Diana Simona Stefan

Dr. Diana Simona Stefan


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

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1 May 2017 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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PAPicu Ariana
Picu Ariana
LPLaura Petcu
Laura Petcu
DSDiana Simona Stefan
Diana Simona Stefan
MMManuela Mitu
Manuela Mitu
DLDaniela Lixandru
Daniela Lixandru
Carmen ChifiriucCarmen Chifiriuc
Carmen Chifiriuc
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is strongly associated with obesity. The adipose tissue secretes bioactive adipokines leading to low grade inflammation, amplified by oxidative stress, which promotes the formation of advanced glycation end products and eventually leads to dyslipidemia and vascular complications. The aim of this study was to correlate anthropometric, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in newly diagnosed (ND) T2DM patients and to investigate the role of oxidative stress in T2DM associated with obesity. A group of 115 ND- T2DM patients was compared to a group of 32 healthy subjects in terms of clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters. ND-T2DM patients had significantly lower adiponectin, glutathione (GSH) and gluthatione peroxidase (GPx) and elevated insulin, proinsulin, HOMA-IR index, proinsulin/insulin (P/I) and proinsulin/adiponectin (P/A) ratio, fructosamine, and total oxidant status (TOS). The total body fat mass was positively correlated with total oxidant status (TOS). Positive correlations were found between TOS and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and between TOS and glycaemia. Negative correlations were identified between: GPx and glycaemia, GPx and HbA1c, and also between GSH and fructosamine. The total antioxidant status was negatively correlated with the respiratory burst. The identified correlations suggest the existence of a complex interplay between diabetes, obesity and oxidative stress.

17 January 2022 in Healthcare
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Journal Article
Open access
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MPMihaela Simona Popoviciu
Mihaela Simona Popoviciu
VMVioleta Nicoleta Marin
Violeta Nicoleta Marin
Cosmin Mihai VesaCosmin Mihai Vesa
Cosmin Mihai Vesa
DSDiana Simona Stefan
Diana Simona Stefan
RSRoxana Adriana Stoica
Roxana Adriana Stoica
Anca StoianAnca Stoian
Anca Stoian
Although it is well known that lifestyle changes can affect plasma glucose levels, there is little formal evidence for the sustained effectiveness of exercise and diet in diabetes mellitus (DM) management. Self-care in DM refers to the real-life application of the knowledge that the patient gained during the education programmes. The goals are to bring about changes in the patient’s behaviour, thus improving glycaemic control. We evaluated the influence of DM self-care activities (SCA) on glycaemic control in a total of 159 patients with DM. Plasma glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were used to monitor glycaemic control, while SCA were assessed using the standardised Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). In our study, 53% of the patients had a HbA1c ≥ 7%. In univariate linear regression models, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between the HbA1c (the dependent variable) and both the DSMQ Dietary Control Score (R2 = 0.037, p = 0.0145) and the DSMQ Sum Score (R2 = 0.06, p = 0.0014). The mean absolute change in the HbA1c% associated with one standard deviation (SD) change in the DSMQ Sum Score, independent of the other significant variables retained in the compacted multivariate regression model, was −0.419% (confidence interval: 95%: from −0.18 to −0.65). Although the impact of the DSMQ Score was modest when compared to the other independent variables in the multivariate model, the findings emphasise the importance of maintaining optimal lifestyle changes to avoid hyperglycaemia and its complications. In conclusion, enhanced self-management of DM is associated with improved glucose control. In patients with chronic diseases such as DM, the role of streamlining SCA encompassing physical activity and proper dietary choices is imperative because of a significantly reduced access to healthcare globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

26 November 2020 in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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CSCamelia Sandu
Camelia Sandu
CBCristina Bica
Cristina Bica
TSTeodor Salmen
Teodor Salmen
RSRoxana Adriana Stoica
Roxana Adriana Stoica
RBRoxana Bohiltea
Roxana Bohiltea
Anca StoianAnca Stoian
Anca Stoian
Gestational diabetes mellitus is an important healthcare problem with serious implications both to the mother and to the foetus. The necessity of clear screening criteria for the pregnant woman and also identifying from an early stage the risk groups can be beneficial instruments for better management of gestational diabetes. The present report identify the main screening criteria for patients at risk for gestational diabetes and the therapeutic‑nutritional therapy for women that have gestational diabetes. The different diagnostic criteria, as well as the new instruments through which these criteria can be applied, are still heterogeneous, and it is necessary to unify and promote them. The prevalence of gestational diabetes has significantly increased in recent years, and this has led to an increase in the direct and indirect costs of healthcare. Establishing the optimal time and initiating the correct treatment is critical to achieving glycemic control and to minimize the impact on fetal development and perinatal complications.

26 November 2020 in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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RSRoxana Adriana Stoica
Roxana Adriana Stoica
CDCamelia Cristina Diaconu
Camelia Cristina Diaconu
MRManfredi Rizzo
Manfredi Rizzo
PTPeter P. Toth
Peter P. Toth
DSDiana Simona Stefan
Diana Simona Stefan
Anca StoianAnca Stoian
Anca Stoian
Cardiovascular risk (CVR) is a broad term that includes traditional factors like hypertension, hyper lipidemia, abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinemia or overt type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and emerging ones such as hypothyroidism or inflammatory diseases. In epidemiologic studies, all of these factors are associated with atherogenesis and have complex interactions between them. They have in common an increased prevalence in the general population beginning in childhood, and are correlated with endothelial damage as demonstrated by echocardiographic modifications of the left ventricle or carotid intima‑media thickness. Adolescence is a transition period where behavioural eating patterns develop and have a major impact on cardiovascular risk. To address these patterns, weight‑loss programmes under medical supervision for overweight and obese adolescents are developed. It was observed that those who control the quality and quantity of their carbohydrates, by consuming more fruits and vegetables, associated with increased physical activity reduce their CVR. Some limited studies have shown that low carbohydrate diet (LCD) is safe and effective, but one should take into consideration the limited duration and the structure of the LCD. If there is a proper adherence to this type of nutritional intervention, it results in weight loss, improvement in insulin resistance, lipid profile and subclinical hypothyroidism reversal. We reviewed the literature starting from 2009 by searching all the observational, randomised clinical trials and meta‑analyses on MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases regarding obesity and related metabolic diseases (dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, LCD) in adolescents and synthesized the nutritional interventions for this population that could decrease CVR.

28 July 2020 in Metabolites
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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PAPicu Ariana
Picu Ariana
LPLaura Petcu
Laura Petcu
DSDiana Simona Stefan
Diana Simona Stefan
Gratiela GRADISTEANU PircalabioruGratiela GRADISTEANU Pircalabioru
Gratiela GRADISTEANU Pircalabioru
MMManuela Mitu
Manuela Mitu
CIConstantin Ionescu-Tîrgovişte
Constantin Ionescu-Tîrgovişte
Geography is one of the key drivers of the significant variation in the etiopathogenic profile and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, therefore geographically based data are fundamental for implementing the appropriate interventions. Presently, the selection criteria of T2DM and obesity patients for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) have not reached a worldwide consensus—highlighting the need for sharing experts’ guidance in the preoperative evaluation, choice of the interventional procedure, perioperative management and patient long-term care. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of LSG on T2DM (T2DM) remission in Romanian obese male patients, based on a multiparametric, prospective investigation. We have conducted a randomized controlled study on 41 obese male participants with the body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, aged 30–65 years, which were randomly divided in two study groups: one receiving conventional treatment and the second undergoing LSG. The clinical and anthropometrical parameters, resting metabolic rate, general biochemical status, adipocytes profile, gastrointestinal hormones levels, proinflammatory, oxidant and antioxidant profiles were determined at three time points: V1 (baseline), V2 (after six months) and V3 (after 12 months). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose levels, BMI, weight, visceral fat level, HDL-cholesterol, incretin hormones, proinflammatory and the oxidative stress status were significantly improved in the LSG versus conventional treatment group. This is the first study reporting on the evaluation of metabolic surgery impact on Romanian obese male patients with T2DM. Our results confirm that LSG could contribute to T2DM remission in patients with diabesity, but this beneficial effect seems to be critically influenced by the duration of T2DM rather than by the obesity status. Our results show that, in addition to the parameters included in the prediction algorithm, the proinsulin levels, proinsulin/insulin ratio and the visceral fat percentage could bring added value to the assessment of metabolic status.

4 May 2025 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Oana VîrgoliciOana Vîrgolici
Oana Vîrgolici
DLDaniela Lixandru
Daniela Lixandru
AMAndrada Mihai
Andrada Mihai
DSDiana Simona Stefan
Diana Simona Stefan
CGCristian Guja
Cristian Guja
BVBogdana Virgolici
Bogdana Virgolici
Background/Objectives: Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disease characterized by elevated fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Predicting the percentage and absolute variations in key medical parameters based on weight changes can help patients stay motivated to lose weight and assist doctors in making informed lifestyle and treatment recommendations. This study aims to assess the extent to which weight variation influences the absolute and percentage changes in various clinical parameters. Methods: The dataset includes medical records from patients in Bucharest hospitals, collected between 2012 and 2016. Several machine learning models, namely linear regression, polynomial regression, Gradient Boosting, and Extreme Gradient Boosting, were employed to predict changes in medical parameters as a function of body weight variation. Model performance was evaluated using Mean Squared Error, Mean Absolute Error, and R2 score. Results: Almost all models demonstrated promising predictive performance. Quantitative predictions were made for each parameter, highlighting the relationship between weight loss and improvements in clinical indicators. Conclusions: Weight loss led to significant improvements in dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammation, uric acid levels, liver enzymes, thyroid hormones, and blood pressure, with reductions ranging from 5% to 30%, depending on the parameter.