Exploring the Role of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 Ratio in Subacute Stroke Recovery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Despite the significant changes that unfold during the subacute phase of stroke, few studies have examined recovery abilities during this critical period. As neuroinflammation subsides and tissue degradation diminishes, the processes of neuroplasticity and angiogenesis intensify. An important factor in brain physiology and pathology, particularly neuroplasticity, is matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Its activity is modulated by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which impede substrate binding and activity by binding to its active sites. Notably, TIMP-1 specifically targets MMP-9 among other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our present study examines whether MMP-9 may play a beneficial role in psychological functions, particularly in alleviating depressive symptoms and enhancing specific cognitive domains, such as calculation. It appears that improvements in depressive symptoms during rehabilitation were notably linked with baseline MMP-9 plasma levels (r = -0.36, p = 0.025), and particularly so with the ratio of MMP-9 to TIMP-1, indicative of active MMP-9 (r = -0.42, p = 0.008). Furthermore, our findings support previous research demonstrating an inverse relationship between pre-rehabilitation MMP-9 serum levels and post-rehabilitation motor function. Crucially, our study emphasizes a positive correlation between cognition and motor function, highlighting the necessity of integrating both aspects into rehabilitation planning. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of MMP-9 as a prognostic biomarker for delineating recovery trajectories and guiding personalized treatment strategies for stroke patients during the subacute phase.

Quantitative and structural changes of blood platelet cytoskeleton proteins in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Epidemiological studies show that cardiovascular events related to platelet hyperactivity remain the leading causes of death among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Quantitative or structural changes of platelet cytoskeleton alter their morphology and function. Here, we demonstrated, for the first time, the structural changes in MS platelets that may be related to their hyperactivity. MS platelets were found to form large aggregates compared to control platelets. In contrast to the control, the images of overactivated, irregularly shaped MS platelets show changes in the cytoskeleton architecture, fragmented microtubule rings. Furthermore, MS platelets have long and numerous pseudopodia rich in actin filaments. We showed that MS platelets and megakaryocytes, overexpress ß1-tubulin and ß-actin mRNAs and proteins and have altered post-translational modification patterns. Moreover, we identified two previously undisclosed mutations in the gene encoding ß1-tubulin in MS. We propose that the demonstrated structural changes of platelet cytoskeleton enhance their ability to adhere, aggregate, and degranulate fueling the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in MS.

Assessment of the effectiveness of the peptide inhibitor homologous to the transforming growth factor ß cytokine blocking the TGFßRI/TGFßRII receptor complex-pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A key player in the fibrotic process is the transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) which enhances extracellular matrix production by increasing the transcription of matrix proteins. The cytokine TGF-ß first binds to the TGFßRII receptor (dimer), resulting in the recruitment of the TGFßRI receptor (dimer). The complex thus formed leads to the phosphorylation of the kinase domain of TGFßRI, which in turn results in activation of the Smad pathway. This is therefore a targeted pathway for research into the application of peptide inhibitors in blocking the TGF-ß-Smad signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to design a peptide inhibitor (homologous to the cytokine TGF-ß) which, after binding to the TGFßRI/TGFßRII receptor, would block the cytokine binding and thus prevent the formation of an activating complex. METHODS: Preliminary work on the design and synthesis of inhibitors for TGFßRI/TGFßRII has allowed us to identify and describe five key regions of the TGF-ß-TGFßRI/TGFßRII interface. The following five peptide inhibitors were synthesized for Region 1: 1.1 ALDAAYCFR, 1.2 LDAAYCFRN, 1.3 DAAYCFRNV, 1.4 AAYCFRNVQ, 1.5 AYCFRNVQD. The expression of the SEAP reporter gene, Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, and JNK1 gene was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: For Region 1 peptide inhibitors tested for TGFßRI/TGFßRII, reduced SEAP (reporter gene) expression was observed in cells of the MFB-F11 line, which suggests inhibited the formation of cytokine-receptor complexes. CONCLUSIONS: For IP1_2, 1_3 and 1_5 Region 1 peptides tested for TGFßRI/TGFßRII, reduced cytokine-receptor signal by adding newly designed inhibitors. The study revealed an impact of these peptide inhibitors on the reduction of mRNA expression of Smad2, Smad3, Smad4 and JNK1 genes.

Antidepressant mechanisms of ketamine's action: NF-κB in the spotlight.

Ketamine recently approved for therapy of treatment-resistant depression shows a complex and not fully understood mechanism of action. Apart from its classical glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonistic action, it is thought that anti-inflammatory properties of the drug are of clinical relevance due to the contribution of activated inflammatory mediators to the pathophysiology of depression and non-responsiveness of a group of patients to current antidepressant therapies. In a search of the mechanism underlying anti-inflammatory effects of ketamine, the nuclear factor kappa B transcription factor (NF-κB) has been proposed as a target for ketamine. The NF-κB forms precisely regulated protein signaling cascades enabling a rapid response to cellular stimuli. In the central nervous systems, NF-κB signaling appears to have pleiotropic but double-edged functions: on the one hand it participates in the regulation of processes that are crucial in the treatment of depression, such as neuroplasticity, neurogenesis or neuronal survival, on the other - in the activation of neuroinflammation and cell death. Ketamine has been found to reduce inflammation mediated by NF-κB, leading to decreased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory or stress mediators. Therefore, this review presents recent data on the significance of the NF-κB cascade in the mechanism of ketamine's action and its future perspectives in designing new strategies for the treatment of depression.

Personality traits and health-related behaviors in medical students facing a stressful event.

Background: It is believed that personality traits have an impact on the propensity to change and maintain favorable lifestyle habits. This issue has been raised by multiple studies, however, none of them appeared to focus on population under severe psychological stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the link between personality traits and health-related behaviors and measures such as dietary intake of specific food products, physical activity, body-mass index and the use of cigarettes in medical students facing a stressful event. Methods: The study included a cohort of third-year medical students from the Medical University of Lodz, Poland, facing a stressful subject exam during the first COVID-19-related lockdown. At baseline, personality traits were evaluated with the use of the Polish version of the Big Five Inventory-Short questionnaire. Then, consumption of selected food products was monitored with the use of seven-day electronic dietary record. Also, some other health-related data was collected (body-mass index, physical activity and the use of cigarettes). General Linear Modeling techniques, logistic regression and exploratory factor analysis were applied to analyze the data. Results: Four hundred and forty-four students completed the study. A two-factor pattern of food consumption was discovered by the exploratory factor analysis in the study group (34% of the variance explained). Higher conscientiousness, but not the other personality traits, was found to be significantly associated with generally healthier lifestyle manifested by higher consumption of vegetables, wholegrain products, fruits and nuts (adjusted beta 0.16, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.26, pη2 = 2.3%, p = 0.0015) and lower cigarette smoking (adjusted odds ratio 0.84, 95%CI 0.75 to 0.94, p = 0.0020), but insignificantly with physical activity and body-mass index. Conclusion: Severely stressed medical students expressing high conscientiousness tend to present healthier behaviors. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving lifestyle habits in students with low conscientiousness might be useful.

Deciphering psychobiotics' mechanism of action: bacterial extracellular vesicles in the spotlight.

The intake of psychobiotic bacteria appears to be a promising adjunct to neuropsychiatric treatment, and their consumption may even be beneficial for healthy people in terms of mental functioning. The psychobiotics' mechanism of action is largely outlined by the gut-brain axis; however, it is not fully understood. Based on very recent studies, we provide compelling evidence to suggest a novel understanding of this mechanism: bacterial extracellular vesicles appear to mediate many known effects that psychobiotic bacteria exert on the brain. In this mini-review paper, we characterize the extracellular vesicles derived from psychobiotic bacteria to demonstrate that they can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, penetrate to the brain, and carry the intracellular content to exert beneficial multidirectional action. Specifically, by regulating epigenetic factors, extracellular vesicles from psychobiotics appear to enhance expression of neurotrophic molecules, improve serotonergic neurotransmission, and likely supply astrocytes with glycolytic enzymes to favor neuroprotective mechanisms. As a result, some data suggest an antidepressant action of extracellular vesicles that originate even from taxonomically remote psychobiotic bacteria. As such, these extracellular vesicles may be regarded as postbiotics of potentially therapeutic application. The mini-review is enriched with illustrations to better introduce the complex nature of brain signaling mediated by bacterial extracellular vesicles and indicates knowledge gaps that require scientific exploration before further progress is made. In conclusion, bacterial extracellular vesicles appear to represent the missing piece of the puzzle in the mechanism of action of psychobiotics.

Circulating Serum VEGF, IGF-1 and MMP-9 and Expression of Their Genes as Potential Prognostic Markers of Recovery in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation-A Prospective Observational Study.

The key period in post-stroke recovery is the first three months due to the high activity of spontaneous and therapeutic-induced processes related to neuroplasticity, angiogenesis and reperfusion. Therefore, the present study examines the expression of VEGF, IGF-1 and MMP-9 proteins and their genes to identify biomarkers that can prognose brain repair ability and thus estimate the outcome of stroke. It also identifies possible associations with clinical scales, including cognitive assessment and depression scales. The study group comprised 32 patients with moderate ischemic stroke severity, three to four weeks after incident. The results obtained after three-week hospitalization indicate a statistically significant change in clinical parameter estimations, as well as in MMP9 and VEGF protein and mRNA expression, over the rehabilitation process. Our findings indicate that combined MMP9 protein and mRNA expression might be a useful biomarker for cognitive improvement in post-stroke patients, demonstrating 87% sensitivity and 71% specificity (p < 0.0001).

Gut Microbiota Metabolites Differentially Release Gliotransmitters from the Cultured Human Astrocytes: A Preliminary Report.

Butyrate and indole-3-propionic acid represent the CNS-available gut microbiota metabolites exhibiting potentially beneficial effects on human brain function and being tested as antidepressants. Astrocytes represent one of the putative targets for the gut metabolites; however, the mechanism of action of butyrate and indole-3-propionic acid is not well understood. In order to test this mechanism, a human astrocyte cell-line culture was treated with the compounds or without them, and the supernatants were collected for the analysis of ATP and glutamate gliotransmitter release with the use of luminescent and fluorescent methods, respectively. A 10-min incubation of astrocytes with 1-5 mM butyrate increased the ATP gliotransmitter release by 78% (95%CI: 45-119%), p < 0.001. The effect was found to be mediated by the cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization. Both 10-min and 24-h treatments with indole-3-propionic acid produced no significant effects on the release of gliotransmitters. The results for glutamate release were inconclusive due to a specific glutamate release pattern discovered in the tested model. This preliminary report of butyrate-induced ATP gliotransmitter release appears to provide a novel mechanistic explanation for the beneficial effect of this gut microbiota metabolite on brain function; however, the results require further evaluation in more composed models.

Mental Health of Students at Polish Universities after Two Years of the Outbreak of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Mental health deterioration in young adults in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is being increasingly studied. It is clear that the psychological consequences of the pandemic will be evident for many years, especially among the younger generation, who did not have time to acquire adaptive coping strategies before the outbreak of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to assess the condition of the mental health of students at Polish universities after two years of the pandemic. The types of coping strategies used by the respondents to deal with stress were also evaluated in order to establish which of them could have a beneficial effect on the psyche of young people. METHODS: This study included 721 participants (age [years]: M = 25.7, SD = 5.3; 269 (37.2%) males) recruited using snowball sampling from students at two universities in Lodz, Poland, and full-time doctoral students from across Poland (phase I of the study was conducted in March 2019 (N = 352); phase II of the study was conducted in April 2022 (N = 369)). The following tools were used in this study: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) by D. Goldberg, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress (Mini-COPE) by Carver et al. Pearson's chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The results detailing the condition of the mental health of the subjects, as measured using GHQ-28, were significantly worse in the group surveyed after two years of the pandemic than the results of the survey conducted in March 2019 (adjusted odds ratio for GHQ-28 ≥ 5: 3.66, 95%CI 2.12-6.30, p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were seen for each of the subscales of the GHQ-28 questionnaire. Most often, the subjects complained of anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders, in addition to somatic symptoms. The risk factors for worsening mental health included female (odds ratio 1.70, 95%CI 1.20-2.40, p = 0.003) and professional inactivity (odds ratio 1.55, 95%CI 1.04-2.31, p = 0.031). On the other hand, the ages of the people surveyed, their relationship status, whether they had children, or the type of university they attended all proved to be insignificant. The following coping strategies had a positive impact on the mental health of the respondents: positive reframing (Z = -2.951; p = 0.003) and seeking emotional support (Z = -2.351; p = 0.019). In contrast, strategies such as self-distraction (Z = 2.785; p = 0.005), denial (Z = 2.948; p = 0.003), venting (Z = 2.337; p = 0.019), self-blame (Z = 5.511; p < 0.001) and behavioral disengagement (Z = 4.004; p < 0.001) were associated with poorer mental health among the respondents. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Of the students surveyed, 33% reported elevated stress levels after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. The overall mental health of students at Polish universities, as measured by GHQ-28, was significantly worse in the group evaluated after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly in respect of anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders. 3. Female gender and professional inactivity appeared to be risk factors for the students' worsening mental health, which may be an indication of the need for further research and planning of psychotherapeutic interventions.

New insights into the regulation of TGF-ß/Smad and MPK signaling pathway gene expressions by nasal allergen and methacholine challenge test in asthma.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchi, the course of which is significantly influenced by extrinsic factors (specific and non-specific). Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of these factors represented by nasal allergen challenge (specific factors) and methacholine challenge test (non-specific) on changes in mRNA expression of genes encoding the TGF-ß (TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß3)‒Smad (mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/3 [MPK1/3], Smad1/3/6/7) signaling pathway in asthmatic patients. Results: Seventy-five subjects were included in the study, of whom 27 were applied an intranasal allergen provocation and 48 a methacholine provocation. There were 9 men and 18 women in the intranasal provocation group, and 17 men and 31 women in the methacholine test group. We found that both examined the types of challenges contributed to changes in the relative expression of genes of the TGF-ß (TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß3)‒Smad (MPK1/3, Smad1/3/6/7) signaling pathway in asthmatic patients. A decrease was noted for MAPK1, MAPK3, Smad3, Smad6, and Smad7 genes and an increase of up to 2.5 times for TGF-ß1 gene. Conclusions: Our experiment allows us to conclude that the change in the mRNA expression of the TGF-ß1-MPK1/3 and Smad3/6/7 genes occurs after an intranasal allergen and bronchial methacholine challenge.

The Association of Salivary Serotonin With Mood and Cardio-Autonomic Function: A Preliminary Report.

Background: Serotonin plays an important role in mood regulation and depression. However, it is not clear whether the levels of serotonin in saliva are related to current mood. Aim: To test the association of salivary serotonin concentrations with mood, as well as cardiovascular and autonomic parameters. Materials and Methods: Saliva samples were obtained from collegiate runners and output parameters were examined before and after physical activity. Results: Salivary serotonin concentration was negatively associated with current mood (ß = -0.32, 95%CI -0.62 to -0.02, p = 0.037, analysis adjusted for potential confounders), but insignificantly with measured cardiovascular and autonomic parameters. Conclusions: Salivary serotonin may reflect current mood. The results are preliminary and require further evaluation.

Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment in Depression. May Probiotics Help?

Depression is the major cause of disability globally. Apart from lowered mood and accompanying symptoms, it leads to cognitive impairment that altogether predicts disadvantaged social functioning. Reduced cognitive function in depression appears a bit neglected in the field of clinical and molecular psychiatry, while it is estimated to occur in two-thirds of depressed patients and persist in at least one third of remitted patients. This problem, therefore, requires elucidation at the biomolecular and system levels and calls for improvement in therapeutic approach. In this review study, we address the above-mentioned issues by discussing putative mechanisms of cognitive decline in depression: (1) increased oxidative stress and (2) inflammation, (3) disturbed hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals axis, and (4) reduced monoamines functionality. Moreover, we acknowledge additional underpinnings of cognitive impairment in depressed elderly: (5) vascular-originated brain ischemia and (6) amyloid-beta plaque accumulation. Additionally, by reviewing molecular, pre-clinical and clinical evidence, we propose gut microbiota-targeted strategies as potential adjuvant therapeutics. The study provides a consolidated source of knowledge regarding mechanisms of cognitive impairment in depression and may path the way toward improved treatment options.

Dysregulation in the Expression of Platelet Surface Receptors in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients-Emphasis on P2Y12.

The pathological conditions caused by blood platelet activation constitute a fundamental core in the pathogenesis of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The hyperactivity of platelets in ACS is well-documented, but there is still little research into the molecular basis of phenotypic changes in platelet functionality. To expand the knowledge of this phenomenon, we analyzed the disturbances in the expression of several key platelet receptors and the aspect of regulating potential abnormalities. Platelet surface receptors are responsible for maintaining the hemostatic balance, platelet interaction with immune cells, and support of the coagulation cascade leading to occlusion of the vessel lumen. Due to their prominent role, platelet receptors constitute a major target in pharmacological treatment. Our work aimed to identify the molecular alteration of platelet surface receptors, which showed augmented mRNA expression of P2Y12, GP1BB, ITGA2B, and ITGB3 and increased protein concentrations of P2Y12 and GP IIb/IIIa in ACS. The upregulation of the P2Y12 level was also confirmed by confocal and cytometric visualization. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression of two microRNAs: miR-223-3p and miR-126-3p, which were suggested to regulate platelet P2Y12 expression. Results of our study present new insight into the molecular background of ACS.

Antioxidant enzymes immobilized on gold and silver nanoparticles enhance DNA repairing systems of rat skin after exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

The aim of the study was to investigate in vivo whether the application of immobilized superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) could enhance DNA repairing systems and reduce level of CPD (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) and 6-4PP ((6-4) pyrimidine-pyrimidone photoproducts), and whether the immobilization on gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles affects the outcome. The study presents secondary analysis of our previous research. Three-day application of SOD and CAT in all forms of solution decreased the levels of CPD and 6-4PP boosted by UV irradiation. The mRNA expression level of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system genes (XPA, XPC, ERCC1, ERCC2, ERCC3, LIG1) increased after application of immobilized and free enzymes. Increased by UV irradiation, p53 mRNA expression level normalized with the enzyme application. In conclusion, application of free and immobilized antioxidant enzymes accelerates removal of harmful effects of UV radiation in the rat skin by increasing expression level of NER genes.

Who Benefits from Fermented Food Consumption? A Comparative Analysis between Psychiatrically Ill and Psychiatrically Healthy Medical Students.

Probiotic therapies and fermented food diets hold promise for improving mental health. Although in this regard psychiatric patients appear to benefit more than healthy individuals, no research has been performed to directly evaluate this hypothesis. The present study examined a cohort of medical students facing a stressful event, and some of the students reported suffering from chronic psychiatric diseases. The amount of fermented food consumption was calculated with the use of seven-day dietary records, while depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively. In psychiatrically healthy medical students under psychological stress (n = 372), higher fermented food consumption was associated with more depressive and anxiety symptoms. In contrast, psychiatrically ill medical students (n = 25, 6.3% of all the participants) were found to present a negative association between the amount of fermented food consumed and the severity of depressive symptoms (adjusted ß -0.52, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.19, p = 0.0042); however, this relationship was insignificant for anxiety symptoms (adjusted ß -0.22, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.15, p = 0.22). A significant interaction was found between the consumption of fermented food and psychiatric diagnosis in predicting depressive symptoms (p = 0.0001), and a borderline significant interaction for anxiety symptoms (p = 0.053). In conclusion, psychiatrically ill people, but not healthy ones, may benefit from fermented food consumption in terms of alleviation of depressive symptoms. Our findings require cautious interpretation and further investigation.

Association Between Consumption of Fermented Food and Food-Derived Prebiotics With Cognitive Performance, Depressive, and Anxiety Symptoms in Psychiatrically Healthy Medical Students Under Psychological Stress: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Gut microbiota-based therapeutic strategies, such as probiotic and prebiotic preparations, may benefit mental health. However, commonly consumed fermented and prebiotic-containing foods have not been well-tested. The aim of the present study was to determine whether consumption of fermented food and food-derived prebiotics is associated with cognitive performance, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in psychiatrically healthy medical students under psychological stress. Methods: The study protocol with data analysis plan was prospectively registered. Food consumption was evaluated with a 7-day dietary record. Cognitive performance was modeled with academic examination performance in relation to subject knowledge. Pre-exam depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively. Results: In total, 372 medical students (22.7 ± 1.1 years of age, 66% female) completed the study. No relationship was observed between cognitive performance under stress and either fermented food (adjusted ß 0.02, 95% CI -0.07-0.11, p = 0.63) or food-derived prebiotics consumption (adjusted ß -0.00, 95% CI -0.09-0.09, p = 0.99). High intake of fermented food was associated with more severe depressive (adjusted ß 0.11, 95% CI 0.01-0.20, p = 0.032) and anxiety symptoms under stress (adjusted ß 0.13, 95% CI 0.04-0.22, p = 0.0065); however, no such link was observed for food-derived prebiotics (adjusted ß 0.03, 95% CI -0.07-0.13, p = 0.50 and -0.01, 95% CI -0.11-0.08, p = 0.83, for depression and anxiety, respectively). Conclusions: Under psychological stress in medical students, consumption of fermented food and food-derived prebiotics appears to be not associated with cognitive performance. High intake of fermented food, but not food-derived prebiotics, may be associated with severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The safety of fermented food in this regard therefore requires further clarification.

Screening Analysis of Platelet miRNA Profile Revealed miR-142-3p as a Potential Biomarker in Modeling the Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Transcriptome analysis constitutes one of the major methods of elucidation of the genetic basis underlying the pathogenesis of various diseases. The post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is mainly provided by microRNAs. Their remarkable stability in biological fluids and their high sensitivity to disease alteration indicates their potential role as biomarkers. Given the high mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases, novel predictive biomarkers are sorely needed. Our study focuses for the first time on assessing potential biomarkers of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) based on the microRNA profiles of platelets. The study showed the overexpression of eight platelet microRNAs in ACS (miR-142-3p; miR-107; miR-338-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-130b-3p, miR-301a-3p, miR-221-3p) associated with platelet reactivity and functionality. Our results show that the combined model based on miR-142-3p and aspartate transaminase reached 82% sensitivity and 88% specificity in the differentiation of the studied groups. Furthermore, the analyzed miRNAs were shown to cluster into two orthogonal groups, regulated by two different biological factors. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that one group of microRNAs may be associated with the physiological processes of platelets, whereas the other group may be linked to platelet-vascular environment interactions. This analysis paves the way towards a better understanding of the role of platelet microRNAs in ACS pathophysiology and better modeling of the risk of ACS.

Mental Health of PhD Students at Polish Universities-Before the COVID-19 Outbreak.

BACKGROUND: A group particularly exposed to the occurrence of disorders in the sphere of the psyche are young people with a newly developing personality structure and a sense of identity. In the available literature there are few reports describing the mental health of doctoral students-a group that is affected by a particular group of stressors. The aim of the research was to assess the mental health of PhD students at Polish universities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Polish adaptation of the GHQ Questionnaire-28, developed by David Goldberg et al. was used in the research. PhD students from all universities associated in the National Representation of Doctoral Students were invited to take part in the research. A total of 576 completed questionnaires were received. RESULTS: It was found that depression is statistically more frequent in doctoral students who are not in any relationship with another person; anxiety/insomnia is more common in women than men and less frequently in doctoral students of general than in technical universities. CONCLUSIONS: (1) More than half of the surveyed students complain about the deterioration of mental health. The most commonly reported symptom groups are anxiety and insomnia, followed by social dysfunctions and somatic symptoms. (2) Depression is statistically more common in people who are not in any relationship with another person and anxiety and insomnia are statistically more common in women than in men and statistically less frequent in doctoral students of general universities than technical universities. (3) In view of the presented results, educating young adults in the field of self-awareness in the field of mental health seems to be particularly important.

Determinants of Knowledge About Dietary Supplements Among Polish Internet Users: Nationwide Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: An accurate understanding of dietary supplements (DS) is a prerequisite for informed decisions regarding their intake. However, there is a need for studies on this understanding among the public based on validated research tools. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the knowledge about DS among Polish internet users with no medical education and to identify its determinants and design an appropriate predictive model. METHODS: The study protocol was prospectively registered with a statistical analysis plan. Polish users of a web-based health service and a social networking service were administered a survey consisting of the recently developed questionnaire on knowledge about DS, the questionnaire on trust in advertising DS, the beliefs about medicines questionnaire, and several other health-related single-item measures and sociodemographic questions. The results were subjected to general linear modeling. RESULTS: A total of 6273 participants were included. Of the 17 yes or no questions in the questionnaire of knowledge about DS, the mean number of correct responses was 9.0 (95% CI 8.9-9.1). Health service users performed worse than social networking users by 2.3 points (95% CI 2.1-2.5) in an analysis adjusted for potential confounders. Internet users had fewer true beliefs about DS if they presented higher trust in their advertising (adjusted ß=-.37; 95% CI -.39 to -.34), used DS (adjusted ß=-.14; 95% CI -.17 to -.12), experienced their positive effect (adjusted ß=-.16; 95% CI -.18 to -.13), were older or younger than 35 years (adjusted ß=-.14; 95% CI -.17 to -.12), expressed interest in the topic of DS (adjusted ß=-.10; 95% CI -.13 to -.08), reported getting information about the products from friends (adjusted ß=-.13; 95% CI -.15 to -.11), and believed that medicines are harmful (adjusted ß=-.12; 95% CI -.15 to -.10). The proposed 5-predictor model could explain 31.2% of the variance in knowledge about DS. The model appeared resistant to overfitting and was able to forecast most of the observed associations. CONCLUSIONS: Polish internet users with no medical education exhibit some false beliefs regarding DS. Trusting the advertising of DS appears to conflict with knowledge about them. There is an urgent need for effective web-based educational campaigns on DS and the promotion of advertising literacy. After the proposed predictive model is externally validated, it may help identify the least informed target audience.

Decrease in Salivary Serotonin in Response to Probiotic Supplementation With Saccharomyces boulardii in Healthy Volunteers Under Psychological Stress: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Bacterial probiotics are thought to exert a serotonergic effect relevant to their potential antidepressant and pro-cognitive action, but yeast probiotics have not been tested. The aim of the present study was to determine whether 30-day supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii affects the level of salivary serotonin under psychological stress and identify the factors associated with it. Methods: Healthy medical students were randomized to ingest Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-1079 or placebo before a stressful event. Salivary serotonin concentration was assessed before and at the end of supplementation. Moreover, obtained results were compared to psychological, biochemical, physiological and sociodemographic study participants data. Results: Data of thirty-two participants (22.8 ± 1.7 years of age, 16 males) was available for the main analysis. Supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii decreased salivary serotonin concentration under psychological stress by 3.13 (95% CI 0.20 to 6.07) ng/mL, p = 0.037, as compared to placebo. Salivary serotonin was positively correlated with salivary metanephrine (ß = 0.27, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.52, p = 0.031) and pulse rate (ß = 0.28, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.50, p = 0.018), but insignificantly with anxiety, depression, eating attitudes and information retrieval. Conclusions: Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-1079 may be distinct from bacterial probiotics in its salivary serotonergic effect, which appears positively linked to symapathoadrenal markers. The study requires cautious interpretation, and further investigation.