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Rumunijos balsavimo sistemos aspektai moderniojoje eroje (XIX amžius)
No full textThe study aims to present the evolution of the voting system in Romania during the 19th century, highlighting the social and political context that led to the transition from one stage to the next. In the modern era, in Romania, the participation in the political life of the inhabitants was conditioned by the economic situation, citizenship, gender, age, and legal record.
Thus, the right to vote was granted only to men who had reached the age of 21 and who were engaged in honorable and profitable economic activities. The possession of citizenship by birth or naturalization was added, as well as the condition of not having seriously violated the laws of the country.
Although the electoral body was small and the rural population was poorly politically represented, even though it was the most numerous, exceeding 80% of the total population of Romania, it can be stated that, in general, there is a tendency to increase the number of voters. This was achieved in several moments, by reducing the electoral census, but also by expanding the number of professions whose practice ensured voting attendance without fulfilling the economic conditions.
These exceptions were based on the fact that the practitioners of the respective professions (generally freelancers) were sufficiently educated and politically mature to be able to make a conscious and informed choice without falling victim to manipulation.
These, as well as other aspects (such as women getting the right to vote), will be developed in the study.Tyrimo tikslas – pristatyti balsavimo sistemos raidą Rumunijoje XIX amžiuje, pabrėžiant socialinį ir politinį kontekstą, kuris lėmė perėjimą iš vieno etapo į kitą. Šiuolaikinėje epochoje Rumunijoje gyventojų dalyvavimą politiniame gyvenime sąlygojo ekonominė padėtis, pilietybė, lytis, amžius ir teisinė praeitis. Taigi, teisė balsuoti buvo suteikta tik vyrams, sulaukusiems 21 metų ir užsiimantiems garbinga bei pelninga ekonomine veikla. Buvo pridėta pilietybės turėjimas gimimo ar natūralizacijos būdu, taip pat sąlyga, kad asmuo nebūtų rimtai pažeidęs šalies įstatymų. Nors kaimo gyventojai buvo menkai politiškai atstovaujami, bet jie sudarė daugiau nei 80 % visų Rumunijos gyventojų, taigi galima teigti, kad apskritai pastebima tendencija didinti rinkėjų skaičių. Tai buvo pasiekta sumažinant rinkėjų surašymą, taip pat plečiant profesijų, kurių praktika užtikrino dalyvavimą balsavime, neįvykdant ekonominių sąlygų, skaičių. Šios išimtys buvo pagrįstos tuo, kad atitinkamų profesijų specialistai (dažniausiai laisvai samdomi darbuotojai) buvo pakankamai išsilavinę ir politiškai subrendę, kad galėtų priimti sąmoningą ir pagrįstą sprendimą netapdami manipuliacijų aukomis. Šie ir kiti aspektai (pvz., moterų balsavimo teisės įgijimas) bus nagrinėjami tyrime
Užsienio latvių finansinė pagalba karo aukoms ir Latvijos valstybinėms institucijoms 1917–1921 metais
No full textAlthough patriotic Latvians were not a majority among the socially active foreign Latvians, this fact was largely offset by their activity, and the patriotic Latvians achieved significant results. Collecting and sending of financial help to Latvia was one of the areas of activity where these results are most demonstrable.Individual donors addressed their support directly to structures of the Latvian state, such as the Information Office in London or the Latvian delegation at the Paris Peace Conference. However, the majority of consignments was sent to support war victims, people in need and refugees. These resources mainly reached their recipients via the largest relief organisations in Latvia: the Latvian Red Cross, the Latvian Women’s Relief Corps, Latvian War Invalids Society and the Society for the Reevacuation of Latvian Refugees. It is impossible to calculate the exact total amount of the donations; however, the available figures allow one to conclude that the total amount was rather significant. The amount of individual donations sent by organisations tended to be small or medium; however, the total amount of money sent to Latvia by foreign Latvians was large and could – according to hypothetical calculations – even significantly exceed 100,000 Latvian roubles per year (total amount for all organisations).Collecting donations for Latvia not only demonstrated the positive attitude of the particular group of foreign Latvians towards their homeland, but was also a factor that energised the social life of diaspora Latvian communities themselves. A number of new organisations were founded in the USA, Canada and Brazil for collecting donations. The existing organisations also focused their efforts in this area.Nors ne visi patriotiškai nusiteikę užsienio latviai buvo socialiai aktyvūs, vis dėlto jų veikla buvo labai reikšminga. Finansinės pagalbos rinkimas ir siuntimas į Latviją – viena iš veiklos sričių, kurios rezultatai buvo akivaizdžiausi ir labai svarūs.Individualūs aukotojai skyrė savo paramą tiesiogiai Latvijos valstybės struktūroms: informacijos biurui Londone, Latvijos delegacijai Paryžiaus taikos konferencijoje ir kt. Daugiausia siuntų buvo išsiųsta karo aukoms, vargstantiems žmonėms ir pabėgėliams paremti. Ši pagalba gavėjus dažniausia pasiekdavo per pagalbos organizacijas Latvijoje: Latvijos Raudonąjį Kryžių, Latvijos moterų pagalbos korpusą, Latvijos karo suluošintų žmonių draugiją, Latvijos pabėgėlių grąžinimo draugiją.Tikslios bendros aukų sumos apskaičiuoti neįmanoma, tačiau turimi duomenys leidžia daryti išvadą, kad bendra suma buvo tikrai reikšminga. Organizacijų siunčiamos individualios aukos paprastai sudarydavo nedidelę arba vidutinę dalį visų pajamų, tačiau bendra suma, kurią į Latviją atsiųsdavo užsienio latviai, buvo kur kas didesnė – galėjo net gerokai viršyti 100 tūkst. Latvijos rublių per metus.Aukų Latvijai rinkimas ne tik parodė teigiamą tam tikros užsienio latvių grupės požiūrį į savo tėvynę, bet ir buvo veiksnys, paskatinęs išeivijos latvių bendruomenių socialinį gyvenimą. Aukoms rinkti JAV, Kanadoje ir Brazilijoje buvo įkurta nemažai naujų organizacijų. Esamos organizacijos taip pat sutelkė savo pastangas šioje srityje.Latvijai atsiųsta finansinė pagalba yra pavyzdys, iliustruojantis ryšį tarp išeivijos ir gimtosios šalies: jis visada egzistuoja, tik ne visada būna taip akivaizdžiai matomas
Establishing Local Diagnostic Reference Levels and Reference Curves for Thorax and Abdomen-Pelvis Paediatric CT Procedures
No full textBackground: Computed tomography is a highly informative diagnostic tool, but its use poses the challenge of managing potentially high radiation exposure to patients. Children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, and the growing use of paediatric Computed Tomography (CT) scans has been linked to an elevated lifetime risk of cancer and an increased mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate local radiation exposure doses in paediatric thoracic and abdominal-pelvic CT exams, to establish Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) curves, propose local diagnostic reference levels, and compare them with the existing literature and the European Guidelines on Diagnostic Reference Levels for Paediatric Imaging (PiDRL).Materials and Methods: A dataset of thoracic and abdominal-pelvic CT exams performed on children was analysed. Scan data entries were grouped according to the patient weight in the following intervals: 5 to 14 kg, 15 to 29 kg, 30 to 49 kg, and 50 to 79 kg. In each weight group, the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and the maximum values of Volumetric Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and the Dose Length Product (DLP) were calculated. The relationship between CTDIvol, DLP, and the patient body weight was assessed by using exponential curves.Results: The local DRLs were established for thoracic CT exams, while, for abdominal-pelvic CT exams, the DRL curve was set as a substitute due to limited data. The proposed local DRL values for thoracic computed tomography examinations are 2.0, 2.4, 3.6, and 5.0 mGy for CTDIvol and 40, 60, 116, and 156 mGy·cm for DLP in the corresponding weight groups of 5 to 14 kg, 15 to 29 kg, 30 to 49 kg, and 50 to 79 kg. The median values of CTDIvol for paediatric abdominal-pelvic computed tomography were 2.8 mGy in the 5-to-14 kg weight group, 3.6 mGy in the 15-to-29 kg group, 4.8 mGy in the 30-to-49 kg group, and 7.9 in the 50-to-79 kg group. The median DLP values were 81, 127, 203, and 304 mGy·cm, respectively.Conclusions: The set local DRLs for thoracic and the median dose values in abdominal-pelvic CT exams are generally lower than the European DRLs. The derived DRL curves fulfil the same purpose as weight-group DRLs, serving as benchmarks for dose optimization
Cocaine-Induced Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES): A Case Report Highlighting Neurological and Clinical Outcomes
No full textBackground: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare neurological condition characterized by disrupted cerebral autoregulation, often associated with clinical features such as hypertension, encephalopathy, seizures, and visual disturbances. Although it primarily affects females aged 20–65, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome can present across diverse demographics. This case underscores the critical importance of identifying uncommon risk factors to facilitate early diagnosis and optimal management.Clinical case: A 37-year-old male with stage 3 chronic kidney disease secondary to hereditary nephropathy and a history of cocaine and alcohol misuse presented to the emergency department with recurrent seizures, hypertension, hyperthermia and altered consciousness. Imaging demonstrated cortical-subcortical hypodensities on CT and parieto-occipital FLAIR hyperintensities on MRI, consistent with the diagnosis of PRES. A diagnosis of PRES was confirmed based on the patient’s history, neurological evaluation, and characteristic radiological findings.Conclusions: Raising awareness of PRES and its less recognized but increasingly relevant risk factors, such as stimulant drug use – particularly cocaine – remains a critical aspect of improving diagnostic accuracy and management. Although PRES is typically reversible, delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to permanent neurological complications, including cerebral infarction and hemorrhage
Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption Complicated by Steroids: A Case Report and Review of Literature
No full textKaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE) is a severe disseminated cutaneous infection mainly caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2). Herein, we report a case of KVE which was misdiagnosed elsewhere as a case of toxic epidermal necrolysis and received systemic steroids, following which, the patient’s condition deteriorated. After being diagnosed as a case of KVE with the aid of tzanck smear, the patient was initiated on acyclovir and responded dramatically to the treatment. This case underscores the critical value of simple bedside tests, such as the tzanck smear, for rapid diagnosis of KVE and the timely initiation of treatment, facilitating prompt recovery. Additionally, it highlights the importance of histopathological evaluation in ambiguous cases so that to prevent mismanagement and ensure accurate diagnosis and the appropriate care
Emerging Risks of Amanita Muscaria: Case Reports on Increasing Consumption and Health Risks
No full textIntroduction: The increasing popularity of Amanita muscaria, driven by its hallucinogenic properties, has raised significant public health concerns, particularly as it remains largely unregulated across most European Union countries. The mushroom contains muscimol, a compound that induces euphoria, altered perception, and hallucinations, and its precursor, ibotenic acid, converts to muscimol when dried or heated, reducing toxicity while preserving psychoactive effects. The growing trend in intentional consumption of A. muscaria reflects evolving patterns of intoxication despite its known toxicity risks. The European Food Safety Authority has flagged A. muscaria as an emerging risk, highlighting concerns over its increasing availability and potential for misuse.Materials and Methods: Four cases of Amanita muscaria consumption and subsequent intoxication have been documented in Lithuania in 2023. To further investigate this topic, a systematic search was conducted using the PubMed database with the following keyword combinations: ‘Amanita muscaria’, ‘Amanita muscaria toxicity’, ‘muscimol’, ‘ibotenic acid’, ‘psilocybin’, and ‘hallucinogenic fungi’. After screening for relevance and eligibility, a total of 27 publications met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the final analysis.Case Reports: In 2023, four cases of intentional A. muscaria poisoning were reported in Lithuania, linked to recreational consumption. Symptoms included tremors, respiratory failure, dizziness, and paranoia. All patients were male and required hospitalization, but all were discharged in stable condition.Conclusion: The unregulated status and increasing accessibility of A. muscaria pose significant public health concerns. While A. muscaria remains largely unstudied in medical contexts, its toxicity risks are well-documented. Misleading online information contributes to uninformed consumption, especially among younger individuals. Further research is needed to elucidate its chemical composition, therapeutic potential, and health effects to inform regulatory policies
Role of Proton Beam Therapy in Hepatic Oligometastasis: Review of Evidence
No full textHepatic oligometastasis (hOMC) incidence varies from 10-40% in the literature. While the old standard for local treatment was surgical resection, options like TACE, TARE, SBRT with photons and off late protons have come to the fore. The proton beam therapy (PBT) use has gradually started to get adopted in all regions worldwide with increasingly better availability and ever-reducing costs. The role of PBT in hOMC has been studied in many retrospective cohort studies. Although there is a plethora of evidence on photon-SBRT, there are very few analyses on the role of PBT in hOMC. The author intends to analyse the efficacy in terms of the local control (LC) and the overall survival (OS) for PBT and its toxicity profile in this systematic review. LC remains persistently high (76–89% at 1–2 years) across breast, colo-rectum, stomach, and esophagus. Sites like colo-rectum and breast show relatively better survival outcomes, with progression free survival (35–52% at 1–2 years) and OS (33–78% at 1–2 years) than other sites, likely due to disease biology. Breast primary derived hOMCs had the best 3-year OS of 67.6%. Toxicities remain remarkably low with grade 3 plus toxicities ranging from 0–3%, which reflects the ability of proton therapy to deliver beams with precision
Giant Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report
No full textBackground: Giant descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (GDTAA) is a rare vascular disease characterized by an aortic diameter exceeding 10 cm. GDTAA carries a significant risk of rupture and mortality and requires timely diagnosis and intervention. Despite the clinical severity of the disease, the literature on GDTAA remains sparse, particularly in cases with extreme aneurysmal dilatation.Case Presentation: We present the case of a 68-year-old man with a GDTAA of 14.08 × 10.04 cm, one of the largest ever reported. The patient initially presented with recurrent syncope, chronic cough and fatigue. Imaging studies, including Computed Tomography (CT) angiography, revealed a massive aneurysmal dilatation in the distal post-arch segment of the descending aorta with compression of the trachea and bronchi. The patient underwent a successful open surgical repair with a Dacron graft and simultaneous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Postoperative complications included respiratory acidosis, emphysema and transient haemodynamic instability, which were effectively treated. The patient was discharged in a stable condition on the tenth postoperative day.Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of early recognition and surgical intervention in GDTAA in order to prevent catastrophic consequences. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation, careful surgical planning and attentive postoperative care are essential for optimal recovery. Our results emphasise the importance of modern imaging techniques for accurate anatomical assessment and risk stratification in patients with extreme aneurysm growth. Further research is needed to establish standardised protocols for the treatment of GDTAA
A Rare Case of Traumatic Internal Mammary Artery Pseudoaneurysm Causing Hemopericardium: Endovascular Management and Literature Review
No full textBackground: Traumatic Internal Mammary Artery (IMA) pseudoaneurysms can be associated with severe complications, including hemopericardium, pericardial tamponade, diaphragmatic paralysis, hemoptysis, and hemorrhagic shock. Early recognition of this rare condition is essential to reduce the risk of significant morbidity and mortality.Case details: We present a case of IMA pseudoaneurysm that was promptly diagnosed by using contrast-enhanced CT and successfully managed with endovascular embolization, leading to the patient’s complete and uneventful recovery.Conclusion: This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition and endovascular management of rare but potentially life-threatening internal mammary artery pseudoaneurysms following thoracic trauma