Publications by authors named "Toma V"

Background/aim: L. () is an aromatic medicinal species with important nutraceutical potential, having rosmarinic acid (RA) as one of its main metabolites. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of an extract obtained from the leaves of this species and of its main metabolite in improving the streptozotocin-induced damage of hearts and aorta of diabetic rats.

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Curcumin is among the most well-studied natural substances, known for its biological actions within the central nervous system, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and human health benefits. However, challenges persist in effectively utilising curcumin, addressing its metabolism and passage through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in therapies targeting cerebrovascular diseases. Current challenges in curcumin's applications revolve around its effects within neoplastic tissues alongside the development of intelligent formulations to enhance its bioavailability.

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The use of Raman spectroscopy, particularly surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), offers a powerful tool for analyzing biochemical changes in biofluids. This study aims to assess the modifications occurring in saliva collected from patients before and after exposure to cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. SERS analysis revealed significantly amplified spectra in post-imaging samples compared to pre-imaging samples, with pronounced intensification of thiocyanate and opiorphin bands, which, together with proteins, dominated the spectra.

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Bone regeneration is a highly dynamic and complex process that involves hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal cells, collagen fibers, non-collagenous proteins and biomolecules from extracellular matrices, and different cytokines and immune cells, as well as growth factors and hormones. Some phytochemicals due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects can modulate the bone signaling pathways and improve bone healing and thus can be a good candidate for osteoregeneration. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of L.

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In addition to the course of over 20 years of cucurbit-7-uril (CB[7]) in the pharmaceutical industry, the present study brings together the most recent observations from the perspective of ultrasensitive Raman spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory (DFT) related to the interaction of this molecule with atenolol (Ate) enantiomers during the formation of these host-guest complexes. Quantum chemistry calculations based on DFT were first used to understand the interaction geometry between CB[7] and Ate. These results were further confirmed by ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopy.

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Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with obesity and may be exacerbated by the lack of vitamin D3.

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 administration in female rats with PCOS and prolonged high fat diet (HFD).

Methods: Forty-four female Wistar rats, 180-200 g, 10 weeks old, were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n=22) that received a single dose intramuscular injection of: sesame oil (group I), or estradiol valerate (5 mg) in sesame oil (group II).

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Medicinal plants are a valuable reservoir of novel pharmacologically active compounds. ROS and free radicals are primary contributors to oxidative stress, a condition associated with the onset of degenerative diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, and vascular disease. In this study, we used different spectrophotometry methods to demonstrate the antioxidant properties of 6 extracts: ; ; : Arieș red cultivar of , and white variety of ; ; and subsp.

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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the sixth most common cancer in men and is often asymptomatic, leading to incidental detection in advanced disease stages that are associated with aggressive histology and poorer outcomes. Various cancer biomarkers are found in urine samples from patients with RCC. In this study, we propose to investigate the use of Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) on dried urine samples for distinguishing RCC.

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Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare, hypervascular neuroendocrine neoplasms that can lead to significant complications during surgical resection due to the high risk of bleeding. We present the case of a 64-year-old male with a palpable neck mass on the left side, diagnosed as a CBT through imaging studies. Given the tumor's increasing size and rich vascularization, percutaneous preoperative embolization with Onyx under ultrasound and angiographic guide, was performed to minimize intraoperative complications.

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Article Synopsis
  • Protein-energy wasting and inflammation are significant risks for complications in patients undergoing hemodialysis, leading the study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (PINI) as a screening tool for these issues.
  • A 12-month study with 102 adult maintenance hemodialysis patients showed that a PINI score of < 1 was normal, with 64.7% of patients scoring normal and 35.3% scoring ≥ 1, which correlated with higher levels of inflammation markers like CRP.
  • The results indicated that patients with a higher PINI score faced more acute events (such as COVID-19 infections) during the follow-up, suggesting that the PINI can accurately identify
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of resident dentists and new graduates regarding the etiology, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the main medical emergency conditions. The study included a sample of 152 new graduates and residents in the first, second, and third year of training in Prosthodontics and General Dentistry from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi, Romania. Their level of knowledge and the attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire with 24 questions, divided into four sections.

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The advent of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has enabled the exploration and detection of small molecules, particularly in biological fluids such as serum, blood plasma, urine, saliva, and tears. SERS has been proposed as a simple diagnostic technique for various diseases, including cancer. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) ranks as the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and is often asymptomatic, with detection occurring incidentally.

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The intricate cooperation between cancer cells and nontumor stromal cells within melanoma microenvironment (MME) enables tumor progression and metastasis. We previously demonstrated that the interplay between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and melanoma cells can be disrupted by using long-circulating liposomes (LCLs) encapsulating prednisolone phosphate (PLP) (LCL-PLP) that inhibited tumor angiogenesis coordinated by TAMs. In this study, our goal was to improve LCL specificity for protumor macrophages (M2-like (i.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hairy willowherb (EH) is a plant native to Europe and Asia, known for its use in folk medicine in Romania, where it includes 17 species.
  • This study explored EH's anti-inflammatory properties using Wistar rats and found that its optimized extract had effects similar to indomethacin, a common anti-inflammatory drug.
  • The research also tested EH's antitumor effects on Swiss albino mice with a specific type of cancer, showing the extract reduced tumor-related inflammation and markers of oxidative stress, suggesting its potential as a natural therapeutic option.
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This study delves into the intricate interaction between DNA and nanosystems, exploring its potential implications for biomedical applications. The focus lies in understanding the adsorption geometry of DNA when in proximity to plasmonic nanoparticles, utilizing ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopy techniques. Employing a combined Raman-SERS analysis, we conducted an in-depth examination to clarify the molecular geometry of interactions between DNA and silver nanoparticles.

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TMAO, a gut microbiota derived byproduct, has been associated with various cardiometabolic diseases by promoting oxidative stress and inflammation. The liver is the main organ for TMAO production and chronic exposure to high doses of TMAO could alter its function. In this study, we evaluated the effect of chronic exposure of high TMAO doses on liver oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among middle-aged and elderly populations, highlighting the need for potential treatments.
  • A study analyzed the effects of a leaf extract (BPE) rich in polyphenols and flavonoids on rats with induced AD, assessing both behavioral changes and biochemical markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
  • Results indicated that BPE reduced brain inflammation, lipid peroxidation, and improved cognitive function, suggesting its potential therapeutic benefits for AD.
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Background And Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a growing global concern with an increasing incidence rate. The intestinal microbiota has been identified as a potential culprit in modulating the effects of antitumoral drugs. We aimed to assess the impact of adding Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotic to regorafenib in mice with HCC.

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Apoptosis, the most extensively studied type of cell death, is known to play a crucial role in numerous processes such as elimination of unwanted cells or cellular debris, growth, control of the immune system, and prevention of malignancies. Defective regulation of apoptosis can trigger various diseases and disorders including cancer, neurological conditions, autoimmune diseases and developmental disorders. Knowing the nuances of the cell death type induced by a compound can help decipher which therapy is more effective for specific diseases.

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Oxidative stress is linked to a series of diseases; therefore, the development of efficient antioxidants might be beneficial in preventing or ameliorating these conditions. Based on the structure of a previously reported compound with good antioxidant properties and on computational studies, we designed several catechol derivatives with enhanced antioxidant potential. The compounds were synthesized and physicochemically characterized, and their antioxidant activity was assessed through different antiradical, electron transfer and metal ions chelation assays, their electrochemical behavior and cytotoxicity were studied.

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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and is asymptomatic, being detected mostly incidentally. The apparition of symptoms correlates with advanced disease, aggressive histology, and poor outcomes. The development of the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technique opened the way for investigating and detecting small molecules, especially in biological liquids such as serum or blood plasma, urine, saliva, and tears, and was proposed as a simple technique for the diagnosis of various diseases, including cancer.

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Cancer still represents one of the biggest challenges in current medical practice. Among different types of cancer, oral cancer has a huge impact on patients due to its great visibility, which is more likely to create social stigma and increased anxiety. New early diagnose methods are still needed to improve treatment efficiency and patients' life quality.

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Raman spectroscopy recently proved a tremendous capacity to identify disease-specific markers in various (bio)samples being a non-invasive, rapid, and reliable method for cancer detection. In this study, we first aimed to record vibrational spectra of salivary exosomes isolated from oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients and healthy controls using surface enhancement Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Then, we assessed this method's capacity to discriminate between malignant and non-malignant samples by means of principal component-linear discriminant analysis (PC-LDA) and we used area under the receiver operating characteristics with illustration as the area under the curve to measure the power of salivary exosomes SERS spectra analysis to identify cancer presence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is gaining traction in clinical diagnosis and pathology, allowing for real-time monitoring of disease biomarkers in bodily fluids.
  • Advances in micro/nanotechnology are enhancing the capabilities of SERS, with potential applications across multiple scientific fields, including medicine and environmental science.
  • The review discusses the current state of SERS technology, particularly the use of ZnO-based substrates, highlighting its progress towards practical clinical applications for early neurodegenerative disease diagnosis by addressing existing challenges in biomarker detection.
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Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall involving inflammation, redox imbalance, and impaired cholesterol transport. A high level of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) produced by meat and fat metabolism are involved in atherosclerosis development, but the exact relationship with inflammation is not completely clear. The study aimed to identify a possible association between TMAO; atherosclerotic changes in the aortic root; oxidative stress; and inflammation quantified by highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) levels.

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