Address: Bulevardul Liviu Rebreanu, Nr. 156, Cod 300723, Timișoara
Phone: 0256488003
E-mail: ulctimisoara@gmail.com; gastroenterotm@yahoo.com; sirli.roxana@umft.ro
Head of the University Clinic
Members
📲 Phone: 0747025035
📧 Email: deleanu.alexandra@umft.ro
📃 Curriculum vitae
📲 Phone: 0763886992
📧 Email: camelia.foncea@umft.ro
📃 Curriculum vitae
📲 Phone: 0724168128
📧 Email: popa.alexandru@umft.ro
📃 Curriculum vitae
📲 Phone: 0722410712
📧 Email: goldis.adrian@umft.ro
📃 Curriculum vitae
📲 Phone: 0722273939
📧 Email: miutescu.bogdan@umft.ro
📃 Curriculum vitae
External Collaborators
The Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department has been functioning as an independent discipline for over 30 years within “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara. During these years, the department continuously developed, both from a medical and scientific point of view so that, nowadays it is a medical landmark in the Western region of Romania.
The scientific and research activity was carried out within our clinic, recognized as a Type C Research Center accredited by CNCSIS since 2004. From 2020 we were recognized as an Advanced Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timișoara. In our department also functions the Center for Advanced Hepatology Research of the Academy of Medical Sciences from Romania, led by Prof. Dr. Ioan Sporea, member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Timisoara branch, the previous Head of our department. Thus, we have a long tradition in research in the field of gastroenterology, in the training of researchers by conducting doctoral studies, as well as in the training of young doctors both professionally and scientifically.
The scientific activity of the center’s staff is focused on several fields of research in gastroenterology and hepatology, among which the main ones are:
- early detection and management of colorectal cancer
- percutaneous treatment and surveillance of liver tumors
- diagnosis, modern therapy, and surveillance of chronic viral hepatopathies
- early diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel diseases
- development of artificial intelligence systems in abdominal ultrasound and digestive endoscopy
Our department includes the endoscopy department and the ultrasound department, both with notable results in scientific and clinical activity. The Center for Training in Ultrasonography, founded by Prof. Dr. I. Sporea and the late Prof. Dr. Gheorghe Gluhovschi, under the tutelage of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” in the 1990’ was recognized in 2007 as an Education Center of the World Federation of Ultrasonography in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB), as well as a Center for Education in Ultrasonography (Ultrasound Learning Center) of the European Federation of Ultrasonography (EFSUMB). It should be mentioned that we organized in 2008 the EFSUMB Congress, and in May 2022 we will be organizing the WFUMB Congress.
The Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department is very visible at European and world level, especially through research activities in the field of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and in the field of non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis. We are considered to be one of the best European and World research centers regarding the non-invasive diagnosis by ultrasound-based elastographic methods in chronic hepatopathies due to the numerous articles published in journals with impact factor, as well as by the participation of Prof. Sporea in the elaboration of the European and World Elastography Guides, elaborated by EFSUMB and WFUMB respectively. Regarding the management of chronic hepatopathies, numerous studies materialized by articles published in journals with impact factor and indexed in international databases, have been published, those regarding the antiviral treatment in hemodialyzed HCV patients being a national priority.
Regarding the clinical activity, an important component is the one in the endoscopy compartment, where top techniques in the field are performed, such as endoscopic treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, retrograde endoscopic cholangio-pancreatography, palliative treatment of digestive neoplasia as well as echoendoscopy.
Advanced Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CCA-GASTROHEP)
The Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy includes 10 full members, 8 associate members (Doctoral students) and 1 external collaborator.
One of the main topics of research in this Center is the evaluation of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), this pathology becoming very common in current clinical practice. The purpose is to identify an algorithm for the early identification of patients with liver fibrosis by non-invasive elastographic methods. A multidisciplinary approach is desired between the disciplines of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, Biochemistry, Genetics and Cardiology, through which patients at risk of developing severe fibrosis, respectively those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and those with metabolic syndrome to be evaluated clinically, biologically, elastographically, through genetic and metabolomic tests.
A second research topic is the identification of biomarkers useful in the early diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma in clinical practice. It is well known that imaging methods are an essential component in the diagnosis and staging of hepatocarcinomas (HCC). Available published data show that certain biomarkers (AFP, AFP-L3, DCP) are suboptimal for the routine surveillance of the patient at risk of HCC. Thus, our research aims to investigate the respective sensitivity of the specificity of five biomarkers: AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, GPC3, CK19 for the detection of HCC. This study implies a collaboration between our department and the Department of Biochemistry.
The third research topic is the complex evaluation of the nutritional status of the patients with chronic hepatopathies. Currently, there is no “gold standard” for the nutritional evaluation of such patients. Thus, we aim to identify easily applicable, non-invasive methods that can be performed routinely to all these patients. In this regard, we have initiated a collaboration with the Imaging Department in order to detect sarcopenia by CT in cirrhotic patients.
The fourth topic of research is metabolomics in the prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis, which aims to identify independent metabolic factors that influence the evolution of acute pancreatitis to forms with local or systemic complications, respectively the identification of predictive metabolic factors for the prognosis of acute pancreatitis.
Another research topic is in the evaluation of Helicobacter Pylori prevalence in our area and the response to eradication treatment among patients with dyspeptic syndrome. This prospective study will evaluate the effectiveness of 2 regimens used to eradicate Helicobacter Pylori infection, determine the resistance of Helicobacter Pylori to Clarithromycin, Levofloxacin and Metronidazole in our geographical area, and assess the existence of mutations in the genes of RNA 23S Helicobacter Pylori. This study implies collaboration between our department and the Department of Microbiology and Medical Genetics.