Papers accepted for publication
1. Cleft lip/palate. From embryology to developmental pathogenesis
Marcello Guarino
Cleft of the lip associated with or unassociated with cleft of the palate and cleft palate (CLP) represent frequent birth defects, and the mechanisms by which they occur are not completely clear. On the other hand, knowledge of the normal mechanisms underlying lip development and palatogenesis is still incomplete, and therefore a better understanding and consolidation of our knowledge in this field could help to study these deformities. Upper lip and secondary palate formation are complex processes, involving the subtle integration of several biological events, the disruption of which causes the clefting phenotype. Indeed, these developmental events imply a series of morphogenetic changes involving concerted cell survival, migration, growth, pattern generation, modulation of adhesiveness, death and differentiation. In recent years, genetically engineered animal models and in vitro palate cultures have greatly advanced our knowledge of the cellular and molecular pathways underlying normal orofacial morphogenesis, and abnormally developed CLP as well. Indeed, most of the morphogenetic events of craniofacial development are highly conserved amongst vertebrates, therefore animal models have revealed major insights into the mechanisms that take place in human orofacial development. Given their complexity, it is easy to imagine that the failure of the highly coordinated processes that guide the union of the lip and palate causes various forms of clefts. This article provides an overview of the embryological development of the lip and secondary palate, as well as the mechanisms underlying deviant development resulting in CLP, concentrating on the cellular and molecular characteristics.
Corresponding author: Marcello Guarino, MD; e-mail: marcello.guarino@gmail.com
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2. Neurological symptoms observed in patients with COVID-19
Roberta Andreea Cercel, Florin Ionut Buibas, Mircea-Sebastian Serbanescu, George Popescu, Ionica Pirici, Nina Ionovici, Laurentiu Mogoanta
Infection with the novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2) has triggered the largest pandemic of the early 21st century. The disease primarily affects the respiratory system and may present as a common respiratory viral infection, but more severe cases can progress to acute pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome, with heart and kidney failure, digestive symptoms, liver failure, and sometimes death. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, respiratory symptoms are frequently accompanied by neurological manifestations ranging from headaches, dizziness, anosmia, and asthenia to severe complications such as ataxia, seizures, and strokes. A study was conducted on a cohort of 5649 patients clinically and paraclinically diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), admitted to the Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumophthisiology, Craiova, Romania, between 2020 and 2022, to identify the most common signs of neurological involvement. The most common signs of neurological involvement in COVID-19 were asthenia, headache, and myalgia. The most severe complications in COVID-19 were strokes.
Corresponding author: Nina Ionovici, Associate Professor, MD, PhD; e-mail: nina.ionovici@umfcv.ro
Abstract - Download PDF PDF
1. Cleft lip/palate. From embryology to developmental pathogenesis
Marcello Guarino
Cleft of the lip associated with or unassociated with cleft of the palate and cleft palate (CLP) represent frequent birth defects, and the mechanisms by which they occur are not completely clear. On the other hand, knowledge of the normal mechanisms underlying lip development and palatogenesis is still incomplete, and therefore a better understanding and consolidation of our knowledge in this field could help to study these deformities. Upper lip and secondary palate formation are complex processes, involving the subtle integration of several biological events, the disruption of which causes the clefting phenotype. Indeed, these developmental events imply a series of morphogenetic changes involving concerted cell survival, migration, growth, pattern generation, modulation of adhesiveness, death and differentiation. In recent years, genetically engineered animal models and in vitro palate cultures have greatly advanced our knowledge of the cellular and molecular pathways underlying normal orofacial morphogenesis, and abnormally developed CLP as well. Indeed, most of the morphogenetic events of craniofacial development are highly conserved amongst vertebrates, therefore animal models have revealed major insights into the mechanisms that take place in human orofacial development. Given their complexity, it is easy to imagine that the failure of the highly coordinated processes that guide the union of the lip and palate causes various forms of clefts. This article provides an overview of the embryological development of the lip and secondary palate, as well as the mechanisms underlying deviant development resulting in CLP, concentrating on the cellular and molecular characteristics.
Corresponding author: Marcello Guarino, MD; e-mail: marcello.guarino@gmail.com
Abstract - Download PDF PDF2. Neurological symptoms observed in patients with COVID-19
Roberta Andreea Cercel, Florin Ionut Buibas, Mircea-Sebastian Serbanescu, George Popescu, Ionica Pirici, Nina Ionovici, Laurentiu Mogoanta
Infection with the novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2) has triggered the largest pandemic of the early 21st century. The disease primarily affects the respiratory system and may present as a common respiratory viral infection, but more severe cases can progress to acute pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome, with heart and kidney failure, digestive symptoms, liver failure, and sometimes death. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, respiratory symptoms are frequently accompanied by neurological manifestations ranging from headaches, dizziness, anosmia, and asthenia to severe complications such as ataxia, seizures, and strokes. A study was conducted on a cohort of 5649 patients clinically and paraclinically diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), admitted to the Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumophthisiology, Craiova, Romania, between 2020 and 2022, to identify the most common signs of neurological involvement. The most common signs of neurological involvement in COVID-19 were asthenia, headache, and myalgia. The most severe complications in COVID-19 were strokes.
Corresponding author: Nina Ionovici, Associate Professor, MD, PhD; e-mail: nina.ionovici@umfcv.ro
Abstract - Download PDF PDF