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Xanthohumol (XN), a bioactive plant flavonoid, is an antioxidant, and as such, it exhibits numerous beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidative effects. The main dietary source of XN is beer, where it is introduced through hops. Although the concentration of XN in beer is low, the large quantities of hop-related post-production waste present an opportunity to extract XN residues for technological or pharmaceutical purposes. The presented study focuses on the role of XN in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, analyzing its effect at a molecular level and including its signal transduction and metabolism. The paper brings up XN’s mechanism of action, potential effects, and experimental and clinical studies on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Additionally, challenges and future research directions on XN, including its bioavailability, safety, and tolerance, have been discussed.

Alcohol dependency is a complex and chronic condition that negatively impacts multiple organ systems, including the skin. A key pathological factor in this process is oxidative stress, leading to progressive cellular damage, chronic inflammation, and accelerated cutaneous aging. Alcohol metabolism generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which overwhelm endogenous antioxidant defenses and contribute to a range of skin alterations, including nonspecific changes such as xerosis, erythema, and wrinkle formation, as well as inflammatory and neoplastic skin disorders. Additionally, alcohol-induced alterations of the skin microbiome may further exacerbate skin barrier dysfunction and inflammatory responses. This review explores the biochemical mechanisms and skin microbiome alterations linking alcohol-induced oxidative stress to skin damage and disease. Furthermore, it evaluates the therapeutic potential of antioxidant-based interventions, both natural and synthetic. Antioxidants may offer protective and regenerative effects by scavenging free radicals, modulating inflammatory responses, and enhancing skin barrier function. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular and microbial interplay between alcohol, oxidative stress, and skin health, while identifying future directions for targeted antioxidant therapy in individuals with alcohol dependency.

Reducing the risk of aggressive behaviour requires preventive measures that depend on our knowledge of predisposing factors. The study's aim was to compare sociodemographic variables, clinical variables and the frequency of gene polymorphisms predisposing to destructive behaviour between subpopulations of individuals with a history of suicidality and/or of aggression, both being treated for alcohol dependence. Sixty-nine patients hospitalised for alcohol dependence participated in the study. The sociodemographic, clinical (SADD, BPAQ) and genetic variables were compared between subpopulations of alcohol-dependent patients selected according to type of aggressive behaviour, including a history of suicidal behaviour and control nonalcohol-dependent group. Polymorphisms of MAOA, COMT, DRD2 and DAT1 loci that are known as risk factors of mental dysfunctions were investigated. The subpopulation of patients with suicide attempts had a longer time in education than patients with aggressive and suicidal behaviour (11.9 vs 9.7 years). Patients with suicide attempts and patients with aggression had lower levels of alcohol dependence than patients with comorbid suicide attempts and concomitant aggression. For the MAOA gene lower frequency of the G/G genotype with tendency to statistical significance was observed among patients burdened by suicidal behaviour in comparison to patients with aggression and a significantly higher A/G genotype compared to cases with aggression and controls. In the case of COMT polymorphism, the G/G genotype was reported significantly less often among patients with suicide attempts and comorbid aggression than among patients with control group). Compared to patients with either only suicidal tendencies or aggression, those with comorbid aggression and suicide attempts are characterised by poorer social performance. Genetic variation in MAOA loci may be a risk factor for impulsive behaviour like suicidal behaviour, and especially aggression.

Orexin regulates food intake, as well as the development and progression of neoplasms. The aim of this study was to determine associations between nutritional risk and status and neoplasm stage and prognosis in patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). In 84 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for CRC, serum orexin, nutritional risk and body composition (assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and cross-sectional area determined using abdominal CT) were evaluated before the operation and 3 months after the surgery. The long-term follow-up lasted 1296.0 ±617.7 days. Compared to CRC patients with a serum orexin concentration lower than the cutoff value (197.9 pg/ml) determined in ROC curve analysis in prediction of all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up, those with orexin concentrations equal to or higher than the cutoff value were, at baseline and at the 3-month visit, more likely to have a lower score on the nutritional NRS2002 and a higher score on functional scales, greater handgrip strength, and higher skeletal muscle mass, and were less likely to suffer perioperative complications and all-cause mortality (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.13-0.89; = 0.026) during the follow-up period. No statistically significant differences in tumor size, histopathological grade or clinical stage were found between CRC patient groups divided according to orexin blood concentration. Serum orexin concentrations were found to be statistically significantly associated with patients' nutritional risk and status before surgery and at a 3-month follow-up visit, and with all-cause mortality during the 3.6-year follow-up.

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the severity of alcohol craving according to allelic variants of the 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism during hospitalisation and their association with selected clinical variables in alcohol-dependent patients. The study is exploratory. Participants were investigated at the 2nd and 6th week of alcohol-dependence therapy in the addiction treatment unit. Recruitment was conducted among alcohol-dependent patients from several Polish drug treatment centres. The total sample size was 130 persons (12 females and 118 males). Study subjects' mean age was 43.0 years. Patients were investigated twice by using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and once by using Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (SADD) and taking a swab for genetic testing. The polymorphism of the gene encoding the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR (SLC6A4) was determined from isolated DNA and its homozygous variants of short/short or long/long alleles and heterozygous short/long alleles were analysed. At 6th week of the follow-up, there was a decrease in the severity of alcohol craving in half of subjects with the short/short allele (p = 0.033) and in one-fifth of subjects with the long/short allele (p = 0.002) of the 5-HTTLPR gene. In subjects with long/long allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene, there was no change in the severity of alcohol craving between 2nd and 6th weeks of the study (p = 0.242). There was no statistical influence of the homozygous long allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene on severity of alcohol craving during 6 weeks of rehab hospitalisation in comparison to not homozygous and homozygous short alleles. The s-allele was associated with decrease of alcohol craving. It may point on the potential need for differentiated rehabilitation methods depending on the genetic diversity of addicted patients and its role in the severity of alcohol craving.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a very common and complex disease, as alcohol is the most widely used addictive drug in the world. This disorder has an enormous impact on public health and social and private life, and it generates a huge number of social costs. Alcohol use stimulates hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responses and is the cause of many physical and social problems (especially liver disease and cancer), accidental injury, and risky sexual behavior. For years, researchers have been trying to identify the genetic basis of alcohol use disorder, the molecular mechanisms responsible for its development, and an effective form of therapy. Genetic and environmental factors are known to contribute to the development of AUD, and the expression of genes is a complicated process that depends on epigenetic modulations. Dietary nutrients, such as vitamins, may serve as one these modulators, as they have a direct impact on epigenomes. In this review, we connect gathered knowledge from three emerging fields—genetics, epigenetics, and nutrition—to form an amazing triangle relating to alcohol use disorder.

Migraine is a common primary headache disorder, which affects mainly young females, usually those with some specific personality traits including neuroticism and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Among many factors that may trigger headache are to be found those associated with eating patterns and behaviours. Eating disorders are psychiatric disorders of abnormal eating or weight-control behaviours. According to the most up-to-date classification, six main types are identified, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Similar to migraine, eating disorders are mainly diagnosed in young adults and, moreover, personality pattern, in at least some of the eating disorders, is also suggested to be consistent. This systematic review aimed to summarise the available literature related to this topic. We performed an electronic article search through the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases and included 16 articles into analysis in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Most of the studies revealed the presence of a putative correlation between migraine and eating disorders, and these encourage further investigations. Moreover, apart from the clinical aspect, also the pathogenesis underlying both disorders is suggested to be similar. More frequent co-occurrence of other psychiatric disorders in migraineurs, such as depression and anxiety, was reported and should be considered in future research. Furthermore, adverse interactions between pharmacotherapy and symptoms of comorbid conditions underline the importance of this problem. A correlation between migraine and eating disorders appears highly probable. However, further investigations are required focusing on diverse aspects such as clinical, psychological, and pathogenic.

Background: The early identification of patients at risk of peri-procedural complications and poor prognosis is particularly important. We conducted our study to determine whether serum orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration is associated with nutritional status and prognosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and Methods: A cohort study with a 3-month follow-up was conducted with 84 consecutive inpatients who underwent elective surgery in one center between 2016 and 2019 for primary CRC. The clinical characteristics and nutritional status of all patients were assessed. In long-term follow-ups (median; IQR: 1322; 930–1788 days; average 3.6 years), the patients’ survival status was also checked during a telephone consultation. Results: Before CRC surgery, patients with serum NPY concentrations equal to or higher than the median value (661.70 pg/mL) had higher scores in their Mini Nutritional Assessment, Barthel, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) questionnaires, greater handgrip strength, a lower score in the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, and almost a three-times lower risk of perioperative complications, as well as higher Barthel and IADL scores and larger calf circumference at the 3-month follow-up visit in comparison to individuals with lower serum NPY concentrations. A higher serum NPY concentration was predictive of a low Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 score at the 3-month visit, and this was also found to have significantly influenced the patients’ survival during the 1200 days after CRC surgery. Conclusions: A higher preoperative serum NPY concentration may be related to lower nutritional risk, more favorable patient nutritional and functional status, and better survival, but further studies are required.

Purpose The aim of this study was to develop an algorithm that corrects the image of an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) of a linear accelerator so that it can be used for dosimetric purposes, such as in vivo dosimetry or quality assurance for photon radiotherapy. For that purpose, the impact of the field size, phantom thickness, and the varying spectral photon distribution within the irradiation field on the EPID image was investigated. Methods The EPID measurements were verified using reference measurements with ionization chambers. Therefore, absolute dose measurements with an ionization chamber and relative dose measurements with a detector array were performed. An EPID calibration and correction algorithm was developed to convert the EPID image to a dose distribution. The algorithm was validated by irradiating inhomogeneous phantoms using square fields as well as irregular IMRT fields. Results It was possible to correct the influence of the field size, phantom thickness on the EPID signal as well as the homogenization of the image profile by several correction factors within 0.6%. A gamma index analysis (3%, 3 mm) of IMRT fields showed a pass rate of above 99%, when comparing to the planning system. Conclusion The developed algorithm enables an online dose measurement with the EPID during the radiation treatment. The algorithm is characterized by a robust, non‐iterative, and thus real‐time capable procedure with little measuring effort and does not depend on system‐specific parameters. The EPID image is corrected by multiplying three independent correction factors. Therefore, it can easily be extent by further correction factors for other influencing variables, so it can be transferred to other linear accelerators and EPID configurations.

Introduction and objective: Preschool and early school age plays an important role in shaping the foot and posture in children. The aims of the study were to assess the correctness of foot shape in preschool children and to determine possible correlations with age, gender, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI), and the centre of body gravity.  Materials and methods: A study of feet and anthropometric parameters was carried out in children aged 4–6 years. Foot examination was performed using a podoscope and a strain gauge platform, while body weight was assessed using a Tanita device. Body weight, height, Clarke’s angle, centre of gravity, and WHtR were analysed. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the value of the Clarke’s angle between the left and right feet in both girls and boys, regardless of the age group. The BMI did not correlate statistically with the results of the Clarke’s angle measurements, both for all the subjects and taking into account their age. The BMI value was statistically significantly correlated with the centre of body gravity due to the correct WHtR. Conclusions: The study confirmed that the longitudinal arch of the foot shows no clear sexual dimorphism. The BMI and Clarke’s angle were not dependent on each other in the study group. The study showed no changes in the centre of body gravity in relation to the children’s body shape.