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.

Systemic disorders may exhibit early signs when conducting an oral examination. Since the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic, several studies have been published detailing the direct impact of the virus on the oral cavity. The present study aimed to determine whether indeed there are any significant disparities in oropharyngeal manifestations between individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and a control group, and whether the virus has the ability to invade and reproduce inside oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts, resulting in the development of oral ulcerations and superficial lesions. The present study provides an overview of the symptoms that occur at an early stage of the illness, and the most commonly affected regions of the oral cavity, including the tongue, lips, palate and oropharynx are examined. In the present retrospective study, 52 patients infected with COVID‑19 were recruited between April, 2021 and October, 2022. In addition, 52 individuals who tested negative for the virus were recruited as the control group. The study was conducted through a thorough examination and questionnaire provided to all participants. The results revealed that among the cohort of patients from the COVID‑19 group examined (n=52), a proportion (mean, 16.15) displayed oral manifestations. Specifically, 75% of the patients in the COVID‑19 group described oral cavity pain, and 69% of these patients had changes in teeth color or dental caries. In summary, in relation to the control group, the prevalence of oropharyngeal symptoms was generally lower compared to the COVID‑19 group, apart from oral cavity pain (30.8%), tonsillitis (17.3%), bleeding (34.6%), teeth color changes (36.5%), recurrence (15.4%) and abscesses (7.7%). Thus, on the whole, the patients without COVID‑19 had fewer oral manifestations.

Background/Objectives: The Antepartum Depression Scale (ADS) is an innovative tool designed to comprehensively assess the psychological states of pregnant women, specifically targeting depression, melancholy, anxiety, and self-dysthymia. Unlike existing scales, the ADS integrates a multidimensional approach tailored to the unique psychological profile of preg-nancy. Additionally, its adaptability for telemedicine ensures accessibility for psychological assessments via digital platforms, addressing the growing need for remote mental health care. Despite the critical importance of maternal mental health, there remains a gap in standardized, pregnancy-specific depression assessments that are both clinically robust and telemedi-cine-compatible. The ADS was rigorously developed and validated to ensure accuracy and re-liability, making it a critical tool for early detection and management of antepartum depression, even in resource-limited settings. Methods: A total of 850 pregnant women participated in the ADS validation study, with 650 completing a test-retest reliability analysis over a 14-day in-terval. The diverse Romanian sample ensured demographic variability. Additionally, 200 par-ticipants completed the ADS alongside Beck’s Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale to assess construct validity. Psychometric properties were evaluated using internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factor analysis. Results: The ADS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.897), strong validity (The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin = 0.876), and robust correlations with established scales. Notably, mean depression scores increased significantly between tests, underscoring the scale’s sensi-tivity to psychological changes during pregnancy. Conclusions: The ADS is a validated, mul-tidimensional tool that fills a critical gap in maternal mental health assessment by offering a pregnancy-specific, psychometrically sound instrument. Its applicability in both clinical and telemedicine settings support’s early intervention, ultimately enhancing maternal mental health care and improving outcomes for pregnant women.

Background: Palliative care education (PCE) is increasingly recognized as a public health priority, particularly in the context of dementia and other neurocognitive disorders that place significant burdens on patients, families, and healthcare systems. While international programmes highlight key educational needs and interventions, local adaptations remain scarce in Romania. Objective: This research aimed to (1) synthesise global evidence on palliative care education needs and implemented programmes published in 2024, and (2) assess the emerging educational requirements and psychosocial well-being of healthcare providers and caregivers in multiple Romanian regional centres in 2025. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using PubMed to identify studies published in 2024, including qualitative, quantitative, and umbrella reviews. Fifty-six studies from 33 countries were analysed. Based on identified gaps, a structured questionnaire was designed and applied to 200 participants (physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, priests, and primary home caregivers) across Romanian counties such as Călărași , Prahova, Constanta, Iasi, and Brasov. Alongside, participants were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: The scoping review identified recurrent needs in symptom management, dementia care, communication, caregiver support, ethical decision-making, digital learning, and provider resilience. Programmes showed improvements in knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction but varied widely in scope and implementation. Romanian participants reported high interest in dementia-focused training and communication skills, aligning with global priorities. However, unique challenges emerged, including limited interdisciplinary collaboration and a lack of structured support for home-based caregivers. Screening revealed elevated levels of anxiety and depression among staff, particularly those with frequent contact with dementia patients. Conclusions: Combining international and local perspectives demonstrates that dementia education, caregiver support, and provider resilience are central needs in palliative care education. Tailored, interdisciplinary programmes are urgently required in Romania, both to align with global best practices and to address local gaps, ensuring improved outcomes for patients, families, and healthcare providers.

The Antepartum Depression Scale (ADS) is an innovative tool designed to comprehensively assess the psychological states of pregnant women, specifically targeting depression, melancholy, anxiety, and self-dysthymia. Unlike the existing scales, ADS integrates a multidimensional approach tailored to the unique psychological profile of pregnancy. Additionally, its adaptability to telemedicine ensures accessibility to psychological assessments via digital platforms, addressing the growing need for remote mental health care. Despite the critical importance of maternal mental health, there remains a gap in standardised pregnancy-specific depression assessments that are both clinically robust and telemedicine-compatible. The ADS was rigorously developed and validated to ensure its accuracy and reliability, making it a critical tool for the early detection and management of antepartum depression, even in resource-limited settings. Methods: A total of 850 pregnant women participated in the ADS validation study, with 650 completing a test-retest reliability analysis over a 14-day interval. The diverse Romanian sample ensured the demographic variability. Additionally, 200 participants completed the ADS along with Beck’s Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale to assess construct validity. Psychometric properties were evaluated using internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factor analysis. Results: The ADS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.897), strong validity (The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.876), and robust correlations with the established scales. Notably, the mean depression scores increased significantly between tests, underscoring the scale’s sensitivity to psychological changes during pregnancy. Conclusions: The ADS is a validated multidimensional tool that fills a critical gap in maternal mental health assessment by offering a pregnancy-specific, psychometrically sound instrument. Its applicability in both clinical and telemedicine settings supports early intervention, ultimately enhancing maternal mental health care and improving outcomes for pregnant women.