Several processed food products may contain toxic compounds considered risk factors for human health. Known for its possible carcinogenic effects, acrylamide is an organic compound periodically analyzed by the entities responsible for consumer safety. Knowing the acrylamide content of food offers the possibility of implementing corrective measures when needed, targeted at lowering its level. The aim of the paper was to screen for the presence of acrylamide in four products consumed almost daily in Romania and calculate acrylamide exposure by consuming one serving. Expressed in µg/kg coffee has the highest average acrylamide content (199), followed by potato chips (134), pretzels (120), and bread (14). Results regarding the acrylamide content in one serving showed the highest levels of acrylamide in pretzels (10.20 µg/serving), followed by potato chips (4.00 µg/serving), coffee (2.20 µg/cup), and bread (0.40 µg/slice). The calculation of the acrylamide content for one serving of the studied products will facilitate the following studies on the dietary acrylamide intake of the Romanian population, studies which, to our knowledge, have not been performed so far.

Vitamin C sustains the health of the human organism. It reduces the risk of chronic diseases and it can help to control arterial hypertension. In addition, it prevents and reduces the risk of developing various heart diseases, it normalizes the level of uric acid in the blood, it can help with the prevention of gout attacks, it helps to prevent iron deficiency and strengthens the immune system. Considering these aspects, it can be stated that a diet rich in vitamin C plays an essential role in a person’s daily food intake. Within the present study, we identified the content of vitamin C in various types of bell peppers and tomatoes consumed in Romania. The vitamin C content was determined by using the titration and the iodometric methods. The research results pointed out that the content of vitamin C in the analyzed bell peppers is between 4.693 and 11.264 mg/ 100 g, and in the analyzed tomatoes is between 0.939 and 4.639 mg/100 g. The antioxidant activity was studied as well, by using the DPPH radical and the Trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC). The antioxidant activity was correlated with the content of ascorbic acid, present in the samples. The studies revealed that the vegetables bought from the farmers had a higher content of vitamin C than the ones bought from the supermarkets. This aspect was also confirmed by their increased antioxidant activity, which points out that the local vegetables are a rich source of natural antioxidants, which can be used to prevent various health conditions caused by oxidative stress.

Background: Polyphenols—bioactive compounds abundant in plant-based foods—are increasingly recognised for their capacity to modulate the gut microbiota. As the gut microbiome plays a central role in metabolic regulation, immune function, and disease prevention, understanding how specific polyphenol subclasses influence microbial diversity and functionality remains essential. Despite growing evidence of their benefits, the precise effects of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins on gut microbial composition are not yet fully clarified. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary polyphenols on gut microbiota composition and function, with a particular focus on the abundance of Bifidobacterium, a key beneficial genus associated with metabolic and immune health. It was hypothesised that polyphenol-rich interventions were associated with increases in Bifidobacterium abundance and enhance overall microbial diversity. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Human intervention studies published between January 2015 and February 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A predefined PICO framework guided study selection. Twenty-two studies were synthesised using thematic analysis, and four of these were eligible for quantitative meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed in R (version 4.4.1) using the metafor and meta packages, calculating standardised mean differences (SMD) under a random-effects model to account for heterogeneity. Extracted data included study design, population characteristics, polyphenol subclass, intervention type, microbiome assessment method, and key outcomes. Results: Across the 22 reviewed studies, polyphenols—particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids from foods such as berries, grape pomace, and green tea—consistently increased beneficial microbial taxa including Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Lactobacillus. These microbial shifts were associated with improved metabolic markers, reduced inflammation, and enhancements in gut barrier integrity. Polyphenol-rich dietary patterns also showed benefits in conditions such as NAFLD, prediabetes, and depression. However, findings were influenced by interindividual variability, short intervention durations, and inconsistent methodologies. The meta-analysis revealed a significant positive effect of polyphenol intake on Bifidobacterium abundance (SMD = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.18–1.44; p = 0.0114), corresponding to a moderate-to-large effect size. Substantial heterogeneity (I² = 77.4%) suggested considerable variation in intervention types, dosage, study design, and microbiome analysis methods. Conclusions: Polyphenol-rich diets were associated with increased Bifidobacterium abundance and favourable modulation of gut microbiota composition, supporting their potential as a nutritional strategy to enhance gut and metabolic health. However, interstudy variability highlights the need for more standardised, long-term, and mechanistically focused human trials. Future research should incorporate multi-omics approaches, personalised nutrition frameworks, and consistent microbiome analysis methods to better understand the pathways linking polyphenol intake and host health outcomes.

Elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are commonly associated with allergies. However, high IgE levels are also found in several other infectious and non-infectious disorders. Elevated IgE levels typically suggest allergies, eczema, or recurrent skin infections. Hyperimmunoglobulin E (hyper-IgE) levels typically reflect a monogenic atopic condition or inborn immune defects with an atopic phenotype. The aim of our research is to investigate and observe the clinical characteristics of children with increased IgE levels who have previously manifested infectious diseases. Furthermore, the retrospective study considers other factors, such as demographic characteristics (sex, area/environment, and age), and their effect on IgE serum levels. To answer this question, we conducted a one-year hospital-based retrospective study that included 200 hospitalized children who had at least two viral or bacterial infections in the six months preceding hospitalization. Measurements of IgE and allergen panels (respiratory and digestive) using blood samples revealed that individuals who tested positive for the body’s synthesis of hyper-IgE were not observably allergic to any potential allergens despite having higher total serum IgE. According to the results, there was a strong correlation between elevated IgE serum levels and a history of infectious diseases among the patients.

According to the World Health Organization, musculoskeletal injuries affect more than 1.71 billion people around the world. These injuries are a major public health issue and the leading cause of disability. There has been a recent interest in hydrogels as a potential biomaterial for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration. This is due to their high water content (70–99%), ECM-like structure, injectability, and controllable degradation rates. Recent preclinical studies indicate that they can enhance regeneration by modulating the release of bioactive compounds, growth factors, and stem cells. Composite hydrogels that combine natural and synthetic polymers, like chitosan and collagen, have compressive moduli that are advantageous for tendon–bone healing. Some of these hydrogels can even hold up to 0.8 MPa of tensile strength. In osteoarthritis models, functionalized systems such as microspheres responsive to matrix metalloproteinase-13 have demonstrated disease modulation and targeted drug delivery, while intelligent in situ hydrogels have exhibited a 43% increase in neovascularization and a 50% enhancement in myotube production. Hydrogel-based therapies have been shown to restore contractile force by as much as 80%, increase myofiber density by 65%, and boost ALP activity in bone defects by 2.1 times in volumetric muscle loss (VML) models. Adding TGF-β3 or MSCs to hydrogel systems improved GAG content by about 60%, collagen II expression by 35–50%, and O’Driscoll scores by 35–50% in cartilage regeneration.

Protein misfolding and aggregation represent key pathological mechanisms in neurodegenerative and systemic amyloid disorders, yet disease-modifying therapeutic strategies remain limited. In recent years, plant-derived nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention as multifunctional platforms capable of interacting with misfolded proteins and modulating aggregation-related pathways. This review examines the evolution of research between 2015 and 2025 on plant-derived nanomaterials—including green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles, plant extracellular vesicles, and phytochemical-based nano-delivery systems—in the context of protein misfolding disorders. The available literature was analyzed to identify principal mechanisms of action, experimental models, and emerging therapeutic perspectives. Current evidence suggests that these nanomaterials may influence protein aggregation through direct molecular interactions, modulation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory responses, and enhancement of cellular protein clearance processes. However, the field remains characterized by methodological heterogeneity, limited standardization, and insufficient translational validation. By synthesizing recent developments, this review highlights key research trends, mechanistic gaps, and future directions necessary for advancing plant-derived nanomaterials toward biomedical applications targeting protein misfolding diseases.