Raluca-Ioana Dascalu

Dr. Raluca-Ioana Dascalu


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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30 April 2026 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GIGabriela Ivanov
Gabriela Ivanov
MIMadalina Ilie
Madalina Ilie
GCGabriel Constantinescu
Gabriel Constantinescu
PCPavel Christopher
Pavel Christopher
DGDeniz Gunsahin
Deniz Gunsahin
AMAnca Monica Macovei-Oprescu
Anca Monica Macovei-Oprescu
Background/Objectives: Post-surgical gastrointestinal fistulas represent severe complications associated with significant morbidity and therapeutic challenges. Over-the-scope clipping systems have expanded endoscopic management options; however, data regarding the Padlock Clip™ in mixed populations of acute and chronic fistulas remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of the Padlock Clip™ in the endoscopic management of post-surgical gastrointestinal fistulas in a tertiary referral center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study including 28 adult patients treated with the Padlock Clip™ between January 2021 and December 2025. Technical success, clinical success, reintervention rates, and adverse events were assessed. Exploratory subgroup analyses were performed according to surgical etiology and fistula complexity. Results: Technical success was achieved in 25/28 patients (89.3%), and clinical success occurred in 23/28 cases (82.1%). Reintervention was required in seven patients (25.0%). Adverse events occurred in three patients (10.7%) and were limited to clip migration. The median follow-up duration was 6.5 months (range 3–32 months). Sleeve gastrectomy-related fistulas demonstrated lower technical success compared with non-sleeve cases (72.7% vs. 100%). Immediate technical success was associated with a trend toward improved clinical outcomes. Complex fistulas showed lower healing rates and higher reintervention frequency. Conclusions: The Padlock Clip™ is a feasible and safe option for endoscopic management of post-surgical gastrointestinal fistulas. Immediate technical success appeared to be associated with improved clinical outcomes and may represent a potential factor in achieving durable fistula closure. Complex fistulas and sleeve gastrectomy-related defects may require multimodal therapeutic approaches.

6 March 2024 in Gastroenterology Insights
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RDRaluca-Ioana Dascalu
Raluca-Ioana Dascalu
CGCONSTANTINESCU R GABRIEL
CONSTANTINESCU R GABRIEL
ASAlexandru Scafa-Udriste
Alexandru Scafa-Udriste
OPOana Mihaela Plotogea
Oana Mihaela Plotogea
VSVasile Sandru
Vasile Sandru
MIMadalina Ilie
Madalina Ilie
Colonic lipomas are relatively rare benign tumors which are composed of mature fat cells and occur most frequently in the large intestine. The occurrence of colonic lipomas in the transverse colon is relatively uncommon. Generally, colonic lipomas are asymptomatic, and many individuals might not experience any noticeable symptoms. Therefore, they are usually discovered incidentally during colonoscopy or as a result of diagnostic imaging prescribed for other reasons. The size and location of the lipoma could influence the clinical presentation. If symptoms occur, they include abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or gastrointestinal bleeding. The prognosis for colonic lipomas is generally excellent but it requires an individualized approach based on the specific characteristics of the tumor, the patient’s symptoms, and other clinical considerations. We report a case of a colonic intussusception caused by a colonic lipoma in an adult who underwent surgery, with an uneventful recovery.

15 June 2026 in Life
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
TCTeodor Cabel
Teodor Cabel
OPOana Mihaela Plotogea
Oana Mihaela Plotogea
MIMadalina Ilie
Madalina Ilie
VSVasile Sandru
Vasile Sandru
PCPavel Christopher
Pavel Christopher
MMMariana Mihaila
Mariana Mihaila
Background/Objectives: Cirrhosis is characterized by a fragile and unstable hemostatic balance, predisposing patients to both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications, particularly in the context of chronic liver disease (CLD). This dual risk presents significant challenges for clinical management and complicates therapeutic decisions. The objective of this study was to evaluate coagulation profiles in cirrhotic patients and their association with bleeding and thrombotic events, with the aim of identifying predictors of hemostatic complications. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with cirrhosis admitted to a tertiary liver transplant center between February 2022 and March 2024. Inclusion criteria required the availability of extended coagulation data in medical records. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were collected and analyzed to assess associations with thrombotic events and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Results: Fifty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria (mean age 53.4 ± 10.3 years), of whom 62.7% were male. UGIB occurred in 18.6% of patients, thrombotic events in 20.3%, and portal vein thrombosis in 16.9%. Routine coagulation parameters, including international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), did not demonstrate significant predictive value for either bleeding or thrombotic events. Conclusions: Patients with cirrhosis are simultaneously at risk for both bleeding and thrombosis, reflecting the fragile and complex nature of hemostatic regulation in advanced liver disease (ALD). Standard laboratory coagulation tests are inadequate for accurate risk stratification in this setting. These findings highlight the limitations of conventional coagulation tests and support the need for further studies evaluating advanced hemostatic assessment tools in patients with cirrhosis.

31 August 2026 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PCPavel Christopher
Pavel Christopher
APAna Maria Popa
Ana Maria Popa
MIMadalina Ilie
Madalina Ilie
OPOana Mihaela Plotogea
Oana Mihaela Plotogea
RDRaluca-Ioana Dascalu
Raluca-Ioana Dascalu
Alexandra Anamaria OaieAlexandra Anamaria Oaie
Alexandra Anamaria Oaie
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic immune-mediated condition with substantial global burden and rising incidence, requiring an expanding range of advanced therapies. This focused narrative review examines the mechanistic rationale, comparative clinical evidence, and translational implications of approved and emerging targeted therapies for adult IBD. A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for publications from January 2021 to March 2026. Thirty-eight articles were selected as the core evidence set with landmark trials and clinical guidelines added when needed for historical or practice context. Evidence was synthesised narratively, with an explicit distinction between direct head-to-head comparisons, placebo-controlled trials, indirect network comparisons, and observational data. In UC, VARSITY showed higher week-52 clinical remission and endoscopic improvement with vedolizumab than adalimumab; in CD after anti–tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) failure, SEQUENCE showed risankizumab noninferior to ustekinumab for week-24 clinical remission and superior for week-48 endoscopic remission. Agents targeting tumour necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) have shown encouraging activity in phase 2/2b trials, but long-term effectiveness and safety remain uncertain. The current evidence supports mechanism-informed rather than biomarker-defined treatment selection. Confidence in comparative conclusions is greatest when supported by direct randomised evidence, whereas observational and indirect comparisons require caution because of confounding, heterogeneity, and differences in populations and outcome definitions. Clinical translation therefore requires the integration of the disease phenotype, prior treatment exposure, safety risks, and patient preference, with objective reassessment after therapy initiation.

1 September 2026 in Gastroenterology Insights
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GIGabriela Ivanov
Gabriela Ivanov
MIMadalina Ilie
Madalina Ilie
OPOana Mihaela Plotogea
Oana Mihaela Plotogea
GCGabriel Constantinescu
Gabriel Constantinescu
PCPavel Christopher
Pavel Christopher
MBMircea Beuran
Mircea Beuran
Background/Objectives: Pancreatic metastases are uncommon and may resemble primary pancreatic neoplasms on imaging, making tissue confirmation essential. This study aimed to characterize pancreatic metastases diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) and to describe tissue adequacy within the confirmed cohort and procedure-related adverse events. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 21 patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic metastases diagnosed by EUS-FNB between January 2021 and November 2025. Clinical data, EUS features, procedural parameters, histopathological findings, management, and outcomes were reviewed. Results: The mean age was 60.9 ± 12.9 years, and 57.1% of patients were male. Lung carcinoma was the most frequent primary tumor (33.3%), followed by renal cell carcinoma (19.0%). Most lesions were solitary (66.7%) and hypoechoic (85.7%). All 21 patients included in the final cohort had histologically adequate EUS-FNB specimens; this finding reflects the selected cohort of confirmed metastatic cases and should not be interpreted as an overall adequacy rate or measure of diagnostic performance. The mean number of needle passes was 1.14 ± 0.36. One small, asymptomatic intrapancreatic hematoma occurred and resolved conservatively. Three selected patients underwent surgical resection and were alive without evidence of disease at last follow-up; however, no inference regarding a survival benefit from surgery can be made from this small, selected subgroup. Conclusions: In this cohort of histologically confirmed pancreatic metastases, EUS-FNB provided tissue suitable for pathological characterization, with immunohistochemical analysis performed when required to determine tumor origin. The present study was not designed to estimate overall diagnostic accuracy or adequacy. Surgical resection may be considered in carefully selected patients with isolated disease, as supported by the published literature; however, the present cohort does not permit assessment of a survival benefit associated with surgery.

12 November 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RDRaluca-Ioana Dascalu
Raluca-Ioana Dascalu
MIMadalina Ilie
Madalina Ilie
CTClaudiu Stefan Turculet
Claudiu Stefan Turculet
BBBogdan Valeriu Bogdan
Bogdan Valeriu Bogdan
CGCONSTANTINESCU R GABRIEL
CONSTANTINESCU R GABRIEL
OPOana Mihaela Plotogea
Oana Mihaela Plotogea
Introduction: The management of symptomatic peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs), including pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) and walled-off necrosis (WON), remains a clinical challenge. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of endoscopic drainage (lumen-apposing metal stent vs. double pigtail stent) and percutaneous drainage for PFCs. From an initial cohort of 75 patients with symptomatic PFCs between 2020 and 2025, 63 underwent drainage procedures. Primary endpoints were the clinical success, defined as >50% collection size reduction, and the need for direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN). Secondary endpoints included adverse events, recurrence rates, length of hospital stay (LOS), and procedural costs. Results: In our study, endoscopic drainage proved high clinical efficacy for PFCs, especially PPs. Once a technique was chosen, complication rates were comparable, indicating no clear safety advantage for either approach. While percutaneous drainage relieved symptoms and reduced collection size in half of the cases, the other half had only transient or partial improvement. When comparing endoscopic drainage techniques, median costs and length of hospital stay trended higher for lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) than double pigtail stent (DPS), but the differences were not statistically significant. However, the “other” group proved markedly higher costs and the longest mean hospital stay. Conclusions: The choice of drainage technique impacts short-term outcomes and safety profile in managing PFCs. Our findings support a tailored, step-up approach, prioritizing endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage based on PFC characteristics to optimize clinical outcomes.