Retroviral coinfection (Jaagsiekte and Maedi-Visna viruses) in sheep with pulmonary tumors in Transylvania (Romania): retrospective study on 82 cases.

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is an important viral-induced neoplasia in sheep caused by exogenous Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (exJSRV). Coinfection of exJSRV and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) is reported in OPA cases, but its worldwide distribution and significance on lung pathology is not yet completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the MVV coinfection rate in 82 exJSRV-related OPA cases, and their pathological effects on lung parenchyma in slaughtered sheep in Transylvania (Romania). On gross examination, classical form of OPA was identified in 92.7%; no changes consisting with MVV interstitial pneumonia were identified in the included cases. The most common histological type of OPA was acinar (58.5%) and the myxoid growths were found in 18 cases. The exJSRV and MMV coinfection rate in examined sheep was 47.6% (39/82). The assessment of perineoplastic areas from coinfected animals, revealed interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates in all cases, lymphoid hyperplasia in 60.6% cases (20/33) and fibromuscular hyperplasia in 63.7% (21/33). This is the first report providing new data on distribution of OPA coexisting with MVV infection in slaughtered sheep in Romania. We consider that the OPA and MVV coinfection may play an important role on the severity of ovine chronic pulmonary diseases and further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

The familiarity of Romanian psychiatrists with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: findings from a web-based survey study.

Background and aims: Psychiatrists are often the first to be consulted in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis. Thus, they need to be aware of clinical features, differential diagnoses, and treatment options for this condition. In this study, we aimed to investigate the familiarity of Romanian psychiatrists with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Methods: We recruited psychiatrists from Romania and conducted a cross-sectional observational study by using a web-based survey. Results: The survey was completed by 111 psychiatrists, of whom 47 (42.34%) were specialists, while 64 (57.66%) were trainees. The median length of training for specialists was ten years (interquartile range - IQR 9.5), while for trainees it was 2.5 years (IQR 3). In total, 31 (27.93%) psychiatrists encountered a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, with no significant difference between specialists and trainees. 31 (27.93%) psychiatrists were either unaware of the disorder or only knew its name, while 77 (69.37%) had knowledge of an outline of it. Only 3 (2.7%) psychiatrists had comprehensive knowledge of the disorder. Respondents with a higher awareness level had undergone significantly longer training (p=0.014). Unsurprisingly, having encountered a case significantly influenced awareness levels (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between specialists and trainees regarding specific knowledge about anti-NMDAR encephalitis. However, higher awareness levels and having encountered a case significantly influenced answer accuracy for questions regarding psychiatric presentation and epidemiological features. Conclusions: Our study indicates that Romanian psychiatrists have suboptimal knowledge of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, highlighting the need for improved awareness of this disorder.

Cremation in Interwar Romania: The Case of the Potter's Field.

This article aims to analyse the activities of Potter's Field practice in Romania as part of the Patriarch Miron Orthodox Association. From its very beginning it was orientated against the apparition of cremation in Romania, realized in the first cremation at the Cenușa Crematorium in Bucharest (1928). The target was to 'save' poor people from cremation, considering that the cremation aimed to remove from the local authorities the pressure of supporting the costs of burials for unidentified bodies and bodies that were unclaimed by families ('the social cremations'). Therefore, the Potter's Field practice developed in Romania in an original way in comparison to other countries. This situation indicated a way of translating cremation into reality in Romania and expressed some of its particularities in this country (the implication of the authorities, cremation as a personal choice or the forms of criticism by the religious environments).

Serological evidence of human exposure to foodborne zoonotic parasites in Romanian patients and possible association with food habits and hygiene.

Humans may become accidental dead-end hosts for a series of zoonotic foodborne parasites, of which Toxoplasma gondii, Echinococcus spp., Toxocara spp., and Trichinella spiralis are of major public health interest, due to their potential pathological implications. The aims of the study were to evaluate the exposure to these pathogens in north-western Romania, and to investigate their potential association to risk factors. From June 2022 to January 2024, 554 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in north-western Romania were screened for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii, Echinococcus spp., Toxocara canis, and T. spiralis by ELISA, and potential risks were assessed using a questionnaire. Overall, 225 samples (40.6%) were positive for at least one pathogen. The highest seroprevalence for IgG was found for T. gondii (33.9%), followed by Echinococcus spp. (9.1%), T. spiralis (2.9%), and T. canis (1.1%). For T. spiralis, raw meat consumption was associated with positivity. For T. gondii, increased age, rural environment, contact with cats, consumption of unwashed fruits/vegetables and drinking water from unverified sources were significantly associated to seropositivity. The present study provides new insights into the epidemiological status of zoonotic foodborne parasite in Romania, underlining the need to increase awareness on the importance of water, sanitation and food habits in relation with this neglected pathology.

Development and pilot implementation of a novel protocol to assess capacity and readiness of health systems to adopt HPV detection-based cervical cancer screening in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern in Europe. Effective introduction and scaling up of human papillomavirus (HPV) detection-based cervical cancer screening (CCS) requires a systematic assessment of health systems capacity. However, there is no validated capacity assessment methodology for CCS programmes, especially in European contexts. Addressing this gap, our study introduces an innovative and adaptable protocol for evaluating the capacity of CCS programmes across varying European health system settings. METHODS: Our research team developed a three-step capacity assessment framework, incorporating a health policy review checklist, a facility visit survey, and key informants' interview guide followed by a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. Piloting this comprehensive approach, we explored the CCS capacity in three countries: Estonia, Portugal and Romania. These countries were selected due to their contrasting healthcare structures and resources, providing a diverse overview of the European context. RESULTS: Conducted over a period of 9 months, the capacity assessment covered multiple resources, 27 screening centres, 16 colposcopy and treatment centres and 15 key informant interviews. Our analysis highlighted both shared and country-specific challenges. A key common issue was ensuring high compliance to follow-up and management of screen-positive women. We identified considerable heterogeneity in resources and organization across the three countries, underscoring the need for tailored, rather than one-size-fits-all, solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Our study's novelty lies in the successful development of this capacity assessment methodology implementable within a relatively short time frame, proving its feasibility for use in various contexts and countries. The resulting set of materials, adaptable to different cancer types, is a ready-to-use toolkit to improve cancer screening processes and outcomes. This research marks a significant stride towards comprehensive capacity assessment for CCS programmes in Europe. Future directions include deploying these tools in other countries and cancer types, thereby contributing to the global fight against cancer.

Toxoplasma gondii genotypes and frequency in domestic cats from Romania.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite with a heteroxenus life cycle that involves felids as the definitive hosts and any warm-blooded animal, including humans, as intermediate hosts. Cats are key players in parasite transmission as they are capable of shedding high numbers of oocysts in their feces that contaminate the environment. METHODS: The study was performed on 31 domestic cats (31.23 ± 27.18 months old) originating from rural and urban areas (5.17:1) in the center and north-west Romania. Feces (n = 31), blood (n = 28), and heart samples (n = 27) were collected. Fecal samples were analyzed by flotation technique, and PCR (529 bp repetitive element). Fecal samples with T. gondii oocysts were bioassayed in mice. Serum samples were analyzed by modified agglutination test and ImmunoComb for the detection of specific anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. Heart samples were bioassayed in mice, and analyzed by PCR. Toxoplasma gondii positive samples were genotyped by nPCR-RFLP targeting eleven genetic loci (SAG1, SAG2, alt-SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico). RESULTS: Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were found in 2 out of 31 fecal samples collected from a 3-months old stray kitten, and a 4-years old female. In total, 17 out of 27 sera were positive for T. gondii IgG antibodies. The antibody titers in MAT ranged from 1:6 to 1:384. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 7 out of 27 heart samples, and four of them were positive also by bioassay. Six T. gondii DNA samples from bioassayed mice could be assigned to ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #1 or #3 (Type II) and one T. gondii DNA from heart digest to genotype #2 (Type III). Both of these genotypes are common in Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that the infection with T. gondii is still high in cats from Romania. The oocysts shedded by these cats represent an important source of infection for intermediate hosts, including humans. Further studies on a wider range of cases are necessary for a more exhaustive definition of the T. gondii genotypes circulating in Romania.

Hysterical lesbians and respectable gays. Lesbian anonymity in mainstream LGBT+ and grassroots activisms.

This article is informed by sixteen in-depth interviews with LGBT + activists in Romania, my archive and notes during my involvement in feminist and queer activist circles, as well as archival materials of an LGBT + NGO. It proposes the concept of lesbian anonymity as a means of investigating the way in which marginal positions within mainstream movements are anonymized and their contributions to the movement dispersed within the generic queer/gay activism. By looking at specific case studies from Romaniás transition period (1989 to mid 2000s), I analyze how matters of representation were tackled within the LGBT + mainstream movements in relation to grassroots activist circles. The article explores what happens when queer gatekeepers fail to engage with internal criticisms concerning the selective erasure of certain categories of voices such as queer women, trans people, racialized people, sex workers. I argue that lesbian anonymity offers another angle of analyzing the clashes between and within different LGBT + groups in post-socialist spaces. How does lesbian anonymity shape the queer movements and why is it important to keep representational issues in mind while working on non-normative sexualities, gender, and women´s reproductive rights? This contribution offers a necessary critique of the representational gaps within queer movements.

The Roles of Frequency of Pornography Use, and Moral Incongruence in the Relationship Between Sexual Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress Related to the Use of Pornography: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Objective: This study aims to examine how the frequency of pornography use mediates between sexual satisfaction and psychological distress related to the use of pornography, moderated by moral incongruence. Method: 943 individuals from Romania, aged 18-65 (M = 27.95; SD = 9.29), 70.1% of whom were women, all in romantic relationships. Results: The frequency of pornography use mediated the link between sexual satisfaction and psychological distress, with moral incongruence moderating this relationship. Conclusion: Moral incongruence plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamics between sexual satisfaction, pornography use, and psychological distress related to the use of pornography.

Neonatal Resuscitation Practices in Romania: A Survey of the Romanian Association of Neonatology (ANR) and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS).

Introduction: This study is part of a European survey on delivery room practices endorsed by the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS) and the Romanian Association of Neonatology (ANR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the current neonatal resuscitation practices in Romanian maternity hospitals and to compare the results between level III and level II centers. Material and Methods: The questionnaire was distributed through ANR by email link to heads of neonatal departments of 53 Romanian maternity hospitals with more than one thousand of births per year between October 2019 and September 2020, having 2018 as the reference year for data collection. Results: The overall response rate to the questionnaire was 62.26% (33/53), 83.33% (15/18) for level-III centers and 51.43% (18/35) for level-II centers. Of the responding centers, 18 (54,54%) were academic hospitals, 15 (83,33%) were level III and 3 (16,67%) level II hospitals. In 2018, responding centers reported 81.139 births representing 42.66% of all Romanian births (190.170). There were significant differences between level-III and level-II maternity hospitals regarding the number of births in 2018 (3028.73±1258.38 vs 1983.78±769.99; P=0.006), lowest GA of routinely assisted infants in delivery room (25.07±3.03 weeks vs 30.44±3.28, P<0.001), inborn infants with BW<1500 admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in 2018 (66.86±39.14 g vs 22.87±31.50 g; P=0.002), and antenatal counseling of parents before the delivery of a very preterm infant or an infant with expected problems (60% vs 22.2%; P=0.027). There were no significant differences of thermal and umbilical cord management, positive pressure delivery, heart rate assessment between responding centers. Conclusion: The adherence to new guidelines was high among responding centers regarding thermal and umbilical cord management, initial FiO2, but aspects like antenatal counseling, EKG monitoring, laryngeal mask, and heated/humidified gases availability and administration, and simulation-based training require further implementation.

Vitamin D Status among 2-18-Year-Old Romanian Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Study.

An adequate vitamin D level is essential for optimal bone mass formation during growth. The present study aimed to assess (i) the sex-specific, age-specific, and potential seasonal (spring, summer, winter) influences on the pediatric circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D); (ii) determine the frequency of pediatric patients with vitamin D deficiency (VDD) or insufficiency (VDI); and (iii) quantify the association between age category, sex, and season types and susceptibility to VDD and VDI, respectively. Laboratory data were collected on serum 25(OH)D levels in children aged between 2 and 18 years (n = 1674) who underwent blood sampling following admission to a university pediatric hospital in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) between January and June 2023. VDD (<20 ng/mL) was observed in 27% of pediatric patients. Among toddlers and preschoolers (2-5 years), VDD was 11%, while it was 33% among school-aged children (6-11 years) and 39% among adolescents (12-18 years). We found a significant difference in the frequencies of vitamin D status between females and males (p = 0.006). Also, we found significant associations of vitamin D status with age categories (p < 0.0001) and seasonal variations (p = 0.03). After adjusting for season of blood collection, the multinomial logistic regression model showed that children aged 6-11 years old (adjusted OR = 7, 95% CI: (4.9, 9.4)), children aged 12-18 years old (adjusted OR = 14, 95% CI: (9.3, 19.6)), and females (adjusted OR = 1.43, 95% CI: (1.10, 1.86)) were significantly associated with higher odds of VDD. In conclusion, the study revealed a significant difference in the frequency of VDD and VDI among pediatric patients older than six years, with a significant difference according to sex and season, being more pronounced among girls and during the winter and spring seasons.

Macro and microplastic pollution in Romania: addressing knowledge gaps and potential solutions under the circular economy framework.

Background: This review reveals the role of linear economy prevalence and mismanagement practices in plastic pollution of aquatic and terrestrial environments and related knowledge gaps in Romania while outlining downstream and upstream solutions to reduce plastic pollution and adopt circular economy strategies. Thus, the major aim of this study is the investigation of the stage of scientific knowledge concerning all these demands in the Romanian context. Methodology: This work integrates two main approaches: (i) a bibliometric analysis fed by Web of Science and Scopus databases to reveal the current coverage of peer-reviewed literature related to plastic waste in Romania and (ii) a subject-based review to underline the main themes related to plastic waste management, plastic pollution, and mitigating options in Romania in line with circular economy principles. Results: Reducing plastic pollution requires scientific knowledge, multi-sectoral cooperation, and societal awareness. Following this, the topics of plastic waste and plastic pollution appeared to be under-investigated in the literature considering Romania as a case study and concentrated around the 2020 year, emphasizing, in this way, the trendiness of plastic waste concerns and their management in the current research landscape. Our analysis points out that: (i) Romania is facing massive plastic pollution requiring solid improvements in waste management performances; (ii) few peer-reviewed research studies are performed in Romania for both macro and microplastic concerns with unknown pollution levels in most of its geographical regions; (iii) the plastic waste management is still understudied here, while waste statistics are poorly available at local levels; (iv) the perspectives of circular economy transition are still limited, feeding the plastic pollution in the coming years. Conclusions: Several knowledge gaps are identified and must be covered by future research such as (i) adjusting mismanaged plastic waste levels to regional waste management performances and determining littering rates in urban and rural areas to improve the plastic pollution modeling inputs; (ii) examining plastic pollution associated with landfill sites and waste imports; (iii) assessing the sectoral contributions to macro and microplastic pollution of aquatic environments related to municipalities, tourist destinations, agriculture, etc.; (iv) determining retention levels of plastic in river basins and role of riparian vegetation; (v) analyzing microplastics presence in all types of freshwater environments and interlinkage between macroplastic fragmentation and microplastic; (vi) assessing the plastic loads of transboundary rivers related to mismanagement practices; (vii) determining concentrations of microplastics in air, soil, and other land use ecosystems.

African swine fever virus DNA is present in non-biting flies collected from outbreak farms in Romania.

BACKGROUND: African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and severe haemorrhagic disease of Suidae, with mortalities that approach 100 percent. Several studies suggested the potential implication of non-biting dipterans in the spread of ASFV in pig farms due to the identification of the ASFV DNA. However, to our knowledge, no study has evaluated the viral DNA load in non-biting dipterans collected in outbreak farms and no risk factors have been analysed. In this context, our study aimed to analyse the risk factors associated with the presence of non-biting dipterans collected from ASF outbreaks in relation to the presence and load of viral DNA. METHODS: Backyard farms (BF), type A farms (TAF), and commercial farms (CF), were targeted for sampling in 2020. In 2021, no BF were sampled. Each farm was sampled only once. The identification of the collected flies to family, genus, or species level was performed based on morphological characteristics using specific keys and descriptions. Pools were made prior to DNA extraction. All extracted DNA was tested for the presence of the ASFV using a real-time PCR protocol. For this study, we considered every sample with a CT value of 40 as positive. The statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info 7 software (CDC, USA). RESULTS: All collected non-biting flies belonged to five families: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Fanniidae, Drosophilidae, and Muscidae. Of the 361 pools, 201 were positive for the presence of ASFV DNA. The obtained CT values of the positive samples ranged from 21.54 to 39.63, with a median value of 33.59 and a mean value of 33.56. Significantly lower CT values (corresponding to higher viral DNA load) were obtained in Sarcophagidae, with a mean value of 32.56; a significantly higher number of positive pools were noticed in August, mean value = 33.12. CONCLUSIONS: Our study brings compelling evidence of the presence of the most common synanthropic flies near domestic pig farms carrying ASFV DNA, highlighting the importance of strengthening the biosecurity measures and protocols for prevention of the insect life cycle and distribution.

Using Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) to Compare Premature Mortality between Romanian Counties to Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in 2020 and 2021.

This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on potential years of life lost (PYLL) in Romania's counties in 2020 and 2021. PYLL highlights the burden of premature deaths in a community and is a useful tool for prioritizing community health issues. The study compares the PYLL variation between different counties, identifying disparities in premature mortality rates and highlighting areas that require specific public health interventions. The results indicate that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on potential years of life lost across the country. For the year 2020, the total number of deaths from confirmed COVID-19 cases was 19,455, of which 14,152 premature deaths caused 193,489 PYLL, with a crude rate of 1053.28 PYLL per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2021, there were 39,966 deaths from confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 28,777 premature deaths, 386,061 PYLL, and a crude rate of 2116.63 PYLL per 100,000 population. This study reveals significant variations only in some counties, based on BYLL rates, and in the two years analyzed. The proportion of premature deaths (<80 years) varied by county and gender. PYLL's analysis by gender shows that men experienced a higher number of premature deaths than women in most counties, and this trend persisted in both years. The results are presented in the form of thematic maps, highlighting standardized PYLL rates for both genders in each county, facilitating a visual understanding of regional disparities. The identified variations can serve as a basis for developing and implementing more effective public health policies, based on the specifics of each county.

A Paleopathological Find on a La Tène Horse Skeleton Discovered in Rescue Archaeological Diggings in the Area of the Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia (CX 143 Pit).

The reconstruction of past life based on archaeozoology is a challenging domain that offers a range of valuable details concerning former human and animal populations. Additionally, the ancient era is a source of information for human and veterinary medicine, as well as for other biological sciences. This report highlights a pathological lesion identified during the investigation of a horse skeleton from a pit dated La Tène in Alba County (Romania). The left scapula with lesions was collected from the skeleton of a buried 7-8-year-old male horse. The aforementioned bone underwent gross, radiological, and computerized tomography evaluation. Macroscopically, a collar of supraarticular cancellous hyperostosis was detected, most likely as a consequence of an invasive chronic phlegmonous periarthritis and/or bursitis of the infraspinate muscle following probably a penetrating cutaneous wound in the shoulder region. A suppurative periarthritis\bursitis of the infraspinate muscle situated nearby caused, apparently, supraglenoidian periosteitis responsible for osteophytes and exostoses formation in the neck region of the scapula.

HIV and kidney transplantation in Romania: The index case.

INTRODUCTION: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is no longer considered a contraindication for kidney transplantation (KT). KT management in HIV patients is a complex process with challenges, such as drug interactions between immunosuppression and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. In our country, no KT has been performed thus far in this category of patients. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 29-year-old female patient with HIV and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who performed a KT from a related living donor in March 2022. KT immediate evolution was favorable. No transplant-related complications were reported. HIV viral load remained undetectable and CD4+ T cells were constantly > 500 cell/ µL, during the 18 months of follow-up. The main challenge in our case was the drug interaction between the protease inhibitor-based regimen and tacrolimus. This led to tacrolimus overdose, and, subsequently, change in ARV therapy. ARV switching was performed on a regimen based on integrase inhibitor and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. After the ARV change, the therapeutic level of tacrolimus was easily reached and maintained. Kidney graft function remained normal during follow-up, despite tacrolimus overexposure, and no rejection or anti-HLA antibodies were observed. Another challenge was related to the donor's hepatitis C virus status (positive antibodies, negative nucleic acid test). The recipient did not develop seroconversion or detectable viremia at 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-months post-KT. CONCLUSION: We reported the first case of a successful KT in an ESRD patient with HIV in Romania, in whom the post-transplant evolution was favorable.

Current use of medicinal plants for children's diseases among mothers in Southern Romania.

There is a limited number of studies focusing on ethnomedical practices in children, particularly in Eastern Europe. Romania has a rich history of using medicinal plants in ethnopediatric care, and our objective was to identify the medicinal plants currently employed in treating childhood illnesses in the southern region of the country. Material and methods Our investigation used structured interviews, focusing on respondent demographics, local names of therapeutically employed herbs, the specific plant part(s) utilized, methods of preparation and administration, and local folk indications of taxa. A total of 326 mothers with children aged 0 to 18, hospitalized in the "Grigore Alexandrescu" Children Emergency Hospital Bucharest and residing in Southern Romania, were enrolled in the study. Use Value Citation Index (UVc), Informant Consensus Factor (Fic), and Fidelity Level (FL) were calculated. Results Twenty-five plants were identified for treating children's diseases in Southern Romania. The majority of informants resided in urban areas, and mothers primarily acquired knowledge from family members and healthcare professionals. The herbs most frequently employed were Mentha spp. (UV = 0.509) for diarrhea, Matricaria spp. (UV = 0.301) for skin infections (Fic = 0.99) and digestive diseases (Fic = 0.98), and Calendula officinalis L. (UV = 0.365) for skin diseases (Fic = 0.99). Less utilized were Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin in respiratory diseases, Prunus avium (L.) L. stalks in urinary tract ailments, Helianthus annuus L. in ear infections, Allium sativum L. in intestinal parasitosis, Viola tricolor L. in hives, Triticum aestivum L. in dermatitis and Allium ursinum L. as a tonic. In 184 cases herbal treatment was used in conjunction with conventional medications. Education level correlated with the number of employed plants and the variety of treated ailments, while residency (rural vs. urban) did not. Both residency and education influenced plant procurement methods: rural background and, surprisingly, higher education were linked to a preference for harvesting rather than purchasing plants. Conclusion Botanical remedies are still commonly used in the treatment of pediatric diseases in Southern Romania, although the variety of taxa seems reduced compared to the past. Further exploration is essential to unlock the maximum benefits of ethnopediatric practices.

Genetic Diversity Based on the Analysis of 27 Y- Short Tandem Repetition (STR) Loci in Two Populations in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania.

BACKGROUND: Y chromosome analysis is used in various fields of forensic genetics, genetic genealogy, and evolutionary research, due to its unique characteristics. Short tandem repetitions (STR) are particularly relevant in population genetic studies. The aim of this study is to analyze the genetic profile of two populations in the Apuseni Mountains area, Baița and Roșia Montana, Romania. METHODS: 27 STR loci of the Y chromosome were analyzed to investigate the genetic profile of two populations from the Apuseni Mountains area. Investigating genetic diversity by analyzing allele frequency, haplotype frequency, calculating forensic parameters, and presenting the main haplogroups identified based on Y-STR markers. RESULTS: Gene diversity in the batch from Baița varies from 0.515 for the DYS393 locus to 0.947 for the DYS385 locus. In the Roșia Montana population, gene diversity ranges from 0.432 for DYS393 to 0.931 for DYS385. The haplotype diversity in Roșia Montana was 0.991, and the haplotype diversity was 1.000 in the population from Baița. A total of nine haplogroups was identified in the batch from Baița, while only seven haplogroups were observed in the batch from Roșia Montana. Both groups are based on the same five major haplogroups (E, G, I, J, and R) and the most common haplogroup is R1b in both populations. CONCLUSION: In this study, the genetic diversity of two distinct populations was assessed using genetic analyses based on different markers. Analysis of Y-STR profiles revealed significant genetic diversity in both studied groups. All haplogroups identified were similar to those present in other Romanian populations.

Prospective study of hepatitis B and D epidemiology and risk factors in Romania: A 10-year update.

BACKGROUND: The global burden of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection represents a major medical challenge and a public health crisis worldwide. However, there is a lack of accurate data on the epidemiology and risk factors for HDV. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV coinfection causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis, leading to a higher cumulative incidence of liver-related events compared with HBV monoinfection, including the need for liver transplantation and death. AIM: To investigate the epidemiology, natural history, risk factors and clinical management of HBV and HDV coinfection in Romanian patients. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between January and July 2022 in six tertiary gastroenterology and hepatology referral centres in Romania. All consecutive adults admitted for any gastroenterology diagnosis who were HBV-positive were enrolled. Patients with acute hepatitis or incomplete data were excluded. Of the 25390 individuals who presented with any type of gastroenterology diagnosis during the study period, 963 met the inclusion criteria. Testing for anti-HDV antibodies and HDV RNA was performed for all participants. Demographic and risk factor data were collected by investigators using medical charts and patient questionnaires. All data were stored in an anonymized online database during the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBV was 3.8%; among these patients, the prevalence of HBV/HDV coinfection was 33.1%. The median age of the study population was 54.0 years, and it consisted of 55.1% men. A higher prevalence of HBV/HDV coinfection was observed in patients 50-69 years old. Patients with HBV/HDV coinfection were significantly older than those with HBV monoinfection (P = 0.03). Multivariate multiple regression analysis identified female gender (P = 0.0006), imprisonment (P < 0.0001), older age at diagnosis (P = 0.01) and sexual contact with persons with known viral hepatitis (P = 0.0003) as significant risk factors for HDV. CONCLUSION: This study shows that HDV infection among those with HBV remains endemic in Romania and updates our understanding of HDV epidemiology and associated risk factors. It emphasizes the need for systematic screening for HDV infection and collaborative initiatives for controlling and preventing HBV and HDV infection.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Tuberculosis Features in a Romanian Pneumology Hospital.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and tuberculosis have epidemiological similarities, being transmitted airborne, favored by direct contact, crowded environments, and vulnerable biological status. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 45 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis associated with COVID-19 (TB+COV+) compared to 45 cases with tuberculous monoinfection (TB+COV-), hospitalized during 2021-2022. Results: The demographic characteristics were similar in the two groups, predominating men, a median age of 51 years, living in rural areas, medium level of education and smoking. Common symptoms of the two groups were cough, weight loss, profuse sweating, loss of appetite and hemoptysis, while fever, headache, myo-arthralgias, and digestive symptoms characterized the TB+COV+ forms. The scores of radiological lesions in the TB+COV+ compared to TB+COV- group were significantly higher and persistent, revealing more frequent bilateral extensive lung lesions. There were no significant differences in the biological parameters between the two groups. Mortality was 2.2%, regardless of the association of COVID-19. The frequency of infections with Clostridioides difficile was higher in TB+COV+ cases. Conclusion: The co-infection of COVID-19 had a mild impact on the clinical and biological expression of tuberculosis diagnosed in a pandemic context.

Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 among Pregnant Women in South-Western Romania.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-related infections with the human herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains HSV-1 and HSV-2 are particularly noteworthy. There are numerous reported examples of intrapartum transmission of herpes infection, notwithstanding the extreme rarity of intrauterine transfer from mother to fetus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies in pregnant women in the western region of Romania. METHODS: Pregnant women who presented for routine pregnancy monitoring at Romania's County Clinical Emergency Hospital in Craiova between 2013 and 2016 and 2019 and 2022 were included in the study. In order to find anti-HSV-1/2 IgG antibodies, we conducted serological testing on the patients and gathered demographic information from them. RESULTS: HSV-1 seroprevalence was shown to have declined in rural areas and increased in urban areas, with values between 2013 and 2016 being 89.30% and those between 2019 and 2022 being 84.96%, respectively. Women over 35 who were pregnant had the highest seroprevalence. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 decreased from 16.16% in 2013-2016 to 12.43% in 2019-2022, and both rural and urban areas continued to experience this declining trend. Similarly, pregnant women over 35 years old had the highest frequency of HSV-1 infections. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing educational programs and other actions to reduce the transmission rate and ultimately the prevalence of the disease can be made easier with knowledge about the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections.