Medicina
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Background and Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRwNP) has multiple clinical presentations, and predictors of successful treatment are correlated to different parameters. Differentially expressed microRNAs in nasal polyps emerge as possible facilitators of precise endotyping in this disease. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between the clinical parameters of CRSwNP and two different microRNAs. ⋯ Results: MiR-125b showed significant overexpression in NP compared to the normal nasal mucosa. miR-125b expression levels were positively and significantly correlated with blood eosinophilia (p = 0.018) and nasal endoscopy score (p = 0.021). Although high CT scores were related to miR-125b overexpression, the correlation did not reach statistical significance. miR-203a-3p was underexpressed in nasal polyps and was significantly underexpressed in CRSwNP patients with environmental allergies. Conclusions: Both miR-125b and miR-203a-3p are potential biomarkers in CRSwNP. miR-125b also correlates with the clinical picture, while miR-203a-3p could help identify an associated allergy.
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Review Case Reports
Mucormycosis in a Patient with Severe COVID-19 Disease-The First Case Report in Romania and a Literature Review.
COVID-19 infection is often associated with a vast spectrum of opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections. Herein, we share a summary of the first case of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) in a patient from Romania. ⋯ The association between severe COVID-19 and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, triggered by COVID-19 infection, increases the risk of severe opportunistic fungal infections and the associated mortality rates.
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Case Reports
Foetal Intrapartum Compromise at Term: Could COVID-19 Infection Be Involved? A Case Report.
The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy has been studied and many reports have been published, mainly focussing on complications and in utero transmission with neonatal consequences. Although the effects of other viruses on foetuses are well known, the impact of maternal COVID-19 during pregnancy is not completely understood. We report a case of acute foetal intrapartum hypoxia without other risk factors than maternal COVID-19 disease 2 weeks previous to birth at term. ⋯ The case raises the idea that pregnancies with even mild COVID-19 symptoms may represent the cause of neonate compromise in a low-risk pregnancy. An important follow-up in the neonatal period and infancy is required to identify and treat any subsequent conditions. Further long-term studies are necessary to identify a cause-effect relationship between COVID-19 pregnancies and the whole spectrum of neonatal and infant consequences.
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Background and Objectives: Atherosclerosis is one of inflammatory bowel disease's most significant cardiovascular manifestations. This research aimed to examine the relationship between biochemical, haemostatic, and immune parameters of atherosclerosis and ulcerative colitis patients and its relationship to platelet aggregation. Materials and Methods: A clinical, observational cross-sectional study was performed, during which the tested parameters were compared in the experimental and control groups. ⋯ Lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL were also recorded in patients with ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis and ulcerative colitis without atherosclerosis compared to healthy control. Triglyceride and remnant cholesterol were higher in patients with ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy control but lower than in patients with atherosclerosis only. Conclusions: Several inflammatory markers and platelet aggregation could be good discrimination markers for subjects with ulcerative colitis with the highest risk of atherosclerosis.
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Background and Objective: Our previous study demonstrated that consistent treatment of oral cilostazol was effective in reducing levels of painful peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced type I diabetic rats. As diabetic neuropathy is characterized by hyperglycemia-induced nerve damage in the periphery, this study aims to examine the neuropathology as well as the effects of cilostazol treatments on the integrity of peripheral small nerve fibers in type I diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: A total of ninety adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following groups: (1) naïve (control) group; (2) diabetic rats (DM) group for 8 weeks; DM rats receiving either (3) 10 mg/kg oral cilostazol (Cilo10), (4) 30 mg/kg oral cilostazol (Cilo30), or (5) 100 mg/kg oral cilostazol (Cilo100) for 6 weeks. ⋯ Cilostazol administration also suppressed microglial hyperactivation and increased astrocyte expressions in spinal dorsal horns. Conclusions: Oral cilostazol ameliorated hyperglycemia-induced peripheral small nerve fiber damage in the periphery of diabetic rats and effectively mitigated diabetic neuropathic pain via a central sensitization mechanism. Our findings present cilostazol not only as an effective option for managing symptoms of neuropathy but also for deterring the development of diabetic neuropathy in the early phase of type I diabetes.