Alina Crenguţa Nicolae

Prof. Dr. Alina Crenguţa Nicolae

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

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

Representative Publications

View All Publications
11 January 2024 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Cristina Manuela DragoiCristina Manuela Dragoi
Cristina Manuela Dragoi
Alina Crenguţa NicolaeAlina Crenguţa Nicolae
Alina Crenguţa Nicolae
AUAnca Ungurianu
Anca Ungurianu
Denisa MarginaDenisa Margina
Denisa Margina
DANIELA GRADINARUDANIELA GRADINARU
DANIELA GRADINARU
Ion-Bogdan DumitrescuIon-Bogdan Dumitrescu
Ion-Bogdan Dumitrescu
A multitude of physiological processes, human behavioral patterns, and social interactions are intricately governed by the complex interplay between external circumstances and endogenous circadian rhythms. This multidimensional regulatory framework is susceptible to disruptions, and in contemporary society, there is a prevalent occurrence of misalignments between the circadian system and environmental cues, a phenomenon frequently associated with adverse health consequences. The onset of most prevalent current chronic diseases is intimately connected with alterations in human lifestyle practices under various facets, including the following: reduced physical activity, the exposure to artificial light, also acknowledged as light pollution, sedentary behavior coupled with consuming energy-dense nutriments, irregular eating frameworks, disruptions in sleep patterns (inadequate quality and duration), engagement in shift work, and the phenomenon known as social jetlag. The rapid evolution of contemporary life and domestic routines has significantly outpaced the rate of genetic adaptation. Consequently, the underlying circadian rhythms are exposed to multiple shifts, thereby elevating the susceptibility to disease predisposition. This comprehensive review endeavors to synthesize existing empirical evidence that substantiates the conceptual integration of the circadian clock, biochemical molecular homeostasis, oxidative stress, and the stimuli imparted by physical exercise, sleep, and nutrition.

23 November 2021 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Camelia DiaconuCamelia Diaconu
Camelia Diaconu
MCMatei-Alexandru Cozma
Matei-Alexandru Cozma
ECElena Codruta Cozma
Elena Codruta Cozma
GGGina Gheorghe
Gina Gheorghe
AJAlexandra Jichitu
Alexandra Jichitu
Mihnea-Alexandru GamanMihnea-Alexandru Gaman
Mihnea-Alexandru Gaman
Background and Objectives: Polypharmacy is associated with drug–drug or food–drug interactions that may pose treatment difficulties. The objective of the study was to investigate the use of polypharmacy in hypertensive patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Clinic of a European referral hospital. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review study on patients identified by a database search of discharge diagnoses to assess the use of polypharmacy and identify potential drug-drug and food-drug interactions. Results: In total, 166 hypertensive patients (68.46 ± 12.70 years, range 42–94 years) were compared to 83 normotensive subjects (67.82 ± 14.47 years, range 22–94 years) who were hospitalized in the clinic during the same period. Polypharmacy was more common in hypertensive versus normotensive subjects (p = 0.007). There were no differences in terms of age, as well as major (0.44 ± 0.77 versus 0.37 ± 0.73 interactions/patient, p = 0.52) and minor (1.25 ± 1.50 versus 1.08 ± 1.84 interactions/patient, p = 0.46) drug–drug interactions between patients with and without hypertension. The mean number of drug–drug interactions (6.55 ± 5.82 versus 4.93 ± 5.59 interactions/patient, p = 0.03), moderate drug–drug interactions (4.94 ± 4.75 versus 3.54 ± 4.17, p = 0.02) and food–drug interactions (2.64 ± 1.29 versus 2.02 ± 1.73, p = 0.00) was higher in patients with hypertension versus their counterparts. Conclusions: The present study reinforces that polypharmacy is a serious concern in hypertensive patients, as reflected by the high number of potentially harmful drug–drug or food–drug interactions. We recorded higher numbers of comorbidities, prescribed drugs, and moderate drug–drug/food–drug interactions in hypertensive versus normotensive patients. A strategy to evaluate the number of discharge medications and reduce drug–drug interactions is essential for the safety of hypertensive patients.

25 September 2024 in Antioxidants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Cristina Manuela DragoiCristina Manuela Dragoi
Cristina Manuela Dragoi
Camelia DiaconuCamelia Diaconu
Camelia Diaconu
Alina Crenguţa NicolaeAlina Crenguţa Nicolae
Alina Crenguţa Nicolae
Ion-Bogdan DumitrescuIon-Bogdan Dumitrescu
Ion-Bogdan Dumitrescu
Precision medicine is envisioned as the future of cardiovascular healthcare, offering a more tailored and effective method for managing cardiovascular diseases compared to the traditional one-size-fits-all approaches. The complex role of oxidative stress in chronic diseases within the framework of precision medicine was carefully explored, delving into the cellular redox status and its critical involvement in the pathophysiological complexity of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The review outlines the mechanisms of reactive oxygen species generation and the function of antioxidants in maintaining redox balance. It emphasizes the elevated reactive oxygen species concentrations observed in heart failure and their detrimental impact on cardiovascular health. Various sources of ROS within the cardiovascular system are examined, including mitochondrial dysfunction, which contributes to oxidative stress and mitochondrial DNA degradation. The article also addresses oxidative stress’s role in myocardial remodeling, a process pivotal to the progression of heart diseases. By integrating these aspects, the review underscores the importance of redox homeostasis and identifies molecular biomarkers that can enhance precision therapy for CVDs. The insights provided aim to pave the way for targeted therapeutic strategies that mitigate oxidative stress, thereby improving patient outcomes in cardiovascular medicine.

21 January 2026 in Targets
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Cristina Manuela DragoiCristina Manuela Dragoi
Cristina Manuela Dragoi
Alina Crenguţa NicolaeAlina Crenguţa Nicolae
Alina Crenguţa Nicolae
Ion-Bogdan DumitrescuIon-Bogdan Dumitrescu
Ion-Bogdan Dumitrescu
The indole scaffold represents a privileged structural motif in medicinal chemistry, celebrated for its remarkable chemical versatility, biological ubiquity, and clinical relevance. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent research on the indole nucleus, emphasizing its physicochemical properties, reactivity patterns, and capacity to interact with a wide array of biological targets. Found in key endogenous compounds such as serotonin and melatonin, indole serves as a cornerstone in neurochemical signaling, circadian regulation, and chrono-metabolic homeostasis. Beyond its physiological roles, synthetic indole derivatives have shown extensive therapeutic potential across diverse domains, including oncology, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, immunomodulation, and metabolic syndromes. The review explores structure–activity relationships (SAR), pharmacokinetics, and the molecular mechanisms by which indole-based compounds exert their tremendous effects, that are ranging from enzyme inhibition to receptor modulation. Special focus is given to current clinical applications and emerging strategies for enhancing drug specificity, bioavailability, and safety through indolic frameworks. Additionally, we highlight the translational potential of indole-containing molecules in personalized medicine, underscoring opportunities for future drug discovery. By integrating insights from medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical science, this review affirms the indole ring’s enduring value as a central scaffold in therapeutic innovation.

29 September 2022 in Pharmaceutics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMihaela Axente
Mihaela Axente
AMAndrada Mirea
Andrada Mirea
Corina SporeaCorina Sporea
Corina Sporea
LPLiliana Pădure
Liliana Pădure
Cristina Manuela DragoiCristina Manuela Dragoi
Cristina Manuela Dragoi
DIDaniela Adriana Ion
Daniela Adriana Ion
In the new therapeutic era, disease-modifying treatment (nusinersen) has changed the natural evolution of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), creating new phenotypes. The main purpose of the retrospective observational study was to explore changes in clinical evolution and electrophysiological data after 2 years of nusinersen treatment. We assessed distal compound motor action potential (CMAP) on the ulnar nerve and motor abilities in 34 SMA patients, aged between 1 and 16 years old, under nusinersen treatment, using specific motor scales for types 1, 2 and 3. The evaluations were performed at treatment initiation and 26 months later. There were registered increased values for CMAP amplitudes after 2 years of nusinersen, significantly correlated with motor function evolution in SMA type 1 patients (p < 0.005, r = 0.667). In total, 45% of non-sitters became sitters and 25% of sitters became walkers. For SMA types 1 and 2, the age at the treatment initialization is highly significant (p < 0.0001) and correlated with treatment yield. A strong negative correlation (r = −0.633) was observed for SMA type 1 and a very strong negative correlation (r = −0.813) for SMA type 2. In treated SMA cases, the distal amplitude of the CMAP and motor functional scales are important prognostic factors, and early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a better outcome.

12 May 2017 in Diagnostic Pathology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MTMafalda Trippel
Mafalda Trippel
SISara Imboden
Sara Imboden
APAndrea Papadia
Andrea Papadia
MMMichael Mueller
Michael Mueller
NMNando Mertineit
Nando Mertineit
TRTilman T. Rau
Tilman T. Rau
Intestinal differentiation of primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus is exceedingly rare in comparison to the approximately 25% rate in endocervical and ovarian mucinous carcinoma. Additionally, little is known about the related genetic and epigenetic alterations, even though large-scale molecular characterisation of the different types of endometrial cancer took place in the TCGA project along the entities defined by the recent WHO classification. We present a 62-year-old patient harbouring a primary mucinous carcinoma of the uterine corpus with a morphological resemblance to mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma. The intestinal differentiation was substantiated by CDX2 and CK20 positivity in the absence of PAX8, p16, WT1, p53, ER, PgR, AFP, SALL4 and Glypican3. A high MSI status with MLH1 hypermethylation was revealed by molecular testing. Intestinal differentiation of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the endometrium is a unique observation. Besides morphology, it obviously can share molecular features of sporadic MSI colorectal cancers. It can be speculated that either CDX2 positive morula formation or intestinal metaplasia of the endometrium as rare conditions might be the origin of carcinogenesis for this type II endometrial cancer. Both conditions were not detectable in this case. Of note, categorising endometrial cancers in genetic subgroups like MSI high cancers alone might lead to the integration of likewise morphologically different tumours like the case presented here with intestinal differentiation. Hence, careful genotype-phenotype correlations are warranted for studies of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.