The effect of endocrine disruptors on the reproductive system - current knowledge.

OBJECTIVE: Chemicals that disrupt the endocrine homeostasis of the human body, otherwise known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs), are found in the blood, urine, amniotic fluid, or adipose tissue. This paper presents the current knowledge about EDCs and the reproductive system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article is an overview of the impact of EDCs and their mechanism of action, with particular emphasis on gonads, based on the information available on medical databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Google Scholar, EMBASE and Web of Science) until May 2021. RESULTS: EDCs occur in everyday life, e.g., they are components of adhesives, brake fluids, and flame retardants; they are used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic food boxes, pacifiers, medicines, cosmetics (bisphenol A, phthalates), hydraulic fluids, printing inks (polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs), receipts (bisphenol A, BSA) and raincoats (phthalates); they are also a component of polyvinyl products (e.g. toys) (phthalates), air fresheners and cleaning agents (phthalates); moreover, they can be found in the smoke from burning wood (dioxins), and in soil or plants (pesticides). EDCs are part of our diet and can be found in vegetables, fruits, green tea, chocolate and red wine (phytoestrogens). In addition to infertility, they can lead to premature puberty and even cause uterine and ovarian cancer. However, in men, they reduce testosterone levels, reduce the quality of sperm, and cause benign testicular tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, this article submits that EDCs negatively affect our health, disrupting the functioning of the endocrine system, and particularly affecting the functioning of the gonads.

Effect of lithium carbonate on the function of the thyroid gland: mechanism of action and clinical implications.

Lithium carbonate, a drug known for more than 100 years, has been successfully used as a psychiatric medication. Currently, it is a commonly used drug to treat patients with unipolar and bipolar depression, and for the prophylaxis of bipolar disorders and acute mania. Lithium salts may cause the development of goiter, hypothyroidism, or rarely hyperthyroidism. The present review examined the current state of knowledge on the effect of lithium carbonate on the thyroid gland. The Pubmed database and Google Scholar were searched for articles related to the effects of lithium therapy on the thyroid gland function published up to February 2020. Studies that examined the mechanism of action of lithium at the molecular level, including pharmacokinetics, and focused on its effects on the thyroid gland were included. Lithium as a mood-stabilizing drug has a complex mechanism of action. Because of the active transport of Na+/I- ions, lithium, despite its concentration gradient, is accumulated in the thyroid gland at a concentration 3 - 4 times higher than that in the plasma. It can inhibit the formation of colloid in thyrocytes, change the structure of thyroglobulin, weaken the iodination of tyrosines, and disrupt their coupling. In addition, it reduces the clearance of free thyroxine in the serum, thereby indirectly reducing the activity of 5-deiodinase type 1 and 2 and reducing the deiodination of these hormones in the liver. Taken together, this review provides recommendations for monitoring the thyroid gland in patients who require long-term lithium therapy. Prior to the initiation of lithium therapy, thyroid ultrasound should be performed, and the levels of thyroid hormones (fT3 and fT4), TSH, and antithyroid peroxidase and antithyroglobulin antibodies should be measured. If the patient shows normal thyroid function, TSH level measurement and thyroid ultrasound should be performed at 6- to 12-month intervals for long term.

The influence of selected factors on the quality of life of children with headaches.

PURPOSE: Headaches are one of frequent complaints diagnosed in children and adolescents. Due to their recurring character, they influence the bio-psycho-social functioning of the children. The aim of the study was to learn about the factors influencing the quality of life of children with headaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted on 140 children with headaches, ages 8 to 18, treated at the Chair and Department of Developmental Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan. The research tool was the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - PedsQL questionnaire. RESULTS: In the studied group 85 (60.7%) children had tension headaches, 25 (17.8%) had migraine with aura and 30 (21.5%) had migraine without aura. Analyzing the particular domains of the quality of life from the PedsQL questionnaire, significant differences were noticed in the evaluation of the domain "physical functioning", depending on gender, age and the duration of pain, and in the domain "emotional functioning" depending on gender. The duration of pain additionally influenced the evaluation of their social functioning by the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in the evaluation of the quality of life depended on the gender and the age of the children, the duration of headaches and the severity of pain. The indicated factors influenced different domains of the quality of life of the adolescents participating in the study.