Relation between polyphenols, malondialdehyde, antioxidant capacity, lactate dehydrogenase and toxic elements in human colostrum milk.

The present study investigated the interrelationships between the concentration of total polyphenols (TP), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and content of toxic elements (Al, As, Cd, Ni, Pb) in human colostrum milk (n = 75), and further assessed their potential association with maternal lifestyle characteristics. As and Cd were always below detection limits while Al, Ni and Pb were found at the level of 89.7, 6.2 and 1.3 µg L-1, respectively. Concentrations of TP and MDA, in the studied group were 46.91 ± 21.25 mg GAE L-1 and 0.66 ± 0.27 nmol mL-1, respectively, and were inversely correlated (Rs = -0.32; p < 0.01). TP and TAC increased significantly with maternal consumption of vegetables (Rs = 0.25 and Rs = 0.37, respectively; p < 0.05). Concentration of Al was positively correlated with MDA (Rs = 0.21; p < 0.01) and negatively with TP (Rs = -0.28; p < 0.01). Positive correlation was also found between Pb and MDA (Rs = 0.32; p < 0.01). No association with place of living (urban/rural), women's age and former smoking were found for any studied milk parameter. The results add to the general understanding of factors influencing redox balance in milk and potentially affecting its quality.

Rare-earth elements in human colostrum milk.

Rare-earth elements (REEs) are used in a growing number of applications, and their release to environment has increased over the decades. Knowledge of REEs in human milk and factors that could possibly influence their concentration is scarce. This study evaluated the concentrations of 16 REEs (Ce, Eu, Er, Gd, La, Nd, Pr, Sc, Sm, Dy, Ho, Lu, Tb, Tm, Y, and Yb) in human colostrum milk collected from Polish women (n = 100) with the ICP-OES technique. The concentrations (mean ± SD) of Pr (41.9 ± 13.2 µg L-1), Nd (11.0 ± 4.0 µg L-1), La (7.1 ± 5.2 µg L-1), and Er (2.2 ± 0.8 µg L-1) were found above detection limits. The total mean ± SD concentration of detected REEs was 60.9 ± 17.8 µg L-1. Current smokers displayed significantly increased Nd concentrations compared to women who had never smoked. No other associations between REEs in colostrum milk and age, diet in pregnancy (food supplement use and frequency of fish, meat, and vegetable consumption) or place of living (urban/rural) were found. This study adds to general understanding of the occurrence and turnover of REEs in women and human fluids.

The influence of passive and active moral training on medical university on changes of students' moral competence index - results from randomized single blinded trial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Human's life as well as medical professions consist of many moral dilemmas. The aim of our study was to evaluate moral competences of midwifery students during their whole university education (3 year course) based on their moral competences C-index. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed randomized single blinded 3-year follow-up trial of 72 midwifery students. Standard Moral Judgment Test (MJT) By Georg Lind was used accompanied by own questionnaire. Moral competences were calculated (C-index) according to Lind's methodology. Subjects were also divided into active and passive ethics training to search for differences. RESULTS: C-index varied during studies insignificant (p=0.14). Randomized groups were equal at the beginning point, no significant differences were noticed. Active ethics teaching did not increase C-index compared to controls in all measuring points (P1-P4, respectively p=0,41 and p=0,38). CONCLUSIONS: During 3 year studies at medical university moral competences measured by C-index varied insignificantly, but simultaneously the change in C-index was dependent on its value at the beginning of the trial. There was not statistically significant influence of active ethic's teaching compared to controls. Among social factors parents have strongest influence on students' morality, but growing role of Medical University in this hierarchy raises hopes for improvement in effectiveness of training in ethics.

Evaluation of internet use in university education by midwifery students.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of the medical Internet by midwifery students with analysis of influencing factors and students' preferences. A prospective cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out with 180 midwifery students. The response rate was 83.8%, 82% use the Internet, and 79.3% use the medical resources in their education. The mean accession to the Web is 5.3 +/- 8.4 times per month. The mean evaluation of information resources for books, journals, conferences and university courses was 6.6 +/- 3.2, 4.8 +/- 3.1, 2.7 +/- 3.0, and 6.8 +/- 3.8, respectively, as measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (p < 0.001). Age did not correlate with Internet use and its evaluation but correlated with a self-evaluation of Internet skills as a user (Rs = -0.20, p = 0.016). The evaluation of the Internet as a source of medical knowledge correlated with self-evaluation of medical search skills (Rs = 0.66, p < 0.001) and user skills (Rs = 0.61, p < 0.001). The medical Internet is used by the majority of midwifery students, but it is still a secondary source of information, after university training and medical books. The higher evaluation of Internet correlated with general computer skills and medical search skills, which suggests the need for education on Internet use by students.