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The present study was a prospective observational single center study, enrolling 102 patients with sepsis, admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Târgu Mureș (Mureș, Romania). The main goal of the present study was to compare the changes of the following parameters on day 1 compared with day 5, in sepsis compared with septic shock, as well as in survivors compared with non-survivors: Cell blood count parameters, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and systemic inflammation index, C reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, procalcitonin (PCT), CD 3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD16+CD56+/CD3-NK cells and CD19+ B cells. The relationship between the subcategories of lymphocytes with the inflammatory markers was evaluated. The serum concentration of CRP and PCT was significantly lower on day 5 compared with day 1 and serum ferritin was significantly higher in patients with septic shock. The percentage of cytotoxic T lymphocytes was significantly decreased and the percentage of NK lymphocytes was significantly increased in patients who developed septic shock. The results indicated a negative significant correlation between the proportion of T lymphocytes and PCT concentration and a positive significant correlation between the proportion of B lymphocytes and PCT concentration.

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AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between the maternal body mass index (BMI) and total gestational weight gain (GWG) with the characteristics of newborns, taking into consideration the birth weight (BW), weight for age score (WfA), length for age (LfA), and weight for length (WfL), APGAR score, and premature delivery. METHODS: We conducted a study, from March 2015 to 2016. We included a number of 1218 pregnant women who delivered single babies, from three different hospitals that serve the entire Mures County and who met our inclusion criteria. RESULTS: We did not find significant differences regarding weight, length at birth, and gestational age, between girls and boys, neither between total GWG during pregnancy and the measured anthropometric parameters of the newborns, or between maternal GWG and gestational age of the newborns. We found a positive correlation between the mothers' BMI and the BW of the newborns (p =.03, r = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.0036-0.1169), but not between BMI and the birth length and nor with APGAR score. The statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between BMI and LfA (p = .01, r = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.0141-0.1269), but not with WfA and WfL. Women with higher BMI before getting pregnant showed significantly higher frequency of preterm delivery (p = .0078). We found a statistically significant correlation between GWG and BW (p<.0001). Excessive GWG correlates statistically significant with BW (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: We found a positive correlation between the mothers' BMI and excessive GWG and the BW of their newborns in women delivering a single baby. Women with higher BMI showed significantly higher frequency of preterm delivery.

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With the advancement of urine test automation and the large-scale application of quality management policies, the source of the most crucial errors has become the pre-analytical phase. This study is an attempt to compare the results obtained from the examination of urine strips with those obtained by microscopic examination of urinary sediment, highlighting discordant results. This observational study was conducted between February and August 2019 in a private medical laboratory in Mures County, and 2,600 urine samples were analyzed. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value for leukocytes, nitrites and red blood cells, taking as reference the microscopic examination of urine summary screening. Urine samples were collected from patients who presented to the laboratory. The 2,600 urine samples were analyzed using strips with 10 parameters: glucose, protein, bilirubin, urobilinogen, pH, specific density, red blood cells, nitrite, and leukocytes, and then using the microscope to examine the urinary sediment. We identified a small percentage (1.92%) of inconsistencies from the 2,600 samples of urine, between urinalysis and the microscopic examination and we identified the causes. The most common discordant results were: false-negatives for nitrite (72%), followed by false-positives results for red blood cells (22%), false-negative results for leukocytes (16%), false-negative results for red blood cells (4%) and false-positives for leukocytes (4%). The study confirmed that discrepancies appear despite the proper instruction of patients.

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BACKGROUND: Each country has specific social, cultural, and economic characteristics regarding the motivations for improving health. The aim of this study was to evaluate demographic characteristics, anthropometric data, and elements related to food behavior and health, as well as Romanians' motivations towards healthy eating. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire based study enrolling 751 Romanian participants, which was carried out in in 2017-2018. RESULTS: We obtained a positive correlation between age and Body Mass Index, and this was maintained also when we analyzed the two genders separately, being, however, even stronger for women. The number of hours/day spent watching TV or in front of the computer was positively correlated with both age and BMI. In general, with aging, there is an increasing concern regarding the practice of a healthy diet. The higher education level was significantly associated with healthier choices. CONCLUSIONS: The study of the three dietary dimensions, food properties, health attitudes, and dietary behavior, vis-à-vis various disorders revealed that the group most concerned of their diet was those who suffered from cardiovascular disorders.

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BACKGROUND: The role of muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty in the treatment of postoperative empyema is controversial. The major difficulty is given by the sectioning of the muscular masses during the previous thoracotomy/thoracotomies, resulting in a limitation of the volume and mobility of the available neighborhood flaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1, 2004, and January 1, 2012, we used muscle flaps and thoracomyoplasty as a re-redo procedure in seven patients having a history of at least two major procedures performed through thoracotomy (without considering tube thoracostomy and open thoracic window). In all the cases, the indication for thoracomyoplasty was the presence of an empyema which could not be controlled by the previous procedures. The principle of our procedure was to perform a complete obliteration of the cavity, closure reinforcement of the bronchial fistulae using muscle flaps (in four cases), drainage, and primary closure of the new operative wound. RESULTS: We encountered no mortality, one bronchopneumonia requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, and one intermuscular seroma; there was no need for prolonged mechanical ventilation or major inotropic support. In all the patients, we achieved complete obliteration of the cavity and per primam wound healing, with postoperative hospitalizations ranging between 30 and 51 days. At late follow-up (1-8 years), we encountered no recurrence and no major functional sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracomyoplasty may be a definitive solution in cases with recurrent postoperative complications. A careful analysis of the local anatomy allows the use of muscle flaps even after more procedures involving opening of the chest.

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