Assessment of STI screening in Romania using a multiplex PCR technique.

INTRODUCTION: Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are curable, but inappropriate treatment can lead to serious complications. The importance of setting up STI screening programs has been highlighted in various studies, the absence of such national programs accounting for the lack of STI statistics in Romania. The purpose of our study was to evaluate multiplex PCR as a screening method for the most common 6 STIs and establish their frequency in a group of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. We aimed to highlight STI associations and correlations between STI pathogens and symptomatology, demographic status, antecedents or sexual partners. METHODOLOGY: A total of 249 patients, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, were included in this study. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseia gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Mycoplasma hominis (MH) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) were all identified in urine samples via multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The SPSS IBM program was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 32.12% of the patients were found positive, some presenting multiple infections. The results are representative for the Romanian male population. 107 STI pathogens were identified, most frequent being CT, UU and NG. Several statistical correlations between patient characteristics and the presence of STIs have been demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that multiplex PCR meets all the prerequisites for a screening method, allowing the use of multiple specimens and enabling simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in a short period of time. STI identification via multiplex PCR proved to be an effective method for quantifying their frequency in Romania.

The first nation-wide study revealing epidemiologic data and life quality aspects of psoriasis in Romania.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune mediated, inflammatory condition, which primarily affects the patient's skin. It is known to associate a variable array of comorbidities such as cardiovascular, metabolic and psychiatric ones, with an important impact on the patients' quality of life. The purpose of this study is to provide a first image of the prevalence, comorbidities, as well as the social impact of psoriasis in Romania. We devised a questionnaire, and with the aid of general practitioners throughout the country, delivered it to patients seeking medical care in their office. The questionnaire assessed demographic criteria as well as patient-related issues. It was completed in the presence of the general practitioner, and clear written instructions for completion were included. After statistical analysis, the resulting data formed the basis of this study. The reported prevalence of psoriasis in Romania is 5.18%. Almost half of the subjects who completed the questionnaire stated they knew somebody affected by the disease, yet almost a third believed it is a contagious condition. Cardiovascular and psychiatric comorbidities, as well as negative impact on social interactions were reported by the subjects in the study. These findings indicate the clear need for better quality of life for patients in a social context and increased awareness of the disease. All these could, in turn, help decrease the rate of psoriasis complications in Romania.

Sea buckthorn extract in the treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic dermatological conditions, with a strong impact on patients' quality of life. Currently, psoriasis benefits from conventional therapy with a high rate of adverse effects and an increase in non-compliance and self-medication of patients. As such, there is a need to pinpoint low-adverse effects and accessible remedies for this condition. Our single-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the effect of sea buckthorn extract on psoriasis lesions in previously untreated patients. Our results showed an improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores and in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores when compared to the baseline values, as well as at the 4- and 8-week time marks for the lesions treated with sea buckthorn extract. By contrast, the measurements for the placebo treated lesions showed no alteration at the 4-week mark, and significant worsening at the end of the trial. These findings provide a solid, optimistic base for the in-depth research of sea buckthorn as an adjuvant or a component in psoriasis care protocols.

Sexual Behaviors, Attitudes, and Knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-sectional Study in Romania.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are serious public health problems. Little is known about sex knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors among young adults in Romania; an effective preventive campaigns should be based on an appropriate understanding of these factors. The aim of the present study was to obtain data about sexual behavior, attitudes, and knowledge about STIs among university students aged 18-25 in Romania. 3872 persons completed an internet-based questionnaire, advertised on Facebook, regarding sexual behavior, attitudes, and knowledge about STIs from January 28 to February 28, 2016. 6.01% of the respondents had no sexual experience; of the remaining (N=3639, 945 men and 2694 women) 94% were heterosexual, 1.5% homosexual, and 4.6% bisexual. 53.7% of the respondents started their sexual activity between 14 and 18 years of age; only 2.3% become sexually active before 14 years of age. 30% of both sexes reported multiple sexual partners during the previous year. 25.9% of men and 23.3% of women used no contraception at sexual onset, the proportion being higher among those with an early sexual debut. 98% of the respondents knew that HIV could be contracted sexually, 75.8% knew that gonorrhea and 61.1% that Chlamydia trachomatis were sexually transmitted, and approximately one third knew that trichomoniasis and hepatitis B or C were STIs. We found a relatively high proportion of students engaged in risky sexual behaviors and insufficient knowledge about STIs. The results are important in planning future sexual education campaigns and they call for new preventive strategies.

The history of an unknown dermatological wax collection from Cluj-Napoca University "Iuliu Hatieganu", Romania.

Among the dermatological wax collections across Europe, one of the latest created is the collection from Cluj-Napoca University, Romania. The initiator was Professor Coriolan Tataru and the moulage artist employed was Dr. Richard Hoffmann. Between the years 1923 and 1928, around 200 wax moulages were made, all realised after patients hospitalised in the clinic. The majority of cases represent the dermatological infectious pathology of that time: syphilis, cutaneous tuberculosis and mycetomas. Other interesting moulages represent genodermatoses, pelagra, different cutaneous cancers, and atypical aspects of common diseases like psoriasis and eczemas. The models depicting different stages of syphilis won the gold medal at the Ninth International Congress of Dermato-Venereology held in Budapest in 1935. We believe that the collection has a great value from a historical, artistic, didactic and scientific point of view, and it is organised as a museum within the Dermatology Clinic.

High-frequency sonography in the evaluation of nail psoriasis.

AIM: To evaluate the morphostructural aspects and nail vascularity in the nail unit of patients with psoriasis, and to evaluate whether there are differences among psoriatic patients with and without nail involvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nail plates and nail bed changes, nail fold vessel resistance index (NVRI), power and color Doppler blood flow appearances were investigated in 23 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, with and without nail involvement, and compared to those of 11 healthy participants. RESULTS: Ventral nail plate deposits were present only in psoriasis patients. Irregular or totally fused nail plates and increased nail plate thickness was frequently observed in psoriasis patients compared to controls. NVRI was increased in psoriatic patients' nails compared to controls (0.62 vs. 0.57, p<0.0001). In the psoriasis patient group there was significant statistical difference in NVRI in patients with nail involvement compared to those without (0.66 vs. 0.55, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency gray scale sonography provides valuable information regarding morphostructural changes in nail unit structure in patients with psoriasis. Power Doppler imaging enables blood flow assessment in psoriasis nail induced changes.

VEGF involvement in psoriasis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key growth factor, regulating the neovascularization, during embryogenesis, skeletal growth, reproductive functions and pathological processes. The VEGF receptors (VEGFR) are present in endothelial cells and other cell types, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, hematopoietic stem cells, monocytes, neurons, macrophages, and platelets. Angiogenesis is initiated by the activation of vascular endothelial cells through several factors. The excess dermal vascularity and VEGF production are markers of psoriasis. The pathological role of VEGF/VEGFR signaling during the psoriasis onset and evolution makes it a promising target for the treatment of psoriasis. Antibodies and other types of molecules targeting the VEGF pathway are currently evaluated in arresting the evolution of psoriasis.

Ultrasonography in psoriatic disease.

Psoriasis represents a common, chronic inflammatory disease involving the skin, nails and joints. Nail psoriasis in usually investigated and diagnosed by clinical examination. New insights support ultrasonography as being a non-invasive reliable imaging technique for studying nail and skin involvement in patients with psoriasis. Power Doppler frequency, higher than 10MHz enables a very sensitive detection and semiquantitative assessment of the blood flow at the dermal level and in the nail bed. In this review we will present the main US findings in skin and nail psoriasis, and discuss the importance of ultrasonography in diagnosing and monitoring psoriasis vulgaris.