Cristina Annemari Popa

Dr. Cristina Annemari Popa


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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4 September 2025 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DCDaniela Crainic
Daniela Crainic
Roxana PopescuRoxana Popescu
Roxana Popescu
DVDaliborca Cristina Vlad
Daliborca Cristina Vlad
DSDaniela Vasilica Serban
Daniela Vasilica Serban
DPDaniel Popa
Daniel Popa
ATAna-Olivia Toma
Ana-Olivia Toma
Background and objectives: Antibiotic resistance in Cutibacterium acnes is undermining topical macrolides and clindamycin, prompting renewed interest in zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as non-antibiotic alternatives. We aimed to (i) determine the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory performance of topical ZnO-NP formulations across in vitro, animal and early human models; (ii) identify physicochemical parameters that modulate potency and tolerance; and (iii) delineate translational gaps and priority design elements for randomised trials. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science until 1 June 2025 for in vitro, animal and human studies that evaluated ≤100 nm ZnO-NPs applied topically to C. acnes cultures, extracting data on bacterial load, lesion counts, biophysical skin parameters and acute toxicity. Eight eligible investigations (five in vitro, two animal, one exploratory human) analysed particles 20–50 nm in diameter carrying mildly anionic zeta potentials. Results: Hyaluronic acid-coated ZnO-NPs achieved a sixteen-fold higher selective kill ratio over Staphylococcus epidermidis at 32 µg mL1, while centrifugally spun polyvinyl alcohol dressings reduced C. acnes burden by 3.1 log10 on porcine skin within 24 h, and plant-derived nanogels generated inhibition zones that were 11% wider than benzoyl-peroxide’s 5%. In human subjects, twice-daily 0.5% hyaluronic–ZnO nanogel cut inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four and lowered transepidermal water loss without erythema. Preclinical safety was reassuring, zero mortality among animals at 100 µg mL1 and no irritation among patients, although high-dose sunscreen-grade ZnO (20 nm) delayed rat wound closure by 38%, highlighting dose-dependent differences. Conclusions: Collectively, the evidence indicates that nanoscale reformulation markedly augments zinc’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory performance while maintaining favourable acute tolerance, supporting progression to rigorously designed, adequately powered randomised trials that will benchmark ZnO-NPs against benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, optimise dosing for efficacy versus phototoxicity, and establish long-term dermatological safety.

22 October 2025 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DHDenisa Hinoveanu
Denisa Hinoveanu
EIEnatescu Ileana
Enatescu Ileana
CDCatalin Dumitru
Catalin Dumitru
PMPatricia Octavia Mazilu
Patricia Octavia Mazilu
DPDaniel Popa
Daniel Popa
AGAdrian Gluhovschi
Adrian Gluhovschi
Background: Adolescent depressive and anxiety symptoms may erode motivation and problem-solving needed for timely contraception, while online information quality is uneven. We synthesized evidence linking mental health, contraceptive knowledge/access, and teen pregnancy risk. Methods: Following PRISMA-2020, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to 7 July 2025 for primary studies including adolescents that measured validated mental health symptoms or psychiatric settings and reported contraceptive knowledge/access/behavior and/or teen pregnancy outcomes. Two reviewers screened/extracted data; risk of bias was appraised with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and ROBINS-I. Given heterogeneity, we conducted narrative synthesis. Results: Six U.S.-based studies met the criteria, spanning community colleges, a national cohort, school surveillance, psychiatric inpatient care, and pediatric emergency departments (samples: n = 143 to weighted N = 29,755). Depressive symptoms were associated with contraception access (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% CI 1.27–1.96) and anxiety/stress with similar risk (aOR 1.46, 1.17–1.82). A first depressive episode in the same year as sexual debut increased teenage pregnancy hazard (adjusted hazard ratio 2.70, 1.15–6.34). School surveillance showed mental health indicators correlated with contraception non-use at last sex (odds ratios 1.78–2.71). Among psychiatric inpatients, not knowing where to obtain contraception and access difficulties strongly predicted interest in information (aOR 2.96–3.33) and initiation (aOR 2.85–4.72). In a pediatric emergency department trial, same-day initiation occurred in 26.8% versus 3.1% under usual care. Conclusions: Evidence directly linking adolescent mental health symptoms to teen pregnancy is limited (one study), whereas multiple studies show associations with contraception knowledge/access and delayed or non-use, suggesting plausible indirect pathways to pregnancy risk. These findings support hypothesis-generating, integrated approaches and highlight the need for studies with teen pregnancy endpoints.

15 August 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAlina Simona Abu-Awwad
Alina Simona Abu-Awwad
Ahmed Abu-AwwadAhmed Abu-Awwad
Ahmed Abu-Awwad
SFSimona Sorina Farcaș
Simona Sorina Farcaș
CPCristina Annemari Popa
Cristina Annemari Popa
PTPaul TUȚAC
Paul TUȚAC
NANicoleta Andreescu
Nicoleta Andreescu
Background/Objectives: Chronic low-grade inflammation drives cardiometabolic risk; functional SNPs may influence individual cytokine and hematologic phenotypes. We investigated genotype-specific relationships between circulating immuno-inflammatory biomarkers and routine blood indices in apparently healthy adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 155 fasting volunteers (26–72 years) were genotyped for IL1RN rs1149222 and TNF-proximal rs2071645. Serum IL-1β, TNF-α, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified by ELISA, and complete blood counts were recorded simultaneously. Genotype effects were tested with ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis; Spearman correlations and age-, sex-, BMI-adjusted linear models explored genotype-stratified associations. Results: Among 155 adults, IL1RN rs1149222 significantly affected IL-1β (TT > TG ≈ GG; ANOVA p = 0.042) and oxLDL (overall p = 0.036), with the clearest difference between heterozygotes and major-allele homozygotes. The same variant produced a modest fall in erythrocyte count and hemoglobin restricted to heterozygotes (RBC p = 0.036; Hb p = 0.041). TNF-proximal rs2071645 strongly raised TNF-α (GG > GA > AA; p < 0.0001) and led to a moderate oxLDL increase, driven by GA versus AA carriers (pairwise p = 0.013), while leaving red-cell indices and CRP unchanged. Baseline leukocyte counts, differentials and derived ratios showed no genotype dependence, and multivariable models revealed no epistatic interaction between the two loci. Conclusions: IL1RN rs1149222 and TNF-related rs2071645 generate two independent inflammatory signatures—an IL-1β-oxidative axis linked to mild erythropoietic suppression and a TNF-lipid axis without hematologic shift. Integrating targeted genotyping with inexpensive hematologic ratios may refine early risk stratification and guide tailored preventive strategies in ostensibly healthy populations.

15 June 2026 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MBMadalina Boruga
Madalina Boruga
Bratu Melania LaviniaBratu Melania Lavinia
Bratu Melania Lavinia
GPGeorge Puenea
George Puenea
DPDaniel Popa
Daniel Popa
CPCristina Annemari Popa
Cristina Annemari Popa
CSCristina Elena Savencu
Cristina Elena Savencu
Background and Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into healthcare management and pharmaceutical marketing workflows, yet determinants of AI adoption intention among non-clinical professionals remain under-studied in Central and Eastern Europe. This cross-sectional study quantified AI adoption intention (AAI) across three professional groups and examined its organizational, cognitive, attitudinal, and regulatory correlates. Methods: We surveyed 127 Romanian professionals (43 hospital administrators, 42 pharmaceutical marketing professionals, 42 community pharmacy managers) using a 46-item structured instrument. The instrument combined items adapted from UTAUT/TAM and organizational-readiness measures with study-specific AI-marketing, AI-literacy, and regulatory-literacy items; Analyses included ANOVA with Tukey HSD, Spearman correlations, age-adjusted OLS regression with HC3 robust standard errors, bootstrap indirect-effect analysis, moderation, exploratory k-means clustering, and exploratory logistic/ROC analysis. Results: AAI differed across groups: pharmaceutical marketing 4.33 ± 0.50, hospital administrators 3.39 ± 0.47, and pharmacy managers 2.88 ± 0.54; all pairwise Tukey contrasts p < 0.001. In the multivariable model (R2 = 0.833)—interpreted cautiously because conceptually related adoption constructs may overlap despite acceptable collinearity diagnostics—perceived usefulness, organizational readiness, and perceived ease of use were the strongest associated factors, while data governance concern was the main negative correlate. Perceived usefulness statistically accounted for 61.7% of the AI literacy–AAI indirect association, and regulatory literacy moderated the AI literacy–AAI association. An exploratory age-adjusted logistic model showed high within-sample discrimination for top-tertile AAI but should be interpreted as convergent validity among survey constructs rather than as a validated screening tool. Conclusions: AI adoption intention in Romanian medical management and pharmaceutical marketing is associated mainly with perceived usefulness and organizational readiness, tempered by data governance concern and regulatory knowledge. Longitudinal, multi-site, real-world implementation studies with external validation are needed.