Introduction and objective: Glutamate plays a role in the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraine, and stroke. Additionally, it is implicated in the aetiology of...

Despite major advances in medicine, cancer treatment remains a considerable challenge. The rising incidence of new cases and the frequent resistance to cytostatics suggest that standard therapies may be insufficient. This highlights the need for novel compounds with potential anticancer activity and minimal side effects. Among natural molecules, soy isoflavones appear particularly promising. Soybeans and red clover are abundant in genistein and daidzein – isoflavones which are currently used as dietary supplements to alleviate menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Reports also suggest potential benefits in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Their mechanisms of action are diverse and extend beyond estrogenic activity, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. In cancer, proposed mechanisms involve modulation of estrogen receptors, copper ion–dependent induction of cell death, promotion of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis, regulation of epigenetic processes, and effects on platelet function. Owing to their estrogen receptor interactions, isoflavones have been studied particularly in hormone-dependent cancers such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies have reported promising results in other malignancies, including gliomas, neuroblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung and bladder cancers, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. In summary, soy isoflavones require further investigation, particularly in combination with established chemotherapeutics, to evaluate their potential synergy with standard protocols. Their affordability, availability, and favorable safety profile strengthen their relevance as candidates for adjunctive cancer therapy. Graphical

Rationale Postnatal neurogenesis is the process of new nerve cell formation that occurs after birth. The disruption of the neurogenesis process is a significant hypothesis in the development of mental disorders and diseases such as depression, anxiety disorders or schizophrenia, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate, based on the existing literature, whether naturally occurring alkaloids have an impact on postnatal neurogenesis and, if so, whether this effect is beneficial or detrimental. Methods An advanced search was conducted using the databases PubMed and Google Scholar, employing the terms “alkaloid” AND “neurogenesis.” The research focused on in vitro studies using cell lines, including C17.2, HT-22, BV-2, and SH-SY5Y, in addition to in vivo studies involving zebrafish (Danio rerio), Wistar rats and mice. Results The research indicated that some of the alkaloids have a beneficial impact on postnatal neurogenesis through their pleiotropic mechanisms of action. This is evidenced by their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, ability to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, promotion of synapse formation, and direct effect on neural progenitor cells proliferation. However, some alkaloids have been shown to have a negative effect on postnatal neurogenesis through mechanisms that are the opposite of those mentioned above. Conclusion There is currently a lack of consensus on whether neurogenesis occurs in Homo sapiens. However, it is known that alkaloids affect the model organisms in different ways, which suggests a potential for these substances to be used therapeutically. Further research is therefore required to investigate this possibility.

Introduction and objective: Pompe disease (PD) is a genetic and metabolic disorder caused by a mutation in the GAA gene, which leads to a deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase and glycogen deposition in lysosomes. The aim of the study is to review the genetic mechanisms, diagnostic approaches,...

Introduction: CHARGE syndrome represents a rare, genetically determined association of birth defects.* The diagnosis of the syndrome is based on the finding of typical clinical symptoms and the detection of mutations in the CHD7 gene. Case Report: The case of a 13-year-old girl with features...

(1) Background: Melanoma, glioblastoma, and neuroblastoma have distinct cellular origins, biological characteristics, and clinical behavior. Although these tumors differ in their origins, they exhibit aggressive biological features and may develop treatment resistance. New therapeutic options are constantly being sought. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potential of genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, and investigate the pharmacodynamic interactions between genistein and temozolomide in human melanoma, neuroblastoma, and glioblastoma cell lines. (2) Methods: Genistein’s potential for inhibiting cell viability, induction of cytotoxicity, and modulating apoptosis-related protein expression was assessed in eight cell lines. The interaction of the genistein + temozolomide combination (in a fixed 1:1 ratio) was assessed using isobolographic analysis. (3) Results: Genistein inhibited cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. IC₅₀ values ranged from approximately 40 to 110 μM in melanoma, 27 to 60 μM in neuroblastoma, and 37 to 83 μM in glioblastoma cell lines. Genistein treatment induced changes in apoptosis-related protein expression, including Bax and Bcl-2. The genistein + temozolomide combination produced additive interactions in the tested melanoma cell lines, whereas strong antagonism was observed in the neuroblastoma and glioblastoma models. These differences may reflect tumor-type-specific biological characteristics. (4) Conclusions: The findings provide comparative insights into genistein–temozolomide interactions across the investigated tumor models. Further studies are needed to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms and evaluate the potential therapeutic relevance of this combination. Additional preclinical investigations are required to establish its efficacy, safety, and tolerability before clinical implications can be determined.