PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN A ROMA POPULATION FROM SOUTHERN ROMANIA - CALARASI COUNTY.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels in the European Union, including in Romania. Data on the prevalence of obesity is only available at the national populational level, but this may hide the increased levels in disadvantaged groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Roma population in Southern Romania. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional, epidemiological, non-interventional study was conducted from March 2014 to May 2017 in several settlements from Calarasi County. Screening procedures included interviews about medical history, lifestyle, anthropometric and clinical measurements and fasting capillary glucose. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 1120 adult subjects, of which 735 Roma. In Roma population group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 4.5% (n=33), 25% (n=184), 25.3% (n=186) and 45.2% (n=332) respectively. In Romanian Caucasians group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 2.3% (n=9), 20% (n=77), 33.8% (n=130) and 43.9% (n=169) respectively. Among the Romanian Caucasians significant predictors of obesity were a sedentary lifestyle and current smoking. The odds of being obese in Roma population were higher in sedentary lifestyle persons and lower in current smokers, with primary education, and in those living in rural settlements. The family history of obesity had a significant association with obesity only in Roma population. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the need to implement prevention programs in high-risk populations due to the double burden of malnutrition, lack of medical education and preventive healthcare, low socio-economic level.

Medical nutrition therapy in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease--a review of literature.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide, with a prevalence of 20%-40% in Western populations. The purpose of this article is to review data related to lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD. METHOD: We searched a public domain database (PubMed) with the following categories: disease (NAFLD, fatty liver, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) and intervention (lifestyle intervention, diet, nutrition) with each possible combination through 25 September 2014, for relevant articles. Review of articles was restricted to those published in English. We selected the studies involving adult patients only. CONCLUSION: There is no consensus as to what diet or lifestyle approach is the best for NAFLD patients. However, patients with NAFLD may benefit from a moderate- to low-carbohydrate (40%-45% of total calories) diet, coupled with increased dietary MUFA and n-3 PUFAs, reduced SFAs. More CRT are needed to clarify the specific effects of different diets and dietary components on the health of NAFLD patients. ABBREVIATIONS: NAFL = Non-alcoholic fatty liver, NAFLD = non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NASH = non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, HCC = hepatocarcinoma, BEE = basal energy expenditure, CRT = A small clinical randomized trial showed that short-term carbohydrate restriction is more efficacious in reducing intrahepatic triglyceride, IHT = intrahepatic triglyceride, VLCD = Very low calorie diets, AST = aspartate aminotransferases, SFAs = saturated fatty acids.

Four years Follow-up of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

UNLABELLED: There is little data on the long term evolution of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and of associated conditions. We therefore studied the evolution of IBS patients in a single tertiary center during a long interval of time. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study based on the survey of patients records. We analyzed the records of symptoms, therapy, associated diseases, as consigned at follow-up visits for an interval of 4 years in average (2008-2011). RESULTS: A cohort of 114 patients with IBS diagnosed based on Rome III criteria were included (29 men and 85 women), age 19-85 years (mean age: 43.45 years). Urban patients were predominant. The main three symptoms were: abdominal pain, bowel disorders (constipation, diarrhea) and bloating. IBS--constipation (IBS--C) is associated with a favorable course of symptoms (increasing the number of stools, decrease intensity of abdominal pain and bloating) after treatment and IBS--diarrhea (IBS--D) is associated with variable symptoms after treatment (p = 0.031). Using trimebutin or mebeverin in association with other drugs for one month correlates with a favorable evolution of symptoms after treatment and monotherapy is associated with fluctuating symptoms ( p< 0.001). Favorable symptoms are associated with the use of probiotics in combination, but not in monotherapy (p< 0.001). Favorable evolution of symptoms is also associated with the use of anxiolytics in combination. Persistence of symptoms after treatment was correlated with the presence or absence of depression. The absence of depression was correlated with a favorable evolution of symptoms (p = 0.005). IBS-C is associated at limit (marginal significance) with hemorrhoidal disease (p = 0.56). 33 patients (29%)--received monotherapy (trimebutin or mebeverin or probiotics); 81 patients (71%)--received combined therapy: (trimebutin or mebeverin or probiotics) + anxiolytics or proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAI) or spasmolytics. The most common associated diseases observed in patients with IBS were: depression (27.19%), dyslipidemia (25.43%), hemorrhoidal disease (22.80%) and fibromyalgia (21%). CONCLUSIONS: The highest response rate was obtained with trimebutin or mebeverin + anxiolitics + probiotics. The most frequent disease associated with IBS was depression. Other diseases with a high incidence: dyslipidemia, hemorrhoidal disease and fibromyalgia. Further studies are needed to analyze the link between IBS and some associated diseases.

[Foreign bodies in the urogenital tract--between iatrogeny and autoerotism]. / Corpi straini la nivelul aparatului uro-genital--între iatrogenie si autoerotism.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate the cause, diagnosis and management of foreign bodies in the urogenital tract reviewing a 7 years experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2000 to 2007, 12 patients were treated in our department because of foreign bodies localized in the urogenital tract. We retrospectively analyzed the data regarding presentation, diagnosis and management. RESULTS: The foreign bodies from the urogenital tract included: mascara, spray cap, wires, candle, swabs, plastic tube, remnants from JJ ureteral stent and nefrostomy tube. Diagnostic investigations varied from case to case and consisted of: KUB (kidney, ureter and bladder), abdominal ultrasound, urography, computer tomography, and also cystoscopy. The management was endoscopic in 4 (33%) cases, but in the great majority of them--8 (67.6%) it was necessary a classical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Foreign bodies localized in the urogenital tract, represents a relative rare pathology and in many situations those cases have legal implications. Investigations must include radiologic investigations in order to identify their exact location and size. In many cases the management can not be endoscopic and it is necessary a classic intervention.

[The diagnosis and surgical treatment in the case of 2 rare sites of hydatid cyst in children]. / Diagnostic si tratament chirurgical în cazul a 2 localizari rare de chist hidatic la copil.

In the Clinic of Paediatric surgery of the Hospital "Gr. Alexandrescu" there have been hospitalized and operated 2 cases of hydatic cyst within 1990-1993. The both patients had tumoural structures, one of them being placed on left axillary area (S.E.--11 years old) and the other on the left thigh (M.S.--5 years old). The both patients have been surgically operated, the said tumoural structures being eradicated. The anatomic-pathological examination attested that for the both patients the diagnosis was the hydatic cysts are localized on pulmonary, hepatic or splenic areas, we considered to be interesting to inform you about details of two rare localization of this disease.