Beginning with the various strategies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to invade our bodies and manifest infection, and ending with the recent long COVID, we are witnessing the evolving course of the disease in addition to the pandemic. Given the partially controlled course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the greatest challenge currently lies in managing the short- and long-term complications of COVID-19. We have assembled current knowledge of the broad spectrum of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neuropsychiatric sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 infection to understand how these clinical manifestations collectively lead to a severe form of the disease. The ultimate goal would be to better understand these complications and find ways to prevent clinical deterioration.

Despite the progress of its management, COVID-19 maintains an ominous condition which constitutes a threat, especially for the susceptible population. The cardiac injury occurs in approximately 30% of COVID-19 infections and is associated with a worse prognosis. The clinical presentation of cardiac involvement can be COVID-19-related myocarditis. Our review aims to summarise current evidence about that complication. The research was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022338397). We performed a systematic analysis using five different databases, including i.a. MEDLINE. Further, the backward snowballing technique was applied to identify additional papers. Inclusion criteria were: full-text articles in English presenting cases of COVID-19-related myocarditis diagnosed by the ESC criteria and patients over 18 years old. The myocarditis had to occur after the COVID-19 infection, not vaccination. Initially, 1588 papers were screened from the database search, and 1037 papers were revealed in the backward snowballing process. Eventually, 59 articles were included. Data about patients’ sex, age, ethnicity, COVID-19 confirmation technique and vaccination status, reported symptoms, physical condition, laboratory and radiological findings, applied treatment and patient outcome were investigated and summarised. COVID-19-related myocarditis is associated with the risk of sudden worsening of patients’ clinical status, thus, knowledge about its clinical presentation is essential for healthcare workers.

: Recent findings have improved our understanding of the multifactorial nature of AD. While in early, asymptomatic stages of AD, increased amyloid-β synthesis and tau hyperphosphorylation play a key role, in the later stages of the disease, numerous dysfunctions of homeostatic mechanisms in neurons, glial cells and cerebrovascular endothelium determine the rate of progression of clinical symptoms. The main driving forces of advanced neurodegeneration include: increased inflammatory reactions in neurons and glial cells, oxidative stress, deficiencies in neurotrophic growth and regenerative capacity of neurons, brain insulin resistance with disturbed metabolism in neurons, or reduction of the activity of the Wnt-β catenin pathway which should integrate the homeostatic mechanisms of brain tissue. In order to more effectively inhibit the progress of neurodegeneration, one should use combination therapies consisting of drugs that rectify several of the above-mentioned dysfunctions. It should be noted that many of widely-used drugs from various pharmacological groups, "in addition" to the main therapeutic indications, also have a beneficial effect on neurodegeneration and may be introduced into clinical practice in combination therapy of AD. There is a real hope that complex treatment will effectively inhibit the progression of AD and turn it into a slowly progressing chronic disease. Moreover as the mechanisms of bidirectional communication between the brain and microbiota are better understood, it is expected that these pathways will be harnessed to provide novel method to enhance health and treat AD.

Early and premature menopause, or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), affects 1% of women under the age of 40 years. This paper reviews the main aspects of early and premature menopause and their impact on cognitive decline. Based on the literature, cognitive complaints are more common near menopause: a phase marked by a decrease in hormone levels, especially estrogen. A premature reduction in estrogen puts women at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, parkinsonism, depression, osteoporosis, hypertension, weight gain, midlife diabetes, as well as cognitive disorders and dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that female sex hormones have long-lasting neuroprotective and anti-aging properties. Estrogens seem to prevent cognitive disorders arising from a cholinergic deficit in women and female animals in middle age premature menopause that affects the central nervous system (CNS) directly and indirectly, both transiently and in the long term, leads to cognitive impairment or even dementia, mainly due to the decrease in estrogen levels and comorbidity with cardiovascular risk factors, autoimmune diseases, and aging. Menopausal hormone therapy from menopause to the age of 60 years may provide a “window of opportunity” to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD in later life. Women with earlier menopause should be taken care of by various specialists such as gynecologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists in order to maintain their mental health at the highest possible level.

Introduction: Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a rare congenital heterogeneous malformation with postulated genetic and environmental etiology. Septo-optic dysplasia is characterized by classic triad: optic nerve hypoplasia, midline brain malformation and hypothalamic-pituitary endocrine deficiencies. The most common hormonal deficiencies affect growth hormone and gonadotropin but it can also be lower levels of the other hormones. The rarest form of hormone deficiency is the deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone. Case report: The boy was born in 39 th week of pregnancy in general good condition. Weakened suction reflex and spitting resulted in substantial difficulties with breastfeeding. After transfontanelle ultrasonography central nervous system defect was suspected. In the 5 th month of life MRI confirmed septo-optic dysplasia on the basis of anterior genu of corpus callosum and septum pellucidum agenesis, both optic nerves and optic chiasm hypoplasia, pachygyria and polimicrogyria of the right frontoparietal cortex. Neurological examination revealed axial laxity, psychomotor development delay, difficulties in keeping eyes fixed as well as rotary and horizontal nystagmus. At the age of 3 years he underwent the endocrinological consultation due to polydipsia and polyuria. The tests revealed lower urine specific gravity tests results, therefore diabetes insipidus was diagnosed. The boy still receives desmopressin and there are no signs of central diabetes insipidus. Currently, the boy is under a multi-disciplinary medical care. Conclusions: The attention should be focussed on early diagnosis, mutli-specialized care and treatment SOD. Hypopituitarism ranges from isolated to multiple hormone deficits, with diabetes insipidus in a minority. Although rare, SOD is an important cause of congenital hypopituitarism and should be considered in all children with midline defects and optic nerve hyploplasia. StreszczenieWstęp: Dysplazja przegrodowo-oczna (septo-optic dysplasia -SOD) jest rzadkim wrodzonym zaburzeniem z prawdopodobnym podłożem genetycznym i środowiskowym. Charakteryzuje się klasyczną triadą objawów: niedorozwojem nerwu ocznego, zaburzeniami rozwojowymi mózgu oraz niedoborami endokrynologicznymi pochodzenia podwzgórzowo-przysadkowego. Najczęściej spotykany jest niedobór hormonu wzrostu i gonadotropin, ale mogą występować także inne niedobory. Najrzadziej występuje niedobór hormonu antydiuretycznego. Opis przypadku: Chłopiec urodzony w 39. tygodniu ciąży w stanie ogólnym dobrym. Wystąpiły trudności w karmieniu piersią z powodu osłabionego odruchu ssania i połykania. Na podstawie badania ultrasonograficznego przezciemieniowego głowy wysnuto podejrzenia wad rozwojowych ośrodkowego układu nerwowego. Wykonane w 5. miesiącu życia badanie rezonansem magnetycznym potwierdziło SOD u podstawy przedniego rogu ciała modzelowatego, niedorozwój międzykomorowej, obustronnie nerwów wzrokowych, a także skrzyżowania, pachygyria, niedorozwój kory czołowo-skroniowej. W badaniu neurologicznym wykazano zwichnięcie osiowe, opóźniony...

Background Dietary sodium restriction remains a guidelines-approved lifestyle recommendation for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. However, its efficacy in clinical outcome improvement is dubious. Objective The study evaluated whether dietary sodium restriction in CHF reduces clinical events. Methods We performed a systematic review of the following databases: Academic Search Ultimate, ERIC, Health Source Nursing/Academic Edition, MEDLINE, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and Cochrane Library (trials) to find studies analysing the impact of sodium restriction in the adult CHF population. Both observational and interventional studies were included. Exclusion criteria included i.e.: sodium consumption assessment based only on natriuresis, in-hospital interventions or mixed interventions—e.g. sodium and fluid restriction in one arm only. The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analysis was performed for the endpoints reported in at least 3 papers. Analyses were conducted in Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.4.1. Results Initially, we screened 9175 articles. Backward snowballing revealed 1050 additional articles. Eventually, 9 papers were evaluated in the meta-analysis. All-cause mortality, HF-related hospitalizations and the composite of mortality and hospitalisation were reported in 8, 6 and 3 articles, respectively. Sodium restriction was associated with a higher risk of the composite endpoint (OR 4.12 [95% CI 1.23–13.82]) and did not significantly affect the all-cause mortality (OR 1.38 [95% CI 0.76–2.49]) or HF hospitalisation (OR 1.63 [95% CI 0.69–3.88]). Conclusions In a meta-analysis, sodium restriction in CHF patients worsened the prognosis in terms of a composite of mortality and hospitalizations and did not influence all-cause mortality and HF hospitalisation rate. Graphical abstract

Background Dietary sodium restriction remains guidelines-approved lifestyle recommendation for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. However, its efficacy in clinical outcome improvement is dubious. Methods We performed a systematic review of the following databases: Academic Search Ultimate, ERIC, Health Source Nursing/Academic Edition, MEDLINE, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and Cochrane Library (trials) to find studies analysing the impact of sodium restriction in the adult CHF population. Both observational and interventional studies were included. Most considerable exclusion criteria included i.e.: sodium consumption assessment based only on natriuresis, in-hospital interventions or mixed interventions - e.g. sodium and fluid restriction in one arm only. The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. At least two independent reviewers screened databases and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was performed for the endpoints reported in at least 3 papers. The heterogeneity and sensitivity of the results were assessed. Analyses were conducted in Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.4.1 The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020. Results Initially, we screened 9175 articles identified in the databases. Backward snowballing revealed 1050 additional articles. Eventually, 9 papers were evaluated in the meta-analysis. All-cause mortality, HF-related hospitalizations, and the composite of mortality and hospitalization were reported in 8, 6 and 3 articles, respectively. Sodium restriction was associated with a higher risk of composite endpoint (OR, 4.12 [95% CI, 1.23 - 13.82]) and did not significantly affect the all-cause mortality (OR, 1.38 [95% CI, 0.76 - 2.49]) or HF hospitalisation (OR, 1.63 [95% CI, 0.69 - 3.88]). Conclusions In a meta-analysis, sodium restriction in CHF patients worsened the prognosis in terms of composite of mortality and hospitalizations and did not influence all-cause mortality and HF hospitalisation rate.

Sleep bruxism (SB) is a sleep-related behavior characterized as rhythmic (phasic) or non-rhythmic (tonic) masticatory muscle activity. SB is a common sleep behavior with a predominantly central origin. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the relationship between inflammatory status and SB according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 (PRISMA 2020). The research was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023395985). We performed a systematic literature analysis using five different databases. Furthermore, the backward snowballing technique was applied to identify additional papers. Initially, 28 papers were screened from the database search, and 162 papers were revealed in the backward snowballing process. Eventually, five articles were included. Data concerning the inflammatory status of patients experiencing SB were investigated and summarized. Due to the heterogeneity of the compared studies, only a qualitative comparison and narrative summary were performed. The results suggest that SB could be associated with systemic inflammation. In fact, this systematic review revealed that there are no papers conclusively showing that the inflammatory status in bruxers is comparable to non-bruxers. However, each of the examined studies utilized different methods of assessing systemic inflammation, which makes the results dubious.