To expand upon the limited comprehensive population-based data for childhood bacterial meningitis in Eastern Europe, the present study was conducted in the Iasi and Constanta districts of Romania. From March 2000 through March 2002, children <5 years of age hospitalized for bacterial meningitis were enrolled in a prospective surveillance study. A total of 56 cases of bacterial meningitis were identified, including 37 due to Neisseria meningitidis (22 per 100,000 per year), 13 due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (7.6 per 100,000 per year), and six due to Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.5 per 100,000 per year). Of the 31 meningococcal isolates that were serotyped, 12 were serogroup A, eight were serogroup B, and 11 were serogroup C. Among all cases of bacterial meningitis, 25 occurred in children <1 year of age, including those due to meningococci (n=14), H. influenzae type b (n=7), pneumococci (n=3), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=1). In Romania the incidence of H. influenzae type b meningitis is similar to that found in other areas of Southern and Eastern Europe during the pre-vaccination era, and the incidence of meningococcal meningitis is one of the highest yet found in Europe. An unexpectedly high proportion of these meningococcal meningitis cases is due to serogroup A. Disease burden could be substantially reduced through the introduction of H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine and, when available, meningococcal conjugate vaccine protective against serogroups A, B and C.

Blood pressure is a cardinal vital sign that gives important information about the cardiovascular function and about hemodynamic trends during anaesthesia, in critical ill patients and during experimental procedures (Rehman and Nelson, 2018). Arterial blood pressure can be evaluated by direct technique (arterial catheter) or indirect technique (Doppler or oscillometry). Direct measurement is gold standard for blood pressure measurement, giving accurate beat-to-beat information and also allow collection of blood samples. However, it is more invasive and requires equipment for monitoring and experience to place the arterial catheter (Araghi et al., 2006; Ward and Langton, 2007; Wingfield and Raffe, 2002). Given its importance in directing care, it is essential to measure blood pressure accurately and consistently.The aim of this article is to present all technique found in literature, with its advantages and disadvantages, with the errors that may occur so that the researchers can have a better knowledge before choosing their technique. For this study we took into consideration articles from literature and speciality books from which we extracted the information reliable for the study. Experimental studies on small laboratory animals, particularly rats are widely used as a model. Three methods are used for recording the blood pressure in rats: tail cuff (indirect technique), intra-arterial catheters (direct technique), and radio telemetry. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages and each of it may lead to erroneous data if they are improperly performed. The vast ranges of these errors highlight the importance of adhering to appropriate technique when measuring blood pressure.

Rats in particular are a widely-used model for experimental studies (Ordodi et al., 2004). Blood pressure measurement is one of the fastest and most informative means of assessing cardiovascular function and provides an accurate indication of drug effects, surgical events and hemodynamic trends (Tranquilli et al., 2007). A close monitoring of the animals during any experiment is important to detect early imbalances and prevent any changes that could compromise the results. Experimental surgery on small lab animals, especially rats, it's a widely used model. In order to perform surgery, anaesthesia must be used and it usually causes a slowdown of the respiration that induces metabolic imbalances. It could cause cardiovascular collapse and death if left unbalanced. A close monitoring of the respiration, ECG, blood pressure is necessary during the experiment (Ordodi et al., 2004). Because it may not be always available or the prohibitive cost of the special equipment used to perform these tasks, we adapted a simple device and method to record the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in rats by carotid catheterisation and the results obtained were sustainable. In our experiment, we present a simple method to record mean arterial pressure by carotid cannulation in anesthetised rats which can be easily performed and the materials needed are no others that the one used for other species.A number of 10 rats were anesthetised with isoflurane and were surgically prepared in the ventral cervical area. The carotid artery was dissected and exposed by surgical techniques; an intravenous cannula was placed and connected to a transducer. This transforms the pressure from the blood flow in an electronic wave which is registered on the Dräger Infinity Delta monitor.

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