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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide, being the fourth most prevalent cancer and the third most common in terms of mortality. A decrease in the incidence and mortality of CRC has been observed among adults over 50 years of age, screening colonoscopy being a contributory factor for this improvement. Adequate preparation of the colon is essential for obtaining accurate results and minimizing the risks associated with the colonoscopy procedure. Both ESGE (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) and UEG (United European Gastroenterology) recommend adequate preparation in at least 90% of cases, calculated both at the endoscopy center level and for each individual endoscopist. The purpose of our article is to review the literature on different bowel preparation products for colonoscopy and demonstrate the non inferiority of low-volume preparations over the standard PEG 4L. Preparations containing PEG are the most common in preparation for colonoscopy. A recent meta-analysis suggests that high-volume, mutiple-dose regimens are superior in terms of efficacy to low-volume, multiple- dose regimens, including low-volume PEG with various adjuvants and sodium phosphate, although with lower tolerability. Due to low levels of compliance, tolerability and acceptability, standard 4L single-dose regimens of PEG have been gradually and successfully replaced by newer regimens that include low-volume solutions. An example of low-volume split-dose preparation is the solution of low-volume PEG4000, sodium sulphate, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and simethicone. In several studies this 2 L low volume preparations exhibit similar effectiveness with safety profiles that are comparable to classic 4 L PEG, with lower incidence of adverse effects and good tolerability. In conclusion, adequate preparation increases the quality of colonoscopy procedures as proper patient preparation is essential to obtain an optimal visualization of the intestinal mucosa. Low-volume bowel preparation is effective, safe and well tolerated by the patients, with higher acceptability compared to the standard volume PEG.

Modern society needs new models of development management that will lead to a global adaptation to the growing threats of increased environmental degradation and living conditions. These models include sustainable development, the green economy, the bioeconomy, the circular economy. For the effective application of these models, the level of development of each area must be known in order to determine priorities and solutions. To this end, a model for assessing the level of development is proposed on the basis of indicative indicators resulting from the revenue and expenditure budget of the territorial administrative units.

Contemporary society is more and more service-oriented, with more and more opinions claiming that it is a service society, with a steadily increasing tertiary sector. Tourism has become one of the most important economic activities due to the income from European tourists. It is also one of the main sources of jobs in many countries. Though Romania has an extraordinary tourism potential, tourism services it supplies and high prices compared to the quality of the services have not turned Romania into one of the most desirable places to go to in Europe; therefore, income from tourism are much lower than income from tourism in Hungary, The Czech Republic, Poland, or Bulgaria.

PurposeThe Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, which is widely used and highly recommended, is an appropriate tool for evaluating poststroke sensorimotor and other possible somatic deficits. It is also well-suited for capturing a dynamic rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to first translate the entire sensorimotor FMA scale into Romanian using the transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations of its official afferent protocols and to then validate it using the preliminary clinical evaluation of inter- and intra-rater reliability and relevant concurrent validity.MethodsThrough three main steps, we completed a standardized procedure for translating FMA's official afferent evaluation protocols into Romanian and their transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptation for both the upper and lower extremities. For relevant clinical validation, we evaluated 10 patients after a stroke two times: on days 1 and 2. All patients were evaluated simultaneously by two kinesi-physiotherapists (generically referred to as KFT1 and KFT2) over the course of 2 consecutive days, taking turns in the roles of an examiner and observer, and vice versa (inter-rater). Two scores were therefore obtained and compared for the same patient, i.e., being afferent to an inter-rater assay by comparing the assessment outcomes obtained by the two kinesi-physiotherapists, in between, and respectively, to the intra-rater assay: based on the evaluations of the same kinesi-physiotherapist, in two consecutive days, using a rank-based method (Svensson) for statistical analysis. We also compared our final Romanian version of FMA's official protocols for concurrent validity (Spearman's rank correlation statistical method) to both of the widely available assessment instruments: the Barthel Index (BI) and the modified Rankin scale (mRS).ResultsSvensson's method confirmed overall good inter- and intra-rater results for the main parts of the final Romanian version of FMA's evaluation protocols, regarding the percentage of agreement (≥80% on average) and for disagreement: relative position [RP; values outside the interval of (−0.1, 0.1) in only two measurements out of the 56 comparisons we did], relative concentration [RC; values outside the interval of (−0.1, 0.1) in only nine measurements out of the same 56 comparisons done], and relative rank variation [RV; all values within an interval of (0, 0.1) in only five measurements out of the 56 comparisons done]. High correlation values were obtained between the final Romanian version of FMA's evaluation protocols and the BI (ρ = 0.9167; p = 0.0002) for FMA–upper extremity (FMA-UE) total A-D (motor function) with ρ = 0.6319 and for FMA-lower extremity (FMA-LE) total E-F (motor function) with p = 0.0499, and close to the limit, with the mRS (ρ = −0.5937; p = 0.0704) for FMA-UE total A-D (motor function) and (ρ = −0.6615; p = 0.0372) for FMA-LE total E-F (motor function).ConclusionsThe final Romanian version of FMA's official evaluation protocols showed good preliminary reliability and validity, which could be thus recommended for use and expected to help improve the standardization of this assessment scale for patients after a stroke in Romania. Furthermore, this endeavor could be added to similar international translation and cross-cultural adaptations, thereby facilitating a more appropriate comparison of the evaluation and outcomes in the management of stroke worldwide.

Sustainable development of agricultural space is a matter of national interest to ensure the stability of rural communities and food security of the population. Strategies developed for this purpose need financial support from the European funds and the national budget managed by The Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) and the Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR). To exemplify, APIA contributes to the support of agriculture in Prahova County, where approximately 50% of the agricultural area of the county benefited from subsidies managed by APIA Regional Center worth 119,736,149 lei in 2017.

Modern society is subject to particular pressures caused by climate change agrolimentară reduce output and population growth that increases the demand for food, fiber and bioenergy. This contradiction requires changing patterns of production and consumption by developing new concepts on global economic management.These concepts bioeconomy offers solutions to improve the efficiency of biomass through full utilization of renewable natural resources.

Spinal ependymomas are a group of mostly slow-growing tumors that can cause non-traumatic spinal cord injury with insidious clinical symptomatology ranging from neck or back pain to as-sociated sensory-motor impairment. Due to their neurological and systemic frailty, patients with spinal cord injury might be especially vulnerable to the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the resulting respiratory impairment. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 66 year old women admitted in our Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Clinic Division for severe in-complete paraplegia and neurogenic bladder. She was previously diagnosed in the Neurosurgi-cal Ward with a thoracic grade II (classic) ependymoma and underwent a gross tumor resection. During the neurorehabilitation program the patient was diagnosed with COVID-19. The multi-drug related treatments were associated with supportive oxygen therapy and neuromuscular and respiratory rehabilitation techniques. RESULTS: Despite of the patient’s favorable rehabili-tation, consisting of walking abilities with support in a walking frame on short distances, her prognosis may be worsened by resting neurogenic bladder symptoms. COVID-19 has led to im-portant acute respiratory morbidity in our patient, regardless of the mild course of the disease, and might further cause a post-infectious respiratory impairment. ONCLUSION: Spinal cord in-jury remains a life-long condition and emphasizes the necessity of supporting the affected pati-ents on the long run.

Thalamo- mesencephalic hemorrhage is a devasting event, with a increased morbidity and mor-tality rate. Parinaud’s syndrome, also known as the dorsal midbrain syndrome, is characterized by a supranuclear vertical gaze disturbing, resulting from an insult to the mesencephalic tectum. Matherial and Method. We report the case of a 45-year-old man with personal antecedents of ar-terial hypertension, obesity and type 2 Diabetus mellitus, who was first admitted in the Neuro-logy Clinic Division of the Teaching Emergency Hospital Bucharest with a sudden onset of com-plete right hemiplegia, mixed aphasia and right central– type facial palsy on 17.04.2021, being diagnosed – following complex paraclinic investigations -with a left thalamo- mesencephalic hemorrhage. Results and discusssion. The patient followed a neuro- muscular rehabilitation program in our Neuro- Rehabilitation Clinic Division with favorable outcomes, the case repre-senting a real challenge regarding the complexity of the factors involved. Conclusions. The cli-nical outcomes and the quality of life of patients suffering from thalamo- mesencephalic hemor-rhage depend both on the prompt diagnosis and the efficient treatment, followed by an appro-priate rehabilitation program.

Intervertebral disc herniation is the pathological process by which fragments of the nucleus pul-posus tear the fibers of the annulus fibrosus and come into contact with the root of the spinal nerve (1). The most significant functional damage generated by the lumbar disc herniation is paraplegia and can be ameliorated by an early and staged specific rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: This paper presents the case of a 56-year-old patient who was admitted to the Neurosurgery Clinic (NCH) III of SCUBA for low back pain and motor deficit, AIS Frankel C paraplegia. The left lower limb was more affected than the right one. It occurred following a thoraco-lumbar medullary compression and a paramedian lumbar disc herniation L3. The pa-tient was treated surgically. Subsequently, the patient was transferred to the Neuro-Muscular Recovery Clinic of SCUBA for the specific rehabilitation treatment, with indication for mobiliza-tion. He was dynamically evaluated using the following scales: quality of life assessment (QOL), modified Ashworth scale, Functional Assessment Classification, FAC, Activities of daily living (ADL), Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM), evaluation of muscle strength on Medical Re-search Council, MRC, scale, evaluation of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). Results: The patient benefited from a complex program of neuro-muscular rehabilitation, hav-ing a favorable evolution with an improving score of the evaluating scales and finally gaining his gait balance, including ascending and descending stairs (instrumentally assisted for left plan-tar dorsiflexion movement with orthosis walking). At discharge the patient’s neurological defi-cit was reclassified as AIS D paraplegia, with the neurogenic bladder and bowel having been remitted. Discussions: The disc herniation at L3 level generated a cauda equina syndrome, which initially generated a paraplegia. When the inflammation remitted it became clear that the left L4 root was affected, with a complete deficit of plantar dorsiflexion. In conclusion it was not a case of spinal cord syndrome (as the spinal cord ends at L2 level) or conus medullaris syndrome. Conclusions: The interdisciplinary therapeutic approach together with a specific, customized re-habilitation program for a patient with AIS C paraplegia after a surgically treated disc hernia is successfully improving the neuromuscular deficit and upgrading the patient's quality of life.

Irrigations are an agriculture technique through which the water deficiency necessary for a normal development and growth of the crops are covert. The supplementary water contribution which assures the irrigation is in need of big investments through which it would take big volumes of water from naturals sources that are transported with big looses to the irrigated field. This complex process determines the necessity of expressing the irrigation system efficiency to take into consideration not just the productivity obtained by irrigations but also the efficiency of the process which contributes to the applications of watering.

Abstract Background Water availability is the key limiting factor for plant productivity in drylands covering ca. 40% of Earth’s land surface. For such ecosystems to retain productivity and biodiversity under climatic change, it would be valuable to identify/promote keystone plant species that (i) have developed strategies to more efficiently utilize moisture resources not easily accessible and (ii) improve moisture conditions for neighboring plants. The very deep-rooted Ziziphus lotus, considered an ecosystem engineer, is one such example. However, it is not known which biotic traits: (a) canopy interception of moisture/rainfall, (b) hydraulic redistribution of deep ground moisture by roots, or non-biotic factors: (c) soil’s volume, and (d) organic matter content, Z. lotus activates/modulates to play such a role. We, thus, selected dryland ecosystems where the plant dominates and measured for potential effects on the less deep-rooted Thymbra capitata. For assessing impacts on ecosystem productivity, we measured the spatial aggregation of ca. 3600 T. capitata plants. As a proxy for soil moisture availability and its spatial variability, we conducted a 7-year-long study using thymes’ nighttime rehydration. Sampling extended up to 15 m away from Z. lotus. Results The density of T. capitata plants growing up to 5 m around Z. lotus vs. thymes growing 10–15 m away was found significantly increased (2.5–4.5 times), while their stem/leaf moisture was ca. 10% higher at predawn compared to nightfall during the dry season. This suggests that ecosystem productivity is driven by a greater soil moisture availability around Z. lotus permitting more thyme daytime transpiration, in contrast to thymes growing further away. The phenomenon appeared only under dry topsoil (during the dry season; becoming stronger during dry years). Morning dew/rainfall interception from the canopy or soil depth/organic matter did not show significant effects, leaving only the hydraulic lift properties of Z. lotus as the most likely driver for soil moisture availability. Conclusions The deep-rooting properties and hydraulic lift potential of Z. lotus may be the key in permitting it to boost ecosystem productivity. Such hydraulic plant traits require more attention as they may prove valuable in combating desertification and restoring ecosystems in arid/semiarid regions threatened by climate change.

Background: Disordered eating has been theorised to function as a maladaptive way of coping with negative affect. The current study aimed to comprehensively assess emotional responding and distress tolerance to a cognitive and a physical distress tolerance task using physiological (heart rate), self-report and behavioural measures (latency to quit task). Methods: 56 women at high vs. 58 at low eating disorder risk completed the “Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task-Computerised” (PASAT-C) and the “Breath-holding Task” (BHT) and provided their affective ratings upon completion of the tasks. Heart rate was recorded during both tasks. Distress tolerance was assessed via a self-report measure, while latency to quit each task was used as a behavioural index of distress tolerance. Results: Participants at high risk for eating disorders had higher heart rate during both tasks and reported significantly more unpleasantness and less control after the PASAT-C compared to the low-risk group. Shorter latency to quit the PASAT-C was evidenced in the high vs. low-risk group suggesting lower tolerance for cognitive distress. Breath-holding duration did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Greater physiological and subjective arousal to distressing situations in high-risk individuals indicates a potential hypersensitivity to negative affect, possibly increasing eating disorder vulnerability. Potential implications for eating disorder prevention and management are discussed.

The present article studies the semantic-syntactic structure of polysemantic verbs, following the stratification of their meanings. Analyzing the syntactic neighborhoods of a certain polysemantic verb, with the matrix of obligatory thematic roles, characteristic for actantial, circumstantial or predicative relations, we notice that in the process of functioning, various transformational processes of a different nature take place. Following the research, it was found that these transformations modify the argumentative structure of the verb at the referential level, changing its semantic-syntactic structure, which allows it to pass from one semantic class to another to fully reveal its communicative role. Responsible for these would be the phenomenon of actantial derivation. Only two forms of actantial derivation were discussed – transitivization and intransitivization – given that transitivity, an unmarked semantic feature, influences the ability of the verb to accumulate meanings with different syntactic patterns. It was found that there is an obvious oscillation between the positive or negative marking of transitivity and the realization of a verb as intransitive or transitive. The phenomenon of free syntactic variation also participates in the diversification of the syntactic structure of a polysemantic verb, which allows the operation of semantically equivalent but syntactically different variants.

The subject matter of the present scientific paper is the report of a sustained and persistent therapeutic rehabilitation team-run program in the case of a polytraumatized patient with severe TBI (severe psychomotor agitation and dislogia, bifrontal syndrome, post-traumatic encephalopathy) associated with locomotor and self-care dysfunction, neurogenic bladder and complicated with eso-tracheal fistula after necessity tracheostoma due to subsequent important pulmonary complications that led to a favorable progression despite the limitations imposed by the mental state of the patient during hospitalization and the presence of multiple severe pulmonary complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for the evaluation of neuro-sensory-motor deficits after stroke represents, by completeness and adequate folding, both conceptually and methodologically, on the physio pathological and clinical-evolutionary reality of disability in this type of pathology, a widely used quantification tool for international level and well appreciated in many works in profile literature. Materials and methods. From the desire to implement the scale within the neurorehabilitation units in our country, some correspondence with the right holders of the use of the scale within the University of Gothenburg was initiated in 2019. Subsequently, the group proposed us to carry out an official translation according to an algorithm for achieving the unitary translation, agreed and recommended by the official administrators of the standardized forms of the scale, which will be included on the official website of the respective university along with other translations. Results. Following the initial steps, a constructive correspondence was maintained with the official administrators of the University of Gothenburg and in accordance with the mutual agreement, we carried out the translation from English into Romanian of the specific forms on the official site. The translation included, at the recommendation of the Gothenberg collective, only the component used for measuring the motor functions for the upper and lower extremities. In addition, Prof. Dr. Roxana Carare was co-opted in the team of. Currently, the confrontation of the translation version of our team with the one made by her (forward from English to Romanian) is underway. Within the confrontation of forward translation, different shades of formulations were found at different levels. Conclusions. In the later stages, the reverse confrontation from Romanian to English (backward) of the two translated variants is considered. At the same time, the coordinator of the administrators of the scale of the University of Gothenburg, Prof. Dr. Margit Alt Murphy, expressed her availability of assistance at all stages of the translation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Persons living in wheelchair are often target of hetero-aggressive behavior. The aggressors perceive persons in wheelchair as easy victims. Obiectives Acquisition of adapted self-defense techniques and procedures by young paraplegic persons, independed in wheelchair, to counteract some possible hetero-aggressive behavior against them. Material and methods. A young male person, former sportsman (familiarised with wrestling techniques), living with T11 AIS-A (complete) paraplegia after a spinal cord injury and independent in wheelchair, was instructed some various taekwondo techniques and maneuvres: blocking an attack with the hand at the head region (Olgul Jireugi), hand block (Olgul Maki), hand counteratack (Momntong Jireugi), foot attack at the head region (Olgul Dollyo Chagi), hand block (Sonnal Olgul Maki), hand counterattack (Arae Jireugi). The young female who plays the role of attacker has black belt in taekwondo, therefore the maneuvres were performed in total safety, without endangering the pacient. Both protagonists of this presentation have given written consent to be photographed and filmed, for academic purpose. The paper has the approval of the Ethics Committee of "Bagdasar-Arseni" Clinical Emergency Hospital, n.o. 17464/14.06.2019. Results: We realized photographs and films depicting the aforementioned taekwondo techniques, to demonstrate some possible scenarios of aggression. Discussion Acquisition of martial art techniques and procedures by paraplegic people, independent in wheelchair, is essential and may improve their safety, participation, self-esteem and quality of life. Conclusions: Prevention, as a self defense method, is essential. The best way is to avoid conflictual situations, but ideal is to be prepared for any situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Schizophrenia is a surprisingly common chronic psychiatric illness in the general population affecting 1 in 100 people worldwide. Although the symptoms widely differ from one case to another, schizophrenia is quite difficult to recognize because the patient can behave normally and appropriately in different social situations. Studies in the literature highlight that the majority of the patients with SCI and pre-existing schizophrenia have suffered accidents as a result of voluntary height adjustments. Also, 37.5% of the suicide attempts with SCI are caused by schizophrenia and depression. The main difficulties encountered in the recovery of these patients are the psychiatric manifestations. At the same time, the risk of suicide in patients with schizophrenia after suffering from SCI is higher than those with SCI without schizophrenia. Therefore, the recovery of the patients with SCI and schizophrenia is a complex process which requires the control of the psychiatric symptoms. A multidisciplinary team is required for such a purpose. Material and method. Having the patient's consent and approval of the Ethics Committee of “Bagdasar-Arseni” Clinical Emergency Hospital, N.O. 3159/30.01.2020, the paper presents the case of a 23-year-old female patient with AIS/ Frankel B flaccid paraplegia after TVML after falling from height (affirmative through window-suicide attempt) operated on, in a polytraumatic context. The patient is known with schizophrenia and she was being monitored by a psychiatrist at the time of the accident, but she voluntarily discontinued treatment during that period. The patient was clinically and functionally evaluated, according to the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic, through the assessment scales (ASIA, FIM, FAC, QoL, Ashworth and Penn) and also paraclinically, in order to evaluate her biological reserve and her bearing availability of the recovery program. Results and discussions. The patient presented a slowly favorable evolution (slowed down by her severe motor deficit, but also by her psychiatric symptoms such as affective ability with depressive, negative behavior, depersonalization). Conclusions. The main difficulties encountered in the recovery of these patients are the psychiatric manifestations. Therefore, the recovery of patients with SCI and schizophrenia is a complex process that first requires the control of psychiatric symptoms. A multidisciplinary team is required for such a purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexithymia is a multifaceted personality trait linked to increased risk for psychological, psychosomatic, and physical health problems. One hypothesized mechanism through which alexithymia predisposes individuals to such problems is the interference of alexithymic characteristics in processing affective, particularly unpleasant content. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and biases in attentional processing of threatening vs. neutral pictorial stimuli, disentangling early (vigilance) from late (maintenance) attentional biases. One hundred participants (77 female; 18–35 years old) completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and underwent a free viewing task with picture pairs presenting illness, fear and neutral content, during which dwell time on each picture was recorded at time intervals of 0–500 ms, 501–1000 ms and 1001–6500 ms of exposure. Results from multilevel modeling showed that alexithymia interacted with time interval and picture type. Higher alexithymia scores were related to less dwell time towards fear pictures at 501 ms-1000 ms, but more dwell time at 1001 ms-6500 ms after stimulus onset. This effect was particularly observed for the externally oriented thinking and the difficulty in describing feelings facets of alexithymia, but not the difficulty in identifying feelings. There was no effect of alexithymia on early vigilance at 0–500 ms. This study provides evidence on the association between alexithymic traits and early avoidance, along with late maintenance bias to fear, which appears consistent with the view that alexithymia is associated with avoidant emotion regulation processes, but also greater requirements of cognitive resources for processing affective information.

Abstract Background Members of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor-Associated Factors (TRAFs) family interact with the cytoplasmic tails of TNF receptor family members to mediate signal transduction processes. TRAF3 has a major immunomodulatory function and TRAF3 deficiency has been linked to malignancies, such as multiple myeloma and lymphoid defects. In order to characterize the molecular mechanisms of TRAF3 signaling, the yeast two-hybrid system was used to identify proteins that interact with TRAF3. Results The yeast two-hybrid screen of a human B cell cDNA library with TRAF3 as bait, identified Glucocorticoid Modulatory Element-Binding Protein 1 (GMEB1) as a TRAF3-interacting protein. Previous studies indicated that GMEB1 functions as a potent inhibitor of caspase activation and apoptosis. The interaction of TRAF3 and GMEB1 proteins was confirmed in mammalian cells lines, using immunoprecipitation assays. The RING and TRAF-C domains of TRAF3 were not essential for this interaction. The overexpression of TRAF3 protein enhanced the anti-apoptotic function of GMEB1 in HeLa cells. On the other hand, downregulation of TRAF3 by RNA interference decreased significantly the ability of GMEB1 to inhibit apoptosis. In addition, LMP1(1–231), a truncated form of the EBV oncoprotein LMP1, that can interact and oligomerize with TRAF3, was also able to cooperate with GMEB1, in order to inhibit apoptosis. Conclusions Our protein-interaction experiments demonstrated that TRAF3 can interact with GMEB1, which is an inhibitor of apoptosis. In addition, cell viability assays showed that overexpression of TRAF3 enhanced the anti-apoptotic activity of GMEB1, supporting a regulatory role of TRAF3 in GMEB1-mediated inhibition of apoptosis. Better understanding of the molecular mechanism of TRAF3 function will improve diagnostics and targeted therapeutic approaches for TRAF3-associated disorders.

Cyld is a tumor suppressor gene that has attracted particular interest recently, due to its involvement in many types of neo-plasia, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and colon cancer. Cyld encodes a predominantly cytoplasmic protein (CYLD), which is a deubiquitinating enzyme that regulates primarily cell survival and cell division pathways. Studies on the molecular function of CYLD have shown that it can modulate NF-κΒ, JNK, p38, TGF-beta, Wnt and Notch signaling. The present study aimed to investigate whether CYLD expression can be correlated with the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Towards this goal, immunohistochemistry and Real Time PCR experiments were performed in order to analyze CYLD expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and matched normal tissue specimens. In addition, a clonogenic assay was performed to analyze the effect of CYLD wt and a catalytically inactive mutant CYLD on the growth of human embryonic kidney cells. The results of the present study show that CYLD is downregulated at protein and mRNA level in patients with ccRCC. This is further corroborated by the results of a clonogenic assay, which showed a deubiquitinating activity-dependent growth inhibitory role of CYLD in human embryonic kidney cells. Our results support the notion that CYLD can have a tumor suppressing role, at least in a subset of clear cell renal cell carcinoma, suggesting that it can be incorporated in the future in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches.

We developed a framework to compare the similarities and differences in nature conservation between two highly biodiverse Mediterranean islands; Cyprus and Crete. We relied on a) literature review for the factors which have shaped the state of conservation affairs on the islands (e.g. institutional context) and b) the use of indicators to capture conservation effort (e.g. protected areas extent) as well as the main pressures on the islands (e.g. climate change). Entry to the European Union has improved environmental policy and legislation with both islands involved in several conservation projects. In Cyprus, an overall favorable habitat conservation status is reported compared to Crete and the role of formal education in environmental protection and awareness is more significant. Among the threats examined, fire seems to be important and projected to increase under climate change in both islands. Crete has a larger number of grazing animals but the available areas for stock raising are five times higher than those in Cyprus. Tourism is more intense in Crete but land development is more acute in Cyprus. Climate change is expected to be more severe for Cyprus. Despite the islands’ biotic and landscape affinities and the common threats they face, what seems to be making a difference in nature conservation is a) governance structure, b) the way/extent that these threats are manifested c) adaptive capacity to future threats, in particular climate change. Cyprus seems to be facing more intense threats but is also placed better in terms of institutional context to deal with these threats.

Introduction. Disc herniation occurs most commonly in the lumbar region (95% of the cases). The current trend is to have surgery on patients with disc herniation if the kinetic treatment was not beneficial. The data from the literature suggest that early active recovery after lumbar disc herniation is more beneficial than a traditional, less active training program. Material and method. Having the patient's consent and the approval of the Ethics Committee of “Bagdasar-Arseni” Clinical Emergency Hospital, N.O. 17464 / 14.06.2019, the paper presents the case of a 75-year-old patient with paraparesis after multilevel lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis and spondylolisthesis iteratively operated, in pluripathological context (hyperplastic type II obesity, hypertension, prostate adenocarcinoma operated in 2015, Clostridium enterocolitis). The patient was clinically and functionally evaluated, according to the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic, through the assessment scales (ASIA, FIM, FAC, QoL, Ashworth and Penn) and also paraclinically, in order to evaluate his biological reserve and his bearing availability of the recovery program. Results and discussions. The patient presented a slowly favorable evolution (slowed down not only by his multiple abovementioned comorbidities) from a dysfunctional point of view. Conclusions. Early active recovery after lumbar disc herniation surgery is more beneficial than a traditional, less active training program for operated herniated discs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Negative mood, which has been strongly linked to the presence of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), is also suggested to modulate the way information is processed (analytic vs. schematic processing style). The present study investigated whether negative mood influences the information processing style differentially in people reporting frequent MUS in daily life. Participants and procedure Forty female participants (22 low, 18 high habitual symptom reporters) completed a semantic priming task, as an index of schematic processing, after positive and after negative mood induction in a counterbalanced order. The priming task consisted of neutral or unpleasant body-related and body-unrelated words to assess the specificity of processing style shifts. Results The analyses indicated a non-significant tendency for negative mood to increase priming effects compared to positive mood for the high habitual symptom reporters, while the opposite pattern was found for the low symptom reporters. This differential effect of mood was only seen for neutral body-related words. Conclusions The current findings suggest that negative mood can trigger schematic processes assumed to be crucial for the emergence of MUS, which may explain the profound link between unpleasantness and elevated symptom reporting in high symptom reporters.

Introduction: Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS. The association between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease is an etiopathogenic dilemma, many studies have shown an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity in patients with psoriasis, compared to the general population. The prevalence of gout is 6% men and 2% women. Gout is a risk factor for multiple pathologies including cardiovascular disease, being the equivalent of diabetes on vascular pathology. The association of gout with myocardial infarction or stroke is not very clear, the relationship between uric acid and prognostic of stroke remains debatable. Uric acid is the end product of purine catabolism, and the main endogenous blood antioxidant; it potentiates the neuroprotective effects of rt-PA (tissue plasminogen activator). Despite the above, an increased level of uric acid can be considered as an independent risk factor for stroke. Too high or too low uric acid concentrations are associated with a negative prognosis of stroke. Although uric acid is an endogenous primary antioxidant with neuroprotective potential, patients with cerebral ischemia and excessively high levels of uric acid (> 380 µmol / L), or too low uric acid (≤250 μmol / L), are at risk of 2-3 times higher for poor prognosis of stroke, compared with patients with normal uric acid levels (250-380 μmol / L). Case presentation. A 47-year-old male patient was admitted in subacute stage of capsulo- thalamic ischemic stroke (October 31, 2019). Neurological examination revealed predominantly left hemiplegia, locomotor deficiency, hemihypoesthesia, left-sided homonymous hemianopsy. The medical history: capsulo-thalamic ischemic stroke, HTA-E st III (neglected, diagnosed in December 2018), chronic tophaceous gout (diagnosis in 1998, treated with Colchicine and Milurit), psoriatic arthropathy (2016), cholecystectomy (2001), chronic smoking, for over 30 years. The patient has deformed gouty tufts at the level of the right achilles tendon (with local suppuration), left achillian tendon, hallux bilateraly, the right elbow joint, right hand. It was evaluated clinically and functionally, according to the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic (ADL, IADL, Barthel, MMSE, FIM, QOL, Asworth Penn, FAC, Stratify risk scale, GOS-E, modified Rankin, MOCA) and paraclinic by laboratory analysis, joints radiographs (hands, elbows ankle joints), cerebral CT. The patient received a complex neuromuscular recovery program (synergistic association of neurotrophic factors, metabolic modulating medication, kinetotherapy). No corticosteroid medication was needed in topical application on the psoriatic lesions. The evolution was favorable with neurological improvement, reflected by the neurological evolution and quantified by the upward curve of the clinical scores. Improvement of the short distance walking, static and dynamic balance were obtained; at discharge he performed independent walking on short distances with a tetrapod stick. Secondary prophylaxis addressed the control of the risk factors that could be influenced: the metabolic dysfunction (diet and medication), optimization of blood pressure, smoking (health education and patient's will); psoriasis is the only less influential etiopathogenic risk factor. Conclusions: The current standard of management of patients with stroke and multiple comorbidities (gout, psoriasis, HTA, chronic tobacco) is represented by the multidisciplinary approach, for secondary and tertiary prophylaxis, in order to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic of the online environment, consumer behavior and marketing practices that came along with the globalization, have created a complex landscape which underlines the importance of adapting marketing approach to the specific local market. The aim of the research is to find which of the online advertising methods has a bigger impact on the customers` final purchase decision. The study wants to be an observation for analyzing the effectiveness and impact of online advertising tools on Romanian market consumers. In terms of research design, we opted for the quantitative method, and we applied a survey on 200 respondents. The quantitative analysis indicated important differences in the way online advertising channels affect respondents' buying decisions. The study reveals insights into how consumers interact with online messages and campaigns. The paper wants to be a tool for future researchers in the field of Romanian consumers` preferences and behavior.