Background: Nutritional psychiatry increasingly links diet quality and specific bioactive nutrients to depression and anxiety outcomes. Mechanistic evidence implicates neuroimmune activation, inflammation, altered neurotransmitter synthesis, and microbiota-derived metabolites. Objective: The objective of this study is to synthesize evidence on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), the microbiota–gut–brain axis, and vitamins and minerals that influence neurotransmitter synthesis, inflammation, and brain function and to translate these findings into food-based strategies. Methods: This study consisted of a focused synthesis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and systematic reviews indexed in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, selected for relevance to omega-3s, probiotics/prebiotics, dietary patterns, and micronutrients (folate/B-vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C/copper pathways). Results: RCT and meta-analytic evidence suggest modest benefits of omega-3 supplementation for anxiety severity and depressive symptoms, with heterogeneity by dose, EPA: DHA composition, and baseline inflammatory status. The gut–brain axis literature supports bidirectional effects of stress and microbiota, and meta-analyses of probiotics/prebiotics show small improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms, likely dependent on strain and host phenotype. Micronutrients serve as enzymatic cofactors for monoamine and GABA synthesis and modulate immune signaling; clinical effects are the most consistent when correcting insufficiency or in biomarker-defined subgroups. A whole-diet RCT demonstrates that structured dietary improvement can reduce depressive symptoms as adjunctive therapy. Conclusions: A food-first approach emphasizing Mediterranean-style dietary patterns, omega-3-rich seafood, a diverse array of fiber, and micronutrient density is the most defensible. Supplementation may be considered selectively, guided by clinical context and nutritional status.

Paraganglioma is a tumour lesion of neuroectodermal origin that occurs at various places in the human body, but is rarely observed in the spinal cord. Usually, it presents in the lumbar region (cauda equine and filum terminal) as a slow-growing painless tumour mass that causes local compression.We present a 53-year-old man with chronic low back pain, difficulty in walking, and impotence. The magnetic resonance study showed a tumour lesion suspicious for ependymoma. Surgical excision was performed and the result from the intraoperative frozen section was also ependymoma due to the presence of pseudorosettes structures. After the surgery, a thorough histological examination of the specimen revealed an encapsulated formation composed of ovoid and spindle-shaped cells with eosinophilic to light cytoplasm, with rounded nuclei with finely dispersed chromatin. An arrangement of cells in the form of pseudorosettes – ependymoma-like features was found in a large area of the tumour. Immunohistochemically, it was proved that the tumour was paraganglioma, not ependymoma.Paraganglioma is a rare tumour in the spinal cord and it should be distinguished from other tumours normally observed in this area like ependymomas by using immunohistochemical stains.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition with psychosocial impact. Dietary carbohydrates, particularly added sugars, refined starches, and high-glycemic index/load (GI/GL) patterns, have been proposed as modifiable exposures that may relate to attention and behavioral regulation. This systematic review synthesized evidence linking carbohydrate quantity and quality to ADHD-related outcomes. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies published from January 2015 to December 2025. Eligible studies included observational and interventional designs in children, adolescents, or adults with a clinical ADHD diagnosis or validated symptom assessment. Risk of bias was assessed using NOS/NOS-adapted criteria, RoB 2, and ROBINS-I. Findings were synthesized narratively by exposure domain. Results: Of 1174 records identified, 48 studies were included: 38 observational and 10 interventional. Sugar-related exposures showed the most consistent pattern: 15 of 16 studies examining added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, candy, or sweet dietary patterns reported positive associations with ADHD diagnosis, symptom severity, hyperactivity, or less favorable ADHD-related outcomes. Findings for total carbohydrate intake were inconsistent. GI/GL-specific evidence was limited but generally adverse in direction. Among intervention studies, symptom improvement after modification was reported in 6 of 10 studies, whereas 4 studies showed mixed, preliminary, non-significant, or non-superior findings. Most observational studies showed moderate to high risk of bias, while interventional studies showed variable risk across domains. Conclusions: Poorer carbohydrate quality may be associated with greater ADHD-related symptom burden, whereas total carbohydrate intake showed inconsistent associations. Certainty remains limited by heterogeneity, residual confounding, risk of bias, and limited carbohydrate-specific intervention evidence.

Background: Allergic diseases in early childhood are influenced by genetic predisposition and modifiable early-life exposures, including epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding the interplay between environmental factors and allergy development in children with atopic heredity is critical for prevention strategies. Objective: To investigate the associations between selected early-life environmental exposures and the development of allergic conditions in children with a positive family history of atopy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 children aged 2 years (±5 months) with atopic heredity, recruited at the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria (2017–2020). Data on sociodemographic background, prenatal exposures, birth mode, feeding practices, pet contact, daycare attendance, and infectious burden were collected via structured questionnaires and medical records. Allergic outcomes (food allergy and atopic dermatitis) were physician-confirmed. Statistical analyses included t-tests and chi-square tests. Results: Food allergy was diagnosed in 23.3% and atopic dermatitis in 21.7% of participants. Formula feeding was significantly more common in children with food allergy (66.7% vs. 38.1%; p = 0.020). A lower maternal pregnancy experience score was significantly associated with both food allergy (p = 0.021) and overall allergic outcomes (p = 0.004). Indoor smoking was more common in households of non-allergic children (p = 0.034). Children with food allergy had significantly more rhinopharyngitis episodes (p = 0.014) and longer infection duration. Higher gastroenteritis frequency and hospitalization rates were also noted in food-allergic children. Conclusions: In children with atopic heredity, early formula feeding, prenatal maternal stress, and infection burden were associated with increased risk of allergic conditions. This study underscores the importance of early-life psychosocial and environmental influences, possibly mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, in the development of childhood allergies. These findings highlight novel targets for early prevention and warrant further longitudinal research.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is among the most serious and traumatic complications of diabetes mellitus. Nutrition is essential in chronic wound healing as extra nutrients, including micronutrients, are often needed for proper tissue repair. We aim to examine and analyze the relationship between oral intake of some micronutrients and wound healing in patients with DFU. Methods: A search was conducted in the Medline/Pubmed and Google Scholar databases, using comprehensive keywords, and articles published in the last 10 years were analyzed. Review Results: Minerals represent an essential factor in the multifaceted wound healing process. Micronutrient deficiency affects all phases of wound healing, including collagen synthesis, fibroblast proliferation, and epithelization. Magnesium, zinc, selenium, and copper have been postulated as beneficial for DFU as they function as antioxidants modulate immunity, cell replication and differentiation, and tissue repair. Conclusion: More research is needed to clarify and warrant the use of mineral supplementation for the prevention and healing of diabetic foot ulcers.

The thymus and pineal gland (epiphysis) are endocrine glands with pivotal role in the maintenance of normal physiological processes. Their hormonal activity has been the subject of many studies, but on most occasions, each gland has been considered separately. Surveys that identify the link between these two glands, as well as the connection between their hormones, appeared only recently. The growing body of data about the morphology and the functions of the thymus and epiphysis reveals not only the bi-directional links between these glands but also common involutionary mechanisms. The immune activity of the thymus is well-known, and the results indicate that melatonin has significant immunomodulatory potential as well. The hormones of both glands play a role in the antioxidant and antitumor defense of the organism, as well as in the hemostasis processes. Some studies confirm the existence of a functional relationship between the endocrine, immune, and nervous systems and the contribution of thymic and pineal hormones to its establishment. The association between thymus and epiphysis is important not only for the normal immune response but also for the regulation of aging and the occurrence of age-related conditions and diseases