SARS-CoV-2 IgG Amongst Dental Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 2019, special safety protocols have been introduced in dentistry. Dental professionals were determined to be mostly at risk for contracting the virus due to aerosol-generating procedures used. This preliminary study starts the cycle of the laboratory protocols describing the quality and efficacy of laboratory tests in the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection in the serum of asymptomatic dental personnel during the last quarter of 2020. METHODS: IgG levels were measured with the use of a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitro diagnostic kit in the serum of a study group that consisted of 127 employees of the dental clinic divided into 3 subgroups: SUB1: dentists (n = 67); SUB2: dental assistants, dental hygienists, nurses, laboratory workers (n = 40); SUB3: administrative workers (n = 20). Pearson analysis of results from the questionnaires attached to the study protocol were provided to assure that the results compare to the participants' impressions about their general health. RESULTS: Positive ELISA IgG results were found in 6% (n = 4) of the SUB1 group, 7.50% (n =3) of the SUB2 group, and 5% of the SUB3 group. The percentage of participants without work interruption from the beginning of the pandemic was 54% of dentists and 60% of chairside assistants. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IgG prevalence with the use of a semi-quantitative test was low, and further research on the biobanked samples should follow to determine the levels of IgG with quantitative methods and/or to evaluate the presence of neutralising antibodies in dental personnel. Because of the low representation of seropositivity studies in this group, it will be crucial to confirm the risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental offices.

Anticoagulation Prior to COVID-19 Infection Has No Impact on 6 Months Mortality: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) shows high incidence of thromboembolic events in humans. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate if anticoagulation prior to COVID-19 infection may impact clinical profile, as well as mortality rate among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The study was based on retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. After propensity score matching (PSM), a group of 236 patients receiving any anticoagulant treatment prior to COVID-19 infection (AT group) was compared to 236 patients without previous anticoagulation (no AT group). In 180 days, the observation we noted comparable mortality rate in AT and no AT groups (38.5% vs. 41.1%, p = 0.51). Similarly, we did not observe any statistically significant differences in admission in the intensive care unit (14.1% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.20), intubation and mechanical ventilation (15.0% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.38), catecholamines usage (14.3% vs. 13.8%, p = 0.86), and bleeding rate (6.3% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.37) in both groups. Our results suggest that antithrombotic treatment prior to COVID-19 infection is unlikely to be protective for morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

History of Heart Failure in Patients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19: Relevant Factor of In-Hospital Complications and All-Cause Mortality up to Six Months.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF) are at high risk of unfavorable courses of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with HF. METHODS: Data of patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Poland between March 2020 and May 2021 with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed. The study population was divided into a HF group (patients with a history of HF) and a non-HF group. RESULTS: Out of 2184 patients (65 ± 13 years old, 50% male), 12% had a history of HF. Patients from the HF group were older, more often males, had more comorbidities, more often dyspnea, pulmonary and peripheral congestion, inflammation, and end-organ damage biomarkers. HF patients had longer and more complicated hospital stay, with more frequent acute HF development as compared with non-HF. They had significantly higher mortality assessed in hospital (35% vs. 12%) at three (53% vs. 22%) and six months (72% vs. 47%). Of 76 (4%) patients who developed acute HF, 71% died during hospitalization, 79% at three, and 87% at six months. CONCLUSIONS: The history of HF identifies patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of in-hospital complications and mortality up to six months of follow-up.

The association between serum uric acid and features of metabolic disturbances in young adults.

INTRODUCTION: The increase in the number of people affected by different metabolic disturbances, especially among young people, is alarming. It seems worthwhile to reappraise the usefulness of commonly used laboratory parameters potentially associated with metabolic and metabolically obese normal weight syndrome. Serum uric acid may be considered as an indicator and/or a predictor of metabolic disorders. We evaluated serum uric acid concentration in relation to metabolic syndrome, as well as metabolically obese normal weight features, and examined its usefulness in improving metabolic and metabolically obese normal weight syndrome diagnosis in young people. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 349 apparently healthy people, aged 18-31, features of metabolic and metabolically obese normal weight syndrome and serum uric acid concentration were examined under fasting conditions. RESULTS: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased in uric acid quartiles, while the percentage of metabolically obese normal weight syndrome was at a similar level in all uric acid quartiles. A relationship between uric acid concentration and features of metabolic disorders in quartile and correlation analysis was revealed. Data mining techniques did not indicate the usefulness of uric acid for distinguishing people with metabolic syndrome from those with metabolically obese normal weight syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that in young people an increase in uric acid levels is more closely related to metabolic syndrome features than insulin resistance. Serum uric acid concentration could not be recommended as an independent, strong marker of metabolic or metabolically obese normal weight syndrome occurrence in young people, but finding its elevated concentration should be an indicator for screening for other disturbances associated with metabolic syndrome.

The improvement of cognitive deficits after whole-body cryotherapy - A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) - a repetitive, short-term exposure to extremely low temperatures - may become an effective early intervention for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It is a heterogeneous group of symptoms associated with cognitive dysfunction which is estimated to transform into dementia in 50% cases. STUDY DESIGN: The prospective randomised double-blind sham-controlled study aimed to determine the efficacy of WBC on cognitive functioning and biological mechanisms. The study was registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001627145). METHODS: Participants with MCI (n = 62; (2026) were randomly allocated to cryogenic temperatures (-110 °C till -160 °C) (EG, n = 33) or placebo-controlled group (CG, n = 29). Cognitive functions were measured at baseline (T1), after the 10th WBC session (T2) and after 2 week-break (T3) with DemTect, SLUMS and Test Your Memory (TYM). Secondary outcome measures included quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF), self-reported well-being (VAS) and depressive symptoms (GDS). Whole blood samples (10 ml) were collected at T1 and T2 to evaluate levels of cytokines, neurotrophins, NO and biochemical parameters CRP total cholesterol, prolactin). RESULTS: There were significant differences between groups measured at T2 in immediate recall (DemTect) and in orientation (TYM) in favour of WBC group. Improvement in mood was detected in self-reported depressive symptoms level (WHOQoL-26; T2 p = 0.04; VAS mood T2 p = 0.02; T3 p = 0.07). The significant reduction of BDNF level was observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: WBC may increase the performance of cognitive functions. It seems promising to combine WBC with existing behavioural and cognitive trainings in the future studies investigating early interventions methods in MCI.

Association of Dietary Inflammatory Index with Serum IL-6, IL-10, and CRP Concentration during Pregnancy.

Background: The mother's diet has a direct impact on fetal development and pregnancy, and can also be important in the course of the body's inflammatory response. An anti-inflammatory diet can be a promising way to counter an excessive inflammatory response in pregnancy. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the pregnant women's serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in the course of normal and complicated pregnancy. Research Methods and Procedures: The study included 45 Polish pregnant women recruited to the study. The DII, a literature-based dietary index to assess the inflammatory properties of diet, was estimated based on a seven-day 24-h recall and an food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in each trimester of pregnancy. At the same time as the nutritional interviews, blood samples were collected for the determination of IL-6, IL-10, and CRP concentrations. The studied group was divided into subgroups with normal and complicated pregnancy and depending on the DII median. Results: With the development of pregnancy, the DII score slightly decreased in subsequent trimesters: -1.78 in the first trimester, -2.43 in the second trimester, and -2.71 in the third trimester (p = 0.092). Independent of the trimester of pregnancy and the occurrence of pregnancy complications, the DII score did not affect the differences in the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, and CRP, with the exception of CRP level in the second trimester in women with complicated pregnancy (subgroup with DII < median had a lower CRP level than subgroup with DII > median). In the first and third trimesters, there was a weak but significant positive correlation between the DII score and CRP concentration. During the second trimester, in the group with normal pregnancy and DII below the median, a significant negative correlation between the DII score and the serum IL-6 and IL-10 concentration was noted as well as in the third trimester for IL-6. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory potential of a pregnant woman's diet increases slightly with pregnancy development; however, its value has no permanent significant association with the level of CRP, IL-6, and IL-10.

Assessment of Appetite-Regulating Hormones Provides Further Evidence of Altered Adipoinsular Axis in Early Psychosis.

It has been found that antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) present with impaired hormonal regulation of appetite in terms of low leptin and high insulin levels (the adipoinsular axis). These findings imply that certain intrinsic mechanisms might play a role in the development of metabolic dysregulation in early psychosis. However, clinical correlates of this phenomenon remain unknown. Moreover, these alterations have not been tested in individuals at familial high risk of psychosis (FHR-P). In this study we aimed to assess the levels of adiponectin, insulin, leptin, glucose, total cholesterol, lipoproteins and triglycerides in FEP patients, unaffected offspring of schizophrenia patients (FHR-P individuals) and healthy controls (HCs) with respect to cognitive performance and psychopathological manifestation. Participants were 35 FEP patients, 33 FHR-P individuals, and 32 HCs. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The levels of leptin and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) were significantly lower (leptin: 10.7 ± 15.7 vs. 12.6 ± 10.1, p = 0.046, and HDL: 48.0 ± 16.9 vs. 59.8 ± 17.5 mg/dl, p = 0.007), while the levels of triglycerides and insulin were significantly higher (triglycerides: 137.4 ± 58.8 vs. 77.5 ± 33.2 mg/dl, p < 0.001, and insulin: 15.2 ± 13.1 vs. 9.6 ± 5.0 µIU/ml, p = 0.023) in FEP patients compared to HCs. These differences were significant after controlling for the effects of potential confounding factors. No significant differences in the levels of serum markers between FHR-P individuals and HCs were found. There was a significant negative correlation between the level of leptin and the RBANS language score after covarying for potential confounding factors in FEP patients (B = -0.226, p = 0.006) but not in other subgroups of participants. Our findings confirm impairment of adipoinsular axis in early psychosis. However, results of our study do not support the hypothesis that familial liability to psychosis might be associated with metabolic dysregulation. Leptin levels might be associated with cognitive deficits in FEP patients. Longitudinal studies of individuals at risk of psychosis are needed to provide insights into causal mechanisms underlying our results.

Efficacy of the Whole-Body Cryotherapy as Add-on Therapy to Pharmacological Treatment of Depression-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Accumulating evidence indicates the effectiveness of cryogenic temperature interventions in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and chronic low back pain. The application of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) in psychiatric aspects of medicine was also noted. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms explaining the beneficial effect of WBC on mood disorders remain unclear. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of repetitive short exposure to extremely low temperatures (WBC) on mood, quality of life as well as on biochemical measures among people diagnosed with depressive episode undergoing pharmacological treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized, double-blind sham-controlled protocol was used. The study enrolled 92 medically stable adults (aged 20-73 years) with a diagnosis of a depressive episode. The participants were randomly allocated and exposed to 10 whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) sessions (-110°C till -160°C [the experimental group (EG)] or to low, but not cryogenic temperatures -50°C [the control group (CG)]. Thirty participants in the EG and 26 in CG completed the whole study. The primary outcome measures were depressive symptoms evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as well as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 17). The quality of life, quality of sexual life, acceptance of the disease and self-reported mood, vitality, and sleep quality were assessed as secondary outcome measures. The study was registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001600134). RESULTS: The results show evidence for a statistically significant difference in the clinical assessment of depressive symptoms according to HAM-D 17 scale (T4 by group interaction p=0.02), BDI-II (T2 time by group interaction p=0.01), cognitive-affective BDI dimension (T4 by group interaction p=0.00), and somatic BDI dimension (T4 by group interaction p=0.028). Significant improvement was also noticed in life quality (p < 0.05), self-assessed mood (p=0.035), and disease acceptance (p=0.007). There were no statistically significant changes related to sexual satisfaction, self-assessed vitality, and sleep (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body cryotherapy is a useful method to improve standard pharmacological treatment. The WBC intervention reduces mental health deterioration, especially in mood disorders, such as depression, and can be beneficial for well-being and quality of life.

Estimation of reference intervals of insulin resistance (HOMA), insulin sensitivity (Matsuda), and insulin secretion sensitivity indices (ISSI-2) in Polish young people.

INTRODUCTION: Insulin resistance is becoming an increasingly widespread problem worldwide. For its determination indirect indices of insulin resistance or insulin sensitivity have used. Those indices based on simultaneous measurements of blood glucose and insulin concentrations under fasting conditions or during the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to estimate reliable reference values for the indices used in insulin resistance diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Materials and method. 191 selected participants, aged 18-31, were enrolled into the reference population. 130 participants from the reference population with fasting glucose ≤5.5 mmol/L, BMI<25 kg/m2, and without metabolic syndrome, were finally included in the reference group. The following insulin resistance indices were calculated: HOMA1-IR, HOMA2, HOMA2 from C-peptide, QUICKI, Matsuda Index and Insulin Secretion-Sensitive Index-2. Determination of reference intervals for indirect indices of insulin resistance was conducted in accordance with the C28-A3 procedure recommended by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). RESULTS: Results. The reference intervals for indirect insulin resistance indices examined according to CLSI protocol were: ≤4.00, ≤2.27, ≤4.10, ≥0.31 for HOMA1-IR, HOMA2, HOMA2 C-pep., and QUICKI, respectively. For insulin sensitivity, the value of the Matsuda Index was established as ≥3.19 and for beta cell pancreatic function ISSI-2 as ≥206. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions. Establishing a reference intervals for these indices enable the proper identification and differentiation of the types of insulin resistance in particular populations. The early detection of metabolic disorders allows for introduction of effective preventive action.

Assessment of Changes in Concentration of Total Antioxidant Status, Acute-Phase Protein, and Prolactin in Patients with Osteoarthritis Subjected to a Complex Spa Treatment with Radon Water: Preliminary Results.

Spa treatment brings many clinical benefits such as improved physical activity, pain relief, and improved quality of life. In the literature, there are only few objective studies evaluating changes in metabolism possibly influencing clinical outcomes. The main purpose of our study was the assessment of the effect of spa treatment on changes in concentration of TAS, CRP, and PRL in patients with osteoarthritis. Patients receiving spa treatment were enrolled. TAS, CRP, and PRL levels were obtained using standard tests before the beginning of treatment as well as on days 5 and 18. The study group consisted of n = 35 patients with peripheral joint and spinal osteoarthritis. The control group consisted of 15 people selected from the resort staff, who also suffered from osteoarthritis and had no contact with radon. An increase in TAS concentration was found in the study group following therapy while the control group was characterized by a significant decrease in TAS. On day 5, an increase in TAS concentration was found in both groups, however, with much worse result in the control group. No changes in CRP concentration were statistically significant. PRL concentration was proven to decrease in a statistically significant way after treatment in the study group. This trial is registered with NCT03274128.

The Influence of Serum Sample Storage Conditions on Selected Laboratory Parameters Related to Oxidative Stress: A Preliminary Study.

The present work aims at accessing the stability of biological material stored for diagnostic and scientific purposes. The influence of the temperature, storage time, and cyclic thawing on concentration stability of selected oxidative stress parameters in human serum was investigated. The study group consisted of 20 serum samples collected from healthy volunteers aged 18-52. The parameters whose reference ranges were not determined and to which validated determination methods did not correspond were examined by manual methods (FRAP and AOPP). Automatic methods were used to determine routine laboratory tests (albumin, total protein, bilirubin, uric acid) using the Konelab 20i® analyzer. The samples were stored at various temperatures (room temperature, 4 °C, -20 °C, -80 °C) for max 6 months and were subjected to cyclic thawing at 1 month intervals. In order to check whether any differences between the concentrations of the studied parameters existed when the samples were stored in various conditions, the paired Student t-test or Wilcoxon test and comparison to desirable bias were applied. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the temperature and time of serum sample storage significantly affected the stability of the analyzed parameters and determined different shelf lives of serum samples for oxidative stress examination. Therefore, continuing the investigation concerning the impact of storage conditions on various serum parameters seems justified due to the discrepancy between the individual results obtained by different researchers and the inconsistencies between the results of scientific research and the applicable recommendations.

Preliminary Study on Selected Markers of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Patients with Bladder Cancer.

In recent years, bladder cancer (BC) has been reported as one of the most commonly occurring cancers among older people, and its detection is still difficult. Therefore, there is a need to search for additional useful markers of disease. Some studies indicate the important roles of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in bladder tumour pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of selected markers of OS, inflammation and angiogenesis in blood plasma/serum samples derived from patients with BC, and a healthy control group. Moreover the degrees of change and strength of correlation between values of the analysed markers and tumour stage or grade were estimated. Concentrations of: malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and total antioxidant status (TAS) divided into slow (TAS-s) and fast (TAS-f) antioxidants (spectrophotometric measurement), angiogenin (ANG) (immunoenzymatic method) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (immunoturbidimetric method) were determined in both the studied groups. The majority of values of the examined parameters were significantly higher among patients, while subfractions of TAS were significantly lower in comparison to the control group. Moreover, different values and different strengths of correlation between the examined parameters and cancer stage or grade were noticed. The most significant changes for CRP were observed in T2 and for MDA in G3, while the lowest TAS-f activity was revealed in G1 patients. Increased values of OS parameters, angiogenesis and inflammation markers, in combination with reduced TAS subfractions activity in BC are important in its pathogenesis and will be helpful in estimation of patients' condition.

Parameters of Oxidative and Inflammatory Status in a Three-Month Observation of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Coronary Angioplasty-A Preliminary Study.

Background and Objectives: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) are usually treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), which is burdened with a risk of postoperative complications, often accompanied by biochemical disturbances. The aim of our study was to evaluate a set of selected parameters of oxidative and inflammatory status, which could be useful in the management of post-procedural care in MI patients after PTCA. Materials and Methods: In this preliminary study, ischemia modified albumin (IMA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), thiol groups (SH), total antioxidant status (TAS), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), presepsin (PSP), and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) were chosen as candidate biomarkers, and were determined in patients with MI who underwent PTCA at two time points: During cardiac episodes (at admission to the hospital, T0) and 3 months later (T3). Results: Most of the examined parameters were significantly different between patients and control subjects (except for IMA and TAS), but only hsCRP changed significantly during the time of observation (T0 vs. T3). Discriminant analysis created a model composed of AOPP, hsCRP, PSP, and TMAO, which differentiated male subjects into a group with MI and a control (without cardiovascular diseases). Conclusion: This set of parameters seems useful in evaluating inflammatory and oxidative status in MI patients after PTCA.

Indirect insulin resistance detection: Current clinical trends and laboratory limitations.

There is a steady increase in the number of overweight and obese people worldwide and increasingly, younger people. Excess adipose tissue impairs the action of insulin, leading to insulin resistance (IR). Tissue IR is a major factor in relation to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Thus, it is important to recognize at the pre-disease stage with the possibility of therapeutic intervention. IR is assessed using indicators of epidemiological significance, most often calculated from fasting and postprandial glucose and insulin values, so-called indirect indicators of insulin resistance. The most commonly used parameter is the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA). Although the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), Matsuda Index and the Insulin Secretion-Sensitivity Index-2 (ISSI-2) are also used, the values of these indices established for IR vary for different age, sex, populations and ethnic groups. Thus, appropriate reference values of indirect indices should be determined for such groups, and when this is precluded, data from published studies carried out on the most ethnically, socio-economically and age-matched populations should be applied.

Whole-body cryotherapy - promising add-on treatment of depressive disorders. / Krioterapia ogólnoustrojowa ­ obiecujaca forma potencjalizacji leczenia zaburzen depresyjnych.

OBJECTIVES: New, effective biological interventions for treatment of depressive episodes and recurrent depression are still needed. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), which is a treatment using cryogenic temperature, is a novel therapeutic modality in neurology and rheumatology. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of WBC as an add-on treatment for depressive episode. METHODS: 30 adults diagnosed with depressive episode were recruited to an observational, prospective study. 21 participants (17 women, 81%), mean age 46.1 (±16.7), completed the whole study procedure. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Additionally, quality of life and anhedonia were assessed with the WHOQoL-BREF and the SHAPS. Participants undertook 10, 2-minute (from - 110 C to - 135 degrees C) WBC sessions within two weeks. RESULTS: Patients after WBC sessions showed significant improvement in the form of a reduction in total scores in scales assessing depressive symptoms: the HDRS (p< 0.00001) between T1 (16.94±4.3) and T4 (4.50±4.2) and the BDI-II (T1: 13.48±4.6; T4: 6.14±6.7, p<0.03), lower anhedonialevelon SHAPS (p =0.011) and higher quality of lifein thefollowing domains: physical health (p =0.024), psychological health (p =0.016) and environmental domain (p =0.003). Pre/post comparison of self-report well-being measured by the VAS scale showed a significant increase (p< 0.00001). It was shown that WBC have no effect on the level of cytokines, NO, hsCRP, ESR and TAS in blood (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: WBC proved to be an effective, safe, and tolerable add-on intervention in patients with depressive episode. Further randomized controlled trials should be conducted.

[Erythropoietin and blood loss in selected orthopedic procedures]. / Erytropoetyna a utrata krwi w wybranych zabiegach ortopedycznych.

Orthopedic surgical procedures, especially in the lower limbs, are associated with a high risk of massive bleeding and, consequently, the development of anemia and the need for blood transfusions and its preparations. This creates the need to look for effective methods of prevention and treatment of anemia that will be safe for the patient and reduce the cost of treatment. One of the most common methods of limiting the allogenic blood usage in orthopedic procedures is the use of autologus transfusions. In addition to many benefits, they may contribute to the patient's anemia, which is a serious health problem in the post-operative period. Analyzed data from the literature indicate that the use of recombinant human erythropoietin significantly reduces the need for blood transfusion in the perioperative period and may reduce the cost of treatment.

The assessment of the integrated antioxidant system of the body and the phenomenon of spa reaction in the course of radon therapy: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Spa reaction is an adaptive response of an organism, emerging as a result of external factors. It is a positive element of spa therapy leading to metabolic changes, which are important for the body. The effect of these changes is an increase in immune activity and regenerative reactions of the body. The mechanism of the response is not fully known. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes observed in the field of the integrated antioxidant system of the body in the course of radon therapy, especially in reference to spa reaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the health resort in Swieradów-Zdrój. The observation regarded patients undergoing treatment with radon water. Before the treatment, after 5 and 18 days of treatment, the total antioxidant status (TAS) was evaluated with the use of a standard colorimetric assay. The study group consisted of 35 patients with degenerative joints and disc disease. The control group consisted of 15 people selected from the employees of the spa, also suffering from osteoarthritis, who did not undergo radon therapy (without contact with radon). RESULTS: On the 5th day of the treatment, in both groups, the TAS increase was observed with significantly worse results in the control group. After the treatment, in the study group, there was observed an increase in TAS, whereas in the control group, a significant decrease in the TAS concentration was noted. CONCLUSIONS: A beneficial effect of radon treatments on the growth of TAS in the body of the patients treated in the spa was demonstrated. The increase in the TAS concentration on the 5th day of treatment may indicate the relationship between these changes and the phenomenon of spa response. The changes are a result of low doses of ionizing radiation originating from radon dissolved in medicinal water, used in the course of the therapy.

Estimation of metabolic factors related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in young people.

Civilizational developments occurring during recent decades have resulted in an increased incidence of a variety of metabolic disorders related to insulin resistance in younger people. The determination of decision limits for insulin resistance indices, especially among young people, is a significant challenge in clinical practice. The aim of this study was the estimation of metabolic factors related to their relationship to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (MS) features in young, apparently healthy people. Moreover, we evaluated the optimal decision limits for patients with MS identification for HOMA1-IR, HOMA2-IR, HOMA2 obtained from C-peptide concentrations. 349 apparently healthy people aged 18-31 (260 women and 89 men), were enrolled in this study. The present analysis of metabolic, anthropometric and clinical parameters observed them in clusters covering the criteria of MS recognition, but MS in this group was only partially related to insulin resistance. The HOMA1-IR decision limit estimation is likely to became be useful in the prognostication of metabolic disturbances in young, apparently healthy people. A measure of insulin resistance that can provide a reliable early prediction of MS is likely to provide an opportunity for instigating preventive measures of significant clinical utility.

The Assessment of the Integrated Antioxidant System of the Body in the Course of Radon Therapy: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: The sources of Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS) in the organism are the respiratory processes occurring in cells catalyzed by different enzymes. Operation of ROS is balanced by antioxidants, the compounds; although present in low concentrations, they significantly inhibit the degree of oxidation of particular molecules. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the integrated antioxidant system under the influence of radon therapy in osteoarthritis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observation included 35 patients suffering from degenerative joints and disc disease (mean age 56.5 years) undergoing radon water therapy and control group that consisted of 15 osteoarthritis patients (mean age 54.2) without contact with radon water. Before therapy and after 18 days of treatment, serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was assessed with the use of standard colorimetric assay. RESULTS: In the study group, we observed trends to increase TAS concentration, whereas, in the control group, TAS concentration was decreasing. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Radon waters treatment influenced the level of TAS of osteoarthritis patients treated with the radon water. (2) The change in TAS concentrations in the study group may be the result of low doses of ionizing radiation, but further studies on larger patient's groups are demanded. This study is registered with number NCT03274128.