Biomedicine represents one of the main study areas for dendrimers, which have proven to be valuable both in diagnostics and therapy, due to their capacity for improving solubility, absorption, bioavailability and targeted distribution. Molecular cytotoxicity constitutes a limiting characteristic, especially for cationic and higher-generation dendrimers. Antineoplastic research of dendrimers has been widely developed, and several types of poly(amidoamine) and poly(propylene imine) dendrimer complexes with doxorubicin, paclitaxel, imatinib, sunitinib, cisplatin, melphalan and methotrexate have shown an improvement in comparison with the drug molecule alone. The anti-inflammatory therapy focused on dendrimer complexes of ibuprofen, indomethacin, piroxicam, ketoprofen and diflunisal. In the context of the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, dendrimer complexes of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, beta-lactamines and aminoglycosides have shown promising effects. Regarding antiviral therapy, studies have been performed to develop dendrimer conjugates with tenofovir, maraviroc, zidovudine, oseltamivir and acyclovir, among others. Furthermore, cardiovascular therapy has strongly addressed dendrimers. Employed in imaging diagnostics, dendrimers reduce the dosage required to obtain images, thus improving the efficiency of radioisotopes. Dendrimers are macromolecular structures with multiple advantages that can suffer modifications depending on the chemical nature of the drug that has to be transported. The results obtained so far encourage the pursuit of new studies.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific inflammatory marker, correlated with the severity and prognosis of ischemic stroke. We performed a retrospective study in which were included 81 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke admitted between January and July 2017 in the Department of Neurology, Sibiu Emergency Clinical Hospital. CRP values were classified on three levels (0 - 5 mg / L, 5 - 50 mg / l and] 50 mg / l). We examined the correlation between CRP levels according to the type of ischemic (lacunar / territorial) stroke, the degree of motor deficit (quantified by the mRC scale), the associated risk factors and the mortality rate. PCR values above 50 mg / L were found in patients with territorial stroke (15%). Moderate motor deficits predominate, with PCR values ranging from 5-50 mg / L. The most important risk factors found in the patients included in our study were hypertension and atherosclerosis. We made correlations between these risk factors and the PCR values. In most cases with these two risk factors were recorded a mean PCR value (5-50 mg / L).For atherosclerosis the results were statistically significant, p = 0.021. Most patients (56%) had CRP levels ranging from 5 to 50 mg / L. These values recorded highest death rates. PCR it is an important marker of inflammation and it is important to be determined in all patients with acute ischemic stroke, especially which is thought to be correlated with the prognosis of these patients.
Low back pain (LBP) is a disease with a high socio-economic and medical impact. Recovery treatment is complex and includes medication (NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants), physiotherapy and kinesiology. Ultrasound is one of the electrotherapy procedures applied due to its analgesic effects, muscle relaxing properties and massage. The study assesses the evolution of temperature and the number of red blood cells after the application of ultrasound of different intensities and ways. The results are statistically significant for some parameters. Limitations of the study are determined by the relatively small number of study patients, but the results could form the basis of further research.
Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a severe, necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma, produced by gas-forming Gram-negative bacilli. Even though only few cases are reported in the literature, the disease is not so rare and can become life-threatening if the diagnose is not quick and the therapeutic messures efficient. The biochemical analysis are the first line diagnostic, indicating the severity of the infection. The aim of our study was to to evaluate the importance of biochemical parameters, as first line diagnosis and also of the microbiological parameters, as etiologic diagnosis, in severe renal infections produced by gas forming bacili mainly in diabetic patients, predominantly women, with obstructive nephrolithiasis.
Medical analysis laboratory must establish its own reference intervals depending on the facilities they are working with, the working substances and protocols. These reference intervals must be obtained depending on age groups in order to accurately interpret the results of the analyzes performed. The study is a retrospective one using 3217 data from the electronic archive of the S.C. Vladutiu&Garabedian S.R.L. Clinic in Medias. Total serum calcium was determined by the colorimetric method on the Konelab analyzer. Processing of the collected data was done using the Hoffmann method, considering 5% up to 95% of the values in the database, the values being randomly selected. For comparison, data from the literature was used. In children under 1 year old, it was not possible to calculate the reference intervals since data was insufficient. In the other age groups, reference intervals obtained in the current study were similar to the studied literature. Reference intervals established for calcium can provide important guidance for the reasonable supplementation of this essential element in children.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial pathologies in children, but they are difficult to spot. The diagnosis relies on urine culture in order to measure the prevalence of the infection, to identify the etiology and the sensitivity of the germs to different antibiotics. Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains are the most common uro-pathogen germs. The change in sensitivity to antibiotic of these uro-pathogen bacteria should be closely monitored because the physicians should be informed about the evolution of the antibiotic resistance of E coli, for a more effective treatment in their fight against diseases. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of UTIs and the evolution of antimicrobial sensitivity for E. coli. This retrospective study was performed over a period of 4 years, 2013-2016, and included all the patients admitted in the Children�s Hospital, aged 0-18 years, with the suspicion of UTIs; also, the standard culture techniques for urine samples, the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method for the antibiotic sensitivity testing, and the disk diffusion method to confirm the ESBL production by the clinical isolates of E. coli in urine were used. The statistical analysis was performed using the proportions of sensitive, resistant and intermediates. Descriptive statistics like the total, mean and percentage were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 15.0 and Microsoft Excel. From 15389 urine cultures processed in 4 years, 1530 were positive (9.9 %). Among these positive urine cultures, 1056 (69 %) were positive for E. coli. Testing the E. coli to a range of antibiotics, according to CLSI standard, a high resistance to Ampicillin (69-96%), Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (32-70%), Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (36-42%) was observed and low levels of resistance to Ceftazidime, Cefuroxime, Cefpodoxime, Gentamycin, Nalidixic acid. Among E. Coli strains, 9-9.6 % were ESBL positive. Despite the low number of positive urine cultures in a paediatric population, it is very important to perform the urine culture in order to correctly identify the etiology of UTIs, recommend the right antibiotic, and avoid the wrong use of the antibiotics in children.
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