CONTENTS
1. Review: The hemodynamic shear stress and its effects on endothelial cell function
Lavinia Noveanu, Georgeta Mihalas, A Duran2. The effects of magnesium upon the thrombocytopoiesis in normal and hypobaric conditions
Ramona Stanciu, Irina Chis, Natalia Giurgea, Adriana Muresan, M Dorofteiu
3. Reactive oxygen species and the ovarian cancer
Lavinia Sabau, Adriana Muresan, Soimita Suciu, N Costin, M Dorofteiu
4. Maternal Thyroid hormones and fetal neurological development
Adela Elena Joanta, Simona Clichici, Adriana Filip, V Miclaus, M Dorofteiu
5. The effects of zolpidem and zopiclone on experimental acute and chronic inflammation and on
central and peripheral algesia
Mihaela Tiglea, Rita Kiss, B Cuparencu
6. Depression of the elder and soy food nourishment
A Saulea
7. A new non-invasive electrophysiologic approach – the Wedensky modulation
Mihaela Muntean
8. Epidemiological study of the hyperkinetic cardiac syndrome among youngsters
E Duma, P Derevenco, Lia Paraianu, Smaranda Fritea
9. The 8th International Symposium on Metal Ions and Medicine. Budapest, May 18-23, 2004
M Nechifor

1. REVIEW: THE HEMODYNAMIC SHEAR STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS ON
ENDOTHELIAL CELL FUNCTION
Lavinia Noveanu, Georgeta Mihalas, A Duran
Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara
Address for correspondence: Dr. Lavinia Noveanu, Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy“Victor Babes”, Uta Ioan Col. Martir Square No. 2, 300041, Timisoara. E-mail: noveanu@umft.roABSTRACT
Mechanical forces are important modulators of cellular function in many tissues and are particularly
important in the cardiovascular system. In this study, we examine data which suggest that
hemodynamic shear stress is an important determinant of endothelial cell function and phenotype.
Measurement using different modalities shows that shear stress ranges from 10 to 70 dyne/cm2 in thearterial vascular network. High laminar stress (> 15 dyne/cm2) induces endothelial quiescence, andan atheroprotective gene expression profile. Low or oscillatory shear stress (± 0-4 dyne/cm2)
stimulates an atherogenic phenotype and gene expression profile. Elevated shear induces early andlate response on endothelial cells. Short-term response, resulting from second-to-minute-scalevariation in the flow, includes activation of some ion channels, cell hyperpolarization, andintracellular protein phosphorilation, stimulating the synthesis of vasodilator factors, such as nitricoxide and prostacyclin. Long term response regulates the endothelial cells function on a time scale ofhours to days by controlling the gene expression levels.
Key words: shear stress, laminar flow, oscillatory flow, endothelial cell, atherosclerosis.

2. THE EFFECTS OF MAGNESIUM UPON THE THROMBOCYTOPOIESIS IN NORMALAND HYPOBARIC CONDITIONS
Ramona Stanciu, Irina Chis, Natalia Giurgea, Adriana Muresan, M Dorofteiu
Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca
Address for correspondence: Dr. Ramona Stanciu, Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy“Iuliu Hatieganu”, Clinicilor Street No. 1, 400006 Cluj-Napoca

ABSTRACTWe tried to evaluate the effects of the increase in the ionic concentration of magnesium upon thethrombocytopoiesis in normal conditions and under the influence of hypobaric hypoxia. The
experiments were performed on 40 Wistar white rats in order to evaluate the evolution ofthrombocytopoiesis. The number of blood platelets, their adhesivity and the proportion of circulatingplatelets aggregates were established.
Two groups of rats were treated with MgSO4 in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia wasinduced in the barochamber, at an atmospheric pressure of 380 mmHg. We choose a period of 14days for the exposure of animals to the hypoxia because this induces a reduction of the blood
platelets number.
A 14 days administration of MgSO4 decreased the number of blood platelets in both normoxic andhypoxic conditions. The adhesivity remained unchanged and the proportion of circulating platelets
aggregates increased in normoxic conditions and decreased in case of hypoxia.
Key words: magnesium, thrombocytopoiesis.

3. REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND THE OVARIAN CANCER
Lavinia Sabau1, Adriana Muresan1, Soimita Suciu1, N Costin2, M Dorofteiu1
1
Department of physiology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca
2”D Stanca” Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic
Address for correspondence: Dr. Lavinia Sabau, Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “IuliuHatieganu”, Clinicilor Street No. 1, 400006 Cluj-Napoca

ABSTRACT
Although there are some factors involved in the etiology of the ovarian cancer, little is known about
the actual cause of ovarian cancer. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the serum levelsof reactive oxygen species and antioxidants and to evaluate whether oxidative stress occurs. We
found significantly higher values of serum reactive oxygen species and significantly lower values ofserum antioxidants in patients with ovarian cancer than in healthy women with the same age.
Moreover, the serum level of reactive oxygen species was in direct correlation with the tumor stage.
We conclude that the oxidative stress is one of the factors involved in the development of ovariancancer and the damage produced by reactive oxygen species is also responsible for the progression ofthe tumor.
Key words: reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, ovarian cancer.

4.
MATERNAL
THYROID
HORMONESANDFETALNEUROLOGICALDEVELOPMENT
Adela Elena Joanta1, Simona Clichici1, Adriana Filip1, V Miclaus2, M Dorofteiu1
1
Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca
2Histology Department, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca
Address for correspondence: Dr. Adela Elena Joanta, Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy“Iuliu Hatieganu”, 13 Emil Isac Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. E-mail: adelaelena@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Experimentally, we investigated the impact of maternal hypothyroidism upon fetal neurologicaldevelopment in various stages of gestation. A low concentration of maternal thyroid hormones
during the first, second, as well as during the whole gestation led to neuronal alterations in fetal
cerebral cortex and to impairment of the learning capacity of conditioned reflexes of activeavoidance.
Key words: thyroid hormones, gestation, cerebral cortex, learning.

5. THE EFFECTS OF ZOLPIDEM AND ZOPICLONE ON EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE AND
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND ON CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL ALGESIA
Mihaela Tiglea, Rita Kiss, B Cuparencu
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea
Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. B Cuparencu, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
University of Oradea, Independentei Square No. 10, 410073, Oradea

ABSTRACT
Zolpidem, an imidazopyridine has a proinflammatory effect in dose of 5 mg/kg in experimental acuteinflammation and an analgesic effect on experimental peripheral algesia induced in rats. It has noeffect on chronic experimental inflammation and on experimental central algesia. Zopiclone, acyclopyrrolone has a proinflammatory effect on experimental acute inflammation in rats and has noinfluence on experimental chronic inflammation and on both types of algesia. In chronicinflammation, the administration of Zolpidem and Zopiclone has an analgesic effect. Central algesia
was not influenced by chronic inflammation. The mechanism of these effects are still unknown.
Key words: zolpidem, zopiclone, rats, inflammation, algesia.

6. DEPRESSION OF THE ELDER AND SOY FOOD NOURISHMENT
A Saulea
National Center of the Medicosocial Rehabilitation, Chisinau
Address for correspondence: Prof. A. Saulea, National Center of the Medicosocial Rehabilitation, Chisinau, Moldova

ABSTRACT
Depression can be defined as a total fall of the mood with temporary or durable character,
recollection of annoying, sad and threatening experiences.
Depression is a term, which can be applied both to a negative mood, to a set of symptoms andexperiences, and to a medical syndrome. The difference between vital and psychological importanceof depression is characterized not only by the absence of the object of suffering, but is also abnormal,perverted and distorted; the subject becomes the object of its own sufferings. Clinical studies
revealed disorders in serotonin activity in states of depression. Soy is one of the food-stuffs rich inproteins, which contains essential quantity of tryptophan, and this amino-acid contributes toserotonin synthesis, which leads to decreased depression symptoms. Also, there are somecorrelations between soy diet and the cholesterol blood level, which in increased in depression states.
Key words: depression, soy, tryptophan, serotonin, cholesterol.

7. A NEW NON-INVASIVE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC APPROACH – THE WEDENSKY
MODULATION
Mihaela Muntean
Department of Internal Medicine No.1, City Hospital of Timisoara, University of Medicine andPharmacy “Victor Babes” TimisoaraAddress for correspondence: Dr. Mihaela Muntean, 1st Department of Internal Medicine, City Hospital Timisoara, Gh.
Dima Street No. 5, 300079 Timisoara, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara. E-mail:michaelamuntean@yahoo.com

ABSTRACTThe present study, based on a method recently introduced by Hoium et al., intends to confirm thecapacity of the Wedensky modulation to distinguish between patients at risk for ventriculartachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrilation (VF) and patients without a risk for VT/VF. We includedin the study a number of 40 patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and compared 2 subgroups ofpatients with VT/VF and without VT/VF in the electrophysiologic study (EPS). We compared in thetwo groups the signal-average ECG (SAECG) parameters and the Wedensky modulation index.
Our results suggest that the Wedensky modulation index is corellated with several SAECG
parameters and higher in the MI patients with propensity to develop VT/VF than in the patients
without VT/VF.
Key words: ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrilation (VF), elecrophysiologic study(EPS), signal-average ECG (SAECG), Wedensky modulation index (WMI).

8. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE HYPERKINETIC CARDIAC SYNDROME
AMONG YOUNGSTERS
E Duma1, P Derevenco2, Lia Paraianu3, Smaranda Fritea3
1”Bogdan Voda” University Cluj-Napoca
2”Avram Iancu” University Cluj-Napoca
3”Nicolae Stancioiu” Heart Institute Cluj-Napoca
Address for correspondence: Dr. E Duma, “Bogdan Voda” University, Clinicilor Street No. 62, 400006 Cluj-Napoca,Romania

ABSTRACT
From the types of hyperkinetic dysfunctions this paper deals exclusevely with idiopathic
hyperkinetic syndrome (HCS) found in young people.
The symptoms included subjective complaints: palpitations, asthenia, and loss of body weight.
Objectively this dysfunction shows tachycardia, disturbance in the amplitude of the heart
contractions, borderline rise of blood pressure, hyperventilation. The main mechanism concerns
adrenergic hyperactivity.
This study deals with the incidence of HCS in a cohort of 9,829 patients performed in the ambulatory
for pediatric cardiology. The age of subjects was between 6 and 20 years, the majority belonging tothe category 14-17 years. 4.090 were males and 5.739 were females.
The overall incidence of HCS was 3.82%, being higher in females (2.93%) and lower in men(0.89%). In a previous paper, dealing with a group of 4,986 youngsters involved in athletic activities,
the incidence of HCS was found to be significantly lower (0.66%).
The most frequent complains were cephalgia, vertigo, palpitations, effort related fatigue. Objective
findings: tachycardia at rest (between 90 and 140 beats/minute), borderline hypertension, functional
systolic murmur.
Physical training could be a useful means for the management of HCS. It would be necessary toapply specific questionnaires for HCS and to follow up the case for a longer time to reveal a putative
apparition of somatic diseases.
Key words: hyperkinetic cardiac syndrome, incidence in youngsters, influence of athletic training.
9. THE 8TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON METAL IONS AND MEDICINE.
BUDAPEST, MAY 18-23, 2004
M Nechifor
This article presented the main topics discussed at the 8th International Symposium on Metal Ions inBiology and Medicine that took place in May in Budapest.
Romania presented as plenary lecture “Involvment of Some Cations in Major Depression” (MNechifor, Iasi) and “The influence of Magnesium, Manganase and Copper on PGF2 Analog-Induced
Lutheolysis in Female Rat” (M Nechifor, A Indrei, S Negru, Iasi; F Cocu, Bucharest), as poster. A
number of papers selected by the organizers from those presented on the congress (including theabove mentioned Romanian papers) were published in a large volume in prestigious John Libbey
Publishing House.

This congress pointed out the growing importance of elementology not only in understanding themechanisms of life, but also in the development of pharmacotherapy.