With a dramatic increase in the number of obese and overweight people, there is a great need for new anti-obesity therapies. With the discovery of the functionality of brown adipose tissue in adults and the observation of beige fat cells among white fat cells, scientists are looking for substances and methods to increase the activity of these cells. We aimed to describe how scientists have concluded that brown adipose tissue is also present and active in adults, to describe where in the human body these deposits of brown adipose tissue are, to summarize the origin of both brown fat cells and beige fat cells, and, last but not least, to list some of the substances and methods classified as BAT promotion agents with their benefits and side effects. We summarized these findings based on the original literature and reviews in the field, emphasizing the discovery, function, and origins of brown adipose tissue, BAT promotion agents, and batokines. Only studies written in English and with a satisfying rating were identified from electronic searches of PubMed.

A search of the PubMed database for publications on microglia reveals an intriguing shift in scientific interest over time. Dividing microglia into categories such as “resting” and “activated” or M1 versus M2 is nowadays obsolete, with the current research focusing on unraveling microglial heterogeneity. The onset of transcriptomics, especially single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), has profoundly reshaped our understanding of microglia heterogeneity. Conversely, microglia morphology analysis can offer important insights regarding their activation state or involvement in tissue responses. This review explores microglial heterogeneity under homeostatic conditions, developmental stages, and disease states, with a focus on integrating transcriptomic data with morphological analysis. Beyond the core gene expression profile, regional differences are observed with cerebellar microglia exhibiting a uniquely immune-vigilant profile. During development, microglia express homeostatic genes before birth, yet the bushy appearance is a characteristic that appears later on. In neurodegeneration, microglia alternate between proinflammatory and neuroprotective roles, influenced by regional factors and disease onset. Understanding these structural adaptations may help identify specific microglial subpopulations for targeted therapeutic strategies.

In line with AHA/ASA guidance, intravenous alteplase has served as the standard first-line reperfusion treatment in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a common spontaneous complication after thrombolytic therapy for AIS with increased mortality. Restoration of flow in an occluded artery can precipitate blood–brain barrier breakdown and heighten the risk of HT. However, the pathogenesis of HT is multifactorial, and identifying patients at high risk after recanalization therapy (RT) has a defining role in ensuring optimal treatment. At the same time, it is still under debate how these patients can best be identified based on clinical and biological characteristics. Preventing HT will become increasingly essential. In this review, our primary objective was to identify research focused on the cardiovascular risk factors predicting HT after AIS treated with thrombolytics, as this may help develop targeted treatment strategies and diminish the risk of HT.