Inflammation is the immune system’s first biological response to infection, injury, or irritation. Evidence suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by the regulation of various inflammatory cytokines, such as nitric oxide, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor alpha-α, interferon gamma-γ, as well as the non-cytokine mediator, prostaglandin E2. Currently, the mechanism of action and clinical usefulness of phytochemicals is known; their action on the activity of cytokines, free radicals, and oxidative stress. The latter are of great relevance in the development of diseases, such that the evidence collected demonstrates the beneficial effects of phytochemicals in maintaining health. Epidemiological evidence indicates that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is related to a low risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases.

Systemic inflammation and immunodeficiency are important components of cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID), the severity of which is dynamic, progressive, and associated with the greater deterioration of liver function. Two inflammation phenotypes have been described: low-grade and high-grade systemic inflammation. Both of these phenotypes are related to liver cirrhosis function; thus, high-grade inflammation is correlated with the severity of hepatic insufficiency, bacterial translocation, and organic insufficiency, with which the risk of infections increases and the prognosis worsens. Bacterial translocation (BT) plays a relevant role in persistent systemic inflammation in patients with cirrhosis, and the prophylactic employment of antibiotics is useful for reducing events of infection and mortality.

The mobility of the human body depends on, among other things, muscle health, which can be affected by several situations, such as aging, increased oxidative stress, malnutrition, cancer, and the lack or excess of physical exercise, among others. Genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional factors are intricately involved in maintaining the balance that allows proper muscle function and fiber recovery; therefore, the breakdown of the balance among these elements can trigger muscle atrophy. The study from the nutrigenomic perspective of nutritional factors has drawn wide attention recently; one of these is the use of certain compounds derived from foods and plants known as phytochemicals, to which various biological activities have been described and attributed in terms of benefiting health in many respects. This work addresses the effect that the phytochemicals curcumin from Curcuma longa Linn and sulforaphane from Brassicaceae species have shown to exert on muscle function, recovery, and the prevention of muscle atrophy, and describes the impact on muscle health in general. In the same manner, there are future perspectives in research on novel compounds as potential agents in the prevention or treatment of medical conditions that affect muscle health.

Systemic inflammation and immunodeficiency are the key components of Cirrhosis Associated Immune Dysfunction (CAID); its severity is dynamic and progressive and is associated with the greater deterioration of the liver function. There are two different immune phenotypes: the low-grade systemic inflammation phenotype and the high-grade systemic inflammation phenotype. Each of these phenotypes is related with the function of liver cirrhosis; thus, the presence of high-grade inflammation is correlated with the severity of the hepatic insufficiency, the bacterial translocation, and the organic insufficiency, with which the risk of infections increases and the prognosis worsens. Bacterial translocation plays a relevant role in the persistent systemic inflammation in patients with cirrhosis; the prophylactic employment of antibiotics is useful for reducing events of infection and mortality.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the gastrointestinal pathologies that most frequently requires hospital admission; about half of all deaths occur within the first two weeks and are caused by multi-organ failure. Predicting the degree of severity of AP before 48 h is a challenge. Background/Objectives: Having an early marker, before 48 h after admission, could be useful to avoid or diagnose early complications such as organ failure (OF). A few sentences could place the question addressed in a broader context and highlight the purpose of the study. Methods: A retrospective study conducted in a third-level hospital, during the period from August 2019 to June 2021. Patients aged >18 years, with a diagnosis of PA, who had a complete clinical history and complete biochemical and imaging data were included. The scores of the APACHE II, BISAP, revised Atlanta classification, and modified Marshall scales were recorded. Results: Of the 103 patients included, 60% were women, the mean age was 47.76 years, and the hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 6–12); the most frequent etiology was biliary in 46 (44.7%) patients; the most frequent BMI was overweight with 34 (33%) patients; and 38 (36.9%) patients had a systemic inflammatory response at admission. Hypoalbuminemia was observed in 34 (33%) of the 103 patients at admission; of these, 42 (40.8%) had an APACHE II score > 8 points, 17 (16.3%) a BISAP score > 2, 57 (54.8%) patients were classified as moderate AP according to the revised Atlanta classification, and 54 patients had a score according to the modified Marshall score > 2. A statistically significant difference in the development of death was observed between patients with hypoalbuminemia versus those with normal serum albumin levels. Conclusions: In this study, we show the usefulness of hipoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) at hospital admission in patients with AP, as a severity and mortality indicator. With the results obtained, we conclude that low albumin levels are a good predictor of severity and are useful for establishing timely treatment and close follow-up.

Background/Objectives: It is known that chronic alcohol consumption causes alterations to various organs of the body, mainly the liver, but there are no reports of the damage that weekend alcohol consumption can cause to the liver. The liver is the main organ responsible for metabolizing ethanol and therefore experiences the most significant adverse effects of this xenobiotic’s toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of weekend alcohol consumption on the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes. Methods: Wistar rats weighing 170–200 g were divided into the following groups: (1) control group and (2) weekend alcohol consumption group, 2 days per week for 12 weeks at two different concentrations: (1) group of males and females consuming a 40% alcohol solution and (2) group of males and females consuming a 5% alcohol solution. At the end of the experiment, liver samples were obtained. The activity of the enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the levels of total antioxidant capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, were determined. Results: surprisingly, the results showed an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, as well as a decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Conclusions: weekend alcohol consumption for a period of 3 months led to an elevation in antioxidant enzyme activity, but it was not sufficient to prevent the damage caused to the liver by weekend alcohol consumption.