Oana Coman, Valentina Negrea

George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2020-0014

Objective: Establishing a serological profile of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in order to evaluate its usefulness as a biological marker for the diagnosis and early prognosis in sepsis.
Materials and Methods: The study included 246 individuals, divided into 2 groups: 131 in the septic subgroup (S) and 115 in the septic shock (SS) subgroup. Inflammatory markers, bacteriological examinations and laboratory samples were determined within 24 hours of the first signs of infection. Severity scores were also calculated within the first day of the onset of sepsis.
Results: The SS subgroup (median 121.2 pg/ml, 18.59-10235 pg/ml; SD = 1920) shows significantly higher values of IL-6, compared to the S subgroup (median 43.49 pg/ml, 13, 27-6566 pg/ml; SD = 1367) (p = 0.0026). The SS subgroup has a significantly higher death rate than S subgroup (p = 0.001). The cut-off values of the mortality prediction degree were 184.74 pg/ml. The area under the curve of the cytokine IL-6 for the differentiation of sepsis from septic shock was 0.693 (95% CI 0.582-0.790, p = 0.002). The optimal value of the cut-off that allows the differentiation of the septic subgroup from the one with organ dysfunction, was 52.72 pg / ml.
Conclusion: Serum IL-6 values are significantly higher in the septic shock group. All deceased patients had higher IL-6 serum values.

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