The Impact of Complex Rehabilitation Treatment on Sarcopenia-Pathology with an Endocrine Morphological Substrate and Musculoskeletal Implications.

The pathogenesis of sarcopenia is multifactorial, including changes in the endocrine system. Easy-to-perform screening tests can guide the diagnosis of sarcopenia and the rehabilitation therapeutic conduct, which can act on many physiopathological links. This study was conducted over a period of 5 months, from April to August 2022, and included 84 patients hospitalized for a period of 10 days in the Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium Techirghiol for complex physiotherapy, which included balneotherapy. In dynamics, both at admission and discharge, specific screening tests for sarcopenia (SARC-F questionnaire, grip strength, testing muscle strength at the level of the quadriceps, sit-to-stand tests (the time required for five consecutive rises and the number of rises performed in 30 s)) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain were performed. The study was conducted according to the norms of deontology and medical ethics. Results: A significant proportion of patients had a positive result in at least one of the tests for the screening of sarcopenia syndrome. The most eloquent results were obtained from the statistical analysis of the following parameters evaluated at admission: the SARC-F questionnaire and the sit-to-stand test-the number of rises in 30 s. In terms of dynamics, after performing the complex rehabilitation treatment, the patients recorded improvements in the established screening tests and improvements in pain symptoms evaluated with the help of the VAS. Conclusions: Sarcopenia, a pathology developed with aging, is frequently encountered among adults. In the future, it is important to perform screening for sarcopenia in both endocrinology and medical rehabilitation clinics. Good management of sarcopenia can influence therapeutic conduct and can prevent complications, improving the functional capacity and the quality of life of the patients.

Novel materials based on DNA-CTMA and lanthanide (Ce(3+) , Pr(3+) ).

New, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) based compounds, functionalized with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMA) and lanthanide hydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized. The spectral measurements suggest that between the DNA-CTMA complex and the lanthanide (III) ions a chemical interaction takes place. The obtained materials exhibit an improved fluorescence efficiency, showing a potential interest for application in photonics, and more particularly, in light emitting devices. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 613-617, 2016.

Metabolic Disorders, the Microbiome as an Endocrine Organ, and Their Relations with Obesity: A Literature Review.

The etiology of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, has been predominantly associated with the gut microbiota, which is acknowledged as an endocrine organ that plays a crucial role in modulating energy homeostasis and host immune responses. The presence of dysbiosis has the potential to impact the functioning of the intestinal barrier and the gut-associated lymphoid tissues by allowing the transit of bacterial structural components, such as lipopolysaccharides. This, in turn, may trigger inflammatory pathways and potentially lead to the onset of insulin resistance. Moreover, intestinal dysbiosis has the potential to modify the production of gastrointestinal peptides that are linked to the feeling of fullness, hence potentially leading to an increase in food consumption. In this literature review, we discuss current developments, such as the impact of the microbiota on lipid metabolism as well as the processes by which its changes led to the development of metabolic disorders. Several methods have been developed that could be used to modify the gut microbiota and undo metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: After researching different databases, we examined the PubMed collection of articles and conducted a literature review. RESULTS: After applying our exclusion and inclusion criteria, the initial search yielded 1345 articles. We further used various filters to narrow down our titles analysis and, to be specific to our study, selected the final ten studies, the results of which are included in the Results section. CONCLUSIONS: Through gut barrier integrity, insulin resistance, and other influencing factors, the gut microbiota impacts the host's metabolism and obesity. Although the area of the gut microbiota and its relationship to obesity is still in its initial stages of research, it offers great promise for developing new therapeutic targets that may help prevent and cure obesity by restoring the gut microbiota to a healthy condition.

Clinical Evidence Regarding the Dynamic of Baker Cyst Dimensions after Intermittent Vacuum Therapy as Rehabilitation Treatment in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

The Baker cyst (BC), also known as the popliteal cyst or parameniscal cyst, is a fluid-filled sac that normally develops in the back of the knee, between the semimembranosus and medial head of the gastrocnemius. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy (10 days of treatment) that associates intermittent vacuum therapy (IVT) on the lower limbs in the treatment of the BC, respectively, in its size reduction. Sixty-five patients with knee osteoarthritis using Kellgren-Lawrence criteria and the presence of BC (ultrasonography evaluation), were divided into the Control and Vacuum groups. We collected the following features: sex, age, level of education, occupation, environment, body mass index, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Western Ontario, and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, the Functional Independence Measurement, the Fall Risk Score, and the Visual Analog Scale were recorded at baseline and after 10 days. Both groups are similar in terms of demographic features. Regarding the clinical functional parameters, the results elicit a statistically significant change in all parameters between admission and discharge, including the echo volume at BC. Physical medicine and rehabilitation increase the autonomy of patients with BC. Clinical-functional improvement begins in the first 10 days of complex rehabilitation treatment; it is statistically significant and is not different between the two groups, which brings an additional argument for the effectiveness of conservative therapy in the treatment of BC. Although IVT has not demonstrated its superiority over classical balneo-physical therapy, additional research, and long-term monitoring are needed to provide additional arguments regarding this aspect.