Anatolie Visnevschi
2 articles
Evaluation of oxidant and antioxidant system markers in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis before and after hospital treatment
Introduction
Pulmonary tuberculosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to data published by the World Health Organization in 2024, a total of 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, compared with 7.5 million in 2022, 7.1 million in 2019, and markedly higher than the 5.8 million and 6.4 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Material and methods
The prospective study involved 59 participants before and after treatment: 11 women (18.6%) and 48 men (81.4%). The participants were divided into 2 groups: group L1 – patients with tuberculosis before treatment, and group L2 – patients with tuberculosis after treatment. Serum levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, glutathione reductase, and total antioxidant activity were measured using a spectrophotometric method.
Results
In the study, we demonstrated that nitric oxide and malondialdehyde serum concentrations were non-significantly higher in the L2 group compared with the L1 group. Glutathione reductase activity showed a significant decrease in antioxidant activity in the L2 group, indicating reduced antioxidant capacity. Total antioxidant activity showed a non-significant decrease in the L1 group compared with the L2 group.
Conclusions
The results of the research demonstrated that the administered anti-tuberculosis treatment increased nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels, and reduced glutathione reductase and total antioxidant activity. This phenomenon indicates the persistence of oxidative stress even after treatment. The levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, glutathione reductase, and total antioxidant activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis may serve as biomarkers for monitoring disease progression.
Development and validation of a questionnaire for hygienic estimation of the impact of risk factors on morbidity due to osteoporosis
Introduction
Osteoporosis remains a major public health issue, particularly affecting the elderly, and is characterized by decreased bone mass and deterioration of bone structure, increasing the risk of severe fractures. The development of specific and precise tools that allow for the identification and estimation of the influence of modifiable factors on the development of osteoporosis is an important step in early intervention for at-risk individuals.
Material and methods
The initial version of the questionnaire was created to identify modifiable factors contributing to the development of osteoporosis, including the type and frequency of drinking water consumption, water quality, knowledge about its mineral composition, dietary preferences, alcohol and tobacco use, physical activities, and stressful situations. The questionnaire initially contained 65 questions, organized into three sections. Five experts reviewed the content validity, evaluating the clarity, cultural and linguistic relevance, structure, and coherence of the questions. The feedback led to adjustments, reducing the questionnaire to 52 questions. A pre-test was conducted with 30 adults from the Republic of Moldova, confirming the validity and internal consistency of the questionnaire, with a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.768.
Results
To ensure content validity, experts evaluated the questionnaire, and based on their comments and suggestions, semantic and syntactic reformulations and modifications were made. As a result, 13 questions were eliminated, reducing the second version of the questionnaire to 52 questions. During the pre-testing stage, the order and content of the questions were deemed appropriate by the respondents. The average time required to complete the questionnaire was 14.19 minutes (SD ± 1.567), with a minimum of 11.90 minutes and a maximum of 17.33 minutes. The sample used in the pre-testing stage included 30 respondents, the majority of whom (93.3%) were women. The respondents’ ages ranged from 25 to 72 years, with a mean age of 50.37 ± 2.6 years. The distribution of respondents was balanced between urban (53.3%) and rural (46.7%) areas. Regarding education level, 56.6% had higher education, 26.7% had secondary vocational education, and 16.7% had no higher education.
Conclusions
The study demonstrated that the new questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the impact of modifiable risk factors on morbidity due to osteoporosis. Ongoing research is necessary to refine and further validate the questionnaire within the broader population.