COVID-19, Possible Hepatic Pathways and Alcohol Abuse-What Do We Know up to 2023?

The pandemic period due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) revolutionized all possible areas of global health. Significant consequences were also related to diverse extrapulmonary manifestations of this pathology. The liver was found to be a relatively common organ, beyond the respiratory tract, affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Multiple studies revealed the essential role of chronic liver disease (CLD) in the general outcome of coronavirus infection. Present concerns in this field are related to the direct hepatic consequences caused by COVID-19 and pre-existing liver disorders as risk factors for the severe course of the infection. Which mechanism has a key role in this phenomenon-previously existing hepatic disorder or acute liver failure due to SARS-CoV-2-is still not fully clarified. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) constitutes another not fully elucidated context of coronavirus infection. Should the toxic effects of ethanol or already developed liver cirrhosis and its consequences be perceived as a causative or triggering factor of hepatic impairment in COVID-19 patients? In the face of these discrepancies, we decided to summarize the role of the liver in the whole picture of coronavirus infection, paying special attention to ALD and focusing on the pathological pathways related to COVID-19, ethanol toxicity and liver cirrhosis.

The Impact of Education Level on Individual Lifestyle Behaviors among Dietetics Students and Professionals.

Lifestyle and habits are acquired in the family environment and then shaped by the potential influence of the environment and received education. In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding the relationship between sleep and dietary behaviors in various health professionals, including medical and dietetics professionals and students, as well as their self-perceived knowledge and attitudes. Despite the importance of this topic, there is a lack of research on the assessment of individual behaviors in dietetics students and professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of education level on individual behaviors regarding nutrition, sleep, and physical activity in dietetics students and professionals. 71 dietetics students and professionals were enrolled in this study. Their overall knowledge, sleep, and nutritional behavior were assessed with a validated Questionnaire of Eating Behaviors at the beginning of their dietetics university education and then prospectively after a year. It was also compared to dieticians who already graduated. The analysis showed that the educational level did not correlate with sleep length or the physical activity level. However, the educational level was correlated with dietary knowledge and properly self-assessed by the participants. Significant differences were observed in both the prospective and comparative analyses. The educational level and knowledge were not correlated with eating behaviors. The self-assessment of nutritional behaviors also did not correlate with the objective assessment. Sleep length did not correlate with BMI, but it was inversely correlated with overall and healthy diet scores and knowledge levels. On the other hand, physical activity levels were positively correlated with healthy diet scores. Dietary education results in better nutritional knowledge; however, it does not significantly impact individual nutritional behaviors among dietetics students and professionals. Moreover, the inverse relationship between sleep length and nutritional knowledge and behaviors, as well as the positive relationship between physical activity level and dietary behaviors, shows that nutritional aspects of lifestyle are probably prioritized among dietetic students and professionals, with an acknowledgment of the role of physical activity and a neglect of sleep hygiene importance. Dietetics students should be advised to use their theoretical knowledge not only to guide their patients but also to implement it in their own lives.

The Relationship between Knowledge, Dietary Supplementation, and Sleep Quality in Young Adults after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep is one of the most important factors affecting the quality of life. More than 50% of Polish adults have sleeping disorders, and young adults are the ones particularly vulnerable to this. This is why the analysis of the predictors of sleep quality, such as sleep hygiene knowledge and dietary knowledge, in young adults is a very important topic, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have affected sleeping habits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 402 young adults (mean age 28.12 ± 6.08 years old) were enrolled in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire, while dietary knowledge and sleep hygiene knowledge were assessed with dedicated questionnaires. The participants were also asked about the use of specific dietary supplements. RESULTS: The analysis showed that sleep hygiene knowledge was significantly associated with sleep length (R = -0.17, p = 0.003) and overall sleep quality (R = -0.17, p = 0.005), while dietary knowledge significantly correlated with time to fall asleep (R = -0.12, p = 0.026). The regression analysis revealed that sleep hygiene knowledge was a significant negative predictor of sleep quality impairment (ß = -0.13, p = 0.028). Significant results were also obtained for the use of supplements (ß = -0.20; p = 0.001) and the use of medications (ß = -0.32, p = 0.001), which were negative predictors of sleep quality impairment. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that increased sleep hygiene knowledge promoted improved sleep length and overall sleep quality. In addition, dietary knowledge significantly correlated with time to fall asleep. On the other hand, decreased sleep quality was observed in participants who used medications or dietary supplements.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Body Composition in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Nutritional status and body composition in cardiovascular (CV) patients are important aspects of their performance. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive method that provides reliable information about bioelectrical parameters which reflect nutritional status and body composition data. The aim of this paper was to describe BIA, its advantages, limitations, and clinical applications in CV patients. The PubMed database was searched for all papers showing the use of BIA in CV conditions until January 1, 2023. A total of 42 papers regarding BIA application in CV patients were identified. Phase angle, Z200/5 parameter, and membrane capacitance are the BIA parameters that can be used for nutritional status assessment in CV patients, mainly in heart failure and after myocardial infarction. Among secondary body composition parameters, fat mass can be used for obesity assessment which is a CV risk factor. Body cell mass can be used together which the direct BIA parameters for nutritional status assessment which is an important factor in treatment outcome, quality of life, and disease prognosis. Total body water can be used for hydration assessment in heart failure and during invasive procedures. To conclude, BIA is a noninvasive method that provides essential information about the general condition of the body which is the result of nutritional and hydration status in CV patients.

Personality profile of dietetics students from medical universities in the context of efficacy of prospective dietetic counseling - a Polish study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: A criterion for the efficacy of dietetic counseling is a change in patients' health behaviours. The patient-centred counseling approach in dietetics is believed to successfully induce behaviour changes. The aim of the study was to verify the assumption that students of dietetics at medical universities declare a preference for the ways of practicing dietetics which require direct work with patients, revealing a personality profile that allows implementation of the indicated approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Materials and method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 dietetics students aged 19-31 (M = 21.44, SD = 2.21) at medical universities. Those declaring preference for the ways of practicing dietetics that entail direct contact with patients made up the criterion group. The control group was composed of students declaring preference for career paths not implying direct work with patients. The study employed Polish versions of the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory and the Schwartz Value Survey. RESULTS: Results. There are four predictors of choosing career options entailing work with patients: agreeableness and conscientiousness (personality traits) and openness to change and self-transcendence (value meta-categories). When agreeableness and conscientiousness rise by 1 SD, the odds for a declared choice of working with patients increase by 151% and 139%, respectively. In turn, an increase in openness to change and self-transcendence by 1 SD translates into a decline in the chances of choosing this option by 40% and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions. Dietetics students at medical universities declaring a preference for direct work with patients show a personality predisposition to carefully perform professional tasks at 'technical level', and a poor predisposition to implement the patient-centred counseling approach.

Personality traits and personal values as retail pharmacy choice predictors in the context of pharmaceutical care requirements.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists implementing and carrying out Pharmaceutical Care (PhC) need to possess interpersonal ("soft") competencies, similar to physicians, as well as the personality predisposition necessary to maintain effective interpersonal communication involved in a therapeutic relationship. This thesis agrees with John L. Holland's congruence theory according to which the decision to take up a given profession is a specific expression of personality. OBJECTIVES: The presented study aims to examine the premise that a specific personality may be a predictor for the career choices made by pharmacy students that entail building a therapeutic relationship with the patient as part of practising PhC. METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of 211 students at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University in Lublin, ages 21-30 (M = 23.17; SD = 1.26). The reference group (n = 83) was composed of respondents declaring preference for a professional path that implies direct contact with the patient (mainly retail pharmacy in community pharmacies). The control group was composed of students who declared preference for a professional path which does not entail direct contacts with patients. The study employed the Polish version of the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory and the Schwartz Value Survey. RESULTS: There are three key predictors of choosing a particular form of professional activity implying a direct contact with patients. These include the personality traits of neuroticism and openness to experience (negative predictors), as well as the value meta-category of conservation (the strongest positive predictor). CONCLUSION: The presented results suggest the existence of a specific personality characteristic partly favourable for work in direct contact with patients, but not towards the implementation of more innovative forms of practising pharmacy.

Effect of ionizing radiation on the female reproductive system.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The tendency towards postponement of maternity implies a greater exposure of female germ cells to damaging environmental effects, including ionizing radiation (IR). Progress in paediatric oncology, based on the use of radiotherapy, also implies the occurrence of gonadal dysfunctions and subsequent female fertility disorders. Therefore, it seems justifiable to systematize the state of knowledge concerning the effect of IR on the female reproductive system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: A considerable part of studies concerning the effect of IR on female germ cells have been conducted on animals. Their extrapolation to humans is hindered because in animal studies high acute exposures are applied, which do not reflect human environmental exposures characterized by chronic low dose exposure. Studies on animals provide a heterogenous image, which hinders the formulation of unequivocal conclusions and indicates that radiosensitivity depends, i.a. on IR dose, stage of development of oocytes, the applied marker of the effects of IR, or on the species. LD50 of human oocytes is estimated to be below 2 Gy. The effect of IR depends, i.a. on the dose fractionation and the age (older women are more radiosensitive). In females, the effective sterilizing dose is: at birth 20.3 Gy, at 10 years 18.4 Gy, at 20 years 16.5 Gy, whereas at 30 years 14.3 Gy, which is associated with the available pool of ovarian follicles. CONCLUSIONS: Within the range of low doses received as a result of environmental exposure to IR, there is no evidence for the occurrence of either adverse pregnancy outcomes, nor fertility disorders in females. These effects may be related to the cancer radiotherapy, or exposure to high IR doses during nuclear accidents.

Fertility-sparing treatment in female genital cancer and breast cancer.

Postponed motherhood is the reason why many women are diagnosed with cancer before they make the decision to conceive a child, but only a small number of the affected patients will receive any information about treatment-related infertility As far as female genital cancer is concerned, cervical cancer continues to be the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women of childbearing age. In its early stages, it can be treated with surgical procedures which spare the genitals, i.e. surgical conization and vaginal radical trachelectomy with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy The advantages of these procedures have been observed in our experience. Also, a successful conservative 6-month treatment of endometrial cancer limited to the mucous membrane with progestagens following curettage of the uterine cavity has been reported in the literature. This paper also presents our own experience with fertility-sparing surgical treatment of ovarian cancer with borderline malignancy and invasive IA stage. Breast cancer affects over 7% of all cancer patients under the age of 40. Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment has been shown to develop properly and both, pregnancy and breastfeeding have no influence on cancer relapse. Protective shields for the adnexa or relocation of the ovaries should be used during radiotherapy in patients who wish to preserve their fertility In case of chemotherapy application of GnRH analogs has shown promising results in preservation of the ovarian function. Also, the development of new assisted reproductive technology has offered an increasing number of alternatives for young cancer patients who wish to preserve their fertility