Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women. It is a significant health and social issue affecting 2.3 million women worldwide. Breast cancer is caused by various factors, including gender, age, race, genetics, hormonal balance, obesity, alcohol and many others. A crucial issue related to breast cancer is the impact of diet on the development of the disease. Dietary fats play a key role. Saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids increase the risk of breast cancer, while polyunsaturated fatty acids have a protective effect. A high-protein diet reduces the risk of breast cancer and improves prognosis among patients. The role of carbohydrates remains unclear, but women may benefit from reducing their intake of high glycemic index foods. Among the macronutrients influencing the development and progression of breast cancer are calcium and magnesium. Adopting a Mediterranean diet may offer benefits. Among the factors influencing the development of breast cancer, the gastrointestinal microbiota is also noteworthy. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, support treatment, reduce side effects and improve patients’ quality of life. Chronic stress also contributes to the development of breast cancer by affecting the nervous, hormonal and immune systems, disrupting the body’s homeostasis.

Sirtuins, a family of NAD+-dependent deacetylases and ADP-ribosyltransferases, regulate cellular homeostasis and adaptive responses to environmental changes. Comprising seven isoforms (SIRT1–SIRT7), these enzymes have diverse functions, including gene expression regulation, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress response, and cellular aging. Dysregulated sirtuin activity is implicated in metabolic, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Sirtuins modulate metabolic pathways by influencing glucose and lipid metabolism, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. Their role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress positions them as potential therapeutic targets for chronic conditions and age-related disorders. Compounds like resveratrol and lifestyle factors such as physical activity are potent sirtuin activators, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Physical activity, a cornerstone of non-pharmacological health interventions, increases NAD+ availability, upregulating sirtuin activity. This effect underscores exercise as a modulator of sirtuin pathways, with protective effects against chronic diseases. Studies show that regular physical activity can enhance sirtuin function, improving metabolic health, reducing oxidative damage, and providing neuroprotection. This review offers an overview of sirtuin biology, their role in disease pathogenesis, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on sirtuin activity.

Background: The negative impact of spinal deformities on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is well known. One goal of early onset scoliosis (EOS) treatment is to improve HRQoL for patients and reduce the burden on the family. The aim of the study was to carry on the process of cultural adaptation of the English version of the Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire 24 (EOSQ-24) into Polish. Methods: The Polish version of the EOSQ-24 -PL was applied to fifty EOS patients: age 7.5 ± 2.3 years and Cobb angle 24.6 ± 8.5 degrees. The sample included 36 patients with idiopathic, thirteen with congenital, and one with neuromuscular scoliosis. The parental assessment considered each item of the EOSQ-24 relevant to their child’s health condition. EOSQ consists of 24 question items, divided into domains. Transformed scores vary from 0 to 100; lower scores denote a lower quality of life. The reliability (internal consistency, test–retest reliability), floor and ceiling effects, and discriminative validity of the Polish version of the EOSQ-24 were calculated. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. Test–retest reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC_2.1). Results: All items and domains showed very good global internal consistencies (Cronbach’s alpha 0.901 and 0.823, respectively). There was no floor effect, and a ceiling effect ranged from 0 to 62%. The ICC_2.1 values ranged from 0.74 to 0.98, indicating good to excellent agreement. Conclusions: The EOSQ-24-PL is a reliable tool for the psychometric assessment of children with EOS and the family burden.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multifactorial, exhaustive disease entity of unclear aetiopathogenesis, the main symptom of which is prolonged, unexplained fatigue that significantly limits daily functioning. Increasing evidence suggests a link between iron metabolism, particularly ferritin levels, and the occurrence of fatigue symptoms, even in the absence of anaemia. Iron deficiency can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced energy production, cognitive decline and reduced physical performance. In patients with ME/CFS, iron supplementation, especially with ferritin ≤15 ng/ml, can result in a marked improvement in symptoms, regardless of haemoglobin levels. At the same time, studies in the post-COVID-19 syndrome patient population point to the phenomenon of hyperferritinaemia, which may be related to chronic immune system activation, endocrine disorders and increased oxidative stress. Elevated ferritin levels in this group may act not only as an inflammatory indicator, but also as an active element in the pathogenesis of chronic fatigue. A possible correlation of ferritin with increased depressive symptoms and decreased IGF-I has also been established. In light of the current data, ferritin may be an available and useful biomarker to aid in the diagnosis and differentiation of ME/CFS, both in its classic form and in the course of long COVID. However, further studies are needed to validate its diagnostic, prognostic and potentially therapeutic role.