Nigella Sativa - an ordinary herb or a miraculous medicine?

Nowadays, herbal preparations are increasingly used in medicine. These preparations are cheaper, more available and they have fewer side effects than synthetic ones. Nigella Sativa, commonly known as Black Cumin, has been used in traditional medicine since antiquity. This herb is known to have many properties. The prophet Muhammad himself has already mentioned them, claiming that “Black Cumin is a cure for all diseases except death". Researches on N. Sativa confirmed that it has anti-diabetic, anti-asthmatic, pro-fertility, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, gastroprotective, immunomodulatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-ischemic effects. Many of these properties are due to thymoquinone, which is the main component of black cumin essential oil. This present review is an attempt to provide a specific overview of researches and literatures of pharmacognostical profile and pharmacological activity of the seeds of this plant. It will be helpful for scientists, researchers and other healthcare professionals, who are working with this plant and who need to be up to date about it

Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac angiosarcoma

Primary cardiac tumors are very rare in the population. About 20% of it are malignant. The most common type of cardiac malignant tumor is angiosarcoma. This tumor has the ability to infiltrate surrounding tissues and form distant metastases. Angiosarcoma is most often located in the right atrium and it mostly attacks men. This neoplasm is difficult to diagnose, because it has no specific symptoms. Patients with this tumor may complain of a chest pain, cardiac arrhythmias, suffocation and distal oedema. The rarity of occurrence and the lack of specyfic symptoms contribute to late diagnosis of the disease and worse prognosis of patients. Angiosarcoma can also be misdiagnosed as pneumonia or more common cardiovascular disease for example coronary artery disease. In advanced stage, this tumor can even lead to myocardial rupture. Various imaging methods are used in the diagnostics of this neoplasm for example: CT, MRI, PET-CT or Echocardiography. Histopathological examinations are less frequently used due to the risk of serious complications like hemothorax. Due to the very uncommon occurrence of the angiosarcoma, guidelines describing treatment of patients with this neoplasm, have not been developed yet. Currently, surgical removal of the tumor (if it is possible), chemiotherapy and radiotherapy are used. Reaserches on the genetic mutations which cause angiosarcoma and the development of appropriate drugs may give patients a chance for more effective treatment in the futur

Tick-Borne Encephalitis – epidemiological analysis of case count and prevention from 2007-2017

The following article presents the epidemiological situation in Poland over the 2007-2017 period. The article is based on the analysis of “Contagious diseases and toxoinfections in Poland” and “Vaccination in Poland” surveys and pamphlets from the State Department of Hygiene. Supplementary information concern infection by the virus, clinical manifestation, detection, diagnostic procedure and vaccination against TBE virus. The results were developed using a descriptive method. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a serious disease of the central nervous system that can occur in many clinical forms. In Poland, TBE is the main cause of brain inflammation of viral etiology. The diseases are characterized by seasonality and occur mainly in the spring and summer. The highest number of cases occurred in 2010, and the lowest in 2015. In 2015/2016, the number of cases with TBE increased almost twice. It was at the same level in 2017. Every year the highest number of TBE cases is recorded in the region Podlasie and it accounts for about 80% of cases of TBE in Poland. There is no causative treatment of TBE, the only form of prevention of the disease are protective vaccinations, which in Poland are recommended for specific groups of people. Analysis of TBE vaccination data has shown a gradual increase in the interest in TBE protective vaccinations from 2014 to 2017. Despite the growing number of people vaccinated against TBE in Poland, the number of cases remains high. The society in TBE prophylaxis should be educated

Alveolar osteitis: the current state of knowledge

Introduction and purpose: Alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket is a common complication after tooth extraction, especially third molar extraction. Taking into consideration only third molar extractions, the prevalence of dry socket reaches even 45%. The aim of this literature review was to describe current knowledge about etiology, risk factors, treatment, and prevention of dry socket. State of knowledge: The symptoms of alveolar osteitis most frequently are reported between the first and third post-extraction days and they include discomfort, lancing, and intense pain which radiates to the neck and ear. The etiopathogenesis of dry socket remains unclear. However, the currently accepted hypothesis describes a loss of formed after an extraction blood clot from the alveolar socket as the main cause of this pathology. Several factors may increase the risk of dry socket and include smoking, oral hygiene, female gender, oral contraceptive drugs, and anesthesia. In the treatment of alveolar osteitis, irrigation of the socket with chlorhexidine gluconate, iodopovidone, or physiological saline followed by filling the socket with intra-alveolar dressing constitute a current fundamental procedure. Plenty of substances are currently used as an intra-alveolar dressing. Part of them exhibits only pain-decreasing features, whereas some drugs can also stimulate the regeneration of treated tissue. In the prevention, the use of alveolar osteitis warm saline, antibiotics, chlorhexidine, ozone gas, or autologous platelet therapy may be useful maneuvers. Conclusion: This literature review summarizes the current state of knowledge about causes, risk factors, and therapeutic and preventive methods with regard to alveolar osteitis

A quality of life for patients with diabetes

Introduction and purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease caused by a chronic state of hyperglycemia, which results from a defect in the function or secretion of endogenous insulin. It is a disease that leads to serious complications such as blindness, lower limb amputation, ischemic heart disease or ischemic strokes. Description of the state of knowledge: The World Health Organization has identified diabetes mellitus as a global epidemic. Between 1980 and 2014, the number of people with diabetes increased from 108 million to over 422. Between 2000 and 2016, more than 7 million deaths from diabetes were reported in 108 countries, but this is an under-number due to the fact that many patients are not diagnosed with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in recent years is also higher in low and middle income (LMIC) countries than in high income (HIC) countries. DM also places a significant financial burden on the healthcare budget. Despite relatively large investments in medical care, clinical trials and public health interventions do not reduce the rate of increase in incidence. In the United States, annual healthcare expenditure for people with diabetes is 2.3 times greater than for people without diabetes.Summary: It is well known that diabetes significantly reduces patients' quality of life. It is influenced by both severe complications related to DM and adherence to strict medical recommendations. The low quality of life of diabetic patients contributes to depression, which is associated with not compliance with medical recommendations and increased mortality

Marital dialogue as a constructive response to dissatisfaction in marriage and its predictors

A lot of research in marriage psychology has been focused on marital conflicts, constructive versus destructive responses to dissatisfaction in marriage, and especially on how couples behave when discussing conflictual issues. Based on the literature review, we assume that partner support and bonding behaviours are positively related to dialogue as an active and constructive problem solving strategy during marital conflicts. We also put forward a hypothesis that there is a difference in predictors of dialogue between women and men in marital conflicts. In the present study, two main questions were posed: (1) do bonding behaviours (conciliatory behaviours, behaviours undertaken for the sake of the relationship and the partner, and physical closeness) and partner support constitute statistically significant predictors of engaging in dialogue as a constructive response to marital conflict? And (2) are there any differences between women and men as far as these predictors are concerned? A total of 180 young, married people participated in the study (102 wives and 79 husbands), all of whom had been married for 5 years or less. The mean age of the participants was 26 years (M = 26,26; SD = 3,04), while mean marriage duration was approximately 2 years. The obtained results indicate that significant predictors of engaging in marital dialogue amongst young couples are the bonding behaviours undertaken for the sake of the relationship and the partner, as well as the physical closeness and certain types of partner support. Moreover, essential differences between women and men have been revealed

The impact of coffee on human health

Introduction: Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It contains lots of biologically active ingredients. These compounds not only have aromatic properties, but many of them also have antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral and relaxing smooth muscle properties. The aim of the study: The purpose of the study is to collect and review scientific publications about the impact of coffee on health. Material and method: The paper uses standard criteria as the research method. Additionally, during the literature review on PubMed and Google Scholar platforms, keywords such as coffee, caffeine, health, impact were used. Description of the state of knowledge: Numerous studies suggest that coffee impact on the long-term functioning of the organism is negligible and is associated with the consumption of coffee for a longer period of time. Chlorogenic acid, caffeine and trigoneline are primarily responsible for the positive effect. They have a hypoglycemic, bactericidal and antioxidant effect. Diterpenes, such as kahweol and cafestol may have negative influence on health. Research also suggests that coffee can reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes. Summary: The results show that coffee ingredients can have both positive and negative effects on health. However, before these observations can be used to create nutritional advice, further research is needed. They will allow a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of the compounds responsible for reduced risk of diabetes mellitus or Parkinson's disease. Keywords: coffee, caffeine, health, cardiovascula

The problem of HIV infections and AIDS in the world in relation to WHO activities

The Problem of HIV infections and AIDS has been known for years. Effective prevention and treatment is a challenge of modern medicine. Studies conducted by the WHO show that Africa, in terms of morbidity and deaths, is the first among the regions included in this study. Nowadays, diagnosis of HIV infections is highly developed. This allows for quick and easy testing to confirm the infection, even in pregnant women. Across the globe, 59% of people infected with HIV receive antiretroviral treatment that allows them to function normally in society. Early and appropriate use of antiretroviral drugs significantly reduces the transmission of infection to other people and reduces the risk of having a child with HIV. Awareness of this infection among the general public and especially among young people is limited, which is why social campaigns play an important role in prevention

Hypofractionated conformal radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy in limited disease small cell lung cancer patients

Cel: Ocena wyników hipofrakcjonowanej konformalnej radioterapii (RT) u chorych na drobnokomórkowego raka płuca w postaci ograniczonej (DRP-LD), z uwzględnieniem wartości „wczesnej” RT, tzn. rozpoczętej przed podaniem trzeciego kursu chemioterapii (CHT).Materiał i metody: Przeprowadzono retrospektywną ocenę wyników leczenia 100 kolejnych chorych na DRP-LD, leczonych według schematu hipofrakcjonowanej RT skojarzonej z CHT: dawka — 42 Gy po 2,8 Gy, w tym 39 Gy po 2,6 Gy na obszar elektywny (technika concomitant boost — obszar elektywny i zmiany chorobowe leczone w czasie jednej frakcji), 19–21 dni leczenia. Wyniki leczenia porównano z wynikami grupy historycznej 117 chorych napromienianych w tym samym ośrodku według schematu konwencjonalnej lub hiperfrakcjonowanej RT.Wyniki: „Wczesną” RT otrzymało 42% chorych. Popromienne zapalenie przełyku w stopniu 3 według NCI CTC stwierdzono u 5% chorych. Odnotowano trzy zgony związane z leczeniem. Aktualizowany odsetek 3-letnich przeżyć całkowitych (OS) wyniósł 39,4%, mediana 24 miesiące w grupie badanej v. 26,0% i 18 miesięcy w grupie historycznej, P = 0,02. Trzyletnie OS dla chorych, którzy otrzymali ≤ 3 kursy CHT (22 chorych), wyniosło 30,0%, mediana 14 miesięcy v. 42,2% i 28 miesięcy dla 78 chorych, którzy otrzymali > 3 kursy CHT, P = 0,03. Aktualizowane 3-letnie ryzyko wznowy miejscowo-regionalnej (LRF) wyniosło 34,0% v. 51,0% w grupie historycznej, P = 0,04. Analiza wielowariantowa wykazała trend w kierunku zmniejszenia ryzyka LRF przy zastosowaniu „wczesnej” RT: RR = 0,43 (95%CI: 0,17–1,04), P = 0,06. Czas zastosowania RT nie wpływał znamiennie na OS.Wnioski: Skrócenie leczenia przez zastosowanie hipofrakcjonacji pozwala na uzyskanie dobrych wyników leczenia przy niewielkiej toksyczności. Decydujący wpływ na przeżycie chorych ma realizacja całej zaplanowanej CHT.Aim: To evaluate the results of hypofractionated conformal radiotherapy (RT) in limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC) patients, with particular interest in the value of “early” RT, i.e. given before the 3rd chemotherapy (CHT) cycle.Material and methods: Outcome of hypofractionated RT (42 Gy, 2.8 Gy/fraction, given over 19–21 days, using “concomitant boost” technique — elective volume [39 Gy, 2.6 Gy/fraction] and tumour volumes treated during the same fraction) combined with CHT in 100 consecutive LD-SCLC patients, was retrospectively assessed. The outcomes were compared with a previously published series of 117 LD-SCLC patients treated in the same institution with hyperfractionated or conventionally fractionated RT.Results: Forty-two patients (42%) received “early” RT. Grade 3 NCI CTC acute oesophageal toxicity appeared in 5% of patients. There were three treatment-related deaths. Three-year overall survival (OS) rate was 39.4%, median — 24 months in the examined group vs. 26.0%, and 18 months in historical control, P = 0.02. Three-year OS for 78 patients with completed CHT was 42.2%, median — 28 months vs. 30%, and 14 months for 22 patients who received ≤ 3 CHT cycles, (P = 0.03). The actuarial 3-year locoregional failure risk (LRFR) was 34.0% in the examined group vs. 51.0% in the historical control, P = 0.04. Multivariate analysis showed a marginally significant correlation between the “early” use of RT and LRFR: RR = 0.43 (95% CI: 0.17–1.04), P = 0.06, with no significant impact on OS.Conclusions: Shorter duration of RT using hypofractionation results in encouraging outcomes and acceptable toxicity. Completion of all planned CHT cycles is the most important factor for OS

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on suicide attacks among children and adolescents comparison of statistics from 2013-2021. Prophylaxis of suicidal behavior among children and adolescents

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), 800,000 people a year die for themselves worldwide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents in many countries. Research conducted by organizations such as WHO or IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention) and, according to the data of the Polish Police Headquarters, show that there is an upward trend in suicide behavior worldwide. The social factors of suicidal behavior include the issues of: isolation and social support, suicides in agricultural regions, ties to war, ties with religion, suicides in prisons or the impact of unemployment on suicides. Personal factors include individual susceptibility to suicidal behavior: the feeling of hopelessness, memory distortion and other factors that compose the psychological approach as a whole. Taking into account the Covid-19 pandemic that has prevailed for 2 years and the war taking place just outside our country, in Poland in 2020 and 2021 a significant increase in suicidal behavior among children and adolescents was noticed. Nevertheless, Poles are still not aware of the problem of suicidal behavior in the country, if only because there are still few social campaigns that consciously and appropriately address this problem. Suicide is still a socially embarrassing problem, and the preparation of a wider-ranging initiative on this issue requires not only financial outlays, but also detailed substantive studies