Introduction: Obesity is a chronic fatal disease with still growing incidence among children, adolescents, and adults worldwide. The subclinical inflammatory process together with hipoadiponectinemia may lead to the development of various comorbidities, including cardiovascular complications. That is why, the relationship between adipose tissue activity, obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial function is in high interest and an object of extensively studies. Aim of the study: This article summarizes the current knowledge on the anti-atherogenic effects of adiponectin and its properties to improve endothelial function in obesity-related insulin resistance. Description of knowledge: Adiponectin, an adipose tissue-derived pleiotropic hormone with anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-diabetic, and insulin-sensitizing actions, is not only engaged in modulation of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension or coronary artery disease, but the latest researches highlight its role in improving vascular wall integrity. It affects complex signaling pathways in endothelial cells and influence inflammatory responses in the subendothelial space. Pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that agents leading to increase in adiponectin levels, simultaneously contribute to decrease insulin resistance, and improve endothelial dysfunction. Conclusions: Adiponectin may be a predictive factor of endothelial dysfunctionality and vascular remodeling development in the group of patients with overweight, obesity, and insulin resistance. Discovering pharmacological agents and non-pharmacological interventions that increase the level of circulating adiponectin will become novel and innovative therapeutic strategy to ameliorate obesity-related comorbidities. Therefore, further studies are required to determine the exact role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases.

Introduction: mental health has been one of the most important issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic; mental disorders can be exacerbated by isolation during lockdowns or online learning. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between non-clinical (early) symptoms of depressed moods, personality traits, and coping strategies, as well as whether the learning mode (online versus hybrid) differentiates the experiences of these early symptoms and coping strategies. Methods: 114 university students aged 19 to 34, whose education model was changed from stationary to hybrid or online due to COVID-19 restrictions, participated in the study. The participants completed the online questionnaire, which consisted of two sections: (1) demographic questions to characterize the subjects and 44 questions based on the literature review. (2) Mini-COPE Inventory. Results: the study showed that the fully online study mode has a negative impact on the mental health of students; hybrid students are more likely to use active and positive coping strategies, which effectively help to control negative thoughts and/or reduce negative mental states. Conclusions: the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant psychological effects that will extend to coming years; therefore, implementing systemic psychological care is of utmost importance.

In this review we attempt to collate the existing scientific evidence regarding the possible role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as to investigate the impact of PD/parkinsonism on the clinical course of the viral infection itself. Since etiology of PD is not completely understood, various studies suggest different potential links between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and PD. Suggested connections include, among others, similar prodromal symptoms, renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system involvement, or gut microbiome dysbiosis participation. Despite the initial assumptions that, as a mainly elderly population suffering from rigidity of respiratory muscles, impairment of cough reflex, and dyspnea, PD patients would be more susceptible to viral infection, and would experience a more aggressive course of COVID-19, the published scientific reports contain mutually exclusive data that require further investigation and meta-analysis.

Since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous researchers have made an effort to determine the molecular composition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the exact pathomechanism through which the virus exerts such a devastating effect on the host/infected organism. Recent scientific evidence highlights the affinity of the virus towards ACE2 receptors, which are widespread in multiple human systems, including the central nervous system (CNS) and cerebral vessels. Such an affinity may explain endothelial dysfunction and damage that is observed in COVID-positive patients in histopathological studies, with subsequent dysregulation of the cerebral circulation leading to transient or acute cerebrovascular accidents. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the effects of COVID-related hypoxemia and direct viral invasion on the cerebral circulation, with special respect to the postulated pathomechanism, vulnerable groups of patients, clinical course and outcomes, as well as diagnostic imaging findings.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease with still growing incidence among adults and young people worldwide. Patients with T2DM are more susceptible to develop coronary artery disease (CAD) than non-diabetic individuals. Several pre-clinical and clinical studies suggested that adiponectin, a pleiotropic hormone with anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing properties, may be a molecular link between metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.   Aim of the study: This article summarizes the current knowledge on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the adiponectin and its receptors’ genes on the risk of CAD in patients with T2DM. Description of knowledge: Adiponectin, the most abundant circulating adipocytokine, is encoded by the Acrp30/adiponectin gene on chromosome 3q27, which constitutes a region specific for obesity-related metabolic syndrome. A genetic deficit of this adipokine may be responsible for the increased risk of CAD both in the general population and T2DM subjects. The results of recent years’ studies highlight that SNPs at the adiponectin locus, +45 T>G and +276 G>T as well within its two receptors, are determinants of early onset atherosclerosis in individuals with T2DM. Conclusions: SNPs in ADIPOQ, ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 may modify the risk of CAD in the group of patients with T2DM. SNP +45 and SNP +276 seem to be attractive, molecular markers for identification of diabetic individuals at especially high risk of CAD. The discovering of their exact mechanisms may result in novel screening options as well as diagnostic process and treatment scheme. Therefore, further research is required to determine the effects of adiponectin and its receptors’ polymorphisms and their roles in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex entity that includes besides the tumor cells also a whole range of immune cells. Among various populations of immune cells infiltrating the tumor, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a population of lymphocytes characterized by high reactivity against the tumor component. As, TILs play a key role in mediating responses to several types of therapy and significantly improve patient outcomes in some cancer types including for instance breast cancer and lung cancer, their assessment has become a good predictive tool in the evaluation of potential treatment efficacy. Currently, the evaluation of the density of TILs infiltration is performed by histopathological. However, recent studies have shed light on potential utility of several imaging methods, including ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), and radiomics, in the assessment of TILs levels. The greatest attention concerning the utility of radiology methods is directed to breast and lung cancers, nevertheless imaging methods of TILs are constantly being developed also for other malignancies. Here, we focus on reviewing the radiological methods used to assess the level of TILs in different cancer types and on the extraction of the most favorable radiological features assessed by each method.

Introduction: Pheochromocytomas are chromaffin cell tumours derived from the neural crest and they are associated with catecholamine production. Radiological procedures are playing essential role in present diagnostic of adrenal glands. Physicians who send their patients to the radiological examinations should prepare them to have a safe further diagnostic. Aa well radiologist should be aware of scanning protocols to provide best quality and the safest for the patient radiological examination.Aim of the study: This article summarizes the current knowledge about radiological imaging of pheochromocytomas and scan procedures. In this paper we also want to answer to the question does a patient with pheochromocytoma need to be specially prepared for radiological procedures.Description of knowledge: Diagnostic procedures play primary role in present diagnostic and treatment of pheochomocytomas. It is crucial for further diagnostic procedures to locate the tumour and its margins.Ultrasound imaging can be used with success only in big tumours with clinical symptoms. First choice for adrenal gland tumours is always CT. That modality easily shows localisation and tumours smaller than 1 cm. Another method of choice for adrenal imaging is MRI which gives high contrast images between soft tissues. Radiological differentiation of lessions wouldn’t be possible without contrast agents. They are crucial for calculations of washout in CT.Conclusions: Intravenous administration of non-ionic contrast agent for CT and gadolinium based in MRI is a safe practice for patients with pheos even without α-blocking medication. Only in an intra-arterial iodine-based contrast administration patient should be pharmacologically prepared before examination.

Introduction: is an endocrine gland located upon the hypophysial fossa of the sphenoid bone in the center of the middle cranial fossa and is surrounded by a small bony cavity (sella turcica). Radiological procedures are playing essential role in present diagnostic of pituitary gland. Pituitary tumours can now be visualized more accurately due to continued improvements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques with gadolinium enhancement. Aim of the study: This article summarizes the current knowledge about radiological imaging of pituitary gland and in particular MRI scan procedures. In this paper we also want to show how the imaging of the pituitary gland looked like in the past and nowadays. Description of knowledge: Diagnostic procedures play primary role in present diagnosis and treatment of pituitary gland and sella turcica tumours. It is crucial for further diagnostic procedures to locate the tumour its size and margins. Currently magnetic resonance imaging is the more important examination just after the laboratory results. That modality easily shows exact location and tumours smaller than 1 cm. Radiological differentiation of lessions wouldn’t be possible without contrast agents. The latest MRI study protocols involve dynamic and delayed sequences for better visualisation and differential diagnostic. Conclusions: During the years radiological techniques evolved and gave us the perfect tool to visualize the pituitary gland and its pathologies.