Brain neurodegenerative diseases (BND) are debilitating conditions that are especially characteristic of a certain period of life and considered major threats to human health. Current treatments are limited, meaning that there is a challenge in developing new options that can efficiently tackle the different components and pathophysiological processes of these conditions. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) is an endocrine axis with important peripheral physiological functions such as blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis, as well as water and sodium balance and systemic vascular resistance—functions which are well-documented. However, recent work has highlighted the paracrine and autocrine functions of RAS in different tissues, including the central nervous system (CNS). It is known that RAS hyperactivation has pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects, thus suggesting that its pharmacological modulation could be used in the management of these conditions. The present paper underlines the involvement of RAS and its components in the pathophysiology of BNDs such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s disease (HD), motor neuron disease (MND), and prion disease (PRD), as well as the identification of drugs and pharmacologically active substances that act upon RAS, which could alleviate their symptomatology or evolution, and thus, contribute to novel therapeutic approaches.

This paper delineates several aspects of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD)—a common complication of cystic fibrosis (CF). CFRD exhibits a predilection for older individuals with CF, yet it also extends its influence on children and adolescents. Scientific insights postulate a potential link between CFRD and the aberrant mucus production within the pancreas, thereby culminating in pancreatic insufficiency. This, in turn, perturbs the synthesis of insulin, a pivotal endocrine hormone responsible for the regulation of glycemic levels. Standardized protocols advocate for the systematic screening of CFRD among all individuals with CF, commencing at the age of 10 years using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Therapeutic modalities encompass insulin therapy, dietary adjustments, and the vigilant monitoring of glycemic parameters. The overarching objective is to maintain blood glucose levels within a targeted range to mitigate the advent of diabetic complications. Untreated or sub-optimally managed CFRD can precipitate a spectrum of deleterious health ramifications, encompassing cardiovascular afflictions, neuropathy, renal dysfunction, and ocular complications.

Background and Objectives: Different types of food introduced gradually in the diet will expose children to different food allergens, increasing the chance of developing allergic diseases. The aim of our study was to determine if allergen-specific IgE values can influence, depending on the diet, the prediction of remission of urticaria in children. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in 132 patients diagnosed over two years with urticaria, admitted to “Sf. Maria” Clinical Pediatric Hospital Iaşi. Total IgE assay was performed by ELISA, and determination of specific serum IgE by the CLA System Quanti Scan method (Innogenetics, Heiden, Germany). Data were gathered and statistical analysis was performed using statistical software SPSS, using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The determination of specific IgE to food allergens was performed on a total of 132 cases. The values of specific IgE were positive for one or more food allergens in 84 patients (63.64%). The most common allergens involved were: cow’s milk in 33.3% cases, egg white in 22.6% cases, and hazelnuts in 11.9% cases. The specific IgE values for the different types of food included in our study had a predictive value for disease remission. Conclusions: The determination of specific IgE confirms the presence of a particular food allergen and may have predictive value for the future development of an allergic manifestation.

Background: Early-onset neonatal listeriosis is a rare, life-threatening infection of vertical origin caused by Listeria monocytogenes. First-line therapy is intravenous ampicillin combined with an aminoglycoside; acquired β-lactam resistance is exceptionally uncommon. Case Presentation: A 34-week preterm female neonate (birth weight 1990 g, appropriate for gestational age) was born to a febrile primigravida with fetid greenish amniotic fluid at a regional secondary maternity and transferred at 30 h of life to our tertiary NICU with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. L. monocytogenes was recovered from blood, gastric aspirate, pharyngeal exudate, ocular secretion, and skin swab. Gradient strip susceptibility testing reported ampicillin and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole non-susceptibility, although confirmatory broth microdilution was unavailable. Broad-spectrum empirical therapy was revised on Day 5 to include ampicillin–sulbactam, with piperacillin–tazobactam and gentamicin continued. A follow-up blood culture on Day 9 remained sterile through 7 days. The hospital course was complicated by thrombocytopenia, transiently elevated aminotransferases, and a Grade I subependymal hemorrhage; tertiary NICU length of stay was 25 days. Conclusions: Recovery under a multi-agent regimen precludes attribution of effect to any single component. Discordant gradient strip susceptibility results in L. monocytogenes should be confirmed by broth microdilution before any therapeutic change; survivors of severe early-onset listeriosis require structured multidisciplinary follow-up.

Background and Objectives: Topical diclofenac is recommended over oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for osteoarthritis, particularly in older adults and those with comorbidities, on the assumption that low systemic absorption limits renal effects. Whether this presumed safety extends to patients already at increased risk of kidney injury has not been systematically evaluated. This review assessed the evidence on renal outcomes of topical diclofenac in adults. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD420261393454) of studies reporting renal outcomes after topical diclofenac exposure. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception to 19 April 2026. Studies were stratified a priori into increased-renal-risk and general populations and synthesised separately, without pooling. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and JBI tools, certainty with GRADE, and synthesis followed the SWiM framework. Results: Eighteen studies, contributing data from more than 500,000 participants, were included; 14 underwent primary risk-of-bias appraisal (three at low, three at serious or high risk). In general populations, topical diclofenac produced little to no change in serum creatinine or creatinine clearance and smaller renal effects than oral diclofenac, providing high-certainty evidence of a favourable profile. In increased-renal-risk populations, one adjusted cohort reported higher acute kidney injury (AKI) risk among topical NSAID users, although exposure was predominantly to non-diclofenac agents; within the same cohort, topical NSAIDs carried lower risk than systemic NSAIDs. No study evaluated early renal injury biomarkers; certainty was moderate owing to indirectness. Conclusions: Relative to oral diclofenac, topical diclofenac shows a favourable renal safety profile, with high-certainty evidence in general populations. In adults at increased renal risk, moderate-certainty evidence derived from predominantly non-diclofenac exposure over short observation windows cannot exclude a modest excess of any-stage AKI; renal risk therefore appears reduced rather than absent. Diclofenac-specific studies in chronic kidney disease using sensitive biomarkers and longer follow-up are needed.

Pulmonary hypertension is a complex condition that has distinct characteristics in pediatric populations. This review explores the important role of early childhood nutrition in the growth, progression, and management of pediatric pulmonary hypertension. Nutritional deficiencies, including those of vitamins C, D, and iron, are closely linked to worse outcomes in children with this disease, emphasizing the importance of early intervention to prevent malnutrition and promote growth. Emerging research revealed that promising nutrients like resveratrol, along with modulation of the gut and respiratory microbiomes, may offer therapeutic advances for managing pulmonary hypertension. However, the current literature is limited by a lack of pediatric-specific studies, with much of the data extrapolated from adult populations and animal models, especially rats. This review highlights the need for targeted research to develop effective nutritional interventions aimed at improving outcomes for pediatric patients.