Ursu Maria

Dr. Ursu Maria

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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21 March 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DBDenisa Batir-Marin
Denisa Batir-Marin
CSClaudia Simona FAMI Stefan
Claudia Simona FAMI Stefan
MBMonica Boev
Monica Boev
GGGabriela Gurau
Gabriela Gurau
GPGabriel Valeriu Popa
Gabriel Valeriu Popa
NMNicoleta-Maricica Maftei
Nicoleta-Maricica Maftei
Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Despite advancements in insulin therapy and glucose monitoring, achieving optimal glycemic control remains a challenge. Emerging technologies and novel therapeutic strategies are transforming the landscape of T1D management, offering new opportunities for improved outcomes. Methods: This review synthesizes recent advancements in T1D treatment, focusing on innovations in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), automated insulin delivery systems, smart insulin formulations, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, we explore biomedical approaches such as stem cell therapy, gene editing, immunotherapy, gut microbiota modulation, nanomedicine-based interventions, and trace element-based therapies. Results: Advances in digital health, including CGM integration with hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps and AI-driven predictive analytics, have significantly improved real-time glucose management. AI and telemedicine have enhanced personalized diabetes care and patient engagement. Furthermore, regenerative medicine strategies, including β-cell replacement, CRISPR-based gene editing, and immunomodulatory therapies, hold potential for disease modification. Probiotics and microbiome-targeted therapies have demonstrated promising effects in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, while nanomedicine-based trace elements provide additional strategies to regulate insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress. Conclusions: The future of T1D management is shifting toward precision medicine and integrated technological solutions. While these advancements present promising therapeutic avenues, challenges such as long-term efficacy, safety, accessibility, and clinical validation must be addressed. A multidisciplinary approach, combining biomedical research, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology, will be essential to translate these innovations into clinical practice, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals with T1D.

11 May 2026 in Dentistry Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CDCaterina Dumitru
Caterina Dumitru
ADAlina Oana Dumitru
Alina Oana Dumitru
GPGabriel Valeriu Popa
Gabriel Valeriu Popa
TMTeodora Marcu
Teodora Marcu
UMUrsu Maria
Ursu Maria
MMMădălina Nicoleta Matei
Mădălina Nicoleta Matei
Background: Periodontitis affects approximately 7–11% of the global adult population in its severe forms and has been epidemiologically associated with cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Low-grade chronic inflammation represents the unifying mechanism; however, an integrative framework connecting the oral cavity, the gut, and the brain into a single mechanistic continuum is lacking. Objective: This narrative review, conducted with structured (but non-systematic) elements and PRISMA-2020 style reporting used solely as a transparency tool, synthesizes current evidence on the oral–gut–brain axis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2000–March 2026), yielding 159 included studies after structured screening and eligibility assessment. The review focuses on: the molecular mechanisms by which periodontal dysbiosis may disrupt intestinal homeostasis and contribute to neuroinflammation; the role of salivary and intestinal biomarkers as monitoring tools for the entire axis; and emerging pharmacological opportunities targeting this tripartite pathway. Results: Periodontal pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Fusobacterium nucleatum, have been detected ectopically in the gut and are associated with reduced tight junction protein expression and altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios in preclinical and observational studies. These perturbations have been associated with increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, microglial activation, and amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation, although causal directionality in humans remains to be established. Salivary biomarkers (MMP-8, IL-1β, IL-6, BDNF) and intestinal biomarkers (short-chain fatty acids, calprotectin) reflect systemic inflammatory burden and offer potential for non-invasive screening. Conclusions: The oral–gut–brain axis provides a plausible unifying framework for understanding comorbidity among periodontal, cardiometabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases; however, current evidence is predominantly associative, and mechanistic extrapolation from preclinical models requires validation in longitudinal human studies. Salivary biomarkers may serve as candidate first-line tools for systemic risk assessment, and pharmacological interventions targeting this axis represent promising investigational directions warranting further clinical evaluation.

25 September 2024 in Children
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
UMUrsu Maria
Ursu Maria
Mariana Stuparu CretuMariana Stuparu Cretu
Mariana Stuparu Cretu
GGGabriela Gurau
Gabriela Gurau
LNLuciana-Carmen Nitoi
Luciana-Carmen Nitoi
ANAurel Nechita
Aurel Nechita
MAManuela Arbune
Manuela Arbune
Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and the biological profile of children from the southeast of Romania who have been newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and to investigate the potential relationships between vitamin D deficiency and the onset of this disease, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a retrospective study that included 79 children under the age of 18 who were diagnosed with T1DM at the St. Ioan Galati Children’s Emergency Clinical Hospital between 2018 and 2023. Their demographic data (age, sex, and home environment), medical history (family medical history, birth weight, Apgar score, and type of nutrition), and biological parameters, including glycemia, HbA1C, and vitamin D level, were collected. We used advanced statistical methods to compare the levels of vitamin D in the children with T1DM with a control group of nondiabetic children. Results: The demographic characteristics of new T1DM are a median age of 9 and female/male sex ratio of 1:3, with 50.6% living in urban areas, 59.5% with a normal body mass index, and 74.6% presenting with ketoacidosis. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 52% of diabetic cases compared to 2.53% in the nondiabetic controls. Conclusions: There is an increasing incidence of pediatric T1DM. Diabetic ketoacidosis was frequently diagnosed as an initial manifestation and has frequently accompanied lower levels of vitamin D. Children with T1DM showed significant vitamin D deficiencies compared to the control group, highlighting the need for the monitoring and supplementation of this vitamin.