Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder with a high mortality rate and significant prevalence in the paediatric population. Preliminary reports during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested an increased incidence of AN among children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to analyse new cases of AN before, during, and after the pandemic, with a particular focus on the physical manifestations of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: Nutrition plays a significant role in preventive medicine, as up to 80% of chronic diseases could be avoided by adhering to healthy dietary principles. The aim of our study was to identify dietary habits, awareness, and nutrition knowledge in a random sample of Polish healthcare students and professionals. Methods: Initially, a total screened sample consisted of 1287 respondents, yet the actual response/participation rate was 634/1287.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The sinus node (SN) is the main pacemaker site of the heart, located in the upper right atrium at the junction of the superior vena cava and right atrium. The precise morphology of the SN in the human heart remains relatively unclear especially the SN microscopical anatomy in the hearts of aged and obese individuals. In this study, the histology of the SN with surrounding right atrial (RA) muscle was analyzed from young non-obese, aged non-obese, aged obese and young obese individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the first part of this article, the role of intestinal epithelial tight junctions (TJs), together with gastrointestinal dopaminergic and renin-angiotensin systems, are narratively reviewed to provide sufficient background. In the second part, the current experimental data on the interplay between gastrointestinal (GI) dopaminergic and renin-angiotensin systems in the regulation of intestinal epithelial permeability are reviewed in a systematic manner using the PRISMA methodology. Experimental data confirmed the copresence of DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in human and rodent enterocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the establishment of a clear link between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and certain birth defects, the research into the treatment of FASD has become increasingly sophisticated. The field has begun to explore the possibility of intervening at different levels, and animal studies have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease, forming the basis for implementing potential therapies with increasingly precise mechanisms. The recent reports suggest that compounds that reduce the severity of neurodevelopmental deficits, including glial cell function and myelination, and/or target oxidative stress and inflammation may be effective in treating FASD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) associated with a range of effects, including dysmorphic features, prenatal and/or postnatal growth problems, and neurodevelopmental difficulties. Despite advances in treatment methods, there are still gaps in knowledge that highlight the need for further research. The study investigates the effect of PAE on the autonomic system, including sex differences that may aid in early FASD diagnosis, which is essential for effective interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate a new variation of the atrial wall-mitral annulus-ventricular wall junction along the mural mitral leaflet and commissures: the ventricular mitral annular disjunction (v-MAD). This new variant is characterized by spatial displacement of the mitral leaflet hinge line by more than 2mm toward the left ventricle.
Methods: We examined a cohort of autopsied human hearts (n=224, 21.
Background: The Valsalva Maneuver (VM) is the first-line treatment for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, but a recent, novel, and efficient tool to restore sinus rhythm has been described, i.e., the Reverse Valsalva (RV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEating disorders are a heterogeneous group of diseases affecting mainly young people in developed countries. Among them, anorexia nervosa (AN) is the one with the highest mortality, up to five times higher compared to healthy individuals. The etiology of this medical condition is complex and still un- certain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur study aimed to verify the hypothesis concerning low-frequency magnetic fields (LF-MFs)-related changes in cell viability through the biomechanism(s) based on calcineurin (CaN)-mediated signaling pathways triggered via ROS-like molecules. For experiments, Mono Mac 6 and U937 leukocytic cell lines were chosen and exposed to various LF-MFs and/or puromycin (PMC). The protein expression level of key regulatory proteins of calcium metabolism was examined by Western Blot analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This study investigates mitral annular disjunctions (MAD) in the atrial wall-mitral annulus-ventricular wall junction along the mural mitral leaflet and commissures.
Methods: We examined 224 adult human hearts (21.9% females, 47.
Salsolinol (1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol) is a close structural analogue of dopamine with an asymmetric center at the C1 position, and its presence in vivo, both in humans and rodents, has already been proven. Yet, given the fact that salsolinol colocalizes with dopamine-rich regions and was first detected in the urine of Parkinson's disease patients, its direct role in the process of neurodegeneration has been proposed. Here, we report that and enantiomers of salsolinol, which we purified from commercially available racemic mixture by means of high-performance liquid chromatography, exhibited neuroprotective properties (at the concentration of 50 μM) toward the human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFolia Med Cracov
April 2023
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by distinct etiopathogenetic concepts that are gradually being linked together to unravel the dominant pathophysiological pathways underlying the disease. Excessive food restrictions, often accompanied by over-exercise and undertaken to lose weight, lead to the development of numerous complications. The biological concept of neurohormonal dysfunction in AN seems incomplete without demonstrating or excluding the role of the enteric nervous system (ENS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAltered gut regulation, including motor and secretory mechanisms, is characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The severity of postprandial symptoms in IBS patients is associated with discomfort and pain; gas-related symptoms such as bloating and abdominal distension; and abnormal colonic motility. The aim of this study was to assess the postprandial response, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUp to 2% of pregnancies may be extrauterine. Despite reproductive problems, they might increase the risk of serious complications. We present a case report of a 31-year-old woman with two extrauterine pregnancies - tubal and ovarian, which occurred at the same side with little time difference.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA dopamine derivative, 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, known as salsolinol (SAL), has increasingly gained attention since its first detection in the urine of Parkinson's disease patients treated with levodopa, and has been proposed as a possible neurotoxic contributor to the disease. Yet, so far, the neurobiological role of SAL remains unclear. Thus, the main aims of our study were to compare the neurotoxic potential of SAL with MPP (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion) in vitro, and to examine intestinal and metabolic alterations following intraperitoneal SAL administration in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide and the second most deadly cancer. Scientists have projected that by 2040, the prevalence will reach up to 3.2 million new cases annually due to population aging, disadvantageous diet transformations, and elevated exposure to risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlatelet aggregation contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. After activation it leads to dense granule secretion and 5-HT release. The question arises; how platelet aggregation is endogenously controlled during blood circulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is a commonly used chemotherapy agent exerts undesired cardiac toxicity. Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be one of potentially important mechanisms of 5-FU- induced cardiotoxicity. α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDHC) is the key regulatory enzyme of TCA cycle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of our studies was to determine the influence of a low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) on the phagocytosis of latex beads (LBs) and the expression level of proteins/genes in the human monocytic macrophage Mono Mac 6 (MM6) cell line in in vitro conditions. Before phagocytosis assay cells were pre-stimulated with infectious agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), or the proliferatory agent phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and then exposed to EMF (30 mT, 7 Hz, 3 h). The expression of cytoplasmic proteins like iPLA, cPLA, iNOS, NLR3/4, and Hsp70 involved in the immune response pathways to phagocytosed particles were evaluated with the usage of the Western blot analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxygen balance is crucial for angiogenesis, immunity, and tissue repair. The human oviduct is essential for reproductive function, and any imbalance in homeostasis leads to fertility disturbances and might be a reason for ectopic pregnancy development. Uterine myoma is a widespread benign tumour, which is often accompanied by infertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA direct association between health-related quality of life (HQoL) and nutrition remains unclear, although lifestyle habits are known to impact on human health. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate an association between dietary habits, such as vegetable and fruit consumption, in particular, and HQoL. SF-36 (RAND-SF-36) and the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN) were addressed to Polish pharmacists with a valid professional license.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe need for mass population vaccination against Covid-19 poses a public health problem. Allergic symptoms occurring after the 1st dose of the vaccine may result in resignation from the administration of the 2nd dose. However, the majority of patients with mild and/or non-immediate symptoms may be safely vaccinated.
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