Ginsenoside content in suspension cultures of Panax quinquefolium L. cultivated in shake flasksand stirred-tank bioreactor

Plant suspension cultures are described as a source for the acquisition of medicinal secondary metabolites which in the future may become an alternative to traditional raw materials. This study demonstrates that the cell cultures of one of the ginseng species – Panax quinquefolium L. synthesize ginsenosides, which are triterpene saponins having a multidirectional pharmacological effects. Tested suspension cultures were run on a small scale in the shake flasksand in scale up of the process in a 10-liter stirred tank. In the shake flasks,the highest biomass yield (2.28 gl-1 for dry and 33.99 gl-1 for fresh weight) was reached on day 30 of culture, and the highest content of saponins (2.66 mg g -1 dw) was determined on day 28 of culture. In the bioreactor, nearly 2.67 and 3-fold increase of respectively dry and fresh biomass was recorded in relation to the inoculum. Large-scale cultures synthesized protopanaxatriol derivatives such as Rg1 and Re ginsenosides, however, no saponins belonging to the protopanaxadiol derivatives were reported

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) enhances angiogenic and cardiomyogenic potential of murine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

The current evidence suggests that beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) toward myocardial repair are largely due to paracrine actions of several factors. Although Monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) is involved in the regulation of inflammatory response, apoptosis and angiogenesis, whether MCPIP1 plays any role in stem cell-induced cardiac repair has never been examined. By employing retroviral (RV)-transduced overexpression of MCPIP1, we investigated the impact of MCPIP1 on viability, apoptosis, proliferation, metabolic activity, proteome, secretome and differentiation capacity of murine bone marrow (BM) - derived MSCs. MCPIP1 overexpression enhanced angiogenic and cardiac differentiation of MSCs compared with controls as indicated by elevated expression of genes accompanying angiogenesis and cardiomyogenesis in vitro. The proangiogenic activity of MCPIP1-overexpressing MSCs (MCPIP1-MSCs) was also confirmed by increased capillary-like structure formation under several culture conditions. This increase in differentiation capacity was associated with decreased proliferation of MCPIP1-MSCs when compared with controls. MCPIP1-MSCs also expressed increased levels of proteins involved in angiogenesis, autophagy, and induction of differentiation, but not adverse inflammatory agents. We conclude that MCPIP1 enhances endothelial and cardiac differentiation of MSCs. Thus, modulating MCPIP1 expression may be a novel approach useful for enhancing the immune-regulatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and regenerative capacity of BM-derived MSCs for myocardial repair and regeneration of ischemic tissues

The Effectiveness of Active Rehabilitation Camp on Physical Performance of Disabled People Moving in Wheelchairs

(1) Background: Regular participation in physical activity (PA) prevents many medical complications and improves the physical fitness of people with spinal cord injury, and in turn improves the functional independence, psychosocial status and quality of life. The goal of Active Rehabilitation Camps (ARCs) is to use various forms of PA in order for the participants to obtain the greatest efficiency and independence in everyday life. (2) Purpose: To evaluate the improvement in physical performance of people with chronic spinal cord disabilities moving in wheelchairs taking part in the Active Rehabilitation Camp depending on (a) sex, (b) type of disability, (c) the level of injury and (d) the type of wheelchair. (3) Methods: The study included 42 wheelchair users: 28 men and 14 women aged 18–65 years (34.7 ± 14.9 years) taking part in the Active Rehabilitation Camp. Finally, the study involved 27 paraplegics, 9 tetraplegics and 6 individuals with myelomeningocele. The participants took part in four fitness tests: (1) sprint test (SP)—individual time to cover a distance of 15 m in the wheelchair; (2) slalom test (SL)—time to ride between four cones front and back; (3) basketball ball throw at a distance (BT), (4) zig-zag test (ZZ)—riding continuously for 6 min on the designated track. The tests were performed at the beginning and at the end of the ACR. Active wheelchairs were used by 32 participants, and 10 participants used the classic wheelchairs. (4) Results: Paraplegics achieved the best average results in all the tests and the best improvement in physical performance in comparison to individuals with myelomeningocele and tetraplegics. People in active wheelchairs achieved a statistically significant improvement in the results of SL and ZZ (p < 0.001). People with injury above Th-9 level of the spinal cord achieved a statistically significant improvement in the results of SP (p < 0.01), SL and ZZ (p < 0.01). People with injury below Th6 achieved a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in SP, SL and ZZ. (5) Conclusions: Regular PA during the Active Rehabilitation Camp improves the physical performance of disabled people in wheelchairs, but the scale of improvement of physical performance fitness depends on the type of wheelchair used and the level and the type of injury

Physical Activity as a Predictor of the Level of Stress and Quality of Sleep during COVID-19 Lockdown

Background: The coronavirus pandemic and the government restrictions significantly disturbed the daily functioning of people, thereby influencing healthy behaviors, such as physical activity—the core indicator of well-being. This study evaluates the associations between physical activity (PA), the level of stress and quality of sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: An online survey was distributed during the governmental lockdown in April 2020 and included measures for assessing physical activity, stress and sleep. The surveyed participants included all adults aged 18 years and over. The final data were collected from the 1959 respondents using: International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Findings: Almost half of the respondents indicated a low level of PA, performing only 60 min of PA daily. Most of the participants reported a moderate or high level of stress (57% and 29%, respectively) and 64% of them reported poor quality of sleep. People with low levels of stress performed on average 85.1 min/day of walking (WPA), 40.9 min/day of moderate PA (MPA) or 52.6 min/day of vigorous PA (VPA). People with good quality of sleep performed 82.9 min/day of WPA, 43.6 min/day MPA and 40.5 min/day VPA. Interpretation: The results from the study indicate that the volume of daily PA may be a predictor of the level of stress and sleep quality in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. To retain a low level of stress and good quality of sleep, a lifestyle that allows to achieve a moderate level of physical activity should be maintained. The optimal daily dose of PA is at least 70 min per day, involving different intensities

Physical activity of patients with osteoarthritis aged 40–60 from the Lodz Region

Wprowadzenie i cel pracy. Choroba zwyrodnieniowa jest najczęstszą chorobą stawów i jedną z głównych przyczyn niepełnosprawności wśród osób starszych. W chorobach narządu ruchu ćwiczenia fizyczne stanowią jedną z najskuteczniejszych metod leczenia. Celem pracy była ocena aktywności ruchowej podejmowanej przez osoby w wieku 40–60 lat z chorobą zwyrodnieniową stawów (ChZS), z województwa łódzkiego. Materiał i metoda. W badaniu wzięło udział 40 osób w wieku 40–60 lat ze zdiagnozowaną ChZS, zamieszkałych w województwie łódzkim. Badanie obejmowało pomiar podstawowych parametrów antropometrycznych, na podstawie których zostały wyliczone wskaźniki BMI i WHR. Aktywność fizyczna została oceniona metodą sondażu diagnostycznego z wykorzystaniem Kwestionariusza 7-dniowej Aktywności Fizycznej i autorskiego kwestionariusz ankiety. Wyniki. 35% badanych podejmowało aktywność fizyczną codziennie, jednak czas wysiłku fizycznego większości badanych nie przekraczał 60 minut. Najczęściej wybieraną formą aktywności fizycznej był spacer (39%). Dobowy wydatek energetyczny na wysiłek fizyczny wyniósł średnio 1759 kcal wśród mężczyzn i 343 kcal wśród kobiet. Przyczyną podejmowania aktywności fizycznej przez większość badanych było rozpoznanie ChZS. Większość ankietowanych zauważyła wpływ systematycznych ćwiczeń fizycznych na poprawę ich stanu zdrowia oraz zmniejszenie dolegliwości bólowych (63% badanych). Wnioski. Głównym motywem podejmowania aktywności fizycznej przez osoby w wieku 40–60 lat jest dopiero rozwój choroby, w tym przypadku choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawów. W związku z tym koniecznie należy podejmować działania edukacyjne skierowane do osób dorosłych informujące o korzyściach wynikających z podejmowania regularnego wysiłku fizycznego w ramach profilaktyki choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawów.Introduction and purpose. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease and a major cause of disability among the elderly. In diseases of the motor organ, physical exercises are one of the most effective methods of treatment. The aim of the study was to assess physical activity undertaken by people with osteoarthritis (OA) aged 40–60 from the Łódź Region. Material and Method. The study involved 40 patients aged 40–60, diagnosed with OA living in the Łódź Region, and included anthropometric measurements of basic parameters based on which the BMI and WHR were calculated. Physical activity was assessed by a diagnostic survey using a 7-day Physical Activity Questionnaire Recall and a questionnaire designed by the author. Results. 35% of respondents undertook physical activity every day, but in the majority of respondents the duration of physical activity did not exceed 60 minutes. The most frequently chosen form of physical activity was walking (39%). Daily energy expenditure on physical activity was 1,759 kcal for men and 343 kcal for women, on average. The reason for undertaking physical activity by most respondents was the diagnosis of OA. The largest number of them noted that regular physical activity resulted in the improvement of their health and reduction of pain (63%). Conclusions: The primary incentive for undertaking physical activity by the population aged 40–60 is the development of disease, in this case, of osteoarthritis. Therefore, it is necessary to implement educational efforts aimed at informing adults about the benefits of regular physical activity on the prevention of osteoarthritis

Perception of depression in selected social groups

Obecnie z depresją walczy około 450 milionów ludzi na całym świecie. Cel pracy. Ocena percepcji depresji przez nauczycieli i pielęgniarki. Materiał i metody. Badaniem objęto po 100 pielęgniarek i 100 nauczycieli. Wykorzystano autorski kwestionariusz ankietowy złożony z 38 pytań. Wyniki. Zdaniem 93,5% ogółu badanych, na depresję można zachorować w każdym wieku, według 83% zachorowalność wzrasta, 77% uznało, że jest to poważna choroba, 78% stwierdziło, iż depresja jest wyleczalna, 61,5% było zdania, iż zawód może oddziaływać na zachorowalność na depresję, 58,5% wskazało, że to choroba wstydliwa. Za grupy najbardziej narażone na depresję uznano osoby związane z edukacją (59,3%) i pracowników ochrony zdrowia (52%). 76,8% badanych zadeklarowało pozytywny stosunek do chorego na depresję. W opinii 77% badanych depresji towarzyszą nowotwory. O tym, że istnieją specjalne skale służące do pomiaru poziomu depresji wiedziało 51% osób. 73% oceniło swój poziom wiedzy jako średni. 83,5% badanych uważało, że wiedza na temat depresji jest przydatna Wiedzę na temat depresji czerpali głównie z mediów (66,5%) i Internetu (60,5%). Swoją wiedzę chciałoby poszerzyć 61% badanych, ale tylko 21,5% badanych sprecyzowało zakres powyższego. 87% w roli edukatora z zakresu depresji widziało psychologa. Wnioski. W opinii większości badanych depresja jest problemem zdrowotnym polskiego społeczeństwa, a zachorowalność na depresję w Polsce w ostatnich latach wzrasta. Zdecydowanie większą wiedzę z zakresu depresji posiadały pielęgniarki niż nauczyciele. Stwierdzono istotne statystycznie zależności pomiędzy wykonywanym zawodem a wiedzą na temat depresji Nie stwierdzono istotnych statystycznie zależności pomiędzy przebytą depresją a stosunkiem do osoby chorej na depresję.Currently, about 450 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Objective. The objective of the study was assessment of the perception of depression by teachers and nurses. Materials and methods. The study included 100 nurses and 100 teachers, conducted using a questionnaire designed by the author, which consisted of 38 items. Results. According to 93.5% of the total number of respondents, depression may be contracted at any age, 83% of them mentioned that morbidity increases, 77% – that this is a serious disease, 78% – depression is curable, 61.5% – profession may exert an effect on morbidity due to depression, 58.5% – this is an embarrassing disease. The population groups most vulnerable to depression were considered those related with education (59.3%) and health care staff (52%). 76.8% of respondents declared a positive attitude towards patients with depression. In the opinions of 77% of respondents, depression is accompanied by cancer; 51 respondents were aware that there are special scales for the measurement of depression; 73% evaluated their level of knowledge as mediocre; and 83.5% considered their knowledge concerning depression as useful. The respondents obtained their knowledge concerning depression mainly from the media (66.5%) and the Internet (60.5%); 61% of respondents reported that they would like to expand their knowledge; however, only 21.5% of them specified the scope of this knowledge. 87% of respondents saw a psychologist in the role of an educator in the area of depression. Conclusions. In opinions of the majority of respondents, depression is a health problem in Polish society, and the incidence of depression in Poland has been increasing in recent years. Nurses had a considerably better knowledge of depression than teachers. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the profession performed and knowledge about depression. No significant relationship was found between past depression, and the attitude towards the person suffering from depression

Working Mode and Physical Activity as Factors Determining Stress and Sleep Quality during COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Poland

The coronavirus pandemic and related government restrictions have a significant impact on peoples’ everyday functioning and working, which influences their physical and mental health. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between stress and sleep quality of people of different working modes: working in the workplace (WP), working remotely (RW), and nonworking (NW) in relation to their physical activity (PA) during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Poland. It was an online survey performed during governmental lockdown in April 2020. The data were collected form 1959 adults using International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The conducted analysis included t-Student test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and mediation analysis (MANOVA). A moderate level of stress was reported in 57% of participants, and 34% of them reported a high stress level. Poor sleep quality was reported in 64% of participants. Total PA performed daily was, on average, 184.8 ± 170.5 min/day for WP, 120.6 ± 124.4 min/day for RW, and 124.6 ± 114.7 min/day for NW (p < 0.001). There was a relationship observed between the stress and sleep quality vs. PA habit and working mode, with p < 0.05. Being physically active can be beneficial to perceive less stress and sleep disturbances influencing sleep quality, especially in remotely or nonworking people. Planning future pandemic restrictions, the policymakers should be aware of the appropriate guidelines of work planning and PA recommendations for people of different working modes

Workload and coping with stress and the health status of emergency medical staff in the context of work–life balance

WstępPracownicy sytemu Państwowego Ratownictwa Medycznego (PRM) są grupą zawodową narażoną na duże ryzyko wypalenia zawodowego i zaburzeń równowagi między życiem zawodowym a prywatnym (work–life balance – WLB). Rzutuje to na ich zdrowie psychiczne i fizyczne. Celem badania była ocena zależności między liczbą przepracowanych godzin a stanem zdrowia i radzeniem sobie ze stresem jako czynnikami warunkującymi utrzymanie WLB u pracowników ratownictwa medycznego.Materiał i metodyW badaniu wzięło udział 129 osób zatrudnionych w PRM. Badanie przeprowadzono metodą sondażu diagnostycznego z wykorzystaniem Inwentarza do pomiaru radzenia sobie ze stresem (Mini-COPE) oraz autorskiego kwestionariusza dotyczącego grafiku pracy badanych i ich danych socjodemograficznych.WynikiBadane osoby w sposób aktywny potrafiły radzić sobie ze stresem i najczęściej oceniały swój stan zdrowia jako dobry. Większość badanych otrzymywała również wsparcie ze strony rodziny, jednak zadowolenie z osiąganego dochodu deklarowało już tylko około połowy z nich. Korelacja między liczbą przepracowanych godzin a wiekiem wyniosła r = –0,156 (p = 0,077), między liczbą przepracowanych godzin a subiektywną oceną zdrowia fizycznego była na poziomie r = –0,121 (p = 0,171).WnioskiPracownicy systemu PRM potrafią radzić sobie ze stresem i są zadowoleni z otrzymywanego wsparcia ze strony rodziny. Duża liczba dyżurów w pracy wpływa negatywnie na odczuwany przez badanych stan zdrowia, co wraz z brakiem zadowolenia z sytuacji finansowej może przyczyniać się do zaburzenia WLB. Zaleca się dalsze badania nad zjawiskiem WLB i monitorowanie liczby godzin pracy osób zatrudnionych w PRM.BackgroundEmergency medical staff (EMS) are a professional group at a high risk of burnout and an imbalance between work and private life, the so-called work–life balance (WLB). This affects their mental state and physical health. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the number of hours of work and the state of health as well as coping with the stress among emergency medical staff, as factors conditioning the maintenance of WLB.Material and MethodsThe study involved 129 people employed in the medical emergency sector. The study was conducted as a diagnostic survey using tools such as: the Mini-COPE Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress, a specially designed questionnaire regarding the work schedule, and sociodemographic data.ResultsThe examined people were able to manage stress in an active way, and they most often rated their health as good. Most of the respondents also received family support, and both men and women declared it. However, only about half of the respondents declared their satisfaction with the income earned. The correlation between the number of hours and age was r = –0.156 (p = 0.077), and that between the number of hours and physical health r = –0.12 (p = 0.171).ConclusionsGenerally, EMS are able to cope with stress and are satisfied with the support they receive from their families. However, the number of on-call times at work has a negative impact on their health status, which, together with a lack of satisfaction with the financial situation, may contribute to disturbed WLB. Further research on the WLB phenomenon, along with monitoring the number of working hours of people employed in emergency medicine, are recommended

Impact of Moderate Individually Tailored Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Fatigue on Functional, Cognitive, Emotional State, and Postural Stability

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease, with fatigue syndrome as one of the main symptoms. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that moderate physical activity (MPA) may have a beneficial effect on postural stability, balance, and clinical parameters. The research group consisted of 137 randomized patients hospitalized at the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz. Finally, 76 patients were qualified who were divided into two groups—high fatigue (HF) and low fatigue (LF). Participants were assessed twice: before and after a 4-week MPA program using: the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and stabilometric platform tests were performed. Results obtained after the 4-week MPA program showed a positive effect of the MPA with differences between LF and HF groups. The MPA was more effective in MS patients with LF in cognitive functions, functional status, and postural stability but among HF patients in an emotional state, especially in MS patients below 65 years, although in total, both groups benefited from the MPA

The Effect of Herbal Supplements on Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Herbal supplements rich in phenolic compounds are evidenced to have a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, they are suggested to be included in diets for people with hypertension (HT). HT is a global health problem and is estimated to affect billions of people until the end of 2025. For this reason, every possible and effective solution preventing HT should be considered. The aim was to perform an updated meta-analysis and review of recently published studies to evaluate the effect of selected herbal supplements on blood pressure reduction. We searched the PubMed database with specified selection criteria, analysing the RCT studies from 2011 to 2021. A total of 31 studies were included in the analysis, and the meta-analysis was conducted on the data from 16 of them. The general effect size of all the supplements via placebo was d = 1.45, p p < 0.05 for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The meta-analysis and review of the literature demonstrated that herbal supplements, such as resveratrol, cherry juice, beetroot juice, bergamot extracts, barberry, and pycnogenol, can be effective in blood pressure reduction and cardiovascular prevention, but attention should be paid to their appropriate dosage due to the possibility of side effects from the digestive system