ABSTRACT
Psoriasis is a chronic, systematic, inflammatory disease in which multiple metabolic and immunologic disturbances lead to lipid abnormalities, impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and numerous metabolic disorders. In clinical practice, the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of lipid abnormalities are statins and fibrates. Statins are characterized by pleiotropic effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antiproliferative. They work by reducing the concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, and triglycerides and stabilizing atherosclerotic plaque. Fibrates are medications, which help to lower triglycerides, LDL, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and increase lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In recent years, many new drugs were found to normalize the lipid profile in patients with psoriasis: glitazones (pioglitazone, troglitazone), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Pioglitazone improves the lipid profile, including the decrease of triglycerides, fatty acids, and LDL, as well as the increase of HDL. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogs decrease modestly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, and triglycerides. The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of knowledge on the effect of different hypolipidemic treatments on the course of psoriasis. The study includes literature from medical databases PubMed and Google Scholar. We were browsing PubMed and Google Scholar until the beginning of December. The systematic review includes 41 eligible original articles.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) are serious public health problem, being acquired by more than 1 million people every day worldwide. OBJECTIVE: Assess the knowledge, attitudes, risky behaviors and preventive practices related to STIs among medical and non-medical faculties students from Bialystok. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2018 an original anonymous survey was carried among 168 subjects from medical and 142 from non-medical universities. They filled 37 questions: general and specific regarding STI. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square test, statistically significant difference was at p=0.05. RESULTS: In the group 80,6% were females and 19,4% males, with a mean age of 21,9 years. Over 73% were sexually active and almost half of them admitted risky sexual behavior in the past. Almost 16% have ever done an examination for STIs. HIV remains the best known STIs, while hepatitis B was known mainly among medical students. Three fourth students knew that STIs could be asymptomatic. Over half of the students knew that vaccinations against STIs were available and 88,6% of them heard about the HPV vaccine. There was statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the knowledge of diseases transferred sexually, causative agents, history of STI examination, vaccines against STIs. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all participants identified HIV as STIs. Unfortunately, knowledge about other STIs is still at lower level. Both groups have indicated the Internet as a source of knowledge about STIs and the need to acquire additional education about these diseases. To conclude, non-medical students have less awareness about STIs.
