With a burgeoning global population, meeting the demand for increased food production presents challenges, particularly concerning mineral deficiencies in diets. Micronutrient shortages like iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, and magnesium carry severe health implications, especially in developing nations. Biofortification of plants and plant products emerges as a promising remedy to enhance micronutrient levels in food. Utilizing agronomic biofortification, conventional plant breeding, and genetic engineering yields raw materials with heightened micronutrient contents and improved bioavailability. A similar strategy extends to animal-derived foods by fortifying eggs, meat, and dairy products with micronutrients. Employing “dual” biofortification, utilizing previously enriched plant materials as a micronutrient source for livestock, proves an innovative solution. Amid biofortification research, conducting in vitro and in vivo experiments is essential to assess the bioactivity of micronutrients from enriched materials, emphasizing digestibility, bioavailability, and safety. Mineral deficiencies in human diets present a significant health challenge. Biofortification of plants and animal products emerges as a promising approach to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies, necessitating further research into the utilization of biofortified raw materials in the human diet, with a focus on bioavailability, digestibility, and safety.

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is a non-heading leafy vegetable of the Brassicaceae family, widely recognized for its dense nutritional profile and diverse phytochemical composition. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of kale’s botanical characteristics, cultivation practices, chemical constituents, biological activities, and applications in pharmacy, functional foods, and cosmetics. Importantly, this work highlights the novelty of kale’s multifunctional role. Kale is particularly rich in vitamins (A, C, K), minerals (Ca, Fe, K), dietary fiber, glucosinolates, polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids, and chlorophylls, which contribute to its classification as a “superfood.” In this article the discussion of the health-promoting effects of glucosinolates and their enzymatic degradation products, such as isothiocyanates, indoles, and nitriles, highlighting their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and lipid-lowering properties, was performed. Moreover, key compounds including sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), and diindolylmethane (DIM) are emphasized for their roles in chemoprevention, hormonal regulation, and cellular protection. The review also summarizes recent in vivo and clinical studies demonstrating kale’s potential in reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, and hormone-related cancers. The effects of kale on the composition of the gut microbiome, glycemic control, and cholesterol metabolism are also discussed. Advances in plant biotechnology, including micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, and metabolite enhancement, are also discussed. Overall, this review supports the integration of kale into health-oriented dietary strategies and highlights its relevance in preventive medicine, food innovation, and cosmeceutical development.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a systemic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by follicular occlusion and a cytokine profile dominated by TNF-α and IL-17. Obesity is a primary modifiable risk factor. The objective of this analysis is to determine whether and how physical activity modifies the clinical progression, inflammatory status, and metabolic profile of patients diagnosed with HS. This study synthesized clinical data regarding the pathophysiology of HS, the endocrine function of adipose tissue, and the systemic effects of various physical activity intensities. Analysis focused on the correlation between BMI and Hurley staging, the impact of exercise on pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the role of mechanical factors in lesion formation. Physical activity exerts a bidirectional effect on HS. Systemically, regular moderate exercise induces an anti-inflammatory state by reducing C-reactive protein and increasing IL-10, while weight reduction of at least 10 percent is associated with significant clinical improvement. Conversely, physical exertion may cause local exacerbations; sweat-induced maceration and mechanical friction in intertriginous zones can trigger new lesions via the Koebner phenomenon. While active patients exhibit lower Hurley stages and improved quality of life scores, approximately 60 percent of the HS population remains sedentary due to chronic pain and mechanical limitations caused by sinus tracts. Physical activity modifies the course of HS primarily as an indirect systemic stabilizer that reduces the inflammatory burden and improves metabolic sensitivity. However, to avoid local mechanical provocation of the pilosebaceous unit, exercise regimens must be individualized, prioritizing low-friction modalities to balance systemic benefits against the risk of localized disease flares.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. Although intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy have substantially improved clinical outcomes, their effectiveness is limited by narrow therapeutic windows, restricted accessibility, contraindications, and the risk of reperfusion injury. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward pharmacological neuroprotection targeting the ischemic cascade. This review aimed to evaluate emerging pharmacological neuroprotective strategies in AIS beyond established reperfusion therapies, with particular emphasis on the ischemic cascade as a therapeutic target and on selected pharmacological agents with potential neuroprotective efficacy. A narrative literature review was conducted focusing on the pathophysiology of ischemic brain injury and the current evidence regarding the neuroprotective potential of fingolimod, citicoline, and Cerestat. The analysis included randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, and experimental studies investigating their neuroprotective and neuroreparative mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy. The ischemic cascade represents a promising target for adjunctive therapeutic interventions in AIS. Fingolimod demonstrated beneficial immunomodulatory effects and stabilization of the blood–brain barrier, particularly when administered in combination with reperfusion therapies. Citicoline exhibited pleiotropic neuroprotective and neuroreparative properties, with the greatest clinical benefit observed among patients who did not receive thrombolytic therapy; however, its efficacy appears less pronounced in the context of contemporary stroke management. Effective neuroprotection in AIS is likely to require a multimodal, individualized therapeutic strategy targeting multiple components of the ischemic cascade.

Meningiomas, which represent the majority of primary intracranial tumours, are characterized by typical imaging features such as a well-defined shape and homogeneous contrast enhancement. However, clinical practice necessitates the inclusion of rare neoplasms capable accurately mimicking them in the differential diagnosis. This study aims to present in detail the case of a 69-year-old male with a tumour in the cerebellar vermis, which on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated strong, homogeneous contrast enhancement, initially suggesting a meningioma. Crucial atypical imaging elements that challenged this diagnosis were the lesion’s irregular shape, its poor demarcation from the surrounding brain tissue, and significant restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. The decisive clinical evidence, however, was the spectacular regression of the volume of the tumour following empirical corticosteroid therapy, which strongly suggests lymphoma of the central nervous system. Final confirmation of a disseminated lymphoproliferative process was obtained through the biopsy of a concomitant kidney lesion, with histopathological results consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This case vividly illustrates radiologic mimicry in neuro-oncology and underscores the critical importance of analyzing subtle, atypical imaging features and the response to steroid therapy. The conclusion drawn from this report is the necessity of including SCNSL – secondary central nervous system lymphoma – in the differential diagnosis of every dural-based mass, which prevents diagnostic errors and an unnecessary, burdensome craniotomy in favour of implementing appropriate systemic treatment.

Introduction and objective: Obesity is a global civilization disease driven by a positive caloric balance. It leads to severe comorbidities across all organ systems and increases mortality. Current treatment options, including lifestyle changes, surgery, and registered pharmacotherapy (e.g.,...