Alexandru Gerdanovics

Dr. Alexandru Gerdanovics

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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14 October 2025 in Antioxidants
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AGAlexandru Gerdanovics
Alexandru Gerdanovics
ISIoana C. Stănescu
Ioana C. Stănescu
CMCamelia-Manuela Mîrza
Camelia-Manuela Mîrza
GDGabriela Dogaru
Gabriela Dogaru
CNCristina Nicula
Cristina Nicula
Adriana Elena BulboacăAdriana Elena Bulboacă
Adriana Elena Bulboacă
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, often triggered by atherothrombotic or embolic events. A growing body of evidence highlights the role of neuroinflammation as a central mechanism in post-stroke damage, influenced by modifiable systemic risk factors. Emerging evidence suggests that oxidative stress mediates the impact of several modifiable risk factors by activating redox-sensitive pathways (such as NF-κB), impairing nitric oxide bioavailability, and promoting matrix metalloproteinase activity that disrupts vascular integrity and contributes to ischemic injury. In this context, our meta-analysis examined major modifiable risk factors for ischemic stroke, with a particular focus on their shared ability to promote oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory cascades. By emphasizing these redox-dependent mechanisms, our work supports the biological plausibility of exploring antioxidant strategies as complementary approaches to mitigate stroke risk. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, atrial fibrillation, and transient ischemic attacks all contribute to oxidative damage through mechanisms such as endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and excessive free radical exposure. We searched PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, and Scopus for observational studies published within the last five years, identifying 23 studies (691,524 participants) meeting eligibility criteria. Using a random-effects model, we found significant associations between stroke risk and hypertension (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.28–1.94), smoking (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.28), type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.29–1.81), atrial fibrillation (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.28–2.75), and prior transient ischemic attack (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.24–2.11). These risk factors are known to contribute to systemic inflammation, potentially exacerbating neuroinflammatory cascades post-stroke. Despite limitations such as heterogeneity and low certainty of evidence, our findings reinforce the relevance of targeting inflammation-driven risk factors in stroke prevention strategies and future research.

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AGAndreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
Andreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
ȘSȘoimița Mihaela Suciu
Șoimița Mihaela Suciu
OOOlga Hilda Orasan
Olga Hilda Orasan
IPIoana Para
Ioana Para
Vladiana Romina TuriVladiana Romina Turi
Vladiana Romina Turi
ACAngela Cozma
Angela Cozma
Cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome represents an integrated clinical and molecular continuum encompassing metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. This multidimensional disorder arises from interdependent biological pathways that extend beyond conventional risk factors. Emerging evidence highlights a group of adipokines and vascular modulators—including retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), lipocalin 2 (LCN2), apolipoprotein M (ApoM), Klotho and matrix Gla protein (MGP)—emerging molecular modulators with potential involvement in CKM pathophysiology. Pro-inflammatory adipokines such as RBP4 and LCN2 contribute to insulin resistance, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. In contrast, protective molecules including ApoM and Klotho preserve nitric oxide bioavailability, lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense. MGP modulates vascular calcification and adipose remodeling, with its inactive form (dp-ucMGP) linked to vascular stiffness and renal decline. The combined dysregulation of these molecules sustains cycles of inflammation, oxidative stress and tissue remodeling that drive CKM progression. Collectively, current data support their dual role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Nonetheless, clinical translation remains limited, emphasizing the need for standardized assays, longitudinal validation, and integrative multimarker approaches within precision medicine frameworks for CKM syndrome.

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ABAlexandra Ina Bulboacă
Alexandra Ina Bulboacă
AGAlexandru Gerdanovics
Alexandru Gerdanovics
BBBogdan Andrei Borlea
Bogdan Andrei Borlea
ISIoana C. Stănescu
Ioana C. Stănescu
GDGabriela Dogaru
Gabriela Dogaru
Adriana Elena BulboacăAdriana Elena Bulboacă
Adriana Elena Bulboacă
Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling neurovascular disorder that represents a major global health burden due to its significant impact on quality of life and socioeconomic costs. Increasing evidence suggests that migraine pathophysiology involves complex interactions between neuronal hyperexcitability, vascular dysregulation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammatory processes. Oxidative and nitrosative stress are increasingly recognized as key contributors to migraine mechanisms, influencing mitochondrial dysfunction, cortical spreading depression, and trigeminovascular activation. Nitric oxide plays a central role in these processes by regulating vascular tone, nociceptive signaling, and neurogenic inflammation through downstream pathways such as the soluble guanylate cyclase–cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO–sGC–cGMP) signaling cascade. Dysregulation of nitric oxide signaling and increased oxidative stress may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and impaired cerebrovascular regulation observed in migraine patients. In addition, accumulating evidence highlights the role of neuroinflammatory mechanisms, including microglial activation and cytokine-mediated signaling, which may amplify nociceptive transmission within trigeminal pathways. Migraine is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder associated with several comorbid conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome. This review summarizes recent advances regarding the interactions between oxidative stress, nitric oxide signaling, endothelial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation in migraine and discusses their potential therapeutic implications.

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Anamaria-Vlăduța TomoiagăAnamaria-Vlăduța Tomoiagă
Anamaria-Vlăduța Tomoiagă
ȘSȘoimița Mihaela Suciu
Șoimița Mihaela Suciu
AGAndreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
Andreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
AGAlexandru Gerdanovics
Alexandru Gerdanovics
MMMircea Vasile Milaciu
Mircea Vasile Milaciu
OOOlga Hilda Orasan
Olga Hilda Orasan
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health burden characterized by progressive genetic and metabolic alterations, with iron metabolism being increasingly recognized as a key contributor to tumorigenesis. This review provides an integrated synthesis of current evidence on iron metabolism across the continuum of colorectal cancer development, from preneoplastic lesions to advanced disease. We analyzed data from epidemiological, experimental, and mechanistic studies addressing systemic and cellular iron homeostasis, including the hepcidin–ferroportin axis, as well as iron handling within tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Available data indicate that colorectal epithelial cells progressively develop an iron-retentive phenotype, characterized by increased iron uptake and reduced export, leading to expansion of the intracellular labile iron pool. This imbalance contributes to oxidative stress, DNA damage, metabolic adaptation, and activation of oncogenic signaling pathways while also influencing immune responses. However, epidemiological findings on dietary iron and CRC risk remain inconsistent, highlighting the context-dependent nature of iron-related effects. In conclusion, iron metabolism represents a dynamic regulator of CRC progression and a mechanistic framework for understanding stage-specific tumor evolution, although further studies are needed to clarify how iron-dependent pathways differ across colorectal tumor subtypes and microenvironmental contexts.

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CLCodruta Lencu
Codruta Lencu
AGAndreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
Andreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
OOOlga Hilda Orasan
Olga Hilda Orasan
Dana IancuDana Iancu
Dana Iancu
AGAlexandru Gerdanovics
Alexandru Gerdanovics
Teodora AlexescuTeodora Alexescu
Teodora Alexescu
Bisphenols and phthalates are ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemicals with potential effects on reproductive neuroendocrine regulation, particularly during sensitive developmental windows. This review summarizes current evidence on their exposure profile, mechanisms of reproductive disruption, and female- and male-specific reproductive adversities. A structured narrative review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, including experimental, epidemiological, biomonitoring, systematic review, and meta-analytic studies addressing bisphenols, phthalates, fertility, hormonal regulation, gametogenesis, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive toxicity mechanisms. Bisphenols and phthalates interfere with estrogenic and androgenic signaling, hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis regulation, steroidogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic regulation. Reported outcomes include impaired ovarian function, altered oocyte development, hormonal imbalance, reduced semen quality, defective spermatogenesis, sperm DNA damage, infertility, and adverse developmental or pregnancy-related effects. However, human evidence remains heterogeneous and limited by observational designs, exposure misclassification, residual confounding, and insufficient mixture assessment. Current evidence supports biological plausibility for bisphenol- and phthalate-related reproductive toxicity, but causal inference remains limited. Prospective studies with repeated biomonitoring, standardized reproductive endpoints, sex- and age-specific analyses, and improved mixture modeling are needed. A precautionary reduction in avoidable exposure appears reasonable, particularly during sensitive reproductive and developmental periods.

29 May 2026 in Diagnostics
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LCLorena Ciumărnean
Lorena Ciumărnean
AGAndreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
Andreea-Cezara Gerdanovics
OOOlga Hilda Orasan
Olga Hilda Orasan
AGAlexandru Gerdanovics
Alexandru Gerdanovics
NLNicoleta Valentina Leach
Nicoleta Valentina Leach
GDGabriela Dogaru
Gabriela Dogaru
Background and Clinical Significance: Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive variant of renal cell carcinoma, frequently associated with advanced-stage disease, early metastatic spread, and poor prognosis. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, particularly in tumors with sarcomatoid differentiation, they may also induce severe immune-related adverse events involving multiple organ systems. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation, previously treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and subsequently with pazopanib, who was admitted with severe dehydration, repeated vomiting, marked asthenia, lower-limb-predominant muscle weakness, and inability to maintain orthostatism. Laboratory investigations revealed severe hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and prerenal acute kidney injury. The patient had a previous history of severe endocrine immune-related toxicity, including autoimmune hypophysitis and hypothyroidism, which had led to discontinuation of immunotherapy. Following fluid resuscitation, electrolyte correction, and supportive treatment, the metabolic abnormalities resolved and renal function improved significantly. Given the severity of the muscle weakness, a possible immune-mediated neuromuscular adverse event was also considered, although hyperkalemia remained a plausible contributing factor. Conclusions: This case highlights the complex interplay between prior immune checkpoint inhibitor exposure, endocrine dysfunction, metabolic decompensation, and possible neuromuscular involvement in metastatic sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma. Early recognition, careful differential diagnosis, and multidisciplinary management are essential to prevent rapid clinical deterioration and optimize outcomes in patients with complex immune-related toxicities.