The Influence of Living in Rural Areas on the Evolution and Management of Pediatric Ovarian Cystic Lesions: A Retrospective Study on a Cohort from South Eastern Romania

Pharmacy-Based Influenza Vaccination: A Study of Patient Acceptance in Romania

Background

This study explores patient acceptance of influenza vaccination administered by pharmacists in Romania during the 2023 season, considering it a novel strategy to address gaps in knowledge. Pharmacy-based vaccination deviates from traditional methods, providing high-risk patients with full reimbursement and others with 50% reimbursement, allowing a choice between family doctors and pharmacies for vaccine administration.

Material and Method

The survey includes 15 questions covering socio-demographic data, health information, vaccination preferences, and perceptions of pharmacy-based vaccinations.

Results

Respondents showed a positive inclination toward pharmacy-based vaccination, with 68% expressing favorable sentiments, but an awareness gap exists, as only 36% were aware of pharmacy-based vaccination availability.

Conclusion

Challenges include a lack of patient awareness and understanding of benefits, emphasizing the need for structured pharmacist-patient dialogues. Legal changes, a defined funding mechanism, and collaboration are crucial for successful implementation. The study provides valuable insights into patient perceptions, contributing to discussions on optimizing influenza vaccination coverage in Romania and beyond and recognizing pharmacies' potential in achieving broader vaccination goals.

A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

(1) Background: Immunization of pregnant women (PWs) against Bordetella pertussis infection is still a challenging health matter. (2) Methods: We gathered questionnaire data from 180 PWs regarding their expectancies and current opinion on infectious disease prevention. For the group of PWs who agreed to further investigations, the serum levels of Ig G anti-B. pertussis antibodies (IgG-PT) titer were measured and analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 180 PWs completed the questionnaire and 98 (54.44%, study group) accepted to perform the laboratory tests. During the first two pregnancy trimesters, PWs were found to be more willing (compared with the control group) to test for identifying high-risk situations that could affect themselves and their future infant (p < 0.001). Most of the participating PWs (91, 91.9%) had low levels of anti-pertussis antibodies (values < 40 IU/mL). Declared vaccine coverage of the PWs newborn infants for DTaP-1 and Prevenar 13 (at 2 months) and DTaP-2 and Prevenar 13 (at 4 months) vaccination reached 100% in the study group, while in the control group only 30/82 (36.59%) PWs accepted to be vaccinated during pregnancy, none of them providing data on their infants’ vaccine coverage. (4) Conclusions: Enrolled PWs faced a waning immunity against the B. pertussis infection. By raising maternal confidence in the protective role of vaccines against infectious diseases, better vaccine acceptance and better infant vaccine coverage can be achieved.

Ethipatogenetic Study of Urothelial Carcinomas in the Urology Clinic of the County Clinical Hospital of Constanta

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy involving the urinary system, urothelial carcinoma of the upper tract is a rare subgroup of urothelial cancers with poor prognosis, being the most common histological type of bladder cancer (approximately 90%), manifesting as invasion of the basal membrane (or deeper) by neoplastic cells of urothelial origin.

This type of carcinoma is more common in men than women, with a male to female ratio of 2:1, with men being 3 to 4 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than women.

The present study is a retrospective study including 174 patients in the Urology Clinic of Constanta County St. Apostle Andrew Emergency Hospital in the period 2016-2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A and Group B. Group A includes patients with anatomopathologically confirmed diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma, while in Group B are patients who do not present a diagnosis of urothelial carcinomas.

In this study the influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of urothelial carcinomas was compared in order to draw conclusions on the occurrence and development of these types of neoplasms.