Raluca Marica

Dr. Raluca Marica

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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20 March 2021 in Molecules
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Journal Article
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Irina IelciuIrina Ielciu
Irina Ielciu
BSBogdan Sevastre
Bogdan Sevastre
NONeli-Kinga Olah
Neli-Kinga Olah
ATAndreea Turdean
Andreea Turdean
ECElisabeta Chișe
Elisabeta Chișe
Daniela HanganuDaniela Hanganu
Daniela Hanganu
Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a widely known species for its medicinal uses, that is also used as raw material for the food and cosmetic industry. The aim of the present study was to offer a novel perspective on the medicinal product originating from this species and to test its hepatoprotective activity. The tested sample consisted in a tincture obtained from the fresh young shoots. Compounds that are evaluated for this activity are polyphenols and terpenoids, that are identified and quantified by HPLC–UV–MS and GC–MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed in vitro, using the DPPH, FRAP and SO assays. Hepatoprotective activity was tested in rats with experimentally-induced hepatotoxicity. In the chemical composition of the tincture, phenolic diterpenes (carnosic acid, carnosol, rosmanol, rosmadial) and rosmarinic acid were found to be the majority compounds, alongside with 1,8-cineole, camphene, linalool, borneol and terpineol among monoterpenes. In vitro, the tested tincture proved significant antioxidant capacity. Results of the in vivo experiment showed that hepatoprotective activity is based on an antioxidant mechanism. In this way, the present study offers a novel perspective on the medicinal uses of the species, proving significant amounts of polyphenols and terpenes in the composition of the fresh young shoots tincture, that has proved hepatoprotective activity through an antioxidant mechanism.

30 August 2024 in Life
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Journal Article
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AAAlina Ioana Ardelean
Alina Ioana Ardelean
SMSorin Marian Mârza
Sorin Marian Mârza
RMRaluca Marica
Raluca Marica
MDMadalina Florina Dragomir
Madalina Florina Dragomir
ARAlina Oana Rusu-Moldovan
Alina Oana Rusu-Moldovan
LOLiviu Oana
Liviu Oana
Repairing or reconstructing significant bone defects is typically challenging. In the present study, two composite cements were used as scaffolds in a sub-critical femoral defect in rats. A control group and two experimental batches were used to compare the outcomes. This research aimed to investigate the osteogenic potential and toxicological tolerance of the bioproducts through histopathology and computed tomography imaging analysis at 14, 28, 56, and 90 days post-implantation. The biomaterials used in the investigation consisted of a 65% bioactive salinized inorganic filler and a 25% weight organic matrix. The organic part of the biomaterial was composed of Bis-GMA (bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate), UDMA (urethane dimethacrylate), HEMA (2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and TEGDMA (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate), while the inorganic filler was composed of silica, barium glass, hydroxyapatite, and fluor aluminosilicate glass. The first findings of this research are encouraging, revealing that there is a slight difference between the groups treated with biomaterials, but it might be an effective approach for managing bone abnormalities. Material C1 exhibited a faster bone defect healing time compared to material C2, where bone fractures occurred in some individuals. It is unclear if the fractures were caused by the presence of the biomaterial C2 or whether additional variables were to blame. By the end of the research, the mice appeared to tolerate the biomaterials without exhibiting any inflammatory or rejection responses.

5 September 2024 in Life
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Journal Article
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LOLoredana Elena Olar
Loredana Elena Olar
VTVasile-Daniel Tomoiaga
Vasile-Daniel Tomoiaga
SMSorin Marian Mârza
Sorin Marian Mârza
IPIonel Papuc
Ionel Papuc
IBIoan Florin Beteg
Ioan Florin Beteg
RLRadu Lăcătuș
Radu Lăcătuș
Coenurosis is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Taenia multiceps, Coenurus cerebralis, typically found in the central nervous system of different livestock such as sheep and goats. The blood plasma from fifteen clinically healthy sheep and six sheep with neurological symptoms was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy in order to establish the contribution of kynurenic acid (KYNA), the neuroprotective metabolite of the kynurenine pathway, to the total fluorescence of the plasma. CT scans were used to confirm the presence of cysts in the central nervous system of sheep with neurological symptoms. The fluorescence spectroscopy analysis and further spectra deconvolution process revealed some significantly lower KYNA contributions to the total plasma fluorescence in sheep with coenurosis compared to healthy controls. Our results indicate that KYNA emission parameters could serve as valuable diagnostic markers, particularly for detecting preclinical cases of coenurosis, thus allowing for improved farm management practices.

26 February 2024 in Membranes
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Journal Article
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Ondine LucaciuOndine Lucaciu
Ondine Lucaciu
CRCalin Repciuc
Calin Repciuc
IMIoana Adriana Matei
Ioana Adriana Matei
NFNicodim FIT
Nicodim FIT
Sanda AndreiSanda Andrei
Sanda Andrei
MGMadalina Luciana Gherman
Madalina Luciana Gherman
The aim of this research was to validate the use of a gentamicin (GEN) and nano-hydroxiapatite (nHAP)-loaded polycaprolactone nanostructured membrane (NM) as an innovative, highly efficient, low-cost treatment for periodontitis. We conducted an in vivo study on Wistar rats, in which we induced periodontitis by placing silk ligatures around the first right and left upper molars. The subjects were divided into three groups; the first group received no periodontal treatment, the second group received open flap debridement, and the third group received open flap debridement, together with the positioning of the GEN and nHAP-loaded nanostructured membrane as a treatment. The extent of periodontal regeneration was assessed by the periodontal pocket depth, bleeding on probing, tooth mobility, dental plaque, microbiological analysis, concentration of MMP-8 in saliva, plasma levels of CRP, and histological analysis. The results showed that using open flap debridement with the NM is more efficient, and it significantly reduces the probing depth, extent of bleeding on probing, dental mobility, bacterial plaque, and pathogenic flora. The concentrations of MMP-8 and CRP decrease. The histological analysis demonstrated that NM leads to bone regeneration. Our study indicates that gentamicin and nano-hydroxyapatite embedded in the fiber of the biodegradable membranes might be a promising therapeutic option for periodontitis treatment.

24 December 2022 in Veterinary Sciences
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CTCorina Toma
Corina Toma
RPRoxana Popa
Roxana Popa
MHMara-Georgiana Haralambie
Mara-Georgiana Haralambie
Oana Roxana HaralambieOana Roxana Haralambie
Oana Roxana Haralambie
RMRaluca Marica
Raluca Marica
A 15-year-old female, indoor, spayed, domestic shorthair cat was presented for post-mortem evaluation with a history of sudden death. A red-brown 3 cm x 4 cm neoplastic mass was identified within the body of the pancreas, along with multiple similar nodular structures within the omentum and liver. Associated lesions included hemoperitoneum, yellow discoloration of the peritoneal wall, and severe anemia. Spindle-shaped neoplastic cells exhibiting malignancy features, which occasionally contained within the cytoplasm haematoidin crystals and/or red blood cells, were observed during cytological examination. Histologically, the neoplastic cells were organized in short streams forming vascular spaces filled with erythrocytes. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were immunolabeled for vimentin and CD31, supporting the diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma. This report offers a complete post-mortem and histological evaluation of a rare tumor in cats with an unusual location and a comparative assessment of 3 anti-CD31 antibodies.

1 November 2026 in Animals
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Mihaela NiculaeMihaela Niculae
Mihaela Niculae
SCSmaranda Craciun
Smaranda Craciun
RMRaluca Marica
Raluca Marica
Maria-Carmen TurcuMaria-Carmen Turcu
Maria-Carmen Turcu
LBLucia Victoria Bel
Lucia Victoria Bel
SPSimon L. Priestnall
Simon L. Priestnall
Chronic renal disease is recognized in geriatric companion mammals, but detailed clinicopathological descriptions in chinchillas remain limited. An 11-year-old neutered female pet chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) with a six-month history of progressive weight loss and hyporexia developed acute clinical deterioration following approximately 8 h of indoor heat exposure (estimated maximum 29 °C). Anorexia, lethargy, absence of fecal output, and progressive dyspnoea preceded death. Necropsy revealed severe bilateral chronic renal lesions, gastrointestinal gaseous distension, and severe pulmonary congestion. Histopathology documented chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy with interstitial fibrosis supported by Masson–Goldner trichrome staining and mineral deposits demonstrated by von Kossa staining. Periodic acid–Schiff staining highlighted glomerular and tubular basement membranes. Marked pulmonary vascular congestion was confirmed histologically, whereas pulmonary oedema and established pneumonia were not demonstrated in the examined sections. Together with the progressive terminal dyspnoea, these findings indicated clinically important respiratory abnormalities, although their underlying mechanism and contribution to death remained uncertain. Pure cultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae were recovered from six anatomical sites, with all isolates exhibiting an identical antimicrobial susceptibility profile and a reported multidrug-resistant phenotype. No bacterial-associated inflammatory lesions were identified in the histologically examined tissues, providing no morphological evidence of established disseminated septic disease. Given the uncertain time of death and a possible post-mortem interval of up to approximately 6 h, ante-mortem infection could not be reliably distinguished from perimortem dissemination or post-mortem translocation. Environmental heat exposure may have contributed to acute deterioration in an animal with severe chronic disease, although heat stroke could not be established retrospectively. This case supports a multifactorial interpretation and highlights the potential One Health relevance of antimicrobial resistance in companion animals, without demonstrating transmission.