Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a frequent side effect experienced by an increasing number of cancer survivors with a significant impact on their quality of life. Different definitions and means of evaluation have been used in available literature; hence the exact incidence of CRCI remains unknown. CRCI can be described as cognitive symptoms reported by cancer patients in self-reported questionnaires or as cognitive changes evaluated by formal neuropsychological tests. Nevertheless, association between cognitive symptoms and objectively assessed cognitive changes is relatively weak or absent. Studies have focused especially on breast cancer patients, but CRCI has been reported in multiple types of cancer, including colorectal, lung, ovarian, prostate, testicular cancer and hematological malignancies. While CRCI has been associated with various treatment modalities, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and novel systemic therapies, it has been also detected prior to cancer treatment. Therefore, the effects of cancer itself with or without the psychological distress may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRCI as a result of altered coping mechanisms after cancer diagnosis. The development of CRCI is probably multifactorial and the exact mechanisms are currently not completely understood. Possible risk factors include administered treatment, genetic predisposition, age and psychological factors such as anxiety, depression or fatigue. Multiple mechanisms are suggested to be responsible for CRCI, including direct neurotoxic injury of systemic treatment and radiation while other indirect contributing mechanisms are hypothesized. Chronic neuroinflammation mediated by active innate immune system, DNA-damage or endothelial dysfunction is hypothesized to be a central mechanism of CRCI pathogenesis. There is increasing evidence of potential plasma (e.g., damage associated molecular patterns, inflammatory components, circulating microRNAs, exosomes, short-chain fatty acids, and others), cerebrospinal fluid and radiological biomarkers of cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients. Discovery of biomarkers of cognitive impairment is crucial for early identification of cancer patients at increased risk for the development of CRCI or development of treatment strategies to lower the burden of CRCI on long-term quality of life. This review summarizes current literature on CRCI with a focus on long-term effects of different cancer treatments, possible risk factors, mechanisms and promising biomarkers.

Background:This pilot study investigates the efficacy of a probiotic consortium (Lab4) in combination with vitamin C on the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children attending preschool facilities.Subjects/methods:In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study with children aged 3–6 years, 57 received 1.25 × 1010 colony-forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 (NCIMB 30156), Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60 (NCIMB 30157), Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 (NCIMB 30153) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34 (NCIMB 30172) plus 50 mg vitamin C or a placebo daily for 6 months.Results:Significant reductions in the incidence rate of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI; 33%, P=0.002), the number of days with URTI symptoms (mean difference: −21.0, 95% confidence interval (CI):−35.9, −6.0, P=0.006) and the incidence rate of absence from preschool (30%, P=0.007) were observed in the active group compared with the placebo. The number of days of use of antibiotics, painkillers, cough medicine or nasal sprays was lower in the active group and reached significance for use of cough medicine (mean difference: −6.6, 95% CI: −12.9, −0.3, P=0.040). No significant differences were observed in the incidence rate ratio or duration of lower respiratory tract infection or in the levels of plasma cytokines, salivary immunoglobulin A or urinary metabolites.Conclusions:Supplementation with a probiotic/vitamin C combination may be beneficial in the prevention and management of URTIs.

These findings may explain some of the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility to certain infection in patients with Type 2 DM.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It is supposed that in etiopathogenesis oxidative stress (OS) plays a role. However, its precise role in the active and non-active states of disease is not known yet. We conducted a pilot study focusing on the relationship between OS of CD in remission and the possibility to influence clinical parameters and markers of OS by polyphenolic extract, Pycnogenol® (Pyc). Compared to 15 healthy controls 15 pediatric CD patients (all were in remission according to their disease activity index - PCDAI) had reduced the activity of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increased the oxidative damage to proteins. We found negative correlations between markers of inflammation (calprotectin, CRP) as well as between PCDAI and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Activities of antioxidant enzymes, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) negatively correlated with calprotectin and PCDAI. Pyc (2 mg/kg) positively influenced the parameters of OS in CD patients after 10 weeks of administration.

The purpose of our study was to examine the psychological benefits of the treatment with Robuvit® (Horphag Research Ltd.) -polyphenolic extract obtained from the wood of oak Quercus robur -on the healthy elderly individuals using energy subscale scores of the Activation -Deactivation Adjective Check List. Analysis was focused on the comparison of pre-post treatment effect of Robuvit on symptoms of fatigue. In the total group of volunteers, significant increase of average question scores was found in three of four subscales of feelings (energy, tiredness, and tension) after 4 weeks of Robuvit administration. Effects of extract were observed mainly after stratification of total group of volunteers according to the level of feeling at the pre-treatment questionnaire. Our results demonstrate positive effect of Robuvit on mental and energy level in healthy human without any unwanted side effects.

We examined in vitro antioxidant capacity of polyphenolic extract obtained from the wood of oak Quercus robur (QR), Robuvit, using TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) method and the effect of its intake on markers of oxidative stress, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and total antioxidant capacity in plasma of 20 healthy volunteers. Markers of oxidative damage to proteins, DNA, and lipids and activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined in the erythrocytes. We have found an in vitro antioxidant capacity of Robuvit of 6.37 micromole Trolox equivalent/mg of Robuvit. One month intake of Robuvit in daily dose of 300 mg has significantly decreased the serum level of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and lipid peroxides (LP). Significantly increased activities of SOD and CAT as well as total antioxidant capacity of plasma after one month intake of Robuvit have been shown. In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that the intake of Robuvit is associated with decrease of markers of oxidative stress and increase of activity of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant capacity of plasma in vivo.

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) and diabetes mellitus (DM) share common pathophysiological risk factors including endothelial dysfunction which together with hyperglycemia contribute to the increased oxidative/glycooxidative stress. A reduced NO concentration is insufficient for relaxation processes in the penis. Chronic inflammation and endoglin are involved in the regulation of endothelial function. Adiponectin from the adipose tissue has anti-inflammatory effects. Our study aimed to investigate the relation between erectile function in patients with and without DM and the oxidative stress, hormone adiponectin, and endothelial dysfunction marker endoglin. Men (n=32) with ED evaluated by the International Index of Erectile function (IIEF-5) questionnaire (17 without DM (NDM); 15 with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM)) and 31 controls were included. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), 8-isoprostanes (8-isoP), protein carbonyls, antioxidant capacity, adiponectin and endoglin were determined in the blood. DM patients compared to NDM patients and controls, had increased levels of glucose, C-reactive protein, triacylglycerols, 8-isoP, AGEs, endoglin and BMI. IIEF-5 score, NO and adiponectin levels were decreased. We are the first to find out that endoglin shows a negative correlation with erectile function in NDM, but not in DM patients. Endoglin can be considered as endothelial dysfunction marker in nondiabetic men suffering from ED.