Biomedical subjects

R Alexandrescu

Publications and source records attributed to R Alexandrescu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Reliability of measurements of pressures applied on the foot during walking by a computerized insole sensor system.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of measurements of foot pressures while walking using the F-scan computerized system with various insole sensors. DESIGN: Ten healthy subjects were studied. Each used four different pairs of insoles while walking for three 6-second epochs per insole. Peak pressures were recorded at the hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot and analyzed. Each insole was made of pressure-sensitive 25 mm 2 cells, embedded in protective backing, and scanned electronically every 50 to 100 msec. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Conventional tile floor in a gait laboratory on 10 consecutive normal subjects. RESULTS: The mean +/- standard deviation peak pressure recorded at the hindfoot was 11.1 +/- 2.0 psi; at the midfoot, 3.5 +/- 1.5 psi; and at the forefoot, 11.3 +/- 2.6 psi. The intrasubject mean differences were 0.2 psi at the hindfoot, 0.4 psi at the midfoot, and 0.3 psi at the forefoot. The data suggest that variability between different insoles is not significant. CONCLUSION: The pressure data show these insoles to be sufficiently reliable for use in patients when knowledge of foot pressure distribution is important for the relief of pain, and for designing and assessing appropriate corrective measures to relieve excessive pressure on the foot and to prevent development of pressure ulcers.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Teenagers, young people and family planning: a survey in five Romanian high schools.

Family planning was for a long time prohibited in Romania. This has reduced the demand for contraceptives. Even though contraceptives were made accessible and their use promoted since the beginning of December 1989, abortion has still been the preferred form of fertility regulation, as the people of Romania are unaware of the advantages of contraception. The purpose of the present survey was to assess the level of sexual knowledge, attitudes and practice of teenagers and young people from urban areas of Romania and to identify if there was any significant difference in terms of age, education and sexual activity. A baseline examination was undertaken in which data were collected from 279 students who attended five high schools and six post high schools from the Moldavia cities, Iassy, Piatra-Neamt and Bîrlad. Students were asked to complete a self administered questionnaire, and a 97.5% response rate for the whole survey was achieved. Difference between answers were tested using chi-square test from 2x2 table and median test, average. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be significant. The study established that knowledge, attitudes and practice vary by age (adolescents (< or =19y) vs young people (>19y)) and education (high school vs post high school) in some regards. At the aggregate level, regarding knowledge, a statistically significant difference was found between adolescents and young people; but no statistically significant difference was found between high school and post high school students. Apart from lack of basic knowledge the study confirmed that many false beliefs regarding contraceptives are held by the survey participants. People who were sexually active were no better informed than the rest of survey participants, but they had a significantly higher percentage of positive attitudes regarding effectiveness of pills and withdrawal. Both, the knowledge and attitudes of students necessarily required appropriate sex education which, ideally should be introduced before young people become sexually active.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Tissue lipid peroxidation may be triggered by increased formation of bilirubin in vivo.

Following the administration of phenylhydrazine, cadmium chloride and ethanol to rats there was a marked increase in the concentration of liver lipid peroxides and a sharp decline in GSH levels. The oxidative stress generated by the action of these toxic compounds led to the induction of liver heme oxygenase, which exhibited a 3-fold increase in activity over the control value. Patients with various forms of liver disorders showed increased levels of plasma lipid peroxides as well as hyperbilirubinemia. In view of the known ability of bilirubin to cause lipid peroxidation in illuminated erythrocyte membranes, the results of the present paper suggest that in severely impaired liver, as in some liver diseases, lipid peroxides may be also produced by a mechanism involving heme oxygenase.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Relationship between the lead concentration in hair and occupational exposure.

The lead content of hair in workers occupationally exposed was correlated with the blood lead concentration. Determinations of lead in blood and hair were performed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in two exposed groups and a control group. A significant correlation was observed between the blood lead and hair lead concentrations, and a regression analysis showed an exponential accumulation of the lead content in hair, simultaneously with the increase of the values in blood. The colour of the hair and the age of the subject did not influence the lead accumulation in hair in the occupationally exposed subjects. The assessment of lead in hair is considered a useful screening test in estimating occupational exposure.

Adult↗

PubMed1975