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The state of hydration of the body depends on the balance between the amount of water and salt consumed and excreted (the urinary extraction of excess sodium requires water). Inappropriate nutrition, particularly consuming too much processed food, causes obesity in children and additionally causes excessive sodium consumption, thus increasing the risk of excessive water loss. The aim of this study was to assess the hydration status of children with obesity and the relation between hydration, body composition, urinary sodium extraction, and nutrient intake. The study group consisted of 27 patients with obesity, with a mean age of 12.89 ± SD 2.79. Each patient’s height, weight, body composition (electrical bioimpedance (BIA)), diet (7-day record), and biochemical tests were assessed. The hydration status was assessed using 24-hour urine collection, 24-hour urine osmolality, and an ultrasound of the vena cava (IVC/Ao index). Overall, 55% of children (n = 15) had urine osmolality values above 800 mOsm/kgH2O, which indicates significant dehydration, and 53% (n = 14) were dehydrated, based on the IVC/Ao index. Children with obesity and dehydration had a significantly higher BMI (31.79 vs. 27.32; p = 0.0228), fat mass percentage (37.23% vs. 30.07% p = 0.0051), and fat mass in kg (30.89 vs. 20.55; p = 0.0158), and significantly higher sodium intake from their diet (3390.0 mg vs. 2921.0 mg; p = 0.0230), as well as their sodium/potassium ratio (2.4 vs. 2.0; p = 0.0043). The 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and osmolality values were directly related to fat-mass percentage and fat-mass (in kg) in a simple linear correlation analysis. Our preliminary results confirm that obesity is related to dehydration. The overall high sodium excretion in children with obesity indicates an excessive salt intake along with low potassium intake, which is a significant predictor of dehydration, regardless of the total water intake (TWI).

The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of serum concentrations of YKL-40/ CHI3L1 (a 40-kilodalton glycoprotein also referred to as chitinase 3 like- 1 - CHI3L1) and PIIINP (N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen), markers of fibrosis, in the monitoring of inflammatory processes and fibrosis in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).In 60 patients (41 with Crohn's disease (CD), 19 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) concentrations of investigated parameters were measured at baseline (day 0), after 3 and after 6-8 weeks of pharmacological treatment.PIIINP concentrations were significantly higher in CD patients compared to UC (baseline results: median concentrations 1013.73 vs 78.30 ng/mL; P = 0.06 for the Kruskall-Wallis test; results at 6-8 weeks: 1076.48 vs 53.10 ng/mL, P = 0.01). Fibrosis was clearly present in patients with CD and its severity increased (reflected by both YKL-40/ CHI3L1 and PIIINP concentrations) in 6-8 weeks of follow up, regardless of the treatment used during that time. In patients with UC the levels of YKL-40/CHI3L1 and PIIINP were lower at baseline and further decreased after 6-8 weeks (median concentrations were respectively: 39.5 ng/mL vs 24.7 ng/mL and 78.3 ng/mL vs 53.1 ng/mL).Fibrosis was more severe in CD than in UC patients. The marker that more accurately reflected these differences was PIIINP.

A new bioactive compound, Mn3+-saturated bovine lactoferrin (Mn2-bLf) was obtained. It was stable under physiological conditions (pH ≈ 7.5) although gradually releases Mn2+ ions under the simulated intestinal conditions (pH ≈ 6.5). This feature might be utilized for controlled delivery of Mn2+ ions to biological targets, among others to the probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria whose growth is manganese-dependent. The Mn3+ modified bLf stimulates the growth of standard Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, as well as the strains isolated from commercially available probiotic preparations, while the naturally occurring Fe-free and Fe-saturated forms of this protein are inactive. The uptake of manganese by Lactobacilli from Mn2-bLf added to culture supernatant was confirmed. Mn2-bLf was non-cytotoxic for Caco-2, CT-26 and HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells even up to 10 mg/ml concentration. Mn2-bLf due to stimulation of the growth of Lactobacilli and lack of toxicity, can be considered as an innovative ingredient of the prebiotic composition.

For many years vitamin K has been considered to be associated only with blood clotting processes. Thanks to the research of last thirty years its other equally important role has been discovered. Vitamin K acts as a cofactor for the posttranslational γ-carboxylation of glutamate residues in proteins such as osteocalcin or matrix Gla protein (MGP). Thus the diet reach in vitamin K or supplementation of this vitamin on early stages of development may decrease risk of diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis or cardiovascular diseases.

This article focuses on the versatile ways in which hydrogen peroxide can be activated by metal ions and metal compounds, in terms of possible biomedical and environmental applications and future incentives in these areas. Mechanistic studies performed in our group are discussed in reference to related studies reported in the literature. It covers various thermal activation pathways, including Fenton and Fenton-like reactions, the application of iron, manganese and other metals complexes, as well as metalloenzymes. Furthermore, light-induced generation, activation and utilization of hydrogen peroxide are presented for the photo-Fenton reactions, the application of macrocyclic photosensitizers and the use of semiconductors such as TiO2 as heterogeneous photosensitizers. Mechanistic aspects of several thermal and photochemical pathways in metal-assisted hydrogen peroxide applications for biomedical or environmental purposes are discussed, and some obstacles to be overcome are highlighted.

Liverpool Care of Dying Pathway (LCP) is a protocol that standardizes the quality of care for dying patients and their families as well as helping to discontinue inappropriate medical interventions, particularly in hospitals and hospices. Developed in the UK, it was originally designed for cancer patients, but was quickly adapted for other groups of patients. LCP is designed to provide high quality medical, psychological and spiritual care to the dying patient. It is one of several such protocols commonly used throughout the world. This article presents a description of the pathway, its origin and use as well as the proposal to include it in the Polish standards.