Headache in children and adolescent in ambulatory practice

Headache in children and adolescent represents one of the most frequent and potentially severe pathological conditions, requiring a paediatric consult. The purpose of the study was to establish the headache prevalence from the total paediatric consultations in ambulatory practice as well as to establish the main etiological causes of the headache. The study, including 400 children and adolescents (M/F ratio=150/250, U/R ratio=290/110) with headache selected from 3100 cases between 2003 and 2004, in two practices (one general paediatric office and one paediatric neuropsychiatry office) from the Outpatient Clinic of the "Sf. Spiridon" Hospital of Iasi, has shown a prevalence of headache of 12.9%, the most affected age group being that of 5-12 years (52.5%). The etiologic study proved a high frequency of trauma 46.25%, ophthalmologic diseases 13.28%, psychogenic headache 10.75%, migraine 10%, general causes (infections, anaemia, hypoglycaemia) 9%, ENT causes 6.25%, intracranial causes 0.75%. The study confirms the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach, most causes being benign and the prognosis favourable in most cases.     

Increased oxidative stress status in rat serum after five minutes treadmill exercise

Although it is accepted that an important correlation exists between the physical exercise and the oxidative stress status, the data regarding the levels of the main oxidative stress markers after physical training have been difficult to interpret and a subject of many controversies. There are also very few studies regarding the effects of short-time exercise on the oxidative stress status modifications. Thus, in the present report we were interested in studying the modifications of some oxidative stress markers (two antioxidant enzymes-superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, a lipid peroxidation parameter — malondyaldehide, the total antioxidant status and protein carbonyl levels), from the serum of rats that were subject to one bout of five minutes exercise on a treadmill, when compared to a control sedentary group. In this way, we observed a decrease of superoxide dismutase specific activity in the rats which performed the exercises. Still, no modifications of glutathione peroxidase specific activity were found between groups. In addition, increased levels of malondyaldehide and protein carbonyls were observed in the rats subjected to exercises. In conclusion, our data provides new evidence regarding the increase of the oxidative stress status, as a result of a 5-minutes bout of treadmill exercising in rats, expressed through a decrease in the SOD specific activity and the total antioxidant status and also an increase of the lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation processes.     

Synthesis of Crosslinked Microparticles Based on Glycidyl Methacrylate and N-Vinylimidazole

In this study, suspension polymerization technique is used to obtain 3D porous networks based on two monofunctional monomers (glycidyl methacrylate and N-vinylimidazole) and one of the following difunctional monomers known as crosslinking agents: mono-, di-, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate or divinylbenzene. The influence of various operational parameters like: monomer molar ratio, amount and type of crosslinkers, composition of stabilization system, stirring speed, amount of porogenic agent on the reaction yield, surface morphologies, particle size distribution, and porous characteristics are investigated in order to find the optimal conditions for the synthesis of microparticles possessing the desired properties for further chemical modification. Crosslinked porous microparticles are structurally characterized by Fourier transform inrared  (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental analysis by determination of nitrogen and epoxy groups. The microparticle morphologies as a function of investigated parameters are revealed by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the porous structure is highlighted by mercury porosimetry and dynamic water vapor sorption methods. All the crosslinked networks exhibit porous structures with different surface morphologies and specific surface area values (1.15–48.32 m² g⁻¹) depending on the operational parameters. These microparticles can be considered precursors for the preparation of various functional polymeric materials.