There is no clear evidence that vitamin D effectively improves physical capacity in high-level athletes. The aim of this study was to confirm that vitamin D supplementation of soccer players during eight-week high-intensity training would have a significant effect on their aerobic capacity. The subjects were divided into two groups: the experimental one that was supplemented with vitamin D (SG, n = 20), and the placebo group (PG, n = 16), not supplemented with vitamin D. All the players were subjected to the same soccer training described as High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). The data of the vitamin D level, PWC170, lactate threshold (LT) were collected just before and after the intervention. A significant increase in vitamin D concentration (119%) was observed in the supplemented group, while the non-supplemented group showed a decrease of 8.4%. The studied subjects improved VO2max results by 20% in the SG, and by 13% in the PG. The improvement in velocity at the LT was similar in both groups. Results of this study show that vitamin D can have a positive, though moderate, effect on aerobic performance in players subjected to high-intensity training in the form of small-sided games for 8 weeks.
Symptomatic Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an acute inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, manifesting in at least 3 unformed stools within 24 hours. Predicting factors for CDI include contact with medical care (mainly hospitalization), antibiotic therapy in the last 12 weeks, use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI), H2 blockers, cancer chemotherapy, especially in the neutropenia stage, gastrointestinal surgery, advanced age and concomitant chronic diseases (renal failure, liver failure, chronic inflammatory bowel disease - especially ulcerative bowel disease, cancer, HIV infection, cachexia and hypoalbuminaemia) and vitamin D deficiency. Clinical classification distinguishes three types of CDI - mild / moderate, severe, and fulminant. The principles of treatment of the first and subsequent CDI incidents depending on the clinical course are based on oral vancomycin. CDI is recurrent. The basis for treating CDI relapses is vancomycin administered orally at a dose of 4x125 mg for 10 days followed by concomitant vancomycin dose reduction therapy. The use of fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) in the treatment of CDI relapses is considered to be the most effective therapy for recurrent CDI. An indication for FMT is antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infection, regardless of the number of incidents CDI. The panel of tests recommended for a bacterial flora donor is presented in the recommendations.
Introduction: The problem of constipation in Poland concerns 13.4% of the healthy population. In the case of patients treated with opioids, this number increases to 70-90%, which constitutes a serious problem that lowers the patients’ quality of life. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of abdominal massage, which successfully reduces constipation in various diseases, on palliative care patients. Material and methods: The research included 18 patients of a palliative care facility (mean age 78.3 ± 10 years), 11 of whom completed the study. The study participants were randomly divided into two groups, i.e. a pilot group (abdominal massage and kinesiotherapy) and a control group (kinesiotherapy). The therapy lasted 8 weeks and blind evaluation was carried out once per week. The study involved evaluating constipation intensity (The Bowel Function Index), the frequency of defecation (medical documentation) and abdomen circumference (anthropometric tape). The collected data were analysed statistically with the use of Statistica software. Results: The observed differences between the studied groups undergoing different therapies in subsequent weeks were not statistically significant. However, in the group in which abdominal massage was implemented, a decrease in the intensity of constipation, an increase in the frequency of defecation and a reduction in abdomen circumference were noted compared to the control group. The patients also indicated additional positive effects of this form of therapy, i.e. an improvement in breathing, easier urination, release of excessive gas and abdominal pain reduction. Conclusions: The collected data led to the conclusion that abdominal massage may result in a decrease in disorders accompanying opioid-induced constipation. Therefore, it is worth considering the implementation of this form of therapy in the case of patients in an advanced stage of cancer. There is also a need for further research in this field which will include a larger number of patients.
Difficult-to-treat populations with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), in the era of interferon treatment, included patients with liver cirrhosis, kidney impairment, treatment-experienced individuals, and those coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The current study aimed to determine whether, in the era of direct-acting antivirals (DAA), there are still patients that are difficult-to-treat. The study included all consecutive patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who started interferon-free therapy between July 2015 and December 2020 in the Department of Infectious Diseases in Kielce. The analyzed real-world population consisted of 963 patients, and most of them were infected with genotype 1 (87.6%) with the predominance of subtype 1b and were treatment-naïve (78.8%). Liver cirrhosis was determined in 207 individuals (21.5%), of whom 82.6% were compensated. The overall sustained virologic response, after exclusion of non-virologic failures, was achieved in 98.4%. The univariable analysis demonstrated the significantly lower response rates in males, patients with liver cirrhosis, decompensation of hepatic function at baseline, documented esophageal varices, concomitant diabetes, body mass index ≥25, and previous ineffective antiviral treatment. Despite an overall very high effectiveness, some unfavorable factors, including male gender, genotype 3 infection, liver cirrhosis, and treatment experience, significantly reduce the chances for a virologic response were identified.
Stanozolol is a 17α-alkylated synthetic anabolic steroid used illegally by bodybuilders. We present a 19-year-old man who was taking 50 mg of stanozolol intramuscularly, every other day for 2 months, to improve muscle mass. On admission, his bilirubin concentration was 44.34 mg/dl. The serum levels of liver enzymes were normal, with only alanine aminotransferase being slightly elevated. Liver biopsy revealed toxic hepatitis of minor grade with periportal fibrosis and intrahepatic cholestasis. Medical treatment of the patient was conservative. Despite the therapy the patient’s general condition deteriorated – bilirubin level increased to 56.64 mg/dl, and INR rose to 1.7. Then we decided to administer low doses of hydrocortisone. As a result of the treatment, bilirubin concentration was 14.61 mg/dl after 2 weeks. Finally all hepatic enzymes returned to normal values 5 months after stanozolol was discontinued. This treatment appears to be safe and leads to a more rapid reduction of bilirubin.
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