Awareness of oral health prophylaxis in pregnant women

Introduction: During pregnancy, changes in the oral cavity occur due to fluctuations in hormone levels and changes in eating habits and hygiene. Objectives: To evaluate pregnant women’s awareness of oral health prophylaxis. Material and Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was completed by 341 pregnant women from Malopolskie Voivodeship. The statistical analysis was carried out in the R program (v. 3.4.3); a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Over half of the respondents did not receive oral hygiene instruction and did not take part in any prophylactic program. The main sources of oral health knowledge were the internet (66.3%), dentist (43.1%) and gynaecologist (17.9%). Respondents willingly followed the advice of healthcare workers. Approximately 32% of the surveyed women were aware of the most appropriate period for dental treatment (second trimester). Over half of the women admitted that they would receive dental care more often if more procedures were reimbursed. Approximately 71% of the women were aware of the increased susceptibility to tooth decay during pregnancy. The relationship between the presence of caries in parents and that in children was known by 42.1% of respondents, but 45% admitted they did not know how to take care of their child’s teeth properly. Conclusions: Women with a higher education level had better knowledge in the area of oral health. However, most of the respondents need to increase their knowledge in this area. Prophylactic programs should be broadly propagated, and healthcare workers should deliver essential information in daily practice

Radioactivity of Honeys from Poland After the Fukushima Accident

Concentration of radioactive isotopes in honey constitutes an important bioindicator of environmental radiation. One hundred six honey samples were collected from hives and from bottled honey provided by beekeepers from north-eastern Poland in 2010, before the Fukushima accident, and during the two-year period directly following this catastrophe (2011–2012). Cesium-137 (Cs-137) and potassium-40 (K-40) were determined in lime, multifloral, buckwheat, honeydew and other kinds of honey samples. The obtained mean concentrations of Cs-137 and K-40 (Bq kg(−1)) in honey samples were: 1.19 and 32.92 in 2010, 0.90 and 31.13 in 2011, 1.31 and 36.06 in 2012, respectively. Significant differences were not observed. Therefore, the studied honey samples collected after the Fukushima accident are found to be safe for humans with levels of Cs-137 and K-40 not posing any threats. However, the total concentration of Cs-137 and K-40 in samples stopped decreasing in 2010–2011 and showed a slight increase in 2012. This relation may suggest the impact of pollution from Fukushima and requires further research in the coming years

Oral disease prevention awareness among runners

Bieganie jest obecnie jednym z najpopularniejszych sportów. Celem pracy jest określenie świadomości biegaczy w zakresie profilaktyki chorób jamy ustnej oraz wpływu tego sportu na problemy stomatologiczne. Materiał i metody. Badaniem ankietowym objęto 191 osób (96 kobiet i 95 mężczyzn) uprawiających biegi na różnych dystansach i o różnej częstości. Średnia wieku badanych wynosiła 32 lata. Autorski kwestionariusz składał się z 26 pytań, dotyczących intensywności treningów , diety, stosowanej profilaktyki oraz obecności zmian patologicznych w zakresie jamy ustnej. Uzyskane wyniki poddano analizie statystycznej z zastosowaniem programu R, przyjmując za punkt istotności statystycznej p<0,05. Projekt posiada zgodę Komisji Bioetycznej UJ. Wyniki. Biegacze wykazali się niskim poziomem świadomości w zakresie zdrowia jamy ustnej. Niespełna 30% ankietowanych uważa, że bieganie ma wpływ na stan zdrowia jamy ustnej, a 2% deklaruje zmianę nawyków higienicznych po rozpoczęciu treningów. ów. 40% ankietowanych odbywa wizyty u lekarza stomatologa raz na rok, a 17% rzadziej. Co 3-ci ankietowany do dbania o higienę jamy ustnej używa wyłącznie szczoteczki. Dodatkowe przybory higienizacyjne stosowały głów nie osoby trenujące częściej niż 4 razy w tygodniu: 47% osób trenujących więcej niż 4 razy w tygodniu używała nić dentystyczną, 37% korzystała z płukanek. Osoby, u których wystąpiły po biegu zmiany w jamie ustnej spożywały głów nie produkty białkowe. Ankieta wykazała, że u osób trenujących czterokrotnie w tygodniu występowały: ból zębów w trakcie przyjmowania pokarmów u 11 % badanych, kolejno u 8% samoistny ból zębów , 5% rozchwianie zębów , 5% wzrost próchnicy i 5% zmiany w obrębie dziąseł. Częstość występowania bólu samoistnego zależała od intensywności treningów oraz szczotkowania zębów - pośród osób szczotkujących zęby raz dziennie dolegliwości wystąpiły u 12% sportowców , natomiast w grupie szczotkujących dwa razy dziennie u 2%. Wnioski. Wskazane jest podniesienie poziomu świadomości w zakresie zdrowia jamy ustnej u biegaczy poprzez zalecenie częstszych okresowych badań stomatologicznych oraz stworzenie programu profilaktycznego dedykowanego tej grupie.Introduction and objective of study: Running is currently one of the most popular sports practised today. The objective of this study was to determine dental caries prevention awareness in runners and the impact of this sport on dental problems. Material and methods: The study population comprised a total of 191 persons (96 women and 95 men) running different distances and with varying frequency. The average age was 32 years. The author’s own questionnaire comprised 26 questions focusing on the intensity of the respondents’ training, diet, the methods of caries prevention they used as well as the presence of pathological changes in the oral cavity. The results obtained in the study were subjected to statistical analysis using R software, with a p value of <0.05 deemed statistically significant. The project was approved by Bioethical Committee of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. w. Results: The runners presented limited awareness of oral health issues. Less than 30% of the respondents reckoned that running has an impact on their oral health, while only 2% declared that that they had changed their hygiene habits since they had begun training. Forty percent of the respondents visit a dentist once a year, and 17% even less frequently. One in every three respondents used a toothbrush alone to take care of their oral hygiene needs. Additional hygiene tools were used mainly by those who trained more frequently than 4 times a w w eek: 47% of the respondents who ran more than 4 times a w w eek applied dental floss, while 37% used a dental mouthwash. Respondents who experienced changes in the oral cavity after running mainly consumed protein products. The survey revealed the following problems in those training four times a w w eek: 11% experienced toothache when eating food, 8% experienced idiopathic tooth ache, 5% - mobile teeth, 5% - increased caries, and 5% - gingival lesions. The frequency of idiopathic pain depended on the intensity of the respondents’ training as well as tooth brushing - 12% of those athletes who brushed their teeth once a day experienced problems compared with 2% of those who brushed their teeth twice a day. Conclusions: Runners should be made more aware of oral health issues by recommending to them more frequent periodic dental check- ups and creating a dental caries prevention program targeted at this specific group

Assessment of ABT-263 activity across a cancer cell line collection leads to a potent combination therapy for small-cell lung cancer

BH3 mimetics such as ABT-263 induce apoptosis in a subset of cancer models. However, these drugs have shown limited clinical efficacy as single agents in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other solid tumor malignancies, and rational combination strategies remain underexplored. To develop a novel therapeutic approach, we examined the efficacy of ABT-263 across >500 cancer cell lines, including 311 for which we had matched expression data for select genes. We found that high expression of the proapoptotic gene Bcl2-interacting mediator of cell death (BIM) predicts sensitivity to ABT-263. In particular, SCLC cell lines possessed greater BIM transcript levels than most other solid tumors and are among the most sensitive to ABT-263. However, a subset of relatively resistant SCLC cell lines has concomitant high expression of the antiapoptotic myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1). Whereas ABT-263 released BIM from complexes with BCL-2 and BCL-XL, high expression of MCL-1 sequestered BIM released from BCL-2 and BCL-XL, thereby abrogating apoptosis. We found that SCLCs were sensitized to ABT-263 via TORC1/2 inhibition, which led to reduced MCL-1 protein levels, thereby facilitating BIM-mediated apoptosis. AZD8055 and ABT-263 together induced marked apoptosis in vitro, as well as tumor regressions in multiple SCLC xenograft models. In a Tp53; Rb1 deletion genetically engineered mouse model of SCLC, the combination of ABT-263 and AZD8055 significantly repressed tumor growth and induced tumor regressions compared with either drug alone. Furthermore, in a SCLC patient-derived xenograft model that was resistant to ABT-263 alone, the addition of AZD8055 induced potent tumor regression. Therefore, addition of a TORC1/2 inhibitor offers a therapeutic strategy to markedly improve ABT-263 activity in SCLC.United States. Dept. of Defense (Grant W81-XWH-13-1-0323)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Cancer Center Support Grant P30-CA14051

Intake of Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals in Relation to Body Composition, Skin Hydration and Lubrication in Young Women

The aim of this study was to estimate the consumption of selected dietary components with antioxidant properties, undertake body composition analysis, assess skin hydration and lubrication, and establish the relationships between the above parameters. The study was carried out on 172 young women. The consumption of ingredients (vitamins A, C, D and E, and Cu, Mn, Zn) was assessed using the Diet 6.0 program, body composition was assessed using electrical bioimpedance and skin hydration and lubrication were assessed using the corneometric and sebumetric methods, respectively. About one-third of students showed insufficient consumption of vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc, while about 99% showed insufficient vitamin D levels. The highest degree of hydration was observed in the areas of the eyelids, neckline and chin. The greatest amount of sebum was found in the area of the nose and forehead. Low positive correlations between hydration or lubrication and Cu, vitamin A and vitamin E were observed. In conclusion, to properly moisturize and lubricate the skin, young women should eat products that are rich in ingredients with antioxidant properties, in particular fat-soluble vitamins A and E, but also copper

Eating Habits during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Level of Antibodies IgG and FRAP&mdash;Experiences of Polish School Staff: A Pilot Study

The coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought many changes in terms of lifestyle, education, stress levels, and social contacts. The aim of our research was to evaluate changes in eating habits, physical activity, and selected lifestyle elements in a group of school staff, as well as their immune response to vaccination against COVID-19, and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) level. In total, 108 primary school teachers and other school staff with integration departments were included in the study. An original survey was conducted with the school staff. Of the study group, 45.4% chose to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In this group, the level of IgG antibodies was assessed, as well as the level of FRAP before vaccination, and after the first and second dose. An original questionnaire was also carried out. A decrease in physical activity and an increase in the time spent in front of the computer have been demonstrated, but a positive observation was a favorable change in most eating habits. After the second dose of vaccination, all subjects achieved the appropriate level of IgG antibodies (above 22 U/mL), with the maximum level recorded in 51%. There was also a significant increase in FRAP levels in the group after the first and second dose of the vaccine compared to the baseline level; an issue that requires further observation

Participation of the nurse in the adaptation of the child to hospital conditions

Hospitalizacja jest trudnym doświadczeniem dla dziecka. Wiąże się z dużym obciążeniem fizycznym i psychicznym. Konieczność pobytu w szpitalu wymaga adaptacji dziecka do nowego środowiska. Pielęgniarka, jako osoba będąca najbliżej małego pacjenta, ma zasadniczy wpływ na jego prawidłowe przystosowanie się do warunków szpitalnych. Oddziaływanie na chore dziecko zależy od jego wieku i sposobów radzenia sobie w trudnej sytuacji. Przed pielęgniarkami na oddziałach pediatrycznych stoi zadanie właściwego wprowadzania dziecka w rolę pacjenta, minimalizowania jego niepokoju i lęku oraz nawiązanie i podtrzymanie kontaktu z nim oraz z jego rodzicami. Celem pracy było ukazanie roli, jaką odgrywa pielęgniarka w adaptacji dziecka do warunków szpitalnych. Systematyczny przegląd piśmiennictwa medycznego w aspekcie specyficznych problemów wynikających z hospitalizacji dzieci. Hospitalizacja pozbawia dziecko jego naturalnego środowiska, rozdziela go z rodziną, uniemożliwia dotychczasową aktywność życiową i wymusza przestrzeganie odgórnie narzuconego reżimu szpitalnego, ograniczając w konsekwencji jego swobodę i odbierając mu poczucie bezpieczeństwa. Samopoczucie dziecka w szpitalu zależy od wielu czynników, jak chociażby od stosunków psychospołecznych z personelem. Dziecko odczuwa, czy personel darzy go sympatią, czy rozumie jego problemy i potrzeby, okazuje cierpliwość, zainteresowanie, prawidłowo się z nim komunikuje (podejście humanistyczne, które sprzyja przystosowaniu się dziecka do warunków szpitalnych) czy też jest skoncentrowany wyłącznie na jego chorobie (podejście biologiczne). Dzieciom i młodzieży podczas hospitalizacji należy stwarzać możliwość wyrażania przeżywanych emocji (rozmowa, wyrażenie obaw, zabawy, kontakt z rówieśnikami).Pielęgniarki powinny dbać o zaspokajanie potrzeb psychospołecznych dzieci znajdujących się na oddziałach pediatrycznych. Kierunek oddziaływań pielęgniarek umożliwiający adaptację dziecka do warunków szpitala powinien uwzględniać wiek dziecka, etap rozwoju psychofizycznego, aktualny stan zdrowia, poziom wydolności organizmu oraz jego indywidualne potrzeby.The hospitalization is difficult experience for the child. He is connected with a great physical and psychological burden. The necessity of the stay in hospital requires the adaptation of the child to the new environment. The nurse as the staying person closest the short patient has the fundamental influence on of him correct adjustment to hospital conditions. The influence on the ill child depends from his age and ways of dealing with in the difficult situation. Before nurses on pediatric branches setting due leading the child into the soil of the patient, minimizing his anxiety and fear and establishing is standing and supporting the contact with it and with his parents. Introduce the part nurse is playing which in the adaptation of the child to hospital conditions. Systematic review of the medical writing in the aspect of peculiar problems resulting from the hospitalization of children. The hospitalization is depriving the child of his habitat, he is separating him with the family, he is making the current energetic attitude to life impossible and he is forcing into obeying the top-down imposed hospital regime reducing his freedom in consequence and getting the sense of security back from him. The physical and mental state of the child at the hospital depends on many determinants, as even if from psychosocial relationships with the staff. The child is sensing whether the staff likes him, whether he understands his problems and needs, he is showing the patience, interest, correctly is communicating with him (humanistic approach which is supporting the adjustment of the child to hospital conditions) whether is also concentrated exclusively on his illness (biological approach). Children and young people during the hospitalization should have an opportunity to express survived emotions (conversation, saying its anxieties, games, contact with peers). Nurses should care for satisfying needs of psychosocial children at pediatric wards. Direction of influences of nurses enabling the adaptation of the child to conditions of the hospital should take the age of the child into account, level of development psychophysical, the current state of health, the level of the function of the organism and his individual needs

Is the Magnesium Content in Food Supplements Consistent with the Manufacturers’ Declarations?

Food supplements (FS) are gaining more and more popularity because they are a quick way to compensate for deficiencies in the diet. Due to their affordable price and easy-to-take form, they are eaten by all age groups and by healthy and sick people. There are many categories of this type of preparations on the market, and FS with magnesium (Mg) are some of the most commonly used. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the Mg content in FS and to compare the estimated value with that declared by the manufacturer. The study included 116 FS containing Mg. In order to determine the Mg content, the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) method was used. The tested FS were divided in terms of the declared content, pharmaceutical form, chemical form of Mg, composition complexity, and price. It was shown that in the case of 58.7% of the samples, the Mg content was different than the permissible tolerance limits set by the Polish chief sanitary inspectorate, which range from −20% to +45%. It has been estimated that as a result of the differences in the content, the patient may take up to 304% more Mg per day or 98% less than it is stated in the declaration. The above results indicate that the quality and safety of FS should be more closely monitored

Assessment of the Risk of Contamination of Food for Infants and Toddlers

Infants and toddlers are highly sensitive to contaminants in food. Chronic exposure can lead to developmental delays, disorders of the nervous, urinary and immune systems, and to cardiovascular disease. A literature review was conducted mainly in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus databases, and took into consideration papers published from October 2020 to March 2021. We focused on contaminant content, intake estimates, and exposure to contaminants most commonly found in foods consumed by infants and children aged 0.5–3 years. In the review, we included 83 publications with full access. Contaminants that pose a high health risk are toxic elements, acrylamide, bisphenol, and pesticide residues. Minor pollutants include: dioxins, mycotoxins, nitrates and nitrites, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In order to reduce the negative health effects of food contamination, it seems reasonable to educate parents to limit foods that are potentially dangerous for infants and young children. An appropriate varied diet, selected cooking techniques, and proper food preparation can increase the likelihood that the foods children consume are safe for their health. It is necessary to monitor food contamination, adhere to high standards at every stage of production, and improve the quality of food for children

Modern Methods for Assessing the Quality of Bee Honey and Botanical Origin Identification

This paper is a summary of the latest literature on methods for assessing quality of natural bee honey. The publication briefly characterizes methods recommended by the International Honey Commission, published in 2009, as well as newer methods published in the last 10 years. Modern methods of assessing honey quality focus mainly on analyzing markers of individual varieties and classifying them into varieties, using, among others, near infrared spectroscopy techniques (NIR), potentiometric tongue, electronic nose, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), zymography, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA metabarcoding, and chemometric techniques including partial least squares (PLS), principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural networks (ANN). At the same time, effective techniques for analyzing adulteration, sugar, and water content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), polyphenol content, and diastase activity are being sought. Modern techniques enable the results of honey quality testing to be obtained in a shorter time, using the principles of green chemistry, allowing, at the same time, for high precision and accuracy of determinations. These methods are constantly modified, so that the honey that is on sale is a product of high quality. Prospects for devising methods of honey quality assessment include the development of a fast and accurate alternative to the melissopalynological method as well as quick tests to detect adulteration