Mihnea-Alexandru Găman

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy | UMF CD · Faculty of Medicine

The diterpene lactone andrographolide, isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has been proven to possess several important protective biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, hypolipidemic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. In addition, it...

Several randomized clinical trials have investigated the effect of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on metabolic syndrome risk factors in adults. However, the results of these studies were conflicting. Therefore, our aim was to assess the effect of dietary AGEs on metabolic syndrome risk factors. We searched the PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus...

Background and aims During the last decades, there has been a burst of scientific literature hypothesizing the antioxidant effect of probiotics. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent and a final conclusion has yet to be reached. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of probiotic/synbiotic supplementation on serum t...

Context Some evidence has shown an association between maternal vitamin B12 levels and the development of preeclampsia in pregnant women, but the relationship between preeclampsia and vitamin B12 is not clear. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to compare serum vitamin B12 levels in women with preeclampsia with those in normotensive p...

Introduction: Secondary hypertension, e.g., drug-induced hypertension (DI-HTN), can occur in patients with solid/hematological cancers. However, the relationship between anticancer therapy and DI-HTN in classical Philadelphia-negative MPNs is unclear. Objective: Investigate this research question via a systematic review. Methods: Comprehensive sear...

Background: Crowdsourcing is a low-cost, adaptable, and innovative method to collect ideas from numerous contributors with diverse backgrounds. Crowdsourcing from social media like Twitter can be used for generating ideas in a noticeably brief time based on contributions from globally distributed users. The world has been challenged by the COVID-19...

Applications of Nanotechnology in Drug Discovery and Delivery, in the Drug Discovery Update series, presents complete coverage of the application of nanotechnology in the discovery of new drugs and efficient target delivery of drugs. The book highlights recent advances of nanotechnology applications in the biomedical sciences, starting with chapter...

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare syndrome that affects mostly soft tissues. It is characterized by calcium salt deposition in the periarticular soft tissue surrounding bony structures forming slow-growing, seldom asymptomatic masses. This case report describes a 41-year-old male with end-stage renal disease on home hemodialysis, who presented with an u...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is closely related to various adverse cardiovascular manifestations and increased cardiovascular risk. However, atrial fibrillation (AF) development and atrial conduction abnormalities have not been thoroughly studied in patients with PCOS. Methods: This meta-analysis (CRD42021261375) was conducted in ac...

Gender disparity is pervasive and persisting in research. Despite gender being recognized as one of the primary determinants of health, inadequate representation of women in clinical trials has resulted in a deficit pertaining to equity in health care. This gross underrepresentation has exposed women to unforeseen health‐related outcomes, and as ev...

Background and aims Dietary regimens are crucial in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The effects of intermittent fasting (IF) have gained attention in this regard, but further research is warranted. Thus, we aimed to ascertain the overall effects of the 5:2 IF diet (5 days a week of normal food intake and 2 consecutive f...

We introduce the first IJMS World Conference of Medical Student Research as a unique opportunity for medical students and early-career scientists around the globe to share the results of their research in an online worldwide platform, aimed at increasing accessibility to research for medical students and creating bonds of collaborations between par...

Background and aim The effect of transdermal 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate co-administration on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women remains controversial as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted to investigate this research question have produced conflicting results. Consequently, to clarify this issue, we conducted a syste...

Objective: Obesity is a known trigger for carcinogenesis and its involvement is proven in the development of solid and blood cancers. However, the involvement of obesity in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), namely polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), has not been assessed so far. Design and m...

Aim To compare the ability of anthropometric indices [waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), neck-to-height ratio (NHR), conicity index (CI), body adiposity index (BAI), tri-ponderal mass index (TMI) and body mass index (BMI)] and,measuerments like neck(NC), hip(HC) and waist circumferences to predict overweight and obesity in Iran...

Background and aim The impact of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate administration on serum lipids in women is controversial as previously published studies have produced conflicting results. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol plus noreth...

Although a concept discussed since the 1940s, epigenetics has been of real interest to the scientific community only in the past few decades. Epigenetics is defined as the totality of molecular pathways and processes that cause changes in the activity status of different genes without influencing the DNA structure of the cell genome. It is a physio...

Up to the present date, according to the official reports of the World Health Organization (WHO), 205,338,159 patients have been confirmed with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 4,333,094 have died as a consequence of this infectious disorder. The majority of COVID-19 patients will develop hematological, biochemical, immunological, hormonal an...

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken a tremendous toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of the Ukrainian people. Accordingly, medical trainees and institutions must adapt to a high degree of uncertainty and turmoil. The first medical school in Ukraine was the Collegium Medicum founded in 1773 in Lviv. With the fall of the Soviet Un...

The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) has emerged over the past decade as a critical platform for showcasing medical student innovation and experiences. Though the work of trainees has historically been undervalued and over scrutinized, the IJMS is committed to highlighting the immense capacity for novel and robust research in this c...

Infrared radiation (IR) is a promising complementary treatment for musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain. By means of a systematic review, we evaluated the contribution of IR to the management of these ailments. PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library–Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched until 20 De...

Objectives Despite the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients and physicians alike, there is no accurate evidence regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation on treatment-induced pain in cancer patients. Thus, the aim of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the impact of...

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory dermatosis characterized by the appearance of erythematous plaques, covered by white scales, occasionally pruritogenic, and distributed mainly on the extensor areas. Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance or a transient or chronic increase in the levels of free oxygen/nitrogen radicals, eith...

Background and aim The exact effect of vitamin D administration on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women is unknown. However, as dyslipidemia is a recognized risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in this population, the lipid-lowering effects of vitamin D need to be explored Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of ran...

Advances in Nutrition Reviewer Acknowledgments Extract: We thank the following individuals for taking the time necessary to evaluate original manuscripts. Anonymous, conscientious, fair, and timely peer review is the lifeblood of the journal. Frances Aboud Steven Abrams James Adam Sean H. Adams Monica Agarwal Noha Ahmed Nasef Rand Talal Akash...

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignant neoplastic diseases. The incidence and mortality rates of this disease vary depending on geographical area, which might be explained by the different exposure to risk factors. To improve the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer, different approaches are needed for an earlier diagnosi...

Very little has been said about young scientists publishing in Journals that are led and carried forward by medical students or recently graduated physicians themselves. What has been said, however, is not always supportive. For some, these Journals should not exist, arguing that medical student research is for the sole purpose of training or...

Background and aim The effect of tamoxifen administration on serum lipids in females remains unclear. The studies which have explored this topic have produced conflicting results, probably due to discrepancies in the length of the intervention, differences in baseline variables or other factors. To answer this research question, we decided to condu...

Background and Objectives: Polypharmacy is associated with drug–drug or food–drug interactions that may pose treatment difficulties. The objective of the study was to investigate the use of polypharmacy in hypertensive patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Clinic of a European referral hospital. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retros...

Leprosy, also called as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae . This bacterial infection mostly affects the mucous membranes and the peripheral nerves of the body. Leprosy can also lead to skin discoloration. The main mode of transmission of M. leprae is prolonged social contact with an untreated or affected pers...

Background and aim: The menopause is associated in females with the presence of dysglycemia, insulin resistance and with the development of endothelial dysfunction. Tibolone (TIB) is a synthetic steroid compound with selective oestrogenic and, to a lesser extent, progestogenic and androgenic properties prescribed to postmenopausal women to allevia...

Dengue fever (DF) has been classified as a tropical disease that is caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dengue is a typical example of an infectious disease in which the first symptoms occur four to six days after the insect's bite, but may develop even after two weeks after the event. Symptoms of DF inclu...

Background & Objective The identification of pediatric obesity predictors in the early stages of life is warranted, as it can influence the development of effective strategies to prevent metabolic disorders. Methods In this case-control study, we assessed nine risk factors for pediatric obesity, namely a birth weight >4000 grams, an exclusive brea...

Statins have been used as adjuvants to standard treatment in order to increase the eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori infection. This study aimed to summarize the results of the efficacy of adding statins to standard treatments used for the eradication of H. pylori infection. We conducted a systematic search using a comprehensive combination...

PurposeTo assess serum vitamin D trend from baseline to 12 months after one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).Materials and Methods In this observational cohort analysis of longitudinal data, we assessed the trend of serum vitamin D, and its associations with anthropometric, and biochemical measurements in 98 patients undergoing OAGB in a bariatric...

Introduction: In recent years, the use of liquid biopsy in solid and blood cancers has become an interesting option in the fi eld of cancer diagnostics and cancer management. However, the potential applications of liquid biopsy have not been assessed in BCR-ABL1- negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Objective: To investigate the potenti...

Introduction: Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare BCR- ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by excessive production of platelets. Cardiovascular comorbidities, including chronic heart failure (HF), pose signifi cant challenges in the management of ET. Polypharmacy, defi ned as the prescription of 5 or more drugs daily, a...

Introduction Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by excessive production of platelets. Cardiovascular comorbidities, including chronic heart failure (HF), pose significant challenges in the management of ET. Polypharmacy, defined as the prescription of 5 or more drugs daily, and the r...

Introduction In recent years, the use of liquid biopsy in solid and blood cancers has become an interesting option in the field of cancer diagnostics and cancer management. However, the potential applications of liquid biopsy have not been assessed in BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Objective To investigate the potential app...

Background and aims Guar gum can be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, based on data from different studies, the effectiveness of this product is not uniform. Therefore, we conducted a dose-response meta-analysis between guar gum supplementation and lipid profile. Methods and Results Five databases (Scopus, Web of Scien...

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as an impairment of glucose tolerance, manifested by hyperglycemia, which occurs at any stage of pregnancy. GDM is more common in the third trimester of pregnancy and usually disappears after birth. It was hypothesized that the glycemic status of the mother can modulate liver development and growth ear...

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are rare, clonal disorders of the hematopoietic stem cell in which an uncontrolled proliferation of terminally differentiated myeloid cells is noted. Polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are included in the category of Philadelphia-negative, so-called classical MP...

Estradiol, an estrogen steroid hormone, serves as the dominant female hormone and its levels fluctuate during lifetime. In women, after the menopause, all estrogens and almost all androgens are locally developed in the peripheral tissues from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). However, the effect of DHEA supplementation on estradiol levels in women is...

Background Soy milk contains some beneficial components such as isoflavones which can exert favorable effects on the cardiovascular health. The current study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the potential effects of soy milk consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults. Methods Relevant articles published up to June 2020 were systematica...

Background: Type 2 diabetes (adult onset diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for around 90% of all diabetes cases with insulin resistance and insulin secretion defect. The key goal of anti-diabetic therapy is to increase the development of insulin, immunity and/or decrease the amount of blood glucose. While many synthetic com...

The open innovation hub Digital Health and Patient Safety Platform (DHPSP) was recently established with the purpose to invigorate collaborative scientific research and the development of new digital products and personalized solutions aiming to improve human health and patient safety. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a Twitter-base...

Dyslipidemia is a significant threat to public health worldwide and the identification of its pathogenic mechanisms, as well as novel lipid-lowering agents, are warranted. Magnesium (Mg) is a key element to human health and its deficiency has been linked to the development of lipid abnormalities and related disorders, such as the metabolic syndrome...

Inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of a myriad of chronic disorders. This systematic review and meta‐analysis was designed to determine the effects of Nigella Sativa (NS) seed and seed oil consumption on several biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. The Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed‐MEDLINE databases...

Objective: The adipose tissue is involved in the generation of oxidative stress in obese subjects via production of adipokines which are a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Low-grade chronic inflammation and the depletion in antioxidants encountered in obese subjects are also involved in the crosstalk between oxidative stress and obesity. W...

Objective: Gender differences may exist in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients, but little research has been conducted on this topic so far, mainly because women are underrepresented in clinical trials. The addition of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to HFrEF might have an influence on gender differences as well. Our obje...

Objective: Polypharmacy (prescription of minimum 5 drugs/day) is often encountered in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients due to their high number of comorbidities. Thus, a vicious cycle is born: the prescription of more drugs can lead to drug-drug (DDI) or food-drug interactions (FDI) and adverse effects mistakenly considered new comorbidities...

Objective: According to practice guidelines, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients should receive combination therapy. Diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), beta-blockers (BB) and digoxin are employed in HFrEF treatment. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D...

Inconsistencies exist with regard to influence of tibolone treatment on the lipid profile. The reasons for these inconsistencies might derive from several factors, i.e., differences in baseline variables, intervention duration, participants’ health status or baseline body mass index (BMI). To address these inconsistencies, based on a systematic sea...

Dyslipidemia/hyperlipidemia is recognized among the risk factors for lifestyle related diseases. A healthy diet, rich in vegetable oils such as rice bran oil (RBO), may aid to improve serum lipid levels. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of rice bran oil (RBO) consumption on serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemia is considered as a major risk factor for the development of a myriad of chronic diseases. We examined the association between the dietary insulinaemic potential and the odds of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among Iranian adults. Methods: After being subjected to a liver ultrasound, 166 patients with NAFL...

Hepatic disease accounts for approximately 2 million deaths/year worldwide. Liver fibrosis, as the last stage of numerous chronic liver diseases, is one of the most relevant prognostic factors. The liver biopsy with the histopathological examination is considered to be the “gold standard” for the identification and staging of the hepatic fibrosis....

There is robust evidence that the appropriate treatment of dyslipidaemia substantially reduces cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality. Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator that also interferes with the lipid metabolism and may be of aid in the management of lipid abnormalities in females. Therefore, we conducted a...

Annona muricata, a tropical plant which has been extensively used in ethnomedicine to treat a wide range of diseases, from malaria to cancer. Interestingly, this plant has been reported to demonstrate significant antiviral properties against the human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, hepatitis C virus and dengue...

Objective: Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have investigated the effects of the Paleolithic diet (PD) in adult patients suffering from metabolic disorders. However, the results of these RCTs are conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of the PD in patients with metabolic disorders....

Annona muricata, a tropical plant variety has been extensively used in ethnomedicine to treat a wide range of diseases, from malaria to cancer. The plant has been reported to demonstrate significant antiviral properties against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, Human Papilloma Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Dengue virus. Additio...

Background: A potential relationship between depression and the intake of dietary fiber has been hypothesized in several studies. However, no meta-analysis has been conducted so far to explore the association between these two variables. Hence, we designed the present meta-analysis to elucidate the relationship between the intake of dietary fiber a...

"Introduction. Prostate cancer is currently the second most frequent malignancy in males with nearly 1.4 million new cases every year. Hematuria, hemospermia, discomfort in the hypogastrium, urinary incontinence and incomplete evacuation of the bladder are some of the non-specific symptoms it associates. Acute kidney injury is a rapidly progressive...

Background Inconsistencies exist with regard to the influence of omega-3 supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, which could be attributed to many factors, such as the duration and dose of omega-3 supplementation, and individuals’ baseline 25(OH)D levels. Therefore, to address the inconsistencies, we conducted a systematic review a...