The correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and the gut microbiome is increasingly evident, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) being particularly notable for its severity and lack of therapeutic options. The gut microbiota, implicated in the pathogenesis and development of ALS, plays a crucial role in the disease. Bioactive plant molecules, specifically volatile compounds in essential oils, offer a promising therapeutic avenue due to their anti-inflammatory properties and gut-modulating effects. Our narrative review aimed to identify microbiota-associated bacteria in ALS and analyze the benefits of administering bioactive plant molecules as much-needed therapeutic options in the management of this disease. A comprehensive search of PubMed database articles published before December 2023, encompassing research on cell, human, and animal ALS models, was conducted. After selecting, analyzing, and discussing key articles, bacteria linked to ALS pathogenesis and physiopathology were identified. Notably, positively highlighted bacteria included Akkermansia muciniphila (Verrucomicrobia phylum), Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Butyrivibrio spp. (Firmicutes phylum). Conversely, members of the Escherichia coli spp. (Proteobacteria phylum) and Ruminococcus spp. (Firmicutes phylum) stood out negatively in respect to ALS development. These bacteria were associated with molecular changes linked to ALS pathogenesis and evolution. Bioactive plant molecules can be directly associated with improvements in the microbiome, due to their role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, emerging as one of the most promising natural agents for enriching present-day ALS treatments.

The global rise in cancer incidence and mortality represents a major challenge for modern healthcare. Although current screening programs rely mainly on histological or immunological biomarkers, cancer is a multifactorial disease in which biological, psychological, and behavioural determinants interact. Psychological dimensions such as stress, anxiety, and depression may influence vulnerability and disease evolution through neuro-endocrine, immune, and behavioural pathways, especially by affecting adherence to therapeutic recommendations. However, these dimensions remain underexplored in current screening workflows. This review synthesizes current evidence on the integration of biological markers (tumor and inflammatory biomarkers), psychometric profiling (stress, depression, anxiety, personality traits), and behavioural digital phenotyping (facial micro-expressions, vocal tone, gait/posture metrics) for potential early cancer risk evaluation. We examine recent advances in computational sciences and artificial intelligence that could enable multimodal signal harmonization, structured representation, and hybrid data fusion models. We discuss how structured computational information management may improve interpretability and may support future AI-assisted screening paradigms. Finally, we highlight the relevance of digital health infrastructure and telemedical platforms in strengthening accessibility, continuity of monitoring, and population-level screening coverage. Further empirical research is required to determine the true predictive contribution of psychological and behavioural modalities beyond established biological markers.

Background/Objectives: Safe disposal of unused medicines represents an increasing public health and environmental concern. Until 2024, Romanian community pharmacies collected expired medicines from the public, though implementation was inconsistent. Using a knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP) framework, this study assessed community pharmacists’ self-reported involvement in pharmaceutical waste prevention in Bihor County, Romania, one year after new legislation transferred collection responsibilities to hospital-based centers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2025 using a self-administered questionnaire comprising 22 items covering socio-demographics, professional practices, knowledge, and attitudes. Eligible participants were community pharmacists (N = 285). Results: Respondents reported high awareness and favourable attitudes toward pharmaceutical waste management: 98.2% indicated awareness of current legislation, 94.4% reported receiving training on the new regulations, 99.6% acknowledged health and environmental risks, and 98.9% expressed agreement that patient education is important. However, 55.4% reported providing disposal information only when patients requested it, while 89.8% indicated that patients rarely asked about medicine disposal. Self-reported proactive counseling increased with patient request frequency (χ²(3) = 7.914, p = 0.048), with pharmacists in the high-request group reporting substantially higher proactive counseling than those in the low-request group (83.3% vs. 42.9%). In an adjusted logistic regression, low request frequency was associated with lower odds of proactive counseling (aOR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05–0.98, p = 0.047). Most respondents (94.6%) perceived waste-related responsibilities, though these perceptions were only weakly related to reported counseling behaviors. Conclusions: Pharmacists reported high awareness and positive attitudes toward pharmaceutical waste management, but counseling remained reactive. Patient demand was a key correlate of counseling proactivity, underscoring the need for structured education within Romania’s hospital-based take-back system.

Background: Lower urinary tract infections (LUTIs) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been associated with histamine-producing gut dysbiosis, characterized by an overgrowth of histaminogenic bacteria and opportunistic fungi. This study examines the relationship between histaminogenic microbial imbalance, dietary factors, and LUTIs in women with IBS, emphasizing the potential nutritional contributions to microbiota modulation. Methods: A cohort of 188 women was evaluated by analyzing the intestinal microbiota associated with sporadic and recurrent lower urinary tract infections and irritable bowel syndrome, along with a questionnaire on risky eating behaviors. Results: Dysbiosis was associated with an overgrowth of histamine-producing bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Clostridium spp.) and Candida albicans, along with a depletion of protective taxa (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium). Dysbiosis, characterized by an increase in histamine-producing bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Clostridium spp.) and Candida albicans, together with a depletion of protective taxa (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium), has been associated with lower urinary tract infections and irritable bowel syndrome. Regarding the increase in histaminogenic flora, significant associations with dietary factors concerned only the frequent consumption of fast food. Conclusions: These findings highlight the role of histamine-driven dysbiosis in sustaining chronic inflammation and susceptibility to LUTIs and IBS, supporting microbiota modulation as a potential preventive and therapeutic strategy.

This exploratory study investigated the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of dried inflorescence extracts prepared from three commercially cultivated lavender materials: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Moldoveanca 4’, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Sevtopolis’, and Lavandula × intermedia ‘George 90’. Using HPLC-DAD-ESI⁺ analysis, fourteen phenolic compounds predominantly belonging to the hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, and flavone classes were tentatively annotated, and their levels were estimated as class-equivalent concentrations. Descriptive quantitative differences were observed among the three extracts for all fourteen compounds. The chromatographic sum of their class-equivalent concentrations showed the highest value in ‘Sevtopolis’ (1064.44 ± 1.03 µg/mL), followed by ‘George 90’ (924.03 ± 1.13 µg/mL) and ‘Moldoveanca 4’ (825.87 ± 2.3 µg/mL). The ‘Sevtopolis’ extract also showed the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity, followed by ‘George 90’ and ‘Moldoveanca 4’. Taken together, these findings provide a preliminary analytical characterization of three specific lavender extracts and describe sample-specific phenolic and DPPH patterns under the conditions employed, without supporting genotype-level inference.

Background and Objectives: Access to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) varies substantially across health systems, yet national-level data from Eastern Europe remain limited. This study provides the first nationwide, regionally stratified assessment of ACLR activity in Romania, examining geographic variation, socioeconomic and workforce determinants, and inequality. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all ACLRs reported in the national administrative hospital database (2017–2023), supplemented with demographic, GDP, and workforce statistics. Outomes included incidence per 100,000 population, private-sector share, and sex distribution. Regional differences were tested using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn post hoc comparisons. Predictors of ACLR incidence and private-sector utilization were identified through multivariable Poisson and logistic models. Inequality metrics (Gini coefficients, P90/P10 ratios) and sensitivity analyses excluding Bucharest–Ilfov were also performed. Results: A total of 11, 080 ACLRs were recorded. Incidence varied markedly across regions, from a median of 40.0 per 100,000 in Bucharest–Ilfov to <1–3 per 100,000 in the South, South-East, and South-West (p < 0.001). Higher GDP per capita correlated with incidence (ρ = 0.36) and explained 45% of its variance. Private-sector involvement ranged from <5% in Bucharest–Ilfov and the South to 80–100% in the Centre, North-West, and South-East. In adjusted Poisson models, GDP, surgeon availability, and private-sector share were strong independent predictors of incidence (all p < 0.001). Private-sector access was primarily determined by the proportion of private orthopedic surgeons (OR 21.03). National inequality was extreme (Gini 0.842–0.752; P90/P10 > 10⁹), reflecting the concentration of procedures within a small number of counties. Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: ACLR in Romania displays severe territorial inequities driven by socioeconomic development, workforce distribution, and uneven private-sector capacity. Targeted regional investment and coordinated workforce strategies are necessary to improve equitable access to surgical care.