Background: Over the last few decades, the time children spend using electronic devices has increased significantly. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of screen time on dietary behaviors and physical activity in children and adolescents. Methods: An online survey was conducted among parents of preschool and school-aged children during the COVID-19 lockdown in Poland. There were 3127 surveys used in the analysis. Results: Survey responses referred to 1662 (53%) boys and 1465 (47%) girls, with a mean age of 12.1 ± 3.4 years. During a routine weekday, most children (71%) spent >4 h on educational activities using electronic devices, and 43% of children spent 1–2 h using devices for recreational purposes. The majority of children (89%) were exposed to screens during meals, and ate snacks between main meals (77%). There was an association between screen time and the exposure to screens during meals, and between screen time and time spent performing physical activity. Conclusions: This study revealed that the majority of children were exposed to screens during meals, which is a risk factor of obesity. The promotion of the judicious use of digital devices and healthy dietary habits associated with the use of screens may be an important component of obesity prevention strategies.
Introduction and purpose: Alopecia areata (AA) is a condition that causes non-scarring hair loss (often with acute onset). Alopecia areata in the population occurs in 0.1-0.2% of people, with a similar frequency in men and women. Alopecia areata is an example of an autoimmune disease of the hair follicle. Hair loss in alopecia areata is caused by lymphocytic infiltration around the hair follicle and IFN-γ. IgG antibodies against hair follicle cells are also found in people suffering from alopecia areata. Recent studies have shown a significant increase in IL-15 in AA. The aim of the study was to review the current knowledge on the use of IL-15 in the treatment of alopecia areata.A brief description of the state of knowledge: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine that exhibits multidirectional biological effects on various cell types. It affects the functions of the immune system, both innate and acquired, and therefore plays an important role in inflammation and during the immune response to infections and infestations. In the AA mouse model, antibody-mediated blockade of IFN-γ, interleukin-2 (IL-2), or interleukin-15 receptor β (IL-15Rβ) prevented disease progression by minimizing the accumulation of CD8 (+) NKG2D (+) T cells in the skin and reducing the cutaneous IFN response. The concentration of IL-15 in patients with alopecia areata was significantly higher than in the control group. Moreover, the concentration of IL-15 increased in direct proportion to the area of alopecia, the highest value in patients with total alopecia.For this reason, it is important to search for new medical treatments that will enable patients to stay physically healthy, and what is equally important, to remain mental health. Conclusions: In addition, studies have shown an increase in IL-15 levels in patients with alopecia areata, which correlated with the duration of the disease. However, too few studies conducted so far do not allow conclusions to be drawn regarding the use of IL-15 as a therapeutic point.
Background: The aim of the current study is to analyze and summarize the latest research on improving therapy in ovarian cancer. Materials & methods: Data analysis was based on a review of publications from 2011 to 2021 in the PubMed database with use of the search terms including ‘EGFR ovarian cancer’, ‘folate receptor inhibitors ovarian cancer’, ‘VEGF ovarian cancer’, ‘PDGF ovarian cancer’ and ‘CTLA-4 ovarian cancer’. Results: 6643 articles were found; 238 clinical trials and randomized control trials were analyzed; 122 studies were rejected due to inconsistency with the topic of the work. Conclusion: Extensive research on the treatment of ovarian cancer increases the chance of developing the most effective therapy suited to the individual needs of the patient.
Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. The clinical features are associated with motor symptoms: tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia with postural instability. PD is also associated with many non-motor symptoms, and these often precede the motor symptoms by years or even decades. In general, treatment is based on usage of medicaments which increase a level of dopamine. Surgical therapy is reserved for more advanced cases. Objective: To review currently available data on PubMed about a surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease and future prospects.Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge: Surgical therapy is typically reserved for bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor in patients who no longer respond to medication in a predictable manner or who suffer medication-induced dyskinesias. Currently, the most common surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease is deep brain stimulation (DBS). Ablative procedures like radiofrequency, radiosurgery and focused ultrasound are also utilized for select tremor symptoms. We also analyzed future prospects including cells transplantation. DBS decreases a level of disability, depression and increases quality of life. It should to take under consideration in early as well as advanced PD. Conclusions: PD is still incurable, however both pharmacological and surgical treatment can stifle the progression of disease for years and increase quality of life. New methods of treatment are promising. However, the further research about possible therapy is required.
Introduction and purpose: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) consists of capillary endothelium, in which there are three types of intercellular junctions - adherent, tight and gap junctions.Efficient therapy involves delivering a therapeutic dose of drug into a specific site in the body, and maintaining this dose for adequate time afterwards. The aim of this study is to review current knowledge of new strategies in drug delivery to CNS and the effectiveness of these methods in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. This review was performed using the PubMed database. A brief description of the state of knowledge: Methods for delivering drugs to the brain are divided into invasive and non-invasive. Invasive methods involve temporary disrupting tight intercellular junctions of the vascular endothelial cells and delivering drugs intracerebrally or intraventricularly during neurosurgical procedures. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of nanoparticles as drug carriers to the central nervous system via blood-brain barrier. The usage of nanoparticles implies many advantages, such as non-invasive, low cost, good biodegradability, stability, ability to carry various types of agents, selectivity and ability to control drug release. Conclusions: Limited options in treating brain located tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme, due to difficulties in drug penetration through the BBB engages scientists to search for new treatments. Crossing the BBB using invasive methods based on interruption of cell junctions show promising results, but they are associated with i.a. a high risk of uncontrolled influx of toxins to the CNS or ion-electrolyte imbalance, which may lead to neuronal dysfunction. Invasive methods can be effective only in tumors, while treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease is impossible. Recent studies show that nanoparticles would be a great, non-invasive alternative, but they are difficult to use with relatively low permeability through undamaged BBB. In some studies using nanoparticles as nanocarriers (EDVDox) or SYMPHONY method (combining photothermal therapy with GNS and immunotherapy of checkpoints in a mouse model) against GBM shows positive results. More research is required to confirm the effectiveness and safety of these treatments.
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