Air Pollutants and Their Impact on Chronic Diseases—A Retrospective Study in Bucharest, Romania

Air pollution is a serious problem in Romania, with the country ranking 13th among the most polluted countries in Europe in the 2021 World Air Quality Report. Despite the recognized impact of pollutants on health, there has been a lack of large-scale studies conducted in Romania. This study investigated the impact of air pollutants on patients with chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or metabolic diseases in Bucharest and its metropolitan area from 20 August 2018 to 1 June 2022. The daily limit values for particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 were exceeded every month, especially during the cold season, with a decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. A significant statistical correlation was found between the monthly average values of PM2.5 and PM10 and hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A 10 µg/m3 increase in monthly average values resulted in a 40–60% increase in admissions for each type of pathology, translating to more than 2000 admissions for each pathology for the study period. This study highlights the urgent need for national and local measures to ensure a cleaner environment and enhance public health in Romania according to international regulations. © 2023 by the authors.

In vitro and in vivo bioactivity of edible wild mushrooms

There is a large body of scientific literature on edible mushrooms that reports on their health-promoting potential, as an interesting alternative to improve the quality of life, and thus allow them to be included in the group of nutraceuticals. A detailed and comprehensive list of 45 species of edible mushrooms occurring in the world is provided in this chapter, in terms of in vitro and in vivo studies about mushrooms and isolated bioactive constituents. The constituents purported many pharmacological effects such as antitumor, antioxidant activity, hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycaemic, antitumor/immunomodulatory activities, antihyperglycemic, colon antitumor effects, relief of cerebral ischemia injury, genoprotective, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, anti-inflammatory, stimulation of male reproductive function, effect on the intestinal mucosal immunity and gut microbiota, anticoagulant activity, anti-oxidative and anti-atherosclerotic potential, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antifungal, antiviral activity, antimicrobial and antibacterial, antihypertensive, anti-HIV protease and anti-inflammatory activities (ergosterol), antiviral, COVID-19 treatment, antiproliferative effect on cancer cells, and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activities. Each species is accompanied by a relevant bibliography and relevant notes. © 2022 Sanju Bala Dhull, Aarti Bains, Prince Chawla, and Pardeep Kumar Sadh. All rights reserved.

Cutaneous involvement in COVID-19 patients

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health organization in early March 2020. The disease typically presents with viral respiratory symptoms that could progress to acute respiratory dis-tress syndrome. Emerging evidence suggests different possible dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19, including: acral lesions (pernio-like, pseudo-chillblain), vesicular eruptions, macular and papular exanthema, urticaria, livedoid, purpuric and petechial rashes. However, specific skin manifestations of the COVID-19 disease have not yet been clearly established and the relationship between the appearance of skin lesions and SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear. These highly variable skin changes could represent a direct con-sequence of the viral infection, an immunological response to viral nucleotides, adverse reactions to drugs frequently used for the treatment of COVID-19, or other disorders. In a global effort to comprehend the exact cutaneous features of COVID-19, several international dermatological societies have initiated nationwide studies to analyze COVID-19 cutaneous manifestations during this pandemic. This paper represents a literature review of the scientific data available on the clinical characteristics and symptoms of the cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19. Such findings are extremely useful in establishing if dermatological manifestations in COVID-19 patients could harbor a diagnostic significance and subsequently be used as prognostic factors for outcomes of COVID-19. © 2020, Amaltea Medical Publishing House. All rights reserved.

How cloud accounting and integrated services based on AI can impact accounting companies?

Artificial intelligence solutions are not present only in big companies, but the new trend is to start changing the accounting profession also in small and medium companies. In order to shorten the period in which they will have access to artificial intelligence solutions, the artificial intelligence needs to be offered in a more accessible form. This paper represents the first step in a more in depth research about the way available resources for an organization to implement artificial intelligence solutions in their financial departments. This decision has the potential to bring fundamental changes to accounting and auditing, and in the entire financial markets. This paper explores the potential of artificial solutions adaptation in accounting, identifying the steps already taken in this field of activity which will help them to implement further changes. We investigate mainly the organizational changes brought by cloud computing and its potential for the accounting field to adapt to further technological solutions. We assessed the cloud computing's effect on the accounting profession, and the potential role of these professions in further implementing more intelligent solutions, as well as the main advantages and disadvantages in order to understand the reasons for high interest in migration to cloud computing, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

Offensive Strategy Approach of Aging Population in the Context of a Digital Society

Population aging currently is a demographic challenge addresing two key issues: one is having a strong political framework with policies to sustain this phenomenon and another one is to create benefits and value in economy. Those two approaches are materialized in offensive and defensive strategies for silver population. One is focusing on mitigating the risk of this demographic imbalance, and another one on flexibility which can bring more added value on long term. Trying to maintain the balance between the two could lead to an unavoidable failure. In this paper, the purpose is to evaluate the main drivers behind the IT sector, technology and innovation of the silver economy with the focus on an offensive strategy. Aging offensive side supports on creating new economic activities for the niche of elders with the help of technology. This strategy is sustained by two steps, adopting and accepting the technology. The journey towards digital societies is very tough and digitalization can be a challenge especially for the elderly from the countries which are not ready to embrace this paradigm shift. Humanity is facing an unprecedented time in its history: an aging population and a global pandemic that has previously affected this category of the elderly. The current COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of digitalization and supporting the economy and society at large by enabling continued productive activity, tracking the spread of the virus and accelerating the search for medicines and vaccines.

Surveillance of medically-attended influenza in elderly patients from Romania—data from three consecutive influenza seasons (2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18)

Background: Influenza is an acute infection affecting all age groups;however, elderly patients are at an increased risk. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and the circulation of influenza virus types in elderly patients admitted for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to a tertiary care hospital in Bucharest, Romania, part of the I-MOVE+ hospital network. Methods: We conducted an active surveillance study at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr Matei Balș,” Bucharest, Romania, during three consecutive influenza seasons: 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18. All patients aged 65 and older admitted to our hospital for SARI were tested for influenza by PCR. Results: A total of 349 eligible patients were tested during the study period, and 149 (42.7%) were confirmed with influenza. Most patients, 321 (92.5%) presented at least one underlying condition at the time of hospital admission, the most frequent being cardiovascular disease, 270 (78.3%). The main influenza viral subtype circulating in 2015/16 was A(H1N1)pdm09, followed by A(H3N2) in 2016/17 and B influenza in 2017/18. Case fatality was highest in the 2015/16 season (3.7%), 0% in 2016/17, and 1.0% in 2017/18. Vaccination coverage in elderly patients with SARI from our study population was 22 (6.3%) over the three seasons. Conclusions: Our study has highlighted a high burden of comorbidities in elderly patients presenting with SARI during winter season in Romania. The influenza vaccine coverage rate needs to be substantially increased in the elderly population, through targeted interventions. © 2020 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Teachers' And Professors’ Perception Of Telework In Romania

The first mentions of working from home date from 1979, the appearance of the Internet leading to an increase in the number of companies that have applied this system. Remote work, work from home, telecommuting, as well as teleworking are concepts that describe an alternative activity of performing traditional work. With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the shift in a higher or lower proportion of companies' online activities, depending on the economic sector in which they operate, has become inevitable and sudden, with telework becoming the new normality among employees and employers. The objective of this study is to find out to what extent teachers in Romania agree to carry out teaching activities in the telework system and whether the educational environment (pre-university or univeristar), the degree of effort put in and the degree of fatigue felt in the telework system influence the extent to which teachers agree to carry out teaching activities in this type of system.The data was collected through a questionnaire-based exploratory research on a sample of 208 higher education professors and pre-university teachers. Non-parametric statistical methods of data analysis were used to measure the perception of study participants in the telework system and statistical methods suitable for qualitative data analysis were used for the assumptions: ordinal regression, Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test. Research results show that teachers make an additional effort to carry out telework system activitiescompared to the teaching activity period in schools/campus’to the majority of respondents (87.5%), leading to a much higher feeling of fatigue (73.5%), and as the main impediment to online teaching, the evaluation of the progress of pupils/students. The study can support the management of Romanian education, at micro and macro level, in the correct substantiation of decisions on the sizing and evaluation of teaching activities and related processes that teachers carry out in telework conditions. © 2021, Amfiteatru Economic. All Rights Reserved.

TEACHERS' PERCEPTION OF TELEWORK IN ROMANIA

The first mentions of working from home date back to 1979, with the appearance of the Internet leading to an increase in the number of companies applying this system. Remote working, work from home, telecommuting and teleworking are concepts that describe an alternative activity to traditional work. With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the shift to a greater or lesser extent of companies' activities online, depending on the economic sector in which they operate, has become inevitable and sudden, with teleworking becoming the new normal among employees and employers. The objective of this study is to find out to what extent teachers in Romania are happy with teleworking and whether the environment educational environment (pre-university or university), the level of effort and the degree of fatigue experienced in the telework system influence the extent to which teachers agree with telework. teachers' agreement to teaching in this type of system. Data were collected through exploratory questionnaire-based research on a sample of 208 university and pre-university teachers. In order to measure the participants' perceptions of the professional activity carried out in the telematic system non-parametric statistical methods of data analysis were used, and for the analysis of the hypotheses, statistical methods suitable for qualitative data were used: ordinal regression, Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test. The results of the research indicate that the majority of the respondents (87.5%) put extra effort into their telework activities, compared to the period of teaching activity in school/campus, which leads to a much higher degree of fatigue (73.5%), and as the main impediment to online teaching, the assessment of pupils/students' progress. The study can support the management of Romanian education, at micro and macro level, in making the right decisions on the sizing and evaluation of teaching activities and related processes that teachers carry out in tele-learning conditions.

Coronavirus vaccination in patients with Psoriasis vulgaris under immunosuppressive therapy

The COVID-19 disease brought numerous hospitalizations and deaths worldwide, which exerted implications not only for health care professionals of different specialties, but also for the general population in need of medical attention - and psoriasis patients make no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic raised multiple issues of concern such as whether immunosuppressant, including biologic therapy may increase the risk of patients with psoriasis to develop the viral infection or to progress more severely;the possibility of a disease flare-up after discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy;the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised patients including those on immunosuppressive medications. In this review, we aim to bring attention to the coronavirus vaccination among psoriasis population, a fundamental point of interest for dermatologists, rheumatologists and general practitioners, according to the available guidelines and recommendations. Patient education with respect to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is of great importance and proper counseling by healthcare professionals is essential for a better understanding of the use of vaccines while on immunosuppressive or biologic therapy.

A Romanian survey on the impact of sars-cov-2 pandemic on dystonia patients

Background. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic largely restricted the access of chronic patients to basic healthcare. One of the categories heavily affected by the lockdown were patients with dystonia. Objective. To assess the impact of botulinum toxin (BoNT) injection therapy discontinuation on the physical status and quality of life (QoL) of patients suffering from dystonia. Methods. A questionnaire was applied between April 1st and April 15th, 2020 to a group of 50 dystonia patients that met the inclusion criteria for this study. Results. The majority of the respondents (92%) indicated that their greatest issue during SARS-CoV-2 lockdown was the lack of access to regular BoNT injections. Over 50% of respondents stated that they experienced atypical physical pain, followed by the inability to perform usual activities, with further impact on the QoL. Alteration of the physical status due to the inability to follow an in-clinic rehabilitation program was also reported by up to 25% of patients. In 10% of patients, dystonia became more severe, and led to further afflictions, with a great impact on their QoL. Younger dystonia participants registered lower QoL scores than older participants. Furthermore, isolation and income reduction were found to cause a moderate impact on QoL in most patients and may be associated with mild to moderate forms of depression. Conclusion. The healthcare field must work to ensure that all these patients have access to their regular treatment plan in a safe environment. Meanwhile, recommendations should be made for these individuals to follow an adequate physical therapy program at home.