Maria Magdalena Constantin

Dr. Maria Magdalena Constantin

IInd Department of Dermatology, Carol Davila, Bucharest, Bucureşti, Romania

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

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

Representative Publications

View All Publications
27 May 2021 in Applied Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMatei Andreea
Matei Andreea
Constantin CaruntuConstantin Caruntu
Constantin Caruntu
Mircea TampaMircea Tampa
Mircea Tampa
Simona Roxana GeorgescuSimona Roxana Georgescu
Simona Roxana Georgescu
MCMatei Clara
Matei Clara
Ana CaruntuAna Caruntu
Ana Caruntu
Impaired wound healing is an encumbering public health issue that increases the demand for developing new therapies in order to minimize health costs and enhance treatment efficacy. Available conventional therapies are still unable to maximize their potential in penetrating the skin at the target site and accelerating the healing process. Nanotechnology exhibits an excellent opportunity to enrich currently available medical treatments, enhance standard care and manage wounds. It is a promising approach, able to address issues such as the permeability and bioavailability of drugs with reduced stability or low water solubility. This paper focuses on nanosized-lipid-based drug delivery systems, describing their numerous applications in managing skin wounds. We also highlight the relationship between the physicochemical characteristics of nanosized, lipid-based drug delivery systems and their impact on the wound-healing process. Different types of nanosized-lipid-based drug delivery systems, such as vesicular systems and lipid nanoparticles, demonstrated better applicability and enhanced skin penetration in wound healing therapy compared with conventional treatments. Moreover, an improved chemically and physically stable drug delivery system, with increased drug loading capacity and enhanced bioavailability, has been shown in drugs encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. Their applications in wound care show potential for overcoming impediments, such as the inadequate bioavailability of active agents with low solubility. Future research in nanosized-lipid-based drug delivery systems will allow the achievement of increased bioavailability and better control of drug release, providing the clinician with more effective therapies for wound care.

7 December 2022 in Life
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ANAlin Codrut Nicolescu
Alin Codrut Nicolescu
MIMarius-Anton Ionescu
Marius-Anton Ionescu
MCMaria Magdalena Constantin
Maria Magdalena Constantin
IAIOAN ANCUTA
IOAN ANCUTA
Sinziana IonescuSinziana Ionescu
Sinziana Ionescu
DTDiamant Thaçi
Diamant Thaçi
Psoriasis is not optimally controlled in spite of newly developed treatments, possibly due to the difficulty of objectively quantifying the disease’s severity, considering the limitations of the clinical scores used in clinical practice. A major challenge addresses difficult-to-treat areas, especially in the absence of significant body surface involvement. It is controversial whether the severity evaluation of patients with several affected areas (having at least one difficult-to-treat area) should be done differently from current methods. Scores used for special areas (PSSI, NAPSI and ESIF) allow an accurate assessment of disease severity in difficult-to-treat areas, but the issue of whether to integrate these scores into PASI, BSA or DLQI remains. The review’s purpose resides in providing an overview of the main current issues in determining psoriasis severity in patients with psoriasis in difficult-to-treat areas and suggesting possible solutions for the optimal integration of the area assessment in current scores: severity can be either established according to the highest calculated score (PASI or PSSI or NAPSI or ESIF) or by adding a correction factor in the calculation of PASI for special areas.

10 January 2019 in Mediators of Inflammation
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
VVVlad Mihai Voiculescu
Vlad Mihai Voiculescu
CLCristina Victoria Lisievici
Cristina Victoria Lisievici
Mihai LupuMihai Lupu
Mihai Lupu
CVCristina Vajaitu
Cristina Vajaitu
CDCarmen Cristina Draghici
Carmen Cristina Draghici
Constantin CaruntuConstantin Caruntu
Constantin Caruntu
Taking into consideration that the immune system plays a very important role in the development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, which have a high prevalence in immunosuppressed patients and after prolonged ultraviolet radiation, the interest in developing novel therapies, in particular targeting the inflammation in cancer, has increased in the past years. The latest data suggest that therapies such as imiquimod (IMQ), ingenol mebutate (IM), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), retinoids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used with success in the topical treatment of some cancers. Herein, we review the topical treatment targeting the inflammation in skin cancer and the mechanisms involved in these processes. Currently, various associations have shown a superior success rate than monotherapy, such as systemic acitretin and topical IMQ, topical 5-FU with tretinoin cream, or IMQ with checkpoint inhibitor cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4. Novel therapies targeting Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7) with higher selectivity than IMQ are also of great interest.

1 November 2023 in International Journal of Women's Dermatology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AGAlvaro Gonzalez-Cantero
Alvaro Gonzalez-Cantero
MCMaria Magdalena Constantin
Maria Magdalena Constantin
ADAnnunziata Dattola
Annunziata Dattola
THTom Hillary
Tom Hillary
EKElise Kleyn
Elise Kleyn
NMNina Magnolo
Nina Magnolo
Background: The prevalence of psoriasis is similar between men and women; however, evidence exists of sex- and gender-related differences in disease expression, impact, coping, and needs of patients with psoriasis. These differences are essential and should be considered in clinical practice and research. Objective: To compile available evidence on sex- and gender-related differences in psoriasis, identify the most critical gaps in clinical practice and research, and use it to propose strategies for improved clinical practice. Methods: Six European dermatologists selected the topics to consider according to their relevance in the dermatology setting with the support of methodologists. Evidence on sex- and gender-related differences was obtained by a scoping review based on search strategies in Medline and Cochrane Library from inception to October 2021 using the following terms: arthritis, psoriatic, psoriasis, gender, and sex. The panel discussed the results and proposed strategies by consensus. Results: The scoping review identified broad themes: (1) clinical expression, (2) severity and patient-reported outcomes, (3) psychosocial impact, (4) access to treatments and propensity to treat, (5) comorbidities, and (6) treatment effect. The strategies are based on these broad themes. Limitations: No risk of bias assessment was done due to the scoping nature of the review. Conclusion: This review offers insights into gender differences in psoriasis, providing a foundation for improving clinical practice and patient outcomes.

17 October 2018 in Journal of Immunology Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CVCristina Vajaitu
Cristina Vajaitu
CDCarmen Cristina Draghici
Carmen Cristina Draghici
ISIulia Solomon
Iulia Solomon
CLCristina Victoria Lisievici
Cristina Victoria Lisievici
APAlexandra Victoria Popa
Alexandra Victoria Popa
VVVlad Mihai Voiculescu
Vlad Mihai Voiculescu
An important function of the immune system is its ability to differentiate between healthy cells in the organism and “foreign” cells, allowing the latest to be attacked and the first ones to be conserved. The most important molecules in this process are considered to be checkpoint inhibitors. This review is focused on the association between cancer and inflammation, underlying the mechanisms of action of monoclonal antibodies that are targeting checkpoint inhibitors: ipilimumab against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and pembrolizumab and nivolumab against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), their indications for treatment, and side effects. Presence of antibodies against checkpoint inhibitors shows promising results in the clinical trials in patients with types of cancer difficult to treat until now such as melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and renal cell carcinoma, offering an increase in the overall survival rate, response rate, and progression-free rate. Resistance is now observed to emerge in patients treated with this therapy, showing the need for more studies in order to design a biomarker that will predict the type of response to immunotherapy.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Daniel Octavian CostacheDaniel Octavian Costache
Daniel Octavian Costache
HBHoria Blejan
Horia Blejan
DCDamian Lucian Cojocaru
Damian Lucian Cojocaru
GIGeorgiana Ionita
Georgiana Ionita
MPMarcela Poenaru
Marcela Poenaru
RCRaluca Simona Costache
Raluca Simona Costache
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease that has a major impact on patients’ quality of life. Common psoriasis-associated comorbidities include cardiovascular diseases, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel syndromes, type-2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is affecting a substantial portion of the population and is closely linked with psoriasis. The interplay involves low-grade chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and genetic factors. The review presents the pathophysiological connections between psoriasis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, emphasizing the role of cytokines, adipokines, and inflammatory cascades. The “hepato-dermal axis” is introduced, highlighting how psoriatic inflammation potentiates hepatic inflammation and vice versa. According to the new guidelines, the preliminary examination for individuals with psoriasis should encompass evaluations of transaminase levels and ultrasound scans as part of the initial assessment for this cohort. Considering the interplay, recent guidelines recommend screening for NAFLD in moderate-to-severe psoriasis cases. Treatment implications arise, particularly with medications impacting liver function. Understanding the intricate relationship between psoriasis and NAFLD provides valuable insights into shared pathogenetic mechanisms. This knowledge has significant clinical implications, guiding screening practices, treatment decisions, and the development of future therapeutic approaches for these chronic conditions.