Percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCR) with polymer-coated drug-eluting stents (DES) or bare-metal stents (BMS) is considered the standard therapy in advanced ischemic heart disease (IHD). Despite revascularisation, many of these patients subsequently develop heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We analysed 51 patients with IHD, treated by PCR and insertion of DES and/or BMS who later developed HFrEF. Patients with DES where more likely women, of younger age and a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus compared to patients with BMS who were generally men, of older age and had more frequently acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as indication for PCR. Although patients with DES had more severe IHD, their EF was higher, possibly due to the benefits offered by the DES.

The aim of this study is to document the impact of thyroid hormones on pulmonary hypertension (PH). In two groups of hyperthyroid patients, one with Graves� disease and other with non-autoimmune aetiology, we have determined, by means of echocardiography, the estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs). We have documented an increased incidence of PH and statistically significant correlations between PAPs levels and free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) and with the duration of hyperthyroidism. The severity of PH correlates with the severity and duration of hyperthyroidism. PAPs levels declined gradually, under specific therapy.

The objective of this study is to highlight the impact of therapy with L-thyroxine on the altered arterial stiffness (AS) and reduced aortic distensibility (AoD), as well as on the left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction (DD) in hypothyroid female patients.

The aim of this study is to highlight the impact of therapy with Sertraline on the AS alterations, in a group of 128 patients with MDD, but without significant CVD or risk factors for atherosclerosis. A secondary goal was to analyze whether there are statistically significant correlations between AS and the intensity of the current depressive episode, as assessed by using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), while also taking into account the duration of MDD.

One of the most severe cardiovascular complications encountered in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is pulmonary hypertension (PH). Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPTH) is supposed to be one of the contributing mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of PH in these patients.The aim of our study is to determine if the elevated values of intact parathormone (iPTH) are correlated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients ESRD undergoing HD.Our study was conducted on 51 patients with ESRD undergoing HD. We assessed in all patients the levels of iPTH, as well as the systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) and PVR by means of echocardiography. According to the levels of PAPs, patients were classified into two subgroups: 27 with 24 without PH.We documented a moderate correlation between iPTH and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs), respectively PVR in patients with PH. In patients without PH there were no significant correlations between iPAH and PVR, respectively PAPs.

Background and objectives: One important forensic activity is the assessment of aesthetic injuries where expert criteria and analysis are insufficiently outlined due to the subjective elements related to the traumatized victim. Unaesthetic morphological changes may occur due to various circumstances committed under the Penal Code, resulting in permanent unaesthetic morphological scarring. Considering that most of the existing scales for the assessment of aesthetic prejudices refer only to morphometric changes, our aim was to create a modern method for the evaluation of aesthetic damage that also considers its social and psychological consequences. Materials and Methods: In this study, we developed the Mekereș Psychosocial Internalization Scale (MPIS), which proposes a clear boundary between the presence or absence of aesthetic damage. The traumatized person is evaluated after a minimum of six months (in the case of an average scar, necessary for defining the character of the scar) to assess changes in the physiognomy or even alterations in the victim’s aesthetic perception of their own body. Our study was conducted on 103 patients with scars, and the results were compared to 101 controls (subjects without scars). Results: Individuals with scars have a distorted perception (compared to controls) of the support provided by significant people [t (202) = 2.473; p = 0.01]. Hypothetically, they will most likely exhibit a nuanced socio-cognitive and psycho-emotional vulnerability that may be the source of future dysfunctions. The fidelity of the MPIS scale was estimated by employing Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, resulting in a value of 0.934 (15 items). The exploratory factorial analysis with Varimax rotation mode sustains a single dominant factor, indicating a good internal consistency. The results of this study provide evidence regarding the psychosocial or psychometric worthiness of MPIS. Conclusions: MPIS can be used for research and as an instrument to assess aesthetic damage or disfigurement by forensic physicians and lawyers.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign aggressive bone lesion with significant recurrence rates following surgical curettage. Historically, these tumors were approached by performing an intralesional curettage of the tumoral tissue by filling the resulting cavity using morselized iliac bone autograft. The major problems of this therapy were the high recurrence rates of up to 40–50%. Several adjuvant treatments have been proposed in order to augment resection margins, including liquid nitrogen (LN), phenol, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and bone cement (polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)). LN can be used either to preserve tissues or for controlled necrosis depending on the cycles of freezing and thawing. Usually, a quick freeze followed by a slow thaw will lead to destruction of human cells. This article reviews the results of cryosurgery with LN associated with surgical resection and the additional use of PMMA in a small group of patients with a histopathological confirmation of bone GCT with different localizations (i.e., tibia, distal radius and iliac bone). Cryosurgery with LN of bone GCT proved to be an efficient tool to decrease the recurrence rate for this tumoral type. In our series of cases, there were no complications, oncological or otherwise, at the two-year minimum follow-up, with good and excellent functional results.

Background: The frequent occurrence of thromboembolic events in patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is a well-recognized fact in the medical literature, but less data is available about possible hemorrhagic incidents. Methods: We report the case of a 76-year-old patient who suffered from a mild COVID-19 infection in September 2021 and after four weeks, experienced a completely spontaneous popliteal hematoma followed by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Therapy with low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) was started, but subsequently, the patient developed a massive sub-pectoral and calf hematoma leading to moderate post-hemorrhagic anemia and acute kidney injury. This patient was treated completely conservatively. Conclusions: Considering the continuous spread of the infection with various, continuously evolving strains of this virus and the extended use of LWMH in clinical practice, such cases were seldom described in the medical literature, but should be considered as a potential cause for hemorrhagic events.