Sylwia Chojnowska

Obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges worldwide and has reached the scale of a global epidemic. Its etiology is multifactorial and includes genetic, environmental, hormonal, and neurobiological factors. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the role of the gut microbiota in the regulation of energy metabolism, inflammatory processes, and the functioning of the gut–brain axis. An increasing body of evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may influence the dopaminergic system and eating behaviors through bacterial metabolites, immune pathways, and the vagus nerve. Disturbances in microbiota composition may contribute to the development of chronic low-grade inflammation and compulsive consumption of highly processed foods. This article discusses the concept of food addiction as a phenomenon involving loss of control over eating, excessive reward system reactivity, and dopaminergic dysfunction within the mesolimbic reward system. Particular attention is given to the role of the gut microbiota in modulating these processes, including the potential effects of selected commensal bacteria and the importance of dietary interventions such as the ketogenic diet in regulating the gut–brain axis. The presented data suggest that modulation of the gut microbiota may represent a promising supportive strategy in the treatment of obesity and disorders associated with compulsive eating. At the same time, it is emphasized that the current state of knowledge is largely preclinical and observational, highlighting the need for further translational and clinical studies.

The ageing of the population is resulting in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which are an increasing social, economic and medical problem. Diet and physical activity are now considered as important modifiable factors that help prevent or delay the development of AD and other dementia-related diseases. The pyramid of healthy nutrition and lifestyle is a way of presenting the principles, the implementation of which gives a chance for proper development and a long healthy life. The basis of the pyramid, in the first place, is physical activity. Our review of the literature in the PubMed database supports the hypothesis that complementary factors, such as proper diet, physical exercise and mental activity, have a positive impact on the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. The nutritional recommendations for healthy adults primarily include the consumption of vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, vegetable oils and fishes. Therefore, the introduction of Mediterranean and Asian diets may reduce the risk of the neurodegenerative diseases associated with dementia, whereas dairy products and meat—the main sources of L-carnitine—should be consumed in moderate amounts. The aim of our work is to provide up-to-date knowledge about the appropriate dietary model and healthy lifestyle elements and their impact on good health and the long life of people.

Quercetin-3-glucuronide (Q3GA), the main phase II metabolite of quercetin (Q) in human plasma, is considered to be a more stable form of Q for transport with the bloodstream to tissues, where it can be potentially deconjugated by β-glucuronidase (β-Gluc) to Q aglycone, which easily enters the brain. This study evaluates the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation on β-Gluc gene expression in the choroid plexus (ChP) and its activity in blood plasma, ChP and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the concentration of Q and its phase II metabolites in blood plasma and CSF. Studies were performed on saline- and LPS-treated adult ewes (n = 40) receiving Q3GA intravenously (n = 16) and on primary rat ChP epithelial cells and human ChP epithelial papilloma cells. We observed that acute inflammation stimulated β-Gluc activity in the ChP and blood plasma, but not in ChP epithelial cells and CSF, and did not affect Q and its phase II metabolite concentrations in plasma and CSF, except Q3GA, for which the plasma concentration was higher 30 min after administration (p < 0.05) in LPS- compared to saline-treated ewes. The lack of Q3GA deconjugation in the ChP observed under physiological and acute inflammatory conditions, however, does not exclude its possible role in the course of neurodegenerative diseases.

L-carnitine plays an important role in the functioning of the central nervous system, and especially in the mitochondrial metabolism of fatty acids. Altered carnitine metabolism, abnormal fatty acid metabolism in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been documented. ASD is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition that is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Patients with ASD require careful classification as this heterogeneous clinical category may include patients with an intellectual disability or high functioning, epilepsy, language impairments, or associated Mendelian genetic conditions. L-carnitine participates in the long-chain oxidation of fatty acids in the brain, stimulates acetylcholine synthesis (donor of the acyl groups), stimulates expression of growth-associated protein-43, prevents cell apoptosis and neuron damage and stimulates neurotransmission. Determination of L-carnitine in serum/plasma and analysis of acylcarnitines in a dried blood spot may be useful in ASD diagnosis and treatment. Changes in the acylcarnitine profiles may indicate potential mitochondrial dysfunctions and abnormal fatty acid metabolism in ASD children. L-carnitine deficiency or deregulation of L-carnitine metabolism in ASD is accompanied by disturbances of other metabolic pathways, e.g., Krebs cycle, the activity of respiratory chain complexes, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Supplementation of L-carnitine may be beneficial to alleviate behavioral and cognitive symptoms in ASD patients.

Stress, anxiety and depressive disorders are often characterized by the activation of the stress axis, which results in similar symptoms at some point in these disorders. These disorders are closely related to each other—they occur simultaneously or follow one another. The diagnosis of stress, anxiety and depression is not a perfect procedure currently—it is based on patient observation and an interview with the patient and their family. There are no laboratory tests that would dispel the doubts of the doctor making the diagnosis and allow the appropriate treatment to be implemented as soon as possible. Therefore, this study will review the components of saliva that could be helpful in the quick diagnosis of stress, anxiety and/or depression. Such potential salivary biomarkers could also be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment prescribed by a psychiatrist. The following are promising salivary biomarkers of stress, anxiety or depression: cortisol, immunoglobulin A (sIgA), lysozyme, melatonin, α-amylase (sAA), chromogranin A (CgA) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). To the best valuable potential salivary markers of stress, we can include cortisol, lysozyme, sAA and CgA. To differentiate depression from stress, salivary cortisol and melatonin can be helpful. Fluctuations in the concentrations of the above-mentioned substances in saliva indicate a particularly strong relationship with typical human psychological problems, such as stress, depression or anxiety.

Background: The article aimed to assess the activity of the hexosaminidase (HEX) and its HEX A and HEX B isoenzymes in persons who suddenly died due to ethanol poisoning and explain the cause of their death. Methods: The research involved two groups of the deceased group A—22 people (20 males, 2 females; the average age 46 years) who died due to alcohol intoxication (with the blood alcohol content of 4‰ and above in all biological materials at the time of death—blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and vitreous humor), and group B—30 people (22 males, 8 females; the average age 54 years), who died suddenly due to other reasons than alcohol. Results: The highest activity of the HEX was found in the serum of A and B groups. A significantly lower activity of HEX, HEX A, and HEX B was observed in the urine of group A in comparison to the sober decedents. Conclusion: The lower activity of HEX and its isoenzymes in the dead’s urine due to ethanol poisoning may suggest its usefulness as a potential marker of harmful alcohol drinking. Damage done to the kidneys by ethanol poisoning may be one of the possible mechanisms leading to death. Kidneys may be damaged intravitally via the inflammatory agent. Thus, it is necessary to conduct further research to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of exoglycosidases while determining the death mechanisms of people who lost their lives due to ethanol poisoning.

The prevention or alleviation of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is a challenge for contemporary health services. The aim of this study was to review the literature on the prevention or alleviation of AD by introducing an appropriate carnitine-rich diet, dietary carnitine supplements and the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet, which contains elements of the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. L-carnitine (LC) plays a crucial role in the energetic metabolism of the cell. A properly balanced diet contains a substantial amount of LC as well as essential amino acids and microelements taking part in endogenous carnitine synthesis. In healthy people, carnitine biosynthesis is sufficient to prevent the symptoms of carnitine deficiency. In persons with dysfunction of mitochondria, e.g., with AD connected with extensive degeneration of the brain structures, there are often serious disturbances in the functioning of the whole organism. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of fruits and vegetables, cereals, nuts, olive oil, and seeds as the major source of fats, moderate consumption of fish and poultry, low to moderate consumption of dairy products and alcohol, and low intake of red and processed meat. The introduction of foodstuffs rich in carnitine and the MIND diet or carnitine supplementation of the AD patients may improve their functioning in everyday life.

Background. Determination of neonate serum’s N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase (HEX) activity and correlation results with Apgar scale and factors routinely determined in newborn serum.Aims. Providing reference values of neonates serum HEX activities, and indicate their diagnostic significance.Study design. The study was performed using random serum samples of 111 infants (53 ♂/58 ♀), aged 1–30 days. The activity of HEX was determined colorimetrically and expressed in nKat/L.Results. Serum HEX activity of 111 newborns was 360.5 ± 114.0 nKat/L and significantly positively correlated with gestation week at the day of delivery, birth weight, weight on day of blood collection, sex, and serum CRP.Conclusions. Reference values presented for neonatal serum activities of HEX may be used in neonatal diagnostics, for example, to detect inflammation and other diseases or for early assessment of the risk of Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases.