Raluca Niculescu

Dr. Raluca Niculescu


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 December 2022 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CBCorina Eugenia Budin
Corina Eugenia Budin
ICIuliu Gabriel Cocuz
Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz
ASAdrian-Horatiu Sabau
Adrian-Horatiu Sabau
RNRaluca Niculescu
Raluca Niculescu
IIIngrid Renata Ianosi
Ingrid Renata Ianosi
Ovidiu Simion CotoiOvidiu Simion Cotoi
Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Amiodarone hydrochloride is an antiarrhythmic drug, with proven efficacy in prevention and treatment of numerous arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation especially, or ventricular arrhythmias, with a long half-life (55–60 days). The increased risk of developing amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis is directly related to the dose and the duration of the intake. Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is conditioned by dose, patient’s age, and pre-existent pulmonary pathologies. The pattern for drug-induced lung injury may vary in many forms, but the amiodarone can cause polymorphous injuries such as diffuse alveolar damage, chronical interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, pulmonary hemorrhage, lung nodules or pleural disease. The pathological mechanism of pulmonary injury induced by amiodarone consists of the accumulation of phospholipid complexes in histocytes and type II pneumocytes. Differential diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis induced by amiodarone is made mainly with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, left ventricular failure or infectious disease. Before starting treatment with amiodarone, patients should be informed of potential adverse effects and any new respiratory symptoms should promptly be reported to their family physician or attending physician. The assessment carried out at the initiation of amiodarone treatment should include at least chest X-ray and respiratory function tests and extrapulmonary evaluation.

27 May 2021 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ICIuliu Gabriel Cocuz
Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz
MCMaria-Elena Cocuz
Maria-Elena Cocuz
RNRaluca Niculescu
Raluca Niculescu
MȘMihaela Cornelia Șincu
Mihaela Cornelia Șincu
ATAndreea Catalina Tinca
Andreea Catalina Tinca
Ovidiu Simion CotoiOvidiu Simion Cotoi
Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected health systems and services. Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common malignancies around the world. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the benign and malignant histopathological diagnoses performed on radical excision skin tumors and skin biopsies in the dermatopathology ward in Mures Clinical County Hospital, Targu Mures, Romania, 1 year prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, to emphasize the changes in the diagnostic process as per the new regulations. Materials and Methods: A total of 1168 histopathological diagnoses were included in the study—302 from the COVID-19 period and 866 from the non-COVID-19 period—considering the number, type, and frequency of the histopathological diagnoses as variables to be analyzed. Results: In the COVID-19 period, out of the 55 NMSC and melanoma histopathological diagnoses, 50.9% (n = 28) were BCCs, 20% (n = 11) were SCCs, 10.9% (n = 6) were basosquamous cell carcinomas, and 18.18% (n = 10) were melanoma cases. Regarding the non-COVID-19 period, out of the 173 NMSC and melanoma histopathological diagnoses, 46.82% (n = 81) were BCCs, 22.54% (n = 39) were SCCs, 7.51% (n = 13) were basosquamous cell carcinomas, and 23.12% (n = 40) were melanoma cases. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in histopathological diagnoses at the dermatopathology ward in our hospital was observed, for both benign and malignant pathologies, especially for NMSCs and melanomas, compared to the same period 1 year prior to the pandemic.

7 October 2022 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ATAndreea Catalina Tinca
Andreea Catalina Tinca
RMRaluca Moraru
Raluca Moraru
ICIuliu Gabriel Cocuz
Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz
MȘMihaela Cornelia Șincu
Mihaela Cornelia Șincu
RNRaluca Niculescu
Raluca Niculescu
Ovidiu Simion CotoiOvidiu Simion Cotoi
Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Melanoma is the most aggressive melanocytic tumor whose incidence is continuously increasing worldwide. Methods: We highlight the morphological, immunohistochemistry, and particularities of various melanoma types based on the cases diagnosed in our department from 2017 to 2021. Results: We present 100 melanoma cases and one capsular nevus case. The most common type was nodular melanoma. The immunohistochemistry markers used were SRY-box transcription factor 10 (SOX10), S100 protein, human melanoma black 45 (HMB45), and melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (Melan-A). Uveal melanoma and conjunctival melanoma represent particular tumors with independent prognostic factors. Uveal melanoma requires assessment of macrophages, microvascularisation, and mitoses. Sentinel lymph node metastases are essential targets that provide staging tools. Conjunctival melanoma and capsular nevi are diagnostic pitfalls. Conclusion: Melanoma can appear in various forms, and sometimes the diagnosis might be unclear. Today, immunohistochemistry remains the most important tool in confirming the diagnosis and prognosis for this type of neoplasia.
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4 January 2022 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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ATAndreea Catalina Tinca
Andreea Catalina Tinca
ICIuliu Gabriel Cocuz
Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz
MȘMihaela Cornelia Șincu
Mihaela Cornelia Șincu
RNRaluca Niculescu
Raluca Niculescu
ASAdrian-Horatiu Sabau
Adrian-Horatiu Sabau
Ovidiu Simion CotoiOvidiu Simion Cotoi
Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Melanoma is currently known as one of the most aggressive malignant tumors. The prognostic factors and particularities of this neoplasm are a persistent hot topic in the medical field. This review has multiple purposes. First, we aim to summarize the known data regarding the histological and immunohistochemical appearance of this versatile tumor and to look further into the analysis of several widely used prognostic markers, such as B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase BRAF. The second purpose is to analyze the data on the new prognostic markers, V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA) and Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). VISTA is a novel target that is considered to be highly important in determining the invasive potential and treatment response of a melanoma, and there are currently only a limited number of studies describing its role. PD-L1 is a marker with whose importance has been revealed in multiple types of malignancies, but its exact role regarding melanoma remains under investigation. In conclusion, the gathered data highlights the importance of correlations between these markers toward providing patients with a better outcome.

13 October 2022 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ICIuliu Gabriel Cocuz
Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz
MCMaria-Elena Cocuz
Maria-Elena Cocuz
Angela RepanoviciAngela Repanovici
Angela Repanovici
ASAdrian-Horatiu Sabau
Adrian-Horatiu Sabau
RNRaluca Niculescu
Raluca Niculescu
Ovidiu Simion CotoiOvidiu Simion Cotoi
Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Introduction: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most frequently occurring types of cancer in humans. Scientometric research is an innovative method for analyzing the research trends in various domains, with great implications in the field of medicine. Materials and Methods: We searched the Web of Science database with the following established query terms: “Squamous cell carcinoma”, “skin”, and “immunohistochemistry”. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 76 articles were selected. The present study aims to analyze, based on the frequency of use of keywords with scientometric algorithms and map-based distributions, the trends of the research concerning cSCCs in 2017–2022. Results: A graphical representation based on 11 scientometric maps presented the division of the keywords into seven clusters, from which seven categories of research interest were defined. The clusters represent a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of cSCCs, cancer diagnostics, patient outcomes, histopathological importance, management of cSCCs, role of progression, and adequate treatment of and importance of immunohistochemistry for cSCCs. The distribution of the citations shows the importance of the available research on cSCCs by analyzing the first five most-cited articles included in our study in direct concordance with the seven defined clusters. Conclusion: The scientometric research method reveals the interest of research in the multidisciplinary approach used to obtain the best outcomes for the patient, including a targeted investigation, as well as diagnostic and treatment options. The trends in the research reveal that histopathological diagnostics and immunohistochemistry, combined with molecular techniques, are the most important tools used to establish a personalized diagnosis, thus increasing the quality of life and life expectancy for patients with cSCCs.

18 June 2022 in Dermatopathology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ICIuliu Gabriel Cocuz
Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz
MCMaria-Elena Cocuz
Maria-Elena Cocuz
ASAdrian-Horatiu Sabau
Adrian-Horatiu Sabau
RNRaluca Niculescu
Raluca Niculescu
ATAndreea Catalina Tinca
Andreea Catalina Tinca
Ovidiu Simion CotoiOvidiu Simion Cotoi
Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Background and Objectives: Basal carcinoma of the skin (BCC) is part of the nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) family and is the most frequently occurring type of skin cancer in humans. A combination of clinical and histopathological approaches is necessary in order to establish the best treatment regime for patients who have been diagnosed with this type of cancer. The objective of the present study was to establish the statistical value of prediction for certain sociodemographic characteristics (age category and environment of origin) and histopathological parameters of the subjects that could be related to the incidence of diagnosis with certain histopathological subtypes of BCC. Materials and Methods: In order to verify the veracity of the established research hypotheses, we conducted a retrospective study based on the histopathological reports of 216 patients who were treated at the Pathology Department of Mureș Clinical County Hospital. Results: Cystic BCC is higher in patients who are older than 71 years of age, and the superficial multicentric and keratotic subtypes are more frequently diagnosed in urban areas. Patients who have been diagnosed with the superficial multicentric BCC subtype are not usually very old in contrast to the patients who tend to be diagnosed with the cystic BCC subtype. The nodular BCC subtype is positively associated with ulceration (p = 0.004); the superficial multicentric BCC subtype is positively associated with intra- and peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.022, p = 0.034) and negatively associated with ulceration (r = −0.218, p = 0.001). The infiltrative BCC subtype is positively associated with ulceration (p = 0.021), and the keratotic BCC subtype is positively associated with peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Depending on each patient’s epidemiological and sociodemographic data, a pattern can be established regarding the appropriate clinical and treatment approaches for that patient, which can be supported based on the implications of the histopathological diagnostic. This can lead to an improvement in the patient’s quality of life and increased satisfaction with the provided medical services.