Exploitation of Perennial Plant Biomass for Particleboards Designed for Insulation Applications.

With rising demand for wood products and reduced wood harvesting due to the European Green Deal, alternative lignocellulosic materials for insulation are necessary. In this work, we manufactured reference particleboard from industrial particles and fifteen different board variants from alternative lignocellulosic plants material, i.e.

Assessment of Changes in Executive Functions and Attention of Cadets as a Result of Military Parachute Jumping.

Objectives: This study analyzed the effects of parachute jump stress on the executive functions and attention of cadets. Executive functions, which includes processes such as attentional control and cognitive flexibility, are crucial for soldiers, especially in situations requiring rapid decision-making. Parachute jumping, as an intense stressor, mobilizes cognitive resources, which can lead to short-term improvements in executive functions.

Amplifying Cognitive Functions in Amateur Esports Athletes: The Impact of Short-Term Virtual Reality Training on Reaction Time, Motor Time, and Eye-Hand Coordination.

Objectives: Electronic sports (esports) have grown into a major competitive field in today's digital landscape, attracting the interest of established companies and evolving into a fast-growing industry. Cognitive function, including reaction time, motor time, and eye-hand coordination, plays a crucial role in e-athlete performance. This study aims to examine the impact of VR training on these cognitive functions in amateur e-athletes.

Can Eye Tracking Help Assess the State of Consciousness in Non-Verbal Brain Injury Patients?

Developments in eye-tracking technology are opening up new possibilities for diagnosing patients in a state of minimal consciousness because they can provide information on visual behavior, and the movements of the eyeballs are correlated with the patients' level of consciousness. The purpose of this study was to provide validation of a tool, based on eye tracking by comparing the results obtained with the assessment obtained using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). The mul-ti-center clinical trial was conducted in Poland in 2022-2023.

Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of fasudil in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ROCK-ALS): a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Fasudil is a small molecule inhibitor of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) and is approved for the treatment of subarachnoid haemorrhage. In preclinical studies, fasudil has been shown to attenuate neurodegeneration, modulate neuroinflammation, and foster axonal regeneration. We aimed to investigate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of fasudil in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Cognitive Training with Older Adults Using Smartphone and Web-Based Applications: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: The present scoping review focused on: i) which apps were previously studied; ii) what is the most common frequency for implementing cognitive training; and iii) what cognitive functions the interventions most focus on.

Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the search was conducted on Web of Science, PsycInfo, Cochrane, and Pubmed. From 1733 studies found, 34 were included.

Plasma Concentrations of Tranylcypromine in Depressed Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: Two Case Reports.

Purpose: The prevalence of comorbid depression and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is high. The aim of this brief report was to review 2 cases of treatment with tranylcypromine (TCP) in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and CKD. Tests of the plasma concentration of TCP were included.

Changes in concentration performance and alternating attention after short-term virtual reality training in E-athletes: a pilot study.

In the dynamic landscape of e-sports, where intense competitive gaming demands high cognitive abilities, concentration performance and alternating attention play a pivotal role. E-sports encompass diverse genres, each requiring specific cognitive functions. Maintaining unwavering focus is crucial, as split-second decisions can determine victory.

SAFE-ROCK: A Phase I Trial of an Oral Application of the ROCK Inhibitor Fasudil to Assess Bioavailability, Safety, and Tolerability in Healthy Participants.

Background: The intravenous (IV) formulation of Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor fasudil has been approved for the treatment of subarachnoid haemorrhage since 1995. Additionally, fasudil has shown promising preclinical results for various chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and dementia, in which long-term intravenous (IV) administration might not be suitable.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the absolute bioavailability of oral, in comparison to IV, application of the approved formulation of fasudil (ERIL®) and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the oral application of fasudil.

The Role of Progranulin (PGRN) in the Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most common and aggressive malignant form of brain tumour in adults and is characterized by an extremely poor prognosis with dismal survival rates. Currently, expanding concepts concerning the pathophysiology of GBM are inextricably linked with neuroinflammatory phenomena. On account of this fact, the identification of novel pathomechanisms targeting neuroinflammation seems to be crucial in terms of yielding successful individual therapeutic strategies.

Novel Approach for the Approximation of Vitamin D Pharmacokinetics from In Vivo Absorption Studies.

The changing environment and modified lifestyles have meant that many vitamins and minerals are deficient in a significant portion of the human population. Therefore, supplementation is a viable nutritional approach, which helps to maintain health and well-being. The supplementation efficiency of a highly hydrophobic compound such as cholecalciferol (logP > 7) depends predominantly on the formulation.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Visuospatial Memory Stimulation Using Virtual Reality in Head and Neck Cancer Patients-Pilot Study.

The prevalence of Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI) in cancer patients necessitates the search for methods to help stimulate cognitive function. An innovative and repeatedly used method in oncology departments is virtual reality (VR). To date, no one has used VR for head and neck cancer patients in an attempt to stimulate their working memory.

Behind the Curtain: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Psychotropic Drugs from a Laboratory Analytical Perspective.

Purpose: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a well-established tool for guiding psychopharmacotherapy and improving patient care. Despite their established roles in the prescription of psychotropic drugs, the "behind the curtain" processes of TDM requests are invariably obscure to clinicians, and literature addressing this topic is scarce.

Methods: In the present narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the various steps, starting from requesting TDM to interpreting TDM findings, in routine clinical practice.

Factors Influencing the Executive Functions of Male and Female Cadets.

Executive functions (EFs) are related to human abilities that allow individuals to achieve planned goals, contribute to creativity and the analysis of new ideas, and allow for adaptation to new situations in daily life. Thorough analyses of the factors affecting EFs can aid in the development of appropriate training programs for various social and professional groups, including the military. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting the EFs of cadets (18 women and 108 men) studying at a military academy in Poland after the first and second terms of military training, and to investigate gender differences in the level of EFs, shooting performance (SP), and components of physical fitness (PF).

Esports Players Are Less Extroverted and Conscientious than Athletes.

The worldwide status of esports as a sporting phenomenon has been developed in the past decade. However, as the esports industry has grown, it has remained an understudied scientific field. Esports is often contrasted with traditional sports regarding various aspects, including lack of physical activity and the online nature of social interactions.

The impact of changing the funding model for genetic diagnostics and improved access to personalized medicine in oncology.

Aim: In January 2017, a new funding model for diagnostic genetic testing in cancer was introduced in Poland.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of changing the funding model for genetic diagnosis in oncology on improving access to personalized medicine in Poland between 2017 and 2019.

Methods: The analysis included data on settlements with the National Health Fund for genetic tests in cancer under a contract of the hospital treatment type and under the contract in the type of separately contracted services between 2017 and 2019.

School-Based Family-Oriented Health Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review and analyse intervention programs in a school context centred on the family, focused on increasing youths' physical activity.

Data Source: The research was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases.

Study Inclusion Criteria: Studies were included if participants were children or adolescents, focusing on school-based intervention studies with parental involvement and physical activity, sedentary behaviour or physical fitness outcomes.

Lignocellulosic Biomass of C3 and C4 Perennial Grasses as a Valuable Feedstock for Particleboard Manufacture.

Looking for new alternative raw materials is one of the key issues in line with a bioeconomy approach, particularly for particleboard manufacturing. In this framework, this paper presents a comparison of some physico-mechanical properties and the formaldehyde contents of particleboards made with 30% substitution of grass biomass from six perennial grass species. Our studies indicate relatively high values of mechanical properties for particleboards made with the addition of biomass from grasses with the C photosynthetic pathway: and switchgrass ().

Effects of Dominance and Sprint Interval Exercise on Testosterone and Cortisol Levels in Strength-, Endurance-, and Non-Training Men.

The aim of the study was to investigate the response of testosterone and cortisol to sprint interval exercises (SIEs) and to determine the role of dominance. The experiment was conducted in a group of 96 men, divided into endurance-training, strength-training, and non-training groups. Participants performed SIEs consisting of 5 × 10-s all-out bouts with a 50-s active recovery.

Restored Life of Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects every aspect of human life: medical, psychological, social, material. People with SCI face a variety of secondary conditions (e.g.

Omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of spinal cord injury: untapped potential for therapeutic intervention?

Omega-3 fatty acids constitute a group of fatty acids with anti-inflammatory and preventive effects against various diseases. Studies in animal models have demonstrated the preventive and therapeutic effects of omega-3 fatty acids after spinal cord injury (SCI) in reducing inflammatory reactions and promoting neuroregeneration. However, studies on the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in treatment and prevention after SCI seem to be questionable.

Monitoring Eye Movements Depending on the Type of Visual Stimulus in Patients with Impaired Consciousness Due to Brain Damage.

The eyeballs are often the only way to communicate messages as a result of brain damage. However, it is not uncommon for them to become dysfunctional, thus requiring the introduction of appropriate therapy. The trajectory of eye movements (saccadic movements and gaze fixation) during observation of a static and dynamic point presented with an eye tracker was analyzed in the present study.

Executive Function Level in Cadets' Shooting Performance.

Executive functions (EF) are crucial to a person's unique abilities, enabling one to achieve goals, adapt to new situations and manage social interactions. EF are also very important for the effective performance of military tasks including the shooting performance (SP) of soldiers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of EF with SP and gender differences in the level of these traits among cadets of the General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military University of Land Forces in Wroclaw i.

Application of High-Tech Solution for Memory Assessment in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness.

Testing cognitive function in patients after severe brain damage is a major clinical challenge. In the absence of both verbal and motor communication, tests commonly used to assess cognitive function are completely or partially undoable for disorders of consciousness patients. The study involved 12 patients with varying degrees of impaired consciousness due to brain damage, with no verbal and motor communication.

Implementing New Technologies to Improve Visual-Spatial Functions in Patients with Impaired Consciousness.

The quality of life of patients with severe brain damage is compromised by, e.g., impaired cognitive functions and ocular dysfunction.