Salt Intake of Children and Adolescents: Influence of Socio-Environmental Factors and School Education.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the salt consumption by children and adolescents from the Silesian Province (Poland), taking into account the region's dietary traditions and the age of the students+. (2) Methods: 300 students aged 10-18 from different types of schools were enrolled in the study and divided into groups in terms of school, sex, and the state of their nutrition. A survey questionnaire about dietary habits, including the frequency and serving size with respect to 12 salty products, was used. On the basis of the frequency and the amount of consumed products, as well as the data on salt content, the amount of total daily intake of salt was estimated. (3) Results: The mean daily intake of salt by children and adolescents was 1.083 g (0.433 g of sodium); children aged 10-12 consumed the highest amount of salt (1.296 g/day) compared to pupils aged 13-15 (1.131 g of sodium) and adolescents aged 16-18 (0.863 g/day). (4) Conclusions: With age, as a result of various factors, the consumption of salt declines. The parents' impact and the familial socio-environmental factors begin to wane, and other factors start to have influence, e.g., school education of a healthy lifestyle and health behavior of peers.

Transcription of Autophagy Associated Gene Expression as Possible Predictors of a Colorectal Cancer Prognosis.

(1) Background: Autophagy plays a dual role in oncogenesis-it contributes to the growth of the tumor and can inhibit its development. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the transcriptional activity of LAMP-2, BECN1, PINK1, and FOXO1 genes involved in the autophagy process in histopathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma sections of colorectal cancer: (2) Methods: A gene expression profile analysis was performed using HG-U133A and the RT-qPCR reaction. The transcriptional activity of genes was compared in sections of colorectal cancer in the four clinical stages (CSI-CSIV) concerning the control group; (3) Results: In CSI, the transcriptional activity of the PINK1 gene is highest; in CS II, the LAMP-2 gene is highest, while FOXO1 increases gradually from CSI reaching a maximum in CSIII. There is no BECN1 gene expression in colorectal cancer cells; (4) Conclusions: The observed differences in the mRNA concentration profile of autophagy-related genes in colon cancer specimens may indicate the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of this cancer. Genes involved in autophagy may be diagnostic tools for colorectal cancer screening and personalized therapy in the future.

Are There Differences in Gut Microbiome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated by Metformin or Metformin and Insulin?

Introduction: Recently, gut microbiota has been described as being involved in the health and diseases of the host, and together with diet and drugs may influence metabolic health. Yet, there is still no answer which type of treatment plays the most important role in the interplay of gut microbiota and type of treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). An attempt was made to answer the question of which factors have the most significant impact on the intestinal microbiome in the context of metformin or metformin+insulin use in treatment of the patients with T2DM. Thus the aim of the study was to compare the gut microbiome profiles of patients with T2DM and two of the most traditional treatment methods. Methods: T2DM patients treated by metformin (Met) and metformin+insulin (Met+Ins), with the treatment duration of 5-10 years were enrolled. Biochemically blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids and kidney function were investigated and the quantitative and qualitative examination of the fecal intestinal flora were performed through the next-generation sequencing. Results: There were no significant differences in the study of the gut microbiome: the dominant bacterial phyla were Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia, while Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria shared smaller proportions in both groups. However, the group Met+Ins had worse metabolic control in terms of blood glucose and HbA1c in comparison with the Met group. Conclusion: As there are no differences in gut microbiome in T2DM patients treated with metformin only or metformin plus insulin, adding insulin in the treatment of T2DM may delay late diabetic complications development.

Probiotic dairy products and consumption preferences in terms of sweetness sensitivity and the occurrence of childhood obesity.

Fermented dairy products such as yogurt contain many bioactive compounds. In addition, probiotic yogurts are an invaluable source of probiotic bacteria and are a group of probiotic products best accepted by children. There is plenty of research indicating an interdependence between yogurt consumption, body mass index, and adipose tissue percentage, which suggests that yogurt consumption may contribute to reducing the risk of becoming overweight or obese. In turn, the occurrence of overweight and obesity may be accompanied by a reduced sensitivity to sweetness, which modifies food preference selection and acceptance, including with yogurt. This study aimed to assess the preferences and consumption of yogurt in terms of sensitivity to recognize sweetness and obesity in a group of 7-9-year-old children. Body mass index and adipose tissue percentage obesity indicators were determined, and the frequency of fermented milk product consumption was assessed about the results of the sweetness recognition test as well as yogurt preferences. There was no significant relationship between body weight and the frequency of fermented milk product consumption. Correlations were found between the values of body mass index and the ability to recognize sweetness, which was significantly better recognized by underweight children or at normal body weight, moreover, those children with a higher ability to recognize sweetness significantly more frequently preferred plain unsweetened yogurt.

Organization of Medical Assistance in Poland for Ukrainian Citizens During the Russia-Ukraine War.

From 24 February 2022 to 29 March 2022, Poland has taken 2,377,000 refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They are mostly women, children, and the elderly. In this article, we present all activities and types of medical resources provided and organized in Poland for refugees from the first days of the conflict. Information has been compiled from the data available on the Polish Ministry of Health, other governmental and non-governmental organizations, foundations, and medical societies.

The role of oxidant-antioxidant markers and resistin in metabolic syndrome elderly individuals.

In elderly, hormones and oxidant-antioxidant interplay are suggested to mediate biochemical balance between adipose tissue to other tissues. Thus the study attempts to explore metabolic traits, plasma resistin, and oxidant-antioxidant markers in metabolic syndrome (MetS) in comparison to non-metabolic syndrome (non-MetS) elderly individuals. A total of 541 healthy elderly Caucasians, with no acute and/or chronic disorders were invited. After taking into account inclusion/exclusion criteria's the MetS was defined as the presence of three out of five abnormal findings and allowed to divided groups into: non-metabolic syndrome, non-MetS (n = 25, median age 69.0 years), and newly diagnosed MetS (n = 29; median age 70.5 years) individuals. Glucose, plasma lipids, resistin (Res), thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) were measured. The MetS had higher resistin than non-MetS (p < 0.04). The linear correlation (all at p < 0.05) showed correlation for Res&triacylglycerols (R = 0.44), and for Res&diastolic blood pressure (R = -0.58) and for SOD-1&fasting glucose (R = -0.34) in MetS, while in the non-MetS group fasting glucose correlates with Res (R = 0.58) and with TAS (R = -0.43). The multiple regression analysis (alone and in combination) showed that independently from other factors resistin correlated positively with fasting glucose (ß = 0.37; R = 0.58; R2 = 0.23; p < 0.01) in all investigated elderly participants. In the MetS resistin correlated negatively with diastolic blood pressure (ß = -0.68; R = 0.80; R2 = 0.53; p = 0.0004) moreover in that group TAS correlated negatively with HDL-C (ß = -0.71; R = 0.72; R2 = 0.37; p = 0.01). While age correlated negatively with systolic blood pressure (ß = -0.60; R = 0.62; R2 = 0.14; p = 0.03) independently from other factors in the non-MetS group. Various metabolic factors contribute to maintain serum resistin and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the elderly people in the presence or absence of MetS. Resistin may serve as a predictor of MetS in the elderly, while strong antioxidant defense interactions in older individuals may indicate good health.

The Expression Patterns of BECN1, LAMP2, and PINK1 Genes in Colorectal Cancer Are Potentially Regulated by Micrornas and CpG Islands: An In Silico Study.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy plays a dual role of tumor suppression and tumor promotion in colorectal cancer. The study aimed to find those microRNAs (miRNAs) important in BECN1, LAMP2, and PINK1 regulation and to determine the possible role of the epigenetic changes in examined colorectal cancer using an in silico approach. METHODS: A total of 44 pairs of surgically removed tumors at clinical stages I‒IV and healthy samples (marginal tissues) from patients' guts were analyzed. Analysis of the obtained results was conducted using the PL-Grid Infrastructure and Statistica 12.0 program. The miRNAs and CpG islands were estimated using the microrna.org database and MethPrimer program. RESULTS: The autophagy-related genes were shown to be able to be regulated by miRNAs (BECN1-49 mRNA, LAMP2-62 mRNA, PINK1-6 mRNA). It was observed that promotion regions containing at least one CpG region were present in the sequence of each gene. CONCLUSIONS: The in silico analysis performed allowed us to determine the possible role of epigenetic mechanisms of regulation gene expression, which may be an interesting therapeutic target in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Study of top ballet school students revealed large deficiencies in their body weight and body fat.

AIM: This study assessed the nutritional status and physical activity levels of 150 female students aged 10-18 from three top Polish ballet schools, where the most promising dancers go on to pursue professional ballet careers. METHODS: We analysed the girls' body composition, physical activity level (PAL) and PAL coefficient. The ballet students also completed a questionnaire. RESULTS: The results revealed large deficiencies in the body weight and body fat of the young ballerinas. The mean body mass index (BMI) for the group was 16.8 kg/m2 . Polish centile charts showed that 18% of the girls had BMIs below the norm and 54% had a lower than average body fat content, with a mean of 15.6%. The body fat content was lowest (13.8%) in the 13- to 15-year age group. On average, girls aged 10-12 had 15.7% body fat, while girls aged 16-18 had 18.4%. The mean values for the anthropometric measurements were higher in older girls. The majority (72%) of the respondents reported high physical activity levels, defined as more than 15 hours of exercise per week. CONCLUSION: Special attention should be paid to low BMIs and body fat in young ballet school dancers aged 10-15 years.

Profile of gene expression of TLR-signaling pathways in colorectal cancer tissues.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are involved in transduction of molecular signals in immune process such as induction and regulation of immunity, production of cytokines, and recognition of specific molecular patterns on the surface of microorganisms, but also in cancer development-which was partially proven in previous studies. There is a lack of detailed research on differentiating levels of TLR expression in colorectal cancer at different stages of its advancement, so in our study we want to determine whether there is such a difference of TLRs and TLR-connected protein expression. In this study, 83 samples of colorectal adenocarcinoma (varying clinical degrees) and 40 slices of healthy colon tissue have been analyzed. The delivered material was subjected to homogenization and extraction of total RNA. The isolated RNA was subsequently purified and valued quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantification was performed using a spectrophotometer GeneQuant II. The RNA concentration in the tested samples was determined spectrophotometrically. A qualitative assessment was performed by performing electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide. The expression profile of the genes encoding the TLRs was determined using oligonucleotide microarray HG-U133A. To determine the mRNA (messenger RNA), differentiate cancerous tissue from normal colon using PL-Grid Infrastructure. The results were analyzed statistically, taking a significance level P < 0.05. In the study were found three proteins, DUSP2, IFNγ, EIF4A1, associated with TLR system, that differentiate early stages of colorectal cancer of healthy tissue, moreover eleven, inter alia: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which differentiate high stage of cancer of healthy tissues. The results emphasize the role of pathways associated with TLR activation in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. In summary, molecular studies on the development of colorectal cancer will enable the introduction of minimally invasive genetic diagnosis of early forms of cancer. In addition, identification of new signaling pathways can provide the basis for developing new therapeutic methods.

Specific metabolic biomarkers as risk and prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.

Advances in genomics, molecular pathology and metabolism have generated many candidate biomarkers of colorectal cancer with potential clinical value. Epidemiological and biological studies suggest a role for adiposity, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinemia, altered glucose homeostasis, and elevated expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis members in the risk and prognosis of cancer. This review discusses some recent past and current approaches being taken by researches in obesity and metabolic disorders. The authors describe three main systems as the most studied metabolic candidates of carcinogenesis: dyslipidemias, adipokines and insulin/IGF axis. However, each of these components is unsuccessful in defining the diseases risk and progression, while their co-occurrence increases cancer incidence and mortality in both men and women.

Assessment of oral hygiene in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the research was to assess the oral hygiene habits in the elderly group of study population of Southern Poland. METHODS: The study was conducted in dental services in two selected cities in Southern Poland. The group of subjects consisted of 664 respondents (272 men, 392 women) aged 65 to 81 years. Oral hygiene was measured with the author's anonymous questionnaire consisting of twenty questions. Questions related to information on personal history and general health, comorbidities, dietary habits, alcohol consumption, smoking, taking drugs and the state of oral hygiene practices as frequency of visits to the dentist and the number of own teeth. RESULTS: The majority of the subjects had higher n=240 (36.1%) and secondary n=219 (33%) education and were predominantly n=590 (89%) professionally inactive (retirees or pensioners). No significant differences were found between the groups: women and men. But there were differences in technologies used, the examined men significantly often used computer in comparison with the women's group. In total, 19.6% had own natural teeth only, 45.0% own teeth and dentures, 30.0% dentures only, and 5.4% neither teeth nor dentures. Majority of subjects brush their teeth or dentures only 1-2 times a day (80%) and visit the dentist less than once in 2 years or once a year (75%). Women significantly more often stated use of a toothbrush and taking care of oral hygiene and compared to men, they declared higher number of own teeth. CONCLUSION: People aged over 65 neglect hygiene and oral care. Women pay more attention to oral hygiene and they have more own teeth than men. The most frequent cause of oral hygiene neglect in the elderly could be gender, the socio-economic conditions, behaviour habits and lack of sufficient health education. The dentist may need to consult with the patient's GP the development of the appropriate personalised treatment plan for the elderly. Young dentists need to be educated in order to provide appropriate dental care to the elderly.

Cellular signal transduction pathways by leptin in colorectal cancer tissue: preliminary results.

The aim of the study was to analyse genes typing with the use of the oligonucleotide microarray technique (HG-U133A, Affymetrix) differentiating colorectal cancer tissues from tissues assessed histopathologically as healthy ones among a panel of 91 mRNA of genes encoding proteins involved in activation of cellular signal transduction pathways by leptin. Frozen tumor specimens from 11 colon cancer patients in various stages of clinical progression of the disease in an I-IV stage scale according to the TNM staging were used in molecular tests. Among the genes participating in the cascade of signal transfer in cell activated by leptin, the following ones: AKT1, STAT3, MCL1 were qualified as differentiating stage I and II and VEGFC, CCNDI the encoding genes respectively as differentiating III and IV stage neoplasm. It is necessary to extend studies of analysis of cellular signal transduction pathways by leptin in colorectal cancer initiation and transformation processes.