Study of the serum copper levels in patients with major depressive disorder

Copper may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Clinical data on this issue are very limited and not conclusive. The purpose of the study was to determine the copper concentration in the serum of patients with major depressive disorder and to discuss its potential clinical usefulness as a biomarker of the disease. A case–control clinical study included 69 patients with current depressive episode, 45 patients in remission and 50 healthy volunteers. Cu concentration was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The mean serum copper level in depressed patients was slightly lower (by 11 %; not statistically significant) than in the control group. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in Cu(2+) concentration between depressive episode and remission, nor between remission and control group. In the remission group were observed significant correlations between copper levels and the average number of relapses over the past years or time of remission. There was no correlation between serum copper and severity of depression, as measured by HDRS and MADRS. The obtained results showed no significant differences between the copper concentration in the blood serum of patients (both with current depressive episode and in remission) and healthy volunteers, as well as the lack of correlations between the copper level in the active stage of the disease and clinical features of the population. Our study is the first conducted on such a large population of patients, so the results may be particularly important and reliable source of knowledge about the potential role of copper in depression

Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction: a literature review

Opioid therapy plays a crucial role in the management of acute and chronic pain, with opioids being widely prescribed worldwide. However, alongside the analgesic benefits, the use of opioids is associated with a range of adverse effects, including opioid-induced bowel dysfunction. Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction refers to a constellation of gastrointestinal symptoms caused by the effects of opioids on the gastrointestinal tract. These symptoms primarily manifest as constipation, but can also include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction poses a significant clinical challenge, as it can severely affect patients' quality of life. Non-pharmacological approaches alone are rarely sufficient to counteract the adverse effects of opioid therapy. The primary pharmacological agents used in opioid-induced bowel dysfunction management are laxatives, which should be chosen according to individual patient needs. Patients with poorly controlled symptoms can benefit from new pharmacological approaches, particularly peripheral mu-opioid receptor antagonists. By better understanding the underlying mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and management strategies, healthcare professionals can optimize patient care, minimize complications, and improve patients' overall well-being

The serum magnesium concentration as a potential state marker in patients with unipolar affective disorder

Aim. The growing body of evidence suggests that magnesium levels can serve as a marker of major depressive disorder (MDD), but findings from clinical trials remain inconclusive. The aim of the presented study was to determine the magnesium concentration in serum of patients with MDD (in the active stage of the disease or in remission) and to analyze the role of magnesium levels as a potential marker of the disease. Methods. Sixty-nine patients with current depressive episode, 45 patients in remission and 50 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the case-control study. The magnesium concentration was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Results. The mean serum magnesium concentration of patients in the depressed phase was significantly higher, compared to the control group. Moreover, magnesium levels of patients in the remission were not significantly different from the concentrations recorded in the healthy volunteers. There was also a positive correlation between the magnesium levels and the severity of depression measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Conclusions. The obtained results may suggest a role of magnesium as a state marker reflecting the pathophysiological changes underlying MDD and accompanying severe depressive episodes

The serum concentration of magnesium as a potential state marker in patients with diagnosis of bipolar disorder

Aim. Few scientific reports indicate changes in the concentration of magnesium in the blood of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). So far very little studies concerning these issues have been conducted. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the serum magnesium level in patients with bipolar disorder (in different phases of the disease) in comparison to healthy volunteers. Methodology. The study included 129 patients (58 subjects in depressive episode, 23 in manic episode and 48 patients in remission) with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I or II. The control group consisted of 50 healthy people. Magnesium concentration was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Results. Patients with a current depressive or manic/hypomanic episode had statistically significantly elevated serum magnesium levels compared to healthy volunteers. Moreover, a positive correlation between the duration of the manic/hypomanic episode and the relapse frequency in the last year was observed. The concentration of magnesium in patients in remission was unchanged in relation to the control group. Conclusions. Presented findings suggest a role of serum magnesium level as a potential state marker, reflecting the pathophysiological changes associated with acute episodes of bipolar disorder

Zinc and copper concentration do not differentiate bipolar disorder from major depressive disorder

Aim. The aim of this study was to compare the zinc and copper concentration in the group of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Method. 110 patients with the diagnosis of BD and 114 with MDD were qualified to the study. To assess the levels of microelements, the flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used in the case of zinc and the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) was used in the case of copper. Results. There were no differences between concentration of zinc and copper in remission and depressive phase between patients with BD and MDD. Additionally, there were also no statistically significant differences in comparisons including type I and II, early or late phase of BD and MDD. Conclusions. The lack of differences in zinc and copper concentrations between patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder might indicate that those disorders have similar etiology

The serum concentration of copper in bipolar disorder

Aim. Some scientific reports indicate the changes in the concentration of serum copper in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), however the data are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess the concentration of copper in the blood serum of patients in various phases of BD compared to healthy volunteers, taking into consideration the specific clinical features, and the stage of illness. Methods. The study enrolled 133 patients with a diagnosis of BD (type I, II and NOS), including 61 people in depressive episode, 23 in mania or hypomania and 49 in remission. The control group consisted of 50 people. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure the concentration of copper. Results. There were no statistically significant differences in the serum copper concentration between patients in various phases of BD (mania/hypomania, depression, remission), sub-types (Type I, Type II + NOS) or stages and healthy volunteers. However, serum copper concentrations in patients in stage 1 was significantly higher than in advanced stages (2+3+4), (β = 0.22; p = 0.02). Serum copper concentration was also the higher, the later the age of onset was (β = 0.33; p < 0.001), and the lower, the greater the number of illness episodes (β = – 0.23; p = 0.02) (multiple regression model, adj R2 = 0.19, p = 0.0001). Conclusions. The dependencies demonstrated above may reflect pathophysiological processes that occur in the course of BD (e.g., inflammatory response and oxidative stress) with a different intensity depending on its stage

Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction: a literature review

Opioid therapy plays a crucial role in the management of acute and chronic pain, with opioids being widely prescribed worldwide. However, alongside the analgesic benefits, the use of opioids is associated with a range of adverse effects, including opioid-induced bowel dysfunction. Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction refers to a constellation of gastrointestinal symptoms caused by the effects of opioids on the gastrointestinal tract. These symptoms primarily manifest as constipation, but can also include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction poses a significant clinical challenge, as it can severely affect patients' quality of life. Non-pharmacological approaches alone are rarely sufficient to counteract the adverse effects of opioid therapy. The primary pharmacological agents used in opioid-induced bowel dysfunction management are laxatives, which should be chosen according to individual patient needs. Patients with poorly controlled symptoms can benefit from new pharmacological approaches, particularly peripheral mu-opioid receptor antagonists. By better understanding the underlying mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and management strategies, healthcare professionals can optimize patient care, minimize complications, and improve patients' overall well-being

The serum zinc concentration as a potential biological marker in patients with major depressive disorder

Despite many clinical trials assessing the role of zinc in major depressive disorder (MDD), the conclusions still remain ambiguous. The aim of the present clinical study was to determine and comparison the zinc concentration in the blood of MDD patients (active stage or remission) and healthy volunteers (controls), as well as to discuss its potential clinical usefulness as a biomarker of the disease. In this study 69 patients with current depressive episode, 45 patients in remission and 50 controls were enrolled. The zinc concentration was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS). The obtained results revealed, that the zinc concentration in depressed phase were statistically lower than in the healthy volunteers [0.89 vs. 1.06 mg/L, respectively], while the zinc level in patients achieve remission was not significantly different from the controls [1.07 vs. 1.06 mg/L, respectively]. Additionally, among the patients achieve remission a significant differences in zinc concentration between group with and without presence of drug-resistance in the previous episode of depression were observed. Also, patients in remission demonstrated correlation between zinc level and the average number of depressive episodes in the last year. Serum zinc concentration was not dependent on atypical features of depression, presence of psychotic symptoms or melancholic syndrome, age, age of onset or duration of disease, number of episodes in the life time, duration of the episode/remission and severity of depression measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS), and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Concluding, our findings confirm the correlation between zinc deficit present in the depressive episode, and are consistent with the majority of previous studies. These results may also indicate that serum zinc concentration might be considered as a potential biological marker of MDD

Execution of real estate in the civil procedure.

Praca została poświęcona egzekucji z nieruchomości. Postępowanie egzekucyjne to zespół norm prawnych, które wchodzą w skład postępowania cywilnego, celem których jest przymusowe urzeczywistnienie praw oraz obowiązków ze stosunków z zakresu cywilnego prawa materialnego. Głównie są to sprawy tyczące się przymusowego wykonania orzeczeń czy innych aktów wydanych w sprawach cywilnych, które stanowią tytuły egzekucyjne określane przez przepisy księgi drugiej k.p.c. Praca składa się z czterech rozdziałów.W pierwszy rozdziale omówiono zagadnienia dotyczące egzekucji z nieruchomości.W drugiej części pracy opisano przebieg postępowania egzekucyjnego.W trzecim - zawieszenie i umorzenie egzekucji.A w czwartym opisane zostały etapy egzekucji z nieruchomości.Praca posiada także zakończenie, będące podsumowaniem rozważań oraz spis literatury, której korzystano podczas jej tworzenia.The subject of the work is execution of real estate.Enforcement proceedings are being qualified as a set of legal norms that Civil Procedure is composed of. The objective of those norms is a execution of the rights and obligations in the field of civil substantive law.That mainly consists of obligatory execution of the rights as well as other measures issued in civil matters. All constitute to enforcement orders that are defined in the second book of the Civil Procedure Code ( c.p.c ).Enforcement proceedings in administration are regulated and run separately. The work consists of four chapters.The first chapter elaborates on the subject of a execution of real estate.The second part of a work describes the course of enforcement proceedings.Third one - suspension and cancellation of a execution.Finaly, fourth part of a work discusses particular stages of a execution of real estate.The work concludes in a set of reflections and presentation of the bibliography that was used to create the dissertation