Dietary Behavior and Determinants of Diet Quality among Primary Health Care Patients in Poland.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present research was to determine the factors influencing the prevalence of eating behaviors, diet quality, and unhealthy eating among primary healthcare patients in Poland. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 896 adult primary care patients in Lódz. The study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2021 among thirty-four primary healthcare facilities. A survey recorded the sociodemographic data of the respondents as well as data regarding their health condition and diet. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents (57.6%) had average dietary habits, while 40% had unhealthy eating habits. The univariable logistic regression found that primary care patients with medium/secondary education had a 1.5 times greater risk of unhealthy eating habits, and those with post-secondary vocational education had a 1.75 times greater risk of unhealthy eating habits than those with higher education (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.08-1.97, p ≤ 0.01, and OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.04-2.94, p ≤ 0.05). The multivariable logistic regression confirmed that the level of education had a significant impact on dietary habits: for medium/secondary education, OR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.03-1.91 (p ≤ 0.01); for post-secondary vocational education, OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.0-2.85 (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The education level was significantly correlated with the prevalence of unhealthy eating behaviors in the studied population. This factor should be considered in the promotion of healthy eating behaviors and nutritional counseling interventions conducted by family physicians in primary health care.

Is Obesity a Cause for Shame? Weight Bias and Stigma among Physicians, Dietitians, and Other Healthcare Professionals in Poland-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Weight bias and weight stigma pose significant challenges in healthcare, particularly affecting obesity management practices and patient care quality. Our study evaluates their prevalence and impact among healthcare professionals in Poland. Using the Fat Phobia Scale and custom questions, we surveyed 686 professionals via Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI). Results reveal a moderate level of explicit weight bias (mean score: 3.60 ± 0.57), with significant variations across professional groups: physicians (3.70 ± 0.48), dietitians (3.51 ± 0.48), and others (3.44 ± 0.77). Common feelings towards individuals with obesity include willingness to help (57.0%) and compassion (37.8%), yet 29.9% perceive obesity as shameful. The results also vary depending on the respondent's sex or BMI. These findings underscore the need for evidence-based interventions to mitigate weight stigma and enhance understanding of obesity among healthcare professionals.

In Vitro Evaluation of Bioavailability of Cr from Daily Food Rations and Dietary Supplements from the Polish Market.

Only some of the nutrients consumed with food are able to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and enter the systemic circulation (blood). Because some elements are essential minerals for humans, their beneficial effect on the body depends significantly on their bioavailable amount (the fraction that can be absorbed and used by the organism). The term bioavailability, which is very often used to describe the part of nutrients that is able to be absorbed, is influenced by various factors of exogenous and endogenous origin. The main purpose of the study was to assess the relative bioavailability of Cr from selected dietary supplements in the presence of various types of diets, which significantly influence the level of bioavailability. The research was performed using a previously developed and optimized two-stage in vitro digestion model using cellulose dialysis tubes of food rations with the addition of pharmaceutical products. Cr was determined using the ICP-OES and GF-AAS methods, depending on its concentration in particular fractions. The determined relative bioavailability ranged between 2.97 and 3.70%. The results of the study revealed that the type of diet, the chemical form of the molecule, and the pharmaceutical form of preparations have a significant influence on the bioavailability of Cr.

Polish version of the COMQ-12 questionnaire, a new validated tool for the assessment of the quality of life in patients with chronic otitis media.

<b><br>Introduction:</b> The COMQ-12 questionnaire is a tool to assess the quality of life in patients with chronic otitis media in many countries. The questionnaire consists of 12 questions: seven relating to the severity of symptoms, two regarding the impact of the disease on lifestyle and work, two concerning the impact on the need for healthcare, and one is a general question. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 to 5.</br> <b><br>Aim:</b> To present the validation process and the final version of the Polish version of the COMQ-12 questionnaire.</br> <b><br>Material and methods:</b> The Polish version of the COMQ-12 questionnaire was prepared based on an independent translation of the English version by three physicians (two otolaryngology specialists and one physician in the process of specialization in otolaryngology). The questionnaire was validated in a study including 60 participants: 30 patients with chronic otitis media and 30 volunteers without a history of middle ear diseases or hearing disorders. Each participant was asked to complete the COMQ-12 questionnaire twice at an interval of 4 weeks apart. The internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity of the questionnaire were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients, Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, and the Mann-Whitney test, respectively.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> High internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity of the Polish version of the COMQ-12 questionnaire were shown in the course of statistical analysis. The overall internal consistency was 0.95 and 0.97 as assessed by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients, respectively. Spearman's rho correlation coefficient was above 0.89 for each question. Statistically significant differences in the COMQ-12 total scores were obtained between patients with chronic otitis media and the control group.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> The Polish version of the COMQ-12 questionnaire can be a valuable clinical tool for the assessment of the quality of life in patients suffering from chronic otitis media.</br>.

The first occurrence of machimosaurid crocodylomorphs from the Oxfordian of south-central Poland provides new insights into the distribution of macrophagous teleosauroids.

Teleosauroid thalattosuchians were a clade of semi-aquatic crocodylomorphs that achieved a broad geographic distribution during the Mesozoic. While their fossils are well documented in Western European strata, our understanding of teleosauroids (and thalattosuchians in general) is notably poorer in Central-Eastern Europe, and from Poland in particular. Herein, we redescribe a teleosauroid rostrum (MZ VIII Vr-72) from middle Oxfordian strata of Zalecze Wielkie, in south-central Poland. Until now, the specimen has been largely encased in a block of limestone. After preparation, its rostral and dental morphology could be evaluated, showing the specimen to be a non-machimosaurin machimosaurid, similar in morphology to taxa Neosteneosaurus edwardsi and Proexochokefalos heberti. The well-preserved teeth enable us to study the specimen feeding ecology through the means of comparing its teeth to other teleosauroids through PCoA analysis. Comparisons with inferred closely related taxa suggest that the referred specimen was a macrophagous generalist. Notably, MZ VIII Vr-72 displays a prominent pathological distortion of the anterior rostrum, in the form of lateral bending. The pathology affects the nasal passage and tooth size and position, and is fully healed, indicating that, despite its macrophagous diet, it did not prevent the individual from food acquisition.

Channeling Erasmus in Communist Poland: Leszek Kolakowski, Vatican II, and the Reinvention of "Counter-Reformation".

Polish intellectual historian Leszek Kolakowski proposed in the 1960s an innovative, now virtually forgotten, reimagining of a crucial concept in the history of Roman Catholicism: the idea of "Counter-Reformation." Kolakowski's lifelong affinity for early modern Europe's Catholic dissidents led him into dialogue in the era of Vatican II with Tadeusz Mazowiecki, the leader of a movement of young Polish reformers who styled themselves "Catholic socialists." Seeing them as the bedrock of a new Catholic Counter-Reformation, Kolakowski sketched the role he hoped Poland might play in reinventing not only Catholicism, but religious life in the modern world.

Associations between Polish school principals' health literacy and implementation of the Health Promoting School approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to increasing the responsibility of school principals for the health of all school community members. Moreover, evidence confirms the significant role of school principals' health literacy (HL) for health promotion in schools. Therefore, the presented study aims to evaluate the associations between Polish school principals HL and the implementation of the Health Promoting School (HPS) approach in Polish schools. The present study was conducted as part of an international survey on the global COVID-HL network (www.covid-hl.eu) between June 2021 and December 2021. Three subscales of the HPS were considered and an exploratory analysis were used in this study. Associations between the median split of each subscale of HPS (outcome) and health literacy (predictor) were performed using logistic regression. Research results showed that the highest level of HPS implementation was directed at pupils. Principals perceived themselves as having the highest HL on the 'accessibility' subscale and these respondents had significantly higher odds of implementing learning opportunities for students. The study suggests that principals with adequate HL may be more likely to effectively implement HPS strategies in schools. This research could provide insights into the complex interplay between HL and the HPS approach and inform the development of more effective strategies for promoting health and HL in schools.

Biomonitoring of benzophenones in guano samples of wild bats in Poland.

Benzophenones (BPs) are substances used in the production of sunscreens, cosmetics, and personal care products. However, there is a lack of knowledge of BPs in wild animals. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the concentration of selected BPs commonly used in the cosmetic industry in guano samples collected from 4 colonies of greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis). Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine guano concentrations of benzophenone 1 (BP-1), benzophenone 2 (BP-2), benzophenone 3 (BP-3) and benzophenone 8 (BP-8). BP-1 levels above the method quantification limit (MQL) were noted in 97.5% of samples and fluctuated from <0.1 ng/g to 259 ng/g (mean 41.50 ng/g, median 34.8). The second most common was BP-3, which fluctuated from <0.1 ng/g to 19 ng/g (mean 6.67 ng/g, median 5.05), and its levels higher than MQL were observed in 40% of samples. BP-2 and BP-8 concentrations did not exceed the method detection limit (0.04 ng/g) in any analyzed sample. There were visible differences in the BP-1 and BP-3 levels among the studied bat colonies. Mean BP-1 concentration fluctuated from 11.23±13.13 ng/g to 76.71±65.51 ng/g and differed significantly between the colonies. Mean BP-3 concentration fluctuated from 5.03±6.03 ng/g to 9.18±7.65 mg/g, but it did not differ significantly between the colonies. The results show that guano is a suitable matrix for the assessment of wildlife exposure to BPs. This could be particularly advantageous in protected species, where not disturbing and stressing the animals are crucial.

Areas of professional life and job satisfaction of nurses.

Introduction: Job satisfaction among nurses is closely related to work environment as well as organizational and professional commitment. Satisfaction is a concept derived from Latin, where "satis" means "enough," as much as is needed to fully satisfy expectations, needs, aspirations, in such a way that there is no room for complaint. Job satisfaction, on the other hand, is formulated as a positive attitude of employees toward the duties of the job, the work environment and other employees. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate how the different areas of nurses' professional life, i.e., workload, control, rewards, community, sense of justice and values, correlate with their perceived job satisfaction. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of 509 nurses working in a public hospital in Poland. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire, which consisted of a section containing sociodemographic data and standardized instruments: The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and The Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) developed by Maslach and Leiter. Correlations were made using Spearman's rho coefficient. The calculations also used stepwise linear regression analysis after checking certain assumptions, including checking the assumption of normality of residuals and the Durbin-Watson Test. Results: The mean score for the 20 items of the MSQ questionnaire ranged from 3.05 to 3.43 on a 5-point Likert scale. Support from the interdisciplinary team, which concerned assessing the quality of the social environment in the workplace, cooperation and showing positive feelings received the highest rating among respondents (3.51 ± 0.76). The sense of fair treatment at work averaged 3.26 ± 0.58. The area of value conflict within the organization itself or between the employee's values and those of the organization, respondents rated an average of 3.26 ± 0.65. The mean score for all areas of professional work in the surveyed group was 3.09 ± 0.45. Conclusion: As satisfaction in particular areas of work life increases, so does the level of satisfaction in such aspects of work as achievement and a sense of fairness. The higher the level of satisfaction in the area of control, the more the sense of satisfaction with independence increases. The higher the satisfaction of respondents in the areas of values, workload and control, the higher the level of satisfaction with working conditions occurs.

Assessment of Biochemical Bone Turnover Markers in Polish Healthy Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Assessing bone turnover in paediatric populations is crucial for understanding the physiological changes occurring during skeletal development and identifying potential abnormalities. The objective of this study was to assess osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) levels reflecting bone formation and resorption for age and sex in Polish healthy children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 355 healthy normal-weight children and adolescents (46.5% girls) aged 1-18 years old were recruited. Total body less head (TBLH) and spine L1-L4 were used in children to assess bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone marker concentrations were determined by immunoenzymatic methods. RESULTS: Bone marker levels in girls and boys started with higher values in the first year of life and subsequently decreased until reaching a nadir during the prepubertal period. The pubertal peak values of bone markers were reached at 11-13 years old in boys and at 9-11 years old in girls. After puberty, the adolescents showed a gradual decline in bone marker concentrations to the values observed in adults. We found positive correlations between OC level and TBLH-BMD (r = 0.329, p = 0.002), TBLH-BMD Z-score (r = 0.245, p = 0.023), and L1-L4 BMD (r = 0.280, p = 0.009) in the prepubertal group. CONCLUSIONS: We showed serum levels of bone turnover markers-BALP, OC, and CTX-I-in relation to age and sex in healthy Polish children and adolescents. The age intervals of these markers for girls and boys aged 1-18 years old may be clinically useful in the assessment of bone metabolism in individuals with skeletal disorders.

Knowledge and preventive practices regarding COVID-19 disease among Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine contributed one of the largest migration movements in the 21st century. Refugees may become a source of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections for the residents of host countries. The study aim was to assess knowledge and preventive practices regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2022 among Ukrainian refugees registering consecutively in Zielona Góra, Poland. Knowledge and preventive practices were assessed by giving 1 point for each correct answer by anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 96%, 190 participated (mean age 37.8 ±â€…15.5 years; 57.9% females); 61.6% self-reported their socio-economic status (SES) as high, 38.9% reported high level of education. The mean COVID-19 knowledge score was 3.06 ±â€…1.95; 19.5% scored >50%. The knowledge level was higher among migrants with high SES (P = .003). The mean preventive practices score was 2.56 ±â€…1.38; 54.0% scored ≥ 60%. 40.5% declared social distancing, 62.6% followed coughing etiquette, 69.0% home isolate themselves during COVID-19. 57.9% always used masks in public space, however 74.2% wore masks with uncovered nose. Refugees with higher education, high SES and knowledge level had significantly greater preventive practices scores (P = .002; P = .02; P = .03, respectively). The knowledge and preventive practices level was insufficient. Educational campaigns oriented to raising knowledge and prevention behavior skills should be implemented, especially targeting high-risk groups to avoid spread of COVID-19.

Psychometric evaluation of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire in Polish mothers.

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) refers to a parent's capacity to reflect on and understand the inner mental states of their child, their own mental states with regard to their child, and how these mental states may influence their behavior and interactions. This capacity has been shown to foster secure attachment in children and their socio-emotional development. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Polish translation of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ), a brief screening measure of PRF, in a large community sample of Polish mothers of children aged 0-5 years (N = 979). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized three-factor structure of the PRFQ, which consists of three subscales: prementalizing modes, certainty about mental states, and interest and curiosity in mental states. However, item loadings suggested that the 15-item version fitted the data better than the original 18-item version. These three PRFQ subscales exhibited satisfactory and moderate six-month test-retest reliability. They also correlated in theoretically expected ways with several criterion measures such as maternal attachment, maternal parenting stress, parental role restriction, depression severity, and borderline symptoms. In conclusion, this study is the first to provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the PRFQ as a measure of parental reflective functioning in Polish mothers.

Prevalence of dyslipidaemia within Polish nurses. Cross-sectional study - single and multiple linear regression models and ROC analysis.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining good health is vital not only for own well-being, but also to ensure high-quality patient care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and to determine the factors responsible for the development of this disorder among Polish nurses. Lipid profile disorders are the most prevalent and challenging risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Nurses have significant potential and play a crucial role in providing care and treatment services. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved nurses and included measurements of body weight composition (Tanita MC-980), body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure (Welch Allyn 4200B), lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose (CardioChek PA). RESULTS: The results revealed that more than half of the nurses (60.09%) were overweight or obese, with 57.28% exhibiting elevated blood pressure, 32.25% having fasting glucose levels, and 69.14% experiencing dyslipidaemia. Multiple model evaluation using ROC curves demonstrated that multiple models accurately predicted hypercholesterolemia (AUC = 0.715), elevated LDL (AUC = 0.727), and elevated TC (AUC = 0.723) among Polish nurses. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive education programmes should be implemented that include the latest advances in cardiovascular disease prevention. Regular check-ups, as well as the promotion and availability of healthy food in hospital canteens, are essential.

The attitude towards the forest and satisfaction with life of Polish students.

The aim of the study is to determine the connection between the attitude towards the forest and life satisfaction of students. The study was conducted on a sample of 650 students from Polish universities using The Satisfaction With Life Scale and an original questionnaire measuring the approach towards the forest-LAS scale. There are 3 subscales which measured: the perceived benefits from spending time in the forest; the degree of involvement in exploring the forest and working to its advantage; fears connected with the forest. The scale indicated good psychometric properties. Its reliability expressed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient is at the level of 0.90 (0.93 for Benefits scale; 0.87 for Involvement and 0.79 for Fears). The results of the statistical analysis have led to conclusions confirming the relationship between life satisfaction and the results of LAS scale. People satisfied with their lives are more involved in exploring the forest, they enjoy more benefits connected with forest recreation and express fewer fears. Forestry students are characterised by the highest involvement and the lowest level of fears connected with the forest. As far as life satisfaction is concerned, they are in the lead among Polish students just behind students of medical and artistic studies.

Did Covid-19 make things worse? The pandemic as a push factor stimulating the emigration intentions of junior doctors from Poland: A mixed methods study.

Covid-19 has challenged health systems around the world and increased the global competition for medical professionals. This article investigates if the pandemic and its management became an important push factor influencing the migration intentions of medical students and junior doctors and how this factor compared in importance to others. A mixed methods study-a survey and in-depth interviews-was conducted with final-year students at public medical universities in Poland, a country already suffering from a significant emigration of medical staff. The research demonstrated that the difficulties of the Polish healthcare system in dealing with Covid-19 were a factor that slightly positively influenced the emigration intentions of medical students and junior doctors. Nevertheless, the pandemic's influence was not decisive. Factors such as the socio-political situation in Poland (.440**) (including hate speech directed at doctors by politicians and patients), the participants' family situation (.397**), healthcare system organization (.376**), or the opportunity of pursuing a planned career path (.368**) proved more influential. Salary is still important but did not turn out to be among the decisive factors. This allows us to conclude that migration decisions of medical students have a very well-established basis that does not fundamentally change even under the influence of such dramatic situations as the pandemic. This conclusion has important implications for healthcare management and the ongoing discussion in migration studies on the evolution of push and pull factors in place and time.

Allostatic load and frailty do not covary significantly among older residents of Greater Poland.

BACKGROUND: Physiological dysregulation/allostatic load and the geriatric syndrome frailty increase with age. As a neurophysiological response system, allostasis supports survival by limiting stressor-related damage. Frailty reflects decreased strength, endurance, and physical abilities secondary to losses of muscle and bone with age. One suggestion, based on large cohort studies of person's ages 70 + years, is that frailty contributes to allostatic load at older ages. However, small community-based research has not confirmed this specific association. METHODS: To further explore possible associations between allostatic load and frailty, we enrolled 211 residents of Greater Poland aged 55-91 years living in a small village (Nekla, N = 104) and an urban center and capital of Greater Poland (Poznan, N = 107). For each, we recorded age, self-reported sex, and residence and estimated a 10-biomarker allostatic load score (ALS) and an 8-biomarker frailty index. We anticipated the following: higher ALS and frailty among men and rural residents; for frailty but not ALS to be higher at older ages; significant associations of ALS with sex and place of residence, but not with age or frailty. The significance of observed associations was evaluated by t-tests and multivariate regression. RESULTS: ALS did not vary significantly between men and women nor between Nekla and Poznan residents overall. However, women showed significantly higher frailty than men. Nekla men showed significantly higher ALS but not frailty, while Nekla women showed nonsignificantly higher ALS and lower frailty than Poznan. In multivariate analyses, neither age, nor sex, nor residence was associated with ALS. Conversely, age, sex, and residence, but not ALS, are associated significantly with frailty. In Nekla, both age and sex, but in Poznan only age, are associated with ALS. Among women, both age and residence, but among men, neither associated with ALS. In no case did ALS associate significantly with frailty. CONCLUSION: In this sample, lifestyle factors associated with residence, age, and sex influence stress-related physiology, less so in women, while ALS and frailty do not covary, suggesting their underlying promoters are distinct. Similar complex associations of physiological dysregulation with frailty, age, sex, and residence likely exist within many local settings. Knowledge of this variation likely will aid in supporting health and healthcare services among seniors.

Association between symptoms of depression and inflammatory parameters in people aged over 90 years.

BACKGROUND: Old age is a period of life that presents many health and social challenges, resulting in a greater vulnerability to the development of mental disorders, including depression. There has been a growing interest in the relationship between depression and inflammatory factors, because of its potential clinical and therapeutic implications. Inflammatory processes, which were originally understood as a response to infection and trauma, appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression in the elderly. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the severity of depressive disorders and inflammatory parameters in people over 90 years of age. METHODS: The study was conducted in Poland in 2017. The study population consisted of long-lived individuals, both living at home and staying in residential care homes. The participants were 90 people of both sexes (69 women and 21 men), aged between 90 and 103 years (mean = 92.36; SD = 2.98). The study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method with a questionnaire technique. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to carry out the analysis. The levels of selected inflammatory factors were determined using relevant laboratory tests. RESULTS: In the study group, the highest percentage of people had symptoms of moderate depression (n = 36;40%), followed by those without depression (n = 35;38.9%). There was a weak negative correlation between GDS scores and fibrinogen levels (p ≤ 0.05). The logistic regression model showed no significant relationship between inflammatory parameters and the development of depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory parameters do not appear to predict the development of depressive disorders in people over 90 years of age.

Measuring Pathological and Nonpathological Orthorexic Behavior: Validation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) among Polish Adults.

Measuring orthorexia nervosa is challenging due to the use of various existing tools and problems with sample representativeness. Another challenge for the Polish population is the adaptation of existing research tools and the evaluation of their relevance and research reliability. Our research aimed to adapt the TOS to the Polish language and measure pathological and nonpathological orthorexic behavior among the Polish population. The adaptation of the PL-TOS has high psychometric value and allows us to assess healthy and nervous orthorexia levels. This scale can be used not only for further research but also for diagnostic purposes in the daily work of clinicians and psychologists. Our results obtained in the present study indicate a correlation between TOS and both the use of supplements and diet. Higher TOS, ORTO_R and KZZJ_Diet Restrictions scores were obtained for individuals using dietary supplements than for those not using dietary supplements. In the future, it is worth conducting research aimed at various risk groups of individuals with orthorexia to confirm the psychometric properties of this adaptation of the TOS.

Ceratophyllum demersum the submerged macrophyte from the mining subsidence reservoir Nadrybie Poland as a source of anticancer agents.

Aquatic plants are a rich source of health-beneficial substances. One of such organisms is the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum, which has not been sufficiently studied in this aspect so far. In this work, we have studied environmental conditions prevailing in a subsidence mining reservoir in Eastern Poland and shown that C. demersum can be harvested for further analysis even from artificial anthropogenic reservoirs. The phytochemical analysis of C. demersum ethanolic extract using LC-MS revealed high content of phenolic compounds (18.50 mg/g) (mainly flavonoids, 16.09 mg/g), including those that have not yet been identified in this plant, namely isorhamnetin, sakuranetin, taxifolin, and eriodictyol. Such rich flavonoid content is most likely responsible for the anticancer activity of the C. demersum extract, which was targeted especially at neoplastic cells of gastrointestinal tract origin. The flow cytometry analysis of treated cells showed an increased percentage of late apoptotic and necrotic cells. The fish embryo toxicity (FET) test showed safety of the extract towards Danio rerio fish up to the concentration of 225 µg/ml. This study has shown that the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum can be taken into consideration as a rich source of a set of anticancer agents with chemopreventive potential.

Determinants of Fish Intake and Complying with Fish Consumption Recommendations-A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study among Secondary School Students in Poland.

Fish intake in youth is commonly inadequate with several potential determinants. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the influence of potential fish intake determinants in a nationwide sample of Polish youth. Associations between the participants' fish intake and their gender, age, body mass index, place of residence (region and size of locality), school type, nutritional knowledge about fish, and their parents'/legal guardians' fish intake were assessed. A total sample of 1317 adolescents (870 female, 447 male) aged 14-22 from 32 secondary schools from all regions of Poland participated in the study. Median fish intake among the youth was 34.9 g/week. The recommendation to consume at least 300 g of fish/week was followed by 6% of participants. Fish intake was determined by gender and the type of school, with males and comprehensive high school students consuming more fish, but it was not determined by the region or size of the locality of residence and age group, nor did the body mass index determine fish intake. Participants' fish intake was positively associated with their nutritional knowledge about fish, as well as with their parents'/legal guardians' fish intake. Most youths do not follow the recommendation to consume at least 300 g of fish weekly; hence, nutritional education on the recommendations and the benefits of fish consumption is necessary.