Elena Cristina Mitrofan

Dr. Elena Cristina Mitrofan


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

View All Publications
24 July 2023 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ALAncuta Lupu
Ancuta Lupu
EJElena Jechel
Elena Jechel
CMCristina Maria Mihai
Cristina Maria Mihai
EMElena Cristina Mitrofan
Elena Cristina Mitrofan
SFSilvia Fotea
Silvia Fotea
VLVasile Valeriu Lupu
Vasile Valeriu Lupu
Considered to be of greater complexity than the human genome itself, the microbiome, the structure of the body made up of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, has proven to play a crucial role in the context of the development of pathological processes in the body, starting from various infections, autoimmune diseases, atopies, and culminating in its involvement in the development of some forms of cancer, a diagnosis that is considered the most disabling for the patient from a psychological point of view. Therefore, being a cornerstone in the understanding and optimal treatment of a multitude of ailments, the body’s microbiome has become an intensively studied subject in the scientific literature of the last decade. This review aims to bring the microbiome–asthma correlation up to date by classifying asthmatic patterns, emphasizing the development patterns of the microbiome starting from the perinatal period and the impact of pulmonary dysbiosis on asthmatic symptoms in children. Likewise, the effects of intestinal dysbiosis reflected at the level of homeostasis of the internal environment through the intestine–lung/vital organs axis, the circumstances in which it occurs, but also the main methods of studying bacterial variability used for diagnostic purposes and in research should not be omitted. In conclusion, we draw current and future therapeutic lines worthy of consideration both in obtaining and maintaining remission, as well as in delaying the development of primary acute episodes and preventing future relapses.

29 May 2023 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
VLVasile Valeriu Lupu
Vasile Valeriu Lupu
EJElena Jechel
Elena Jechel
CMCristina Maria Mihai
Cristina Maria Mihai
EMElena Cristina Mitrofan
Elena Cristina Mitrofan
ALAncuta Lupu
Ancuta Lupu
IIIleana katerina Ioniuc
Ileana katerina Ioniuc
Celiac disease (CD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are two diseases intensively studied in all age groups, with an increasing incidence at the global level, possibly due to the increased awareness of the diseases and their accurate diagnosis and as a consequence of the new research and innovation technologies that have appeared in medicine. The first is a controllable condition found in approximately 1% of the entire population in the form of a reaction to environmental stimuli affecting individuals with genetic susceptibility, causing gluten intolerance, gastrointestinal and extradigestive symptoms, starting from subclinical stages and culminating in severe malabsorption. On the other hand, lupus is an autoimmune disease with chameleon-like symptoms and found mainly in the female sex, which leaves its clinical mark on most organs, from the skin, eyes, and kidneys to the cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, osteoarticular, and hematological systems. Current studies focus on the correlation between celiac disease and other autoimmune pathologies such as autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto and Graves–Basedow), type I diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The current review aims to present a summary of the data from the specialized literature regarding the intercurrents between celiac disease and lupus by analyzing the most recent studies published on PubMed.

31 October 2024 in Antioxidants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IIIleana katerina Ioniuc
Ileana katerina Ioniuc
ALAncuta Lupu
Ancuta Lupu
FDFelicia Dragan
Felicia Dragan
ITIrina Tarnita
Irina Tarnita
MAMonica Mihaela Alexoae
Monica Mihaela Alexoae
AAALICE NICOLETA AZOICAI
ALICE NICOLETA AZOICAI
Within the pediatric population, bronchial asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic respiratory system diseases. The number of exacerbations, severity, and duration of symptoms all have a significant impact on children’s life quality. In the last decades, the prevention and management strategies of this pathology have focused on maintaining or even increasing the pulmonary function to maximum levels in early childhood, as it has been demonstrated that functional deficits at this level occurring before school age cause pathological manifestations later, in adulthood. The epithelium of the airways and implicitly that of the lung is the first barrier against the lesions caused by pro-oxidative factors. Both oxidative and antioxidative factors can be of endogenous origin (produced by the body) or exogenous (from the environment or diet). Good functioning of antioxidant defense mechanisms from the molecular level to the tissue level, and a balance between pro-oxidative factors and anti- oxidative factors, influence the occurrence of compensatory mechanisms at the level of the respiratory epithelium, causing the delay of local responses to the stress induced by chronic inflammation (bronchial remodeling, thickening of airway smooth muscles, bronchoconstriction, bronchial hyper-reactivity). These mechanisms underlie the pathophysiological changes in asthma. Numerous studies carried out among the pediatric population inclusively have demonstrated the effectiveness of antioxidants in the prophylaxis, slowing down and preventing the progression of this pathology. This review complements the scientific articles, aiming at emphasizing the complexity of oxidative physio-pathological pathways and their importance in the occurrence, development, and therapeutic response in asthma, providing a good understanding of the relationship between oxidative and antioxidative factors, and being a source of future therapeutic strategies.

30 August 2023 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
VLVasile Valeriu Lupu
Vasile Valeriu Lupu
EJElena Jechel
Elena Jechel
SFSilvia Fotea
Silvia Fotea
IMIonela Daniela Morariu
Ionela Daniela Morariu
ISIULIANA MAGDALENA STARCEA
IULIANA MAGDALENA STARCEA
IIIleana katerina Ioniuc
Ileana katerina Ioniuc
Asthma and adolescence are two sensitive points and are difficult to manage when they coexist. The first is a chronic respiratory condition, with frequent onset in early childhood (between 3 and 5 years), which can improve or worsen with age. Adolescence is the period between childhood and adulthood (12–19 years), marked by various internal and external conflicts and a limited capacity to understand and accept any aspect that is delimited by the pattern of the social circle (of the entourage) frequented by the individual. Therefore, the clinician is faced with multiple attempts regarding the management of asthma encountered during the adolescent period, starting from the individualization of the therapy to the control of compliance (which depends equally on the adverse reactions, quality of life offered and support of the close circle) and the social integration of the subject, communication probably having a more important role in the monitoring and evolution of the condition than the preference for a certain therapeutic scheme. Current statistics draw attention to the increase in morbidity and mortality among children with bronchial asthma, an aspect demonstrated by the numerous hospitalizations recorded, due either to an escalation in the severity of this pathology or to faulty management. The purpose of this article is to review the delicate aspects in terms of controlling symptoms and maintaining a high quality of life among teenagers.

5 March 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAnca Adam-Raileanu
Anca Adam-Raileanu
ANAlin Horatiu Nedelcu
Alin Horatiu Nedelcu
MCMitica Ciorpac
Mitica Ciorpac
CACarmen Rodica Anton
Carmen Rodica Anton
ALAncuta Lupu
Ancuta Lupu
VLVasile Valeriu Lupu
Vasile Valeriu Lupu
Background/Objectives: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) represents a model of adverse intrauterine programming associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders later in life. We examined the relationships between birth weight, catch-up growth, adipokine signaling, and early cardiometabolic risk in adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 80 term-born adolescents (40 FGR, 40 controls) matched for age and sex. Anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose, adipokines (leptin, adiponectin), and ghrelin levels were assessed. Associations between birth weight, growth rate, adipokines, and cardiometabolic outcomes were analyzed. Results: Birth weight was not associated with adiposity, lipid profile, blood pressure, or glycemic status (p > 0.05). In contrast, catch-up growth in the FGR group was correlated with increased BMI (ρ = 0.680, p < 0.001), central adiposity (ρ = 0.714, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (ρ = 0.448, p = 0.0037) and diastolic blood pressure (ρ = 0.325, p = 0.0409). Mediation analyses showed that the current BMI largely explains the associations between catch-up growth and cardiometabolic risk, systolic blood pressure, and waist circumference (β = 2.832 kg/m2 per 1-unit increase in ΔZ; p < 0.001). The hypertensive effect of catch-up growth was amplified in overweight/obese adolescents (β = 8.13 mmHg; p = 0.006). Catch-up growth was independently associated with higher leptin (β = 220 ng/L; p = 0.022) and a higher leptin/ghrelin ratio (β = 2.330; p = 0.034). Conclusions: Postnatal growth acceleration, rather than fetal size alone, drives early cardiometabolic susceptibility following FGR through adiposity-mediated and endocrine pathways.

12 June 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ALAncuta Lupu
Ancuta Lupu
EAEmil Anton
Emil Anton
MSMaria Oana Săsăran
Maria Oana Săsăran
ITIrina Tarnita
Irina Tarnita
IIIleana katerina Ioniuc
Ileana katerina Ioniuc
VLVasile Valeriu Lupu
Vasile Valeriu Lupu
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, driven by genetic susceptibility and modulated by environmental factors, notably the gut microbiome. Dysbiosis, manifested as reduced microbial diversity, perturbations in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and compromised short-chain fatty acid production, contributes to T1D pathogenesis through mechanisms involving immune system dysregulation and heightened intestinal permeability. Emerging evidence indicates a relationship between the gut and oral microbiomes, as well as the potential influence of the virome and mycobiome. This narrative review synthesizes the current literature on the intricate interplay between the gut microbial ecosystem, the host immune response, and the development of T1D, highlighting the potential for targeted microbiome-based interventions to ameliorate disease progression. A more nuanced understanding of these multi-kingdom interactions is essential for developing precise therapeutic strategies to prevent or delay T1D onset and to improve patient outcomes through restoration of immune tolerance and gut homeostasis.