Spirulina is a microalga that presents various important pro-health properties, for instance lowering blood pressure in the research. The study aims to appraise the efficacy of Spirulina ...administration on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved by a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 2021 according to a standardized protocol. The effect size of each study was counted from mean and standard deviation before and after the intervention and shown as Un-standardized mean difference and 95% confidence interval. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Meta-analysis on 5 RCTs with 230 subjects was eligible. The amount of Spirulina ranged from 1 to 8 g per day, and intervention durations ranged from 2 to 12 weeks. Data analysis indicated that Spirulina supplementation led to a significant lowering of SBP (Mean Difference (MD): −4.59 mmHg, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): −8.20 to −0.99, I square statistic (I2) = 65%) and significant lowering of DBP (MD: −7.02 mmHg, CI: −8.86 to −5.18, I2 = 11%), particularly in a subgroup of hypertensive patients. Spirulina administration might have a supportive effect on the prevention and treatment of hypertension. More exact randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the effect of Spirulina supplementation on blood pressure.
Ukraine is at the forefront of one of the largest outbreaks of tuberculosis (TB) in Europe, including multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Due to the ongoing armed conflict in this area, there is a ...significant number of refugees from Ukraine to other European countries. The aim of the study is to emphasize the essence of the problem of the increased incidence of tuberculosis, taking into account the impact of the armed conflict in Ukraine, resulting in the intensification of migration movements. A descriptive epidemiological method was used as the research method. The material was collected by analyzing source statistical data from WHO and statistical yearbooks of selected European countries. Particularly, Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are at higher risk of contracting tuberculosis due to factors like migration stress, poor nutrition, and comorbidities. Epidemiological data from these countries show a rise in tuberculosis cases among foreigners, emphasizing the need for European specialists to be more vigilant in this unique situation, focusing on refugees and other vulnerable populations. More research and collaborative efforts are essential to closely monitor and prevent the severe outcomes of tuberculosis transmission.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Poland. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for over 85% of all ...cases. Cancer incidence and mortality trends observed in the world and also Poland for many years, have been the resultants of changes associated with exposure to tobacco smoke carcino-gens (active smoking). Until recently, chemotherapy was the main treatment for NSCLC patients. Currently, thanks to the development of numerous research centers around the world, there are several methods of treating patients, which leads to the extension of cancer patients' lives and the improvement of their quality. The immune system plays an important role in controlling and eradicating cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPs) have shown clear persistent responses and represent the emergence of a new approach to treating patients with NSCLC. PD-1 inhibitors and PD-L1 inhibitors are a group of checkpoint inhibitors being developed for the treatment of cancer. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is an inhibitory receptor expressed by activated T cells that downmodulates effector functions and limits the generation of immune memory. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies targeting with PD-1 and PD-L1 has become standard of care for an increasing number of indications. However, many patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) experience disease progression after first- and second- line treatment; therefore more treatment options are needed for these patients. Due to the specific characteristics of cancer immunotherapy and the rapid advances in this field, clinical guidelines for the use of these drugs are needed, including patient selection, response monitoring, careful observation of side effects, and biomarker testing.
Influenza is an infectious respiratory disease that is caused by influenza A and B viruses in humans. Pandemic outbreaks mainly involve type A virus of zoonotic origin. The severity of the pandemic ...flu depends on many factors, including the virulence of the pandemic virus strain and the level of pre-existing immunity. Symptoms associated with influenza virus infection differ from mild respiratory disease limited to the upper respiratory tract and are characterized by fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, muscle pain and fatigue, as well as severe and in some cases fatal pneumonia due to influenza virus or secondary bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract. The influenza virus is quite often subject to modifications, which makes it necessary to formulate an influenza vaccine every year to match the circulating strains. These vaccines are not mandatory and, despite the broadly understood promotion among the public, they are not widely purchased. In addition, the vaccine's effectiveness is quite low in the case of an antigenic mismatch between the vaccine and the circulating strain of the virus, which causes a still high level of illness during the year. In the 2019/2020 season, a significant decrease in the number of influenza cases was observed in Poland and in the world. In this work, we will take a closer look at the numerical values of people with influenza and discuss the possible causes of this decline. Did the Covid-19 pandemic favorably affect the incidence of another virus, such as the influenza virus, and cause its decline, or did it just overshadow the real numbers, put society to sleep, and diverted their attention?
Abstract
Introduction: Lower back pain is one of the most common disorders in the world. Acupuncture is one the methods of treatment, but its efficiency is still researched.
Aim of the study: To ...verify the effectiveness of acupuncture on low back pain.
Material and Methods: Search of the PubMed database using the following keywords: acupuncture, lower back pain. Only full-length articles were taken into consideration.
Results: The studies show that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain and is not inferior to the usual care. However its efficiency in treatment of acute low back pain is not satisfactory and patients still require additional pharmacotherapy.
Conclusion: Acupuncture is efficient in the treatment of chronic low back pain, however more research is needed on its efficiency in treatment of acute low back pain.
Keywords: acupuncture, lower back pain
Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac angiosarcoma Ołownia, Aleksandra; Orczyk, Jakub; Tokarzewska, Agata ...
Journal of Education, Health and Sport,
06/2023, Letnik:
40, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Primary cardiac tumors are very rare in the population. About 20% of it are malignant. The most common type of cardiac malignant tumor is angiosarcoma. This tumor has the ability to infiltrate ...surrounding tissues and form distant metastases. Angiosarcoma is most often located in the right atrium and it mostly attacks men. This neoplasm is difficult to diagnose, because it has no specific symptoms. Patients with this tumor may complain of a chest pain, cardiac arrhythmias, suffocation and distal oedema. The rarity of occurrence and the lack of specyfic symptoms contribute to late diagnosis of the disease and worse prognosis of patients. Angiosarcoma can also be misdiagnosed as pneumonia or more common cardiovascular disease for example coronary artery disease. In advanced stage, this tumor can even lead to myocardial rupture. Various imaging methods are used in the diagnostics of this neoplasm for example: CT, MRI, PET-CT or Echocardiography. Histopathological examinations are less frequently used due to the risk of serious complications like hemothorax. Due to the very uncommon occurrence of the angiosarcoma, guidelines describing treatment of patients with this neoplasm, have not been developed yet. Currently, surgical removal of the tumor (if it is possible), chemiotherapy and radiotherapy are used. Reaserches on the genetic mutations which cause angiosarcoma and the development of appropriate drugs may give patients a chance for more effective treatment in the future
Nowadays, herbal preparations are increasingly used in medicine. These preparations are cheaper, more available and they have fewer side effects than synthetic ones. Nigella Sativa, commonly known as ...Black Cumin, has been used in traditional medicine since antiquity. This herb is known to have many properties. The prophet Muhammad himself has already mentioned them, claiming that “Black Cumin is a cure for all diseases except death". Researches on N. Sativa confirmed that it has anti-diabetic, anti-asthmatic, pro-fertility, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, gastroprotective, immunomodulatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-ischemic effects. Many of these properties are due to thymoquinone, which is the main component of black cumin essential oil. This present review is an attempt to provide a specific overview of researches and literatures of pharmacognostical profile and pharmacological activity of the seeds of this plant. It will be helpful for scientists, researchers and other healthcare professionals, who are working with this plant and who need to be up to date about it.
Introduction: Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child for at least 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse and may affect up to 15% of couples of reproductive age. Reduced ...semen quality may be caused by trauma, inflammation, or an inappropriate lifestyle. Research suggests that diet may be a factor in influencing sperm parameters.Material and methods: The literature of the PubMed scientific base was searched in 2015-2022 using the following keywords: semen, diet, infertility.Results: Analyzes of eating patterns showed that eating a diet high in red meat, high-fat dairy, sweet energy drinks, and snacks could negatively affect semen, and a pattern based on the consumption of fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains was associated with with an increased concentration of sperm. A high-fat diet (HFD) leads to obesity, endocrine disorders, dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora, and may be a factor that activates autophagy, which results in reduced sperm quality. A ketogenic diet can positively affect the semen of obese, infertile men. Studies analyzing the Mediterranean diet suggest that higher compliance rates are associated with a higher percentage of mobility as well as a reduced risk of low sperm concentration. The way you prepare your meals can also play a role as glycation end products are produced when grilling, baking and frying, which can damage sperm DNA.Conclusions: Diet may be an important factor influencing the quality of sperm in men, however, there is a need for further extensive, multi-center studies that will systematize this knowledge, which will enable the creation of specific nutritional recommendations for this group of people.
Adipokines in gestational diabetes Łopuszyńska, Anna Małgorzata; Ochyra, Łukasz; Pawlicki, Mateusz ...
Journal of Education, Health and Sport,
11/2022, Letnik:
12, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Introduction: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is any hyperglycemic condition that has appeared for the first time in previously healthy pregnant women. The incidence varies from 1% to 20% and is ...constantly increasing. GDM results in numerous complications for both the fetus and the mother. Adipokines are a group of protein hormones and cytokines that are secreted by adipose tissue. They affect glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, appetite, and immune response. Due to their involvement in these processes, there are more and more reports that adipokines influence the pathomechanism of gestational diabetes.
Material and methods, aim: The literature in the PubMed scientific database published in 2015-2022 was searched using the keywords: gestational diabetes, adipokines. The aim of this review is to present the role of adipokines in the pathomechanism of gestational diabetes as well as their potential role in the detection and treatment of this condition.
Results: The pathophysiology of gestational diabetes is not fully understood. It has been noted that mothers with GDM have elevated levels of leptin. In turn, the level of adiponectin is lower in women with gestational diabetes compared to healthy women. Adipokines such as visphatin, resistin or chimerin are also suspected of a possible role in the pathomechanism of the disease. These reports could lead to the discovery of a biomarker for the rapid detection of GDM.
Conclusions: Gestational diabetes is a common disease in pregnancy, the incidence of which is constantly increasing. Its complications are dangerous for both the mother and her baby. That is why research is important that will allow us to learn about its pathomechanism, to detect it faster, and to prevent it. Studies using adipokines show promising results, hence the urgent need for more randomized, multicentre studies to better understand their role in gestational diabetes.
Latest reports of primary dysmenorrhea Łopuszyńska, Anna Małgorzata; Pawlicki, Mateusz; Ochyra, Łukasz ...
Journal of Education, Health and Sport,
09/2022, Letnik:
12, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a pelvic pain during menstruation in the absence of any pelvic pathologies. This disease mainly affects young women in reproductive age. In addition to ...pain, patients may experience many other symptoms including: gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep disorders. This contributes to reduction in their mental and physical quality of life.Purpose: the purpose of this review is to draw attention to a problem that affects a large number of society, is often underestimated and largely affects the quality of women's life, as well as to present the latest discoveries and reports on this issue. Material and methods: the scientific literature published in the years 2017-2022 was reviewed in the PubMed scientific database using the following keywords: primary dysmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea.Results: Increased prostaglanding levels, abnormalities in the reward system, oxidative stress, ischemia, and eotaxin may contribute to the development of pain in PD. These findings could open up new diagnostic or therapeutic targets. The first choice in the treatment of PD are NSAIDs, which are taken regularly for many years, so they must be as safe and effective aspossible. Research suggests that thiaprofenic acid and ibuprofen are suitable. For alternative treatments TENS, heat, and acupuncture can be effective. Propolis, ginger, valeric acid, hops and exercise are also promising.Conclusions: PD is a varied disease that affects a large number of women. It leads to a reduction in the quality of life, hence it is necessary to conduct further research on a diverse, large group of respondents, in many centers, with the use of systematized pain scales, and lasting for a certain period of time.
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