Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of practices and attitudes towards lifestyle in adolescence as risk or protective factors, for both the acne occurrence and lesions’ severity.Methods. A cross-sectional study based on a self-reported questionnaire was conducted during 4 months on 148 high school students, aged 16-20 years, in a high school community of Tîrgu Mureș. Acne prevalence and severity, demographic and anthropometric characteristics, the family history of acne vulgaris, smoking behavior and the weekly intake of certain food categories supposed to increase the risk of acne vulgaris were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed in terms of Odds ratio, Confidence Interval and Chi-square (p<0.05) methods.Results. In the investigated community, acne prevalence was found of 47.30%, while 78 subjects (control group) had no facial acne lesions. In acne group: 57.1% had family history of acne, 62.9% were smokers, 22.9% were overweight or obese and 84.3% did not receive any dietary information from specialists. 41.4% were not fish consumers, while 74.3% rarely or never were eating fruits and vegetables. Statistically significant differences between the two analyzed groups were found in terms of sweets, carbonated drinks, dietary fat, white bread, fish, fruits and vegetables weekly intake.Conclusions. Family history, smoking behavior, excessive dietary fat, sweets, carbonated drinks and white bread could be considered as risk factors in acne vulgaris. An increased weekly intake of fish, vegetables and fruits, may have a protective effect in acne development or severity.

Many methods of stem cells collection and isolation from various tissue types harvested either from small or large experimental animals or from human tissues have been published so far, all evaluating them as a potential source of adult mesenchymal stem cells with applicability in various pathologies or tissue bioengineering. The present study purposed to describe a minimally invasive surgical protocol for adipose tissue collection from sheep�s inter-scapular area. The procedure was carried out on adult sheeps, in aseptic conditions. A light sedation protocol with Detomidine was performed, the recovery from anesthesia being carried out with Atipamezole. Throughout the sedation, the surgical procedure and the recovery from anesthesia, the vital functions of the animal were monitored. The adipose tissue samples collected in sterile tubes with culture medium (Dulbecco�s modified Eagle�s medium - DMEM/10% / FBS10 - fetal bovine serum, 2% antibiotic/antifungal), have been succesfully used by our research team for adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSCs) isolation for further use in cardiac valves tissue engineering.

Aim: Our long-term aim is to develop a living valvular substitute using Regenerative Medicine principles, by seeding decellularized porcine heart valve scaffolds with adult stem cells and conditioning them in bioreactors before implantation. In this study, adult stem cells were isolated from sheep adipose tissue (ADSCs). However, we found it impractical to use cells immediately after propagation and thus, in order to extend their availability in time, a preservation method was needed. Methods: Adipose tissue was harvested from 6 sheep. ADSCs were isolated using enzymatic agents and cultured. The cells were tested for plasticity using chondrogenic, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation kits and then cryopreserved in DMSO at -1400C. Viability was tested after a 3 week storage using Trypan Blue Staining. Results: Ovine ADSCs exhibited excellent plasticity and differentiation potential. An average of 18 million ADSCs were obtained from each ovine, exhibiting more than 88% viability after a 3-week cryopreservation period followed by thawing. Conclusions: DSMO cryopreservation represents a suitable method for ovine ADSCs for regenerative medicine. This method expands the usage of stem cells in vitro before they are differentiated into more specialized cells, offering large numbers of usable ADSCs with minimal cell loss at any desired time point.

BACKGROUND: Development of valvular substitutes meeting the performance criteria for surgical correction of congenital heart malformations is a major research challenge. The sheep is probably the most widely used animal model in heart valves regenerative medicine. Although the standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) technique and various anesthetic and surgical protocols are reported to be feasible and safe, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. The premise of this paper is that the surgical technique itself, especially the perioperative animal care and management protocol, is essential for successful outcomes and survival. METHODS: Ten juvenile and adult female sheep aged 7.8-37.5 months and weighing 32.0-58.0 kg underwent orthotopic implantation of tissue-engineered pulmonary valve conduits on beating heart under normothermic CPB. The animals were followed-up for 6 months before scheduled euthanasia. RESULTS: Based on our observations, we established a guide for perioperative care, follow-up, and treatment containing information regarding the appropriate clinical, biological, and ultrasound examinations and recommendations for feasible and safe anesthetic, surgical, and euthanasia protocols. Specific recommendations were also included for perioperative care of juvenile versus adult sheep. CONCLUSION: The described surgical technique was feasible, with a low mortality rate and minimal surgical complications. The proposed anesthetic protocol was safe and effective, ensuring both adequate sedation and analgesia as well as rapid recovery from anesthesia without significant complications. The established guide for postoperative care, followup and treatment in sheep after open-heart surgery may help other research teams working in the field of heart valves tissue regeneration.

Despite the fact that in mild-to moderate acne vulgaris the standard first-line therapy is the topical treatment with fixed combinations of antimicrobial agents and retinoids, the skin type and the skin barrier function should be taken into account when formulating a topical product. The aim of this study was the comparison of three new semisolid formulations developed for topical application by evaluation of their rheological behavior, as well as the evaluation of in vitro percutaneous diffusion through human epidermis membrane of the pharmaceutical ingredients. Clindamycin phosphate and adapalene were incorporated in three different topical bases, an HPLC method for the determination of their content in the new formulations being developed and validated. A higher concentration of drugs was released from the two gel systems (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 2.5% -F1 and hydroxyethylcellulose 3% -F2) than from the oil-in-water cream (F3) at pH 7.4, whereas at pH 5.5 the drugs were released in higher amounts from the formulation F3. Following the rheological behavoir associated with the penetrability through the human epidermis membrane, our study results suggest that F1 and F2 could be appropriate in treating acne lesions in patients with oily skin and unaffected skin barrier function. In contrast, the oil-in-water cream (F3), due to its possible emolient effect and its higher penetrability at pH 5.5 than gel vehicles, may be indicated for patients with dry and sensitive skin associated with an altered skin barrier.

The race for an ideal cardioplegic solution has remained enthusiastic since the beginning of the modern cardiac surgery era. The Bretschneider solution, belonging to the “intracellular cardioplegic” group, is safe and practical in myocardial protection during ischemic time. Over time, some particular concerns have arisen regarding the effects on cardiac metabolism and postoperative myocardial functioning. This paper reviews the most important standpoints in terms of theoretical and practical analyses.

The purpose of the study was to prove to efficacy of Milrinone in the management of open heart surgery in children with congenital heart malformations, the link between Milrinone efficacy and the prevention of low cardiac output syndrome and Milrinone side effects. We conducted a retrospective study on a group of 24 patients, admitted to the Tg Mures Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplant, between August 2016 and February 2017. Milrinone was administered to children that underwent open heart surgery for different congenital heart malformations, using doses between 0.25 and 0.75 mcg per kg bodyweight, in continuous intravenous drip, before de-clamping of the Aorta, the procedures being conducted in extracorporeal circulation. We recorded demographic data, biological parameters of renal function, myocardial function and hemodynamic parameters, before and after surgery. The administration of Milrinone determined a reduction of incidence of low cardiac output syndrome, registering only 4 deaths, the survival rate being 83.33%, 13 cases presenting complications. Postoperatively we registered a significant improvement of the mean heart rate. Milrinone proved efficient in the re-establishment of hemodynamic parameters in patients with this type of clinical manifestations. Using Milrinone in children that undergo open heart surgery determines a decrease in incidence of low cardiac output syndrome, its� presence in the pharma market being necessary.

Left ventricular anevrysm (LVA) is the effect of left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The surgical technique to improve cardiac function is geometric reconstruction of the LV. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of restoring left ventricle geometry. We report a case of 53 year-old man, without any known cardiovascular history, with acute anterior myocardial infarction, left ventricular aneurysm and massive left ventricular thrombus, who arrived into the emergency department 24 hours after the onset of symptomatology. After hemodynamic stabilization, we performed geometric reconstruction of the left ventricle. With favorable postoperative evolution, patient is discharged 14 days later. At the periodic checkups it is noted that he�s postoperative ejection fraction (EF) improved and also the quality of life.