Men’s eating disorders – A literature review

Introduction and purpose: Eating disorders belong to the group of mental diseases characterized by significant somatic complications and high mortality. There is a common opinion that these disorders mainly affect women. Such assumptions may result in limited knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of an eating disorder in the male population. The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge about eating disorders among men, including binge eating disorder (BED), anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Description of the state of knowledge: It turns out that the problem of eating disorders among the male sex is not so rare- it is estimated that approximately 10 million US men will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. The most common eating disorder among men appears to be binge eating disorder (BED). Men are also more likely to report binge eating than women. AN and BN occur much less frequently than BED in the male population. The symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa may differ between men and women. More and more often we observe a development of a certain type of muscle dysmorphia among men, the so-called “reverse anorexia". Eating disorders carry a number of medical complications such as cardiac disorders, electrolyte disturbances, digestive problems and skeletal disturbances. Therapeutic interventions in the treatment of male eating disorders should take into account gender-specific problems. Conclusions: The real number of men suffering from eating disorders may be underestimated due to the neglect of the problem in the context of the male gender. It also results in poorly developed diagnostic and support schemes for men struggling with this problem. More research is needed on the topic of eating disorders in this group of patients as it will help to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic regimens adapted to the male gender

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

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

The influence of sleep disturbances on the development of insulin resistance - a literature review

Introduction and purpose of the work: Sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the body. Adequate quality and quantity of sleep affects metabolic processes, including glucose metabolism, as well as the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, the reduction of which is called insulin resistance. It leads to an increased production of glucose in order to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance is a modifiable risk factor of, inter alia, type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge on the relationship between sleep deprivation and an increased risk of developing insulin resistance. State of knowledge: Sleep undoubtedly has a strong influence on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Numerous studies show that even partial sleep deprivation lowers insulin sensitivity. The available literature shows that shift work and a shifted bedtime, combined with an insufficient amount of it, lead to a significant reduction in insulin sensitivity. The positive effect of increasing the time of night rest on the sensitivity of tissues to insulin may be an element of the prevention of diseases such as obesity or type 2 diabetes. Moreover, disturbances in sleep continuity lead to formation of insulin resistance. An example would be obstructive sleep apnea, the treatment of which affects metabolic processes. Summary: Adequate sleep hygiene is an extremely important part of a healthy lifestyle. More research is needed on the relationship between sleep and the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, due to the fact that the appropriate sleep-wake rhythm may give hope for improvement in health in people with metabolic disorders and may be an important protective factor for many diseases.&nbsp

Oral anticoagulation – current knowlegde

Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are two groups of drugs used in the prevention of thromboembolic events. Although DOACs are currently the preferred option in such prophylaxis, there are still indications for the use of VKAs. Thromboembolic episodes may occur as a result of many cardiovascular diseases, inter alia cardiac dysrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia that may be asymptomatic or manifested by chest pain, syncope, dyspnea or fatigue. Moreover, it is associated with a high risk of serious complications. An ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction can result from poorly treated AF and may sometimes be the only symptom of an arrhythmia. Therefore, the assessment of a patient's eligibility for anticoagulation therapy is an important element in the prevention of thromboembolic events. Demographic aging and the associated comorbidity may pose a clinical problem in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The selection of an appropriate anticoagulant therapy should be individualized to the patient's needs

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

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

Effects of autoimmune disorders on daily lifestyle

Systemic diseases of connective tissue are a group of diseases of unspecified aetiology and pathogenesis. They are based on the autoimmune process. It can involve single organs as well as whole systems. Neuropsychiatric complications in systemic connective tissue diseases are of interest to both neurologists and rheumatologists and specialists in other fields. These complications may occur with different frequency – from 30-80% and result from the involvement of individual structures of the central and peripheral nervous system. They can be divided into primary, i.e. resulting from the underlying disease, and secondary, which are most often the result of the applied treatment. The most common psychopathological symptoms include: progressive cognitive disorders, emotional lability, mood and sleep disorders, as well as memory disorders, psychosensory disorders, depersonalisation, derealisation, depressed mood, anxiety states, hallucinations, persecutory delusions. Diagnosing the cause of psychiatric disorders is the basis for introducing appropriate causal treatment, which should be supplemented by symptomatic psychiatric therapy

Graffiti na mostach

The article dealt with a problem of graffiti on bridges. Graffiti can be perceived as a form of artistic expression. Two historical examples of graffiti, one from antiquity times and the other one from the forties of the past century were presented. An attempt was made in order to define the graffiti on the basis of the analysis of the Lublin’s graffiti culture The obtained descriptive characteristic/definition of graffiti indicates stable, independent and even illegal activity which seems to be impossible to be constricted. The graffiti was examined on the example of Santiago Calatrava bridges. On the basis of simple statistical method, which was applied, the groups of students assessed the displayed graffiti on bridges by answering the questions by means of 1/0 estimation (positive/negative impression). The reliable results were obtained. It was concluded that some graffiti on bridges can optionally be accepted and therefore can be remained as a result of rational judgement of the artistic expression.W artykule jest rozpatrywany problem graffiti na mostach. Graffiti można postrzegać, jako formę artystycznej wypowiedzi. Przytoczono dwa historyczne przykłady, jeden z czasów antyku i drugi z bliskiej historii z lat czterdziestych. Podjęto próbę zdefiniowania graffiti na podstawie rozpoznania środowiska lubelskich kręgów graffiti. Powstała opisowa charakterystyka graffiti wskazuje na stałe, niezależne a nawet nielegalne działanie, które nie jest możliwe do ograniczenia. Rozpatrzono graffiti na przykładzie mostów Santiago Calatravy oraz prostego statystycznego ujęcia ocen estetycznych graffiti dokonanych przez studentów WBiA PL. We wnioskach poddano pod rozwagę opcje pozostawianie niektórych obrazów graffiti na mostach, kierując się racjonalnym osądem ich wyrazu artystycznego