Phenolic compounds represent an essential bioactive metabolites group with numerous pharmaceutical applications. Our study aims to identify and quantify phenolic constituents of various liquid and dry extracts of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) from Calimani Mountains, Romania, and investigate their bioactivities. The extracts in acetone, 96% ethanol, and water with the same dried lichen/solvent ratio (w/v) were obtained through two conventional techniques: maceration (mUBA, mUBE, and mUBW) and Soxhlet extraction (dUBA, dUBE, and dUBW). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was performed for usnic acid (UA) and different polyphenols quantification. Then, the total phenolic content (TPC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity (AA) were determined through spectrophotometric methods. Using the disc diffusion method (DDM), the antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria known for their pathogenicity: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883). All extracts contain phenolic compounds expressed as TPC values. Five lichen extracts display various UA contents; this significant metabolite was not detected in dUBW. Six polyphenols from the standards mixture were quantified only in ethanol and water extracts; mUBE has all individual polyphenols, while dUBE shows only two. Three polyphenols were detected in mUBW, but none was found in dUBW. All U. barbata extracts had antiradical activity; however, only ethanol and acetone extracts proved inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. In contrast, K. pneumoniae was strongly resistant (IZD = 0). Data analysis evidenced a high positive correlation between the phenolic constituents and bioactivities of each U. barbata extract. Associating these extracts’ properties with both conventional techniques used for their preparation revealed the extraction conditions’ significant influence on lichen extracts metabolites profiling, with a powerful impact on their pharmacological potential.

Lesions commonly associated with HIV infection include oral candidiasis, herpes simplex infection, oral Kaposi’s sarcoma, hairy leukoplakia, periodontal diseases (linear gingival erythema and necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis), xerostomia, human papillomavirus-associated warts, aphthous ulcers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, histoplasmosis, carcinoma, exfoliative cheilitis, and HIV salivary gland disease. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is the most common cancer in people living with HIV (PLWH), and the incidence is increased for aggressive B-cell NHL. Plasmablastic lymphoma (PbL) is a rare and aggressive B-cell malignancy that is often unresponsive to chemotherapy and usually has a poor prognosis. We hereby present the case of a patient with a recent history of COVID-19 infection who was diagnosed with HIV and NHL, with manifestations in the oral cavity and a favorable evolution after the introduction of antiviral therapy, specific chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Dental expertise is necessary for the appropriate management of oral manifestations of HIV infection or AIDS, and lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of any oral lesions.

ABSTrACT:A retrospective analysis of microbiology data from general infections was performed. From 105 isolates strains of Staphylococcus spp. 36 (34,28%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis, 33 (31,42%) Staphylococcus aureus, 21 (20%) Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and 15 (14,28%) were Staphylococcus hominis. results: S. hominis isolates were predominantly resistant to betalactamins (93,33 %) and even Imidazole (60 %). 53,33 % of strains were resistent to aminosides and 33,33 % to Ciprofloxacin. All strains (100%) were sensitive to Vancomycin, but also all were susceptibile to Quinupristin-Dalfopristin. A high percentage of S. hominis were sensitive to Moxifloxacin, Linezolid (93,33 %), and to teicoplanin (86,67%). Discussion: S. hominis is a member of skin normal flora, but all strains of S. hominis were isolated from generalized infection with a high rate of mortality.

Up till now, to our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating serum Brain - Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in patients with degenerative chronic low back pain under rehabilitation treatment. BDNF is a neuroprotein associated with neuropathic pain and represents an important mediator of the effects of physical exercise. Complex balneal treatment with hot Techirghiol sapropelic mud reduces pain and increases serum levels of BDNF in these patients.

Objectives: The objective of the study is the evaluation of the actual resistance to second, third, and fourth generation cephalosporins over bacterial strains isolated from respiratory infections. The main causes for cephalosporin resistance of pathogenic and conditioned pathogen bacteria are: widespread usage, and impair immune response. Materials and methods: The analyzed specimens were throat swabs and sputum, from adult patients. The tests were performed using disk diffusion technique. We tested the following cephalosporin: From second generation: cefuroxime axetil; from third generation: cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefpodoxime; Combinations of cephalosporins and beta-lactamase inhibitors: cefotaxime + clavulanic acid; ceftazidim + clavulanic acid; From fourth generation: cefepime; and association cefepime and clavulanic acid. Results: The following bacterial strains were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group C β-hemolytic Streptococcus, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus sp. The Group A. β-hemolytic Streptococcus isolated strains were not tested. For Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and Proteus, we found a high frequency resistance to 1.