Personality traits of women with hereditary risk for breast/ovarian cancer versus obstetric history and cancer preventive behaviors.

The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between personality traits of women with hereditary predisposition to breast/ovarian cancer and their obstetric history and cancer-preventive behaviors. A total of 357 women, participants of 'The National Program for Families With Genetic/Familial High Risk for Cancer', were included in the study. The Neo Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and a standardized original questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study were used.

Difference in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Parameters After SARS-CoV-2 Infection During the Alpha and Delta Variant Dominance Periods.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection manifests with diverse clinical manifestations, with severity potentially influenced by the viral variant. COVID-19 has also been shown to impact ocular microcirculation in some patients, but whether this effect varies by viral lineage remains unclear. This prospective study compared clinical features and ocular parameters assessed via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infections during the dominance of two distinctive viral lineages, Alpha (B.

Mineral composition and ratios in aortic valves, serum, and epicardial fat among patients with aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a leading cause of surgical intervention in adults with acquired heart disease, driven by an aging population and advancements in diagnostic and treatment approaches. This study aimed to investigate levels of macroelements (Ca, K, Na, Mg, and P) in aortic valve tissues, serum, and epicardial fat in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement due to degenerative disease. Elemental composition was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Changes in macular ganglion cell and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness during recovery from infection with the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in previously hospitalized patients with COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with various systemic complications, including potential impacts on ocular health. Recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may lead to changes in retinal structure, particularly in the neuroretinal and retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL). This study aimed to examine changes in neuroretinal and RNFL of the optic dics based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia at 2 time points after discharge.

Hospitalizations and deaths among people coinfected with HIV and HCV.

Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant public health challenge. This retrospective, population-based study assessed the trends in hospitalization rates among patients co-infected with HCV and HIV in Poland in 2012-2022, encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic and massive influx of war refugees from Ukraine, the demographics and clinical characteristics among hospitalized patients, including in-hospital case fatality rates. Most hospitalized patients were over 40 years old (mean ± SD: 41.

Effect of reduced saturation and elevated D-dimer and interleukin 6 levels on vessel density and foveal avascular zone in patients with COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can affect multiple organs, including the eyes.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify associations between vascular density (VD) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), assessed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and baseline levels of D-dimers and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, depending on oxygen saturation (SpO2) on admission.

Material And Methods: The study included patients with COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection who were hospitalized between March and May 2021.

Like a Rolling Stone? A Review on Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) without the need for medical intervention, known as spontaneous clearance (SC), occurs at a significantly lower rate than in the case of hepatitis B virus infection and only in selected individuals, such as reportedly in Keith Richards, a guitarist of The Rolling Stones. The present paper provides an updated narrative review of the research devoted to the phenomenon in order to identify and discuss the demographic, lifestyle-related, clinical, viral genotype-related, and host genetic factors underpinning the SC occurrence. The body of evidence indicates that the likelihood of SC is decreased in older individuals, men, Black people, HIV-coinfected subjects, and intravenous drug and alcohol users.

Impact of the COVID-19 and War Migration on HIV/AIDS Epidemiology in Poland.

: This study analyzed trends in HIV/AIDS in Poland over the time period of 2009-2021 and the potential impact of COVID-19 and the migration of war refugees from Ukraine. : Long-term trends were assessed by joinpoint regression using data from Polish HIV/AIDS registries. The HIV/AIDS burden was also compared before and during the pandemic and refugee migration.

Are earthworms the victim, facilitator or antidote of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance at the soil-animal-human interface? A One-Health perspective.

The transfer of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance (AR) to the soil systems poses ecological hazards to various organisms, including earthworms. Understanding the complex interactions between earthworms, antibiotics, and AR in the soil system requires a comprehensive assessment. Hence, the present review investigates the behaviour, fate, impacts, and mechanisms involved in the interaction of earthworms with antibiotics and AR.

Influenza vaccination as a prognostic factor of humoral IgA responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

There is evidence that influenza vaccination may provide additional benefits by inducing training of innate immunity and increasing humoral responses to heterologous challenges. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies dominate the early phase of the adaptive response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, but whether their production may be associated with previous influenza vaccination has not been a subject of any study. This study compared serum SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA responses, measured with Microblot-Array assay, in individuals who experienced COVID-19 (N = 1318) and differed in the status of the seasonal influenza vaccine, age, sex, and disease severity.

Humoral anti-SARS-CoV-2 response in patients with different long COVID phenotypes.

Long COVID (LC) is characterized by persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, with various mechanisms offered to explain its pathogenesis. This study explored whether adaptive humoral anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses differ in LC. Unvaccinated COVID-19 convalescents (n = 200) were enrolled, with 21.

Correction: Wilanowska et al. Long-Term Survivability of Tardigrade (Eutardigrada) at Increased Magnesium Perchlorate Levels: Implications for Astrobiological Research. 2024, , 335.

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Revolutionizing hepatitis C treatment: next-gen direct-acting antivirals.

Introduction: With the introduction of highly effective and safe therapies with next-generation direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), that act without interferon, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains the only treatable chronic infectious disease.

Areas Covered: The review aims to provide an overview of the therapy revolution with a description of specific DAAs, their mechanisms of action, a summary of the safety and efficacy of specific regimens, and a discussion of populations requiring special therapeutic approaches.

Expert Opinion: DAAs are highly effective, safe, and easy to use.

Viral respiratory infections and air pollution: A review focused on research in Poland.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced an interest in the relationship between air pollution and respiratory viral infections, indicating that their burden can be increased under poor air quality. This paper reviews the pathways through which air pollutants can enhance susceptibility to such infections and aggravate their clinical course and outcome. It also summarizes the research exploring the links between various viral infections and exposure to solid and gaseous pollution in Poland, a region characterized by poor air quality, especially during a heating season.

Illicit Drugs in Surface Waters: How to Get Fish off the Addictive Hook.

The United Nations World Drug Report published in 2022 alarmed that the global market of illicit drugs is steadily expanding in space and scale. Substances of abuse are usually perceived in the light of threats to human health and public security, while the environmental aspects of their use and subsequent emissions usually remain less explored. However, as with other human activities, drug production, trade, and consumption of drugs may leave their environmental mark.

Eating Behaviors and Physical Activity versus the Big Five Personality Traits in Women with a Hereditary Predisposition to Breast or Ovarian Cancer.

The Big Five personality traits-neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness-represent continuous, individual features that affect a number of vital health aspects, including morbidity, self-reported health status, or lifestyle. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the eating behaviors and engagement in physical activity of women with a hereditary predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer and the Big Five personality traits. A total of 357 women, participants of 'The National Program for Families With Genetic/Familial High Risk for Cancer', were included in the study.

Long-Term Survivability of Tardigrade (Eutardigrada) at Increased Magnesium Perchlorate Levels: Implications for Astrobiological Research.

Perchlorate salts, including magnesium perchlorate, are highly toxic compounds that occur on Mars at levels far surpassing those on Earth and pose a significant challenge to the survival of life on this planet. Tardigrades are commonly known for their extraordinary resistance to extreme environmental conditions and are considered model organisms for space and astrobiological research. However, their long-term tolerance to perchlorate salts has not been the subject of any previous studies.

Direct-acting antivirals in women of reproductive age infected with hepatitis C virus.

Eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the population of women of reproductive age is important not only for the health of women themselves but also for the health of newborns. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of this goal by analysing the effectiveness of contemporary therapy in a large cohort from everyday clinical practice along with identifying factors reducing therapeutic success. The analysed population consisted of 7861 patients, including 3388 women aged 15-49, treated in 2015-2022 in 26 hepatology centres.

Climate warming, environmental degradation and pollution as drivers of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge to public health, but human-caused environmental changes have not been widely recognized as its drivers. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the relationships between environmental degradation and antibiotic resistance, demonstrating that the former can potentially fuel the latter with significant public health outcomes. We describe that (i) global warming favors horizontal gene transfer, bacterial infections, the spread of drug-resistant pathogens due to water scarcity, and the release of resistance genes with wastewater; (ii) pesticide and metal pollution act as co-selectors of antibiotic resistance mechanisms; (iii) microplastics create conditions promoting and spreading antibiotic resistance and resistant bacteria; (iv) changes in land use, deforestation, and environmental pollution reduce microbial diversity, a natural barrier to antibiotic resistance spread.