Laura Andra Petrica

Ms. Laura Andra Petrica

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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29 October 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LSLucian Serbanescu
Lucian Serbanescu
SMSebastian Mirea
Sebastian Mirea
PIParis Ionescu
Paris Ionescu
LPLaura Andra Petrica
Laura Andra Petrica
IIIonut Ciprian Iorga
Ionut Ciprian Iorga
VRVadym Rotar
Vadym Rotar
Objective: This narrative review aims to summarize current evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical patterns, and therapeutic strategies for urinary incontinence in menopausal women. Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common, multifactorial condition that disproportionately affects women, with prevalence rising during pregnancy and post menopause. While stress urinary incontinence (SUI) predominates in younger and early postmenopausal women, urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) become increasingly prevalent with age and duration following menopause. Additional determinants, such as obesity, comorbidities, polypharmacy, and menopausal symptoms, burden further contribute to symptom severity and persistence. Materials and Methods: For the materials and methods, we used over 150 specialized studies and meta-analyses published in the specialized literature on this subject, of which 99 are mentioned in the bibliography of this narrative review. These materials are some of the most significant and up-to-date that address this complex topic. Content: This narrative review discusses the impact of menopause-related hormonal decline on the genitourinary tract, highlighting the role of estrogen deficiency in genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). It addresses distinct patterns of UI across life stages, including pregnancy and the early and late postmenopause periods, and explores modifiable risk factors such as body mass index. Specific attention is given to nocturnal incontinence, medication-related effects, and coital incontinence, which significantly impair sexual health and quality of life. Therapeutic strategies are presented in a stepwise manner: conservative measures (pelvic floor muscle training), hormonal approaches (local vaginal estrogen), combination regimens, and surgical interventions, including midurethral slings, colposuspension, bulking agents, and neuromodulatory techniques. Future perspectives: Emerging modalities such as balneotherapy and energy-based therapies show promise but require further investigation. Conclusions: Urinary incontinence in menopausal women is best addressed through an individualized, multimodal approach that integrates conservative, hormonal, minimally invasive, and surgical options. Combination therapies demonstrate superior efficacy in addressing both continence and GSM-related symptoms. Future research should refine patient selection, optimize multimodal treatment algorithms, and prioritize long-term outcomes and quality-of-life measures in clinical decision-making.

10 November 2025 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LPLaura Andra Petrica
Laura Andra Petrica
MDMariana Deacu
Mariana Deacu
Georgeta Camelia CozaruGeorgeta Camelia Cozaru
Georgeta Camelia Cozaru
AMAnca Mitroi
Anca Mitroi
GBGabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
Gabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
MAMariana Aşchie
Mariana Aşchie
Background: Cervical cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with limited therapeutic options for advanced disease. As we better understand the fine mechanisms involved in the interaction between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, new paths and opportunities will emerge. Recent evidence highlights the prognostic and predictive roles of immune checkpoint markers and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), especially CD8+ TILs, in shaping treatment outcomes. Objectives: This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs in 48 newly diagnosed, treatment-naive cervical cancer cases and analyzed their associations with clinicopathological features and survival outcomes. Results: In our cohort, we observed that PD-L1 positivity was identified in 68.8% of cases, most frequently in advanced FIGO stages and in tumors with lympho-vascular invasion or with a high proliferation rate evaluated by the Ki-67 index. High levels of intra-tumoral CD8+ TILs were observed in 52.1% of cases and correlated positively with stromal TILs, lower proliferation rates, and absence of vascular invasion. A significant inverse relationship was found between PD-L1 expression and the density of CD8+ TILs (p = 0.047). Survival analysis showed that patients exhibiting a “cold” immunophenotype with low levels of CD8+ TILs and PD-L1-positive tumors had worse outcomes, while high levels of CD8+ TILs played a protective role. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of the immunohistochemical assessment of PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs biomarkers, which have a complementary inter-relationship and have a significant prognostic impact on cervical squamous cell carcinoma. PD-L1 positivity marks aggressive disease features, while higher intra-tumoral CD8+ TIL density is protective. Their combined evaluation may improve patient stratification and inform immunotherapy strategies.

21 November 2025 in Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LPLaura Andra Petrica
Laura Andra Petrica
MDMariana Deacu
Mariana Deacu
Georgeta Camelia CozaruGeorgeta Camelia Cozaru
Georgeta Camelia Cozaru
GBGabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
Gabriela Izabela Bălţătescu
MAMariana Aşchie
Mariana Aşchie
Background and Clinical Significance: Warty (condylomatous) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix is a rare papillary variant of SCC, usually associated with good prognosis. Case Presentation: We report the clinical case of a postmenopausal woman with vaginal bleeding, anemia, and an enlarged, exophytic tumor mass protruding from the cervix. MRI showed a solid–necrotic cervical–uterine mass with invasion of bladder, rectum, both parametria, and the left ureter, with regional lymphadenopathy and FIGO IVA stage was established. Biopsies from the cervical tumor revealed invasive, well-differentiated SCC with conspicuous koilocytic atypia in superficial and deep nests, consistent with warty (condylomatous) SCC. Immunohistochemistry showed p16 overexpression, an intermediate nuclear proliferation rate, and a non-mutational pattern for p53 immunostaining. Radiotherapy was recommended but the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly and she died three months after initial diagnosis. Due to the rarity of this type of tumor, we conducted a search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to 31 July 2025 and we identified ten reports available for evaluation. A total of 32 cases were identified, usually with FIGO stage I or II, mostly with low-risk HPV infection and with good prognosis. Conclusions: The advanced stage and limited tolerance for therapy in this case emphasize the importance of HPV vaccination and HPV-based screening to prevent late, non-curable presentations. Accurate distinction from condyloma acuminatum and verrucous or papillary SCC is clinically relevant because management and outcomes differ. Since some of the cases reported in the literature had a worse clinical course, with shorter disease-free survival and overall survival, including our case, further research is mandatory in the future to unravel those features which might predict a poor outcome.