Prognostic Factors in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma - A Systematic Review

Introduction: intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) are rare, aggressive cancers that develop in second order or smaller bile ducts. The aim of this review is to systematically review the most important prognostic factors affecting the long-term outcomes of these patients. Material and Methods: articles conducted on this issue, written in English, published between from January 2000 to December 2023 in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, MedLine, Web of Science, Elsevier, Google Scholar were systematically researched and reviewed. Results: ICCA are usually late diagnosed cancers because of the asymptomatic character, and curative procedures are often not feasible, only 20 to 30% of patients being fit for surgery. With the prognostic of this aggressive malignancy being baleful, the most important risk factors but also prognosis factors seem to be represented by socioeconomic factors, morphological presentation, dimensions, number and extension of the tumor as well as resection margins. Conclusions: once these factors are widely recognized and identified in each case, the clinician will be able to find the best treatment for these patients in order to improve the long-term outcomes.

Is Marginal Donor an Efficient Solution for Expanding the Donor Pool for Liver Transplant?

Once the techniques of hepatobiliopancreatic surgery improved, liver transplantation widely extended in different hospitals; therefore, the need of grafts and automatically of liver donors reported a significant increase in the last decade. In this respect, attention was focused on increasing the liver donor pool. The aim of this review is to study the benefits of using marginal grafts in liver transplantation. With the advent of multiple methods of liver preservation, the use of grafts previously considered unsuitable has become possible. Thus, extended allocation criteria have emerged. However, the allocation of these grafts must be carefully considered and analyzed in the context of both recipient and donor factors.

Recurrence and Carcinogenetic Rates of Colorectal Polyps

AIM

to determin the recurrence rate of benign recto-colonic polyps in a 5-year interval, and compare the development rate of intrapolypoid carcinomatous lesions in polypectomized versus nonpolypectomized subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

a group of 77 patients diagnosed with recto-colonic polypoid lesions during the period 2014-2019 underwent colonoscopy at the time of study initiation and then annually during a five-year interval. Results: The recurrence rate of polyps increased annually from 5 to 12.5%; the highest rate was noted in the last two years. The five-year cumulative risk of neoplastic lesions was 73% in patients without polypectomy and 20% among those with endoscopic resection (p 0.05). Comparing the recurrence rate of benign lesions (60%) in patients without neoplastic findings with the recurrence rate of adenomas in patients with benign lesions (40%), a higher risk of recurrence was found in the first category, and seemed to be influenced by the personal history of pre-existing adenomatous lesions.

CONCLUSION

an increased risk of colorectal polyps recurrence was reported during five year follow up; moreover, during the first three years an increased risk of malignant transformation was observed among cases in which endoscopic resection was not feasible when compared to those in which complete excision was feasible.

Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Inflammation Markers on the Long-Term Outcomes in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis from Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynaecological malignancies affecting women worldwide; therefore, attention has been focused on identifying new prognostic factors which might help the clinician to select cases who could benefit most from surgery versus cases in which neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by interval debulking surgery should be performed. The aim of the current paper is to identify whether preoperative inflammation could serve as a prognostic factor for advanced-stage ovarian cancer. Material and methods: The data of 57 patients who underwent to surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer between 2014 and 2020 at the Cantacuzino Clinical Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of different inflammatory markers for the overall survival analysis. The analysed parameters were the preoperative level of CA125, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic inflammation index (SII). Results: Baseline CA125 > 780 µ/mL, NLR ≥ 2.7, MLR > 0.25, PLR > 200 and a systemic immune inflammation index (SII, defined as platelet × neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) ≥ 84,1000 were associated with significantly worse disease-free and overall survival in a univariate analysis. In a multivariate analysis, MLR and SII were significantly associated with higher values of overall survival (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0124); meanwhile, preoperative values of CA125, PLR and MLR were not associated with the overall survival values (p = 0.5612, p = 0.6137 and p = 0.1982, respectively). In conclusion, patients presenting higher levels of MLR and SII preoperatively are expected to have a poorer outcome even if complete debulking surgery is performed and should be instead considered candidates for neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by interval surgery.

Pancreatic surgery outcomes: multicentre prospective snapshot study in 67 countries

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic surgery remains associated with high morbidity rates. Although postoperative mortality appears to have improved with specialization, the outcomes reported in the literature reflect the activity of highly specialized centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following pancreatic surgery worldwide.

METHODS

This was an international, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional snapshot study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic operations worldwide in a 3-month interval in 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative mortality within 90 days of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore relationships with Human Development Index (HDI) and other parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 4223 patients from 67 countries were analysed. A complication of any severity was detected in 68.7 per cent of patients (2901 of 4223). Major complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grade at least IIIa) were 24, 18, and 27 per cent, and mortality rates were 10, 5, and 5 per cent in low-to-middle-, high-, and very high-HDI countries respectively. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 5.4 per cent (229 of 4223) overall, but was significantly higher in the low-to-middle-HDI group (adjusted OR 2.88, 95 per cent c.i. 1.80 to 4.48). The overall failure-to-rescue rate was 21 per cent; however, it was 41 per cent in low-to-middle- compared with 19 per cent in very high-HDI countries.

CONCLUSION

Excess mortality in low-to-middle-HDI countries could be attributable to failure to rescue of patients from severe complications. The authors call for a collaborative response from international and regional associations of pancreatic surgeons to address management related to death from postoperative complications to tackle the global disparities in the outcomes of pancreatic surgery (NCT04652271; ISRCTN95140761).

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma - Where Do We Stand Today? Literature Review

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas represent rare and aggressive malignancies developing from the second order bile ducts to the smaller biliary branches. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss about the main diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in order to help medical and surgical oncologists to gain familiarity in regard to this subject. Articles discussing about epidemiology, histology, diagnostic, perioperative management and surgery which were published from January 2000 to September 2023 included in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, MedLine, Web of Science, Elsevier, Google Scholar databases were reviewed. Articles reviewed in the current paper came to demonstrate that the main problem in such cases is related to the fact that most cases remain asymptomatic for a long period of time and therefore are diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease when curative procedures are feasible after performing extended visceral sacrifice or even worse, are no longer possible; however, the most efficient therapeutic strategy in order to improve the long term outcomes remains radical surgery. In this respect, attention was focused on improving the accuracy of the diagnostic tools and on identifying non-surgical therapeutic options which might increase the chances of achieving complete resection. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma represent rare aggressive tumors with poor outcomes especially if radical surgery is not feasible.

Hyponatremia as a Prognostic Factor in Advanced Stage Ovarian Cancer Patients

Background: hyponatremia represents one of the most commonly encountered conditions in hospitalized patients, multiple mechanisms being cited so far, neoplastic syndromes being an important cause. The aim of the current paper is to analyse the presence and influence of the short- and long-term outcomes of hyponatremia on ovarian cancer patients submitted to surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer. Method: 57 patients diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer were submitted to surgery between 2014-2020. The patients were further classified according to the preoperative value of sodium into two groups. Results: there were 21 cases with preoperative normal values of sodium and respectively 36 cases with hyponatremia. Patients with preoperative hyponatremia associated a significantly higher rate of early postoperative complications and a significantly poorer long-term outcome. Therefore, cases with hyponatremia reported a mean disease-free survival of 10.8 months and respectively a mean overall survival of 18.5 months while cases with normal natrium levels reported a mean disease-free survival of 31.4 months and respectively a mean overall survival of 49.7 months (p=0.0001 and p 0.001). Conclusions: patients with lower preoperative values of sodium have a higher risk of developing postoperative complications and a significantly poorer outcome when compared to cases presenting normal levels of sodium preoperatively.

Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictive Tool for the Perioperative and Postoperative Outcomes in Advanced Stage Ovarian Cancer

Background: platelet to lymphocyte ratio remains a significant prognostic factor in different malignancies. The aim of the current paper is to study the correlation between the preoperative values of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the postoperative outcomes in ovarian cancer patients. Method: we conducted a retrospective study on 57 patients submitted to cytoreductive surgery between 2014-2020. We determined the optimal cut off value of PLR for predicting survival outcomes by using the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve a value of 350 being obtained. The patients were further classified in two groups according to the PLR value. Results: there were 37 patients with PLR 350 and respectively 20 patients with PLR 350. Patients in the second group were significantly older and presented significantly higher rates of perioperative complications, a significantly higher level of circulating platelets, of CA125 and respectively a significantly lower level of circulating lymphocytes and of preoperative hemoglobin level. Meanwhile, patients in the second group reported a significantly poorer disease free and overall survival. Conclusions: ovarian cancer patients with higher preoperative levels of PLR trend to have a poorer early and long-term postoperative outcome. Therefore, in such cases more aggressive systemic therapies might be needed.

The influence of lymphocyte to monocyte ratio on the postoperative outcome of patients diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer

Introduction: the lymphocyte to monocyte ratio has been widely investigated in patients with different malignancies and proved to have prognostic value for both early and long-term evolution. Aim: Current paper investigates the influence of this parameter on the perioperative course of patients submitted to surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer. Material and methods: between 2016-2018 there were 34 patients diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer who were submitted to surgery with curative intent and in whom this parameter was evaluated. Results: a low rate of this parameter seemed to be significantly associated with a more advanced stage at diagnostic (p=0,002), with higher risk of the presence of lymph node metastases (p=0,003), with larger residual tumor (p=0,002). Meanwhile, patients with a lower lymphocyte to monocyte ratio usually had a higher level of CA 125, but this fact did not have statistical significance (p=0,87). Conclusions: patients with a lower lymphocyte to monocyte rate are expected to present more aggressive ovarian tumors and therefore a personalized therapeutic strategy might be needed.

Does the number of circulating platelets influence the postoperative evolution of endometrial cancer?

Endometrial cancer is a frequently encountered gynecologic malignancy with increasing incidence; in order to maximize the chances to achieve a long-term survival rate, attention was focused on better identifying the patients at risk to develop more aggressive forms of the disease. The aim of the current paper is to investigate the influence of the number of circulating platelets alone or in association with other biomarkers on the perioperative outcomes of endometrial cancer patients.

Vascular Resections in Association With Pancreatic Resections for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer has been considered for a long period of time as an unresectable lesion and therefore, all patients have been traditionally addressed to the oncological services for palliative purposes. However, due to the wide usage of newer oncological agents in association with improved surgical techniques, radical surgical procedures became feasible. The aim of this study was to present the different surgical procedures that were performed in locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients in order to achieve radical resections.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2019 and 2020, six cases were submitted to pancreatic and vascular resections in Fundeni Clinical Hospital.

RESULTS

In all cases, surgery with curative intent was attempted; portal vein resection was performed in five cases, whereas arterial resection was performed in three cases. Reconstruction was performed by direct re-anastomosis, by placing cadaveric or synthetic grafts. The postoperative outcomes were favourable in all cases.

CONCLUSION

Vascular resections can be safely associated with pancreatic resections in cases presenting locally advanced pancreatic lesions, with acceptable morbidity rates.

The role of sentinel lymph node dissection in lobular breast cancer

Lobular breast cancer represents a rare histopathological subtype of this malignancy, being characterized by a particular way of lymphatic spread. Therefore, the most widely known property of this tumor is the one of skipping certain lymphatic groups. Due to this aspect, the benefits of sentinel node identification were considered to be controversial so far. The aim of the current paper is to discuss about the indications and contraindication of this procedure in lobular carcinoma of the breast.

Postoperative diaphragmatic herniation after cytoreductive surgery in advanced stage ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is frequently associated with upper abdominal involvement necessitating extensive resections at this level. In such cases a significant increase of the postoperative complications is to be expected, the most commonly encountered one being represented by pleural effusion. Another complication which is described less frequently but which is associated with higher risks is represented by upper abdominal herniation at the level of the thorax. The aim of this paper is to discuss the risk factors and the therapeutic strategies in such cases.

Is routine appendectomy justified in mucinous borderline ovarian cancer?

Mucinous borderline ovarian tumors represent up to one half of cases diagnosed with borderline lesions and are usually associated with favourable outcomes. When it comes to the therapeutic options in these cases, the initial trend was to adopt the same strategy as in cases presenting invasive mucinous lesions. However, studies conducted so far cam to demonstrate that the appendix presented tumoral infiltration in an extremely low number of cases especially if a normal macroscopical aspect was present and therefore routine appendectomy was no longer recommended. The aim of the current paper is to investigate in which cases appendectomy should still be part of the therapeutic strategy in mucinous borderline ovarian tumors.

Microvascular surgery for upper limb lymphedema treatment

Although the necessity of performing radical mastectomy has significantly decreased over the last decades there are still cases in which this procedure is required, predisposing the patient to the development of long-term complications such as upper limb lymphedema. Meanwhile, due to the increased implementation of indocyanine green usage, the rates of this complication have decreased, preservation of the lymphatic vessels of the arm being more and more possible. Even though, upper limb lymphedema can be still encountered, in such cases vascular surgical procedures such as lymphovenous anastomoses might be performed in order to treat this complication. This is a literature review regarding the usage and effectiveness of indocyanine green administration in the upper limb lymphedema treatment.

Is laparoscopic sclerotherapy justified in the management of endometriomas?

Endometriomas represent a common finding among women at fertile age and usually associated with pelvic pain, infertility, heavy menstrual periods and dyspareunia. For a long period of time surgical resection has been considered the golden standard in such cases. However, although resection aims to take off only the cyst, in certain cases a decrease of the ovarian reserve and secondarily, to a decrease of the fertility is observed. Due to this reason, attention was focused on creating other methods for cyst destroying without impeding the ovarian reserve. The aim of the current paper is to discuss about the effectiveness and safety of sclerotherapy as part of the therapeutic strategy for endometriomas.

Indocyanine green utility in prevention and treatment of upper limb lymphedema

Although screening tests have been widely implemented globally, there are still cases diagnosed with breast cancer in which radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection remains the option of choice. In such cases significant alteration of the quality of life can occur especially in cases in which upper limb lymphedema develops. Therefore, attention was focused on determining the causes related to upper limb lymphedema as well as the therapeutic options in such cases. Special attention was given to the utility of indocyanine green for upper limb lymphatic preservation as well as for the utility of the method in treating this complication. This is a literature review regarding the possibilities of prevention and treatment of upper limb lymphedema by using indocyanine green.

Utility of indocyanine green in the administration of cytotoxic drugs in breast cancer patients

Indocyanine green has been widely introduced in breast cancer protocol for sentinel node detection, for upper limb lymphedema prevention and for breast reconstruction. However, more recent studies came to demonstrate that these particles can be also used in order to provide an efficient intraoperative detection of metastatic deposits as well as for a more targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs. The current paper aims to investigate the mechanisms of action, the principles and the benefits of indocyanine green as a therapeutic tool, part of the medical oncologic treatment of breast cancer patients.

Epidemiological trends and therapeutic challenges of malignancies in adult HIV-1-infected patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital from Romania: An observational retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Malignancies have become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV (PLHIV). The primary endpoint of our study was to describe the epidemiology of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers (ADCs) and non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs). Epidemiological disparities, mortality predictors and survival analysis within the two groups of patients were key secondary endpoints.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated all adult PLHIV with histopathologically proven cancers registered from 2010 to 2016 in the "Matei Balș" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.

RESULTS

110 eligible patients have been included in the study. The incidence of ADCs decreased from 1.6% in 2010 to 0.3% in 2016, unlike NADCs which remained fairly stable over time (0.3%). The higher CD4 count and lower HIV-RNA level at the cancer diagnosis were associated with prolonged survival in ADCs group, but not in NADCs group. The mean CD4 count was 449/mm³ to survivors and 92/mm³ to non-survivors (p=0.017). The mean level of HIV-RNA was 64,671 copies/mL to survivors and 1,760,345 copies/mL to non-survivors (p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

A good therapeutic control of HIV infection at the diagnosis of ADCs was associated with better survival, emphasizing the key role of the effective cART in the management of HIV-associated cancers.

The 12th Edition of the Scientific Days of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Bals” and the 12th National Infectious Diseases Conference

A1 The outcome of patients with recurrent versus non-recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in a tertiary health-care hospital in Bucharest

Cristian-Mihail Niculae, Eliza Manea, Raluca Jipa, Simona Merisor, Ruxandra Moroti, Serban Benea, Adriana Hristea

A2 Influence of bacteriophages on sessile Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Alina Cristina Neguț, Oana Săndulescu, Anca Streinu-Cercel, Dana Mărculescu, Magdalena Lorena Andrei, Veronica Ilie, Marcela Popa, Coralia Bleotu, Carmen Chifiriuc, Mircea Ioan Popa, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A3 The utility of inflammatory biomarkers in the prognostic evaluation of septic patients – past, present and future

Alina Orfanu, Cristina Popescu, Anca Leuștean, Remulus Catană, Anca Negru, Alexandra Badea, Radu Orfanu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă, Ştefan Sorin Aramă

A4 Etiologic and clinical features of bacterial meningitis in infants

Constanța-Angelica Vișan, Anca-Cristina Drăgănescu, Anuța Bilașco, Camelia Kouris, Mădălina Merișescu, Magdalena Vasile, Diana-Maria Slavu, Sabina Vintilă, Endis Osman, Alina Oprea, Sabina Sandu, Monica Luminos

A5 The diagnostic and prognostic role of neutrophil to lymphocyte count ratio in sepsis

Alina Orfanu, Victoria Aramă, Ştefan Sorin Aramă, Anca Leuştean, Remulus Catană, Anca Negru, Gabriel Adrian Popescu, Cristina Popescu

A6 Whooping cough in a HIV positive patient

Ramona Georgiana Stanculete, Ana Vaduva Enoiu, Adelina Raluca Marinescu, Voichita Lazureanu

A7 Cronobacter sakazakii sepsis in varicella patient

Adelina-Raluca Marinescu, Alexandru Crișan, Voichița Lăzureanu, Virgil Musta, Narcisa Nicolescu, Ruxandra Laza

A8 Anaerobes an underdiagnosed cause of prosthesis joint infection

Anca-Ruxandra Negru, Daniela-Ioana Munteanu, Raluca Mihăilescu, Remulus Catană, Olga Dorobăț, Alexandru Rafila, Emilia Căpraru, Marius Niculescu, Rodica Marinescu, Olivera Lupescu, Vlad Predescu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Victoria Aramă, Daniela Tălăpan

A9 Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis presenting with normal CSF – case presentation

Ramona Ștefania Popescu, Luminița Bradu, Dragoș Florea, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A10 Extrapulmonary manifestations of infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae – study on 24 cases

Daniela Anicuta Leca, Elena Bunea, Andra Teodor, Egidia Miftode

A11 The molecular diagnosis of severe bacterial sepsis in pediatric population

Mădălina Merișescu, Gheorghiță Jugulete, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Dragoș Florea, Monica Luminos

A12 Acute Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis with multiple septic complications in a patient with diabetes mellitus – case presentation

Ramona Ștefania Popescu, Anamaria Dobrotă, Adina Ilie, Liliana Lucia Preoțescu

A13 Is Streptococcus suis meningitis an under-diagnosed zoonosis?

Adriana Hristea, Raluca Jipa, Nicoleta Irimescu, Irina Panait, Eliza Manea, Simona Merisor, Cristian Niculae, Daniela Tălăpan

A14 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from blood. Antimicrobial resistance – past and present

Liana Cătălina Gavriliu, Otilia Elisabeta Benea, Șerban Benea, Alexandru Rafila, Olga Dorobăț, Mona Popoiu

A15 Antibiotics resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood cultures

Livia Dragonu, Augustin Cupşa, Iulian Diaconescu, Irina Niculescu, Lucian Giubelan, Florentina Dumitrescu, Andreea Cristina Stoian, Camelia Guţă, Simona Puiu

A16 Predominance of CTX-M enzymes in extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in two hospitals of Quebec City

Bunescu Irina, Marilyse Vallée, Ann Huletsky, Dominique K. Boudreau, Ève Bérubé, Richard Giroux, Jean Longtin, Yves Longtin, Michel G. Bergeron

A17 Postoperative meningoencephalitis with Acinetobacter baumannii XDR – a therapeutic challenge - Case report

Cleo Nicoleta Roșculeț, Dalila-Ana Toma, Catrinel Ciuca, Daniela Tălăpan, Cătălin Apostolescu, Andrei Rogoz, Andrei Stangaciu, Viorica Mitescu, Tudor Vladoiu, Doina Iovănescu

A18 Septic arthritis with Burkholderia cepacia

Michaela Oana, Simona Costin

A19 A novel approach for managing hard-to-treat infections

Alina Cristina Neguț, Oana Săndulescu, Anca Streinu-Cercel, Maria Magdalena Moțoi, Mircea Ioan Popa, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A20 Nineteen months surveillance for multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) by detecting asymptomatic colonization

Daniela Tălăpan, Olga Mihaela Dorobăț, Mona Popoiu, Alexandru Mihai, Doina Iovănescu, Cleo Roşculeț, Cătălin Apostolescu, Gabriel-Adrian Popescu, Adrian Abagiu, Ruxandra Moroti-Constantinescu, Adriana Hristea, Victoria Aramă, Otilia Benea, Mădălina Simoiu, Rodica Bacruban, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Alexandru Rafila

A21 Antimicrobial resistance of Gram-positive cocci isolated from clinical specimens in the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Prof Dr. Matei Balș” between 2009–2015

Olga Mihaela Dorobăț, Daniela Tălăpan, Alexandru Mihai, Ioana Bădicuț, Mona Popoiu, Alina Borcan, Alexandru Rafila

A22 The high percentage of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli in Romania: an analysis and some proposals

Gabriel Adrian Popescu

A23 Etiological, clinical and therapeutic considerations on 78 cases of healthcare associated meningitis or ventriculitis admitted in the “Sf. Parascheva” infectious diseases clinical hospital, Iași, from 2011 to 2015

Mihnea Hurmuzache, Georgiana Enache, Alexandra Ciocan, Mircea Bararu, Madalina Popazu

A24 Nosocomial infection dynamics in an Intensive Care Department – an overview (epidemiological and clinical monitoring, advanced therapeutic intervention).

Doina Viorica Iovănescu, Cleo Nicoleta Roșculeț, Andrei Rogoz Cătălin Gabriel Apostolescu, Viorica Mitescu_, Tudor Vladoiu, Dalila Toma, Catrinel Ciuca

A25 Safety and efficacy of interferon free treatment in patients with HCV chronic hepatitis- experience of a single Internal Medicine center

Laura Iliescu, Georgiana Minzala, Letitia Toma, Mihaela Baciu, Alina Tanase, Carmen Orban

A26 Viusid in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C

Victor Pantea, Gheorghe Placinta, Valentin Cebotarescu, Lilia Cojuhari, Paulina Jimbei

A27 The management of hyperbilirubinemia in HCV cirrhotic patients who underwent therapy with direct acting antivirals

Cristina Popescu, Anca Leuștean, Cristina Dragomirescu, Alina Orfanu, Cristina Murariu, Laurențiu Stratan, Alexandra Badea, Cătălin Tilișcan, Daniela Munteanu, Raluca Năstase, Violeta Molagic, Mihaela Rădulescu, Remulus Catana, Victoria Aramă

A28 The efficacy of ombitasvir-paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir and ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 HCV compensated cirrhosis

Cristina Popescu, Laurențiu Stratan, Remulus Catana, Anca Leuștean, Cristina Dragomirescu, Alexandra Badea, Cristina Murariu, Raluca Năstase, Violeta Molagic, Daniela Munteanu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Mihaela Rădulescu, Alina Orfanu, Ioan Diaconu, Anca Negru, Iulia Bodosca, Violeta Niță, Victoria Aramă

A29 The efficacy of direct acting antivirals regimen without ribavirin in HCV genotype 1b infected patients with compensated cirrhosis

Anca Leuștean, Victoria Aramă, Alina Orfanu, Remulus Catana, Laurențiu Stratan, Cristina Dragomirescu, Cristina Murariu, Alexandra Badea, Cătălin Tilișcan, Daniela Munteanu, Violeta Molagic, Raluca Năstase, Mihaela Rădulescu, Cristina Popescu

A30 Liver decompensation during ombitasvir-paritaprevir/ritonavir-dasabuvir and ribavirin regimen in HCV infected patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis

Cristina Popescu, Cristina Dragomirescu, Anca Leuștean, Cristina Murariu, Laurențiu Stratan, Alexandra Badea, Remulus Catană, Alina Orfanu, Raluca Mihaela Năstase, Violeta Molagic, Daniela Munteanu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă

A31 The safety of direct acting antivirals in HCV compensated cirrhotic patients - an interim analysis

Victoria Aramă, Remulus Catană, Cristina Dragomirescu, Cristina Murariu, Anca Leuștean, Laurențiu Stratan, Alexandra Badea, Alina Orfanu, Anca Negru, Raluca Năstase, Violeta Molagic, Daniela Munteanu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Mihaela Rădulescu, Ioan Diaconu, Violeta Niță, Iulia Bodoșca, Cristina Popescu

A32 The access of patients with HCV compensated cirrhosis to the National Program of therapy with direct acting antivirals

Cristina Popescu, Alexandra Badea, Anca Leuștean, Alina Orfanu, Anca Negru, Laurențiu Stratan, Cristina Dragomirescu, Remulus Catană, Cristina Murariu, Violeta Molagic, Raluca Năstase, Cătălin Tilișcan, Daniela Munteanu, Mihaela Rădulescu, Ioan Diaconu, Violeta Niță, Iulia Bodoșca, Victoria Aramă

A33 Severe reactivation of chronic hepatitis B after discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analogues – a case series

Cristina Popescu, Alina Orfanu, Anca Leuștean, Alexandra Badea, Laurențiu Stratan, Remulus Catană, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă

A34 The dynamic of hematological disorders during direct acting antivirals therapy for HCV compensated cirrhosis

Cristina Popescu, Cristina Murariu, Cristina Dragomirescu, Anca Leuștean, Laurențiu Stratan, Alina Orfanu, Alexandra Badea, Remulus Catană, Anca Negru, Cătălin Tilișcan, Daniela Munteanu, Mihaela Rădulescu, Violeta Molagic, Raluca Mihaela Năstase, Ioan Alexandru Diaconu, Iulia Bodoșca, Violeta Niță, Victoria Aramă

A35 Behaviors, attitudes and risk factors for viral hepatitis in international medical students vs. the general population in Romania

Yagmur Erturk, Oana Săndulescu, Alina Cristina Neguț, Claudiu Mihai Șchiopu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Anca Streinu-Cercel

A36 Characteristics of hepatitis C virus reactivation due to immunosuppressive therapy in Romanian HCV infected patients with hematological malignancies

Violeta Molagic, Cătălin Tilișcan, Cristina Popescu, Raluca Mihăilescu, Daniela Munteanu, Raluca Năstase, Anca Negru, Angelica Tenita, Victoria Aramă, Ștefan Sorin Aramă

A37 The dynamic IFN-gamma serum levels during successful peginterferon-a 2a/ribavirin therapy in HCV chronic infection

Simona Alexandra Iacob, Diana Gabriela Iacob, Monica Luminos

A38 Overlapping risk factors for transmission of HBV, HCV and HIV in the general population in Romania

Anca Streinu-Cercel, Oana Săndulescu, Mioara Predescu, Alexandra Mărdărescu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Mihai Săndulescu, Claudiu Mihai Șchiopu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A39 Acute hepatitis - an uncommon neurological complication

Cleo Nicoleta Roșculeț, Catrinel Olimpia Ciuca, Dalila Ana Toma, Cătălin Gabriel Apostolescu, Andrei Rogoz, Cristina Elena Mitu, Andrei Stangaciu, Viorica Daniela Mitescu, Tudor Gheorghe Vladoiu, Doina Viorica Iovănescu

A40 Regression of liver fibrosis following sustained virological response in patients with chronic HCV infection and cirrhosis

Oana Săndulescu, Anca Streinu-Cercel, Monica Andreea Stoica, Liliana Lucia Preoțescu, Daniela Manolache, Gabriela Jana Ceapraga, Maria Magdalena Moțoi, Luminița Bradu, Adina Ilie, Gabriela Mircea, Ionel Durbală, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A41 Preliminary results of treatment with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir of patients with chronic hepatitis C

Irina Russu, Tiberiu Holban, Tatiana Pantilimonov, Galina Chiriacov, Arcadie Macvovei, Elena Scorohodico, Oleg Dmitriev

A42 HIV-syphilis coinfection

Diana Alexandra Costache, Anca Benea, Eliza Manea, Cristian Niculae, Raluca Jipa, Adriana Hristea, Elisabeta Benea, Ruxandra Moroti, Șerban Benea

A43 Thrombophilia – additional risk factor for the evolution of pregnancy in HIV-positive patients

Mihai Mitran, Carmen Georgescu, Loredana Mitran, Simona Vladareanu

A44 The incidence of oropharyngeal candidiasis in hospitalized HIV infected pediatric Romanian cohort between 1 January - 31 December 2015

Andreea Ioana Magirescu, Viorica Andreev, Cristina Nicolau, Alexandra Largu, Carmen Dorobat, Carmen Manciuc

A45 TB incidence in HIV infected patients during the year of 2015

Viorica Andreev, Andreea Ioana Magirescu, Ina Isac, Cristina Nicolau, Alexandra Largu, Carmen Dorobat, Carmen Manciuc

A46 Retrospective analysis of HIV/AIDS deaths recorded in the Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, Constanța in the period 01 January 2014–30 June 2016. Epidemiological considerations.

Iulia Gabriela Șerban, Ghiulendan Resul, Consuela Marcaș

A47 Acute liver failure with favorable evolution in an HIV-HBV coinfected patient

Iosif Marincu, Patricia Poptelecan, Bogdan Trincă, Sorina Mitrescu, Anca Tudor, Daliborca Vlad, Livius Tirnea

A48 Lifestyle impact on HIV management

Nurcan Baydaroglu, Alina Cristina Neguț, Oana Săndulescu, Daniela Manolache, Gabriela Ceapraga, Monica Andreea Stoica, Anca Streinu-Cercel, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

49. HIV positive mothers newborns - clinical experience from January 2012 to June 2016

Carmen Manciuc, Mariana Pagute, Cristina Nicolau, Carmen Dorobăț, Alexandra Largu

A50 Rediscovering HIV-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and HIV encephalopathy: clinical suspicion and subsequent brain autopsies

Ioan-Alexandru Diaconu, Laurențiu Stratan, Daniela Ion, Luciana Nichita, Cristina Popescu, Raluca Năstase, Daniela Munteanu, Violeta Molagic, Cătălin Tilișcan, Mihaela Rădulescu, Alexandra Diaconu, Anca Negru, Alina Orfanu, Cristina Dragomirescu, Remulus Catană, Anca Leuștean, Irina Duport-Dodot, Cristina Murariu, Iulia Bodoșca, Violeta Niță, Alexandra Badea, Victoria Aramă

A51 Antenatal surveillance of pregnant women with risk behavior and its impact on mother-to-child HIV transmission in Romania

Mariana Mărdărescu, Cristina Petre, Marieta Iancu, Rodica Ungurianu, Alina Cibea, Ruxandra Drăghicenoiu, Ana Maria Tudor, Delia Vlad, Sorin Petrea, Carina Matei, Dan Oțelea, Carmen Crăciun, Cristian Anghelina, Alexandra Mărdărescu

A52 Noninvasive assessments (APRI, Fib-4, transient elastography) of fibrosis in patients with HIV and HIV/HBV infection

Elena Dumea, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Sorin Rugină, Lucian Cristian Petcu, Stela Halichidis, Simona Claudia Cambrea

A53 Undetectable HIV viral load – the main goal in the management of HIV-infected patients

Carmen Chiriac, Nina-Ioana Bodnar, Iringo-Erzsebet Zaharia-Kezdi, Cristina Gîrbovan, Andrea Incze, Anca Meda Georgescu

A54 LPS serum levels and correlation with immunological, virological and clinical outcome in HIV infected patients

Simona Alexandra Iacob, Diana Gabriela Iacob, Eugenia Panaitescu, Monica Luminos, Manole Cojocaru

A55 LL37 human cathelicidin serum levels are positively correlated with IFN gamma and alanine aminotransferase level in HCV infection

Simona Alexandra Iacob, Diana Gabriela Iacob, Monica Luminos

A56 Early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a non-compliant HIV/AIDS late presenter patient

Vochita Laurențiu, Vochita Andreia, Opreanu Radu, Trinca Bogdan, Rosca Ovidiu, Marincu Iosif

A57 Evolution of antiretroviral regimens in naϊve patients in 2016

Ramona Zamfir, Alina Angelescu, Alena Andreea Popa, Raluca Jipa, Ruxandra Moroti, Adriana Hristea, Liana Gavriliu, Șerban Benea, Elisabeta Benea

A58 The unfavorable risk factors for HIV infected persons with positive blood cultures hospitalized at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș” in 2015

Alena-Andreea Popa, Georgeta Ducu, Daniela Camburu, Alina Cozma, Manuela Podani, Roxana Dumitriu, Liana Gavriliu, Șerban Benea, Elisabeta Benea

A59 Epidemiological aspects of HIV infection in Oltenia region

Andreea Cristina Stoian, Florentina Dumitrescu, Augustin Cupșa, Lucian Giubelan, Irina Niculescu, Loredana Ionescu, Livia Dragonu

A60 HIV risk behaviors and prevalence among patients in methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) from Arena center, Bucharest

Adrian Octavian Abagiu, Loredana Nicoleta Stoica, Catrinel Blaga, Archontis Koulosousas, Roxana Ștefănescu, Alice Atomoaie, Florentina Paraschiv, Florin Matache Duna

A61 Therapeutic options in a case of severe psoriasis associated with both HIV infection and hepatitis C virus previously treated with fumaric acid esters

Rodica Olteanu, Roxana Ion, Alexandra Zota, Isra Ennour Jaballah, Lara Mahfoud, Georgeta Preda, Magda Constantin

A62 Prevalence of autoantibodies against gangliosides in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients

Ilinca Nicolae, Corina Daniela Ene, Mădălina Irina Mitran, Vasile Benea, Mircea Tampa, Simona Roxana Georgescu

A63 Subclinical inflammation in HIV-infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy – a cross sectional study

Iulia Cristina Bodoșca, Cristina Murariu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă, Cristina Popescu, Daniela Munteanu, Mihaela Rădulescu, Violeta Molagic, Raluca Năstase, Alina Orfanu, Anca Leuștean, Remulus Catană, Anca Negru, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Sorin Aramă

A64 Severe Guillain-Barré syndrome occurring after chickenpox with favorable evolution

Iuliana CAramăngiu, Ovidiu Rosca, Monica Cialma, Radu Opreanu, Laurențiu Vochita, Iosif Marincu

A65 Echovirus 30 infection with pulmonary and cardiac complications – case report

Vlad Murărescu, Marilena Palaghiță, Alina Cristina Neguț, Cornel Camburu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A66 Herpetic encephalitis with favorable evolution in an adult immunocompetent patient

Irina Duşan, Patricia Poptelecan, Bogdan Trincă, Sorina Mitrescu, Livius Tirnea, Iosif Marincu

A67 Clinical-evolutional aspects in present-day measles

Narcisa Nicolescu, Alexandru Crișan, Voichița Lăzureanu, Ruxandra Laza, Virgil Musta, Adelina-Raluca Marinescu, Andreea Bîrlad

A68 Pneumococcal superinfection in children with influenza

Victor Daniel Miron, Anca Cristina Drăgănescu, Constanța-Angelica Vișan, Anuța Bilașco, Daniela Pițigoi, Oana Săndulescu, Monica Luminița Luminos

A69 Varicella complicated with transverse myelitis - case presentation

Monica Luminos, Endis Osman, Magdalena Vasile, Anca Cristina Drăgănescu, Constanța-Angelica Vișan, Anuța Bilașco, Camelia Kouris, Sabina Șchiopu, Mădălina Merișescu

A70 Clinical forms of enterovirus infections during the summer season of 2016

Monica Luminos, Anca Cristina Drăgănescu, Constanța-Angelica Vișan, Anuța Bilașco, Camelia Kouris, Endis Osman, Sabina Vintilă, Magda Vasile, Mădălina Merișescu

A71 Face off – HIV and lymphoma – case series presentation

Liana Cătălina Gavriliu, Otilia Elisabeta Benea, Alina Angelescu, Ramona Zamfir, Daniela Camburu, Georgeta Ducu, Alina Cozma, Roxana Dumitriu, Manuela Podani, Șerban Benea, Mihaela Ionică

A72 Coxsackie infection complicated by pancytopenia – pediatric case report

Gheorghiță Jugulete, Adina Stăncescu, Cristina Elena Popescu, Luminița Marin, Diana Zaharia, Cristina Dumitrescu, Lucia Tudor, Sabina Vintilă

A73 Viral respiratory infections in children in the season 2015–2016

Constanța-Angelica Vișan, Anca Cristina Drăgănescu, Anuța Bilașco, Magda Vasile, Mădălina Merișescu, Camelia Kouris, Cristina Negulescu, Endis Osman, Diana-Maria Slavu, Sabina Vintilă, Daniela Pițigoi, Monica Luminos

A75 The severity of A H1N1 Influenza infection in the 2015–2016 season

Cleo Roșculeț, Catrinel Olimpia Ciuca, Dalila Toma, Cătălin Apostolescu, Andrei Rogoz, Andrei Stangaciu, Viorica Mitescu, Doina Iovănescu, Cornel Camburu, Bogdana Manu

A76 Acute respiratory distress syndrome in a child with measles

Ana Vaduva-Enoiu, Ramona Georgiana Stanculete, Adelina Raluca Marinescu, Voichita Elena Lazureanu

A77 Management challenges of right-sided infectious endocarditis in an HIV positive patient – case presentation

Elena-Violeta Niță, Sînziana Dumitru, Daniela-Ioana Munteanu, Anca Ruxandra Negru, Remulus Catană, Ioan Diaconu, Bogdana Manu, Ligia Ionescu, Liliana Ion, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă

A78 Bacterial infection in critical patients with severe A H1N1 influenza virus infection (epidemiology, development, therapeutic decisions)

Doina Viorica Iovănescu, Cleo Nicoleta Roșculeț, Andrei Rogoz, Cătălin Apostolescu, Viorica Mitescu, Tudor Vladoiu, Dalila Toma, Catrinel Ciuca

A79 Epidemiological aspects of severe acute respiratory infection cases (SARI) in the season 2015–2016, in the Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases – Constanța, Romania

Iulia Gabriela Șerban, Marioara Neacșu

A80Overexpression of IL-6 trans signaling pathway in viral infections

Simona Roxana Georgescu, Vasile Benea, Corina Daniela Ene, Mircea Tampa, Cristina Iulia Mitran, Ilinca Nicolae

A81 Acute viral hepatitis B with persistent HBsAg – description and evolution

George Ciprian Pribac, Mirandolina Prisca, Fulvia Ursoiu, Carmen Neamtu, Bogdan Totolici, Coralia Cotoraci, Aurel Ardelean

A82 Prevalence of cervical pathogens in a population of pregnant female patients monitored in a tertiary care hospital in Bucharest, Romania

Simona Elena Albu, Mara Carsote, Beatrice Miclăuș, Diana Mihai, Oana Săndulescu, Cristina Vasiliu

A83 Prevalence of group B Streptococcus during pregnancy in a cohort of patients monitored in a tertiary care hospital in Bucharest, Romania

Cristina Vasiliu, Mara Carsote, Corina Gorgoi, Beatrice Miclăuș, Diana Mihai, Oana Săndulescu, Simona Elena Albu

A84 Infectious hematoma in the gastrocnemius muscle – case presentation

Amelia Blescun, Gelu Breaza

A85 Reflections towards the underexplored HTLV Romanian viral circulation - adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphomas, a case series

Sabina Vintila, Felicia Mihai, Meilin Omer, Cornel Dragan, Daniela Pitigoi

A86 A febrile confusion syndrome with acute onset – case presentation

Mirela Ciucu, Marius-Dan Ionescu, Cristina Roskanovic, Valentina Barbu, Iulian Diaconescu, Florentina Dumitrescu, Irina Niculescu

A87 Retrobulbar optic neuritis in a HIV-positive patient - case report

Mihaela Ionică, Ramona-Alexandra Zamfir, Alina Cozma, Otilia Elisabeta Benea

A88 A rare presentation of Q fever – case presentation

Alexandra-Sînziana Dumitru, Daniela-Ioana Munteanu, Violeta Niță, Cristina Popescu, Iulia Bodosca, Angelica Tenita, Viorica Ispas, Victoria Aramă

A89 Tinea incognita – case presentation

Vasile Benea, Simona Roxana Georgescu, Mircea Tampa, Diana Oana Leahu, Cristina Maria Safta, Mihaela Anca Benea

A90 Incidence and risk factors associated with TORCH infections during pregnancy

Oana Săndulescu, Octavian Munteanu, Roxana Bohâlțea, Livia Trașcă, Monica Cîrstoiu

A91 Acute respiratory failure in critical patients with sepsis

Doina Viorica Iovănescu, Cleo Nicoleta Roșculeț, Andrei Rogoz, Cătălin Gabriel Apostolescu, Viorica Daniela Mitescu, Tudor Gheorghe Vladoiu, Dalila Toma, Catrinel Ciuca

A92 Cochleo-vestibular deficit secondary to Granulicatella elegans meningitis

Mădălina Georgescu

A93 Influenza 2015/2016 – clinical, epidemiological and virological characteristics of cases admitted in three infectious diseases hospitals

Daniela Pițigoi, Alina Elena Ivanciuc, Mihaela Lazar, Teodora Ionescu, Carmen Maria Cherciu, Cristina Țecu, Maria Elena Mihai, Maria Nițescu, Rodica Bacruban, Delia Azamfire, Aura Dumitrescu, Elena Ianosik, Daniela Leca, Elena Duca, Andra Teodor, Codrina Bejan, Emanoil Ceaușu, Simin-Aysel Florescu, Corneliu Popescu, Grațiela Târdei, Codrina Juganariu, Emilia Lupulescu

A94 Severe complications of varicella requiring hospitalization in previously healthy children in Brașov county

Ligia Rodina, Maria Elena Cocuz

A95 Clinical forms of Clostridium difficile colitis in children

Gheorghiță Jugulete, Adina Stăncescu, Cristina Elena Popescu, Luminița Marin, Diana Zaharia, Cristina Dumitrescu, Endis Osman

A96 Community-acquired pneumonia – demographic, clinical and etiological aspects

Irina Niculescu, Augustin Cupșa, Iulian Diaconescu, Florentina Dumitrescu, Livia Dragonu, Andreea Stoian, Lucian Giubelan, Cristina Roskanovic

A97 Acute myocarditis in an adult patient with chickenpox - Case report

Ramona-Alexandra Zamfir, Mihaela Ionica, Otilia-Elisabeta Benea

A98 Caustic oropharyngeal wound with acute group F streptococcal superinfection mimicking diphtheria – case report and differential diagnosis

Maria-Cristina Sîrbu, AnaMaria Dobrotă, Alina Cristina Neguț, Roxana Duda, Rodica Bacruban, Daniela Pițigoi, Cristiana Cerasella Dragomirescu, Daniela Tălăpan, Olga Dorobăț, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Anca Streinu-Cercel

A99 Clostridium difficile infection in HIV-positive patients admitted in the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș” in 2015

Mihaela Ionica, Ramona-Alexandra Zamfir, Alina Cozma, Otilia Elisabeta Benea

A100 Title: Epidemiology of Candida oral infections (stomatitis) in Romania

Sergiu Fendrihan, Ecaterina Scortan, Mircea Ioan Popa

A101 Anthrax case series in south-eastern Romania

Corneliu P Popescu, Șerban N Benea, Andra E Petcu, Adriana Hristea, Adrian Abagiu, Iuliana A Podea, Raluca E Jipa, Georgeta Ducu, Raluca M Hrișcă, Dragoș Florea, Manuela Nica, Eliza Manea, Simona Merișor, Cristian M Nicolae, Simin A Florescu, Irina M Dumitru, Emanoil Ceaușu, Sorin Rugină, Ruxandra V Moroti

A102 Knowledge, risk perception and attitudes of healthcare workers at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș” regarding Ebola

Daniela Pițigoi, Teodora Ionescu, Oana Săndulescu, Maria Nițescu, Bogdan Nițescu, Iulia Monica Mustaţă, Sorina Claudia Boldeanu, Florentina Furtunescu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A103 A case of abdominopelvic actinomycosis with successful short-term antibiotic treatment

Diana Gabriela Iacob, Simona Alexandra Iacob, Mihaela Gheorghe

A104 A case of pneumonia caused by Raoultella planticola

Iulian Diaconescu, Irina Niculescu, Floretina Dumitrescu, Lucian Giubelan

A105 Vitamin D deficiency and sepsis in childhood

Adriana Slavcovici, Raluca Tripon, Roxana Iubu, Cristian Marcu, Mihaela Sabou, Monica Muntean

A106 The clinical and epidemiological aspects and prophylaxis of Lyme disease among patients who presented with tick bites to the Clinical Infectious Disease Hospital “Toma Ciorbă”

Ion Chiriac, Tiberiu Holban, Liviu Tazlavanu

A107 Drug-resistant tuberculosis in HIV infected patients

Raluca Jipa, Eliza Manea, Roxana Cernat, Kezdi Iringo, Andrei Vâță, Manuela Arbune, Teodora Moisil, Adriana Hristea

A108 Kidney injury molecule-1 and urinary tract infections

Corina-Daniela Ene, Ilinca Nicolae, Roxana Simona Georgescu

A109 The impact of microbiological agents on serum gangliosides in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia

Corina-Daniela Ene, Cosmin-Victor Ene, Roxana Simona Georgescu, Marilena Ciortea , Lucreția Dulgheru, Ilinca Nicolae

A110 Toxocariasis - the experience of the Iași Infectious Diseases Hospital between 2013–2015

Mihaela Cătălina Luca, Ioana-Alina Harja-Alexa, Roxana Nemescu, Mădălina Popazu, Andrei Ștefan Luca

A111 Species of anaerobic Gram-positive cocci involved in odontogenic abscesses

Gabriela Bancescu, Bogdan Dabu, Adrian Bancescu

A112 Clostridium difficile infection recurrences

Eliza Manea, Raluca Jipa, Adriana Hristea

A113 Differential diagnosis of staphylococcal and tuberculous osteodiscitis – case report

Adina Elena Ilie, Săftica-Mariana Pohrib, Alina Cristina Neguț, Maria-Sabina Tache, Maria Magdalena Moțoi, Oana Săndulescu, Ion Aurel Iliescu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

A114 Severe clinical forms of respiratory syncytial virus infections

Cristina Tecu, Maria-Elena Mihai, Mihaela Lazăr, Carmen Cherciu, Alina Ivanciuc, Daniela Pițigoi, Emilia Lupulescu

A115 Acinetobacter baumannii postoperative sepsis associated with Clostridium difficile enterocolitis in an immune suppressed elderly patient

Mirela Paliu, Manuela Curescu, Bianca Cerbu, Iosif Marincu

A116 Risk factors and their impact on psychopathology and quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Romania

Fulvia Ursoiu, Mirandolina Prișcă, George Ciprian Pribac

A117 Antivirals susceptibility of influenza viruses circulating in Romania

Maria Elena Mihai, Carmen Maria Cherciu, Alina Elena Ivanciuc, Cristina Tecu, Emilia Lupulescu

A118 Retrospective study of hospitalized cases of sepsis at the Hospital Clinic of Infectious Diseases “Toma Ciorbă”

Irina Bunescu, Tiberiu Holban, Ana Pasnin, Stela Semeniuc, Raisa Popovici, Galina Chiriacov

Proceedings of The 8th Romanian National HIV/AIDS Congress and The 3rd Central European HIV Forum : Sibiu, Romania. 5-7 May 2016

O1 HIV-1 diversity in Bulgaria (current molecular epidemiological picture)

Ivailo Alexiev, Reneta Dimitrova, Anna Gancheva, Asya Kostadinova, Mariyana Stoycheva, Daniela Nikolova, Ivaylo Elenkov

O2 Knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general population on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C in Romania

Cătălin Tilișcan, Mioara Predescu, Bogdan Păunescu, Anca Streinu-Cercel, Oana Săndulescu, Claudiu Mihai Șchiopu, Mădălina Hristache, Lăcrămioara Aurelia Brîndușe, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

O3 The prevalence of human leukocyte antigen-B*57:01 allele carriers and CXCR4 tropism among newly diagnosed HIV infected patients in Serbia

Marija Todorovic, Marina Siljic, Dubravka Salemovic, Valentina Nikolic, Ivana Pesic-Pavlovic, Jovan Ranin, Djordje Jevtovic, Maja Stanojevic

O4 HIV transmission among stable serodiscordant couples from the former Pediatric Cohort follow up in the National Institute of Infectious Diseases

Ana Maria Tudor, Delia Vlad, Mariana Mărdărescu, Sorin Petrea, Cristina Petre, Ruxandra Neagu-Drăghicenoiu, Rodica Ungurianu, Alina Cibea, Odette Chirilă, Cristian Anghelina, Ileana Coserea

O5 Unemployment is associated with syringe sharing among people who inject drugs in Greece

Pantelia-Amalia Krikelli, Eirini Pavlitina, Mina Psichogiou, Demetris Lamnisos, Leslie Williams, Anya Korobchuk, Britt Skaathun, Pavlo Smyrnov, John Schneider, Vana Sypsa, Dimitrios Paraskevis, Angelos Hatzakis, Samuel R. Friedman, Georgios K. Nikolopoulos

O6 Correlation of adipocytokine levels in different types of lipodystrophy in HIV/AIDS patients

Gordana Dragović, Danica Srdić, Al Musalhi Khawla, Ivan Soldatović, Jelena Nikolić, Djordje Jevtović, Devaki Nair

O7 IP10 – a possible biomarker for the progression of HIV infection

Aura Temereanca, Adelina Rosca, Luminita Ene, Benchawa Soontornniyomkij, Carmen Diaconu, Claudia Dita, Cristian Achim, Simona Ruta

O8 A permanent challenge: persistent low viremia in HIV positive patients on ART

Șerban Benea, Ruxandra Moroti, Raluca Jipa, Eliza Manea, Andrada Stan, Elisabeta Benea, Dan Oțelea, Adriana Hristea

O9 Infections in IDUs according to their HIV status

Adriana Hristea, Irina Lăpădat, Raluca Jipa, Ruxandra Moroti, Șerban Benea, Doina Antonică, Irina Panait, Roxana Petre

O10 Trends in combined antiretroviral therapy used in methadone program integrated with HIV care - 20 years of experience

Justyna D. Kowalska, Ewa Pietraszkiewicz, Ewa Grycner, Ewa Firlag-Burkacka, Andrzej Horban

O11 Extracellular cyclophilin A – inflammatory mediator in HIV infected patients

Ovidiu Vlaicu, Leontina Bănică, Simona Paraschiv, Ana-Maria Tudor, Ruxandra Moroti, Dan Oțelea

O12 High cardiovascular disease risk in Serbian population, an issue of concern

Bojana Dimitrijević, Ivan Soldatović, Đorđe Jevtović, Jovana Kusić, Dubravka Salemović, Jovan Ranin, Gordana Dragović

O13 Genotypic rifampicin resistance in HIV/ tuberculosis coinfected patients from a tertiary level infectious diseases hospital

Dragoș Florea, Ioana Bădicuț, Alexandru Rafila, Cornel Camburu, Adriana Histrea, Mihaela Frățilă, Dan Oțelea

O14 Occurrence of residual HCV RNA in liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and/or HCV/HIV coinfection after IFN-based therapy

Ivana Gmizic, Dubravka Salemovic, Ivana Pesic-Pavlovic, Marina Siljic, Valentina Nikolic, Miljana Djonin-Nenezic, Ivana Milosevic, Branko Brmbolic, Maja Stanojevic

O15 Romanian nationwide screening for infection with HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses

Anca Streinu-Cercel, Oana Săndulescu, Alina Cristina Neguț, Mioara Predescu, Alexandra Mărdărescu, Mihai Săndulescu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel

O16 Treatment emergent variants to combined direct antiviral agents therapy against hepatitis C virus

Ana Belen Pérez, Natalia Chueca, Marta Álvarez, Juan Carlos Alados, Antonio Rivero, Francisco Vera, Marcial Delgado, Javier Salmeron, Miguel Jiménez, Maria José Blanco, Moises Diago, Miguel Garcia-deltoro, Marta Alvarez, Francisco Téllez, Federico García

O17 Clinical and epidemiological aspects in tuberculosis/HIV coinfected patients

Diana Tănase, Eliza Manea, Rodica Bacruban, Dragoș Florea, Dan Oțelea, Alexandru Rafila, Mariana Mărdărescu, Adriana Hristea

O18 Resistance to NS3 protease inhibitors in persons with chronic hepatitis C infected with hepatitis C virus subtype 1a from Croatia

Ivana Grgic, Ana Planinic, Maja Santak, Lana Gorenec, Snjezana Zidovec Lepej, Adriana Vince

O19 Analysis of a simplified diagnostic score for tuberculous meningitis in HIV-infected adults with meningitis

Eliza Manea, Adriana Hristea, Șerban Benea, Ruxandra Moroti, Diana Tănase, Cristian M. Niculae, Simona Merisor, Raluca Jipa

O20 Molecular tracing of the origin of HIV-1 infection among persons who inject drugs in Athens: a phyloethnic study

Dimitrios Paraskevis, Evangelia Kostaki, Georgios K. Nikolopoulos, Vana Sypsa, Mina Psichogiou, Dimitra Paraskeva, Athanassios Skoutelis, Meni Malliori, Samuel R. Friedman, Angelos Hatzakis

O21 The dynamics of virological response to HIV-1 infection and antiretroviral therapy initiation in patients with and without HLA-B*5701 Allele

Malgorzata Hackiewicz, Piotr Zabek, Ewa Firlag-Burkacka, Andrzej Horban, Justyna Dominika Kowalska

O22 Increase in the numbers of non-B subtypes and potential recombinant forms circulating among Slovenian MSM in the recent years

Maja M. Lunar, Jana Mlakar, Mario Poljak

O23 Genotyping intrahost polymorphisms in hepatitis C virus E2 protein associated with resistance to antibody neutralization

Leontina Bănică, Eliza Martin, Valeriu Gheorghiță, Andrei Petrescu, Dan Oțelea, Costin-Ioan Popescu, Simona Paraschiv

O24 Genotyping of HCV NS3 protease inhibitors resistance and phenotyping of rare double resistance mutations in HCV cell culture system

Emil Neaga, Vlaicu Ovidiu, Andrei Juncu, Leontina Bănică, Simona Paraschiv, Dan Oțelea, Costin-Ioan Popescu

O25 Employment status controls the relationship between neurocognitive impairment and depression in a cohort of young HIV-infected adults since childhood

Adrian Luca, Florin Lazăr, Anca Elena Luca, Luminița Ene, Cristian Achim

O26 Predictors of survival in parenterally-infected HIV positive children and youth diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Cosmina Gingăraş, Ștefan Adrian Anton, Roxana Rădoi, Simona Tetradov, Grațiela Țârdei, Maria Nica, Razvan Alexandru Capşa, Cristian L. Achim, Cristiana Oprea, Luminița Ene

O27 Neurocognitive and brain functioning in HIV-infected young MSM treated with cART

Bogna Szymańska, Natalia Gawron, Agnieszka Pluta, Emilia Łojek, Ewa Firląg – Burkacka, Andrzej Horban, Robert Bornstein, et HARMONIA3 Study Group

O28 Clinical value of RT-PCR detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in cerebrospinal fluid

Olivia Burcoș, Simona Manuela Erscoiu, Filofteia Bănicioiu Cojanu, Andreea Toderan, Maria Nica, Ionuț Cristian Popa, Emanoil Ceaușu, Petre Iacob Calistru

O29 Characteristics of sleep disorders in Romanian adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Manuela Arbune, Mirela Alexandrache, Anca-Adriana Arbune, Doina-Carina Voinescu

O30 Diagnosing neuroHIV: the rift between clinicians and pathologists

Ioan-Alexandru Diaconu, Laurențiu Stratan, Victoria Aramă, Luciana Nichita, Alexandra Diaconu, Anca Negru, Alina Orfanu, Anca Leuștean, Daniela Adriana Ion

O31 A challenging neurological complication in a HIV-infected young woman with multiple opportunistic infections

Irina Ianache, Cristiana Oprea

O32 Brain abscess with uncertain etiology in a late-presenter HIV infected patient

Anca Leuștean, Cristina Popescu, Alina Orfanu, Anca Negru, Remulus Catana, Cristina Murariu, Ioan-Alexandru Diaconu, Mihaela Rădulescu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă

O33 Cerebral toxoplasmosis and left crural monoparesis with fatal evolution in a noncompliant patient with AIDS C3

Iosif Marincu, Patricia Poptelecan, Valeria Bică, Florin Lazăr, Livius Tirnea

O34 Opportunistic infections still a problem in HIV-infected patients in cART era: a Romanian single center experience

Irina Ianache, Roxana Rădoi, Manuela Nica, Grațiela Țârdei, Luminița Ene, Emanoil Ceaușu, Petre Calistru, Cristiana Oprea

P1: Epidemiological aspects of co-infection of HIV/TB in Moldova

Iurie Osoianu, Ala Halacu

P2 Perinatal exposure at HIV infection in Oltenia region

Andreea Cristina Stoian, Florentina Dumitrescu, Iulian Diaconescu, Augustin Cupșa, Lucian Giubelan, Loredana Ionescu, Irina Niculescu

P3 Women living with HIV in Mureș county

Carmen Chiriac, Nina Șincu, Iringo Zaharia Kezdi, Anca Georgescu, Brândușa Țilea, Cristina Girbovan, Andrea Incze, Andrea Fodor

P4 Late diagnosis of HIV infection in children - a challenge for Romania

Alina Cibea, Mariana Mărdărescu, Cristina Petre, Ruxandra Drăghicenoiu, Rodica Ungurianu, Ana Maria Tudor, Delia Vlad, Carina Matei

P5 Cirrhosis Assessment in Patients Co-infected HIV-Hepatitis B Virus

Elena Dumea, Lucian Cristian Petcu, Simona Claudia Cambrea

P6 HIV late presenters in Craiova Regional Center, Romania

Florentina Dumitrescu, Augustin Cupsa, Andreea Cristina Stoian, Lucian Giubelan, Irina Niculescu, Iulian Diaconescu, Dan Hurezeanu, Livia Dragonu, Mioara Cotulbea

P7 Some aspects of malignancies in patients HIV / AIDS

Simona Manuela Erscoiu, Ionuț Cristian Popa, Denisa Stroie, Petronela Ionescu, Nedeea Duță, Camelia Dobrea, Irina Voican, Emanoil Ceaușu, Petre Iacob Calistru

P8 Factors associated with resilience among people living with HIV in Romania

Florin Lazăr

P9 Fever in HIV-infected patients: a thorny problem to be solved by the clinicians

Lucian Giubelan, Augustin Cupșa, Iulian Diaconescu, Florentina Dumitrescu, Dan Hurezeanu, Livia Dragonu, Irina Niculescu, Andreea Cristina Stoian, Oana Obretin, Mariana Stănescu, Mihai Jianu

P10 Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17 and Th22 cytokines in acute and chronic HIV-1 infection

Lana Gorenec, Snjezana Zidovec Lepej, Ivana Grgic, Ana Planinic, Janja Iscic Bes, Adriana Vince, Josip Begovac

P11 Dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors – case report

Luminița Elena Horga

P12 Why use less treatment for the metabolic abnormalities in HIV patients-too many drugs?

Corina Itu, Luminița Elena Horga, Laura Augusta David-Aldea, Anca Ciorogar, Cristian Jianu, Mihaela Lupșe

P13 Sacral Herpes Zoster, with hyperalgesic form, in a patient with C3 stage HIV infection

Iuliana Caramangiu, Ovidiu Roșca, Monica Cialma, Andreea Ardeleanu, Iosif Marincu

P14 Factors associated with in-hospital mortality in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis

Raluca Jipa, Eliza Manea, Șerban Benea, Irina Lăpădat, Nicoleta Irimescu, Irina Panait, Cristian Niculae, Adriana Hristea

P15 Lipodystrophy: still present adverse event in resource-limited settings

Jovana Kusic, Djordje Jevtovic, Dubravka Salemovic, Jovan Ranin, Bozana Dimitrijevic, Gordana Dragovic

P16 TB and HIV coinfected patient, an emergent challenge - case report

Laura-Augusta Aldea-David

P17 Efficacy of prophylactic antiretroviral treatment in new-born infants from HIV-positive mothers in 2012-2014, for the North-Eastern part of Romania

Carmen Manciuc, Cristina Nicolau, Liviu Prisăcariu, Alexandra Largu

P18 Surveillance of mother to child transmission of HIV in Romania – 31 December 2015

Mariana Mărdărescu, Adrian Streinu-Cercel, Cristina Petre, Marieta Iancu, Sanda Vintilă, Daniela Vitelaru, Iosif Ionel, Claudiu Mihai Șchiopu, Alexandra-Henriette Mărdărescu

P19 The antiretroviral therapy failure and the need to select the effective treatment in the Republic of Moldova

Pavel Micsanschi, Tiberiu Holban, Ina Bîstrițchi, Lucia Pârțână, Angela Nagîț, Svetlana Popovici, Maria Talmaci, Irina Cucerova

P20 Disseminated cryptococcosis in a patient with C3 HIV stage and multiresistant to antiretroviral therapy with lethal evolution

Sorina Georgiana Mitrescu, Dana Mihalcea, Iulia Caramangiu, Ovidiu Roșca, Iosif Maricu

P21 Aspects of tuberculosis infection in HIV-positive patients from Romania – our experience

Anca Negru, Daniela Munteanu, Victoria Aramă, Raluca Mihăilescu, Ioan Diaconu, Remulus Catana, Cristina Popescu, Alina Orfanu, Anca Leuștean, Mihaela Rădulescu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Raluca Năstase, Violeta Molagic, Irina Duport, Cristina Dragomirescu, Ștefan Sorin Aramă

P22 Dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients

Nicoleta M Negruț

P23 Challenges in the management of an HIV seropositive patient with psoriasis undergoing immunomodulator therapy

Violeta Elena Niță, Daniela Ioana Munteanu, Raluca Mihăilescu, Ioan Diaconu, Anca Negru, Cristina Popescu, Victoria Aramă

P24 Acute peritonitis as a sign of IRIS in an HIV-infected patient with MAC latent infection

Alina Orfanu, Cristina Popescu, Anca Leuștean, Anca Negru, Remulus Catana, Ioan Diaconu, Cătălin Tilișcan, Victoria Aramă, Sorin Ștefan Aramă

P25 The virologic outcome of the treatment of chronic hepatitis B among HIV co-infected patients on HAART

Ivana Pesic Pavlovia, Dubravka Salemovic, Jovan Ranin, Djordje Jevtovic

P26 A case of HIV encephalopathy with aphasia, agnosia, apraxia and right homonymous hemianopsia

Ovidiu Roșca, Andreea Ardeleanu, Iulia Caramangiu, Daniela Desaga, Valerica Bică, Sorina Mitrescu, Iosif Marincu

P27 Molecular footprints on human immunodeficiency virus -1 genome and association with phylogenetic clustering among subtype B infected patients in Serbia

Marina Siljic, Dubravka Salemovic, Valentina Nikolic, Djordje Jevtovic, Ivana Pesic-Pavlovic, Jovan Ranin, Marija Todorovic , Maja Stanojevic

P28 Neurosyphilis and human immunodeficiency virus infection: double challenge

Nina-Ioana Șincu, Anca Georgescu, Brândușa Țilea, Iringo Zaharia Kezdi, Andrea Incze, Cristina Gârbovan, Carmen Lucia Chiriac

P29 Differences between HIV-infected adults since childhood and non HIV-infected persons on managing everyday life

Anca Elena Luca, Florin Lazăr, Adrian Luca, Luminița Ene, Roxana Rădoi, Adina Talnariu, Silvia Suciu, Cristian Achim

P30 Molecular detection of Bartonella quintana in a HIV immunodepressed patient with fever and isolated lymphadenopathy - Case report

Diana Gabriela Iacob, Dragoș Florea, Simona Iacob

P31 Present epidemiological characteristics of HIV/AIDS newly diagnosed cases in South-Eastern Romania

Manuela Arbune, Miruna Drăgănescu, Alina Iancu

P32 The gender’s preferences among opportunists?

Ruxandra Moroti, Cristian M Niculae, Simona Merisor, Eliza Manea, Serban Benea, Andrada Stan, Raluca Hrisca, Raluca Jipa, Diana Tanase, Adriana Hristea

P33 Polymorphism of interleukin-28B gene in persons with chronic hepatitis C from Croatia

Ivana Grgic, Ana Planinic, Lana Gorenec, Snjezana Zidovec Lepej, Adriana Vince

Self-ingested intraduodenal foreign bodies--expectancy or surgical sanction?

Self-harm is a frequent pathology amongst psychiatric patients and in the penitentiary environment. Multiple self-aggression types are described, but, by far, the practice most frequently met inside the Romanian penitentiary environment is foreign body (FB) ingestion. The paper aims to show aspects pertaining to the presence of intraduodenal foreign bodies, both in simple cases and in cases that ended with a perforation, using a number of 47 cases registered between 2003 and 2010 in "Rahova" Penitentiary Hospital. The paper also focused on particular aspects linked to intraduodenal foreign body surgical accessibility.

Self harm through foreign bodies ingestion - rare cause of digestive perforation

Self-harm is a rare pathology, often seen in psychiatric patients but more frequently in the penitentiary environment. Of the many possible forms of self-harm, foreign bodies (FB) ingestion is by far the most usual in the Romanian prison environment. The paper aims to present the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects arising as a consequence of the digestive tract perforations consequent upon foreign bodies ingestion; a number of 45 cases which occurred over a 7-year period (2003-2010) in "Rahova" Penitentiary Hospital, were analyzed. We also examined the surgical particularities of case resolution.

Self harm through foreign bodies ingestion - a rare cause of digestive perforation

Self-harm is a rare pathology, often seen in psychiatric patients but more frequently in the penitentiary environment. Of the many possible forms of self-harm, foreign bodies (FB) ingestion is by far the most usual in the Romanian prison environment. Our paper aims to present the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects arising as a consequence of digestive tract perforations consequent upon foreign bodies ingestion; we analyze a number of 45 cases which occurred over a 7-year period (2003-2010) in Rahova Penitentiary Hospital. We also examined the surgical particularities of case resolution.

ABBREVIATIONS

FB - foreign bodies, EEA - end-to-end anastomosis.

TH1/TH2 cytokine levels as an indicator for disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and response to antiretroviral therapy

A recent theory stipulates that during the course of HIV infection, there is a shift in immune response from T-helper 1 to T-helper 2 responses, characterised by elevated secretions of relevant cytokines. Cytokine profiles of 15 asymptomatic (treatment naïve) and 26 symptomatic (undergoing treatment) HIV-1 patients was determined to investigate the validity of this theory. HIV-1 RNA was quantified using the COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 test, CD4 T-cell counts with the FACSCalibur flow cytometer and IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma cytokine levels by ELISA method. The asymptomatic group had significantly higher RNA levels (p-value; 0.000006) and lower CD4 T-cell counts than the symptomatic group indicating ongoing disease progression in the absence of antiretroviral treatment and a positive response to HIV treatment by the symptomatic group. IL-1, IL-4 and IFN-gamma were undetectable in most study subjects. IL-10 and IL-6 levels was relatively lower in the asymptomatic group (mean value; 206.352 pg/ml, 10.516 pg/ml) than the symptomatic group (mean value; 417.539, 18.387 pg/ml). Lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IFN-gamma) in both study groups and elevated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, confirms that there is a shift in immune response as HIV infection progress to AIDS. In addition, the presence of a progressive trend of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 and proinflammatory cytokine, IL-6 in 12 symptomatic patients tested 3 months after antiretroviral therapy indicates an attempt by antiretrovirals to restore immune function.

[Late intestinal perforations after alloplastic repair of postoperative eventrations]

Late intestinal perforation is the most rare and the most serious complication following the repair of abdominal parietal defects with alloplastic material. The authors have gathered in 7 years 6 cases of perforations which occurred between 1 and 10 years after using nonabsorbable synthetic mesh prostheses made of polyester (4 cases) and polypropylene (2 cases) as parietal substitution materials. The perforations were discovered either by the appearance of complete enteric fistulas after exploration of circumscribed parietal suppurations (3 cases) or during surgery of suppurations without external fistulas. All cases involved perforations of the small intestine and in only one case there was also a perforation of the transverse colon. In 4 cases, where eventration relapse co-existed, the polyester prostheses were found partially or totally detached from the abdominal wall. The treatment of enteric perforation consisted of 5 segmental enterectomies (one of those a double one) followed by anastomoses and one enteroraphy. The colic perforation was excised and sutured. The mesh was totally removed in 5 cases and partially removed in 1 case (around the perforation). The postoperative evolution was simple in only 3 cases. In the other 3 cases anastomotic fistulas occurred and one of them (with reduced leakage) was treated by nonoperative management. It did not close spontaneously even after 12 months. The other 2 cases required multiple reinterventions (enterectomies, ileostomies, ileocoloanastomosis). One of these patients has been lost away after 200 days of hospitalization and multiple reinterventions. In all cases, the closure of the abdominal wall was simplificad by cutaneous suture only whereas consecutive relapsed eventrations remain to be treated by subsequent reinterventions.

AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in Romanian children

BACKGROUND

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is commonly associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in adults. Little is known regarding its occurrence in children.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to report the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of KS in three Romanian children with AIDS and to compare them with previously reported AIDS-associated KS in children.

METHODS

This was a clinicopathologic study and computer-based literature review.

RESULTS

All three Romanian children had skin involvement; two had involvement of lymph nodes and internal organs. All had acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection postnatally. Including these children, 33 cases of AIDS-associated KS in children have been reported. Thirteen of 30 evaluable patients had acquired HIV infection postnatally; nine of these children (69%) had cutaneous involvement by KS. A perinatal route of transmission was present in the remaining 17 cases; only two of these children (12%) with KS had cutaneous involvement. No case was noted in which intravenous drug use was the sole parental HIV risk factor.

CONCLUSION

The data support the contention that KS is caused by a second infectious agent prevalent only in certain HIV-infected populations. Children of parents in high-risk groups for KS and children who acquire HIV via contaminated blood or blood products are at highest risk for KS. The route of acquisition of HIV infection may also be associated with different clinical manifestations of KS in children.

Use of the Romanian product Silimarina in the treatment of chronic liver diseases

The Romanian product Silimarina (synonym Legalon) was administered in a randomized double-blind trial, to a group of 180 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and hepatic cirrhosis (HC). The trial lasted for 40 days. The results showed favourable effects similar with those obtained with other preparations produced by foreign drug industries. The Romanian product proved to have no toxic effect. The authors discuss the present possibilities of estimating the evolution of chronic liver disease.