Publications by authors named "N B Zak"

The chemical composition of honey, and therefore its quality and properties, is influenced by many factors, including its botanical origin and the harvesting conditions-the location of the apiary, access to melliferous plants, the proximity of industrial infrastructure and communication routes, etc. This quality may be reduced by undesirable, toxic compounds that penetrate honey from a contaminated environment, such as heavy metals and residues from other environmental pollutants. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess the quality of honeys from urbanized areas-in particular, to assess contamination with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (PAHs).

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At a time when the botanical origin of honey is being increasingly falsified, there is a need to find a quick, cheap and simple method of identifying its origin. Therefore, the aim of our work was to show that fluorescence spectrometry, together with statistical analysis, can be such a method. In total, 108 representative samples with 10 different botanic origins (9 unifloral and 1 multifloral), obtained in 2020-2022 from local apiaries, were analyzed.

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Honey is one of the most valuable components of the human diet. It is considered to be a functional food with health-promoting properties. Honey has bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects; is used to treat wounds and ulcers; relieves stress; supports the treatment of diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems; improves kidney function; and aids in convalescence.

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The aim of this study was to review methods of honey testing in the assessment of its quality and authenticity. The quality of honey, like other food products, is multidimensional. This quality can be assessed not only on the basis of the characteristics evaluated by the consumer during purchase and consumption, but also on the basis of various physicochemical parameters.

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Article Synopsis
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) involves harmful inflammation and scarring of bile ducts and has been linked to certain gut bacteria, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus gallinarum, found abundantly in PSC patients' fecal samples.* -
  • Research shows that carriers of these bacteria experience more severe disease and inflammation, validated through experiments in mice where PSC-related Kp worsens liver injury.* -
  • A developed lytic phage cocktail effectively targets and reduces Kp levels, improving liver health in affected mice, suggesting this treatment could be a promising strategy for managing PSC.*
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