Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pheochromocytoma – Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis And Current Perioperative Management, Maria Manea, Dragos R. Marcu, Ovidiu G. Bratu, Ana M. Stanescu, Anca Pantea Stoian, Mihnea A. Gaman, Camelia C. Diaconu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor characterized by the excessive production of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). The diagnosis is suspected due to hypertensive paroxysms, associated with vegetative phenomena, due to the catecholaminergic hypersecretion. Diagnosis involves biochemical tests that reveal elevated levels of catecholamine metabolites (metanephrine and normetanephrine). Functional imaging, such as 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (123I-MIBG), has increased specificity in identifying the catecholamine-producing tumor and its metastases. The gold-standard treatment for patients with pheochromocytoma is represented by the surgical removal of the tumor. Before surgical resection, it is important to optimize blood pressure and intravascular volume in order to avoid negative hemodynamic …

Gracilis Myocutaneous Flap For Perineal Defect Reconstruction After Left Hemivulvectomy For Locally Invasive Vulvar Cancer – A Case Report And A Literature Review, Nicolae Bacalbasa, Irina Balescu, Andreea Mereuta, Alina Tanase, Adriana Ghelmene, Mihaela Vilcu, Iulian Brezean

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Performing radical surgery for locally advanced vulvar cancer is usually associated with the occurrence of large perineal defects. In order to provide a better healing process of the perineal wound, different reconstructive techniques have been proposed.

We present the case of a 63-year-old female patient diagnosed with locally advanced vulvar cancer for which a left hemivulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection was performed. After completion of the resection phase, the reconstruction with gracilis myocutaneous flap was performed. The patient developed a non-union of the flap. However, it slowly healed without any surgical re-intervention.

Gracilis myocutaneous flap seems to be …

The Effect Of Glucosamine, Chondroitin And Harpagophytum Procumbens On Femoral Hyaline Cartilage Thickness In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis– An Mri Versus Ultrasonography Study, Florentin Ananu Vreju, Paulina Lucia Ciurea, Anca Rosu, Beatrice Andreea Chisalau, Cristina Dorina Parvanescu, Sineta Cristina Firulescu, Adina Turcu Stiolica, Andreea Lili Barbulescu, Stefan Cristian Dinescu, Cristiana Iulia Dumitrescu, Roxana Mihaela Dumitrascu, Cristina Criveanu, Lucretiu Radu, Mihai Tusaliu, Daniela Dumitrescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background: the evaluation of cartilage thickness has become possible with new techniques such as musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imagining (MRI), making the evaluation of the treatment response and the progression of the disease more accurate. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of a Symptomatic Slow Acting Drug for Osteoarthritis using both US and MRI for measuring cartilage thickness at baseline and after 1 year. Methods: The study included the clinical evaluation of 20 patients at baseline, at 6 and 12 months as well as imaging exams (US and MRI) at baseline and after 1 year. Measurements …

A Perfusion Decellularization Heart Model - An Interesting Tool For Cell-Matrix Interaction Studies, Mihai Meșină, Ion Mîndrilă, Cristian Mesina, Cosmin Vasile Obleagă, Octavian Istrătoaie

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Objective. In this paper, we present a technique for whole human, pig, or rat heart decellularization in order to obtain a tool for cell-matrix interaction studies and to obtain the extracellular matrix scaffold with applications to the study of cardiac connective tissue architecture for tissue bioengineering.

Material and methods. In order to achieve tissue decellularization we present two separate protocols, the first for large animal hearts (e.g., pig hearts) and human hearts, the second for smaller hearts (e.g., rat hearts). We have performed the cardiac decellularization technique on 20 pig hearts, 5 human hearts, and 20 rat hearts.

Results. The …

Microbiota Signatures In Type-2 Diabetic Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease - A Pilot Study, Gratiela P. Gradisteanu, Roxana A. Stoica, Laura Petcu, Ariana Picu, Adrian P. Suceveanu, Teodor Salmen, Diana S. Stefan, Cristian Serafinceanu, Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc, Anca P. Stoian

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

The human microbiota is paramount for normal host physiology. Altered host-microbiome interactions are part of the pathogenesis of numerous common ailments. Currently, much emphasis is placed on the involvement of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), impaired glucose tolerance, and other metabolic disorders (i.e. obesity). Several studies found highly significant correlations of specific intestinal bacteria with T2DM. A better understanding of the role of the microbiome in diabetes and its complications might provide new insights in the development of new therapeutic principles.

Our pilot study investigates the microbiota patterns in Romanian type-2 diabetic patients with diabetic …

Serum Markers Of Bone Fragility In Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, Rucsandra Dănciulescu Miulescu, Loreta Guja, Lavinia Claudia Ochiana, Anca Ungurianu, Oana Cristina Șeremet, Emil Ștefănescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have normal or increased bone mineral density (BMD) but despite that, they are characterized by an increased hip and vertebral fracture risk that involves the alteration of bone quality and not the reduction in bone mass. BMD is utilized for the diagnosis and evaluation of osteoporosis, but BMD itself cannot provide an accurate diagnosis of the individuals at increased risk of fracture and, therefore, studies have focused on identifying other risk factors that are partially or fully independent of BMD.

The fracture risk score tool-FRAX® models provide information about a 10-year probability of osteoporotic …

Photodynamic Therapy As A New Therapeutic Approach Of Oral Lichen Planus, Sandra Milena Tocut, Madalina Irina Mitran, Cristina Iulia Mitran, Mircea Tampa, Maria Isabela Sarbu, Gabriela Loredana Popa, Simona Roxana Georgescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic, immunologically mediated disease, defined by periods of exacerbation and quiescence. The disease is associated with a low mortality risk, but in some instances, morbidity can be important, especially in extensive, erosive forms, with a significant impact on the quality of life. OLP is a chronic T-cell mediated inflammatory disease involving the oral cavity, the most common lesions being located on the oral mucosa, tongue and gums. Its etiology remains in part unknown, but several factors proved to be involved in the development of the disease (drugs, dental materials, infectious agents, psychological factors, autoimmunity …

Physical Exercise – The Friend Or The Enemy Of The Patient With Pulmonary Tuberculosis?, Victoria Maria Ruta, Teodora Gabriela Alexescu, Simina Tarmure, Vasile Negrean, Monica Carmen Pop, Nicoleta Motoc, Iulia Olimpia Pfingstgraf, Mirela Georgiana Perne, Lorena Ciumarnean, Simona Valeria Clichici, Adina Milena Man

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Introduction. Tuberculosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, is the second cause of death from an infectious disease, after HIV/AIDS. Each second, a new infection occurs around the globe. Pulmonary tuberculosis can equally affect a performance athlete as well as an aspiring athlete. Physical exercise must be individualized and customized. Pulmonary rehabilitation guides 3 recommend types of exercises for patients with obstructive pathology: stretching, cardiovascular exercise or aerobics. Exercises must be started under medical supervision and must be interrupted if: the ventricular altitude increases above the maximum estimated level for the age, oxygen saturation (SaO2). Aim. The current review …