Moldovan Journal of Health Sciences http://repository.usmf.md:80/handle/20.500.12710/531 2026-10-13T21:25:13Z 2026-10-13T21:25:13Z Băișanu, Adela Spinei, Larisa Uncuța, Diana http://repository.usmf.md:80/handle/20.500.12710/33762 2026-10-13T08:48:20Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health in different population groups Authors: Băișanu, Adela; Spinei, Larisa; Uncuța, Diana Abstract: Introduction. Oral health is an essential component of overall health and well-being. The levels of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to oral health are key determinants in the prevention of dental and periodontal diseases. Assessing these aspects across different population groups is crucial for identifying specific educational needs and developing effective strategies for the promotion and maintenance of oral health. Materials and methods. Data from scientific publications indexed in PubMed, Hinari, SpringerLink, NCBI, and Medline databases were analyzed. The selection criteria included current evidence regarding oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among different population groups. Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative studies, as well as meta-analyses published between 2005 and 2026, were included. Results. The vast majority of the adult population (>90%) demonstrated a high level of oral health knowledge; however, fewer than half exhibited positive attitudes and appropriate behaviors necessary for proper oral care. Among adolescents, the proportion of individuals with satisfactory oral health knowledge ranged from 59% to 77%, while positive attitudes ranged from 57% to 92%. Female adolescents showed significantly better knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to oral health compared with their male counterparts. Dental students demonstrated higher levels of oral health knowledge and more positive attitudes than students from other academic disciplines, with significant improvements observed alongside academic progression and increasing clinical experience. They were better trained in toothbrushing techniques, reported a higher frequency of toothbrushing, used supplementary oral hygiene products more frequently, had a lower prevalence of gingival diseases, and attended preventive dental check-ups more regularly. Conclusions. Although oral health knowledge is generally satisfactory, it is not always reflected in appropriate oral health behaviors. The implementation of oral health education programs at all educational levels is essential for improving oral hygiene practices and promoting the overall health of the population.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Tonofa, Irina Ferdohleb, Alina Ciobanu, Elena Spinei, Iurie Stratulat, Silvia Spinei, Larisa Stepco, Elena http://repository.usmf.md:80/handle/20.500.12710/33761 2026-10-13T08:32:13Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Oral health-related quality of life and condition-specific daily performance impacts in dental fluorosis: a narrative synthesis Authors: Tonofa, Irina; Ferdohleb, Alina; Ciobanu, Elena; Spinei, Iurie; Stratulat, Silvia; Spinei, Larisa; Stepco, Elena Abstract: Introduction. Dental fluorosis is an oral condition with aesthetic, psychosocial, and, in some contexts, functional implications that may extend beyond the clinical appearance of enamel. Interest in patient-reported outcome measures has increased because clinical severity alone does not explain how children and adolescents experience fluorosis in daily life. This manuscript aims to synthesize the evidence on oral health-related quality of life and to assess the relevance of a condition-specific Oral Impacts on Daily Performance approach for dental fluorosis. Materials and methods. A narrative synthesis was prepared according to PRISMA-ScR guidance [REF]. The search framework was designed for PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the institutional repository of Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Core studies addressing dental fluorosis and oral health-related quality of life were extracted together with methodological papers on condition-specific OIDP, instrument adaptation, and Moldova-generated contextual literature. The methodological premises from the attached doctoral thesis on the Romanian adaptation of dental questionnaires were also integrated. Results. The evidence is heterogeneous. Mild dental fluorosis is often associated with no deterioration in oral health-related quality of life, while moderate to severe fluorosis is more consistently linked to worse quality-of-life outcomes. The most direct condition-specific OIDP evidence comes from a cross-sectional study in India showing significant correlations between fluorosis, CS-OIDP, and OHRQoL. A recent systematic review confirmed the mixed direction of results across 16 studies. Local Moldovan publications support the public health relevance of endemic fluoride exposure and the need for Romanian-language instruments adapted to this context. Conclusions. The current evidence supports the methodological relevance of a fluorosis-adapted CS-OIDP instrument. A future Romanian adaptation should combine rigorous translation procedures, cognitive testing, and psychometric validation, while retaining clinical measures of fluorosis severity for discriminative analysis.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Corețchi, Eugeniu http://repository.usmf.md:80/handle/20.500.12710/33760 2026-10-13T08:05:56Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The role of blood alcohol concentration in triage and management of patients with severe trauma: a systematic review Authors: Corețchi, Eugeniu Abstract: Introduction. Alcohol is a significant modifiable risk factor for severe injuries worldwide. Blood alcohol content measured upon arrival at a trauma center significantly impacts triage accuracy, injury severity assessment, physiological reaction, and clinical outcomes. This systematic review assembles current research concerning the use of blood alcohol content in the triage and care of patients with severe trauma. Material and methods. From January 2000 to August 2025, a thorough search of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Eligible studies involved adult patients (≥18 years) with severe trauma (Injury Severity Score ≥16 or Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3), blood alcohol concentration measurements, and documented outcomes related to triage, clinical assessment, or care. Two independent reviewers screened the citations and extracted the information. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess bias. This review was conducted and published in compliance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Results. Forty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 1,247,389 trauma patients. The percentage of blood alcohol content-positive patients in trauma hospital settings ranged from 26.2% to 62.5%. A positive blood alcohol content raised the probability of unexpected injuries (OR 4.98; 95% CI 3.62–6.87), being admitted to the intensive care unit (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.01–3.46), and needing surgery (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.37–2.66). Upon initial admission, patients who were inebriated scored roughly 1 Glasgow Coma Scale point worse, but they improved over the next 24 hours. This raised concerns regarding triage misclassification. The evidence regarding the neuroprotective impact of alcohol in traumatic brain injury is incongruous: numerous extensive studies have shown reduced adjusted mortality in high blood alcohol content traumatic brain injury patients, while others have shown elevated mortality and an increased risk of coagulopathy. Alcohol has two contradictory impacts on blood clotting: it makes it harder for blood to clot and inhibits the process of breaking down blood clots. It also weakens the body’s natural immunological response, increasing susceptibility to post-injury infections. Conclusions. Blood alcohol content is a clinically significant triage criterion that underutilized. Systematic blood alcohol content testing should be integrated into international trauma triage guidelines. Trauma teams must not postpone critical neurological interventions while awaiting alcohol metabolism. All major trauma hospitals should standardize alcohol screening and brief intervention programs.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Casian, Igor Casian, Ana http://repository.usmf.md:80/handle/20.500.12710/33759 2026-10-13T07:58:39Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A simple method for separating sanguinarine and chelerythrine based on preparative acid-base titration Authors: Casian, Igor; Casian, Ana Abstract: Introduction. The benzophenanthridine alkaloids sanguinarine (SA) and chelerythrine (CHE) exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other properties. While structurally similar, they differ in the strength of their pharmacological effects and in their mechanisms of action, although they are present together in plants. Therefore, the task of their preparative separation is of current practical inportance. Materials and methods. A mixture of SA and CHE bisulfates, obtained from Macleaya microcarpa leaves, was separated into individual alkaloids using the method developed in this work, based on titration with di- and trisubstituted phosphates. The resulting alkaloid pseudo-bases were converted back to bisulfates for further study or additional fractionation. Analysis of the raw materials, intermediates, and final products was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Results. By fractionating 2.5 g of the bisulfate mixture containing 39.2% SA and 33.7% CHE by weight, 899 ± 36 mg of the SA fraction with an SA content of 90.6 ± 1.1% by weight or 95.4 ± 1.2% of the total alkaloids and a recovery of 83.1 ± 4.7%, 463 ± 19 mg of the CHE fraction with a CHE content of 93.4 ± 0.2% by weight or 98.1 ± 0.2% of the total alkaloids and a recovery of 51.3 ± 4.2%, and 344 ± 26 mg of the intermediate fraction containing 19.1 ± 2.8% SA and 76.1 ± 2.8% CHE by weight were obtained (N = 5). Repeated fractionation increased the purity of SA and CHE fractions, and processing of the intermediate fraction allowed an additional amount of CHE to be obtained. Conclusions. A simple method for separating a mixture of SA and CHE into individual alkaloids, based on their sequential precipitation as pseudo-bases during acid-base titration, was developed. This method provides good separation of the alkaloids without the use of expensive technologies.

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