Evaluation of Non-Alcoholic Beverages and the Risk Related to Consumer Health among the Romanian Population.

The range of non-alcoholic drinks is very varied both from a compositional point of view and from a caloric and nutritional point of view. The excessive consumption of sweetened non-alcoholic beverages represents an important risk factor for health, especially when it is accompanied by an unbalanced diet and a disordered lifestyle. In order to evaluate the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages correlated with the evaluation of the main lifestyle factors that can affect the state of health among Romanians, a cross-sectional observational study was carried out based on a questionnaire. The results of the study indicate that among the most consumed non-alcoholic drinks are coffee and sweetened carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, which are indicated as being responsible for the development of consumption addictions: 44% for coffee, 16.5% for sweetened or tonic carbonated drinks and 12% for sweetened non-carbonated drinks. Considering that the consumption of coffee is usually associated with sweeteners, there is a risk of excessive caffeine and caloric intake in a context where a lack of exercise predominates (59.98%) among respondents declaring that they do sports rarely or not at all, which can lead, in the long term, to the appearance of imbalances either of a psycho-emotional nature or of a metabolic nature. A significant link was found between sports activity and the environment in which they work (χ2 = 51.33, p = 0.05). Respondents with a daily activity that involves movement (working outdoors, working on a construction site) are also those who usually do sports, while 60.67% of the respondents who work a lot in front of the computer declared that they do sports very rarely or not at all. Reducing the excessive consumption of sweetened drinks can be achieved through an appropriate consumption of water and fruits and by intensifying physical activity as a way of counterbalancing the excess caloric intake.

Evaluation of Junk Food Consumption and the Risk Related to Consumer Health among the Romanian Population.

Premature aging and degradative processes are mainly generated by unhealthy habits and an unbalanced diet. Quality of food and lifestyle are important factors in sano-genesis. Many imbalances and ailments have their origin in the adoption of an unbalanced diet and a disordered lifestyle. With the help of a transversal study carried out on the basis of a questionnaire, the consumption of junk food products among the population of Romania was evaluated; at the same time, an evaluation of the characteristics of the associated diet, as well as a series of lifestyle components (quality of rest, physical activity, evaluation of the state of health) was carried out. The data collected and processed indicate an increased tendency to consume junk food products in the 18-23 age group, and especially among obese respondents. Female respondents show a lower tendency toward an increased consumption of junk food products (OR = 0.703, 95% CI)-0.19-0.95, p = 0.011) compared to male respondents. The most consumed junk food products are fried potatoes (46.2%) and pastries (41.4%). Junk food products that show an increased tendency toward consumption addiction are fried potatoes (13.8%), sweets (12.4%), pastry products (11.1%), and sweetened drinks (11.2%). The poor quality of food from a nutritional point of view, and reduced physical activity, are reflected in the varied range of problems faced by the respondents: states of fatigue (62.4%), nervousness (37.5%), depression, anxiety, emotional eating, etc.

Benefits of α-lipoic acid in high-risk pregnancies (Review).

α-Lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural molecule that is inconsistently synthesized by the human body and must be provided from exogenous sources, such as food and dietary supplements. Once absorbed, the oxidized form of ALA is transformed into its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). ALA/DHLA exert direct and indirect antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and fine immunomodulatory effects. ALA/DHLA reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17), while increasing the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10). They also inhibit cyclooxygenase 2, thereby decreasing the secretion of prostaglandin E2 and nitrogen oxide, and reducing the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy. In patients at risk of abortion, administration of ALA from the first trimester has shown efficacy by accelerating subchorionic hematoma resorption, with a significant decrease in the accompanying abdominal pain. ALA has been proven to be efficient in maintaining the length of the cervix and keeping it closed following one episode of premature labor. Preeclampsia is a dysfunction caused by abnormal placentation and an excessive maternal inflammatory response, leading to extreme hypoxia in the placental bed and exaggerated oxidative stress, with release of oxygen free radicals. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The hypothesis of antioxidant supplementation may play an essential part in disease prevention and fetal neuroprotection.

Performance Evaluation on Rotary Preparation of Root Canal by Beginner Operators.

This study aims to analyze the performance of rotary root canal preparation, conducted by beginner operators (students). After acquiring the necessary skills involved in applying endodontic preparation techniques on extracted teeth, all students from a cohort learned to use ProTaper Universal files (Dentsply Maillefer). The preclinical training had several stages. Experience 1: instrumentation on extracted single-root teeth; Experience 2: instrumentation on EndoTraining blocks (Dentsply Maillefer); Experience 3: instrumentation on EndoTraining blocks (Dia Dent Group International); Experience 4: Instrumentation on extracted multiradicular teeth. Preparation was done according to the manufacturer's instructions, the initial file is Sx, followed by S1, S2, F1, F2 and the last file is F3. A batch of 50 teeth (E1, E2, E3, E4) was randomly selected to evaluate the onset of the rotary preparation of young operators. Two independent evaluators analyzed the array radiologically by stereomicroscope evaluation (E1, E4) and photo-analysis of the resulting Endo Training blocks (E2, E3). The success rate was 80% for E1, 72% for E2, 64% for E3 and 76% for E4 (p<0.05). The following were considered a failure: ledge formation and apical transportation in 10.66%, over instrumentation in 6.66%, zipping in 3.33%, and instrument fracture in 4% of cases. Endodontic instrumentation techniques require training to acquire the necessary skills. Rotary root canal instrumentation techniques used almost exclusively in modern endodontics require adequate preclinical training.

Trifurcated external carotid artery and complete gamma-loop of its maxillary branch.

The external carotid artery (ECA) normally bifurcates terminally with the superficial temporal artery (STA) and the maxillary artery (MA). From the horizontally coursing, mandibular segment of the MA leaves the middle meningeal artery (MMA). We hereby report a previously unknown anatomic possibility, incidentally found during an angio-CT scan in an adult female patient. Unilaterally, the ECA was terminally trifurcated, sending off the MA, STA, and MMA. On that side, the mandibular segment of the MA had a gamma-loop and the contralateral one had a U-loop; both these loops were inferior to the lateral pterygoid muscle, closely approaching the respective lingula of the mandible. These findings are relevant during surgery of the parotid gland and infratemporal fossa, approaches of the MMA, and inferior alveolar nerve blocks. The modified origin of the MMA could be explained by an altered development of the primitive stapedial artery.

Transdifferentiations and heterogeneity in the stromal niches of uterine leiomyomas.

Uterine leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids (UFs), are benign smooth muscle cells tumors, the most frequent tumors in women. Even though UFs are monoclonal tumors, they contain a heterogeneous and versatile cells population. There are scarce proofs about the processes of transdifferentiation that might occur in UFs, modify the tumor microenvironment and support blood and lymph vessels formation. The stromal niches of the UFs harbor cells with angiogenic∕lymphangiogenic, as well as with vasculogenic∕lymphvasculogenic potential, which belong to a phenotypic continuum between the endothelial and mesenchymal lineages. Within these niches, the expressions of CD44 and podoplanin were less investigated and regarded as markers of such processes of transdifferentiation.

Variations in the expression of TIMP1, TIMP2 and TIMP3 in cutaneous melanoma with regression and their possible function as prognostic predictors.

Regression in melanoma is a frequent biological event of uncertain prognostic value as the lesion exhibits heterogeneous phenotypical features, both at the morphological and immunohistochemical level. In the present study, we examined the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP1, TIMP2 and TIMP3) in melanoma with regression. We specifically examined the expression levels of these TIMPs in regressed components (RC) and non-regressed components (NRC) of the tumor and compared their expression levels with those in non-regressed melanomas. We found that TIMP1 was overexpressed in the NRC of melanomas with partial regression (PR) compared with the NRC in melanomas with segmental regression (SR) (P=0.011). TIMP2 was overexpressed in the NRC of melanomas with PR compared with the NRC in melanomas with SR (PR/SR, P=0.009); or compared with the NRC in melanomas with simultaneous SR-PR (P=0.002); or compared with melanomas without regression (absence of regression) (P=0.037). Moreover, TIMP3 was overexpressed in the NRC of all melanomas with SR as compared to the RC component (P=0.007). Our findings on the differential expression of TIMP1, TIMP2 and TIMP3 in melanomas with regression support the hypothesis that the morphological differences identified in the melanoma regression spectrum may have a correlation with prognosis. This may explain the controversial findings within the literature concerning the biological and prognostic role of regression in melanoma.

Variant anatomy of nasal turbinates: supreme, superior and middle conchae bullosae, paradoxical superior and inferior turbinates, and middle accessory turbinate.

Multiple anatomical variants were encountered during a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study of the nasal cavity of a 43-year-old male patient. These were mostly related to the nasal turbinates, suggestive for an unusual development of ethmoturbinals. Pneumatized turbinates were observed: bilateral supreme, superior, and middle concha bullosa. There were bilateral paradoxically curved superior turbinates, as well as a unilateral paradoxically curved inferior turbinate. There was also found a unilateral accessory middle turbinate, presenting as a medially bent uncinate process. Due to the presence of the Santorini's concha, the natural ostium of the sphenoidal sinus was medial to it, and was not directly related to the superior turbinate. Such variants, alone or in combination, should be documented prior to surgical procedures, endoscopic or microscopic, by rhinologists and neurosurgeons, prior to various sinonasal or skull base approaches. Patients should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as the Vesalian anatomy could not apply to all.

Intratemporal course of the facial nerve: morphological, topographic and morphometric features.

The purpose of this study is to present some morphological and morphometric aspects of the facial nerve and especially of the tympanic and mastoid segments of this nerve. The authors follow up a mesoscopic study concerning the tract (length, angulation, width) of these segments and the anatomic relations with the important structures of the middle ear. At the same time, some anatomical variations which involve the canal of the facial nerve (dehiscences, tract deviation or other anatomical deviations) are presented. To evaluate the risk of the facial nerve injury during operations for chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma, stapedectomy in otosclerosis, exploratory tympanotomy, tympanoplasty, canaloplasty, osteomas surgery or other otologic surgery that involve facial nerve area. The intricate course of the facial nerve through the temporal bone is of vital concern to all otologic surgeons, since it often traverses the surgical field. Therefore, authors will review the course of the facial canal through the petrosal portion of the temporal bone from the internal auditory meatus to the stylomastoid foramen, paying particular attention to its relations to adjacent structures.

The recesses of the retro-tympanum.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anatomy of the posterior tympanic wall and to describe the four recesses (Sinus Tympani-ST, Lateral Tympanic Sinus-LTS, Posterior Tympanic Sinus-PTS, Facial Recess-FR) with their variations in shape, dimension, internal configuration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-seven cadaver temporal bones were examined through the anterior dissection approach. The opening was enlarged by drilling to allow a good microscopic or rigid endoscopic view to the retro-tympanum. Measurements of the recesses were made with gradually millimeter wire, dial micrometric indicator (comparator clock), various right angled picks and sometimes by means of cast-impression--used in stomatology for dental impression (interior configuration). RESULTS: Out of 37 specimens, we have found PTS in 64.86% (24 cases), ST in 94.59% (35 cases), and LTS in 59.45% (22 cases). For FR, we have found four types. The most constant cell, located in the inferior external part of FR and in the same time, the biggest one was suprapyramidal Sappey's fossa, which we have found in 75.67% (28 cases) of all specimens. Sinus entrance of each recess was very variable, but in the most cases, we have found that the long diameter of ST and LTS was usually directed vertically and of PTS usually horizontally. The deeper recess was ST-2.74 mm (range 0.5 to 6.2 mm). Pyramidal eminence was visualized in 100% of cases, the pyramidal ridge in 89.18%, the chordal ridge in 78.37%, the suprapyramidal ridge in 35.13%, ponticulus in 83.78% and subiculum in 75.67%. In many cases, the inner configuration of each sinus was irregular, presenting either small recesses (0.2 to 1 mm) under the bone borders at the entrance in the sinuses or communication between the two sinuses. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of the all four recess is not a rule. Marked variation in the size and shape and especially in the internal configuration of all recesses is a rule. All recesses of the retro-tympanum can be recognized more easily, if we identify at first all elements of positive projection (pyramidal eminence, chordal ridge, styloid eminence, styloid ridge, pyramidal ridge, suprapyramidal ridge, ponticulus, subiculum).

The maxillary sinus floor in the oral implantology.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to establish the mean distances between the maxillary sinus floor and the roots of the lateral maxillary teeth in dentate subjects, respectively the mean height of the available bone for oral implant placement in the corresponding area, in edentulous ones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We determined the maxillary sinus floor position in relation to morphoclinical alveolodental benchmarks on 50 dry skulls, dentate 30 and edentulous 20, and correlations were performed by use of 40 CT-scans of the targeted area. In addition, 20 human adult cadavers were bilaterally dissected in order to bring topographical evidence at that level. RESULTS: The data we obtained lead us to define three dentosinusal relations: tangent (close) relation 60.8%; distanced relation 25.6%; penetrating relation: 13.6%; three subantral classes in edentulous patients, emphasizing the direct relation of the age of the edentulism and the degree of bone resorption. We discuss the results we obtained from the viewpoint of their application in the field of oral implantology. CONCLUSIONS: The maxillary sinus floor represents the danger zone for the oral implantology.

Morphological considerations about middle ear cholesteatoma.

The aim of this study is to present various morphologic aspects of the middle ear cholesteatoma, concerning both container (tympanic cavity) and content (cholesteatoma). There are two different aspects of the study: a mezoscopic study of the tympanic walls and the elements within the middle ear (ossicular chain, folds, ligaments, middle ear clefts) in order to evidentiate the critical areas (sinus tympani, facial sinus, anterior attic) and the pathways of spread for the cholesteatomas; a classical histological study of the middle ear cholesteatomas, in order to present the structural parts and the modifications in the neighboring structures.