Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anticarcinogenic, and cardiovascular protective effects. Our study is aimed at evaluating the effects of pretreatment with curcumin nanoparticles (CCNP) compared to conventional curcumin (CC) on isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Fifty-six Wistar-Bratislava white rats were randomly divided into eight groups of seven rats each. Curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles were given by gavage in three different doses (100 mg/kg body weight (bw), 150 mg/kg bw, and 200 mg/kg bw) for 15 days. The MI was induced on day 13 using 100 mg/kg bw ISO administered twice, with the second dose 24 h after the initial dose. The blood samples were taken 24 h after the last dose of ISO. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects were evaluated in all groups. All doses of CC and CCNP offered a cardioprotective effect by preventing creatine kinase-MB leakage from cardiomyocytes, with the best result for CCNP. All the oxidative stress parameters were significantly improved after CCNP compared to CC pretreatment. CCNP was more efficient than CC in limiting the increase in inflammatory cytokine levels (such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and RANTES) after MI. MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels decreased more after pretreatment with CCNP than with CC. CCNP better prevented myocardial necrosis and reduced interstitial edema and neutrophil infiltration than CC, on histopathological examination. Therefore, improving the bioactivity of curcumin by nanotechnology may help limit cardiac injury after myocardial infarction.

The DAA can be transitioned from the LA safely, without higher complication rates while maintaining its muscle spearing advantages when performed by a low volume hip arthroplasty surgeon.

The present research investigated tendencies related to the purchasing and consumption of honey and to how it is perceived by consumers. Although Romania is a traditional honeyproducing area, paradoxically, there is not a culture of consumption for this product, honey consumption being lower than in other European countries. The research objectives were achieved by investigating a representative sample of subjects from the North-West region of Romania. The research instrument used was a questionnaire, which included questions about honey consumption, questions related to perceptions of honey, together with sociodemographic questions. Honey is perceived to be a delicious product, delightful to consume and is considered beneficial for health by most of the respondents. A number of factors (education, occupation and age) significantly influence the perception that the respondent had of the value of honey. The most popular types of honey were acacia honey, polyfloral honey and linden honey. Respondents preferred to buy honey from a local producer, and had more confidence in domestic honey than in imported honey. Although the frequency of consumption is quite high, the quantity consumed per capita is low (on average 3 kg/year). Local honey producers should be aware that the revival of the beekeeping sector in Romania could be promoted by stimulating domestic consumption. Educating consumers to adopt a healthy lifestyle could significantly contribute to an increase in honey consumption. The paper emphasizes the need to conduct research that provides useful information about the quantitative and quality indicators of honey consumption, in order to improve marketing strategies.

Abstract:The correct application of a statistical test is directly connected with information related to the distribution of data. Anderson-Darling is one alternative used to test if the distribution of experimental data follows a theoretical distribution. The conclusion of the Anderson-Darling test is usually drawn by comparing the obtained statistic with the available critical value, which did not give any weight to the same size. This study aimed to provide a formula for calculation of p-value associated with the Anderson-Darling statistic considering the size of the sample. A Monte Carlo simulation study was conducted for sample sizes starting from 2 to 61, and based on the obtained results, a formula able to give reliable probabilities associated to the Anderson-Darling statistic is reported.

Aim: To evaluate the morphostructural aspects and nail vascularity in the nail unit of patients with psoriasis, and to evaluate whether there are differences among psoriatic patients with and without nail involvement. Material and methods: Nail plates and nail bed changes, nailfold vessel resistance index (NVRI), power and color Doppler blood flow appearances were investigated in 23 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, with and without nail involvement, and compared to those of 11 healthy participants. Results: Ventral nail plate deposits were present only in psoriasis patients. Irregular or totally fused nail plates and increased nail plate thickness was frequently observed in psoriasis patients compared to controls. NVRI was increased in psoriatic patients' nails compared to controls (0.62 vs. 0.57, p<0.0001). In the psoriasis patient group there was significant statistical difference in NVRI in patients with nail involvement compared to those without (0.66 vs. 0.55, p<0.0001). Conclusions: High-frequency gray scale sonography provides valuable information regarding morphostructural changes in nail unit structure in patients with psoriasis. Power Doppler imaging enables blood flow assessment in psoriasis nail induced changes.