In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigates the potential correlation between the increased use of antipsychotic medications and the rising incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). As psychiatric disorders surged, the consequential escalation in antipsychotic drug use raised concerns about thrombotic risks. We conducted a comprehensive literature review using PubMed, focusing on articles that intersected COVID-19, antipsychotic medication, and thrombosis. This approach allowed for a nuanced examination of the historical and recent data on antipsychotic drugs and their association with thrombotic events. Our findings reveal a notable link between the use of antipsychotic medications, particularly second-generation antipsychotics, and an increased risk of VTE, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. This association was evident, despite variations in study designs and populations. The study underscores the need for cautious medication management in psychiatric care, especially during pandemic conditions like COVID-19, to mitigate thrombotic risks. It advocates a personalized approach to prescribing antipsychotics, considering individual patient factors and comorbidities, to balance the benefits against potential thrombotic complications.

With multimorbidity on the rise, adverse cutaneous drug reactions are becoming a daily challenge in clinical practice. The objective evaluation of the skin lesion is crucial but hardly realized due to missing technology and guidelines. In this study, the novel Dermus SkinScanner-U, an optically guided high-frequency ultrasound imaging device, was evaluated regarding its comparability with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the pharmacological analysis of the patients’ drug therapy. A total of 40 adult patients were evaluated, all with chronic medication use and skin lesions that led to non-compliance toward the pharmacotherapy. With the ongoing aim of further improving the methodology, the first results, with two detailed patient cases, are presented here. It was concluded that in the cases evaluated, there was a significant correlation between the characteristics of the lesions observed on the optical and ultrasound image, the DLQI score, and the pharmacological analysis. The next steps include increasing the scale of the study to ultimately develop a quality-assured methodology for the correct diagnosis of skin-related adverse drug reactions and to prepare a database with the most frequently observed events.

Background: The widespread availability of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines supports self-care but also requires users to recognize medication-related risks and make safe decisions without direct professional supervision. Existing studies have often examined medication literacy, self-medication, or pharmacovigilance separately. To address this gap, we developed a questionnaire within the conceptual framework of OTC medication risk literacy to explore scenario-based OTC medicine risk recognition, self-assessed confidence, self-reported safety behaviours, information-seeking practices, and pharmacovigilance awareness among respondents recruited through an online survey in Romania. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an anonymous Google Forms questionnaire. Data were collected between June–July 2026. The questionnaire included scenario-based items addressing common OTC medicine risks, self-assessed confidence in medication-related decision-making, self-reported safety behaviours, information sources, chronic disease and medicine use, adverse effect experience, reporting behaviour, and pharmacovigilance awareness. Associations were evaluated using chi-square tests, effect-size measures, and multivariable regression analyses. Results: A total of 423 respondents completed the survey. Recognition of major medication-safety risks was high for persistent symptoms requiring medical evaluation (96.5%), severe allergic reactions (95.7%), severe cutaneous adverse effects (96.2%), OTC medicine use during pregnancy (95.7%), antibiotic misuse (89.8%), and contraindications associated with chronic disease or anticoagulant therapy (91.7–92.7%). In contrast, recognition was lower for the antihistamine–alcohol interaction scenario, for which only 53.9% selected the safest response. Confidence was highest for understanding information provided on medicine packaging and patient information leaflets, whereas lower confidence was reported for recognising unsafe medicine combinations and contraindications. Most respondents reported reading medicine packaging and following recommended dosage instructions. Doctors (69.0%), pharmacists (61.2%), and patient information leaflets (56.3%) were the most used information sources. Pharmacovigilance awareness was limited, although 45.1% of respondents agreed that they knew how to report a suspected adverse effect, 35.0% disagreed and 52.3% of eligible respondents reported having previously submitted a suspected adverse effect report. Healthcare background remained independently associated with higher recognition and confidence scores after adjustment. Conclusions: In this online convenience sample, respondents generally recognized major OTC medicine safety risks in structured scenarios and reported several safe-use behaviours, but practical gaps remained in interaction recognition, complex risk assessment, and pharmacovigilance awareness. The findings should be interpreted as exploratory and not as representative national estimates. Scenario-based assessment may help identify educational priorities, while pharmacist counselling, clearer information, and pharmacovigilance education remain plausible strategies that require further evaluation.

This study aims to identify and analyze potential tourism clusters in Romania, focusing on their geographical, cultural, and gastronomic characteristics, to highlight opportunities for sustainable regional development through integrated tourism. In conducting this research, we consulted a variety of sources, including government reports, research studies, academic articles, and information provided by local and regional authorities, which were subsequently analyzed and synthesized. The results show that, in Romania, due to its natural, cultural, and historical richness, numerous regions and areas can be considered potential tourism clusters. We identified four potential clusters: the Danube Delta Tourism Cluster, the Transylvania Tourism Cluster, the Romanian Seaside Tourism Cluster, and the Bucovina-Maramureș Tourism Cluster. Moreover, we found that each potential cluster could also be distinguished by its unique gastronomic identity. The study emphasizes the need for a strategically integrated approach to tourism development, where the gastronomic component is leveraged as a differentiating and appealing element, both on the national and international markets. The research results may serve as a helpful starting point for decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and tourism specialists interested in the sustainable and competitive development of Romania’s tourism regions.