Vol 7, No 4 (2025)

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) demonstrates considerable neuroprotective potential in preclinical studies; however, translating these data into clinical practice faces a number of fundamental challenges. This article analyzes the key barriers to the clinical application of nettle extracts in neurodegenerative diseases and diabetic neuropathy: low oral bioavailability of active compounds, limited blood–brain barrier penetration, lack of standardized dosing protocols, and a shortage of randomized controlled trials. Innovative approaches to overcoming these limitations are discussed, including intranasal delivery of phytosterols via the nose-to-brain pathway and modulation of the microbiota–gut–brain axis using fermented plant material. The potential of combined strategies that integrate targeted CNS delivery with systemic modulation of neuroinflammation through the gut microbiota is substantiated.

The study is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological situation related to prostate cancer (PCa) in the Russian Federation and the Northwestern Federal District (NWFD). Today, PCa is the leading cause of oncological morbidity among the male population, ranking first (19.1%) in the structure of malignant neoplasms in Russia as of 2023. In the NWFD and Saint Petersburg, these figures reach 19.74% and 21.49%, respectively. The relevance of the work is driven by a steady increase in incidence rates, including among the working-age population, against the backdrop of global trends. The aim of the study is to examine the patterns in the dynamics of incidence and mortality rates, evaluate the quality of reporting for newly registered PCa cases, calculate one-year lethality using the Population-based Cancer Registry (PCR) database of the NWFD, and explore modern diagnostic capabilities. The study established that despite the rising incidence in the NWFD, there is a observed decline in mortality and one-year lethality. A key indicator of improved reporting quality was the decrease in the Data Reliability Index (DRI) to 0.22–0.23 by 2023. Significant progress in early diagnosis was identified: while Stage IV was predominant (33.7%) among men under 60 in the year 2000, by 2023, the diagnosis was verified at Stage II in 43.1% of patients. Similar positive dynamics were observed in the patient group aged 60 and older. The findings indicate an improvement in the screening system and the increased effectiveness of oncological care in the region, which facilitates timely disease detection and improves patient prognosis. The global context of the study confirms a twofold increase in the absolute number of cases in the Russian Federation over the last decades, necessitating further development of preventive and diagnostic measures.

The study examines approaches to assessing the role of modern nutrition in preserving public health from the perspective of the exposome concept. The materials used included: scientific publications (original research, reviews, meta-analyses), data from clinical and epidemiological cohorts, results of nutritional interventions, OMICS datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, metagenomics), data from biobanks and open databases of exposome and microbiome research, as well as the results of bioinformatics and network analyses. Based on a comprehensive analysis of studies that utilized resources from genetics, OMICS technologies, and bioinformatics, it is shown that a healthy lifestyle and improved dietary patterns—aimed not at treating diseases but at their prevention and prediction—are a core element of preserving health in industrially developed countries. In the context of personalized and precision medicine (hereinafter referred to as PPM) as a next-generation healthcare model, the interaction between the individual, the environment, and dietary characteristics—three main factors influencing the health status of any individual and the human population as a whole—becomes a significant element. Amid the global trend toward dietary optimization, the concept of personalized nutrition plays a key role, with the mandatory inclusion of nutri-, epi-, and metagenomic testing in protocol schemes, combined with screening and monitoring of endomicrobiota spectra, encompassing medicine, nutrition science, the food bioindustry, and food retail in its scope.

This systematic review summarizes scientific and practical approaches to implementing advances in systems biology, personalized and precision medicine, and modern bioinformatics tools into the healthcare system with the aim of promoting the concept of healthy longevity. The literature was analyzed according to principles of systematic selection: searches in international and national databases; selection of studies dedicated to the clinical application of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics; assessment of source quality; and extraction of data on mechanisms of integration, organizational models, technical interoperability, and economic effectiveness. The synthesized results indicate that the development of omics technologies substantially increases capabilities for prediction, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment of multifactorial diseases, and also contributes to the development of next-generation therapeutics. Key barriers were identified: the absence of a national network of biobanks for omics biomarkers and a unified data-sharing platform; technical and regulatory incompatibility with international systems; a shortage of interdisciplinary specialists; and problems of financing, ethics, and personal data protection. Priority measures include establishing a national biobank infrastructure, standardizing formats and exchange protocols and ensuring compatibility with international initiatives; investing in workforce training and pilot projects for integrating omics data into clinical practice; and forming regulatory and ethical frameworks — these actions will accelerate the translation of science into practice, improve population health, and stimulate pharmaceutical innovation.

This study examines the influence of environmental factors on the manifestation of genetic predisposition to chronic non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative pathologies, through the lens of epigenetic mechanisms. The work synthesizes evidence demonstrating that environmental agents such as air pollution, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors induce persistent changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA expression. It is demonstrated that genetic predisposition significantly amplifies the negative effects of environmental exposures: the combined effect of high PM2.5 levels and high polygenic predisposition increases the risk of cardiovascular events by 66.6% (HR 1.666; 95% CI 1.590–1.746). Epigenetic alterations have been shown to be transmitted through the germline for at least ten generations in mammals. The aim of this study is to systematize current data on the molecular mechanisms of gene–environment interactions (G × E) and their epidemiological manifestations based on open-access sources published between 2024 and 2026. A comparative analysis of European and East Asian populations revealed a high degree of shared genetic control over DNA methylation: 62.2% of methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) were significant in both populations (80,394 out of 129,155 methylation sites), with a correlation of SNP effects of r_b = 0.85–0.91. The obtained findings substantiate the necessity of integrating genomics, epigenomics, and exposomics for personalized prevention. A systematic search for scientific publications was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and eLibrary databases.