Caffeine is a psychoactive substance that may affect the normal course of pregnancy, therefore its intake during that time should not exceed 200 mg/day. The aim of this study was to evaluate caffeine intake among pregnant women from the Warsaw region. The study was conducted among 100 pregnant women who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw. Caffeine intake from coffee, tea, and energy drinks was measured using a questionnaire. Direct interviewing was used, with all interviews conducted by the same dietitian. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between caffeine intake and anthropometric measurements of the newborns. Mean caffeine intake among pregnant women was 68 ± 51 mg/day. Only 2% of the respondents exceeded the safe dose of 200 mg. Tea (mostly black) was the source of 63% of all caffeine. No relationships were found between caffeine intake and neonatal weight, length, or head and chest circumference (p > 0.05). Caffeine intake in our study population was relatively low and did not negatively affect fetal growth.

Background: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is indispensable to ensure proper development of the fetal central nervous system and pregnancy duration. Daily intake of DHA should be at least 100 mg higher as compared to the pre-pregnancy values. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate DHA intake during pregnancy and compare it to the current recommendations.

Background:Central nervous system infection with Cladophialophora bantiana (Black Mold) is rare. It carries a high mortality rate, that is more than 70%, despite multimodal therapy.Case Description:We present a rare case of “black mold” fungal brain abscess that was successfully treated with good patient outcome. The case is unusual because there were two fungal brain abscesses located bilaterally symmetrically in the mesial frontal lobes, and the response to different treatment strategies was well documented by over 25 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Initial attempts to treat these lesions by repeated surgical excision and systemic amphotericin B was followed by continued growth rather than resolution. We realized that the application of treatment principles learned from bacterial brain abscess may not transpose intuitively to the treatment of fungal brain abscess. Therefore, a new treatment strategy was adopted that avoided further attempts at resection in favor of long-term oral voriconazole and repeated intracavitary aspiration and instillation of amphotericin B on an outpatient basis. Without further resection, the lesions stabilized and the aspirates eventually sterilized, however, the enhancing capsule never resolved on MRI scans. All treatment was stopped after 1 year. The apparently sterilized lesions have been followed for an additional 3 years without further growth, and the patient remains functionally, intellectually, and behaviorally normal.Conclusion:We conclude that, in the case of fungal abscess, it may be preferable to sterilize the lesion in situ rather than attempting to achieve resolution on imaging studies by repeated surgical resection of the capsule which can be counterproductive. This strategy accepts that the capsule may be important to the patient's immune defense against the fungus. Helping that defense barrier with intracapsular and systemic antifungal agents, rather than capsular removal, may be the better strategy for patients in whom early aggressive resection has failed. The basis for the apparent differences in the response of fungal versus bacterial brain abscess to surgical resection is discussed in the light of pathological findings from this and other cases.

Dietary supplements may have beneficial value but, by definition, they have no therapeutic effect. However, their labeling and especially the advertisements in the media, often make ungrounded health claims. The aim of the study was to analyze the content of audio–visual advertisements of dietary supplements for health and legal aspects in the context of the European Law and the 1 January 2020 Polish self-regulation between TV broadcasting companies and supplement manufacturers. Supplement advertisements broadcast across six TV and radio stations from 9–15 March 2020 were analyzed. Most of the analyzed advertisements complied with the legal requirements and included terms such as ‘supports’ or ‘facilitates’ body function, which are less definite in nature. Almost 30% of the advertised supplements made unproven claims on their effectiveness in various health situations, e.g., effective weight loss, thus assuring the addressee about the beneficial effect of dietary supplements in a given health context. Agreement on the rules and regulations governing supplement advertising resulted in a noticeable improvement in advertisement content, which will hopefully raise consumer awareness about the absence of therapeutic properties of dietary supplements.

INTRODUCTION. Folic acid deficiency in very early pregnancy significantly increases the risk for neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Due to very high demands for folic acid in pregnancy, adequate supply is not possible without dietary supplements. AIM OF THE STUDY. Evaluation of the frequency and adequacy of folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy among women from the Warsaw region of Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study was conducted among 100 pregnant women using direct interviewing. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between selected parameters and folic acid supplementation. RESULTS. Folic acid before pregnancy was supplemented by 42% of the respondents. In pregnancy, the number almost doubled (83%), but most women did not start the supplementation until 5-6 weeks of gestation. Before pregnancy, almost all subjects used single folic acid preparations, whereas during pregnancy they used vitaminmineral preparations for expectant women. CONCLUSIONS. The realization of the Primary Prevention Program of Neural Tube Defects leaves much to be desired. Over half of the women do not supplement folic acid before conception, and the supply in pregnancy is initiated too late to meet the assumptions of the prevention program.