The Impact of diet on the digestive, cardiovascular and immune systems

INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF WORK One of the key factors shaping human health is diet. It serves as the foundation for the functioning of cells, organs, and the entire body. Properly chosen food has an impact, among other things, on the functioning of the immune, digestive, and cardiovascular systems.   MATERIALS AND METHODS The objective of this study is to analyze the changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems through the application of different dietary approaches. For this purpose, an original questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was distributed via social media (Telegram platform) in August 2023 among the population of Ukraine.   RESULTS We collected a total of 94 surveys, with an average participant age of 26 years. A similar number of participants indicated consuming meals 3 times, 4 times, or 5 times a day. These were 23 individuals (24.47%), 25 individuals (26.6%), and 21 individuals (22.3%) respectively. The analysis of correlations revealed a negative correlation between the frequency of meal consumption and the frequency of infections (r = -0.21, p = 0.035). A significant relationship was also observed between body weight and the frequency of meal consumption (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). However, no significant relationship was found between following a special diet and body weight (p > 0.05).   CONCLUSIONS The collected results suggest a connection between dietary habits and the frequency of infections as well as body weight. Interestingly, this relationship was related specifically to the frequency of meal consumption and was not linked to the intake of specific food groups. The obtained results highlight the significance of regular meal consumption in maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing the frequency of infections

Concordance between coronary computed tomography angiography and coronary angiography in assessing the significance of coronary artery stenosis in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease

Wstęp. Choroba wieńcowa jest jednym z najczęściej występujących problemów kardiologicznych zarówno w Polsce, jak i na świecie. W przypadku wielonaczyniowej choroby wieńcowej (MVD) kwestia dalszego postępowania i leczenia jest jeszcze bardziej skomplikowana. Nieinwazyjne metody obrazowania są powszechnie stosowane w diagnozowaniu choroby wieńcowej. Celem niniejszej pracy była analiza porównawcza wyników tomografii komputerowej tętnic wieńcowych (CCTA) i koronarografii w odniesieniu do zmiennych demograficznych i klinicznych u pacjentów z MVD. Materiał i metody. Badanie przeprowadzono u 106 pacjentów z MVD hospitalizowanych w Klinice Kardiologii Centralnego Szpitala Klinicznego w Łodzi. Analizie poddano dostępne wyniki CCTA i koronarografii, porównując wyniki pod kątem istotności zwężeń w tętnicach wieńcowych w obu badaniach. Przeprowadzono również charakterystykę demograficzną oraz kliniczną analizowanej grupy pacjentów. Wyniki. Znaczną większość pacjentów stanowili mężczyźni (n = 69,8%). Średnia wieku pacjentów wynosiła 69,42 ± 8,28 lat. Czynniki ryzyka choroby wieńcowej były rozpowszechnione w dużym stopniu w badanej populacji. Całościowa zgodność w ocenie istotności zwężeń w tętnicach wieńcowych w badaniu CCTA w porównaniu z koronarografią wynosiła 73% (κ = 0,47). Największa zgodność w ocenie dotyczyła pnia lewej tętnicy wieńcowej 78% (κ = 0,5), a najmniejsza — gałęzi okalającej 69% (κ = 0,34). Wnioski. U pacjentów z MVD występuje umiarkowana zgodność pomiędzy opisem istotności zwężeń w tętnicach wieńcowych w badaniu CCTA w porównaniu do koronarografii. Tomografia komputerowa tętnic wieńcowych, jako metoda nieinwazyjna, jest jednym z narzędzi w początkowej diagnostyce przy podejrzeniu choroby wieńcowej. Czynniki ryzyka choroby wieńcowej są szeroko rozpowszechnione i stanowią istotny problem w analizowanej populacji pacjentów.Introduction. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common cardiovascular problems in Poland and worldwide. In the case of multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD), the matter of further management and treatment is even more complicated. The non-invasive diagnostic methods are commonly used in the initial diagnostics of CAD. The following study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of the results of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and coronary angiography in relation to the demographic and clinical variables in patients with MVD. Material and methods. The study was performed on 106 patients with MVD hospitalised in the Cardiology Department of the Central Clinical Hospital in Lodz. The available results of CCTA and coronary angiography were analysed and compared with regard to the significance of coronary artery stenosis in both examinations. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the analysed group of patients were also performed. Results. The vast majority of the participants were male (n = 69.8%). The average age of the patients was 69.42 ± 8.28 years. Coronary artery disease risk factors were highly prevalent in the study population. The overall concordance in the assessment of the significance of coronary artery stenosis by coronary computed tomography angiography compared with coronary angiography was 73% (κ = 0.47). The highest concordance in the assessment was noted for the left main coronary artery 78% (κ = 0.5) and the lowest for the circumflex branch 69% (κ = 0.34). Conclusions. In patients with MVD, there is a moderate concordance between the description of the significance of coronary artery stenosis in CCTA compared to coronary angiography. Coronary computed tomography angiography as a non-invasive imaging is one of the methods in the initial diagnostics of a suspected CAD. The risk factors of CAD are widespread and represent a significant problem in the analysed patient population

The association between affective temperaments and depressive symptoms in a population of medical university students, Poland

BackgroundCompared to their peers, medical students are more exposed to stress, and many present symptoms of depression, making them a group prone to experiencing mental illnesses.ObjectiveThis study investigates a potential link between the occurrence of symptoms of depression and the dominating type of affective temperament in young people studying at a medical university.MethodsOne hundred thirty-four medical students were surveyed using two validated questionnaires; the Polish versions of Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A).ResultsThe data analysis revealed a significant link between symptoms of depression and affective temperaments, most significantly in subjects with an anxious temperament.ConclusionThis study confirms the role of various affective temperaments as a risk factor for mood disorders, specifically depression

Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Differentiation between Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Benign Liver Lesions

A differentiation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and benign liver lesions is required. The aim of the study was to perform an analysis of the time of enhancement of focal liver lesions in a contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examination. The curves of enhancement and the homogeneity of the tumor enhancement were assessed. The study included 52 patients with diagnoses of hepatocellular adenoma (18), focal nodular hyperplasia (11) and HCC (28). The study included magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography and a comparison of the obtained information with CEUS. In the benign lesions groups after 20–30 s, the enhancement was similar to the liver parenchyma. In the HCC group, the enhancement was slightly less intense compared to the liver parenchyma and the benign lesions. The difference of the enhancement in the arterial phase (benign lesions vs. HCC) was p = 0.0452, and the difference of enhancement in the late venous phase (benign lesions vs. HCC) was p = 0.000003. The homogeneity of the enhancement (benign lesions vs. HCC), respectively, was p = 0.001 in the arterial phase, p = 0.0003 in the portal venous phase and p = 0.00000007 in the late venous phase. Liver tumors can be classified as benign when they are homogenous in the arterial phase and don’t present washout. HCC in the arterial phase is inhomogeneous and washout is observed in the venous phases. When radiological symptoms suggest malignant lesion, CEUS can be used to select the best biopsy access

The Anterior Inferior Cerebral Artery Variability in the Context of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes: A Narrative Review

The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is situated within the posterior cranial fossa and typically arises from the basilar artery, usually at the pontomedullary junction. AICA is implicated in various clinical conditions, encompassing the development of aneurysms, thrombus formation, and the manifestation of lateral pontine syndrome. Furthermore, owing to its close proximity to cranial nerves within the middle cerebellopontine angle, AICA’s pulsatile compression at the root entry/exit zone of cranial nerves may give rise to specific neurovascular compression syndromes (NVCs), including hemifacial spasm (HFS) and geniculate neuralgia concurrent with HFS. In this narrative review, we undertake an examination of the influence of anatomical variations in AICA on the occurrence of NVCs. Significant methodological disparities between cadaveric and radiological studies (CTA, MRA, and DSA) were found, particularly in diagnosing AICA’s absence, which was more common in radiological studies (up to 36.1%) compared to cadaver studies (less than 5%). Other observed variations included atypical origins from the vertebral artery and basilar-vertebral junction, as well as the AICA-and-PICA common trunk. Single cases of arterial triplication or fenestration have also been documented. Specifically, in relation to HFS, AICA variants that compress the facial nerve at its root entry/exit zone include parabola-shaped loops, dominant segments proximal to the REZ, and anchor-shaped bifurcations impacting the nerve’s cisternal portion