Death by SARS-CoV 2: a Romanian COVID-19 multi-centre comorbidity study

Evidence regarding the relation between SARS-CoV-2 mortality and the underlying medical condition is scarce. We conducted an observational, retrospective study based on Romanian official data about location, age, gender and comorbidities for COVID-19 fatalities. Our findings indicate that males, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease were most frequent in the COVID-19 fatalities, that the burden of disease was low, and that the prognosis for 1-year survival probability was high in the sample. Evidence shows that age-dependent pairs of comorbidities could be a negative prognosis factor for the severity of disease for the SARS-CoV 2 infection.

Chemical Ablation of the Septoturbinar Synechia

Septoturbinar synechia is a pathological adherence between the mucosa of the turbinate and the nasal septum. Synechiae result after endoscopic sinus surgery or can be caused by trauma, infections, autoimmune pathologies, drug abuse, chemical burns, radiotherapy or intensive nose packing. The treatment for septoturbinar synechiae is surgery with the ablation of adherences. In this paper we will present a new surgical method for the ablation of synechiae under endoscopic control, using coblation.

Oxidative Stress in Diabetes. A model of complex thinking applied in medicine

Since their first mention, almost 60 years ago, there were a plethora of articles about oxidative stress and antioxidants, published in a wide range of journals (biochemistry, cell physiology, molecular biology or environmental biology). Also, in the last decade the definition of oxidative stress (OS) undergone different changes, and currently OS is seen as a disruption of redox signalling and control. This review aims to offer the perspective of Complexity Theory on antioxidants framework, and diabetes disease is taken as an example.

Chemical Ablation of Cartilagineous Tissue in Tracheal Stenosis

Laryngo-tracheal stenosis represents a challenging pathology that requires multi-stage surgical approach, and a multidisciplinary team. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination, endoscopic assessment, and imagistic evaluation. Coblation is a surgical technology based on chemical ablation of the tissue, that is suitable for tracheal stenosis approach.We present our experience with coblation for the management of laryngo-tracheal stenosis, and highlight the advantages, and disadvantages of coblation for tracheal stenosis. We consider chemical ablation of the cartilaginous tissue through coblation a valuable surgical technology for the treatment of tracheal stenosis.

The Use of Methylene Blue Staining Test in Determining the CSF Leaks Location of the Anterior Skull Base

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea represents drainage of cerebrospinal fluid into the nasal cavity. The first steps in diagnosing CSF rhinorrhea are a thorough history and physical examination of the patient. Other diagnostic procedures are the double ring sign, glucose content of the nasal fluid, Beta-trace protein test or beta 2-transferrin. To establish the exact location of the defect imagistic examinations are necessary. However, the gold standard CSF leakage diagnostic method is an intrathecal injection of fluorescein with the endoscopic identification of the defect. In this paper we analyze a staining test, using Methylene Blue solution, to identify the CSF leak�s location.

The Influence of Progesterone on Immunohystochemical Markers in Endometriosis

Endometriosis, one of the most common gynecologic pathologies, is defined as an inflammatory, estrogen-dependent disease characterized by the growth of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterine cavity. It is a multifactorial disease, conditioned by genetic and immune factors and triggered by hormonal and environmental factors. Estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) expression is significantly modified in endometriotic tissue, compared to normal endometrium. We performed a prospective study that included 16 patients with endometriosis: 9 patients that underwent progesterone treatment with 0.075 mg desogestrel, daily for 24 weeks prior to the surgical procedure, and 7 patients that did not follow any kind of treatment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the changes that occurred in the expression of ER, PR, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Ki-67 from the endometriotic tissue. Oral 0.075 mg desogestrel administration proved its benefits in the management of endometriomas.

Methylene Blue Test in Assessing Disease Free Margins in Lingual Carcinoma Resection

Lingual squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most frequent localization of the oral carcinomas. The tongue neoplasia represents nearly 40% of the oral carcinomas. Recent studies showed an increasing trend of lingual carcinoma in young patients. Several staining tests have been described to early detect the disease. After detection, disease free margins resection will increase the survival rate. This study aims to analyze the methylene blue staining test in achieving disease free resection margins in lingual squamous cell carcinoma.

Methylene blue staining test in assessing safe margins in laryngeal papillomatosis

Laryngeal papillomatosis, although a viral and benign disease, poses a great challenge for the ENT surgeon from a therapeutical point of view. The lack of a curative treatment and the tendency of the papillomatosis to recur in an extensive manner require an aggressive treatment. Although multiple medical therapies are available, their results are not always the desired ones. That is why nowadays the focus of the therapy is on the surgical approach. The best results may be obtained thru multiple surgeries, with resection of all papilloma foci. Although this approach may impact the quality of life of the patients due to the multiple interventions required, the overall result translates into a physiologic airway. Because the site where the lesions first appear is at an epithelial level, tendency to use methods of early diagnosis, that make the disease recognizable before extensive lesions, is the natural tendency. Also, it is extremely important to remove all papilloma lesions during surgery, thus minimizing the chances of recurrence or at least increasing the interval between interventions.The aim of this paper is to present the methylene blue staining test as an adjuvant method of evaluating the resection margins during surgery for laryngeal papillomatosis. This method can improve the results of surgery and increase the patient�s adherence to treatment, by decreasing the number of interventions required.