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Objective: The aim of this paper is to illustrate the main points of interest regarding the way treatment of infertility impacts the life of couples who struggle with this condition in Romania. The unique aspects and specific challenges regarding social, financial and psychological implications that affect Romanian couples who access specialized treatment for infertility will be thoroughly discussed. Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional research. The sample population included patients who attended specialized infertility treatment (Assisted Reproductive Techniques - ART) in Fertility Clinics from Romania. The study was conducted between 2017 and 2019 and data was gathered through two infertility questionnaires. Results: The questionnaire for women was filled in by 829 female participants who struggled with infertility and resorted to ART and the questionnaire for men was completed by 227 male participants, as partners of the women, some of them as well with fertility issues. We analysed the results regarding all aspects surrounding infertility and ART, such as: psychological implications, impact of stress, access to specialized treatment, costs for treatment. Conclusion: The results showed that couples who struggle with infertility have to deal with high costs for specialized infertility treatments, in addition to stress related to treatment, creating a combination which negatively impacts their future chances of getting a pregnancy.

The human eye is made up of multiple layers of pigmented tissues that have in componence melanin. In the eye, one can separate melanosomes from various embryonic origins. The pigment-producing cells in the stroma of the iris, ciliary body and the choroid (uveal melanocytes) are neural crest derivatives. On the other hand, ciliary, iris and retinal pigment epithelial cells are developed from the neural ectoderm. One universally accepted role of melanin is to react as neutral-density filter in scattering light. Melanin acts as a free radical stabilizer and has the ability to absorb near-infrared, visible light and UV radiation. This paper reviews the current knowledge on ocular melanin, including ocular melanogenesis, roles of melanin in retinal metabolic processes and some imaging techniques that identify melanin in the retina.

Around 20% of couples worldwide are affected by infertility issues, with numbers in the European Union reaching as high as 25%, while access to reproductive care varies significantly by geopolitical and country-specific variables. The purpose of this research is to shed light on the unique social, psychological, and financial difficulties faced by Romanian couples seeking access to assisted reproductive therapy (ART). A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2017 and 2019 to involve women who accessed ART at fertility clinics in Romania by completing two infertility surveys. We analyzed the data in terms of all facets of infertility and ART, including the effect of personal background and stress levels on succeeding to conceive, the impact of treatment costs, and household income. A total of 829 participants completed the survey. We observed that high stress exposure leads to a substantially higher duration to conceive using ART, although the proportions of successful pregnancies did not differ between low-stress and high-stress groups. A significantly higher number of couples achieved pregnancy when their monthly household income was higher than EUR 1000 and if the ART method was more expensive. Additionally, we observed that advanced age, high stress levels, and the high cost of ART had a negative association with achieving pregnancy using ART. The findings indicated that Romanian couples experiencing infertility must contend with significant expenses for specialist infertility treatments, as well as treatment-related stress, both of which have a detrimental effect on their odds of attaining conception.

The pathogeneses of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related hearing impairment are not yet fully understood. If AMD and age-related hearing impairment are correlated, the cause of both may be a result of a common vulnerability. The aim of this study was to assess the interrelation between age-related macular degeneration and age-related hearing loss. Material and methods: In our case-control analysis, the hearing conditions of 40 subjects with AMD were compared with 40 age-matched healthy controls. In all patients, retinal changes were certified by clinical examinations, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography (FA). All subjects were inspected with pure tone audiometry (PTA), impedance audiometry, and speech audiometry. Results: A significant correlation (p < 0.001) was identified between age-related macular degeneration and age-related hearing impairment. The predominant hearing impairment in this case was sensorineural (SNHL). Of the patients diagnosed with AMD, SNHL was found in 88.89% of those with exudative macular degeneration and in 67.74% of those with atrophic macular degeneration. In contrast, we found that a significant proportion of the control group had normal hearing. Conclusion: One possible explanation for the association between retinal and cochlear impairment may be due to a melanin disorder.

Contraception can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies, but also allow preservation of fertility and optimizing health before pregnancy. In addition, hormonal contraceptives (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) reduce the risk of heavy menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea and some types of cancer. The research aimed to evaluate predictors of unintended pregnancy reporting at medical students of University of Timisoara in 2014-2015. The study population included 1,298 women of 18-25 years-old, 58.8% of them being first year medicine students, and 41.2% last year medicine students. The mean age of first year female medicine students was significantly lower than the age of the last year female medicine students, [0.001. The working method was the transverse population survey. Unintended pregnancies were reported as 4.2% for one pregnancy and 0.5% for two or more pregnancies, with no significant difference between juniors and teens. In the multivariate model, major predictors (odds ratio, OR ] 3) for unwanted pregnancies were: active sexual life (in the last 3 months, OR = 4.175), followed by contraceptive methods such as coitus interruptus (OR = 3.355), calendar method (OR = 3.235) and spermicidal substances (OR = 3.126).

The study aims to evaluate some predictors in the statement of suicidal thoughts in the last year by students from Timisoara universities, Romania. The student population consisted of 2536 young people aged 18-29, with an average age of 21.06 years and a standard deviation of 1.529 years, 64.5% girls and 35.5% boys. It was conducted a transversal population survey. In the logarithmic model of predictors in the context of social and psychoactive drugs use in students regarding the likelihood of suicidal thoughts in the last year, we have identified predictors with OR between 1.5-2, poorly significant: dissatisfaction with the relationship with parents (OR = 1.782), drug use frequency (OR = 1.697), dissatisfaction with the relationship with current friends (OR = 1.531).

The purpose of the present study was to explore time-trends (2005/2006-2015/2016) of alcohol misuse in first year medical students and types of alcohol preferred by young adults in the same medical school. The study compared two cross-sectional cohorts of medical students (2005/2006: 365 females and 249 males; 2005/2016: 336 females and 123 males) from Timisoara, Romania, using the same questionnaire in both investigations. The analysis was conducted measuring gender and cohort effect on frequency of alcohol use patterns during the last month and the type of alcohol used preferred. Girls have increased with a small effect size both the number of days consuming at least one portion of alcohol and the number of days with binge drinking between evaluations, reducing the gap between boys and girls, seen in 2005/2006 evaluation. In multivariate models, though beer consumption has decreased (OR=0.6) between evaluations, wine (OR=3.6) and spirits (OR=1.6) consumption has increased. Beer and spirits are the type of alcohol used by young people for binge drinking. Interventions to reduce misuse of alcohol in general population or specific to university students need to be carefully tailored to the shifting patterns of alcohol consumption, which are gender specific.

Oana Codruta Miloicov Bacean,1 Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu,2 Salomeia Putnoky,1 Ioana Tuta Sas,1 Petrescu Cristina,1 Radu Bagiu,1 Iulia Cristina Bagiu,3 Oana Suciu,1 Corneluta Fira-Mladinescu,1 Brigitha Vlaicu1 1Discipline of Hygiene, Department 14 Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Center for Studies in Preventive Medicine, Timisoara, Timis, Romania; 2Pneumology Discipline, Department 13th Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Center for Studies in Preventive Medicine, Timisoara, Timis, Romania; 3Discipline of Microbiology, Department 14 Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Center for Studies in Preventive Medicine, Timisoara, Timis, RomaniaCorrespondence: Oana Codruta Miloicov Bacean Dumbravita, str Fiziii, nr.8, Timis County, RomaniaTel +40745170879Email baceano@gmail.comPurpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate high school pupils’ relationships with their parents, schoolmates, and friends, and the presence of health-related risk behaviors among the family members and friends on the pupils’ smoking and binge drinking status.Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional population-based study that involved a questionnaire, and the sample involved 2908 pupils at high schools in Timis county, Romania. In our study, the following factors related to family members and friends and the living environment were identified. First, there were issues with the relationships with parents among some pupils, with 23.2% being neither satisfied nor unsatisfied and 4.9% being unsatisfied. Second, there were also issues regarding some pupils’ satisfaction with the financial situation of their family, with 21.8% being neither satisfied nor unsatisfied and 16.4% being unsatisfied. An odds ratio (OR) is a statistic that quantifies the strength of the association between two events.Results: There were 1495 (51.5%) girls and 1407 (48.5%) boys aged 14– 20 years, and 79.2% came from organized families. Among the pupils, 71.1% reported that they were satisfied with their relationship with their parents, while 4.9% were unsatisfied. Additionally, 46.2% were satisfied with the financial status of their families, while 16.4% were unsatisfied. Moreover, 59.2% were satisfied with their relationship with their schoolmates and 80.2% were satisfied with their relationship with their friends, while only 1.8% were unsatisfied with their relationship with their friends. The logistic regression model of the pupils’ smoking status identified two moderate predictive factors: this was defined “> 1” friends who smoke (odds ratio [OR]=2.875) and smoking status of siblings (OR=2.222). The major predictive factor in the logistic regression model of occasional alcohol consumption in high quantities by pupils was male gender (OR=5.148).Conclusion: The predictive model of pupils’ smoking status identified the following moderate predictors: high number of friends who smoke and smoking status of siblings. The major predictor in the model of occasional alcohol consumption in high quantities by pupils was male gender.Keywords: teenagers, pupils, family, entourage, health risk

Hemophilia, a congenital X linked disease, has the serious burden of bleeding, requiring life-long replacement with coagulation factors (CF). In the present day, there is a continuously improving treatment for this condition. Objective: Our observational, cross-sectional study aims at finding out whether a prophylactic replacement with CF is affordable from the point of view of its cost-effectiveness in our country. Material and methods: A cohort of 122 persons with Hemophilia were included in this patient-reported outcome survey, and they answered a questionnaire consisting of 56 items, focused on 4 domains&mdash, socio-demographic, medical, quality of health/life and cost/cost-effectiveness. Results and discussion: The markers for quality of health/life were correlated with the direct and indirect costs of care, comparing subgroup 1 of patients with prophylactic vs. subgroup 2 with on-demand replacement. Based on the incremental quality adjusted life years and the incremental costs, we calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) proving that prophylaxis is more cost-effective than on-demand replacement on a long time basis. Conclusions: The ICER is a threshold recommending the reimbursement of costs for a life-long prophylactic replacement in our country.

The aim of this study was to determine if body mass can be considered a risk factor for infertility, and if we can find any correlations between the age values and the FSH and estradiol values, and between the BMI values and the FSH and estradiol values. Our whole sample contains 100 patients splinted in two groups (pregnant patients N1=57 subjects, 57%, and not � pregnant patients N1=43 subjects,43%). In the first part we conducted our analysis on the whole group and after that we focused the analysis on the two groups and we made some comparisons between the groups. We obtained a medium, extremely significant correlation in all scenarios between the age and the FSH values. This is the best association from all the cases which we tested. In all twelve cases we have a positive correlation (r ] 0). As well, we obtained that a BMI value higher than 25can be considered a risk factor for obtaining a pregnancy (p[0.05, RR ] 1, OR]1) . Our study shows that women who have weight problems have much less chances of conceiving a baby, even if they ovulate normally. The risk of infertility increases proportionally to the extra pounds. Irregular ovulation in women is the most common fertility disorder due to obesity disease.

The purpose of the research was to see the time-trends (2005/2006-2015/2016) of types and patterns of drug usage between the young adults from medical school in TimisCounty. The study is a comparison of two cross-sectional cohorts of student from Timis County, Romania (2005/2006: 365 females and 248 males; 2005/2016: 336 females and 123 males). In both investigations the same questionnairewas used. Through the investigation we measured the types and patterns of drugs used in relation with gender and cohort effect frequency. For the 2005/2006 evaluation 15% of boys and 4.9% of girls have tried at least one kind of drug. In the reevaluation study 2015/2016 the consumption of at least one kind of drug has risen 34.4% boys and 14.4% girls, which means meaning that the number of consumers has risen by 3 times in between investigations. The intervention to minimize the usage of any sort of drugs in a specific university environment or in the general population has to be done in very careful way in concordance with the specific patterns of usage and types of drugs.

Urinary incontinence is one of the most common diseases, 25% of women between 18 and 80 years suffer from it. Urinary incontinence can be described as accidently loss of small amounts of urine. The solution involves a surgical procedure, such as sling procedures and bladder neck suspension procedures. The methods of surgical interventions have evolved due to a minimum period of hospitalization (sling, TVT), or performing laparoscopic surgery instead of the classical Burch surgery. Studies reviled that the most effective interventions are those which restore the urethra by retro pubic urethropexy, pubovaginal sling and synthetic mid-urethral slings. This type of surgery has currently the highest success rate (85-90% on 5 years after surgery), and the lowest relapse rate. In our study we obtained the same success rate for the TVT procedure.

In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of pulls wave velocity (PWV) alone or in combination with other diagnostic markers in predicting pre-eclampsia (PE) on high-risk women. Pregnant women at high risk for PE were recruited between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation period. This study is the first in Romanian and shows that PWV may be a potentially promising predictor of early-onset PE in women at high risk for PE. All these patients were treated and were instructed according to the ESC/ESH guidelines regarding hypertensive patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square, a Mann-Whitney test, Pearson correlation, and linear regression tests.After we ran several test the main conclusions are that there is a positive correlation between the para-clinics data (creatinine, Esbach proteinuria) and the pulls wave velocity for aorta (PWVao). The risk for preeclampsia is increasing if the body mass index (BMI) of the patients is higher than the average value (BMI]26) or if the patient is a smoker.

Background Self-perception of oral health status is a multidimensional construct that includes psychological, psychosocial and functional aspects of oral health. Contemporary concepts suggest that the evaluation of health needs should focus on clinical standards and socio-dental indicators that measure the impact of health/disease on the individual quality of life. Oral health cannot be dissociated from general health. This study evaluates a possible association between oral health status, body size, self-perception of oral health, self-perception of body size and dissatisfaction with body image in prepubertal children with mixed dentition, targeting the completion of children’s health status assessment which will further allow the identification of individuals at risk and could be further used as an evaluation of the need for specific interventions. Methods The present study is cross-sectional in design and uses data from 710 pre-pubertal children with mixed dentition. The outcome variables comprised one item self-perception of oral health: dmft/DMFT Index and Dental Aesthetic Index, body size, self-assessed body size and desired body size. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results More than a half (53.1%) of the participants with mixed dentition reported that their oral health was excellent or very good. In the unadjusted model, untreated decayed teeth, dmft score and body dissatisfaction levels had a significant contribution to poor self-perception of oral health, but after adjustment for gender, BMI status, dmft score, DMFT score and DAI score, only untreated decayed teeth OR = 1.293, 95%CI (1.120–1.492) and higher body dissatisfaction levels had a significant contribution. Conclusion It was concluded that the need for dental treatment influenced self-perception of oral health in prepubertal children with mixed dentition, especially with relation to untreated decayed teeth. Since only body dissatisfaction levels, but not BMI, were related to poor self-perception of oral health, which involves a psychological component, further studies should evaluate the risk factors of body dissatisfaction, in order to plan health care directed to this age group, and with the purpose to positive parenting strategies.

The present research aimed to assess some predictors for experiencing traveling in a car with a driver who has consumed alcohol, in a group of young people, aged between 18 and 20 years, residents of Timis County, Romania. The study group of 1606 young subjects, 18-20 years of age, 51.4% pupils and 48.6% students, with girls being significantly better represented, was applied a transversal population study. Percents of 29.8% of boys and 28.4% of girls got 1-3 times in a car with a drunk driver, and 10.1% of boys and 6.5% of girls traveled in such circumstances more than 4 times. Boys tend to accept the risks of traveling in a car with a drunk driver significantly more frequently than girls. We identified some predictors for traveling with a driver who has consumed alcohol, such as the binge drinking model and the model of mixed alcohol and drugs consumption, the practice of alcohol consumption associated with vehicle driving by the father, as well as by friends.

Medicinal plants continue to be of real interest to researchers in interdisciplinary fields such as chemistry, pharmacy, medicine. Due to the metabolites in which it abounds, the plant material can successfully represent both a prophylactic and curative treatment. At present, countless studies, both in vitro and in vivo, are conducted to elucidate the pharmacological effects and establish the mechanisms involved. The actual experiment was purposed to evaluate the activity of raw birch bark, apple pomace and olive leaves extracts rich in triterpenes, formulated as PLGA nanoparticles, on normal/healthy different cell lines immortalized and of primary origin, such as keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and gingival fibroblasts.

Melanoma represents one of the most aggressive and drug resistant skin cancers with poor prognosis in its advanced stages. Despite the increasing number of targeted therapies, novel approaches are needed to counteract both therapeutic resistance and the side effects of classic therapy. Betulinic acid (BA) is a bioactive phytocompound that has been reported to induce apoptosis in several types of cancers including melanomas, however, its effects on mitochondrial bioenergetics are less investigated. The present study performed in A375 human melanoma cells was aimed to characterize the effects of BA on mitochondrial bioenergetics and cellular behavior. BA demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect in both mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in A375 melanoma cells and at sub-toxic concentrations (10 μM) induced mitochondrial dysfunction by eliciting a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in mitochondria morphology and localization. In addition, BA triggered a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect characterized by apoptotic features: morphological alterations (nuclear fragmentation, apoptotic bodies) and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers mRNA expression (Bax, Bad and Bak). BA represents a viable therapeutic option via a complex modulatory effect on mitochondrial metabolism that might be useful in advanced melanoma or as reliable strategy to counteract resistance to standard therapy.

The research investigated the feeling of sadness, suicidal thoughts and plans associated with binge drinking among students in Timis County, Romania.We applied a transversal population study to the representative sample of 2076 students, 62.49% girls and 37.51% boys with a mean age of 21.09 years with SD 1.48.The boys practice binge drinking significantly more often than girls, the difference is small to medium: prevalence of 22.1% for boys and 8.7% girls, 1-2 times in the last month.Only girls who practice this behavior, increased frequency of engaging in binge drinking is associated with feelings of sadness, suicidal thoughts and suicide plans in a small measure, but significant.

A cross-sectional study has been conducted within Timis County (Romania) in order to evaluate some paramount health-risk behaviour patterns in the case of high-school students. Eleven items of a certain instrument (CORT 2004 Inventory) addressed aggressive behaviour. The Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI) has also been applied, in order to analyse spontaneous aggression coupled with other personality features. Statistical analysis has proven decreasing correlations of FPI aggressiveness within certain selected CORT items in gravity diminishing order. The measurement instruments used in our study provide reliable information for oriented decisions regarding the improvement of education.

In our study we investigated whether there is a relation between the degree of discontent in relations with the proximal social environment (family and peer groups) and adolescent personality features. The study was conducted on a statistical representative and homogenous sample consisting of 2908 teenagers (51.5% girls and 48.5 % boys, aged between 15 and 19 years). It was an observational (case) study and it consisted in 2 questionnaires applying: Freiburg Personality Inventory (212 items) and CORT 2004 questionnaire (116 items, 6 referring to the discontent levels created by proximal social environment). Cronbach's alpha index was 0.802 for FPI and 0,910 for CORT 2004. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 16 program applying Chi square (χ2) and gamma (γ) correlation.Depression and Emotional lability correlated positively and powerfully with q15 (discontent degree of relations with present friend-peers) (γ = 0.471, Sig. 0.000, and γ = 0.383, Sig. 0.000, respectively) and q5 (discontent degree of the relation with parents) (γ = 0.380, Sig. 0.000, and γ = 0.337, Sig. 0.000, respectively). Sociability and calm correlated negative with q5 (γ = -0.14, Sig. 0.000, and γ = -0.35, Sig. 0.000, respectively), q15 (γ = -0.33, Sig. 000 and γ = -0.18, Sig. 000, respectively). In conclusion, there is direct proportional relation between the discontent degree of relations with friend-peers and parents and depression and emotional lability, and inverse proportional relation of friend-peers and parents with sociability and calm.

In the study we conducted we aimed at investigating the relation between personality profiles and risk diet behaviors in teenagers. This study was a case-control one and we applied 2 questionnaires (Freiburg Personality Inventory--FPI with 212 items) and CORT 2004 (items Q94-Q116 of diet behavior) on a sample of 2908 teenagers (51.5% girls and 48.5% boys). Cronbach's alpha index was 0.802 for FPI and 0.730 for items Q101-Q109 of CORT. Personality profiles were built by an Excel 2003 Program. Statistical analysis was realized with SPSS 16 program applying Chi square (chi2) and gamma (gamma) correlation. Personality features of teenagers with high and without risk diet behavior were analyzed. Results obtained: personality profiles and statistical results indicated the existence of a significant statistical difference of aggressiveness and domination between teenagers with high and no consumption of butter and/or lard (Q103) (chi2 = 6.872, Sig. 0.032 and chi2 = 6.922, Sig. 0.031 respectively), of juices from the market (Q106) (chi2 = 9.055, Sig. 0.011 and chi2 = 14.571, Sig. 0.001 respectively). Aggressiveness correlated with consumption of fried potatoes (Q109) (chi2 = 6.144, Sig. 0.046) too. Correlation gamma indicated direct proportional relations of aggressiveness with: Q103 (gamma = 0.215, Sig. 0.017), Q106 (gamma = 0.224, Sig. 0.004), Q109 (gamma = 0.242, Sig. 0.012); and of domination with: Q103 (gamma = 0.234, Sig. 0.008), Q106 (gamma = 0.073, Sig. 0.000). In conclusion, there is a direct proportional relation between consumption of: butter/lard, juices from the market and teenagers' aggressiveness, domination; and a similar relation between consumption of fried potatoes and aggressiveness.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the self-perception of weight in relation with the body mass index and the body composition of three working groups composed of physically untrained young students, young athletes and patients diagnosed with chronic diseases. The working groups consisted of 110 participants: untrained students, athletes and dialysed patients; 50.9% women and 49.1% men; with an average age of 26.03. The BMI of the patients is significantly higher than the BMI of the athletes and untrained students. No significant differences were found between groups in terms of self-perception of weight. Compared to the physically untrained students and patients, the athletes have a significantly higher level of muscle tissue. The athletes also have a significantly lower adipose tissue than that of the physically untrained students and patients.

The present study was centered on the particularities of the duration of preparing homework, taking breaks during homework preparation, and the way the breaks should take place for small school children.The study has been done on a sample of 235 small school children from Oradea, 114 boys and 121 girls, between the ages 7 and 10 years old, using an anonymous questioner, with 41 items, which investigates the lifestyle of the small school children.The duration of homework preparation it is significantly more reduced for the school children in 1st grade in comparison with the ones in 3 grade (p0.001); for school children in 2nd grade compared to the ones in 3rd (p0.001) and for school children in 3rd grade compared to the ones in 4th grade. A percentage of 93% of children prepare their homework after lunch. Half of the children from grades I-IV prepare their homework with no break. A very small number of children spend their homework break time in a healthy manner, while the rest prefer to play computer games (46.95%) or to watch television (46.08%).More than half of the schoolchildren need 1-2 hours at home to prepare their homework. Most of the school children prepare their homework after lunch, in an optimal interval of time. Half of the questioned children prepare their homework with no break. Those who are taking breaks prefer activities which get the children even more tired, therefore being non-hygienic methods of spending homework breaks.

The aim of this study is to analyze the infection risk through spatter and aerosolization during scaling and to create a prediction model of the total number of hemolytic bacteria.Air samples were collected prior to patient's arrival and spatter and aerosol samples were collected during scaling procedure in 80 patients of 4 different dental clinics. The dentists calculated DI, CI, DMFT. Only patients with CI= 1 were included. The bacteriological results (CFU/m3) were correlated with clinical indicators. Patients were divided into 2 groups: one that rinse with sterile water and the other with chlohexidine mouth rinse 0.1%.Medium size effect positive correlations were found between the number of decayed teeth and the total number of bacteria and the total number of hemolytic bacteria that grew on plate attached to the dentist's mask. The mean number of bacteria and the mean number of hemolytic bacteria that grew on plate attached to the dentist's mask were significantly lower in the group that rinse with chlorhexidine 0.1%, when compared to the group that rinsed with sterile water. When controlling for the total number of bacteria and the total number of hemolytic bacteria from air sampling, the total number of hemolytic bacteria that grew on the plate attached to the dentist's mask can be predicted by CI, group membership and DMFT score.

The family has a permanent partner role on adolescents till adult stage. The adolescent builds up his own identity based on the affiliation to his family, but he gets away from his family for the need of leading his own life and finding his place in society. The adolescent sample was made up of 2908 college students from Timis County, aged between 15-19 years, 51.5% girls and 48.5% boys. The working method was the populational transversal study based on anonymous self-administration of the investigation questionnaire CORT 2004 about the risky comportment in teenagers, in a CNCSIS research project.The study results high lighten the predominance of family organized affiliation, 78.9% living with family, 88.6%; the medium study level of 63.7% of mothers and 59.1% of fathers; the satisfaction towards family members, 71.7%; satisfaction towards family's financial level, 61.2%. In this way is underlined the role of identity development in adolescents.

The study aimed for a hierarchy of factors associated to the heavy smoker status in young people.The representative sample of students included into the study totalized 2076 young subjects in Timis County universities, with urban residence, 62.5% girls and 37.5% boys, aged between 18-25 years. The working method was the transversal population study based on the CORT 2004 questionnaire regarding health risk behaviors in adolescents and young people. Data processing used the Epilnfo software. The strongest predictors of the heavy smoker status in young people are the existence of suicidal thoughts, the increased number of friends who smoke the smoker status without the wish to quit.Students with an increased intensity of smoking more frequently experienced suicidal thoughts as compared to students smoking with a medium intensity. Students with a medium smoking intensity have significantly more friends who smoke as compared to students who are light smokers. Students, who tried to quit smoking, smoke significantly less cigarettes a day than those who did not wish to quit smoking.

Dietary patterns present at the age of the young adult have great probability to remain unchanged for the rest of the life and may contribute to eating disorders later in life. The aim of this study is the analysis of the intake patterns for fruits and vegetables in students from Timis County.We conducted a cross sectional study using a stratified cluster sample design to produce a representative sample of students for the Timis County. The students' sample totalized 2076 students from the universities in Timis County.A large percent of the young people participating in the study (41.9%) does not consume fresh juices. For the consumption of fresh fruits, the present results back up the international di scoveries, only 32.8% of the young people consuming fruits daily, which is a smaller percent that the medium value reported by other countries. The frequency of consumption for fruits differs according to gender, being higher for girls. For salads, the percent of young people consuming this type of foods at least once a day is 17.0%, much lower compared to 32.8% of the young people consuming fresh fruits at least once a day.The examination of the dietary patterns related to the intake of fruits and vegetables helped us to determine priority areas for future interventions.

Puberty, by content and finality, mean all the events of somatic and mental maturation, with the transformation of the child into an adult. It is the period in which it is acquired the reproductive capacity.Pubertal maturation was studied on a sample of secondary school adolescents from Timis County, 800 students from schools and high schools in the urban area aged 11-14 years, with uniform distribution by sex and age. The pubertal evaluation was made with reference to Tanner stages. The result was an earlier and stronger pubertal maturation in girls compared with boys.Pubertal maturation in adolescents from Timis County is higher compared to the national level (step 1999), and is less elevated compared with the local level of maturation (1998).The study contributes to maintain actual the health condition in adolescence.

AIM: This study investigates body weight perception and its influence on weight management behaviors in normal weight adolescents in Timis County, Romania. We hypothesized that misperception of overweight in normal weight adolescents would be positively associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors. METHODS: From 2908 respondents participating in the survey we selected a total of 2093 normal weight high school students for the analysis. Outcome measures included self-reported height and weight measurements, overweight misperceptions and weight control behaviors. Weighted prevalence estimates and odds ratios were computed. RESULTS: There were 22.64% of normal weight students who perceived themselves as overweight. Females (36.48%) were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight than males (8.15%) (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for age and gender, students who perceived themselves as overweight were more likely to exercise (OR = 2.85; 95% CI: 2.25–3.61), eat less food, fewer calories or low fat foods (OR = 3.54; 95% CI: 2.78–4.51), fast for 24 hours or more (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.28–2.49), take diet pills, powders or tea (OR = 3.93; 95% CI: 2.62–5.89), vomit or take laxatives (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.15–3.34) to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight, compared to students who did not perceive themselves as overweight. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of normal weight high school students misperceive themselves as overweight and are engaging in unhealthy weight management behaviors. These results should be considered when establishing prevention programs and educational components that address weight misperceptions and the harmful effects of unhealthy weight control methods should be performed even among normal weight adolescents.

The aim of the present study performed in a Romanian population was to identify the food which can be either associated with or protect against colorectal carcinoma.Correlation and regression analysis were used to examine the association between dietary intake and the rate of incidence for colon, rectum and anus cancers, in study groups from 7 regions of Romania.A strong and positive association was observed for colonic cancer and the intake of coffee, tea and cocoa (r = 0.77, p = 0.042) whereas statistical significance of borderline value was found for margarine (r = 0.73, p = 0.06) and sweets (r = 0.74, p = 0.066) intake. A potential protective effect can be attributed to wine consumption ( r = -0.75, p = 0.03). The malignancies of the rectum and anus showed both a strong positive correlation with the intake of red meat ( r = 0.76, p = 0.048), sausages ( r = 0.87, p = 0.012), margarine (r = 0.97, p = 0.0004), butter ( r = 0.76, p = 0.049), sweets ( r = 0.93, p = 0.003), beverages (r = 0.97, p = 0.0003), coffee, tea, cocoa ( r = 0.94, p = 0.002). Negative correlations were reported for the recto-anal cancer and the consumption of: fish (r = -0.8, p = 0.032), cheese (r = -0.9, p = 0.006), wine (r = -0.85, p = 0.015).The need for reducing the dietary intake of margarine, red meat, sausages and sweets while the beneficial effects of wine consumption have been also confirmed.

AIM: To examine high school students' suicidal behavior and to identify predictors of suicide attempt among adolescents in Timis County, Romania. We hypothesized that suicide attempt is associated with other health-risk behaviors. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we included 2908 high school students in grades 9 to 12. The students were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire during a normal class. We examined the relationship between having attempted suicide and engaging in other health-risk or problem behaviors. RESULTS: During the previous 12 months, 15.4% of the students had had suicidal ideation, 7.5% had made a suicide plan and 6.1% reported that they had attempted suicide. Based on logistic regression multivariate analysis, attempted suicide was associated with feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks (OR = 4.74; 95% CI: 3.07–7.31), being forced to have sexual intercourse (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.83–5.50), being physically aggressed by his or her father (OR = 4.28; 95% CI: 1.96–9.34), performing poorly at school (OR = 4.22; 95% CI: 1.51–11.74), having an impaired relationship with parents (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.17–5.12), not eating for 24 hours or more to lose weight or to avoid gaining weight during the past 30 days (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.40–3.53), being female (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.21–2.99) and carrying a weapon (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.53–3.90). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that suicide attempts are associated with other risk behaviors. These behaviors may help to evaluate suicide risk and should be considered when establishing preventive programs.

In the study we wanted to reveal the distribution of the food borne diseases in Timisoara county, in the period of time 2002-2003. As material we used a sample formed from 142 patients with admissions in the "Victor Babeş" Infectious Diseases Hospital Timişoara, Romania, and the method, epidemiological longitudinal descriptive inquiry, consisted in data registration of the primary evidences (observation files) of the patients. The obtained results revealed: the greater incidence of the food borne diseases in male than female sex; the highest incidence at the age group 15-44 years; the main causal agent as Salmonella group D followed by group B; the greatest frequencies of the food borne diseases in the areas Lipova, Circumvalatiunii and Students Complex of Timişoara. As conclusion, it can be affirmed that food borne diseases are a problem for Timisoara, and for the most cases the causal agent has not been identified.

In the human feeding an important role is realized by the feeding customs, not always being related with a healthy feeding. In our study we wanted to realize a qualitative and quantitative estimation of the nutritive factors in Timişoara medical students food intake. As method we used nourishment investigation with a feeding notebook (the memory technique), distributed individually, 7 days consequently in a sample formed from 50 students of Timişoara Medical School, sample which was homogenous and statistically representative. We realized analysis and statistically interpretation of data. Obtained results: The average values per consumer and day of the nutritive factors of feeding were: proteins--78.4 g, fats--83.3 g, carbohydrates--274.4 g, minerals (macro elements: potassium--2.7 g, calcium--0.5 g, magnesium--0.2 g, phosphorus--1.4 g, chlorine--3.6 g and microelements: iron--17 mg, iodine--0.15 mg, fluoride--2.3 mg, copper--3.6 mg). Vitamins (fat-soluble: A--1370 u.i. D--43.6 u.i,. E--7 mg, K--6300 uDam and hydro soluble: B1--1.1 mg, B2--1.1 mg, B6--2.5 mg, C--39.1 mg, PP--19.3 mg). Average energetic intake per consumer and day was 2244 calories. In conclusion, in the medical students feeding in Timişoara there is a decreased intake of proteins,carbohydrates, a little increased intake of fats, decreased energetic intake, an increased intake of potassium, decreased of calcium, increased of iron, fluoride and copper, decreased of A, D, C vitamins.

In the effected study we wanted to reveal the richest foods in additives and the most frequent used additives. As material we used a sample formed from 100 food products investigated in a supermarket, and the method consisted in data registration of food additives written on the labels of the original packages with statistical analysis. We could not establish the food additive concentrations in foods because we have no adequate technology. The food groups with the most additives were: meat products (8 types), soft drinks (7), hydrogenated fats and sugar products (6). The most frequent used food additives were: for meat products--support substances (63%); soft drinks--acid, flavor (100%) and preserve (88%) substances; hydrogenated fats--emulsion, flavor, color substances (100%) and for sugar products--emulsion (85%) and flavor substances (78%). In conclusion, food additives with possible noxious effects on health are frequently incorporated in food products.

This case report focuses on hydatidosis, one of the most important parasitic zoonoses in Romania. We describe an interesting paediatric case of an eight-year old boy from a rural region presenting with a both giant and life-threatening pulmonary cyst (that was successfully managed) and a hepatic cyst. Noteworthy are the negative consequences of this disorder on children's health and development as a result of prolonged hospitalizations, surgical interventions and chemotherapy.

This report aims to assess the epidemiological characteristics of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in the largest Romanian county (Timis County). Our study group included 182 patients diagnosed with this condition during 2004–2010. The yearly detection rate of new cases was 3.8 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. People over 40 years old accounted for 52.7% of cases. The incidence was higher in women and in rural inhabitants. No statistically significant decline in the number and incidence of CE cases was observed throughout the study period ( R 2 = 0.24, p 0.3). Consequently, more efficient implementation of correct public health measures is required to fully prevent and eradicate CE in this region.

The research aims to investigate the particularities of the regime of physical activity in adolescents from Timisoara, Romania. The work sample included 243 students: 37.9% in middle school and 62.1% in high school; 56.4% girls and 43.6% boys; aged 11 to 18. The work method was cross-sectional population study of the case study type. The results indicate practicing physical activities in order to lose weight or not gain weight in over half of respondents: 57.3% of middle school students and 57.9% of high school students, more often girls. The boys in the age group 15 to 18 practice more often both moderate and intense physical activities than girls, and the number of days per week in which students participate in sports classes is more reduced in high school compared to middle school.

The present research was conducted in order to investigate the tobacco smoker status and intensity in relation to marijuana consumption in students of Timis County, Romania. The representative sample of 2076 students in Timis county, 62.49% girls and 37.51% boys, with the mean age of 21.09 years, was included into a transversal populational study. The sample included 31.1% tobacco smokers and 67.5% nonsmokers. Regarding the tobacco smoking intensity during the previous month, 11.4% smoked between 1-5 cigarettes a day, 8% smoked between 6 and 10 cigarettes a day, 12% smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day, the consumption being significantly higher in boys than in girls. Tobacco smoker students consumed marijuana 8.3 times more frequently than nonsmokers. Heavy smoking students were more frequently marijuana co-users than those smoking tobacco at medium intensity. Tobacco smoker students consumed marijuana 11.44 times more frequently during the prevuious 30 days as compared to nonsmoker students.