Wpływ antykoagulantów na funkcję nerek u pacjentów z niezastawkowym migotaniem przedsionków.

Introduction. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and non – vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation for prevention of thromboembolic events. Materials and methods. We studied 389 patients (45.8 % female) with NVAF, who have been taking apixaban (12.6 %), dabigatran (38.6 %), rivaroxaban (26.7 %) and acenocoumarol (22.1 %). Creatinine levels were controlled after 2, 6 and 12 months. We worked out estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by means of Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD – EPI) equation. Results. The changes in creatinine and eGFR values after 2, 6, 12 months in all 4 subgroups were statistically significant. Post hoc tests showed changes in creatinine and eGFR values after 2, 6, 12 months for apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban compared with acenocoumarol. Three NOACs were associated with > = 20% decline in eGFR (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.24; 95 % CI: 0.16 - 0.37; p = 30 % increase in creatinine concentration ([HR]: 0.19; 95 % CI: 0.11 – 0.32; p < 0.001) and eGFR < 44 ml/min/1.73 m2 ([HR]: 0.24; 95 % CI: 0.11 – 0.55; p = 0.002). Conclusion. Using of NOACs is connected with more positive effects of renal outcomes than treatment with acenocoumarol.Wstęp. Antagoniści witaminy K (VKAs) i doustne leki przeciwkrzepliwe niebędące antagonistami witaminy K (NOACs) są wykorzystywane w leczeniu migotania przedsionków w prewencji incydentów zakrzepowo – zatorowych. Materiał i metody. Włączyliśmy do badania 389 pacjentów (45,8 % kobiet) z NVAF, którzy przyjmowali apiksaban (12,6 %), dabigatran (38,6 %), rywaroksaban (26,7 %) i acenokumarol (22,1 %). Stężenie kreatyniny było kontrolowane po 2, 6, 12 miesiącach. Oceniliśmy eGFR za pomocą wzoru (CKD – EPI). Wyniki: Różnice w wartościach kreatyniny i eGFR po 2, 6, 12 miesiącach w 4 podgrupach były istotne statystycznie. Testy post hoc pokazały różnice w stężeniu kreatyniny i eGFR po 2, 6, 12 miesiącach dla apiksabanu, dabigatranu i rywaroksabanu w porównaniu z acenokumarolem. Trzy NOACs były skojarzone z >= 20 % spadkiem eGFR (iloraz hazardu [HR]: 0,24; 95 % CI: 0,16 – 0,37; p = 30 % wzrostem w stężeniu kreatyniny ([HR]: 0,19; 95 % CI: 0,11 – 0,32; p < 0,001) oraz z eGFR < 44 ml/min/1,73 m2 ([HR]: 0,24; 95 % CI: 0,11 – 0,55; p = 0,002). Wnioski: Zastosowanie NOACs jest związane z korzystniejszym efektem na funkcję nerek w porównaniu z leczeniem acenokumarolem

Curcumin and Weight Loss: Does It Work?

Obesity is a global health problem needing urgent research. Synthetic anti-obesity drugs show side effects and variable effectiveness. Thus, there is a tendency to use natural compounds for the management of obesity. There is a considerable body of knowledge, supported by rigorous experimental data, that natural polyphenols, including curcumin, can be an effective and safer alternative for managing obesity. Curcumin is a is an important compound present in Curcuma longa L. rhizome. It is a lipophilic molecule that rapidly permeates cell membrane. Curcumin has been used as a pharmacological traditional medicinal agent in Ayurvedic medicine for &sim;6000 years. This plant metabolite doubtless effectiveness has been reported through increasingly detailed in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials. Regarding its biological effects, multiple health-promoting, disease-preventing and even treatment attributes have been remarkably highlighted. This review documents the status of research on anti-obesity mechanisms and evaluates the effectiveness of curcumin for management of obesity. It summarizes different mechanisms of anti-obesity action, associated with the enzymes, energy expenditure, adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, gut microbiota and anti-inflammatory potential of curcumin. However, there is still a need for systematic and targeted clinical studies before curcumin can be used as the mainstream therapy for managing obesity

Selected polyphenol encapsulation strategies to improve their stability

Polyphenols are one of the most numerous and ubiquitous groups of secondary plant metabolites, and constitute an integral part of both human and animal diets. These compounds possess a high spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and cardioprotective. A lot of preclinical research and epidemiological data suggests that plant polyphenols reduce the risks of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis or diabetes and can slow the progression of cancers. These facts sugest that plant polyphenols might act as potential chemopreventive and anti-cancer agents. However, the levels of polyphenols that appear effective in vitro are often of an order of magnitude higher than the concentrations determined in vivo. This is a serious problem, as only a small part of the substance remain available following oral administration, due to insufficient gastric residence time, low permeability and solubility within the gut. An important element is polyphenols instability under conditions encountered in food processing and storage (oxygen, temperature, light), or in the gastrointestinal tract (enzymes, pH, other nutrients), all of which limit the activity of polyphenolic compounds. Another unfortunate trait of polypheonls is their potential unpleasant taste. In order to overcome these drawbacks, various formulation methods have been developed. Among them, encapsulation seems to be a promising technique to improve the effectiveness and the bioactivity of polyphenols. Moreover, it protects the core material from environmental factors. Microcapsules are small particulates that may range from submicron to several millimeters in size. Encapsulation methods can be classified in three groups: physical, physico-chemical, and chemical. The research studies reported in this paper revealed useful strategies to provide remarkable protection against harmful factors of polyphenolic compounds, avoiding the loss in activity and improving their bioavailability

The Impact of Processing Parameters on the Content of Phenolic Compounds in New Gluten-Free Precooked Buckwheat Pasta

Buckwheat is a generous source of phenolic compounds, vitamins and essential amino acids. This paper discusses the procedure of obtaining innovative gluten-free, precooked pastas from roasted buckwheat grains flour, a fertile source of natural antioxidants, among them, phenolic acids. The authors also determined the effect of the extruder screw speed and the level of moisture content in the raw material on the quantity of free phenolic acids. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic acids in pasta was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The chromatographic method was validated. For extracts with the highest total content of free phenolic acids and unprocessed flour from roasted buckwheat grain, the TLC-DPPH test was also performed to determine the antioxidant properties of the tested pasta. The level of moisture in the raw material had an impact on the content of phenolic acids. All pastas made from buckwheat flour moistened up to 32% exhibited a higher total content of free phenolic acids than other mixes moistened to 30 and 34% of water

Low dose of ROSuvastatin in combination with EZEtimibe effectively and permanently reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration independently of timing of administration (ROSEZE): A randomized, crossover study — preliminary results

Background: In an attempt to improve low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level control in patients ineffectively treated with statins, we evaluated the effectiveness of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of 10 mg rosuvastatin and ezetimibe and its relation to the timing of drug administration.Methods: A randomized, open label, single center, crossover study involving 83 patients with coronaryartery disease and hypercholesterolemia with baseline LDL-C ≥ 70 mg/dL. In arm I the FDC drug wasadministered in the morning for 6 weeks, then in the evening for the following 6 weeks and vice versain arm II. The primary endpoint was the change in LDL-C after 6 and 12 weeks.Results: The median LDL-C concentration at baseline, after 6 and 12 weeks respectively was:98.10 mg/dL (Q1;Q3: 85.10;116.80), 63.14 mg/dL (50.70;77.10) and 59.40 mg/dL (49.00;73.30);p &lt; 0.001. LDL-C levels were similar regardless of the timing of drug administration (morning 62.50mg/dL [50.70;76.00] vs. evening 59.70 mg/dL [48.20;73.80]; p = 0.259], in both time points: 6 week:63.15 mg/dL (50.75;80.65) vs. 63.40 mg/dL (50.60;74.00), p = 0.775; and 12 week: 62.00 mg/dL(50.20;74.40) vs. 59.05 mg/dL (47.65;66.05), p = 0.362. The absolute change in LDL-C concentrationfor the morning vs. evening drug administration was — 6 week: –34.6 mg/dL (–56.55; –19.85)(–34.87%) vs. –31.10 mg/dL (–44.20; –16.00) (–35.87%) (p not significant); 12. week: –34.20 mg/dL(–47.8; –19.0) (–37.12%) vs. –37.20 mg/dL (–65.55; –23.85) (–40.06%) (p not significant). The therapywas safe and well tolerated.Conclusions: Fixed-dose combination of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe significantly and permanentlydecreases LDL-C regardless of the timing of drug administration

The Influence of Polyphenols on Atherosclerosis Development

Polyphenols have attracted tremendous attention due to their pro-health properties, including their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and neuroprotective activities. Atherosclerosis is a vascular disorder underlying several CVDs. One of the main risk factors causing atherosclerosis is the type and quality of food consumed. Therefore, polyphenols represent promising agents in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, as demonstrated by in vitro, animal, preclinical and clinical studies. However, most polyphenols cannot be absorbed directly by the small intestine. Gut microbiota play a crucial role in converting dietary polyphenols into absorbable bioactive substances. An increasing understanding of the field has confirmed that specific GM taxa strains mediate the gut microbiota–atherosclerosis axis. The present study explores the anti-atherosclerotic properties and associated underlying mechanisms of polyphenols. Moreover, it provides a basis for better understanding the relationship between dietary polyphenols, gut microbiota, and cardiovascular benefits

The impact of functional food on the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases

Globally, diseases of the lung are one of the main causes of death, and conventional therapies are often ineffective in dealing with this serious medical and sociological problem. Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been used in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases. Such plants show antitussive, muscle relaxing, bronchi dilation or cillary movement effects. Their usefulness has been confirmed by modern and current research. A medicinal plant that is also a functional food can open new areas in the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract diseases. In this review, information about the influence of functional food on preventing and treating asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and high-altitude sickness are presented

Activity of Selected Group of Monoterpenes in Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms in Experimental Model Studies—A Non-Systematic Review

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and cognitive function impairment. The multi-faced character of AD requires new drug solutions based on substances that incorporate a wide range of activities. Antioxidants, AChE/BChE inhibitors, BACE1, or anti-amyloid platelet aggregation substances are most desirable because they improve cognition with minimal side effects. Plant secondary metabolites, used in traditional medicine and pharmacy, are promising. Among these are the monoterpenes—low-molecular compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, analgesic, sedative, as well as other biological properties. The presented review focuses on the pathophysiology of AD and a selected group of anti-neurodegenerative monoterpenes and monoterpenoids for which possible mechanisms of action have been explained. The main body of the article focuses on monoterpenes that have shown improved memory and learning, anxiolytic and sleep-regulating effects as determined by in vitro and in silico tests—followed by validation in in vivo models

How to shape an attractive cultural tourism offer for the Polish diaspora and Poles living abroad?

O znacznym potencjale dziedzictwa kulturowego i przyrodniczego w Polsce świadczą z jednej strony rosnące statystyki przyjazdów cudzoziemców do 2019 roku włącznie, z drugiej zaś skutki - nie tylko ekonomiczne, jakie spowodowały restrykcje i ograniczenie liczby turystów zagranicznych w ostatnich miesiącach. W tej sytuacji uwaga interesariuszy branży turystycznej skupiła się na alternatywnych ofertach i formule "turysty w swoim mieście". Dodajmy, kilka lat temu sformułowanie to, użyte w pracy przez Karolinę Buczkowską [2014], wywołało kontrowersje i dyskusję na łamach "Turystyki Kulturowej". W poszukiwaniu nowych sposobów promocji i kierunków rozwoju turystyki kulturowej w Polsce warto zapytać o grupę odznaczającą się dużą mobilnością między krajem (aktualnego) zamieszkania a krajem pochodzenia (lub przodków, macierzą), czyli członków Polonii - starej i nowej, np. w Wielkiej Brytanii, Irlandii, Skandynawii, USA oraz Polaków mieszkających na Litwie, Białorusi, Ukrainie. Należy pamiętać, że oferta turystyki kulturowej skierowana do Polaków mieszkających za granicą kraju musi być zróżnicowana pod względem wieku jej odbiorców. Aby oferta turystyki kulturowej skutecznie budowała więzi z Polską wśród młodszych pokoleń, dla których kraj jest już tylko ojczyzną ich rodziców, dotyczy to szczególnie np. Wielkiej Brytanii, wymaga konkretnych, przemyślanych działań. Te zaś stanowią prawdziwe wyzwanie. Jak oferty dla takich grupy odbiorców uczynić atrakcyjnymi? Jak poszerzyć turystykę sentymentalną o inne wymiary i formy turystyki kulturowej? Czy promocja w tym względzie musi bazować jedynie na patriotycznych, stereotypowych kalkach? Jak wykorzystać potencjał polskiego dziedzictwa w ofercie i promocji turystyki kulturowej wśród Polonii i Polaków mieszkających zagranicą? Mając na uwadze, że w kraju zamieszkiwania mogą i często świadomie lub nie podejmują oni marketing szeptany (whisper marketing), pełnią role "ambasadorów", promotorów potencjału dziedzictwa kraju pochodzenia. Pytamy zatem: Jak kształtować atrakcyjną ofertę w ramach turystyki kulturowej skierowaną do Polonii i Polaków mieszkających zagranicą