Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) - influence on sleep: review

Introduction: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant found on the Indian subcontinent. The health-promoting properties attributed to it have been largely verified in numerous studies over the past 20 years. This article reviews studies on the effects of ashwagandha supplementation on sleep, its deprivation, and studies analyzing the mechanisms determining such effects. Materials and methods: A review of the literature available in the PubMed database was carried out, using the key words: "ashwagandha" ; "sleep" ; "insomnia", "withania", "somnifera", "withanolide", "withaferin". Results: Ashwagandha has a positive effect on the quality and length of sleep. It is indicated that it improves sleep parameters among both insomniacs and healthy people. In addition, it has been proven to reduce oxidative stress under conditions of sleep deprivation. Ashwagandha's positive effects on sleep have been shown to be related to its effects on GABA-nergic transmission, and the chemical responsible for the plant's sleep induction is triethylene glycol. Its regular use increases dopamine levels in the brain and could potentially be useful in treating the sleep-related disorder restless legs syndrome. Conclusions: The use of ashwagandha is a potential direction for treating sleep disorders and improving sleep quality in healthy individuals. There is a need for further development and studies on larger groups of patients to exploit its potential

Mirogabalin - the use of a new gabapentinoid in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuropathy and other conditions

Introduction: Mirogabalin is a new drug from the gabapentinoid group first registered in Japan in 2019. It has found use in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuropathy. Purpose: In this article, we review studies on the efficacy and safety of mirogabalin in the treatment of registered indications and its potentially new applications. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the literature available in the PubMed database, using the key words: "mirogabalin", "neuropathy" "pregabalin". Results: Mirogabalin has been registered for the treatment of neuropathic pain in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuropathy. The literature shows that it is effective and safe in the above-mentioned indications.  Its use has also been described: in the treatment of neuropathic pain of other etiologies with intolerance to pregabalin, as a coanalgesic in the treatment of pain in the course of cancer, and in neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. It has been shown to be effective in all of the aforementioned cases. Studies have shown no clinically significant effect of mirogabalin in the symptomatic treatment of fibromyalgia pain.  It has a good safety profile and a low number of adverse effects. Conclusions:. Mirogabalin is a drug that has the potential to improve the efficacy of treatment of neuropathic pain due to various causes.  There is a need to continue conducting studies on larger groups of patients in order to make wider use of its potential in clinical practice

The impact of using probiotics on metabolic disorders of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age. The course is primarily associated with menstrual disorders, obesity, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. The gut microbiota dysbiosis theory (DOGMA), established in 2012, suggests a link between the composition of gut bacteria and the development of metabolic disorders. Other studies confirm this relationship. This article analyzes the effect of probiotic supplementation on the alteration of gut microbial flora and the course of PCOS. Aim of the study: Aim of our study was to review the available studies on the effect of probiotic use on the course of polycystic ovary syndrome. We considered the influence of supplementation on body weight, insulin resistance and lipid profile of the women studied. Methods and materials: This article is based on the literature found in PubMed Database with use of keywords such as “PCOS”; „polycystic ovary syndrome”; “probiotics”; „gut microbiota”; „gut microbiome”. Results: The collective results of the reviewed literature indicate that probiotics may have a beneficial effect on the course of polycystic ovary syndrome. In a number of studies, their supplementation resulted in a decrease in weight, insulin, triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol. For fasting glucose, HOMAR-IR, total cholesterol and LDL fraction, the results were inconclusive. Conclusion: Probiotics may have a positive effect on metabolic disorders in women with PCOS, but more research is needed to confirm the good effects of their use in treatment

Side effects of long-term treatment with chloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis - a review of the literature

Background: Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline derivative. Initially the substance was used as an antimalarial drug, but now chloroquine is also used to treat connective tissue diseases. It is a widely used drug in rheumatological diseases, especially in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. A number of side effects have been reported in the public literature among patients using this drug. This article reviews side effects during long-term treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods: A review of the literature available in the PubMed database was performed, using the key words: "Chloroquin" ; "Chloroquin rheumatoid" ; "Chloroquin toxicity" ; "Chloroquine" ; "Chloroquine rheumatoid" ; "Chloroquine toxicity". Results: Chloroquine is a quinine derivative, originally used in the prevention and treatment of malaria. It is now being successfully used to treat patients with certain connective tissue diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. A number of publications have described various side effects of this drug. Serious and major problems arise from the drug's toxicity with long-term use, such as in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term use of the drug results in retinopathy and cardiotoxicity (conduction disturbances, cardiomyopathy). The available literature also mentions neuromyotoxicity which is rarely reported by patients. Conclusion: Long-term use of chloroquine carries serious side effects. The main complications of long-term use of the drug affect the visual, cardiovascular and nervous systems. The use of chloroquine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis should emphasize the need for accurate dosing and periodic cardiovascular, ophthalmologic and neurologic monitoring