Immunologic analysis of CSF in patients with de novo diagnosed RRMS. The role of chemokines in the early phase of the disease.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic CNS autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination and neurodegeneration. Chemokines regulate leukocyte migration and inflammation in MS. In the present study, we evaluated selected chemokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis diagnosed de novo compared to healthy controls. METHODS: We measured EOTAXIN, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1a, MIP-1b and RANTES in the cerebrospinal fluid of 118 patients with de novo RRMS and 112 controls, analyzing correlations with time from symptom onset to diagnosis and changes in MRI. RESULTS: Higher levels of EOTAXIN, IP-10, MIP-1B and RANTES, and lower MCP-1 were observed in MS patients compared to controls. MIP-1A did not show statistical significance. EOTAXIN and IP-10 concentrations increased with time. RANTES concentration correlated positively with T2 changes in MRI of the cervical spine, and EOTAXIN concentration correlated negatively with gadolinium (Gd+) changes in the cervical spine. There was no correlation with changes in the thoracic spine or brain. CONCLUSIONS: Chemokines play a significant role in the early phase of MS by influencing inflammatory activity. They may represent potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of this disease.

Examining the Nutrition of Cardiological Patients in Hospitals: Evaluating the Discrepancy between Received Diets and Reference Diet Based on ESC 2021 Guidelines-Hospital Diet Medical Investigation) (HDMI) Study.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide. CVDs have become the dominant cause of death and have been a significant health challenge since the second half of the 20th century in the Polish population. The aim of our HDMI (hospital diet medical investigation) study was to examine the quality of the hospital diets given to cardiac patients and assess how much they adhere to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2021 guidelines. By comparing the diets received by patients with the recommended dietary patterns outlined in the ESC 2021 guidelines, we sought to identify discrepancies. The study was conducted in two steps: creating a 7-day model menu and comparing it with the received diets and then making comparisons with ESC 2021 guidelines. Additionally, we designed a survey to obtain the characteristics of the hospitals. The results show that the nutrition in hospitals remains substandard. None of the diets had an appropriate salt supply or predominance of plant-based food patterns. Only 1/7 diets avoided sweetened beverages, and 2/7 diets had an appropriate amount of fiber. This underscores a gap in the healthcare system to improve patients' health by implementing dietary interventions that foster the development of healthy eating habits.

COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences among Individuals with Eating Disorders on a Clinical Sample in Poland-A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic and imposed restrictions had negative consequences on overall health among many populations. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the pandemic on eating disorders (ED) and mental health (MH) of individuals with confirmed ED diagnoses. A survey consisting of questions related to (1) diagnosis of COVID-19, (2) changes in ED symptoms and onset of new symptoms, (3) psychological and MH aspects regarding to the pandemic, (4) lifestyle changes, and (5) social media (SM) usage was distributed between April-June 2021. One hundred and ninety-eight individuals met all of the inclusion criteria (nfemales = 195, 98.48%; nother gender = 3, 1.52%). Of the participants, 78.79% reported worsening of their ED symptoms, 42.93% of them noticed an onset of new ED symptoms, and 57.58% believed that the pandemic had a negative impact on their ED treatment. Negative changes due to the pandemic on MH were reported by 88.89%. Of the participants, 91.92% increased their time spent on SM and 54.04% of them declared that it had a negative impact on their MH. Medical professionals should consider results while providing comprehensive psychological care, which can be crucial information in the application of the appropriate treatment strategy.

PaLS Study: Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Usage among Polish University Students in the Context of Stress Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and imposed restrictions were strong stress factors for young people, especially students. Increased alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes, usage of heated tobacco products, and other stimulants are common methods of coping with anxiety. However, they can have serious negative health effects. A survey consisting of 12 questions related to mental health and psychoactive substance taking habits was distributed among Polish students between 22 February 2021 and 3 April 2021. A total of 1323 participants met all inclusion criteria (nfemales = 1021, nmales = 297, nother gender = 5). The mean age was 22 years old (±4.17); 47.62% were medical university students. A total of 71.92% reported negative impact, 8.25% did not notice changes, and 12.58% declared a positive pandemic impact on their mental health. A total of 12.58% declared an increase, 70.22% did not see any differences, and 17.20% reported a decrease in their psychoactive substance usage tendency due to the pandemic. Worse perceived psychologic well-being was correlated with a higher tendency to use tobacco (p < 0.001) and alcohol (p < 0.001), and not with marijuana and products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (p = 0.136), and hard drugs (p = 0.799). The majority of participants declared a negative pandemic impact on mental health and did not report significant changes in psychoactive substance taking habits. Medical personnel should be aware of the current situation and apply for proper prevention and treatment programs.

Reducing aggression in psychiatric wards using Safewards-A Polish study.

PURPOSE: To reduce the use of mechanical restraints, Safewards was introduced to a ward in a psychiatric hospital in Poland. DESIGN AND METHODS: Three aspects of Safewards were applied for 8 months. The comparison time period was the same time frame of the previous year. FINDINGS: Restraint use dropped by 24%, and the number of patients restrained dropped 34%. The duration of restraint remained at 2.8 days per episode. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Simple techniques aimed at promoting positive interactions between staff and patients can reduce the frequency of restraints.

PaLS Study of Sleep Deprivation and Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many people live. To assess its impact on sleep quality and quantity, blue light exposure, and the mental health of Polish university students, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. Almost half of the participants were medical students (47.62%; n = 630). The majority of students were suffering from insomnia (58.13%, n = 769). Almost every third student was sleeping less than 7 h a day (30.39%, n = 402). Our study showed that a short sleep duration correlates with poorer mental health outcomes. Respondents who declared sadness and depression were more likely to suffer from insomnia (OR = 5.6997, 95% CI: 4.3641-7.4441). Difficulty with tasks was also more likely to co-occur with insomnia (OR = 5.4723, 95% CI: 4.3007 to 6.9630). The results of this study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the deterioration of sleep quality and quantity as well as the psychological well-being of Polish students. It is important to take steps to promote proper sleeping habits to alleviate the risk of mental health disorders in this group of people.

PaLS Study: How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced Physical Activity and Nutrition? Observations a Year after the Outbreak of the Pandemic.

The restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have impacted the majority of life domains. To evaluate their potential consequences on physical activity (PA) and dietary habits among Polish undergraduates, a survey consisting of the IPAQ-SF, authors' questions based on the Polish National Institute of Public Health recommendations, and authors' questions scaled -5/0/5 on personal opinion was created and administered between 22 February and 3 April 2021. A total of 1323 students met the study conditions (1021 females, 297 males, 5 did not specify gender, mean age: 22 years old (SD = 4), mean BMI = 22.27 kg/m2 (SD = 3.87)). A total of 27.21% of students were in the low, 48.53% in the moderate, and 24.26% in the high PA group. A total of 71.94% estimated that the pandemic had a negative impact on their PA, 8.16% no impact, and 19.9% a positive impact. A total of 35.5% had an insufficient intake of vegetables, 34.3% declared adding salt to meals, and 31.6% ate animal-based products the majority of days in a week or every day. A total of 51.02% assessed the impact of the pandemic on their nutrition as negative, 20.11% did not notice changes, and 28.87% reported a positive impact on their dietary habits. Most of the students saw harmful pandemic effects on their diet and PA compared to the times before restrictions. This can lead to a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future.