Background: The complexity of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) cannot be characterized by acquired somatic mutations alone. Individual genetic background is thought to contribute to the development of MPNs. The aim of our study was to assess the association between the TET2 rs1548483 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the susceptibility to polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis (PMF) or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Methods: We evaluated the TET2 rs1548483 SNP through real-time PCR in 1601 MPN patients out of which 431 with PV, 688 with TE, 233 with PMF, 249 with CML and 197 controls. We included only patients with a molecularly proven driver mutation, such as JAK2 V617F, CALR or BCR-ABL1. Results: Significant association between TET2 rs154843 variant allele and JAK2 V617F-positive PV and PMF (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.01–2.91; p-value = 0.046, and OR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.10–3.77; p-value = 0.024, respectively), and type 2 CALR-positive PMF (OR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.12–7.93; p-value = 0.035) was noted. Conclusions: The TET2 rs1548483 SNP is associated with the susceptibility to molecularly annotated PV and PMF.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and vitamin D deficiency are among the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies worldwide, particularly affecting pregnant women. The physiological demands for both iron and vitamin D increase significantly during pregnancy to support maternal health, fetal development, and placental function. Failure to meet these demands leads to adverse outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia, and maternal infections. Hepcidin, a liver-derived peptide hormone, is central to systemic iron regulation. It modulates dietary iron absorption and mobilization from body stores through its interaction with ferroportin. In healthy pregnancy, hepcidin levels are physiologically suppressed to enhance iron bioavailability. However, inflammation or vitamin D deficiency may elevate hepcidin levels, exacerbating IDA and complicating its management. Vitamin D, primarily recognized for its role in calcium metabolism, is also a key regulator of hepcidin expression. Through receptor-mediated pathways, vitamin D suppresses hepcidin synthesis, improving iron absorption and mobilization. The coexistence of IDA and vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy creates a complex clinical scenario, compounded by overlapping risk factors like poor diet, limited sun exposure, and chronic inflammation. Emerging evidence highlights hepcidin as a dynamic biomarker capable of differentiating IDA from anemia of inflammation. This review explores the intricate relationship between vitamin D deficiency and IDA, with a focus on hepcidin as both a regulator and biomarker. We discuss physiological and pathological mechanisms, diagnostic applications of hepcidin, and therapeutic opportunities, including the synergistic role of vitamin D and iron supplementation. By addressing the dual burden of vitamin D deficiency and IDA, this review provides a comprehensive framework for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes through targeted interventions and biomarker-guided therapies. Future research should focus on refining diagnostic tools and exploring innovative therapies to optimize anemia management in pregnancy.

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) represents a major and expanding source of aeroallergen exposure in Europe, with rising sensitization rates and substantial clinical impact. However, population-level data integrating airborne pollen exposure with detailed clinical sensitization patterns remain limited. We conducted a 5-year retrospective cross-sectional observational analysis of sensitization prevalence, complemented by a parallel temporal analysis of aerobiological data and symptom-driven healthcare presentation patterns (2020–2024) in Timisoara, Romania, including all patients undergoing first-time sensitization evaluation at a tertiary referral hospital. Sensitization was assessed using standardized skin prick testing to common aeroallergens and other allergen categories, while airborne ragweed pollen concentrations were monitored through a peri-urban network of real-time bio-particle analyzers. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, χ² tests for co-sensitization patterns, and comparative analyses of clinical manifestations across sensitization profiles. Among 4404 eligible patients, 50.7% were sensitized to at least one allergen. Ragweed sensitization was identified in 24.1% of patients, with a mean age of 31.1 years at diagnosis and no significant sex-related difference. Most ragweed-sensitized patients were polysensitized (71.5%), predominantly to other aeroallergens. Increasing age was independently associated with lower odds of polysensitization to other aeroallergens (adjusted OR = 0.97 per year, 95% CI: 0.96–0.98), while sex showed no independent association. Patients with ragweed sensitization alone and those cosensitized with aeroallergens exhibited similar prevalence of respiratory manifestations, whereas individuals with additional non-aeroallergen sensitization showed lower prevalence of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma but slightly higher rates of asthma exacerbations. Weekly diagnoses of ragweed sensitization demonstrated a pronounced seasonal peak between calendar weeks 33 and 38 (mid-August to late September), coinciding with peak airborne ragweed pollen concentrations. Ragweed sensitization therefore represents a substantial and seasonally driven healthcare burden in western Romania, characterized by frequent polysensitization, distinct clinical manifestation patterns across sensitization profiles, and close temporal alignment between airborne pollen exposure and clinical presentation. Integrating aerobiological monitoring with clinical surveillance may support targeted prevention strategies and improved patient management.

Background: Limited data exist on primary palatine tonsil Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from regions with constrained healthcare access. This study investigated this malignancy in Western and South-Western Romania, comparing lower-stage (Ann-Arbor I-III) and advanced-stage (IV) disease. Methods: A retrospective cohort study (2010–2019) at a tertiary referral hospital included 59 patients with primary palatine tonsil NHL. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, comorbidities (including viral hepatitis B/C), histology, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, treatment, and outcomes were collected. Statistical comparisons between lower-stage (n = 26) and advanced-stage (n = 33) groups were performed. Results: A high proportion presented with advanced-stage disease (55.9%). The advanced-stage group had significantly more B symptoms (90.9% vs. 69.2%, p = 0.038) and elevated LDH levels (93.9% vs. 57.7%, p = 0.013). Viral hepatitis B and/or C infection was more frequent in advanced-stage disease (30.3% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.44). Combined chemoradiotherapy was more commonly used in lower-stage disease (38.46% vs. 12.12%, p = 0.019). There was no statistically significant difference in relapse rates between the groups. Conclusions: This study highlights the substantial burden of advanced-stage primary palatine tonsil NHL in Western Romania, suggesting a need for improved early detection. The association between viral hepatitis and advanced-stage, although not statistically significant, warrants further investigation. These findings may inform tailored management approaches in resource-constrained settings.

Background/Objectives: Food allergy is reported far more often than it is confirmed by testing. Both ends of that gap matter nutritionally: dietary restriction adopted without confirmation, and unpreparedness for severe reactions. We characterized each end in two cohorts from one source population. Methods: Study 1 retrospectively analyzed 4404 patients assessed in a single allergy service over 2020–2024, with food sensitization being a positive skin prick test and/or specific IgE to at least one food allergen. Study 2 surveyed 500 adults by convenience sampling, using a 27-item questionnaire with a 10-point knowledge score. In Study 1, testing was indication-driven, and the food-tested subset could not be identified, so all Study 1 figures are proportions among patients assessed, not prevalence estimates. Analyses reported effect sizes with confidence intervals throughout, applied Holm–Bonferroni adjustment to the confirmatory comparisons, and used multivariable regression. Results: Food sensitization was documented in 185 of 4404 patients (4.2%; 95% CI 3.6–4.8) and concentrated in early childhood (13.05% at 0–5 years), age being the only independent demographic predictor (adjusted OR for 0–5 vs. 18–30 years: 4.61; 95% CI 2.87–7.41)—an association confounded with the indication to test. Of food-sensitized patients with a recorded severity score, one third (34.1%) had no active symptoms at assessment. In the community cohort, 17.6% (95% CI 14.5–21.2) self-reported a food allergy, but only 6.6% (95% CI 4.7–9.1) reported one as test-confirmed—a gap of 11.0 percentage points (95% CI 8.5–14.0). The mean knowledge score was 5.08/10: 70.2% knew anaphylaxis can be fatal, yet only 47.8% named adrenaline as first-line treatment, 33.4% had never heard of an auto-injector, and 15.4% always read allergen labels. Educational level and health-sector training were the strongest predictors of knowledge. Conclusions: Food allergy is labelled more readily than it is verified, while preparedness for severe reactions is thin. Better access to diagnostic confirmation and public information stratified by educational attainment are needed. The two cohorts share a source population but are differently selected and measure different constructs, so their proportions are complementary rather than interchangeable.

Asthma and bronchiectasis may coexist in children, particularly in those with severe or difficult-to-treat respiratory disease, creating a complex clinical setting in which airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, mucus retention, impaired mucociliary clearance, recurrent infection, and functional impairment interact. This review critically examines the interacting pathophysiological mechanisms involving Type 2 airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and plugging, mucociliary dysfunction, infection, and structural airway injury in children with coexisting asthma and bronchiectasis. Particular attention is given to the functional consequences of this interaction, including exercise intolerance, physical deconditioning, respiratory muscle dysfunction, and reduced participation in daily life and age-appropriate physical activity. Available evidence on airway-clearance techniques, structured exercise training, respiratory muscle training, and the management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is critically evaluated, with pediatric evidence clearly distinguished from adult-derived extrapolations. We propose a mechanism-informed rehabilitation framework in which interventions are tailored to the predominant clinical and functional features of each child, including mucus retention, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, reduced exercise capacity, respiratory muscle impairment, and functional decline associated with recurrent exacerbations. This multidisciplinary approach integrates airway-clearance techniques, individualized exercise training, optimized asthma management, infection control, and longitudinal functional reassessment. Evidence specifically addressing children with coexisting asthma and bronchiectasis remains limited, and prospective pediatric studies are required to validate individualized rehabilitation strategies and determine their impact on long-term respiratory and patient-centered outcomes.