Alina Cristina Barb

Dr. Alina Cristina Barb


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IVIoana Vornic
Ioana Vornic
VBVictor Bogdan Buciu
Victor Bogdan Buciu
Cristian FurauCristian Furau
Cristian Furau
PGPusa Nela Gaje
Pusa Nela Gaje
Amalia Raluca CeausuAmalia Raluca Ceausu
Amalia Raluca Ceausu
Flavia BadercaFlavia Baderca
Flavia Baderca
Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in placental pathogenesis and pregnancy-related complications. This review explores OS’s impact on placental development and function, focusing on novel biomarkers for the early detection of at-risk pregnancies and emerging therapeutic strategies. We analyzed recent research on OS in placental pathophysiology, examining its sources, mechanisms, and effects. While trophoblast invasion under low-oxygen conditions and hypoxia-induced OS regulate physiological placental development, excessive OS can lead to complications like miscarriage, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Promising OS biomarkers, including malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, show potential for the early detection of pregnancy complications. Therapeutic strategies targeting OS, such as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, Nrf2 activators, and gasotransmitter therapies, demonstrate encouraging preclinical results. However, clinical translation remains challenging. Future research should focus on validating these biomarkers in large-scale studies and developing personalized therapies to modulate placental OS. Emerging approaches like extracellular vesicle-based therapies and nanomedicine warrant further investigation for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in pregnancy-related complications. Integrating OS biomarkers with other molecular and cellular markers offers improved potential for the early identification of at-risk pregnancies.

11 October 2024 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
IVIoana Vornic
Ioana Vornic
VBVictor Bogdan Buciu
Victor Bogdan Buciu
Cristian FurauCristian Furau
Cristian Furau
PGPusa Nela Gaje
Pusa Nela Gaje
Amalia Raluca CeausuAmalia Raluca Ceausu
Amalia Raluca Ceausu
FZFlavia Zara
Flavia Zara
Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in placental pathogenesis and pregnancy-related complications. This review explores OS's impact on placental development and function, focusing on novel biomarkers for early detection of at-risk pregnancies and emerging therapeutic strategies. We analyzed recent research on OS in placental pathophysiology, examining its sources, mechanisms, and effects. While trophoblast invasion under low-oxygen conditions and hypoxia-induced OS regulate physiological placental development, excessive OS can lead to complications like miscarriage, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Promising OS biomarkers, including malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, show potential for early detection of pregnancy complications. Therapeutic strategies targeting OS, such as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, Nrf2 activators, and gasotransmitter therapies, demonstrate encouraging preclinical results. However, clinical translation remains challenging. Future research should focus on validating these biomarkers in large-scale studies and developing personalized therapies to modulate placental OS. Emerging approaches like extracellular vesicle-based therapies and nanomedicine warrant further investigation for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in pregnancy-related complications. Integrating OS biomarkers with other molecular and cellular markers offers improved potential for early identification of at-risk pregnancies.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DNDorin Novacescu
Dorin Novacescu
Cristina-Stefania DumitruCristina-Stefania Dumitru
Cristina-Stefania Dumitru
Flavia BadercaFlavia Baderca
Flavia Baderca
MRMarius L. Raica
Marius L. Raica
CSCristian Silviu Suciu
Cristian Silviu Suciu
PGPusa Nela Gaje
Pusa Nela Gaje
Odontogenesis, the development of teeth, is a complex, multistage process that unfolds from early embryogenesis through tooth eruption and maturation. It serves as a classical model of organogenesis due to the intricate reciprocal interactions between cranial neural crest-derived mesenchyme and oral epithelium. This narrative review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on human tooth development, tracing the journey from the embryological origins in the first branchial arch to the formation of a fully functional tooth and its supporting structures. Key morphogenetic stages—bud, cap, bell, apposition, and root formation—are described in detail, highlighting the cellular events and histological features characterizing each stage. We discuss the molecular and cellular regulatory networks that orchestrate odontogenesis, including the conserved signaling pathways (Wnt, BMP, FGF, SHH, EDA) and transcription factors (e.g., PAX9, MSX1/2, PITX2) that drive tissue patterning and cell differentiation. The coordinated development of supporting periodontal tissues (cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, gingiva) is also examined as an integral part of tooth organogenesis. Finally, developmental anomalies (such as variations in tooth number, size, and form) and the fate of residual embryonic epithelial cells are reviewed to underscore the clinical significance of developmental processes. Understanding the normal course of odontogenesis provides crucial insight into congenital dental disorders and lays a foundation for advances in regenerative dental medicine.

20 December 2024 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IVIoana Vornic
Ioana Vornic
VBVictor Bogdan Buciu
Victor Bogdan Buciu
Cristian FurauCristian Furau
Cristian Furau
FZFlavia Zara
Flavia Zara
DNDorin Novacescu
Dorin Novacescu
Cristina-Stefania DumitruCristina-Stefania Dumitru
Cristina-Stefania Dumitru
The placenta is a vital organ that supports fetal development by mediating nutrient and gas exchange, regulating immune tolerance, and maintaining hormonal balance. Its formation and function are tightly linked to the processes of embryo implantation and the establishment of a robust placental-uterine interface. Recent advances in molecular biology and histopathology have shed light on the key regulatory factors governing these processes, including trophoblast invasion, spiral artery remodeling, and the development of chorionic villi. This review integrates morphological and molecular perspectives on placental development, emphasizing the roles of cytokines, growth factors, and signaling pathways, such as VEGF and Notch signaling, in orchestrating implantation and placental formation. The intricate interplay between molecular regulation and morphological adaptations highlights the placenta’s critical role as a dynamic interface in pregnancy. This review synthesizes current findings to offer clinicians and researchers a comprehensive understanding of the placenta’s role in implantation, emphasizing its importance in maternal-fetal medicine. By integrating these insights, the review lays the groundwork for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that can enhance pregnancy outcomes and address related complications effectively.

17 April 2023 in Cells
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Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ABAlina Cristina Barb
Alina Cristina Barb
MPMihaela Maria Pasca-Fenesan
Mihaela Maria Pasca-Fenesan
LPLaurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Laurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Madalin-Marius MarganMadalin-Marius Margan
Madalin-Marius Margan
TLTomescu Larisa-Cristina
Tomescu Larisa-Cristina
Anca-Maria CimpeanAnca-Maria Cimpean
Anca-Maria Cimpean
Background: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) mediate local antitumor immunity, and interest in them significantly increased since cancer immunotherapy was implemented. We examined TLS− tumor stromal blood vessel interplay for each breast cancer (BC) molecular subtype related to recurrence, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and perineural invasion (PnI). Methods: TLSs were quantified on hematoxylin and eosin stain specimens followed by CD34/smooth muscle actin (SMA) double immunostaining for stromal blood vessel maturation assessment. Statistical analysis linked microscopy to recurrence, LVI, and PnI. Results: TLS negative (TLS−) subgroups in each BC molecular subtype (except to Luminal A) have higher LVI, PnI, and recurrence. A significant rise in LVI and PnI were observed for the HER2+/TLS− subgroup (p < 0.001). The triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)/TLS− subgroup had the highest recurrence and invasion risk which was also significantly related to tumor grade. PnI but not LVI significantly influenced recurrence in the TNBC/TLS+ subgroup (p < 0.001). TLS−stromal blood vessel interrelation was different amongst BC molecular subtypes. Conclusion: BC invasion and recurrence are strongly influenced by TLS presence and stromal blood vessels, especially for HER2 and TNBC BC molecular subtypes.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LMLavinia Marcut
Lavinia Marcut
RBRoxana Brata
Roxana Brata
ABAlina Cristina Barb
Alina Cristina Barb
AMAlexia Manole
Alexia Manole
SGStef Dan Gabriel
Stef Dan Gabriel
RPRaul Patrascu
Raul Patrascu
Cancer progression and therapeutic resistance are driven by complex molecular interactions between genomic instability and immune modulation. Defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) not only promote tumor heterogeneity but also shape the tumor immune landscape through the generation of neoantigens, activation of the cGAS–STING pathway, and modulation of immune checkpoints. This review provides an integrative overview of the molecular mechanisms linking DDR dysfunction to immune crosstalk, emphasizing how these processes influence tumor evolution and response to therapy. We discuss emerging therapeutic strategies that exploit DDR–immune interactions, including PARP and ATR inhibitors, synthetic lethality approaches, and combination regimens with immune checkpoint blockade. Understanding the bidirectional connection between DNA repair pathways and immune signaling unveils new translational opportunities for precision oncology and offers a framework for developing combinatorial therapies capable of overcoming resistance and improving long-term cancer control.