Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Human Body.

Radioactivity is a process in which the nuclei of unstable atoms spontaneously decay, producing other nuclei and releasing energy in the form of ionizing radiation in the form of alpha (α) and beta (β) particles as well as the emission of gamma (γ) electromagnetic waves. People may be exposed to radiation in various forms, as casualties of nuclear accidents, workers in power plants, or while working and using different radiation sources in medicine and health care. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) occurs in subjects exposed to a very high dose of radiation in a very short period of time.

Changes in Dickkopf-1, but Not Sclerostin, in Gingival Crevicular Fluid Are Associated with Peroral Statin Treatment in Patients with Periodontitis.

: Periodontitis is marked by the destruction of alveolar bone. Sclerostin (SOST) and dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) act as inhibitors of the Wingless-type (Wnt) signaling pathway, a key regulator of bone metabolism. Recent studies have suggested that statins play a role in bone resorption and formation by influencing Wnt signaling.

Biomarkers for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Therapy.

In the current modern era of unhealthy lifestyles, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease and has become a serious global health problem. To date, there is no approved pharmacotherapy for the treatment of NAFLD, and necessary lifestyle changes such as weight loss, diet, and exercise are usually not sufficient to manage this disease. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a significantly higher risk of developing NAFLD and vice versa.

Noninvasive Fibrosis Assessment in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: An Update.

Liver biopsy is historically the gold standard for liver fibrosis assessment of chronic hepatitis C patients. However, with the introduction and validation of noninvasive tests (NITs) to evaluate advanced fibrosis, and the direct-acting antiviral agents for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), the role of NITs have become even more complex. There is now need for longitudinal monitoring and elucidation of cutoff values for prediction of liver-related complication after sustained virological response.

The Role of GLP1-RAs in Direct Modulation of Lipid Metabolism in Hepatic Tissue as Determined Using In Vitro Models of NAFLD.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been shown to improve glucose and lipid homeostasis, promote weight loss, and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. They are a promising therapeutic option for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disease, associated with T2DM, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. GLP-1RAs have been approved for the treatment of T2DM and obesity, but not for NAFLD.

Glycosylation Alterations in Cancer Cells, Prognostic Value of Glycan Biomarkers and Their Potential as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Breast Cancer.

Although we are lately witnessing major improvements in breast cancer treatment and patient outcomes, there is still a significant proportion of patients not receiving efficient therapy. More precisely, patients with triple-negative breast cancer or any type of metastatic disease. Currently available prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers are not always applicable and oftentimes lack precision.

Anabolic androgenic steroid-induced liver injury: An update.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) are a group of molecules including endogenous testosterone and synthetic derivatives that have both androgenic and anabolic effects. These properties make them therapeutically beneficial in medical conditions such as hypogonadism. However, they are commonly bought illegally and misused for their anabolic, skeletal muscle building, and performance-enhancing effects.

Role of Oxidative Stress in Vascular Low-Grade Inflammation Initiation Due to Acute Salt Loading in Young Healthy Individuals.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of 7-day high-salt (HS) and the specific role of oxidative stress on vascular low-grade inflammation initiation in young salt-resistant healthy individuals. 30 young healthy individuals adhered to a 7-day low-salt (LS) diet (3.5 g salt/day), followed by a 7-day high-salt (HS) diet (~14.

Demographic, clinical, and service-use characteristics related to the clinician's recommendation to transition from child to adult mental health services.

Purpose: The service configuration with distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) may be a barrier to continuity of care. Because of a lack of transition policy, CAMHS clinicians have to decide whether and when a young person should transition to AMHS. This study describes which characteristics are associated with the clinicians' advice to continue treatment at AMHS.

Targeting the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Liver Fibrosis for Drug Options: An Update.

Liver fibrosis is a life-threatening disease, with challenging morbidity and mortality for healthcare systems worldwide. It imparts an enormous economic burden to societies, making continuous research and informational updates about its pathogenesis and treatment crucial. This review's focus is on the current knowledge about the Wnt signaling pathway, serving as an important pathway in liver fibrosis development and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Cohort profile: demographic and clinical characteristics of the MILESTONE longitudinal cohort of young people approaching the upper age limit of their child mental health care service in Europe.

Purpose: The presence of distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) impacts continuity of mental health treatment for young people. However, we do not know the extent of discontinuity of care in Europe nor the effects of discontinuity on the mental health of young people. Current research is limited, as the majority of existing studies are retrospective, based on small samples or used non-standardised information from medical records.

Drug-induced Fatty Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Treatment.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (commonly known as MAFLD) impacts global health in epidemic proportions, and the resulting morbidity, mortality and economic burden is enormous. While much attention has been given to metabolic syndrome and obesity as offending factors, a growing incidence of polypharmacy, especially in the elderly, has greatly increased the risk of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in general, and drug-induced fatty liver disease (DIFLD) in particular. This review focuses on the contribution of DIFLD to DILI in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, the most common drugs associated with DIFLD, and treatment strategies.

Lack of Informations about COVID-19 Vaccine: From Implications to Intervention for Supporting Public Health Communications in COVID-19 Pandemic.

Lack of knowledge and mistrust towards vaccines represent a challenge in achieving the vaccination coverage required for population immunity. The aim of this study is to examine the opinion that specific demographic groups have about COVID-19 vaccination, in order to detect potential fears and reasons for negative attitudes towards vaccination, and to gain knowledge on how to prepare strategies to eliminate possible misinformation that could affect vaccine hesitancy. The data collection approach was based on online questionnaire surveys, divided into three groups of questions that followed the main postulates of the health belief theory-a theory that helps understanding a behaviour of the public in some concrete surrounding in receiving preventive measures.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among trauma-exposed adolescents from low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Exposure to traumatic events in childhood is associated with the development and maintenance of various psychiatric disorders, but most frequently with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the types of traumatic events experienced and the presence and predictors of PTSD symptoms among adolescents from the general population from ten low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Data were simultaneously collected from 3370 trauma-exposed adolescents (mean age = 15.

Impact of DAA Treatment on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Chronic HCV Infection: An Update.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a systemic disease associated with multiple significant extrahepatic manifestations. Emerging studies indicate association between the HCV infection and a higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events such as: coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and peripheral artery disease, when compared to general population. Atherosclerosis is a common pathophysiologic mechanism of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development which is the leading cause of mortality in the Western world.

External locus-of-control partially mediates the association between cumulative trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among adolescents from diverse background.

Locus of control (LOC) is a modifiable mediator of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among traumatized individuals and a potential target of intervention. Compared with studies involving adults, the potential mediation effect of LOC on PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed children and adolescents is relatively under-explored. This study, therefore, assessed the mediation effects of LOC on the association between lifetime cumulative trauma and PTSD symptoms among a large cohort of adolescents from different cultural background.

An Update on Efficacy and Safety of Emerging Hepatic Antifibrotic Agents.

Liver fibrosis represents a response to chronic liver injury. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis are the most common chronic liver diseases, both with increasing incidence. Therefore, there is a great impetus for development of agents targeting these conditions.

The accuracy of breast cancer risk self-assessment does not correlate with knowledge about breast cancer and knowledge and attitudes towards primary chemoprevention.

The increase of breast cancer (BC) incidence has drawn attention to BC risk as means of reducing mortality and morbidity of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of BC risk perception, evaluate factors that affect risk perception and assess the correlation between BC risk perception and attitudes towards BC chemoprevention. A cross-sectional study included total of 258 women with average and high-risk for BC according to the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT).

Impact of Breast Density Awareness on Knowledge about Breast Cancer Risk Factors and the Self-Perceived Risk of Breast Cancer.

Breast density (BD) reduces sensitivity of mammography, and is a strong risk factor for breast cancer (BC). Data about women's awareness and knowledge of BD are limited. Our aim is to examine whether the BD information disclosure and BD awareness among women without BC are related to their knowledge about BC risk factors.

Exploring Association of Breast Pain, Pregnancy, and Body Mass Index with Breast Tissue Elasticity in Healthy Women: Glandular and Fat Differences.

Breast sonoelastography is a relatively novel ultrasound (US) method that enables estimation of tissue stiffness to estimate the elasticity of normal breast tissue and seek to correlate it with well-known breast cancer risk factors. Two hundred women of different age were included in the study and completed a questionnaire about personal, familiar, and reproductive history. Glandular and fatty tissue elasticity in all breast quadrants was measured by shear wave elastography (SWE).

Prescribing Analgesics to Older People: A Challenge for GPs.

Background: Due to population aging, there is an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, and in particular musculoskeletal diseases. These trends are associated with an increased demand for prescription analgesics and an increased risk of polypharmacy and adverse medication reactions, which constitutes a challenge, especially for general practitioners (GPs), as the providers who are most responsible for the prescription policy.

Objectives: To identify patterns of analgesics prescription for older people in the study area and explore associations between a long-term analgesic prescription and comorbidity patterns, as well as the prescription of psychotropic and other common medications in a continuous use.

Representation of CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and UGT1A4 Polymorphisms within Croatian Breast Cancer Patients' Population.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes (DME) could have a critical role in individual responses to anastrozole. Frequency of CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A5*3 and UGT1A4*2 SNPs in 126 Croatian breast cancer (BC) patients and possible association with anastrozole-induced undesirable side effects were analyzed. Eighty-two postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC treated with anastrozole and 44 postmenopausal ER-positive BC patients before hormonal adjuvant therapy were included in the study.

UCLA PTSD reaction index for DSM-5 (PTSD-RI-5): a psychometric study of adolescents sampled from communities in eleven countries.

: Children and adolescents are often exposed to traumatic events, which may lead to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is therefore important for clinicians to screen for potential symptoms that can be signs of PTSD onset. PTSD in youth is a worldwide problem, thus congruent screening tools in various languages are needed.

Association of Wnt Inhibitors, Bone Mineral Density and Lifestyle Parameters in Women with Breast Cancer Treated with Anastrozole Therapy.

Aim: To determine the levels of Wnt inhibitors in patients treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) prior to therapy and to investigate their association with bone mineral density (BMD) and lifestyle parameters.

Methods: 137 breast cancer patients were divided into a group treated with 1 mg of anastrozole and a group w/o anastrozole therapy. Serum concentrations of sclerostin and dickkopf1 (DKK1) were measured by ELISA.