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The review concludes that the main isoflavones in dietary sources display in vitro and/or in vivo anti inflammatory potential by activating various biochemical and molecular mechanisms. The depicted findings translated into practical aspects strengthen the idea that the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin and equol can be used in various inflammation based diseases as an alternative source for classical medication and that consummation of foods rich in isoflavones may represent prerequisite use in order to prevent the evolution of inflammation based diseases.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that most commonly causes asymptomatic infection in immunocompetent hosts, but can have devastating consequences in congenitally infected infants and immunocompromised patients. We evaluated the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the general population in Western Romania. Sera from 304 individuals were analysed with the Pastorex Toxo test, which allows the simultaneous detection of T. gondii IgG and/or IgM antibodies. T. gondii antibodies were demonstrated in 197 individuals (64.8%) and the prevalence increased with age: 35.0% in those < 20 years versus 76.8% in those ≥ 70 years (p < 0.001). There was a higher prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in rural areas (76.9%) than in urban regions (55.3%) (p < 0.001). Our results suggest a high prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in Western Romania.

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Background and Objectives: High rates of infection with Toxoplasma gondii were found in psychiatric patients globally. In this study, we assessed for the first time the prevalence of T. gondii infection in psychiatric patients and healthy individuals with no known psychiatric disorders in Western Romania. Materials and Methods: The presence of specific IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies was evaluated in 308 psychiatric patients and 296 control subjects using a chemiluminescence assay. Results: Overall, the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was higher in psychiatric patients (67.86%; 209/308), compared with the control group (54.05%; 160/296) (p < 0.001). Our results revealed a significantly higher prevalence of T. gondii antibodies among patients with schizophrenia (69.77%), organic (personality and behaviour) disorders (76.74%), and mental disorders concerning alcohol abuse (84.62%), compared with the control group (p = 0.009, p = 0.005, p = 0.043, respectively). Conclusions: This study provides new and important information on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Romanian psychiatric patients and may serve for further scientific research regarding the status of T. gondii infection in patients with psychiatric disorders.