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Doina Georgescu,1,* Oana-Elena Ancusa,1 Daniel Azoulay,2,* Ana Lascu,3 Ioana Ionita,1 Despina Calamar-Popovici,1 Mihai Ionita,1 Ciprian Ilie Rosca,1 Gelu-Mihai Brează,4 Daniela Reisz,5 Daniel Lighezan1 1Center of Advanced Researches in Cardiovascular Diseases and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, “V Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Hepato-Biliary Center, Paul-Brousse Hospital, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France; 3Department of Functional Sciences, “V Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 4Department IX of Surgery I, Compartment of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, “V Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 5Department of Neurosciences, “V Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Oana-Elena Ancusa, Center of Advanced Researches in Cardiovascular Diseases and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I,“V Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Piata Eftimie Murgu, Timisoara, Timis, 300041, Romania, Tel +40 722 814024, Fax +40 256 490626, Email oancusa@gmail.comPurpose: This study aimed to explore inflammatory biomarkers, stool’s functional bacterial groups and their possible link to portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).Materials and Methods: An observational study of 300 participants: 200 inhospital cirrhotic patients, who met inclusion criteria, equally assigned into two groups, based on the presence or absence of PVT and 100 healthy controls was carried out.Results: The PVT group displayed significant differences related to older age, cigarettes smoking history, emergency admission, higher Child-Pugh score, metabolic related disorders and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as non-obstructive aspects, with chronic thrombi. The PVT group exhibited significant differences related to biomarkers such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimers (D-D), as well as gut overall dysbiosis (DB) and alteration of different functional bacterial groups of the gut microbiota. Strong positive correlations were observed between PVT severity, and TNF-alpha, CRP, D-D as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) positive bacteria. Esophageal varices, age and abdominal pain were independent predictors for PVT severity as well as CRP, TNF-alpha and D-D.Conclusion: Patients with LC and PVT displayed elevation of TNF-alpha, CRP, D-D alterations of the functional gut microbiota, as well as several morphological and clinical particularities. Although the LPS positive gut microbiota was linked to inflammatory biomarkers and PVT severity, it was not proven to be an independent predictor of the PVT severity like CRP, TNF-alpha and D-D.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: portal vein obstruction, end stage liver disease, biomarkers, gut functional bacteria

Doina Georgescu,1 Ioana Ionita,1 Ana Lascu,2 Emil-Florin Hut,3 Simona Dragan,4 Oana-Elena Ancusa,1 Mihai Ionita,1 Despina Calamar-Popovici,1 Liviu-Andrei Georgescu,5 Daniel-Florin Lighezan1 1Center of Advanced Researches in Cardiovascular Diseases and Hemostaseology/Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 2Department of Functional Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 3Department IX of Surgery I/Compartment of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 4Department of Cardiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 5Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Pius Brinzeu” Academic Emergency County Hospital, Timisoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Ioana Ionita, Center of Advanced Researches in Cardiovascular Diseases and Hemostaseology/Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V Babes”, 5 Gh Dima, Timisoara, 300079, Romania, Tel +40 723 539 800, Fax +40 256 490 626, Email mdioanaionita@yahoo.com Ana Lascu, Department of Functional Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V Babes”, 2 Eftimie Murgu Plaza, Timisoara, 300041, Romania, Tel +40 745 803 821, Fax +40 256 490 626, Email analascu@yahoo.comBackground: Gallstone disease (GSD) is more commonly presented in aged people.Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the insights of metabolic performance of bacterial species from gut microbiota as well as the clinical background in middle-aged and elderly patients with GSD.Patients and Methods: This is an observational study concerning 120 research participants. Of those, 90 patients with symptomatic GSD addressed for cholecystectomy, average age 59.83 ± 15.32 years: 45 with cholesterol rich gallstones (CGSs), 45 with pigment gallstones (PGSs) and 30 healthy controls joined this observational study. Clinical examination, lab work-ups, upper and lower digestive video-endoscopies, abdominal ultrasound/CT and gallbladder motility assessment by Dodd’s method were performed. Overall stool dysbiosis (DB) was assessed as 1 = minor, 2 = mild, 3 = severe, species being identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization method. Stool samples from dysbiotic patients were analyzed by a next generation sequencing method with operational taxonomic unit identification.Results: Patients with GSD presented with a significant high range of overall gut DB (p < 0.0001) when compared with controls. Those with CGSs compared with those having PGSs displayed significant clinical differences related to elderly age, lifestyle and diet particularities, obesity, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance, as well as motility disturbances of gallbladder with a decrease of the ejection fraction. Significant increase of overall DB range and alterations of several functional bacterial species with a decrease of butyrate, lactate, acetate/propionate and methane producers, mucin degrading bacteria, biodiversity index of microbiota, as well as an increase of lipopolysaccharide positive bacteria were significantly present in patients with CGSs.Conclusion: Middle-aged and elderly patients with GSD and a clinical background characterized by particular lifestyle, metabolic and gallbladder motility issues displayed significant modifications of biodiversity, overall gut DB and alterations of several functional bacterial species, with a decrease of their metabolic performance.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: biliary calculi, intestinal functional bacteria, dysbiosis

Doina Georgescu,1,* Alexandru Caraba,1,* Ioana Ionita,1 Ana Lascu,2 Emil Florin Hut,3 Simona Dragan,4 Oana Elena Ancusa,1 Ioana Suceava,1 Daniel Lighezan1 1Department of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Department of Functional Sciences, Discipline of Pathophysiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 3Department IX of Surgery I/Compartment of Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 4Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Alexandru CarabaDepartment of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Piata Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041, RomaniaTel +40 744 769 850, Fax +40 256 490 626, Email caraba.alexandru@umft.roBackground: Gallstone disease (GSD) represents one of the most frequent digestive disorders, highly reported in female gender. The purpose of the study was to explore the clinical and gut microbiota particularities of female patients with postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) and the possible relationship between gut dysbiosis (DB) and abdominal complaints.Patients and Methods: In total, 129 female participants: 104 outpatients divided into two equal groups, 52 PCS (+), 52 PCS (−) and 25 healthy controls were consecutively enrolled in this observational study. Patients underwent clinical examination with assessment of pain, bloating, transit disturbances, abdominal ultrasound/computer tomography/magnetic resonance imaging/endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, upper and lower digestive endoscopies. Laboratory work-ups and stool microbiology assessments were performed for all study participants (patients and controls). Stool microorganisms were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization – time-of-flight– mass spectrometry and in patients with DB also by next-generation sequencing.Results: Older age, complicated gallstones disease, associated conditions like diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance and irritable bowel syndrome were significantly present in PCS (+) group, as well as sedentary lifestyle and diets characterized by a low fiber intake (p< 0.0001). PCS (+) patients displayed significant differences related to the incidence and severity of overall gut microbiota DB, decreased H index of biodiversity and the unbalanced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratios by comparison to the PCS (−) group (p< 0.0001). Strong positive correlations of the severity of overall DB with bloating and the intestinal habit disorders, as well as of F/B ratios to all abdominal symptoms were noted.Conclusion: PCS in female patients was associated with older age, sedentary lifestyle, specific dietary habits, history of complicated gallstone disease, diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as gut microbiota particularities. Overall DB and unbalanced F/B ratios were strongly correlated to abdominal complaints.Keywords: postcholecystectomy syndrome, female patients, gut microbiota imbalance

Doina Georgescu,1 Daniela Reisz,2 Camelia Vidita Gurban,3 Liviu Andrei Georgescu,4 Ioana Ionita,5 Oana Elena Ancusa,1 Daniel Lighezan1 1Department of Internal Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 2Department of Neurology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 3Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 4Department of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 5Department of Hematology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RomaniaAbstract: Migraine without aura is frequently reported in female patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but knowledge about the relationship between these two conditions is still lacking. This study was aimed to explore the particularities of migraine without aura in young female patients with IBS in order to establish a possible link between them. From a cohort of young female patients hospitalized with IBS in the Internal Medicine Department, 30 joined this pilot study, and they were assigned into two groups on the basis of presence or absence of migraine. In this sample, 15 patients have mild to moderate migraine without aura, with a recently taken normal brain scan, and 15 were without migraine. Diseases and conditions not related to migraine and other possible specific female comorbidities were ruled out. Patients undertook a thorough clinical examination in order to assess fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic pelvic pain (CPP), Questionnaires for migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were performed. Laboratory testing of blood, urine, and stool were also performed. Optimized lymphocyte proliferation test for food allergy (FA) and a fecal microbiota (microbiological semiquantitative method) for dysbiosis (DB) assessment were performed. Based on the results, migraine-positive group displayed more severe comorbidities: FM (p=0.0002), FA (p=0.0006), CPP (p=0.026), higher scores of anxiety (GAD, p=0.0008), and more severe DB (p=0.0009). We noticed a strong positive correlation between MIDAS and GAD (r=0.83), a good positive correlation between MIDAS and DB (r=0.56), and a moderate positive correlation between MIDAS, FM, and FA (r=0.46 and 0.41). In conclusion, young female patients with IBS and migraine without aura displayed more severe associated issues – anxiety, intestinal DB, FM, FA, and CPP. The severity of migraine correlated well with anxiety range and DB magnitude and moderately with FM and FA. Keywords: migraine without aura, IBS, young females

Doina Georgescu,1 Oana Elena Ancusa,1 Liviu Andrei Georgescu,2 Ioana Ionita,3 Daniela Reisz4 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Urology, 3Department of Hematology, 4Department of Neurology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania Abstract: Despite the fact that nonmotor symptoms (NMS) like gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are frequently reported in Parkinson’s disease (PD), no therapeutic guidelines are available. This study aimed to manage some lower GI-NMS in a group of patients with PD. A total of 40 patients (17 males, 23 females; mean age 76.05±2.09 years) were randomly selected for this study. Patients were confirmed to have PD (modified Hoehn–Yars scale: 2.075±0.4) who had undergone levodopa or dopamine agonist treatment. In the non-motor symptoms questionnaire (NMS-Quest), regarding GI complaints, the following were recorded: abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation of mild-to-moderate severity. Laboratory studies, abdominal ultrasound, and upper and lower digestive endoscopies were performed to rule out organic issues. All patients increased their water intake to 2 L/d and alimentary fiber to 20–25 g/d. Twenty patients received trimebutine 200 mg three times daily half an hour before meals. The other 20 patients received probiotics (60 mg per-tablet of two lactic bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium infantis), 2×/d, 1 hour after meals for 3 months along with the reassessment of GI complaints. Our results demonstrated that there were significant statistical differences in all assessed symptoms in the first group: 1.55±0.51 vs 0.6±0.5 (P

The Fe-based alloy with manganese led to the appearance of new austenitic alloys, with the antiferromagnetic property pursued, resulting in compatibility with the magnetic field as that of magnetic resonance imaging. The corrosion resistance behavior of the biodegradable Fe-Mn-Si alloy was analyzed in a thermostatic chamber at 37±1°C for 24, 48 and 72 hours by immersing in Ringer solution. Also, the cast and laminated samples were subjected to electro-corrosion tests using a potentiostat equipment. Linear and cyclic potentiometry is presented for characterize the corrosion behavior of the experimental samples in electrolyte. Due to the interaction between the alloy and the liquid medium a change in the solution pH was observed. Structure analysis and chemical composition details of the surfaces were obtained using electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that an anisotropic composite structure, which consists of alternating layers with either negative permittivity or negative permeability, can switch between optical responses characteristic of right-handed and left-handed materials depending on the polarization (TE or TM) of the incident electromagnetic field. The switching possibility is maintained for a small angular range around normal incidence, the behavior of the structure for larger incidence angles showing superluminal group velocities characteristic for anisotropic metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]