The role of the gut microbiota and the use of new therapies in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with a multifactorial nature of the disease. IBS affects 11% of the population, with the gut microbiota playing an important role in the pathophysiology. Purpose: The aim of this article is to present the course of irritable bowel syndrome, the role of the gut microbiota in pathophysiology, and new therapeutic approaches, including probiotics, based on the current state of knowledge. Conclusions: IBS is a syndrome whose exact pathophysiology is not fully understood. The state of the gut microbiota has a huge impact on the course of the disease, but also on the functioning of the whole body. New therapies currently in use, i.e. probiotics, are showing promising results, but more research is needed to find the golden mean to treat the disease. Methods: Data for the article were retrieved using PubMed setting the time descriptors to 2013-2023. Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the more common functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It manifests as recurrent abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating accompanied by bowel movements without a direct underlying cause. From multicentre clinical studies, it is known that disorders of various mechanisms within the brain-gut axis, altered gastrointestinal motility and visceral hypersensitivity are the underlying causes. In addition, many scholars are of the opinion that disturbances in the gut microbiota play a key role in the pathogenesis of IBS

Hashimoto's disease - the role of factors and diet in the course of the disease

Introduction: Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that develops as a result of a pathological reaction of the patient's immune system, which consequently destroys the body's own healthy cells and tissues. Genetic, environmental and immunological factors influence its development. The disease may initially be asymptomatic. The exact aetiology of the disease is unknown. The worldwide incidence is approximately 10-12%. Purpose: This paper aims to present the influence of genetic factors, environmental factors, trace elements, and diet on the development and course of Hashimoto's disease based on the current state of knowledge. Conclusions: Hashimoto's disease is a multifactorial disease, but the relevance of all factors presented in the development and progression has not yet been confirmed. To date, a special diet for patients has not been created. Further research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease in order to help patients control HT. Methods: Data for the article were retrieved using PubMed setting the time descriptors to 2013-2023

Dibromidobis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-κN 2)cobalt(II)

In the mononuclear title complex, [CoBr2(C5H8N2)2], the CoII atom is coordinated by two N atoms from two monodentate 3,5-dimethyl­pyrazole ligands and two Br atoms in a highly distorted tetra­hedral geometry. In the crystal, the complex mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds into chains along [101]. An intra­molecular N—H⋯Br hydrogen bond is also present

The role of the gut microbiota and the use of new therapies in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with a multifactorial nature of the disease. IBS affects 11% of the population, with the gut microbiota playing an important role in the pathophysiology. Purpose: The aim of this article is to present the course of irritable bowel syndrome, the role of the gut microbiota in pathophysiology, and new therapeutic approaches, including probiotics, based on the current state of knowledge. Conclusions: IBS is a syndrome whose exact pathophysiology is not fully understood. The state of the gut microbiota has a huge impact on the course of the disease, but also on the functioning of the whole body. New therapies currently in use, i.e. probiotics, are showing promising results, but more research is needed to find the golden mean to treat the disease. Methods: Data for the article were retrieved using PubMed setting the time descriptors to 2013-2023. Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the more common functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It manifests as recurrent abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating accompanied by bowel movements without a direct underlying cause. From multicentre clinical studies, it is known that disorders of various mechanisms within the brain-gut axis, altered gastrointestinal motility and visceral hypersensitivity are the underlying causes. In addition, many scholars are of the opinion that disturbances in the gut microbiota play a key role in the pathogenesis of IBS

Hashimoto's disease - the role of factors and diet in the course of the disease

Introduction: Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that develops as a result of a pathological reaction of the patient's immune system, which consequently destroys the body's own healthy cells and tissues. Genetic, environmental and immunological factors influence its development. The disease may initially be asymptomatic. The exact aetiology of the disease is unknown. The worldwide incidence is approximately 10-12%. Purpose: This paper aims to present the influence of genetic factors, environmental factors, trace elements, and diet on the development and course of Hashimoto's disease based on the current state of knowledge. Conclusions: Hashimoto's disease is a multifactorial disease, but the relevance of all factors presented in the development and progression has not yet been confirmed. To date, a special diet for patients has not been created. Further research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease in order to help patients control HT. Methods: Data for the article were retrieved using PubMed setting the time descriptors to 2013-2023

fac-Tris(pyridine-2-carboxyl­ato-κ2 N,O)cobalt(III)

In the title compound, [Co(C6H4NO2)3], the CoIII ion lies on a threefold rotation axis and is in a distorted octa­hedral environment defined by three N and three O donor atoms from three fac-disposed pyridine-2-carboxyl­ate ligands. The ligands are coordinated in a chelate fashion, forming three five-membered rings. In the crystal, translationally related complex molecules are organized into columns along [001] via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

A clinical profile and factors associated with severity of the disease among Polish patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 — an observational study

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the greatest clinical challenges of the last decades. Clinical factors associated with severity of the disease remain unclear. The aim of the study was to characterize Polish patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 and to evaluate potential prognostic factors of severe course of the disease.Material and methods: An observational study was conducted from March to July 2020 in the Pulmonology and Allergology Department of the University Hospital in Kraków, Poland. Consecutive patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection were enrolled, and data about past medical history, signs and symptoms, laboratory results, imaging studies results, in-hospital management and outcomes was prospectively gathered.Results: The study sample comprised 100 patients at the mean age of 59.2 (SD 16.1) years among whom 63 (63.0%) were male. Among them 10 (10.0%) died, 47 (47%) presented respiratory failure, 15 (15.0%) were transferred to the intensive care unit, 17 (17.0%) developed acute kidney injury, 7 (7.0%) had sepsis and 10 (10.0%) were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. Multivariable analysis revealed age (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.01–1.15), body mass index (BMI; OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.01–1.53), modified early warning score (MEWS; OR 3.95; 95% CI 1.48–12), the highest d-dimer value (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.03–2.9) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.03–1.3) to be associated with severe course of COVID-19.Conclusion: This observational study showed that almost half of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 developed respiratory failure in the course of the disease. Increasing age, BMI, MEWS, d-dimer value and LDH concentration were associated with the severity of COVID-19

Combined Tumor Cell-Based Vaccination and Interleukin-12 Gene Therapy Polarizes the Tumor Microenvironment in Mice

Tumor progression depends on tumor milieu, which influences neovasculature formation and immunosuppression. Combining immunotherapy with antiangiogenic/antivascular therapy might be an effective therapeutic approach. The aim of our study was to elaborate an anticancer therapeutic strategy based on the induction of immune response which leads to polarization of tumor milieu. To achieve this, we developed a tumor cell-based vaccine. CAMEL peptide was used as a B16-F10 cell death-inducing agent. The lysates were used as a vaccine to immunize mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma tumors. To further improve the therapeutic effect of the vaccine, we combined it with interleukin (IL)-12 gene therapy. IL-12, a cytokine with antiangiogenic properties, activates nonspecific and specific immune responses. We observed that combined therapy is significantly more effective (as compared with monotherapies) in inhibiting tumor growth. Furthermore, the tested combination polarizes the tumor microenvironment, which results in a switch from a proangiogenic/immunosuppressive to an antiangiogenic/immunostimulatory one. The switch manifests itself as a decreased number of tumor blood vessels, increased levels of tumor-infiltrating CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells, as well as lower level of suppressor lymphocytes (Treg). Our results suggest that polarizing tumor milieu by such combined therapy does inhibit tumor growth and seems to be a promising therapeutic strategy

Harmonization and deharmonization of excise duty in the European Union as contemporary challenges of the EU tax law

In order to ensure the effective functioning of the EU internal market, in particular the exercise of its freedoms, it is necessary to harmonize indirect taxes at the level of European Union law. This harmonization also covers excise duty. At the same time, when analyzing the harmonization of excise duty in the EU Member States, certain gradually emerging differences can be noticed at the level of national legislation. As a consequence, it should be considered whether they are the beginning of deharmonization processes and strengthening the tax sovereignty of EU Member States, which may become a major challenge for the tax law of the European Union overtime. The article discusses the idea of indirect tax harmonization at the European Union level, indicates the specificity of the harmonization of excise duty, presents contemporary deharmonization tendencies of excise duty in European Union law, as well as presents contemporary challenges related to the issue of excise duty in European Union law. The analysis of this issue was based on the following research methods characteristic for legal sciences: theoretical-legal, formal-dogmatic, literature criticism and comparative-legal method. Using these methods, it was concluded that there are contemporary deharmonization tendencies in the field of excise tax which are connected with legal, political, economic, financial, social, cultural and ecological conditions. Moreover, it has been noted that although the de-harmonization tendency is not yet universal, it is slowly affecting the functioning of the common internal market in the European Union. The problem of excise duty de-harmonization noticed by the authors of this article is a challenge for common economic and legal turnover in the European Union. The aim of the article is to analyze the harmonization and deharmonization trends in excise duty from the perspective of the European Union law, as well as to identify challenges for the EU legislation in this area