FIZIOLOGIA (PHYSIOLOGY) 2006; vol.16, nr. 3 (51)
CONTENTS
1. Changes in Serum Levels of Reactive Oxygen Species, Antioxidants and Nitric Oxide during
Normal Pregnancy
Lavinia I Sabau, Soimita Suiciu, Adriana Muresan, Dorofteiu M
2. Protection of Liver-Cell by Treatment with Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus
Irina Chis, Ungureanu MI, Nicoleta Decea, Adriana Muresan
3. Disfunction of the Nitric Oxide in Preeclampsia
Daniela Rotar, Stamatian F, Doina Daicoviciu
4. Staphylococcus Aureus Strains Isolated from Orthopedic Wards: Prevalence and Resistance to
Antimicrobial Agents
Elena Hogea, Liliana Dragomirescu, Monica Licker, Roxana Zugravu, Bianca Podac, Roxana
Moldovan
5. Hemorheological Modifications in Traumatic Shock - Study of Erythrocyte Aggregability
Gabriela Lilios, Cecilia Adumitresi, Ileana Ion, Ceamitru N, Ninela Radulescu, Carmen Ciufu,
Lenuta Malcea
6. Effect of UVB and Anthralin Therapy on Antioxidating Skin Defense
Adriana Filip, Simona Clichici, Adela Joanta, Maria Borsa, Rusu M, Adriana Muresan, Diana
Olteanu
7. Researches Regarding Body Mass Index in Patients with Benign Breast Diseases
Cristina Nechifor, Onofriescu M
8. Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells – Source of Normal Autologous Endothelial Cells
Daciana Nistor, Ioana Siska, Gabriela Tanasie, Carmen Tatu, Carmen Bunu, Florina Mirea,
Ramona Cioaca, Virgil Paunescu, Georgeta Mihalas
9. Zero Magnetic Field and Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Rats
Daniela-Rodica Mitrea, Morariu VV, Dorofteiu M, Orasan R, Adriana Muresan, Soimita Suciu,
Irina Chis

1. CHANGES IN SERUM LEVELS OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES, ANTIOXIDANTS
AND NITRIC OXIDE DURING NORMAL PREGNANCY
Lavinia I. Sabau, Soimita Suciu, Adriana Muresan, Mircea Dorofteiu
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu“ University of Medicine andPharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Address for correspondence: Dr. Lavinia Sabau, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”, Department of
Physiology, Clinicilor Street No. 1, 400006 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ABSTRACT
Knowledge of maternal gestational adaptation is critical to the proper clinical management of normal
and abnormal pregnancy. The changes in maternal physiology support the diverse needs of thedeveloping fetus and prepares the gravida for the parturition. The aim of our study was to determine
the plasma levels of the products of reactive oxygen species, antioxidants and nitric oxide in healthy
pregnant women at different gestational ages. Our study revealed that there is a change not only inoxidative status but also in the production of nitric oxide during normal pregnancy.
Key words: reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, nitric oxide, normal pregnancy

2. PROTECTION OF LIVER-CELL BY TREATMENT WITH ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID IN
EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES MELLITUS
Irina Chis¹, Marius-Ionut Ungureanu², Nicoleta Decea1, Adriana Muresan¹¹Physiology Department, „Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca,
Romania

²Student, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Address for correspondence: Dr. Irina Chis, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”, Department of
Physiology, Clinicilor Street No. 1, 400006 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant defense by alpha lipoic-acid in streptozotocin induced diabetes
in male Wistar rats and its possible protection of liver- cell against gradual loss under diabetic
condition. Methods: Male wistar rats were divided into 3 groups. Group I served as control rats;
Group II (diabetic control): rats were injected with 40mg /kg body weight of streptozotocin to induce
diabetes mellitus; Group 3: diabetic rats, which were given i.m. alpha lipoic acid (40 mg/kg bodyweight) -for 30 days after inducing diabetes mellitus. After 30 days, the liver oxidative parameters
were determined. Results: Significantly lower values of the liver oxidative stress parameters wereobtained from the group of rats treated with alpha lipoic acid after inducing diabetes mellitus.
Conclusions: The experimental drug alpha lipoic acid represents an antioxidant defense against
reactive oxygen species produced under hyperglycemic conditions and thus protects the liver-cellagainst loss and exhibits antidiabetic properties.
Key words: diabetes mellitus, alpha lipoic-acid, reactive species of oxygen, liver

3. DYSFUNCTION OF THE NITRIC OXIDE IN PREECLAMPSIA
Daniela Rotar1, Florin Stamatian1, Doina Daicoviciu²¹Gynecology Clinic I “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca²Physiology Department “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca
Address for correspondence: Dr. Daniela Rotaru, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”, Gynecology
Clinic I, 3-5, Clinicilor Street, 400006 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania. E-mail: clujenii@yahoo.com

ABSTRACTThe studies in the past years have been discussing increasingly more about involving NO in thepathogenesis of preeclampsia. The constituted synthetised NO regulates the arterial pressure by its
vasodilating effect and by the prevention of the placketary aggregation. The actual study investigates
the NO disfunction within the oxidative stress in patients with preeclampsia, determining the seric
nitrites and nitrates, the seric carbonylated proteins as indicators of the oxidative stress, and forevaluating the antioxidant status seric ceruloplasmine was dosed.
The obtained results demonstrate NO disfunction, with significantly low values of seric nitrates andnitrites in preeclampsic pregnant women within an amplified oxidative stress, supported by theincreased values of the carbonylated proteins and significantly low values of the seric
ceruloplasmine.
Key words: preeclampsia, NO, ceruloplasmine, carbonylated proteins
4. STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM ORTHOPEDIC WARDS:PREVALENCE AND RESISTANCE TO ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
Elena Hogea1, Liliana Dragomirescu1, Monica Licker1, Roxana Zugravu1, Bianca Podac2,
Roxana Moldovan1
1
Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacology “Victor Babes” Timisoara
2
Clinical County Hospital Timisoara
Address for correspondence: Dr. Elena Hogea, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department ofMicrobiology, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania

ABSTRACT
Background: The present research was undertaken to study the prevalence and the resistance toantimicrobial agents of Staphylococcus aureus strains among clinical isolates from patients
hospitalized in the Orthopedic wards of Clinical County Hospital Timisoara. Method: 201 patientswith bone and/or joint infections were selected from Orthopedic wards. Specimens as woundsecretions, joint fluid, urine, blood, sputum were collected. All samples were inoculated on blood
agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood, lactose agar (AABTL, MacConkey) and selective Chapman
media plates. The plates were incubated aerobically for 24 hours. Smears were made from samples
and stained by the Gram’s stain. Strains were identified using API galleries (bioMerieux France),
Pastorex-Staph Plus (Bio-Rad), Vitek 32 automated system (bioMerieux, France) and susceptibility
tests were performed by disk-diffusion tests (CLSI standards) with manual and automated (Osiris
Evolution - Bio-Rad Laboratories) reading methods. Results: Between January 2002 and December
2005, a number of 141 strains were isolated, and the commonest findings were S.aureus strains(41.99%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.03%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.74%) and
Escherichia coli (10.69%). S.aureus strains were frequently associated with Gram-negative germs.
20 of all S.aureus strains were MRSA (36.36%), and the most frequent associated resistancephenotypes were MRSA + MLSbi + wtAG + Fq and MRSA + MLSbi + KTG + Fq. Conclusions:
MRSA strains have predominated in wounds, mainly because the specific of Orthopedic wards. The
number of MRSA strains is growing worldwide, making prevention, surveillance and control
programs very necessary.
Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, orthopedic wards, prevalence, resistance phenotypes

5. HEMORHEOLOGICAL MODIFICATIONS IN TRAUMATIC SHOCK - STUDY OF
ERYTHROCYTE AGGREGABILITY
Gabriela Lilios, Cecilia Adumitresi, Ileana Ion, Ceamitru N, Ninela Radulescu, Carmen Ciufu,
Lenuta Malcea
Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Ovidius” University Constanta
Address for correspondence: Dr. Lilios Gabriela, “Ovidius” University, Dental Medicine Faculty, Ilarie Voronca Street
No. 7, 900684, Constanta, Romania

ABSTRACTThe dynamics of the mechanisms involved in the traumatic shock is an issue that interests both thepathophysiologists, as well as the clinicians, and the investigations made so far indicate a practicalaccessibility and have a distinct importance in the diagnosis, therapeutic control and forecasting
evolution of the patients.
The aim of this work is to demonstrate the erythrocyte aggregability modifications inpolytraumatized patients. The determinations were performed on two groups: the control group(which comprises 30 healthy children) and the test group (that includes a number of 30 polytraumaticchildren), observed in two moments of polytraumatic evolution, namely when hospitalized and after
7 days. The erythrocytes filterability test, described by Teitel, was used as a method in studying
erythrocyte aggregability. The decrease of erythrocyte filtered volume, determined in the moment of
hospitalization and after 7 days, making a comparison between the children of test group and control
group, confirms the increase of acute phase reactants and the forming of intererythrocyte bounds
which will establish the rise of erythrocyte aggregability in traumatic shock.
The modifications of erythrocyte aggregability and deformability that appear in the state of shock
determine changes at the level of sanguine density, with microcirculatory hemorheologicalperturbation which drives disorders of the oxygenating capacity of tissues and of the local metabolic
processes along with all consequences resulting from this fact.
Key words: erythrocyte, aggregability, hemorheology, shock, trauma

6. EFFECT OF UVB AND ANTHRALIN THERAPY ON ANTIOXIDATING SKIN DEFENSE
Adriana Filip1, Simona Clichici1, Adela Joanta1, Maria Borsa2, M. Rusu2, Adriana Muresan1,
Diana Olteanu3
1Physiology Department, U.M.F. “Iuliu Haţieganu” Cluj-Napoca
2
Institute for Biological Research Cluj-Napoca
3Student, U.M.F. “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca

Address for correspondence: Dr. Adriana Filip, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”, Department of
Physiology, Clinicilor Street No. 1, 400006 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ABSTRACT
Dithranol is one of the most effective topical treatments for patients with psoriasis. There is growing
evidence that the biochemical basis for the mechanism of action of dithranol at the molecular level isrelated to the redox activity leading to the production of active oxygen species.
In the present study, we assessed the effects of UVB and anthralin therapy on antioxidanting skindefence in skin. For this purpose, skin biopsies were collected from 70 Wistar male rats treated with
3 different concentrations of dithranol with or without exposure to UVB and were determined fromskin lipid peroxides, sulfhydryl groupings and was analyzed the activity of enzyme Mg2+ dependent
ATP-ase. The results showed that anthralin is prooxidating in the skin and it determines the loweringof the level antioxidants. The association of anthralin therapy with UVB exposure amplifies theseeffects.
Keywords: anthralin, skin, lipid peroxides, antioxidants, Mg2+ dependent ATP-ase

7. RESEARCHES REGARDING BODY MASS INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH BENIGN
BREAST DISEASES
Cristina Nechifor1, Mircea Onofriescu2
1"Cuza-Voda" Clinical Hospital, Iasi
2
First Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr.T.Popa" Iasi,
Romania
Address for correspondence: Dr. Cristina Nechifor, “Cuza-Voda” Clinical Hospital, Universitatii Street No. 16, 700115,
Iasi, Romania

ABSTRACTThe obesity and overweight are risk factors for many pathologic states. We studied the body massindex (BMI) in 39 women with fibroadenoma, in 56 women with mammary fibrocystic disease andin a control group of 30 healthy women hospitalized in I Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology Iasi in
2004- 2005.The diabetic patients and the women receiving anorexic drugs were not included in thisstudy. We noticed the mean number of pregnancies and of childbirth which were in the
fibroadenoma group 1.5 respectively 0.7 and in mammary fibrocystic disease group 4.3 respectively
2.2. Our data show that the mean BMI in fibroadenoma patients was 21.93±2.03, in patients withmammary fibrocystic disease was 27.91±2.44 (p<0.05) versus mean BMI in control group22.7±1.80.The mean BMI is significantly higher in patients with mammary fibrocystic disease, but is
not significantly different from normal in fibradenoma patients group.
Key words: benign breast diseases, obesity, overweight

8. HUMAN HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS – SOURCE OF NORMAL AUTOLOGUS
ENDOTHELIAL CELLS
Daciana Nistor, Ioana Siska, Gabriela Tanasie, Carmen Tatu, Carmen Bunu, Florina Mirea,
Ramona Cioaca, Virgil Paunescu, Georgeta Mihalas
Department of Physiology-Immunology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Timisoara
Address for correspondence: Dr. Daciana Nistor, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of
Physiology, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania. E-mail: daciana_nistor@yahoo.com

ABSTRACTIn the last years, arterial obstructive diseases are treated using vascular grafts. Unfortunately, thismethod is limited by the lack of the autologous tissues necessary for the revascularization
procedures. In this particular case, synthetic grafts are recommended, but their performances arereduced, compared to the natural ones. An artificial graft should resist to thrombosis, inflammationand neointimal proliferation and should present metabolic and biochemical functions similar to thoseof blood vessels, which contain a luminal monolayer promoting healing. The lack of functional
endothelial cells (EC) on the luminal surface of the stent induces a high thrombogeneity and also
promotes intimal proliferation. These deficiencies could be removed by using grafts coated with anendothelial monolayer. Even though autologous EC are better tolerated than allogeneic andxenogenic ones, they do not constitute a source of normal EC, because of the endothelial dysfunction
which accompanies arterial obstructive diseases.
Our purpose was to identify a source of autologous normal EC in order to seed them on stents’surface. The advantages of such a method include: a stent with properties closer to those of a bloodvessel, better compatibility with the patient, and an adequate time interval for isolation, culture andseeding of EC on the graft inner surface. The most available source is hematopoietic stem cells. The
objectives of this study are: isolation and culture of human hematopoietic stem cells (hHSC) frombone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood in order to obtain mature EC and analysis of
EC derived from hHSC.
Keywords: human hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial cells.

9. ZERO MAGNETIC FIELD AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN PREGNANT RATS
Daniela-Rodica Mitrea1, Morariu VV2, Dorofteiu M1, Orăsan R1, Adriana Mureşan1, Şoimiţa
Suciu1, Irina Chiş1
1
University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”, Department of Physiology, Cluj-Napoca,
Romania2
National Institute of R&D for Isotopic and Molecular Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Address for correspondence: Mitrea Daniela-Rodica, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”,
Department of Physiology, 1, Clinicilor Street, 400006 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania e-mail: rdmitrea@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACTThe natural magnetic field participates in the development of the physiological and pathologicalprocesses of the body. The authors have followed the modifications of the reactive oxygen species
and of the antioxidants in the serum of pregnant rats exposed to zero magnetic field. The results
pointed out the following modifications in pregnant rats exposed to zero magnetic field: a significant
increase of the ceruloplasmine (extracellular antioxidant), a significant decrease of themalondialdehyde (product of the decomposition of the lipid peroxides) and a significant decrease of
the carbonylated proteins (produced as a result of protein oxidation).
Key words: zero magnetic field, pregnant rats, reactive oxygen species, serum antioxidants