This collection of articles provides an overview of the current and future methods for applying a personalized medicine approach to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

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We are very excited to introduce this Special Issue of Nutrients, “Advances in Legumes for Human Nutrition”. Recently, legumes have contributed to a sustainable and increased food supply for the rapidly growing global population due to climate change. Legume seeds that are intact or milled into flour offer a complex array of macro- and micronutrients and phytochemicals for human nutrition. Additionally, they can be fractionated into their component proteins, starches, lipids and dietary fibre as health- and techno-functional food ingredients. These ingredients are in great demand by the food industry, for example, in the manufacture of vegetarian and vegan dairy products and meat analogues with good nutritional profiles. However, the issues, such as micronutrient availability, antinutrients and allergenicity, still require solutions for the maximum uptake of legumes by humans. We invited manuscripts that address any aspect of this broad topic, including the impact of innovative food technologies on the nutritional value of legumes and those focusing on nutritional properties of seeds from underutilised members of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family.

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Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. It is a multifactorial heterogeneous disease characterized by the transformation of normal cells into malignant cells, which acquire an uncontrolled growth, immortality, invasiveness, and ability to form distant metastasis. Natural bioactive molecules may interfere with these processes and inhibit the carcinogenesis process. In this book, new molecules and extracts, mainly derived from plants, have been described as being able to alter tumor cell behavior and target several abnormal molecular pathways in cancer cells. Among different cancer cells, the more studied include those derived from glioblastoma, osteosarcoma, lung, breast and gastric cancer. These natural products could be an attractive source for the development of new preventative and therapeutic agents against cancer. They may be more selective and have weaker adverse effects compared to conventional chemotherapy drugs that are actually used for cancer treatment. Clinical trials are necessary to demonstrate whether the in vitro and in vivo animal data are reproduced in humans before the application of natural products in cancer prevention and treatment.

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Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. It is a multifactorial heterogeneous disease characterized by the transformation of normal cells into malignant cells, which acquire an uncontrolled growth, immortality, invasiveness, and ability to form distant metastasis. Natural bioactive molecules may interfere with these processes and inhibit the carcinogenesis process. In this book, new molecules and extracts, mainly derived from plants, have been described as being able to alter tumor cell behavior and target several abnormal molecular pathways in cancer cells. Among different cancer cells, the more studied include those derived from glioblastoma, osteosarcoma, lung, breast and gastric cancer. These natural products could be an attractive source for the development of new preventative and therapeutic agents against cancer. They may be more selective and have weaker adverse effects compared to conventional chemotherapy drugs that are actually used for cancer treatment. Clinical trials are necessary to demonstrate whether the in vitro and in vivo animal data are reproduced in humans before the application of natural products in cancer prevention and treatment.

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The application of analytical chemistry to the food sector allows the determination of the chemical composition of foods and the properties of their constituents, contributing to the definition of their nutritional and commodity value. Furthermore, it is possible to study the chemical modifications that food constituents undergo as a result of the treatments they undergo (food technology). Food analysis, therefore, allows us not only to determine the quality of a product or its nutritional value, but also to reveal adulterations and identify the presence of xenobiotic substances potentially harmful to human health. Furthermore, some foods, especially those of plant origin, contain numerous substances with beneficial effects on health. While these functional compounds can be obtained from a correct diet, they can also be extracted from food matrices for the formulation of nutraceutical products or added to foods by technological or biotechnological means for the production of functional foods. On the other hand, the enormous growth of the food industry over the last 50 years has broadened the field of application of analytical chemistry to encompass not only food but also food technology, which is fundamental for increasing the production of all types of food.

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The reprint provides the most relevant and state-of-the-art in the field, including recent developments in the production of natural compounds from various bioresources, and their formulations as bioactives. This reprint also covered the engineered approaches for enhanced biological properties and their potential applications. Identification of novel compounds and bioprocess tools to improve the quantity and quality of bioactive compounds and their formulations are exclusively covered in this reprint.

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The close relationship between food intake and health promotion is not new; it dates back to Hippocrates’s famous “let food be your medicine and medicine be your food”, which is still as timely as ever. In recent years, some scientific evidence has supported this statement, showing that dietary plant extracts, or bioactive compounds isolated therefrom, are able to prevent or slow down the progression of chronic and degenerative diseases, making them particularly interesting from a nutraceutical point of view. On the other hand, extensive chemical investigations of functional plant extracts’ constituents are needed to rationalize certain bioactivity, in terms of efficacy and safety.

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The metabolomics approach, defined as the study of all endogenously-produced low-molecular-weight compounds, appeared as a promising strategy to define new cancer biomarkers. Information obtained from metabolomic data can help to highlight disrupted cellular pathways and, consequently, contribute to the development of new-targeted therapies and the optimization of therapeutics. Therefore, metabolomic research may be more clinically translatable than other omics approaches, since metabolites are closely related to the phenotype and the metabolome is sensitive to many factors. Metabolomics seems promising to identify key metabolic pathways characterizing features of pathological and physiological states. Thus, knowing that tumor metabolism markedly differs from the metabolism of normal cells, the use of metabolomics is ideally suited for biomarker research. Some works have already focused on the application of metabolomic approaches to different cancers, namely lung, breast and liver, using urine, exhaled breath and blood. In this Special Issue we contribute to a more complete understanding of cancer disease using metabolomics approaches.

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Carotenoids are a group of approximately 600 compounds synthesized by photosynthetic organisms. These pigments are abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as in certain animal products such as eggs and salmon, being responsible for their colorful appearance. The bioactive properties of certain carotenoids in human health are clear, as some of these compounds have antioxidant properties and serve as the only precursors of vitamin A in nature. The aim of this Special Issue entitled “Carotenoids and Human Health” is to provide the scientific community with an updated perspective of this exciting and growing research area. We compiled 19 papers from some of the most prominent scientists in the carotenoid field, including seven literature reviews and 12 original publication, covering topics such as cancer, obesity, vision, cognitive function, and skin health.

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This reprint reviews a crop pest management use for several essential oils and the properties of an excellent lemon (citral) source. Research is reported on the biological properties of enhanced lemon oil along with the human intake of citrus beverages and the less common medicinal mastiha oil. Oils and hydrolates of rosemary and lavender were analyzed by headspace/GC-MS to better define their antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, and yeast particle encapsulation was investigated for the controlled release of bioactive terpenes.

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This collection of 10 papers includes original as well as review articles focused on the cholinesterase structural aspects, drug design and development of novel cholinesterase ligands, but also contains papers focused on the natural compounds and their effect on the cholinergic system and unexplored effects of donepezil.

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Musculoskeletal disorders are a serious burden for patients and modern society. In Europe alone, 100,000,000 individuals suffer from musculoskeletal disorders and 40,000,000 affected workers cause losses due to work absence and a productivity loss of EUR 12 billion per year. Worldwide, musculoskeletal disorders are the second most common cause of pain and disability. Adequate diagnosis and early initiation of treatment are key elements in the care for patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, yet, for many musculoskeletal disorders, diagnostic tests lack appropriate accuracy. Treatment of musculoskeletal disorders is challenging as the mechanisms causing the complaints and mechanisms of action for the available treatment options are largely unknown. Moreover, these mechanisms and effectiveness might depend on specific patients’ characteristics and call for personalized strategies. This Special Issue invited researchers in the field to contribute to the state of the art in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. As many different healthcare professionals are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, the Special Issue published high-quality studies from different areas of healthcare. Studies reporting on original research (e.g., randomized controlled trials, cohort studies), but also systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses within the scope of the Special Issue were considered. Given recent debates around the effectiveness of surgical interventions for musculoskeletal disorders and concomitant risks for adverse side-effects, intervention studies on non-surgical treatment options were prioritized.

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As editors of this book our aim was to collect new data from experienced authors in order to further advance the knowledge on the protective effects of polyphenols’ intake, e.g., when included in the human diet, to modulate cellular functions and pathways associated with neurodegenerative diseases.Fruits and vegetables are the richest source of polyphenols in the regular human diet. Most of these molecules possess high antioxidant capacity, as well as several other important activities that can affect human health, among which anti-inflammatory properties and the potential ability to modulate different cell-signalling pathways seem to be the most important. Neurodegenerative diseases are among the main causes of death worldwide and, in most of them like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, neurodegeneration occurs long before the onset of first symptoms, where a large population of brain neurons are already lost. Besides neurons, glial cells like astrocytes and microglia, are involved in oxidative and neuroinflammatory pathological pathways, making them interesting targets for neuroprotective strategies. Polyphenols are promising candidates for those strategies, either as prophylactic substances or as therapeutic molecules.In this book, several research papers and two reviews explore the chemical properties of naturally occurring polyphenols and some new possibilities for the therapeutical and/or prophylactic roles of these molecules on neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative diseases.

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This Special Issue begins with two preclinical studies on bergamot fruit extract (Citrus bergamia) showing reductions in oxidative stress and dyslipidemia both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, a review explores the potential therapeutic use of combining SGLT2 inhibitors with plant extracts. In another in vivo study, humanized mice supplemented with L-carnitine and essential oil emulsions exhibited prebiotic effects on gut microbiota, reducing plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and increasing fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Preclinical studies also examined the impact of copper nanoparticles on oxidative stress and vascular relaxation, and assessed the quality of herbal teas and dietary supplements, revealing deficiencies in their nutraceutical content. Two reviews highlight the health benefits of astaxanthin and taurine. Clinical studies include a retrospective analysis linking glucosamine usage to increased cardiovascular risk in osteoarthritis patients, and a trial demonstrating the efficacy of L-Arginine plus vitamin C supplementation in long-COVID patients. The issue concludes with three placebo-controlled trials: one showing Coenzyme Q10 plus NADH benefits on fatigue and quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome patients, another revealing the antioxidant effects of water-soluble tomato concentrate in healthy adults, and a third highlighting the positive impact of bergamot polyphenolic fraction phytosome, artichoke extracts, Q10 phytosome, and zinc on lipid profiles, inflammation, NAFLD, and endothelial reactivity in hypercholesterolemic individuals.

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Dyslipidemia, and particularly hypercholesterolemia, remains a main cardiovascular disease risk factor, partly reversible with the improvement of life-style, including dietary, habits. Even when a pharmacological treatment is begun, dietary support to lipid-lowering is always desired. This book will provide a selection of new evidence on the possible lipid-lowering effects of some dietary and medicinal plant components, reporting some interesting reviews, experimental data and results from clinical trials. The book is adapted for experts in nutrition but also for all scientists involved in cardiovascular disease prevention.

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Iodine, a key component of thyroid hormones, is considered an essential micronutrient for proper health at all life stages. Indeed, an inadequate dietary intake of iodine is responsible for several functional and developmental abnormalities. The most serious consequences of iodine deficiency include hypothyroidism, early abortion, low birth weight, preterm delivery, neurocognitive impairment, and mental retardation. On the other hand, the consequences of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency, such as goiter, are less well understood but represent an important priority for research and public health practice. Over the last several decades, many countries across the globe have introduced mandatory salt iodization programs, which have dramatically reduced the number of iodine-deficient countries. However, despite substantial progress worldwide, mild-to-moderate deficiency is still prevalent even in many developed countries. Thus, the ongoing monitoring of the population iodine status remains crucially important, and attention may need to be paid to vulnerable life stage groups.

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This Reprint aims to immerse the readers into the latest frontiers of cutting-edge investigations regarding bioactive compounds and nutraceuticals. It explores their use in biotechnological approaches, biomedical applications, the discovery of novel bioactive natural products, the role of these products on food structure, and their potential physiological effects on human nutrition. Additionally, it discusses the use of in vitro and in vivo bioactivity research involving cell lines and animal models as exemplars of human physiology.

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