Natural products, including bee products, are particularly appreciated by consumers and are used for therapeutic purposes as alternative drugs. However, it is not known whether treatments with bee products are safe and how to minimise the health risks of such products. Among others, bee pollen is a natural honeybee product promoted as a valuable source of nourishing substances and energy. The health-enhancing value of bee pollen is expected due to the wide range of secondary plant metabolites (tocopherol, niacin, thiamine, biotin and folic acid, polyphenols, carotenoid pigments, phytosterols), besides enzymes and co-enzymes, contained in bee pollen. The promising reports on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticariogenic antibacterial, antifungicidal, hepatoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, immune enhancing potential require long-term and large cohort clinical studies. The main difficulty in the application of bee pollen in modern phytomedicine is related to the wide species-specific variation in its composition. Therefore, the variations may differently contribute to bee-pollen properties and biological activity and thus in therapeutic effects. In principle, we can unequivocally recommend bee pollen as a valuable dietary supplement. Although the bee-pollen components have potential bioactive and therapeutic properties, extensive research is required before bee pollen can be used in therapy. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

The statistics from Europe and the USA have proven a high risk for skin diseases associated with plant contact. Therefore, plant-induced dermatitis is of increasing attention in dermatology. The focus of this paper was to present the current knowledge on aspects of contact allergy related to Asteraceae (Compositae) species. The Asteraceae family is one of the largest in the world with members across all continents. The PubMed/Medline databases have been searched. The Asteraceae representatives consist of diverse secondary metabolites, which exhibit various advantageous effects in humans. In particular, sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) may cause sensitization resulting in skin irritation and inflammation. In this study, we tried to reveal the allergenic potential of several Asteraceae species. The Asteraceae-related allergy symptoms involve eczema, hay fever, asthma, or even anaphylaxis. Furthermore, the evidence of severe cross-reactivity with food and pollen allergens (PFS) in patients sensitive to Asteraceae allergens have been announced. Further identification and characterization of secondary metabolites and possible allergens in Asteraceae are necessary for the better understanding of Asteraceae-related immune response. The Asteraceae allergy screening panel (the SL mix and the Compositae mix of five plant species) is a promising tool to improve allergy diagnostics and therapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global public health problem. The degree of knowledge on CRC among medical students, future physicians, brings essential implications for their patients. Therefore, to acquire information about students’ knowledge on CRC, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Medical University of Lublin, Poland, with a representative sample of 1130 medical students (basic vs. clinical 552 vs. 578; male vs. female 442 vs. 688). The questionnaire was anonymous and designed in a four-section scheme (CRC risk factors, CRC prevention, CRC symptoms, CRC screening methods). There was a significant difference in the percentage of correct answers between basic and clinical level groups (P = 0.034). In general, clinical students had higher scores for their knowledge regarding CRC. Gender impacted the students’ CRC knowledge to a lesser degree; however, if the difference was revealed, female students were more aware about CRC issues (P = 0.045). We found several important deficits in students’ knowledge on CRC. These findings should motivate the oncology education coordinator as well as our teachers to introduce innovations in education methods and training environments to enable students to gain necessary knowledge and acquire the skills and competencies that would help them to function as physicians.

The objective of the study was to assess the level of testicular cancer (TC) knowledge and awareness as well as the altitude and practice towards testicular self-examination (TSE) among Polish male high school and medical students. An original questionnaire survey was conducted in SE Poland with a representative sample of 1077 male students: 335 from high school and 742 medical students. The results indicate the knowledge about TC epidemiology and the awareness of risk factors responsible for the TC was low. The knowledge of the signs and symptoms of TC was significantly higher among the medical students, compared to the high school students. The level of education was associated with the awareness of methods for early detection and symptoms of TC. A satisfactory level of awareness of the TSE practice was exhibited only by the medical students. The main reason for not performing self-examination was the lack of knowledge and practical skills. The deficits of knowledge of TC in young men should motivate the education policy makers in Poland to implement education in the field of TC issues more widely in high schools. Moreover, cancer prevention modules and/or teaching methods should be improved in medical schools.