Background: The management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection raises important challenges, still being the most common chronic infection worldwide in all age groups. In high-prevalence regions, paediatric patients need a specific focus, as the acquisition of the infection takes place in childhood. The objective of this study was to analyze the endoscopic and histopathologic changes of the gastric mucosa in H. pylori infected children. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was performed on consecutive paediatric patients, ranging from 0 to 18 years of age, who underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) for a period of 5 years, regardless of their symptomatology. Endoscopy reports and histological slides were reviewed and clinical, endoscopic, and histologic data were recorded. Results: A total of 248 patients were included in the study, 82 (33.06%) of them being H. pylori infected. There was no difference in age and symptoms between the infected and noninfected group. A significant association was found between the H. pylori infection and histopathological parameters such as acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrate. The bacterial load influences the intensity of inflammation (p < 0.001). The chronic inflammation was predominant, only 23.2% of the patients displayed acute inflammation (p < 0.0001). The topographic distribution of inflammation was dominated by pangastritis (p = 0.04) with 58.6% of the patients presenting similar degrees of inflammation both in the antrum and corpus. Conclusion: Endoscopic features such as nodularity of the antral mucosa (p < 0.05) along with histological findings as lymphoid follicles (p < 0.05) are suggestive of H. pylori infection. However, the concordance between the endoscopic and histological diagnosis is still far from perfect (Cohen’s k coefficient = 0.42), maintaining the need for an invasive approach in children.

Background and aimsObstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) affects the quality of life (QOL) due to the effects on the patient’s physical and mental function. QOL in sleep apnea may improve under continuous airway positive pressure (CPAP) therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the OSA patients QOL before and after 3 months of CPAP therapy using Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI).MethodsWe conducted a study in 79 sleep apnea subjects diagnosed using cardiorespiratory portable monitoring, under CPAP therapy, monitored in our Sleep Laboratory from January 2011 to December 2014. This is a cross-sectional study, achieved through quantitative research (SAQLI questionnaire application) about the perception of quality of life in patients with sleep apnea in the moment of diagnosis and 3 months after CPAP therapy.ResultsOf the 79 subjects, 59 (74.7%) were men and 20 (26.3%) women; mean age was 54.13 years (SD±10.87), the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 52.46±20.83 events/h. In all 4 domains of SAQLI: daily functioning with mean pretreatment score 4.13±0.58 versus mean post treatment score 5.43±0.52; social interactions with mean pretreatment score 3.68±0.55 versus post treatment mean score 5.36±0.57; emotional functioning with mean pretreatment score 3.83±0.53 versus mean post treatment mean 5.38±0.56 and symptoms with mean pretreatment score 0.81±0.12 versus mean post treatment score 1.15±0.14, quality of life was improved after 3 months of therapy, with significantly statistical correlation (p=0.00). Also, an improvement was seen in mean total score of SAQLI after therapy as compared to baseline 3.11±0.32 versus 4.24±0.39 (p<0.01).ConclusionThe quality of life in sleep apnea was better after CPAP therapy than from baseline, according Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index. The SAQLI is a useful toll to evaluate quality of life in sleep apnea, especially to highlight the benefits of CPAP therapy, even with short time monitoring.

Until 1989, Romania was one of the countries of the communist bloc in Europe and its healthcare system was characterized by centralized planning and severe underfunding, with low performance and low quality healthcare. Since 1998, Romania replaced the Semashko model with a social health insurance system, highly centralized under the management of the Ministry of Health as the central administrative authority. After joining the European Union, quality of life increased in our country and there were efforts to improve the quality of healthcare, including pediatric and neonatal care. Still, Romania has the lowest share of health expenditure of gross domestic product among the European Union Member States and the lowest level of expenditure per inhabitant. The Romanian health system is organized on three levels of assistance: primary, secondary and tertiary assistance. This overview presents the organization and the characteristics of pediatric and neonatal healthcare in Romania at all levels, the infrastructure and the human resources, the educational system from medical school to pediatric residency, professional organizations, national health programs, and the child health status in Romania. Infant mortality, the most descriptive single indicator of the quality of a health system, decreased constantly for the last 30 years in Romania, but is still the highest in the European Union. Even though there were great improvements in the healthcare for children, more efforts should be made to assure a better quality of care for the future of our nation, both on the human resources (in great danger due to the brain-drain of medical professionals during the last 12 years), and on the infrastructure plan.

Background and Objectives: Surveillance of syphilis and gonorrhea in Romania is case-based and makes use of European case definitions. Adolescence is a period characterized by vulnerabilities and opportunities, a period when health decisions, including those related to sexually transmitted infections, may have a lifetime impact. The present study investigates the trends recorded in the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhea in 15–19 year-old adolescents in the central and northwestern regions of Romania. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted and this included surveillance data for syphilis and gonorrhea in the period 2005–2017 (n = 939). The distribution of demographic and epidemiological variables in adolescents with syphilis and gonorrhea was evaluated, as well as the tendency of the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhea in the studied population. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to characterize the incidence trend for syphilis and gonorrhea. Results: Between 2005 and 2017, 773 cases of syphilis and 166 cases of gonorrhea were reported. The incidence of syphilis and gonorrhea decreased. Most cases of syphilis have been found out by active detection. Most cases of gonorrhea have been found out by passive detection. The age distribution in the group diagnosed with syphilis was similar to that in the group diagnosed with gonorrhea. There was a higher frequency of syphilis in females and gonorrhea was more common in males. Syphilis was more common in rural areas. Gonorrhea was more common in urban areas. Conclusions: There was a decreasing tendency in the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhea in adolescents aged 15–19 during the studied period.

Polyamide 12 (PA 22000) is a well-known material and one of the most biocompatible materials tested and used to manufacture customized medical implants by selective laser sintering technology. To optimize the implants, several research activities were considered, starting with the design and manufacture of test samples made of PA 2200 by selective laser sintering (SLS) technology, with different processing parameters and part orientations. The obtained samples were subjected to compression tests and later to SEM analyses of the fractured zones, in which we determined the microstructural properties of the analyzed samples. Finally, an evaluation of the surface roughness of the material and the possibility of improving the surface roughness of the realized parts using finite element analysis to determine the optimum contact pressure between the component made of PA 2200 by SLS and the component made of TiAl6V4 by SLM was performed.