The increasing phenomenon of cyberbullying among adolescents needs parental, educational, and social intervention. The study aimed to identify the prevalence of cyberbullying among Romanian adolescents and the importance of gender, family-related factors, self-esteem, and parental styles in both victims and perpetrators. A total of 835 adolescents aged 10–19 years were included in the research. An online questionnaire was specially constructed for this research, gathering socio-demographic and family-related data along with information about cyberbullying as a victim, aggressor, or bystander, and strategies used in order to deal with it. Four psychological scales were used to evaluate self-esteem, loneliness, cybervictimization/cyberaggression, and parental style. (3) Results showed that the most common age for a personal smartphone is M = 10.24 ± 2.43. The main reasons why students use these networks are primarily chatting and fun and less for academic tasks. During the week, adolescents spend 5.53 ± 2.75 h on social media, while during weekends, the duration of smartphone usage almost doubles. Girls are the most common victims of cyberbullying, and less than three-quarters of students believe that aggressors can be both girls and boys, and only a quarter of them have reported an incident. Family affluence, the relationship with parents and classmates, the presence of loneliness and sociodemographic factors were found to be in a strong relationship with the presence of aggression and/or victimization among adolescents. Cyberaggression was found to be positively correlated with the aggressive parental style and negatively correlated with the compassionate and avoidant parental styles. Results are crucial for identifying cyberbullying actors and preventing the negative effects of cyberbullying on psychological, social, and academic life for students, parents, and teachers.

From their discovery, antibiotics have significantly improved clinical treatments of infections, thus leading to diminishing morbidity and mortality in critical care patients, as well as surgical, transplant and other types of medical procedures. In contemporary medicine, a significant debate regarding the development of multi-drug resistance involves all types of pathogens, especially in acute care hospitals due to suboptimal or inappropriate therapy. The possibility of nanotechnology using nanoparticles as matrices to encapsulate a lot of active molecules should increase drug efficacy, limit adverse effects and be an alternative helping to combat antibiotic resistance. The major aim of this study was to obtain and to analyze physico-chemical features of chitosan used as a drug-delivery system in order to stop the antibiotic resistance of different pathogens. It is well known that World Health Organization stated that multidrug resistance is one of the most important health threats worldwide. In last few years, nano-medicine emerged as an improved therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections agents. This work relies on enhancement of the antimicrobial efficiency of ceftriaxone against gram(+) and gram(−) bacteria by antibiotic encapsulation into chitosan nanoparticles. Physicochemical features of ceftriaxone-loaded polymer nanoparticles were investigated by particle size distribution and zeta potential, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TG/TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characteristics techniques. The obtained results revealed an average particle size of 250 nm and a zeta potential value of 38.5 mV. The release profile indicates an incipient drug deliverance of almost 15%, after 2 h of approximately 83%, followed by a slowed drug release up to 24 h. Characteristics peaks of chitosan were confirmed by FTIR spectra indicating a similar structure in the case of ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. A good encapsulation of the antibiotic into chitosan nanoparticles was also provided by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Morphological characteristics shown by SEM micrographs exhibit spherical nanoparticles of 30–250 nm in size with agglomerated architectures. Chitosan, a natural polymer which is used to load different drugs, provides sustained and prolonged release of antibiotics at a specific target by possessing antimicrobial activity against gram(+) and gram(−) bacteria. In this research, ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were investigated as a carrier in antibiotic delivery.

Omphalocele is a rare congenital abdominal wall defect, occurring in approximately 3.38 per 10,000 pregnancies. It is characterized by the herniation of abdominal organs through the base of the umbilical cord, enclosed by a peritoneal sac. While omphalocele can occur as an isolated anomaly, it is more commonly associated with congenital syndromes and structural abnormalities. Among its most significant complications, pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) and pulmonary hypertension (PPH) have been shown to negatively impact neonatal prognosis. These conditions result from impaired pulmonary vascular development, leading to respiratory distress and hypoxemia. Unlike many congenital disorders, there is no universally accepted surgical approach for omphalocele repair. The choice of surgical strategy depends on multiple factors, including the size of the abdominal wall defect, presence of herniated solid organs, associated anomalies, and severity of pulmonary complications. Notably, giant omphaloceles are frequently linked to lung hypoplasia, as reduced intra-abdominal space restricts fetal lung expansion, leading to structural lung abnormalities and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. These factors contribute to a higher risk of respiratory morbidity and mortality in affected neonates. This literature review examines the prevalence, significance, and clinical implications of the association between omphalocele and pulmonary abnormalities. Through a systematic analysis of published studies, we evaluated 157 full-text articles along with available titles and abstracts. Our findings indicate that infants with omphalocele often exhibit respiratory complications detectable prenatally and at birth. Severe respiratory insufficiency, particularly due to pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension, significantly increases neonatal morbidity and mortality. While surgical correction may initially exacerbate respiratory challenges, most patients demonstrate short-term recovery with appropriate multidisciplinary management. This review highlights the importance of early diagnosis, comprehensive prenatal assessment, and tailored postnatal management to improve outcomes in newborns with omphalocele and associated pulmonary complications. Further research is needed to establish standardized treatment protocols and optimize long-term respiratory outcomes in these patients.

Cryptorchidism, defined as the failure of at least one or both testicles to descend into the scrotal pouches, is the most frequent (1.6–9% at birth, 1/20 males at birth) congenital anomaly encountered in newborn males, resulting in one of the most frequent causes of non-obstructive azoospermia in men. Similar to other congenital malformations, cryptorchidism is thought to be caused by endocrine and genetic factors, combined with maternal and environmental influences. The etiology of cryptorchidism is unknown, as it involves complex mechanisms aiming to control the testicular development and descent from their initial intra-abdominal location in scrotal pouches. The implication of insulin-like 3 (INSL-3) associated with its receptor (LGR8) is critical. Genetic analysis discloses functionally deleterious mutations in INSL3 and GREAT/LGR8 genes. In this literature review, we discuss and analyze the implication of INSL3 and the INSL3/LGR8 mutation in the occurrence of cryptorchidism in both human and animal models.

Nowadays bone implant removal is caused by infection that occurs around it possibly acquired after surgery or during hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to reveal some metal oxides applied as coatings on bone implant thus limiting the usual antibiotics-resistant bacteria colonization. Therefore ZnO, TiO 2 and CuO were synthesized and structurally and morphologically analized in order to use them as an alternative antimicrobial agents deposited on bone implant. XRD, SEM, and FTIR characterization techniques were used to identify structure and texture of these nanoscaled metal oxides. These metal oxides nanocoatings on implant surface play a big role in preventing bacterial infection and reducing surgical complications.

Background and Purpose: Undescended testes (UDT) is recognized as the most prevalent anomaly of the male genitalia and presents a significant risk factor for long-term complications, including infertility and testicular cancer. Currently, there is no consensus on the necessity of imaging in the management of UDT, nor is there agreement on which imaging modality is preferred or to what extent these tests offer real added value in the clinical setting. This review aims to evaluate the various imaging options available in the management of cryptorchidism, discussing their utility, advantages, and disadvantages compared to exploratory laparoscopy. Methods: We conducted a PubMed search using the following search terms: [“undescended testis”] OR [(“cryptorchidism”) OR (“diagnostic imaging”)] OR [(“Ultrasound”), OR (“CT scan”) OR (“MRI”)] AND [“laparoscopy”]. We analyzed 90 full articles, excluding irrelevant ones, and, in total, 18 publications were included in this review. Results: Ultrasound (US) is the most commonly used technique due to its non-invasive nature and absence of ionizing radiation. It is particularly beneficial in cases of non-palpable UDT. However, its main limitation lies in the difficulty in accurately locating UDT, especially when they are situated outside the inguinal region. Computed tomography (CT) scans serve as a crucial diagnostic tool, particularly for testes located below the internal inguinal ring. While CT exhibits comparable accuracy in detecting UDT, the need for sedation or general anesthesia, along with the costs and potential risks of secondary malignancy due to radiation exposure, does not favor its routine use. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers higher sensitivity than US and does not utilize ionizing radiation or intravascular contrast agents. It allows for the generation of multiplanar images, thereby providing improved tissue characterization. However, limitations include prolonged scan durations, the potential for motion artifacts during imaging, the need for sedation, and higher costs. Laparoscopy has been shown to provide better accuracy, offering both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits, particularly in cases of non-palpable UDT. It is widely regarded as the gold standard in achieving clear diagnostic and definitive therapeutic procedures and has demonstrated its utility in determining the anatomical position of intra-abdominal testes, owing to its magnification capabilities and minimally invasive approach. Conclusions: Achieving a correct and comprehensive diagnosis of cryptorchidism requires the medical team to decide on the appropriate imaging studies, as these will not significantly influence or alter the therapeutic decision-making process. It is unlikely that medical practice will eliminate imaging studies before a surgical decision is made in the near future. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach that includes clinical examination, imaging, and diagnostic laparoscopy remains essential for the accurate management of UDT.