The significance of dietary patterns during pregnancy is highlighted by accumulating evidence, emphasizing their pivotal role in promoting a healthy pregnancy for both the mother and the child. This study aimed to assess the current dietary patterns of pregnant women, compare the energy and nutrient intake of two distinct groups with a 10-year interval, and identify changes in dietary patterns. EPIC FFQ was applied, and its data were interpreted with the FETA program version 6 (CAMB/PQ/6/1205). By means of principal component analysis, three different food patterns were identified in each study group: vegetarian, balanced, and traditional (2013); and prudent, vegetarian, and modern (2023). Analyzing the relationship between food groups and gestational weight, we found that gestational weight gain in 2013 was positively correlated with eggs and egg dishes and milk and milk products, whereas in 2023, gestational weight gain was positively correlated with fats and oils, non-alcoholic beverages, and the modern pattern. Additionally, in 2023, pre-gestational BMI correlated positively with eggs and egg dishes. The balanced pattern emerged as a predictor for a lower likelihood of inadequate gestational weight gain in both groups. Furthermore, normal and overweight pregnant women showed a reduced likelihood of excessive gestational weight gain.

Healthy dietary patterns during pregnancy are crucial for ensuring maternal and foetal health outcomes. Numerous methodologies exist for assessing the diet of pregnant women, including dietary patterns and various appraisal tools of diet quality. This study aimed to assess the dietary patterns and diet quality of pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns, diet quality estimators, and the adequacy of nutrient intake. EPIC FFQ was applied to a sample of 251 pregnant women, and questionnaires were interpreted with the FETA program. Dietary patterns were then determined by means of principal component analysis. Our results showed a substantial association between dietary patterns and total diet quality, as measured by the Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy (DQI-Pc), PURE Healthy Diet Score, and FIGO Diet Quality Score. We also found correlations between certain dietary patterns and particular nutrient intakes recommended by the European Food Safety Authority during pregnancy. The most deficient intake was registered for iron (86.1%), zinc (87.3%) and magnesium (79.3%), posing a threat to normal bone development, anaemia prophylaxis, and immune status. These results highlight the importance of assessing and understanding eating habits during pregnancy in order to achieve optimal outcomes for both the mother and the foetus.

Objective: Cervical cancer represents a major health problem in Romania. A national population-based cervical cancer screening programme was launched in 2012. The aims of the study were to assess the participation rate and to estimate the prevalence of epithelial cell abnormalities in the first four years of the programme in North Eastern Romania. Methods: The participation rate, representing the proportion of eligible women screened in the programme, was evaluated for 2012–2016. The prevalence of cytological abnormalities was estimated by age group and calendar year. Results: Of 107,968 Pap smears taken, 312 were unsatisfactory (0.3%). The number of smears decreased by year. The participation rate over the four years was 16.9%. Of the 107,656 satisfactory smears, 6.5% were positive for squamous and/or glandular lesion, among which 0.5% contained high-grade squamous intraepithelial or worse lesions. Conclusion: The participation rate in the first four years of the programme was low. The effectiveness of the screening programme should be improved by attendance monitoring of the target population, and follow-up of screen-positive women. Measures should be taken to raise coverage and assure quality at all steps of the screening chain. The data collected should include all screening tests from both opportunistic and organized settings.

Placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PAS) has an increased frequency due to the high number of cesarean sections. The abnormal placentation associated with a retained placenta can cause persistent uterine bleeding, with ultrasound Doppler examination being the main choice to assess the uterine hemorrhage. An acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) may occur because of uterine trauma, spontaneous abortion, dilation and curettage, endometrial carcinoma or gestational trophoblastic disease. The treatment for abnormal placentation associated with AVM can be conservative, represented by methotrexate therapy, arterial embolization, uterine curettage, hysteroscopic loop resection or radical, which takes into consideration total hysterectomy. Therapeutic management always considers the degree of placental invasion, the patient hemodynamic state and fertility preservation. Considering the aspects described, we present a case of retained placenta percreta associated with acquired uterine AVM, with imagistic and clinical features suggestive of a gestational trophoblastic disease, successfully treated by hysterectomy, along with a small review of the literature, as only a few publications have reported a similar association of diagnostics and therapy.

Background: Pregnancy is a vital period during which maternal nutrition profoundly influences both maternal health and fetal development. Carotenoids, predominantly found in fruits and vegetables, are bioactive compounds that enhance antioxidant defenses and facilitate vitamin A metabolism throughout pregnancy. However, assessing carotenoids intake presents challenges due to the lack of dietary assessment tools capable of quantifying individual carotenoids, coupled with limited data from populations in Eastern Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 621 pregnant women in Romania was conducted to estimate dietary carotenoids intake and investigate associations with dietary patterns and overall diet quality. Dietary data were obtained using the EPIC Food Frequency Questionnaire (EPIC-FFQ), adapted for Romanian populations. A dedicated carotenoid estimation model was developed utilizing the USDA Carotenoid Database. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify dietary patterns, and diet quality was evaluated using the Diet Quality Index during Pregnancy (DQI-P). Results: The findings revealed significant individual variability. The median intake was highest for β-carotene (2464 μg), and lycopene (1664 μg), followed by lutein and zeaxanthin (908 μg), α-carotene (615 μg), and β-cryptoxanthin (121 μg). The Vegetable-meal pattern exhibited the strongest positive correlation with carotenoids intake, whereas the Energy-dense pattern was primarily associated with vitamin E and tocopherols/tocotrienols, and the Mixed pattern with vitamins A and D. Higher DQI-P scores were consistently correlated with increased carotenoids consumption. Conclusions: Overall, maternal carotenoids intake during pregnancy was frequently insufficient and showed considerable variation among women. A diet rich in vegetables and higher overall diet quality were associated with elevated carotenoids intake levels. These findings enhance the understanding of dietary carotenoids intake among pregnant women in Eastern Europe.

Aim: Clinical and biological studies in the past years underlined the proinflammatory action of the citokine Tumoral Necrosis Factor in the pathophysiolology of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis. Knowing that the high dilution of substances can have an inverted effect, our hypotesis was that dillution made of TNF-alfa can decrease the clinical manifestation of such diseases. Materials and method: We included as a pilot group 10 patients presented in Lotus Life Integrative Medicine Center or Profamilia Medical Center Iasi with psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis previously diagnosed by specialists, under speciality treatment with insufficient results and patients who deliberately expressed their preference for alternative treatment. We decided to exclude the patients which during the study could present aggravation of symptoms. The treatment protocol consisted in the administration under the tongue of the dilution of TNF-alfa 9CH in liquid form, 12 drops twice a day for at least 3 months. This was prepared diluting from Guna TNF-alfa 4CH in distiled water, completing with 30% of alcohol in the last solution. Patients under other medications continued to take their previous treatment unchanged. We called the patients for follow-up after 3 months. We took the written consent from the patients and the approval of the Ethical Committee of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa" of Iasi. Results: To analize the results we followed the subjective evolution of the patients, the total surface and thickness of eruptions in psoriasis patients and the pain intensity and stiffness in arthritis patients. Under this conditions, all the patients showed amelioration, with 2 out of 6 psoriasis patients showing complete clearance of eruptions. No patient reported adverse reactions during the treatment Conclusions: Even though the group of patients was small and not appropriate for statistical data the presence of a clinical response in all the patients and the absence of adverse reactions sustains the opportunity to extend the research on this subject.