Epidermolysis Bullosa-A Kindler Syndrome Case Report and Short Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) represents a group of rare disorders, genetically determined, characterized by skin fragility, blister formation and erosions due to minimal trauma. Depending on the ultrastructural level of skin cleavage, above or below the basement membrane, epidermolysis bullosa can be classified into four major types: simplex, junctional, dystrophic and Kindler Syndrome. In the junctional form of EB, the cleavage level is at the dermo-epidermal junction and the targeted proteins are laminin, type XVII collagen and integrins. The dystrophic form of EB is characterized by cleavage in the dermal layer, collagen VII being the targeted protein. In Kindler EB, multiple levels of cleavage have been described. The mutated gene is FERMT1. Another classification of this disease refers to phenotypic aspects such as extracutaneous lesions, severity, and distribution. The management of epidermolysis bullosa includes supportive wound treatments as well as nutritional support. CASE REPORT: We present a case of epidermolysis bullosa presented at birth, in a newborn with no family history of bullous skin conditions. The clinical presentation revealed extensive denuded areas and significant skin fragility as well as mucous and nail involvement. Prenatal diagnosis is very hard to achieve due to increased genetic heterogeneity of the disease. The short-term results were good. The importance of prenatal testing and possibilities of diagnosis are reviewed in this article. CONCLUSIONS: EB is a devastating disease. The presented case had a favorable evolution, with good short-term results. Significant morbidity can result from secondary infections of blisters and complications of the extracutaneous manifestations.

Development and Functionalization of a Novel Chitosan-Based Nanosystem for Enhanced Drug Delivery.

Nowadays, infection diseases are one of the most significant threats to humans all around the world. An encouraging strategy for solving this issue and fighting resistant microorganisms is to develop drug carriers for a prolonged release of the antibiotic to the target site. The purpose of this work was to obtain metronidazole-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles using an ion gelation route and to evaluate their properties. Due to the advantages of the ionic gelation method, the synthesized polymeric nanoparticles can be applied in various fields, especially pharmaceutical and medical. Loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency varFied depending on the amount of antibiotic in each formulation. Physicochemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy revealed a narrow particle size distribution where 90% of chitosan particles were 163.7 nm in size and chitosan-loaded metronidazole nanoparticles were 201.3 nm in size, with a zeta potential value of 36.5 mV. IR spectra revealed characteristic peaks of the drug and polymer nanoparticles. Cell viability assessment revealed that samples have no significant impact on tested cells. Release analysis showed that metronidazole was released from the chitosan matrix for 24 h in a prolonged course, implying that antibiotic-encapsulated polymer nanostructures are a promising drug delivery system to prevent or to treat various diseases. It is desirable to obtain new formulations based on drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles through different preparation methods, with reduced cytotoxic potential, in order to improve the therapeutic effect through sustained and prolonged release mechanisms of the drug correlated with the reduction of adverse effects.

Radical collaboration during a global health emergency: development of the RDA COVID-19 data sharing recommendations and guidelines.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic required a rapid and effective response. This included ethical and legally appropriate sharing of data. The European Commission (EC) called upon the Research Data Alliance (RDA) to recruit experts worldwide to quickly develop recommendations and guidelines for COVID-related data sharing. Purpose: The purpose of the present work was to explore how the RDA succeeded in engaging the participation of its community of scientists in a rapid response to the EC request. Methods: A survey questionnaire was developed and distributed among RDA COVID-19 work group members. A mixed-methods approach was used for analysis of the survey data. Results: The three constructs of radical collaboration (inclusiveness, distributed digital practices, productive and sustainable collaboration) were found to be well supported in both the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the survey data. Other social factors, such as motivation and group identity were also found to be important to the success of this extreme collaborative effort. Conclusions: Recommendations and suggestions for future work were formulated for consideration by the RDA to strengthen effective expert collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts.

Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Loaded Chitosan Used to Limit Microorganisms Resistance.

From their discovery, antibiotics have significantly improved clinical treatments of infections, thus leading to diminishing morbidity and mortality in critical care patients, as well as surgical, transplant and other types of medical procedures. In contemporary medicine, a significant debate regarding the development of multi-drug resistance involves all types of pathogens, especially in acute care hospitals due to suboptimal or inappropriate therapy. The possibility of nanotechnology using nanoparticles as matrices to encapsulate a lot of active molecules should increase drug efficacy, limit adverse effects and be an alternative helping to combat antibiotic resistance. The major aim of this study was to obtain and to analyze physico-chemical features of chitosan used as a drug-delivery system in order to stop the antibiotic resistance of different pathogens. It is well known that World Health Organization stated that multidrug resistance is one of the most important health threats worldwide. In last few years, nano-medicine emerged as an improved therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections agents. This work relies on enhancement of the antimicrobial efficiency of ceftriaxone against gram(+) and gram(-) bacteria by antibiotic encapsulation into chitosan nanoparticles. Physicochemical features of ceftriaxone-loaded polymer nanoparticles were investigated by particle size distribution and zeta potential, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TG/TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characteristics techniques. The obtained results revealed an average particle size of 250 nm and a zeta potential value of 38.5 mV. The release profile indicates an incipient drug deliverance of almost 15%, after 2 h of approximately 83%, followed by a slowed drug release up to 24 h. Characteristics peaks of chitosan were confirmed by FTIR spectra indicating a similar structure in the case of ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. A good encapsulation of the antibiotic into chitosan nanoparticles was also provided by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Morphological characteristics shown by SEM micrographs exhibit spherical nanoparticles of 30-250 nm in size with agglomerated architectures. Chitosan, a natural polymer which is used to load different drugs, provides sustained and prolonged release of antibiotics at a specific target by possessing antimicrobial activity against gram(+) and gram(-) bacteria. In this research, ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were investigated as a carrier in antibiotic delivery.

[Disorders of the acid-basic balance in the post-hypoxic suffering at newborn babies]. / Perturbari ale echilibrului acido bazic in suferinta posthipoxicu la nou-nascut.

UNLABELLED: The study aims to asses the acid-basic disorders and the blood gasses in the blood of the umbilical cord and their correlation with the evolution of the newborn baby in the maternity hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 157 newborns with perinatal asphyxia hospitalized (2002-2005) in the Maternity of "Sf. Apostol Andrei" Clinical Emergency Hospital of Galati, following-up the gestation age, the Apgar score, the risk factors of perinatal asphyxia, the pH in the cord and the evolution of the blood gasses in the cord, the start and evolution of neurologic disorders. RESULTS: The main risk factors for the asphyxia production: prematurity (64% of the cases and 25% of the cases with gestation age below 30 weeks), HTA induced in pregnancy, IUGR 39.4%. The Apgar score at one minute: values between 0-3 (40.8% cases), progressively decreasing to 20 minutes in 1.3%. 50% of the new born babies showed severe acidosis in the cord: pH > 6, 9, hypoxia in the cord blood was of 75%. The neurologic disorders started from the birth in all cases, with evolution to decease in 25.5% of the cases, higher incidence in prematures and a significant correlation with the pH in the cord.

[Aspects of practical diagnosis in perinatal post-hypoxic cardiomiopathy]. / Aspecte practice de diagnostic in cardiomiopatia posthipoxica perinatala.

UNLABELLED: Retrospectively the Perinatal Post-Hypoxic Cardiac disorder, was researched in 32 newborn (ages 0-14 days), having a normal weight, with hypoxia at birth, Apgar score 3-7, requiring resuscitation at birth. The patients did not show signs of major cardiac suffering, except a systolic murmur, the neurologic manifestations prevailing. RESULTS: The investigations showed: cardiomegaly (46.9%); ECG: repolarization disorders of the left ventricle (LV) (43.5%); echocardiographic modifications in 67.2% of cases, mainly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with septal predominance (59.3%) and LV diastolic dysfunction. The treatment with spironolactone generated the significant decrease of the septal myocardial hypertrophy and of the tricuspidien insufficiency, with the normalization of the LV diastolic function. CONCLUSION: The echocardiographic examination, as the main method of diagnosis and follow up of the cardiomiopathy induced by the perinatal hypoxia has to be performed right in the 1st week of life and later on up to the cure of the morphologic and functional cardiac modifications.