Thyroid diseases are common conditions that have a negative impact on the health of all populations. The literature sheds light on the differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in patients suffering from thyroid diseases compared to healthy individuals. The microbiome affects the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, and the existence of the gut–thyroid axis is discussed in the context of both thyroid diseases and intestinal dysbiosis. The purpose of this review is to describe associations between the microbiome and its metabolites and thyroid dysfunction. We try to explain the role of the microbiome in the metabolism of thyroid hormones and the impact of thyroid autoimmune diseases. In addition, we raise issues related to the influence of bacterial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids or secondary bile acids, in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Last but not least, we explored the interactions between the gut microbiota and therapeutics and supplements typically administered to patients with thyroid diseases.

Background The United Nations acknowledged diabetes as an epidemic of the 21st century. Global trends demonstrate a continuing growth in its prevalence at approximately 2.5 % per year. The aim of the study was to analyse selected epidemiological factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Poland, Central Europe and the World. Methods This study presents Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data. Study describes the type 2 diabetes burden in the studied populations based on years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Results Type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated to be a determinant of reduced life expectancy, as in the analysed period the condition presented an increasing trend, compared to other diseases. Conclusions In recent years the observed YLL, YLD and DALY values for type 2 diabetes have been comparable to the expected ones. Thus the prognosis presented by GBD may be used as a reliable source of information and a basis for a health policy that reduces the number of patients with diabetes and related complications, comorbidities or mortality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous confusion around the world in our daily existence. The security measures taken, such as physical distance, wearing a mask, quarantine or closing shopping malls, and even isolating large groups of the population, did not contribute to the complete overcoming of the problem. Information on the positive results of research into the COVID-19 vaccine and, finally, its administration offered hope that the pandemic would be overcome. The undertaken problem of research concerning the subjective analysis of the feelings of doctors in Poland after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine shows an important area of the medical world, which is directly responsible for their own health and the patients entrusted to them. In addition, 149 people participated in the study (8–13 February 2021), including 57% of women and 43% of men. The minimum and maximum age of the respondents are 26 and 69 years old. Furthermore, 85% of respondents took two doses of the vaccine and 15% took one. The authorial questionnaire was completed by the participants in the study online in February 2021. The results obtained indicate that the COVID-19 vaccine generates hope for stopping the pandemic. In addition, 96% of research participants think so. Doctors in middle and mature age are the most optimistic, while the youngest ones are less optimistic. In addition, 57% of respondents do not worry about side effects after taking the vaccine. Fear at the time of vaccination was experienced by over 9% of doctors. The most frequently reported post-vaccination reactions are injection site pain, fatigue and headache. Increased temperature occurred in older female respondents. From a psychosocial perspective, men are more likely to fear being infected personally with the virus, and women are more likely to be infected with their loved ones. The presented subjective assessment presents the physicians’ view captured at the moment in terms of existential and emotional. The presented feelings of the research participants reflect their personal satisfaction, responsibility for their own health, care for their relatives and patients.

Background Problematic Internet Use is defined as a use of the Internet which leads to various difficulties. The aim of this study was to check whether Problematic Internet Use is associated with health risks, such as: anti-health behaviors, depressive symptoms, abnormal body weight or eating disorders. Methods This cross-sectional study included 540 medical school students of Polish descent (83.5% females; 16.5% males), whose mean age was 22.49 years (SD = 5.20). The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire set, including the Problematic Internet Use Test, Juczyński’s Health-Related Behavior Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Eating Attitudes Test and a self-designed demographic survey. Results Increased Problematic Internet Use scores were observed in male, full-time students, persons who use the Internet on the computer (compared to those who mostly use it on the phone), and those who go online mainly for entertainment purposes (compared to those who indicated another main purpose of using the Internet). 47.6% of the sample reported poor health behaviors, while 27.1% met the criteria of a depressive episode and 6.9% of an eating disorder. High risk of Problematic Internet Use was observed in 2.8% of the sample, particularly those who reported having more free time during the day, engaged in fewer health protective behaviors, manifested more severe depressive symptoms and scored higher on the Eating Attitudes Test. Conclusion Such results indicate that students with Problematic Internet Use lead an unhealthy lifestyle and more often show symptoms of depression and eating disorders than students without Problematic Internet Use.

Cel pracyBadania nad rozpowszechnieniem występowania zaburzeń odżywiania nie były często podejmowane w ostatnich latach ani w Polsce, ani w skali świata. Trudno również oszacować rozpowszechnienie tych zaburzeń. Celem pracy była ocena rozpowszechnienia występowania zaburzeń odżywania w grupie polskich uczennic szkół ponadgminazjalnych z uwzględnieniem typu szkoły oraz warunków mieszkaniowychMetodaBadania zaburzeń odżywiania przeprowadzono w okresie 03 – 06 2017 r., wśród uczennic szczecińskich szkół ponadgimnazjalnych. Dobór do badania miał charakter wieloetapowy. Do procesu analitycznego włączono 1750 kwestionariuszy. W procesie badawczym wykorzystano narzędzie służące do przesiewowych badań nad wystąpieniem zaburzeń odżywiania - kwestionariusz Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26).WynikiObserwowano niższą punktację wśród uczniów starszych klas (EAT 26, EAT dieting) a także tych, którzy nie otrzymywali kieszonkowego (EAT dieting, EAT bulimia) (p<0,05).Wnioski1. Wiek okazał się ważnym czynnikiem prognostycznym dla zaburzeń odżywiania. Ryzyko malało wraz z narastaniem wieku u badanych dziewcząt 2. Szanse na wystąpienie zaburzeń odżywiania były niemal 21-krotnie wyższe wśród dziewcząt uczęszczających do klas 1 i 2

Wstęp: Satysfakcję pacjenta coraz częściej rozpatruje się jako ważny element w pomiarze jakości świadczeń oferowanych przez podstawową opiekę zdrowotną (POZ). Celem pracy było określenie poziomu satysfakcji pacjentów z usług POZ.Materiał i metody: Przebadano 124 osoby, korzystając ze standaryzowanego kwestionariusza EUROPEP, opracowanego przez Europejską Grupę Roboczą ds. Jakości w Medycynie Rodzinnej.Wyniki: Doświadczenia 68% badanych wskazują na życzliwość i pomoc pielęgniarek POZ, a ponad połowa respondentów (52%) przypisała te cechy również recepcjonistkom. Większość badanych miała pozytywne zdanie na temat zachowania lekarzy POZ, podkreślając ich delikatność podczas badania (83%), szacunek dla intymności (82%), a także życzliwy stosunek wobec pacjentów (77%). Jednak mimo pozytywnej oceny zachowania, lekarze 52% respondentów nie zaproponowali żadnych badań profilaktycznych, a także w wielu przypadkach (43%) nie przekazali informacji dotyczących zasad zdrowego trybu życia. Co trzeci pacjent (32%) nie otrzymał od lekarza informacji o skutkach ubocznych stosowanych leków. Według wyników badań znacznie mniej niż połowa lekarzy POZ interesuje się sferą psychospołeczną swoich pacjentów. Zaledwie 27% badanych otrzymało ze strony lekarza pomoc w zakresie radzenia sobie z lękami dotyczącymi stanu zdrowia. Jeszcze mniej respondentów doświadczyło zainteresowania lekarza w zakresie ich sytuacji osobistej (23%) bądź materialnej (23%), natomiast pytania dotyczące członków rodziny padły ze strony lekarzy w stosunku do 35% pacjentów.Wnioski: 1. Ogólny poziom satysfakcji pacjentów z usług POZ jest wysoki. Pozytywnie oceniana jest dostępność do lekarza, życzliwość, zainteresowanie problemami zdrowotnymi podopiecznych. 2. Pacjenci POZ odczuwają deficyt działań profilaktycznych i promujących zdrowie, a także uważają za niewystarczające zainteresowanie lekarza problemami psychospołecznymi. 3. Konieczne jest większe zaangażowanie personelu POZ w promocję zdrowia i edukację prozdrowotną. Wskazane są szkolenia z zakresu komunikacji interpersonalnej personelu POZ. 4. Rosnąca świadomość zdrowotna społeczeństwa powoduje większe oczekiwania pacjentów odnośnie informacji o stanie zdrowia i planowanym leczeniu

Background: Liver resections have become the first-line treatment for primary and metastatic tumors and, therefore, are considered a core aspect of surgical training. This study aims to evaluate the learning curve of the extent and safety of liver resection procedures for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: This single tertiary center retrospective analysis includes 158 consecutive cases of small liver resection (SLR) (n = 107) and major liver resection (MLR) (n = 58) procedures. A cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM) method was used to investigate the learning curve. Results: The operative time, total blood loss level, and incidence of adverse effects showed a learning curve. For SLRs, the CUSUM curve for operative time and blood loss level peaked at the 19th and 17th case, respectively, while for MLRs, these curves peaked at the 28th and 24th case, respectively. The CUSUM curve for minor adverse effects (MAEs) and severe adverse effects (SAEs) showed a downward slope after the 16th and 68th procedures in the SLRs group and after the 29th and 39th procedures in the MLRs cohort; however, it remained within the acceptable range throughout the entire study. Conclusion: SLR procedures were performed faster with less intraoperative blood loss and shorter postoperative stays than MLRs, and a higher number of completed procedures was required to gain stabilization and repeatability in the operating time and intraoperative blood loss level. In MLR procedures, the reduction of SAEs was accomplished significantly later than the stabilization of the operative time and intraoperative blood loss level.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin for which there is currently no available cure. In the course of MS, next to neurological disorders, patients often present with chronic fatigue syndrome and depressive disorders, which impact on their daily function and quality of life. The aim of study was to analyse the relationship between serum parameters of iron metabolism and the severity of fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in MS patients. Methods: The study sample consisted of 90 people with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, age range 19–67 years, whose functional status evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale in 90% of the participants did not exceed 3.5 points. Venous blood samples were collected for blood cell count determination and for the purposes of obtaining serum analysed for the concentrations of iron, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The participants were also evaluated according to the Fatigue Severity Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis. Results: Ferritin levels were significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms (r = −0.22; p = 0.04) and quality of life assessment (r = 0.22; p = 0.04) in the MS patients. Moreover, the severity of fatigue and depressive symptoms was significantly linked to a deterioration in quality of life. Conclusions: Ferritin deficiency in MS patients is associated with an exacerbation of depressive disorders and a decline in quality of life. Symptoms of fatigue in MS patients are inversely proportional to mood and quality of life.