IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) are medicines used to treat dermatological and rheumatic diseases They belong to a class of medicines called biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). This class of drugs has had a major impact on the therapy of autoimmune diseases, being much safer and more effective than treatment with small molecules. At the same time, they have highly beneficial effects on skin and joint changes, and their efficacy has been extensively monitored and demonstrated in numerous clinical trials. More and more such drugs are still being discovered today to ensure the best possible treatment of these patients, but more frequently and relatively constantly three agents are used. Two of them (Secukinumab and Ixekizumab) inhibit IL-17A directly, and the third, Brodamulab, inhibits the IL-17A receptor. Although they are extremely effective in the treatment of these diseases, sometimes their administration has been associated with paradoxical effects, i.e., there is an exacerbation of the inflammatory process. Tough, clinical trials of IL-17i have described cases of exacerbation or even onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, after administration of these drugs in patients previously diagnosed with psoriasis (PS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The pathophysiological mechanism of action is not well understood at present. One explanation would be that this hyperreactive inflammatory process would be triggered by Interferon 1 derived from dendritic plasma cells. Even though there are many reports in the recent literature about the role of IL17i in the onset of IBD, conclusions of studies do not converge. Some of them show an increased incidence of IBD in patients treated with IL17i, while some others affirm their safety of them. In the near future we will surely have more data emerging from ongoing meta-analyses regarding safety of use IL17i in patients who are at risk of developing IBD. Clinical and paraclinical evaluation (inflammatory intestinal markers) are carefully advised before recommending treatment with IL-17i and after initiation of treatment, and prospective surveillance by clinical and biomarkers of patients treated with IL-17i is absolutely essential to capture the onset of IBD.

Experimental animal models for studying the mechanisms of periodontitis and its links are a better alternative to in vitro studies. The aim of this study is to compare two ligature induced periodontitis models and validate the best one for further use in research. An experimental study was performed on male Wistar rats that were divided into three groups: Test 1 (n = 10), incisor ligated, Test 2 (n = 10), molar ligated, and Control (n = 10). The animals were clinically evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the experiment by recording body weight, gingival bleeding index, tooth mobility score, changes in color, and consistency of gingival tissue. Two blood samples were obtained for each animal at baseline and at the end of the experiment. The hematological parameters Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 α), high sensitive C Reactive Protein (hsCRP), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured. Seven days after the induction of periodontitis, the animals were sacrificed, and samples were prepared for histological evaluation. The results of this research demonstrated that the association between clinical, histological, and biochemical parameters initiate a periodontal pathology in the molar induced model in rats while the incisor experimental model initiates only a moderate and incomplete periodontal inflammation, mainly due to mechanical irritation.

Curcumin’s role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been proven by numerous studies, but its preventive administration, with the aim of reducing the remission episodes that are characteristic of this disease, must be further investigated. This study investigates the effects of a novel curcumin-loaded polymeric microparticulate oral-drug-delivery system for colon targeting (Col-CUR-MPs) in an experimental model of UC. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were divided into five groups (n = 8), which were treated daily by oral gavage for seven days with a 2% aqueous solution of carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMCNa) (healthy and disease control), free curcumin powder (reference), Col-CUR-MPs (test) and prednisolone (reference) prior to UC induction by the intrarectal administration of acetic acid (AA), followed by animal sacrification and blood and colonic samples’ collection on the eighth day. Col-CUR-MPs exhibited an important preventive effect in the severity degree of oxidative stress that resulted following AA intrarectal administration, which was proved by the highest catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and the lowest nitrites/nitrates (NOx), total oxidative status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels. Biochemical parameter analysis was supported by histopathological assessment, confirming the significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this novel colon-specific delivery system in AA-induced rat models of UC. Thus, this study offers encouraging perspectives regarding the preventive administration of curcumin in the form of a drug delivery system for colon targeting.

Cereals, as the world’s most consumed food, face challenges related to nutrient quality due to climate change and increased production impacting soil health. In this study, we investigated the vitamin and mineral content, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity in cereals from Western Romania, analyzing whole and hulled wheat, rye, oat, and soybeans before and after heat treatment. Samples from 2022 crops were processed into dough and subjected to 220 °C for 30 min. The results reveal that, despite efforts to optimize nutrient content, cereals, particularly after heat processing, exhibited lower vitamin and mineral levels than the recommended daily intake. The decrease in polyphenols and antioxidant capacity was notable, with rye flour experiencing the largest decline (15%). Mineral analysis showed copper levels in decorticated wheat decreased by 82.5%, while iron in rye decreased by 5.63%. Soy flour consistently displayed the highest calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels, whereas oat flour had the highest zinc and copper levels before and after heat processing. The study highlights the concerningly low vitamins and minerals contents in cereals, as well as in the final products reaching consumers in the Western part of Romania, and contributes to the assessment of measures that are meant to improve the contents of these minerals.

Infective spondylodiscitis (ISD), the infection of vertebral bodies and surrounding tissues, is a rare complication with major impact on the long-term survival of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although the most frequent etiology is staphylococcal, identifying these pathogens in blood cultures and biopsy cultures is often difficult. This paper aims to present suitable antibiotic combinations for the treatment of these patients, which is usually challenging in the case of an unidentified pathogen. We presented the therapies applied for 13 HD patients and 19 patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD), diagnosed with ISD between 2013 and 2023 in Bihor County. The percentage of positive blood cultures was low in both groups (30.78% HD vs. 15.78% non-HD). The average length of antibiotic therapy was 5.15 weeks in HD patients and 6.29 weeks in non-HD patients. The use of Carbapenem alone (e.g., Meropenem) for an average of 19.6 days for patients in HD when the pathogen was not identified has proven to be efficient in most cases, similarly to using Vancomycin and Fluoroquinolone/Cephalosporines in combination. Regarding the non-CKD patients, the use of Clindamycin in various combinations for an average of 30.3 days has proven to be efficient in more than 90% of cases of ISD with a nonidentified pathogen. Within 2 years after ISD was diagnosed, 12 of the 13 HD patients passed away, mainly due to cardiovascular causes. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines in the literature concerning the empiric treatment of ISD in the particular case of HD patients. Upon checking the literature on PubMed and Google Scholar, only 10 studies provided relevant data regarding ISD treatment for HD patients. More data about the treatment and evolution of these patients is needed in order to elaborate a truly relevant metanalysis.

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global public health concern, particularly in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aims to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of HCV-positive patients undergoing HD and assess the long-term impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on patient outcomes. Moreover, a narrative review aims to summarize the current knowledge regarding HCV treatment in HD patients. The search in the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases identified 48 studies relevant to our topic, 18 regarding clinical history and 29 related to HCV treatment. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 165 HD patients from Bihor County HD centers, Romania, between 2014 and 2024. The cohort was divided into two groups: 54 patients who tested positive for HCV and 111 controls who were HCV-negative. Data collected from GPs included demographic information, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, and psychological assessments. Outcomes were evaluated at over 5 years after DAA treatment. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies on HCV in HD patients from 1989 to 2024. Results: Laboratory results showed similar parameters across groups, except for lower serum cholesterol levels in the HCV-positive DAA-treated group vs. HCV-positive non-treated ones (155.607 mg% vs. 170.174 mg%, p = 0.040) and increased ALT levels when comparing the same groups (29.107 vs. 22.261, p = 0.027), whereas comorbidities did not differ significantly. The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher among HCV-positive compared to HCV-negative patients (20.3% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.023), mainly among those treated with DAAs, highlighted by the multivariate analysis. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality regardless of HCV status or the use of antiviral therapy. Psychological assessments revealed more severe depression in HCV-positive patients compared to their HCV-negative counterparts. Conclusions: HCV infection in the hemodialysis population typically follows a subclinical course. At over five years after DAA therapy, the results indicate a stabilization of the liver function and the absence of major complications. However, the incidence of malignancies remains high in HCV-positive patients.