Moldovan Medical Journal

13-19

Authors: Ecaterina Carpenco, Vergil Petrovici, Lilia Sinitina, Veaceslav Fulga, Valeriu David

Background: The hydatiform mole is charcaterized by a pathological proliferation of the trophoblast. Its evaluation could predict the progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. The aim of the study was the analysis of the proliferative activity of the villous trophoblast in the molar vs non-molar lesions. Material and methods: p-57 and Ki-67 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 15 cases of hydatidiform mole and 18 cases of abortions. Results: The hydatidiform mole was divided based on the immunoexpression of anti-p57 into: complete (8 cases) and partial type (7 cases). The distribution score of Ki67 immunoreactivity in the villous cytotrophoblast was: complete mole: +3 – 8 cases; partial mole: +1 – 1 case, +2 – 3 cases, +3 – 3 cases; abortions on social indications: +1 – 6 cases, +2 – 9 cases; +3 – 2 cases. The mean and standard deviations were: 2.88±0.354; 2.29±0.756 and 1.82±0.728, respectively. The following statistical correlations were determined: complete vs partial mole (p=0.014), complete mole vs abortion (p<0.01) and overall cases of mole vs abortion (p=0.000034). Conclusions: Villous cytotrophoblast proliferative activity is high in the complete hydatidiform mole, and the immunoreactivity distribution index is highly positive and statistically true in the molar versus non-molar group. Immunohistochemical evaluation of Ki-67 in molar pathology is useful in differential diagnosis as a complementary method.

30-35

Authors: Olga Ignatov, Adrian Cociug, Oleg Pascal, Viorel Nacu

Background: Biological materials derived from decellularized tissues could be a good basis for progress in regenerative medicine while maintaining the main components of the extracellular matrix. A promising scaffold for tissue-engineered is the human amniotic membrane. It is one of the oldest biomaterials used for scaffolds. Material and methods: 3 placentas were obtained through Human Tissue Bank. Under sterile condition human amniotic membrane was collected. The human amniotic membrane was treated with 0.5% of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 1% Triton for 24 and 5 hours. Amniotic membrane decellularization was also carried out in combination with ultrasound bath for 20 minutes 3 times. For morphological and structure evaluation of human amniotic membrane the scanning electron microscopy of native amniotic membrane and histology of decellularized and native amniotic membrane were performed. Results: The human amniotic membrane decellularization process with 0.5% SDS solution and 1% Triton solution showed that decellularization for 24 hours is too aggressive for human amniotic membrane structure. The decellularization for 5h with 1% Triton solution was incomplete. Conclusions: The method of decellularization with 0.5% SDS solution is more suitable for amniotic membrane decellularization and can be performed in only 5 hours. The use of ultrasound bath did not have a significant effect on the obtained results.

41-46

Authors: Anna Benea, Cristina Ciobanu, Nicolae Ciobanu, Irina Pompus, Maria Cojocaru-Toma

Background: Hyssopus officinalis L. (hyssop), a species native to the Caspian Sea region, has been cultivated in the Republic of Moldova as aromatic plant and has been used in folk medicine as antitussive, expectorant, carminative, digestive and sedative remedy. Material and methods: The aerial parts of H. officinalis L., with pink, white and blue flowers, were collected from the collection of the Scientific Practical Center in the Field of Medicinal Plants during flowering phase. The extracts were obtained with 70% ethanol by maceration with stirring. The concetration of the extracts was done with the rotative evaporator Laborota 4011. Identification of phenolic compounds in dried extracts from hyssop herb was carried out by thin-layer chromatography. The total content of hydrocyanamic acids was measured in plant products and dried ethanolic extracts, by spectrophotometric method, with Arnow’s reagent. Quantitative analysis of total phenolic content was carried out by UV-spectrophotometry analysis, using a Metertech UV/VIS SP 8001 spectrophotometer. Results: The chlorogenic (Rf 0.47) and caffeic (Rf 0.93) acids were identified in the three genotypes of Hyssop herba, with pink, white and blue flowers. The total of hydroxycinnamic acids, expressed in caffeic acid, for both, aerial parts and dry extract, was the highest in H. officinalis L. with white flowers (1.484 mg/g; 3.014 mg/g respectively), followed by H. officinalis L. with pink flowers (1.190 mg/g; 2.915 mg/g) and H. officinalis L. with blue flowers (1.015 mg/g; 2.851 mg/g). The highest polyphenol content, expressed in gallic acid equivalent (GAE), was found in the dry extract of H. officinalis L. with blue flowers (39.056 mgGAE/g dry extract). Conclusions: This study showed that the extract of the Hyssopus officinalis L. containing phenolic compounds, can be used as a natural antioxidant in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

51-58

Authors: Ivan Civirjic, Serghei Sandru, Oleg Arnaut, Natalia Cernei, Victoria Moghildea

Background: Analysis and evaluation of the multitude of parameters that impact and mirror clinical evolution of COVID-19 infection. Narrative literature review type of study. Bibliographic search of the PubMed database, applying the keywords: ”SARS-CoV-2”, ”COVID-19”, ”risk score”, ”laboratory parameters”, ”pathophysiology”, ”cytokine storm”, ”imaging evaluation”, “outcomes”, “clinical evolution”, which were combined with each other. There were selected English-language publications, in extenso, published in recognized journals from March 2020. Priority in the analysis was given to articles of critical synthesis of literature, randomized studies, those with large samples of patients. One of the clinically important symptoms that reflects severe or critical clinical evolution is persistent fever during the time. The presence of comorbidities, especially associated with obesity, represents a high risk of severe evolution. Proinflammatory, prothrombotic and systemic endothelial damage processes are represented by changes in platelet count, lymphocytes, neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, D-dimers, fibrinogen, procalcitonin, urea, creatinine, ALS, AST, interleukin-6 and serum ferritin. Bacterial and fungal infections negatively influence clinical evolution. Common prediction scores have low value in COVID-19 patients and need adaptation. Imaging evaluation identifies the type of lung injury and correlates with the severity degree and outcome. Conclusions: COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus includes a multitude of pathophysiological changes that through its mechanism represent a systemic nosology. The complete analysis of all the factors and parameters that can influence its clinical evolution is a basic component of the decisionmaking steps and treatment approach.

64-68

Authors: Tatiana Taralunga, Ala Paduca, Viorel Nacu

Background: The tissue engineering is the evolving science that combines cells, biomaterials and biochemical factors aimed at restoring, maintaining and substituting different types of tissue. An important role is played by the use of the stem cells in various fields of medicine, including ophthalmology, namely in cases of retinopathies and optic nerve atrophy. Conclusions: Current treatment of the optic nerve atrophy is based on the etiological causes or late complications. Considering the availability of advanced therapies, stem cell therapy offers a new approach in the treatment of the atrophy of the optic nerve. Being easy to harvest and cultivate, mesenchymal stem cells are most commonly used in regenerative medicine, they can be induced to differentiate into cartilage, tendons, adipose tissue and other cell lines. Mesenchymal stem cell harvesting has no ethical issues compared to embryonic stem cell harvesting. The major histocompatibility factor II is not expressed on the surface of mesenchymal stem cells, and this great advantage allows their use in autologous or allogenic form. Mesenchymal stem cells produce growth factors with paracrine action that are thought to activate endogenous repair mechanisms, due to these properties mesenchymal stem cells have been used in several clinical studies in optic nerve disorders where immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties have been demonstrated. All of the properties mentioned above stand for the clinical use of mesenchymal stem cells in case of optic nerve atrophy.