The effect of the length, angle, height, and depth of lumbar lordosis on selected features of thoracic spine

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the significant effect of the values of the angle, depth, height, and length of lumbar lordosis on selected features of the thoracic spine. Material and Methods. The study was carried out in a group of 2,361 children aged 7 to 15 years, in 6 semiannual consecutive editions. This allowed to record 16,608 observations of 31 features describing posture by photogrammetric method. Results. The following influential features like angle, depth, heights, and lengths of lumbar lordosis were selected for multiple regression analysis with selection of a subset of the optimal set of variables. Conclusions The presented statistical analysis shows the mutual influence of the values of the selected characteristics. The study showed no independent feature, however, the degree of influence varied. This demonstrates the interrelatedness of the different spinal segments. Corrective actions that change the value of one postural trait force the change of others in a positive or negative way

Cardioprotective effects of coffee

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages among adults. Popular for its stimulant properties, it is also appreciated for its taste and is an essential part of many people's daily lives. Coffee, in addition to caffeine, contains macroelements such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, which ensure the proper functioning of the body, as well as polyphenols which are characterised by their anti-inflammatory properties. [1,2] Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and caffeine is often considered a potential risk factor. [3] The purpose of this article is to evaluate current scientific reports on the relationship between coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation

Influence of selenium deficiency on the development of thyroid disorders - a literature review

Introduction and purpose: Selenium is essential for the proper course of many physiological and biochemical processes in the human body. It plays a large role in ensuring proper immunoendocrine function. The organ with the greatest amount of selenium per gram of tissue is the thyroid gland. This element builds enzymes involved in antioxidant processes - peroxidase, as well as deiodinases involved in the metabolism of thyroid hormones. There are scientific reports showing a beneficial effect of selenium supplementation in autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland. The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge on the relationship between selenium deficiency and the development of thyroid dysfunction. Description of the state of knowledge: There is a correlation between selenium deficiency and the functioning of the thyroid gland. It has been shown that selenium levels are often lowered in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Research shows that selenium supplementation may lower TPOAb and TgAb antibody levels in patients with Hashimoto's disease. In patients with Graves' orbitopathy, administration of selenium resulted in delayed progression of orbitopathy and less disease severity. There are reports that supplementation with this element may also increase the effectiveness of antithyroid drugs in patients with Graves-Basedow disease. There was also an association between selenium deficiency and the development of goiter and thyroid nodules. Conclusions: Selenium plays an important role in the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. Although the specific role of selenium in the pathogenesis of thyroid disease is still under investigation, there are numerous reports saying that its deficiency may affect it. More research is needed on the relationship between selenium concentration and the regulation of thyroid function, because introducing it into the treatment regimen of thyroid disorders may give hope for better therapeutic effects

Comparison of the impact of e-cigarettes and new tobacco heating devices on the human body and their potential in the fight against smoking

Nicotine is one of the most common stimulants used by humans in the world. Its addictive potential is almost the same as that of cocaine. [1] The most popular way of delivering nicotine to the body, which is cigarette smoking, has many negative effects, including considerable carcinogenic potential. Cigarette smoke contains approx. 6,500 chemical compounds, of which around 150 are considered toxic. [2] With the advancement of technology, alternative ways of delivering nicotine to the body have been found. These include e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters. In the following study, we will compare the method and mechanism of operation of these devices and their possible effects on human health compared to smoking

Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults

Energy drinks are very popular nowadays. The number of people consuming this type of drink is growing every year, not only in the adult group but also in the population of adolescents and children. For many people, they are an alternative to stimulating coffee. In addition to the desired effects such as reducing fatigue, improving concentration and increasing physical and mental performance, energy drinks can also have adverse effects. The substances they contain, such as caffeine, taurine and large amounts of carbohydrates, may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, metabolic and gastroenterological diseases, and mental disorders. [1] The aim of the article is to present the negative effects of consuming energy drinks in the population of adolescents and children

Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists on the example of semaglutide on the cardiovascular system and their role in the treatment of obesity.

Obesity nowadays affects an increasing number of people. We can talk about it when the patient's BMI is ≥ 30.0 kg/m² (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m² - overweight). While obesity in itself may not be a problem for people suffering from it, its complications can be global and sometimes pose a serious threat to health or even life. Its main complications in the cardiovascular system include: hypercholesterolaemia, arterial hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, early atherosclerotic changes, heart and cerebral infarction. Treatment of obesity is based mainly on changing the patient's lifestyle - diet and physical activity, which can sometimes be problematic and difficult to apply. However, there is a new group of hypoglycaemic drugs - glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which can make obesity treatment easier. These drugs use the incretin effect in the body to increase insulin secretion in response to a meal containing carbohydrates and prevent postprandial hyperglycemia. In this article, we will analyze the latest studies on the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists, using semaglutide as an example, on the cardiovascular system and on weight loss in patients

Promising COVID-19 therapies on examples of some antiviral, immunomodulatory and natural substances use - review

COVID-19 is one of the biggest challenges to medicine ever. Because of its dissemination in population effective drug to cure it was needed. There were some trials on antiviral drugs like lopiravir/ritonavir, remdesivir, darunavir/cobicistat, favipiravir, molnupiravir, discovered originally in order to treat other diseases. Only remdesivir and molnupiravir seem to be beneficial for patients with COVID-19, both of them are approved in therapy in a large number of countries allover the world. [2] Another very important group of drugs used in trials against COVID-19 was immunomodulatory drugs. Some of them, like chloroquine/hydrochloroquine was very promising, but finally there were no evidences of its benefits found. [2] Corticosteroids used in moderate and severe COVID-19 caused general improvement of clinical status and decreased mortality. Interesting and quite promising may be use of interferons but for now lack of evidences does not allow to make clear statement about its benefits. There are some argumentations for natural methods of COVID-19 treatment. Dietary recommendations, vitamin and microelements supplementation may be helpful in the therapy and in addition may not have any adverse effects. Also, herbal mixtures, developed centuries ago in China found usage during COVID-19 pandemic. After analysis of thousands of cases Traditional Chinese Medicine can be considered as one of the most successful attempt in combating COVID-19. [6

Present situation of bacterial neuroinfections across the globe – review

Bacterial meningitis is still life-treating disease, which cause about 1.2 million cases and it is responsible for over 100 thousand of deaths across the globe. [2][ The most common pathogens which case the disease are Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Listeria monocytogenes. Morbidity is significantly higher in Africa, than in other regions in the world. Region of the highest frequency of new cases is located in sub-Saharan Africa and called meningitis belt. Vaccination campaigns against bacterial, mostly meningococcal were conducted in some of these regions and the benefits of it were seen [5]. Young children and elderly patients are predisposed to have bacterial meningitis. In pediatric population the disease usually presents as fever, seizures, vomiting, chills, altered mental status and stiff neck. [4] Development of each country have impact on mortality and morbidity among children. [6] Elderly patients, because of their comorbidity are also predisposed to bacterial meningitis. Diseases like diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, cancer, HIV/AIDS or being after splenectomy may make the patients susceptible for bacterial invasion of CNS. Also, every factor which interrupt blood-brain barrier, like trauma or surgery may cause the infection. Intracerebral hemorrhage can be consequence of the infection, which cause other complications like impaired consciousness, focal neurological deficit, need of mechanical ventilation and seizures. It was noticed that in most of cases bacterial meningitis had S.pneumoniae etiology

Review of the literature on the dangers of zolpidem use, its potential for abuse and addiction

Introduction and purpose of the work : Commonly Z-drugs, especially zolpidem , are considered safer than short-acting drugs benzodiazepines . Recently, more and more is said about the abuse of these relatively harmless drugs. The aim of this study is to collect scientific reports on the increasing abuse of these drugs. State of knowledge: There are many reports of zolpidem abusers and addicts in the available literature . These people belong to three groups of patients: the first is people with insomnia who develop tolerance, the second is recreational use, and the third is people with mental disorders. Taking increased doses of zolpidem causes a psychostimulant effect, increased activity during sleep, up to delusions and psychotic symptoms. Rapid discontinuation of high doses of the drug should be performed in a hospital setting. Summary : Physicians should be advised to remain vigilant during therapy with group Z drugs and to check that the patient is not receiving the drug from multiple sources and is not taking zolpidem in supra-therapeutic doses

The role of Vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory skin diseases – atopic dermatitis and psoriasis - literature review

Vitamin D is an important substance that has a pleiotropic range of action in the human body. Its important role is to influence the cells of the immune system and regulate the body's inflammatory response. Many physiological processes at the immune level have been discovered to prove this. Vitamin D deficiency is common and results mainly from limited sun exposure at certain latitudes or from insufficient dietary supply. This likely increases the risk of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Numerous evidence shows that also in skin diseases such as AD or psoriasis, the level of calcitriol is of great importance, and its supplementation in the prevention and treatment of these diseases promotes frequent remissions and improves the clinical condition of patients. Therapy with high doses of vitamin D analogues can be effective and safe. The exact knowledge of the properties of this vitamin probably allows for its real and effective use in the treatment of skin diseases. However, numerous large-scale studies are still needed to more accurately determine the dosage, effects of this therapy and to use this preparation with certainty and the highest possible effectiveness in everyday medical practice