Chronic wounds represent a major public health issue, with an extremely high cost worldwide. In healthy individuals, the wound healing process takes place in different stages: inflammation, cell proliferation (fibroblasts and keratinocytes of the dermis), and finally remodeling of the extracellular matrix (equilibrium between metalloproteinases and their inhibitors). In chronic wounds, the chronic inflammation favors exudate persistence and bacterial film has a special importance in the dynamics of chronic inflammation in wounds that do not heal. Recent advances in biopolymer-based materials for wound healing highlight the performance of specific alginate forms. An ideal wound dressing should be adherent to the wound surface and not to the wound bed, it should also be non-antigenic, biocompatible, semi-permeable, biodegradable, elastic but resistant, and cost-effective. It has to give protection against bacterial, infectious, mechanical, and thermal agents, to modulate the level of wound moisture, and to entrap and deliver drugs or other molecules This paper explores the roles of alginates in advanced wound-dressing forms with a particular emphasis on hydrogels, nanofibers networks, 3D-scaffolds or sponges entrapping fibroblasts, keratinocytes, or drugs to be released on the wound-bed. The latest research reports are presented and supported with in vitro and in vivo studies from the current literature.

In this study, we investigated the outcomes of laparoscopic approaches for adrenal tumor resection in 67 patients from a single center with a median age of 51 (range 40–79). Predominantly comprising women, the majority of patients were overweight or obese. Adrenal tumors larger than 6 cm were mostly treated using the laparoscopic transperitoneal method (p < 0.001). Our results revealed that patients subjected to the retroperitoneal approach exhibited quicker recovery, as evidenced by faster resumption of oral intake and ambulation, along with reduced intraoperative blood loss and shorter hospitalization (p-value < 0.05). In contrast, patients subjected to the transperitoneal approach experienced minimal complications, though not statistically significant, despite the technique’s intricacy and slower recovery. These findings emphasize the significance of tailoring the surgical approach to individual patient characteristics, with particular emphasis on the tumor size. The choice between the retroperitoneal and transperitoneal methods should be informed by patient-specific attributes to optimize surgical outcomes. This study underscores the need for a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as tumor characteristics and postoperative recovery when determining the most suitable laparoscopic approach for adrenal tumor resection. Ultimately, the pursuit of individualized treatment strategies will contribute to improved patient outcomes in adrenal tumor surgery.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the healthcare system in our country and led non-COVID patients to postpone medical visits that were not urgent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trends in melanoma diagnosis and to compare the pathological characteristics of melanoma patients before and during the pandemic. The number of primary cutaneous melanomas diagnosed each month between 1 March 2019 and 29 February 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 (COVID-19) in the North-Western Region of Romania (Cluj and Bihor counties) was determined. The pathological characteristics of melanomas diagnosed in the two intervals were compared. The number of melanoma diagnoses substantially decreased during the pandemic, with 66 (−19.3%) fewer cutaneous melanomas being diagnosed in the first year of the pandemic when compared with the previous year. The tumor thickness and mitotic rate were significantly higher in cases found during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study suggests that COVID-19 has delayed diagnosis in patients with melanoma, leading to the detection of thicker melanomas that may increase morbidity and mortality. Further studies are needed to determine the consequences of this delay on outcomes.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is on the rise among the population, and is frequently associated with patients with acne vulgaris, especially females aged between 18–55 years old. The connection between the two is not fully elucidated. In this study, 236 patients diagnosed with acne in the dermatological office of the private Pelican Hospital and in few private dermatological offices from Oradea, Romania, during January 2018–December 2020, aged between 12 and 55 years old, were endocrinologically investigated to determine AIT and its influence on the severity of the acne. The values for the thyroid antibodies and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined for all of the subjects. The frequency of AIT in the study group was 72% and was associated with severe acne (p < 0.001). Patients with AIT with normal or hypofunction had more frequent severe acne than those with hyperfunction (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). The TSH and anti thyroidperoxidase (TPO) values did not influence the severity of the acne (p = 0.494; p = 0.111), while the anti-TG values were associated with severe acne (p = 0.007). The risk analysis indicated that raised values of anti-TPO (2.91 times greater) correlated with high anti-thyroglobulin (TG) values (4.36 times greater) doubled the risk of developing severe acne in patients. In acne evolution, the existence of AIT involves significant modifications.

Rationale: The clinical manifestations of the SARS-CoV-2 infection are mainly respiratory but the virus can cause a variety of symptoms. Dermatological findings are less well-characterized. Data is scarce on their timing, type and correlation with the immune response. Patient concerns: We present the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a previously healthy woman who presented with respiratory symptoms and developed anosmia, diarrhea, and an erythematous maculo-papular rash on day 15 from symptom onset. Diagnosis: The nasopharyngeal swab tested by real time PCR for COVID-19 was positive. We interpreted this as a viral exanthema likely caused by an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 nucleotides. Interventions: She was treated with Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Lopinavir/Ritonavir, and the rash with topical corticosteroids. Outcomes: All symptoms resolved except for anosmia which persisted for 6 weeks. At the 4- and 6-weeks follow-up the IgG titers for SARS-CoV-2 were high. Lessons: We must consider that SARS-CoV-2 has a multi-organ tropism. In our case, the SARS-CoV-2 infection had lung, nasopharyngeal, neurological, digestive, and skin manifestations. Identifying the different manifestations is useful for understanding the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We not only present a rare manifestation but also suggest that cutaneous manifestations may correlate with immunity.

Telogen effluvium post-COVID-19 is a condition characterized by the diffuse and reversible loss of scalp hair in the period following infection with SARS-CoV-2, and it is currently the second cause of alopecia in women. In the context of the COVID-19 infection, intense psychological stress contributes to alopecia appearance, along with systemic inflammation, autoimmune reactions, oxidative stress, and virally induced hypoxia. Cytokines with proinflammatory action and vasoactive substances negatively modulate the metabolism of some molecules, such as proteoglycans, involved in the hair follicle’s growth cycle. Studies show that a large percentage of hairs will suddenly enter the catagen phase during a moderate to severe COVID-19 infection. In the present paper, we update the data from the literature with a clinical example. Our case highlighted that the telogen effluvium after infections with SARS-CoV-2 is reversible with appropriate dermatological treatment. For therapeutic success, informing the patient about this pathology’s self-limited and reversible character is essential to reduce the emotional stress that may aggravate the disease.