Depression is a global health problem that requires an early and accurate diagnosis to ensure quick access to appropriate treatment. Among multiple psychopathological paths, recent attention has focused on analysing the brain–gut–microbiota axis. The intestinal barrier plays a key role, and dysfunctions occurring at this level have implications for mental health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of intestinal permeability biomarkers, i.e., calprotectin, zonulin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FAB), in relation to depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is the first study of this kind taking place in Romania, Eastern Europe, with an emphasis on patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The correlations identified between depression and calprotectin and depression and LBP have the potential to shed light on the process of rapid diagnosis of depression with the help of biomarkers. Since depression is correlated with a decrease in the quality of life in patients with IBD, the need for access to appropriate treatments must be urgent.

Our study highlighted the immune changes by pro-inflammatory biomarkers in the gut–liver-axis-linked ROS-cell death mechanisms in chronic and acute inflammations when gut cells are exposed to endotoxins in patients with hepatic cirrhosis or steatosis. In duodenal tissue samples, gut immune barrier dysfunction was analyzed by pro-inflammatory biomarker expressions, oxidative stress, and cell death by flow cytometry methods. A significant innate and adaptative immune system reaction was observed as result of persistent endotoxin action in gut cells in chronic inflammation tissue samples recovered from hepatic cirrhosis with the A-B child stage. Instead, in patients with C child stage of HC, the endotoxin tolerance was installed in cells, characterized by T lymphocyte silent activation and increased Th1 cytokines expression. Interesting mechanisms of ROS-cell death were observed in chronic and acute inflammation samples when gut cells were exposed to endotoxins and immune changes in the gut–liver axis. Late apoptosis represents the chronic response to injury induction by the gut immune barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, and liver-dysregulated barrier. Meanwhile, necrosis represents an acute and severe reply to endotoxin action on gut cells when the immune system reacts to pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th2 cytokines releasing, offering protection against PAMPs/DAMPs by monocytes and T lymphocyte activation. Flow cytometric analysis of pro-inflammatory biomarkers linked to oxidative stress-cell death mechanisms shown in our study recommends laboratory techniques in diagnostic fields.

Background and Objectives: Romania faces one of the highest cervical cancer burdens in Europe though it is a preventable cancer through population screening by cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) detection. Also, it has one of the highest incidences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HPV and HIV coinfection are frequently encountered. The aim of study was to establish the prevalence of HPV infection among HIV-positive women in Southeast Region of Romania, to genotype high risk HPV types -and to correlate the results with clinical data and cytological cervical lesions. Materials and Methods: 40 HIV-positive women were screened for HPV types and for cytological cervical lesions. The findings were evaluated in correlation with CD4 cell counts, HIV viral load, age at first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, vaginal candidiasis, and Gardnerella using statistical methods. Results: 19/40 (47.5%) women were positive for HPV types, 63.15% infected with single HPV type and 36.85% with multiple HPV types. The most frequent types were type: 31 (42.1%), 56 (31.57%), 53 (15.78%). On cytology, 34 (85%) women were found with NILM of which 38.23% were HPV-positive. Fifteen percent of women had abnormal cytology (three ASC-US, three LSIL), and all of them were HPV-positive. Through analyzing the value of CD4 count, women with CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/μL were found to be significantly more likely to be infected with HPV; meanwhile there was no correlation between the detection of HPV types and HIV viral load. Candida or Gardnerella were more often associated with HIV-positive women with HPV, than in women without HPV. Conclusions: Infection with HPV types is common among HIV-positive women in the Southeast Region of Romania and it is associated with age at the beginning of sexual life, number of sexual partners, CD4 value, vaginal candidiasis, and Gardnerella infection.

(1) Background: Because melanoma is an aggressive tumor with an unfavorable prognosis, we aimed to characterize the PD-L1 expression in melanomas in association with T cell infiltrates because PD-1/PD-L1 blockade represents the target in treating melanoma strategy. (2) Methods: The immunohistochemical manual quantitative methods of PD-L1, CD4, and CD8 TILs were performed in melanoma tumor microenvironment cells. (3) Results: Most of the PD-L1 positive, expressing tumors, have a moderate score of CD4+ TILs and CD8+TILs (5−50% of tumor area) in tumoral melanoma environment cells. The PD-L1 expression in TILs was correlated with different degrees of lymphocytic infiltration described by the Clark system (X² = 8.383, p = 0.020). PD-L1 expression was observed often in melanoma cases, with more than 2−4 mm of Breslow tumor thickness being the associated parameters (X² = 9.933, p = 0.014). (4) Conclusions: PD-L1 expression represents a predictive biomarker with very good accuracy for discriminating the presence or absence of malign tumoral melanoma cells. PD-L1 expression was an independent predictor of good prognosis in patients with melanomas.

Recent research highlights a potential link between metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and intestinal barrier dysfunction. Increased intestinal permeability (IP) may facilitate the translocation of bacteria, endotoxins (e.g., lipopolysaccharides [LPS]), and pathogen-associated molecular patterns into the portal venous system, fostering a pro-inflammatory environment and contributing to liver inflammation. This study aimed to identify correlations between intestinal barrier biomarkers (occludin, LPS, and intestinal-type fatty-acid-binding proteins [I-FABP]) and MASLD. A single-center prospective cross-sectional study was conducted, including 72 MASLD patients and 68 healthy controls. Fibroscan-controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) was performed in all subjects. Blood samples were analyzed for biochemical parameters, and serum levels of occludin, LPS, and I-FABP were measured using the ELISA method with the Human occludin, LPS, and I-FABP ELISA Kit test systems (FineTest, Wuhan, China). LPS and I-FABP levels were significantly higher in MASLD patients compared to controls, with the highest LPS levels observed in the diabetic MASLD subgroup. Occludin levels showed no statistically significant differences between groups. All 3 biomarkers were positively correlated with BMI, with the highest levels in obese subjects. LPS was positively correlated with CRP levels. Using Fibroscan-CAP, we found a positive correlation between LPS and both liver stiffness and CAP score, as well as between I-FABP and liver stiffness. MASLD patients exhibit increased IP, with enterocyte injury present irrespective of diabetes status, though more pronounced in diabetic MASLD. Occludin does not appear to be a reliable biomarker for evaluating intestinal barrier function in MASLD. Obesity is linked to elevated biomarkers, suggesting an association between increased IP and obesity. I-FABP and LPS may serve as noninvasive biomarkers for assessing hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in MASLD patients. Notably, LPS, given its correlation with elevated CRP levels, could be utilized as a marker of disease progression and severity.

Background and Objectives: Blood-borne inflammatory ratios have been proposed as inexpensive prognostic tools across a range of diseases, but their role in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains uncertain. In this retrospective case–control analysis, we explored whether composite indices derived from routine haematology—namely the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the systemic immune–inflammation index (SII) and a novel CRP–Fibrinogen Index (CFI)—could enhance risk stratification beyond established cytokine measurements among Romanian adults with culture-confirmed pulmonary T. Materials and Methods: Data were drawn from 80 consecutive TB in-patients and 50 community controls. Full blood counts, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and four multiplex cytokines were extracted from electronic records, and composite indices were calculated according to standard formulas. The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality within 90 days and length of stay (LOS). Results: Among TB patients, the median NLR was 3.70 (IQR 2.54–6.14), PLR was 200 (140–277) and SII was 1.36 × 10⁶ µL⁻¹ (0.74–2.34 × 10⁶), compared with 1.8 (1.4–2.3), 117 (95–140) and 0.46 × 10⁶ µL⁻¹ (0.30–0.60 × 10⁶) in controls. Those with SII above the cohort median exhibited more pronounced acute-phase responses (median CRP 96 vs. 12 mg L⁻¹; fibrinogen 578 vs. 458 mg dL⁻¹), yet median LOS remained virtually identical (29 vs. 28 days) and early mortality was low in both groups (8% vs. 2%). The CFI showed no clear gradient in hospital stay across its quartiles, and composite ratios—while tightly inter-correlated—demonstrated only minimal association with cytokine levels and LOS. Conclusions: Composite cell-count indices were markedly elevated but did not predict early death or prolonged admission. In low-event European cohorts, their chief value may lie in serving as cost-free gatekeepers, flagging those who should proceed to more advanced cytokine or genomic testing. Although routine reporting of NLR and SII may support low-cost surveillance, validation in larger, multicentre cohorts with serial sampling is needed before these indices can be integrated into clinical decision-making.