Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive autoimmune disease leading to structural and functional joint damage and, eventually, to physical disability. The pathogenesis of the disease is highly complex and involves interactions between fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and immune cells, which stimulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, leading to chronic inflammation. In recent years, studies have demonstrated the importance of epigenetics in RA. Specifically, epigenetic alterations have been suggested to serve as diagnostic and treatment biomarkers, while epigenetic mechanisms are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Epigenetic regulators coordinate gene expression, and in the case of inflammatory diseases, they regulate the expression of a broad range of inflammatory molecules. In this review, we discuss current evidence on the involvement of DNA and RNA methylation in RA.

Introduction and purposeSleep is a critical component of an athlete's health, significantly influencing injury risk, performance, and recovery. It plays a vital role in the healing process, contributing to growth, repair, regeneration, and immunity. Current literature suggests that sleep quality impacts various aspects of athletic performance, including physical and cognitive abilities, recovery, injury risk, and mental well-being. This narrative review aims to explore the impact of sleep on the musculoskeletal system of athletes, particularly focusing on injury risk, performance, and recovery. It seeks to synthesize existing research to highlight the importance of sleep quality and duration in maintaining and enhancing athletic performance.Description of the state of knowledgeThe findings indicate that less than 7 hours of sleep is consistently associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, with athletes experiencing a 1.7 times higher risk if this sleep pattern persists for at least 14 days. Some studies also highlight that athletes obtaining fewer than 6 hours of sleep per day show significant performance declines and higher injury rates.SummaryWhile evidence clearly links certain sleep behaviors to increased musculoskeletal injury and pain, it is crucial to consider sleep as one aspect of an athlete's overall health and well-being. Adequate sleep is essential for optimal athletic performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Tailored sleep strategies should be integrated into training and recovery protocols to enhance the overall health and performance of athletes.

Introduction and purpose: The balance between catabolic and anabolic processes is crucial for achieving optimal athletic performance and maintaining the health of athletes. The cortisol-to-testosterone ratio (C/T) is a commonly used indicator to assess this balance, as it allows for monitoring the equilibrium between these two hormones. This literature review aims to evaluate the utility of T/C ratio in monitoring this balance, providing insights into its relevance for athletic training and performance. The paper is based on a relevant review of literature about the practical aspects of measuring the C/T ratio and its correlation with athletic performance, recovery, overtraining, and training adaptation were analyzed. Description of the state of knowledge: The cortisol-to-testosterone ratio is a useful indicator for evaluating between catabolic and anabolic states in athletes. It can be practically applied to fine-tune training regimens and help prevent overtraining.However, its effectiveness is dependent on various factors, including individual variability and the influence of external factors such as sleep. Summary:The C/T ratio remains a valuable tool for assessing the metabolic-anabolic balance in athletes. Practical aspects of measurement and interpretation are essential for its effective application. Continued research is needed to refine the use of this biomarker across different sports and training contexts.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes, though rare, is the leading cause of exercise-related mortality and poses significant concern due to the symbolic health and vitality of athletes. This review examines the epidemiology, causes, and prevention strategies of SCD in athletes. SCD, defined as sudden death presumed to be of cardiac origin within one hour of symptom onset, affects athletes variably depending on age, race, and type of sports. Key causes include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in younger athletes, and coronary artery disease (CAD) in older athletes. Ion channelopathies and structural heart diseases also contribute significantly. Preparticipation screening (PPE) involving ECGs, lifestyle adjustments, and medical interventions are critical in prevention. Continuous research and adaptive guidelines are essential for safeguarding athletes against these fatal events. Keywords: sudden cardiac death, athletes, sports, exercise, cardiovascular diseases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, ion channelopathies, long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, preparticipation screening, electrocardiogram (ECG), risk factors, prevention strategies.

The search for optimal osteoporosis treatments continues, as the medications currently used in clinical therapy carry a risk of rare but acute side effects. New knowledge about etiopathogenetic pathways and osteoporosis biomarkers enabled the exact examination of various oral substances, often previously recognised for their positive impact on bone mass growth. A cross-section of novel reports from this year on the applications of many orally administered substances is presented. Diet, gut microbiota aspect, functional food, diabetes drug – empagliflozin and a variety of substances known from Chinese traditional medicine are now characterized in the context of the possible mechanism of treating or preventing osteoporosis. The progress of bone mass density and quality-regulating pathways recognition led to the finding of multiple orally administered substances with favorable mediation properties. The precise diagnosis of the substances' working mechanisms approves their potential use in new formulations of clinical treatments. Presently only used in diet supplementation, the orally administrated antiosteoporotic substances are potential core ingredients of modernized medications, provided their presumptive adverse effects are ruled out.