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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in the number of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, leading to higher treatment costs and placing a burden on social insurance systems. The aim of this literature review was to examine the economic costs of the pandemic related to mental health and assess its impact on social insurance systems. The review also analyzed the growing demand for mental health services during different phases of the pandemic. The methodology included an analysis of scientific literature from 2020-2023, with sources from databases like PubMed, Scopus, and JSTOR. The focus was on studies that provided a detailed examination of the economic aspects of the pandemic in the context of mental health, including both direct costs (consultations, medications) and indirect costs (reduced productivity, work absences). The findings indicate significant economic burdens for both healthcare and social insurance systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the cost of treating mental health disorders globally. Both WHO and OECD highlight that global indirect costs related to lost productivity amount to approximately $1 trillion annually. Additionally, the pandemic exposed weaknesses in social insurance systems, which need to be reformed to address new health challenges. Key conclusions emphasize the need for further investment in mental health care, particularly in prevention and early intervention. Such investments could lead to significant economic savings by reducing treatment costs and improving productivity. Reforming social insurance systems is also recommended to better accommodate the needs of individuals suffering from mental health disorders.

BackgroundThe aging population in Poland poses significant challenges to social and health systems. By 2050, the percentage of people over 65 in Poland is projected to reach 32.7%. Promoting physical activity among seniors is crucial for preventing chronic diseases, improving quality of life, and reducing healthcare burdens. Local governments play a pivotal role in implementing health-promoting measures.ObjectiveThe study aims to analyze seniors’ satisfaction with local government activities in promoting physical activity and to identify the best activities and future needs of seniors in the Silesia, Mazovia, and Pomerania regions of Poland.Material and MethodsThe survey, conducted between May 2023 and May 2024, utilized the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) method to gather data from 1,500 seniors aged 65 and above across the Silesia, Mazovia, and Pomerania regions. The study population was carefully selected to ensure representativeness in terms of gender, age, education, and place of residence. Data analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression to assess satisfaction levels and identify influencing factors.ResultsThe survey revealed regional differences in satisfaction levels. Seniors in the Mazovia region exhibited the highest satisfaction (74% positive ratings), followed by the Silesian (64%) and Pomeranian (56%) regions. Factors influencing satisfaction included gender, age, education, and place of residence. Women, older seniors, those with higher education, and urban residents reported higher satisfaction levels. The most appreciated local government activities were related to sports infrastructure and sports programs. Future needs emphasized the demand for more sports programs and better infrastructure, with regional variations in preferences.ConclusionSeniors’ satisfaction with local government activities in promoting physical activity varies significantly across regions. Tailoring activities to regional preferences and continuous evaluation of programs are essential for enhancing effectiveness and satisfaction. Increased funding and support for physical activity programs are necessary, especially in less developed regions.

Body and anthropometric profiles of football players vary depending on the physiological and technical demands imposed by different positions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the body composition of professional soccer players in relation to their position on the field during a training macrocycle. The Direct Segmental Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method was used to analyze 58 players at six key moments of the macrocycle. The results show that body profiles are adjusted to the specific demands of each position. Midfielders showed the lowest muscle mass, while defenders showed many notable changes. In general, as the season progressed, all field players experienced an increase in trunk body fat. Fat and lean mass values of goalkeepers differed greatly from the rest. The greatest variations in body composition were observed during pre-season and transition in relation to variations in training load and competitive intensity. The results suggest that the phase of the macrocycle has a greater influence on these variations, although the physical characteristics of each position are relevant. Understanding these dynamics allows for the design of more personalized and efficient training programs to optimize the performance of footballers according to their roles and each stage of the season.

IntroductionOrthorexia lacks official recognition as an eating disorder; however, orthorexic behaviors, associated with a stringent selection of food, may serve as a predisposing factor to the development of eating disorders. It is characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating and strict dietary standards, often prevalent in high-risk groups such as athletes and individuals concerned with their physical appearance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of orthorexia among students exhibiting varying lifestyles (including dietary habits and levels of physical activity, along with their respective motivational factors). The research involved 600 participants equally distributed between health-related (HRF) and non-health-related (NRF) academic categories, with the majority of participants in the HRF category being women.MethodsAssessments included BMI calculations, dietary evaluation based on Polish standards, categorization of physical activity levels, the EMI-2 questionnaire on motivation to exercise, the DOS test for orthorexia propensity, and the TFEQ-13 questionnaire for eating behavior.Results and discussionResults showed that primary motivators for physical activity included disease prevention, health maintenance, strength/endurance, and physical appearance. Orthorexia tendencies were prevalent, particularly in the HRF group, linked to lower BMI, better diet quality, higher physical activity levels, and a higher prevalence of restrictive eating. In conclusion, students in health-related fields, driven by a strong health consciousness, are at risk of orthorexia. This emphasizes the need for balanced health education and support.ConclusionOrthorexic tendencies are associated with distorted perceptions of food portions and calories, underscoring the importance of awareness and intervention.

Background. The phenomenon of burnout among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic is a widespread problem with several negative consequences for the healthcare system. The many stressors of the pandemic have led to an increased development of anxiety and depressive disorders in many healthcare workers. In addition, some manifested symptoms of the so-called postpandemic stress syndrome and the emergence of occupational burnout syndrome, commonly referred to as “COVID-19 burnout.” The aim of this study was to assess the burnout and life satisfaction of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in 2020-2022 among medical staff working in hospitals in Silesia, Poland. The instruments used to assess life satisfaction and burnout were the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which assesses three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DEP), and sense of reduced professional accomplishment (SRPA). Results. The study group included 900 participants. There were 300 physicians (mean age 38±7 years), 300 nurses (mean age 35±6 years), and 300 paramedics (mean age 31±5 years). Life satisfaction as measured by the SWLS was lowest among nurses and paramedics in 2021 and among doctors in 2022. Male respondents and those with fewer years of work had higher levels of life satisfaction. People with more years of work had higher scores in EE and DEP and lower scores in SRPA (p=0.001). We found a negative correlation between life satisfaction and EE (p=0.001), DEP (p=0.001), and SRPA (p=0.002). Conclusions. The results highlight the need for further research into the causes of burnout among medical professionals and the need for effective interventions to promote well-being and prevent burnout in this group.

Interest in the human microbiome in terms of mental health has increased with the rise in psychiatric diseases and disorders. The digestive system, the immune system, the brain, and the autonomic nervous system can all suffer from long-term lack of sleep and relaxation brought on by stress. There is little doubt that stress affects the human intestinal microbiota’s health and encourages problems with its composition, according to scientific studies. Chronic stress exposure raises the risk of both physical and mental illnesses. Therefore, this review’s goal was to support the theory that diseases including anxiety and stress are influenced by microbiome patterns. A total of 8600 sources directly relevant to this study’s topic were chosen from the 236,808 records returned by the literature search, and those with the highest scientific value were then selected based on bibliometric impact factors, language, and year of publication. A total of 87 sources, the most recent scientific output, were finally used for the literature review’s final analysis. The small number of studies on the subject indicates that it is still a developing problem, according to the literature study.

Today’s perceived excess of work versus rest and excessive stressful situations are one of the potential factors for an increasing number of gastrointestinal disorders. Although the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) varies widely, it is assumed that up to 15% of the general population may be affected. Symptoms resulting from IBS take the form of pain, including difficulties with bowel movements, bloating, and a feeling of overflowing in the intestines. These symptoms have a negative impact on patients’ quality of life, so any possible intervention supported by Evidence-Based Medicine should effectively contribute to their improvement. In the following review, the authors compile the current knowledge based on the findings of researchers from around the world. The topic of probiotic therapy is increasingly discussed in the field of lower gastrointestinal disorders, and thus the authors discover links between probiotic strains and the improvement of health quality in patients with IBS, taking into consideration the ways it affects patients’ mental health. As a result, a systematic review was prepared based on 60 items of recent literature, of which more than 80% were published in the last 5 years.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths. Gastric tumors show a high aggressiveness, which, in turn, contributes to a low survival rate of fewer than 12 months. Considering the above, it was decided to review the current scientific studies that indicate the potential prevention of gastric cancer and clarify the relationship between gastric cancer and the composition of the microorganisms inhabiting the human body. Accordingly, a review paper was prepared based on 97 scientific sources from 2011 to 2022. Particular attention was paid to the most recent scientific studies from the last five years, which account for more than 80% of the cited sources. Taking care of one’s overall health, including undertaking treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, and following a diet high in anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory ingredients are the most important factors in reducing the risk of developing gastric cancer.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe. Lifestyle plays an important role in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, apart from pharmacotherapy and diagnostics. Numerous studies confirm that the type and quality of fat consumed in the diet have a huge impact on the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease can be helped by minimizing the proportion of saturated fatty acids in the diet and replacing them with polyunsaturated fatty acids. These acids and, above all, their long-chain forms have a positive effect on health. Aim: This study aims to assess the awareness of the properties of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the opinions of patients of the Cardiology Department of the Racibórz Medical Center. Material and Methods: The analysis included 302 patients (113 women and 189 men) hospitalized in the Cardiology Department. The research method was the authors’ questionnaire consisting of the patients’ record and thirty closed questions. To answer the research questions posed and test the hypotheses, statistical analyses were carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 package. Results: Among the respondents, the least frequently used healthy eating habit was the infrequent eating of fried foods. A total of 18.2% of respondents had such a habit. The most commonly used healthy eating habit was checking the fat content in products, which was performed by 67.2% of respondents. Among the respondents, 58.3% said that butter and margarine increase serum cholesterol. Conclusions: The analysis of the data shows that the place of residence, education, sex, and reason for hospitalization of the respondents did not affect the frequency of healthy eating habits. In addition, the subjects had a low amount of healthy eating habits.

According to current knowledge, a properly colonized human microbiota contributes to the proper functioning of the body. The composition of the natural flora changes depending on age, health, living conditions, and the use of antimicrobial agents: antibiotics, disinfectants, and some cosmetics. The human body is diversely populated with microorganisms and undergoes constant changes under the influence of various factors, and its proper composition is extremely important for the proper functioning of the body. Given the above, it was decided that we would review current scientific research that explains the cause–effect relationship between the composition of microorganisms populating the human body and health, focusing on women’s health. As a result, an overview paper was prepared based on 109 scientific sources from 2009–2022. Special attention was paid to the most recent scientific studies of the last five years, which account for more than 75% of the cited sources.

Introduction: The effects of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of many individuals are now becoming increasingly apparent, especially among health care workers, who not infrequently develop the so-called post-pandemic stress syndrome, referring in essence to post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a consequence of the fact that medics, especially those who worked on the front lines during the pandemic experienced enormous challenges and difficulties every day that burdened and/or exceeded their individual abilities to adapt. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess well-being and the incidence of stress and anxiety among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: 182 people participated in the study, belonging to the representatives of medical personnel. The study used a questionnaire technique, by providing a survey with questions in electronic form. The survey consisted of both original questions and standardized psychometric tools, i.e. WHO-5, PSS-10, GAD-7. Results: Based on the scales, 78.6% of respondents were found to have elevated levels of stress and anxiety with a concomitant decrease in well-being in relation to COVID-19 work. Conclusions: Disturbing mental health implications were found among health care workers. Those surveyed showed elevated levels of experiencing anxiety and stress, as well as reduced well-being while working during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure optimal mental well-being among medical professionals, he recommends guaranteeing access to mental health support and assistance programs for health care workers.

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Despite of the progress of medicine and develop of treatment, it is still the second couse of death among women. To reduce the risk of getting breast cancer, the more ofen teratement is "preventive mastectomies" which completely remove the breast gland by healty women that are in the "high risk" group. Material and Methods To conduct the research I develop a survey, written by my own. The study included 252 women from Poland over the age of 18. Results The opinion about the performance of preventive mastectomies in case of women in "high risk" was very diverse. Only 13% of interviewees were convinced that they would have the surgery and up to 29% could not give an answer. Most woman (86%) are convinced that breast cancer is genetically determined. That mastectomy can be a way to prevent breast cancer agrees 69% of respondents. More than half of respondents (52%) don't know if such surgery is in Poland available. Only half of the respondents could indicate the place where an examination of an increased risk of breast cancer can be made (49%). 81% of respondents examine there breasts at least with one method, and 19% did not check it at all. Conclusions The knowledge about the heredity of cancer and the availability of treatments is insufficient. Women are not convinced that they would have gone to radical preventive treatment, and they are afraid of many consequences connected with it. It is essential to educate the public including the medical stuff in this scope. It is also important that the patient together with his doctor examined all the possible options for limiting the risk of cancer.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is an extremely important part of diet and carries a number of health-promoting benefits towards health. A distinction is made between exercise-related physical activity and spontaneous physical activity. The diet of school-aged children is of particular importance, due to the development of the body. The consequence of low physical activity with an inadequate diet generates the development of various diseases. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of physical activity on the body weight of students of elementary schools 1 and 2 in Radzionków. Material and methods: The study included 260 students of grades I-VIII of Elementary Schools Nos. 1 and 2 in Radzionków. A proprietary questionnaire addressed to the parents of the students containing questions about the students' anthropometric measurements, physical activity and eating habits was used to conduct the study. Results: Physical activity is at a high level. Most children had a normal body weight. Among the students surveyed, 71% indicated that they mainly spend their free time in active form. Students participate in swimming classes in the greatest number. Several times a week (55%) children attend extra-curricular activities. Consumption of sweets and fast food is at a low level. Eating the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables affects only 43% of children. Among the most commonly consumed beverages, 84% of children choose water at 1-1.5 liters per day. Conclusions: A significant part of the study group has a normal body weight, so it can be assumed that physical activity combined with appropriate eating habits has a health-promoting effect on body weight.

Introduction. Achieving high performance in sports is the result of many factors, both exo and endogenous. Proper nutrition is the basis of the so-called healthy lifestyle, health care and prevention of diet-related diseases. Physical activity is an extremely important component and carries a number of benefits that affect mental, physical and social well-being. Failure to provide sufficient energy, can lead to decreased performance, delayed recovery processes or loss of muscle mass. The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge and nutritional habits of CrossFit trainees. Material and methods. 131 people were surveyed; the questionnaire was posted on the CrossFit Poland forum. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. The results were collected in a database in Microsoft Excel 2010 MS Office Package and statistically analyzed using Statistica 12. In the statistical evaluation of the relationship between characteristics, a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was adopted. Results. In a survey of the knowledge and eating habits of CrossFit trainees, about 50% of respondents declare that they eat regularly. In addition, 50.5% state a moderate level of knowledge about healthy eating, while 33% state a high level. There is a high incidence of dietary supplement intake, accounting for 78.5%. As the frequency of training increases, the amount of supplements consumed increases. Conclusions. A significant part of the study group declares a very good or moderate level of knowledge of rational nutrition, which influences the choice of and regularity of the meals consumed in this group of Crossfit trainers.

Pregnancy is a unique period in a woman's life, so every pregnant woman should be aware of the importance of physical exercise during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity of women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The standardized Physical Activity Questionnaire for Pregnant Women (PPAQ-PL) was used to achieve the purpose of the study. Thirty women in the age range of 18-35 years (28 years±3.54) participated in the study. Analysis of the results showed that higher values of total weekly energy expenditure were obtained by the group of women in the third trimester of pregnancy (206.37 MET/h/week) compared to pregnant women in the second trimester (140.42MET/h/week). The women differed in terms of energy expenditure in activities such as housework (in women in the second trimester 49.1% of total activity, in the third trimester 56.7%), passive rest (24.1% and 14.5%), professional work (12.9% and 7.7%), sports and exercise (2.8% and 6.6%), and moving around (10.6% and 14.5%). In both women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, a low level of activity intensity prevailed (58.08% and 55.64%). Energy expenditure on sports and exercise consistent with the recommended for the second trimester (≥28 MET/h/week) was declared by only 6% of the women surveyed, while in the third trimester the recommended energy expenditure on physical activity (≥16 MET/h/week) was fulfilled by 29% of pregnant women. There is an ongoing need to educate women about the benefits of systematic prenatal activity.

The term "stress" is customarily used in connection with environmental pressures and adaptation to changing environmental conditions, but also in reference to the body's psychological and physiological response to them. In the understanding presented, adaptive demands are called stressors, their effects are called stress or stressful situations, and methods and techniques aimed at reducing these effects are called ways of coping with stress. Stress can also be understood as a "product" of inappropriate coping with the challenges of everyday life. The differentiation between stress as a process and stressor as a factor makes it easier to understand the issue and its impact on life and the development of mental illnesses.

Background: Multiple studies confirm that PM2.5 and PM10 can affect lung growth and development in children and adolescents, the number of medical visits, and hospital emergency admissions due to asthma, respiratory symptoms, and upper and lower respiratory tract disorders. Objective: The objective of this study was the measurement-based assessment for determining whether the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are within admissible limits or exceeded in the Upper Silesia urban area (Silesia province) and to examine the relationship between PM concentrations and the number of admissions in Primary Health Care due to respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic bronchitis for children, adolescents and adults. Material and methods: The data provided by the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Katowice, National Health Fund - Silesian Department, and the District Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Katowice for the period 2012-2017 was used in the statistical analysis. Results: The increase in the number of excessive levels of average daily PM10 concentration was observed in almost all measurement stations, both for the acceptable level, information, and alarm level. The increase in average annual PM2.5 concentrations was also observed. The results showed an increased prevalence of respiratory diseases (ICD-Diagnosis Code 10-CM: J017, J030, J034, J038, J040) during the study period in 14 of 20 cities of Silesia province, consistently higher for children than adults. Conclusions: In Silesia province, the air quality is poor and has deteriorated over the last few years. Exposure to ambient PM2.5 and PM10 was significantly associated with the development of respiratory tract diseases in children and adults.

The problem of effective personnel planning was and is an indispensable part of the management of any enterprise. Every owner makes every effort to ensure that the people employed achieve the established goals and strategies of the organization, thereby contributing to the growth of prestige and expansion of capital. A significant capital of any organization is personnel, or human capital, which is why the proper selection of employees is such an important element. For some time now, organizations have been making every effort to ensure that employees are not only properly educated and trained, but are well aligned with the company's mission. Large corporations, want to have an employee as if "on their own," so the goals of both the employer and the employee are important. People for whom professional success is not the most important thing would not be able to find their way in a large international organization. The recruitment and selection process is therefore a key element to check whether a candidate is the right person and in the right place.

Athletes belong to a group with special nutritional needs. Strenuous physical activity causes an imbalance of oxidation reduction. The purpose of the study was to assess the frequency of consuming antioxidant-rich food products among amateurs and professionals practicing selected sports. A total of 119 athletes were included in the study. The study group consisted of amateur bodybuilders and Cross- Fit athletes, as well as professional football and handball players. A validated original questionnaire assessing the frequency of consumption of selected high-antioxidant products was used. The highest frequency of consuming raw fruits among amateur athletes was 5-6 times a week (40.68%, n = 24). Sport professionals usually reported 1 serving a day (26.67%, n=16). The highest frequency of consumption of raw vegetables was 2-4 portions a week (37.29%, n=22) in amateurs group, and 5-6 portions weekly (33.33%, n = 20) in professionals group. In addition, we evaluated the intake of red wine. Most of the amateurs (47.46%, n = 28) and professionals (41.67%, n = 25) did not consume wine. All the respond- ents consumed food products containing antioxidants in quantities that were much lower than those recommended. The obtained findings indicate the need to develop dietary recommendations on anti-oxidant-rich food products for athletes, as well as appropriate nutritional education.

Background. Two eating phenomena are associated with emotions and chronic stress: restrained eating and emotional eating. Restrained eating is defined as restricting food intake to control weight and mainly refers to the amount of food eaten. Emotional eating, on the other hand, focuses on eating in response to negative emotions. the literature emphasizes that people with orthorexia have significantly higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety and lower life satisfaction than healthy individuals. Objective. The purpose of the conducted research was to assess the prevalence of emotionally driven eating behavior and restrained eating among health science students. The premise of the study was also to test whether there was a significant relationship between emotional eating and restrained eating and orthorectic behavior. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 200 randomly selected students of health sciences (dietetics and physical education). The TFEQ-13 and DOS scales were used in the study. Results and conclusions. Based on the study, it was concluded that there is no relationship between the occurrence of emotional eating and orthorexia in the studied group of people associated with health sciences. However, the hypothesis of the existence of these associations between restrained eating and the occurrence of orthorexia was supported. The group of restrained eaters was shown to include individuals with severe behaviors indicative of orthorexic tendencies or a full picture of the disorder.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between attitudes toward weight loss, taking into account: the motivating factors that determine the desire to attempt weight loss; the level of well-being and degree of motivation before and during the weight loss attempt; changes in attitudes after an unsuccessful weight loss attempt; the state of well-being after the completed weight loss attempt and the degree of severity of disordered eating according to the TFEQ-13 questionnaire. The study was conducted among 600 female users of forums for people with excessive weight. The research method used in this study was the author's questionnaire and the standardized Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. A general survey questionnaire serving as a working tool was sent by Computer-Assisted Web Interview to community groups. The predominant group of respondents cannot even count the weight reduction attempts they have made during their lives (31%). Three attempts were made by 29% of respondents, and two attempts by 17%. Attempts to lose weight most often involved increasing current physical activity (overall responses), reducing the caloric content of meals (26%), and improving current eating habits (22%). Most people reduced their body weight from 6 kg to 10 kg (29%) or from 3 to 5 kg (27%). It was found that low a risk of aggravation was diagnosed in 45.5% of people, moderate in 44.5, and low in 10%. For lack of control over eating – a low risk was observed in 15.5% of people, moderate in 68.5% of people, and high in 16%. Evaluating eating under the influence of emotions, the highest risk of the studied phenomenon was observed in 50.5% of people, moderate risk in 36.5% of people, and low risk in 13% of people. The level of motivation significantly decreased when trying to reduce weight. No significant deterioration in well-being was observed before and during the weight loss attempt.

Professional football players are obligated to meet the physical demands and maintain the best possible performance throughout the whole macrocycle. It is important to assess the players' nutrition knowledge, identify areas that require increased nutrition awareness and identify the impact of knowledge on changes in body composition as this can affect the players' health and performance. This study aimed to assess changes in the body composition of professional football players during the macrocycle of the spring round of the football championship and to identify the correlation between nutrition knowledge and maintaining body composition. The study included 38 football players. The players' body compositions were analyzed 6 times during the macrocycle consisting of preparatory, competitive, and transition periods using the Direct Segmental Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method. Athletes completed the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire to assess their nutrition knowledge. During the preparatory period, a statistically significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the players' knowledge about the subsections of micronutrients in the diet and the dispersion of the adipose percentage tissue content (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). In the competitive period, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between the players' knowledge of sports nutrition and the dispersion of lean body mass (r = −0.46, p = 0.004), and skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.36, p = 0.03). During the transition period, a statistically significant negative correlation between the players' knowledge of weight control and the dispersion of body mass (r = −0.47, p = 0.00) and BMI values (r = −0.48, p = 0.00) was identified. The player's knowledge about the subsection of macronutrients significantly negatively correlated with the dispersion of skeletal muscle mass content (r = −0.33, p = 0.05). Nutrition knowledge has an impact on the stability of body composition during all analyzed periods: preparatory, competitive, and transition periods.

Plastics are materials widely used in all sectors. The subject of interest in recent years has become so-called microplastics, whose composition and structure are causing new environmental hazards. The presence and accumulation of microplastics in the environment threaten the ecological balance, the water environment, food sustainability and safety, and ultimately human health. Human exposure to microplastics is primarily through the oral route, so the main source of human exposure to microplastics is diet. Despite many studies focusing on microplastic contamination in seafood, fish, and shellfish, estimating total human exposure to microplastics via the oral route is difficult, due to the lack of research on other foods in this area. The risks to human health from inhaling microplastics remain unclear. According to the WHO, there is no reliable evidence of the harmful effects of microplastic on the human body, but the phenomenon requires further research. Likely health effects of human exposure to microplastic include respiratory and gastrointestinal effects, oxidative stress, and cancer. There is a need to raise public awareness about environmental exposure to microplastics and effective waste management.

The impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system has been devastating, as the system has had to undergo major changes, including the postponement of scheduled surgeries, the admission of patients in a state of emergency, and the use of teleportation. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic caused restrictions on visits to hospitalized patients by relatives, despite recommendations for family visits to patients in hospitals, as an important component of quality care provided. Material and methods: The study included 198 relatives of hospitalized patients in the period from March 2020 to March 2022 in the Silesian province. To achieve the research objective, a questionnaire developed entirely by the Authors, consisting of 9 questions, was used. The questionnaire concerned the assessment of restrictions on visits to hospitalized patients by relatives during the pandemic. The survey was conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. Results: The majority of relatives (91%) indicated that they were able to contact (including by phone) the patient every day during their hospital stay. At the same time, the largest number of respondents marked the answer that visiting patients during their stay in the hospital ward was prohibited (97%). In addition, 39% of respondents answered that it was "rather bad" to restrict visits to a loved one staying in the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusions: Undoubtedly, when considering the implementation of rules restricting patient visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant authorities should carefully look at and compare the potential harm of the issued decision to restrict visitation by relatives along with the risk of virus transmission. Currently, there are insufficient studies formally assessing the effects of restrictions on patient visits by relatives. However, it is clear from the authors' survey that the majority of relatives are rather negative about the implemented restrictions on patient visits.

Background: Nutrition that is adequate to the patient’s health status is a component of co-determining factors in improving the patient’s health. Moreover, appropriate activities of a dietician, such as assessing the nutritional status or educating patients, are counted among the determinants conditioning the effectiveness of the conducted treatment. The number of employed dietitians in hospitals is low, which results in 76-740 patients per one specialist, which in turn makes effective education impossible. The aim of this study was to compare the duties of dietitians working in Polish hospitals in relation to the needs of the society. Material and methods: The research tool consisted of two original, anonymous questionnaires, addressed to the Polish public and to active dietitians. The analysis of results was based on 595 questionnaire results, including 93 from nutritionists. Results: Of the respondents who were admitted to the hospital ward, 83.3% had no contact with a nutritionist (N=347). The surveyed dietitians most often declared that there were two dietitians working at the health care provider employing them, with the smallest number being 1 and the largest number being 55. Only one in three respondents received dietary recommendations upon discharge from the hospital (N=133; 32.1%). Nearly half of dietitians do not prepare menus (48.4%). According to the public, a dietitian should be involved in nutritional counseling, developing menus for the hospital kitchen or catering, and nutritional recommendations for patients discharged from the hospital. Conclusions: Dietitians with the right qualifications and specialties, integrated into the health care workforce, can have a huge impact on the proper dietary therapy of patients. As a result, there is a high probability of increasing the effectiveness of treatment, resulting in health service savings and support for the medical community.

Academic sports are physical activities in which members of the academic community participate: students, doctoral students, research, teaching or administrative staff of higher education institutions. The academic community is extremely diverse, but as a rule, it is rarely associated directly with physical activity, but rather with the advancement of knowledge and the development of science. All the more reason why the promotion of physical activity in this community is extremely important for maintaining the psychophysical well-being of members of this group. The AZS is the most numerous academic organization in Poland, with nearly 33,000 members. The Association's Academic Championships of Poland and community leagues are the primary system of rivalry between universities in the country. Among the objectives of AZS are those relating directly or indirectly to the promotion of health, including: the dissemination of physical culture and tourism, raising physical fitness and improving health among the academic community, working for the rehabilitation of the disabled or counteracting social pathologies, particularly addictions that threaten the environment of young students. These goals are pursued through various types of programs and projects, including sports activation of the academic community within the framework of sports sections, especially within the framework of general sports, organized sports competitions both at the university, regional, national or international level. Academic sports are also often the only available opportunity for physical activity during college, where physical education classes usually last no more than a year in the five-year cycle of study.

Body composition is an important indicator of the overall health and fitness of team sports athletes, including in football, and therefore, anthropometric profiling of elite football players is useful as part of determining their skills, strengths, and weaknesses to develop effective strength and conditioning programs. One of the tools available to coaches to track correlates of performance and health is routine body composition assessment. The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the body composition and anthropometric profiles of players using the Direct Segmental Multi-Frequency Bio-Electrical Impedance Analysis method, and to manage body composition throughout the round in the 2020–2021 season. The investigation was carried out during the Polish football league, PKO BP Ekstraklasa, spring round of the football season 2020–2021, in which male football players participated. Athletes between the ages of 18 and 25 (n = 16) made up the younger age group, while those between the ages of 26 and 31 (n = 22) made up the older age group. This manuscript is a continuation of the presentation of the results of the study, which was conducted between 7 January and 23 July 2021. At different stages of the macrocycle, participants underwent six different body composition analyses. The younger and older groups of athletes were compared, as well as measurements of time points 1–6. The dominant extremities, assisting extremities, and trunk had larger fat-free mass contents in the older age group. In the study groups, there was a difference in the fat-free mass content between measures 1–6 that was statistically significant. In the younger group, there was a statistically significant difference in the amount of fat mass content between measurements 1–6. In the older age group, no statistically significant changes were found. The study showed changes in fat-free mass and fat mass in body segments; differences were observed between age groups and between different moments of measurement. Age is an important factor in determining body composition and is also related to an athlete’s experience and seniority. Anthropometric profiling and comprehensive body composition analysis are important tools used in preparing athletes for competition.

Dental caries is currently a huge social problem in many countries. Caries is a pathological process associated with the loss of minerals and the breakdown of the hard tissues of the tooth. The risk of its occurrence is very high, especially in children and adolescents. The development of caries is determined by the presence of plaque, the susceptibility of the tooth tissue, the substrate and the time factor. The state of oral health depends on a very age of factors, including hygiene habits, health-promoting education, prevention

Introduction and Objective. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the functioning of the entire globe. By the end of December 2020, the disease had been diagnosed in more than 82 million people worldwide, and nearly 2 million people had died. The main preventive measure was to develop an effective vaccine as soon as possible, which Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Gamaleya Center managed to do in late 2020. The first vaccines arrived in Poland after the end of December 2020, but their appearance was not without controversy. The aim of this study was to compare respondents' opinions on COVID-19 vaccination with the results of the assessment of fear of infection. Material and methods. The opinions of 300 employees of large companies on COVID-19 vaccination and fear of SARS-CoV-2 (FCV-19S) infection according to Ahorsu were checked. Results. It was shown that 54% of the respondents express a willingness to vaccinate whenever possible, while 42% are not interested in vaccinating. In favor of the willingness to vaccinate is the option to return to the standard of living before the COVID-19 pandemic - 72%, and the desire to protect those around them from possible infection - 46%. Among opponents of vaccination, the predominant opinion is that the vaccine has not undergone enough testing and is not safe for health - 68%. Discussion. COVID-19 vaccination is one of the major medical successes of recent years and a safe way to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is worrying that those who opt out of vaccination indicate that they do not have enough information about vaccination (44%), and this is an issue that needs to be changed quickly. Conclusions. Those who express a willingness to vaccinate are more likely to have a higher level of fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection than those who have not expressed a willingness to vaccinate. Nearly half of non-vaccinators indicate that there is too little information about vaccination.

Applied psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy do not always bring the expected results in the treatment of mental disorders. As a result, other interventions are receiving increasing attention. In recent years, there has been a surge in research on the effects of nutrition on mental status, which may be an important aspect of the prevention of many mental disorders and, at the same time, may lead to a reduction in the proportion of people with mental disorders. This review aims to answer whether and to what extent lifestyle and related nutrition affect mental health and whether there is scientific evidence supporting a link between diet and mental health. A review of the scientific evidence was conducted based on the available literature by typing in phrases related to nutrition and mental health using the methodological tool of the PubMed database. The literature search yielded 3,473 records, from which 356 sources directly related to the topic of the study were selected, and then those with the highest scientific value were selected according to bibliometric impact factors. In the context of current changes, urbanization, globalization, including the food industry, and changes in people’s lifestyles and eating habits, the correlations between these phenomena and their impact on mental state become important. Knowledge of these correlations creates potential opportunities to implement new effective dietary, pharmacological, therapeutic, and above all preventive interventions. The highest therapeutic potential is seen in the rational diet, physical activity, use of psychobiotics, and consumption of antioxidants. Research also shows that there are nutritional interventions that have psychoprotective potential.

Background: Eating disorders are a growing public health challenge. They are characterized by complexity, requiring a wide spectrum of treatment due to the diseases present, somatic complications, body dissatisfaction, and communication difficulties. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of eating disorder risk associated with poorly managed weight loss. Material and methods: the study was conducted on a group of 214 women using a questionnaire by indirect survey method through a form provided online. A proprietary survey questionnaire supplemented by two standardized questionnaires was used: EAT-26 and ORTO-15. Results: The body mass index of 149 respondents (70%) remained normal, while overweight and obese women accounted for a total of 23% - 14% (31 subjects) and 7% (19 subjects), respectively. The study using the EAT-26 questionnaire showed that among the 214 respondents, 98 women were at risk for eating disorders, accounting for 46% of the study group. A cutoff score of 20 was taken as the threshold. A statistically significant difference was noted between BMI and the risk of eating disorders (χ2=26.447; p

One of the key roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis is played by insulin. The presence of insulin receptors in almost all cells of the body reflects the importance of this hormone. Insulin resistance is a state of impaired glucose homeostasis resulting from a decreased sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, despite normal or elevated serum levels. The purpose of this paper is to present the current state of knowledge on the pathogenesis, risk factors, and diagnosis of insulin resistance at developmental age.

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential for the human body, have several positive functions that affect human health. Pregnancy is a time of particular demand for these acids, especially DHA and EPA, whose sources are mainly oily marine fish. The supply of adequate amounts of these acids conditions the proper development of the fetus, influencing, among other things, the formation of the central nervous system and the development of the child's retina, as well as protecting against premature birth and increasing the child's birth weight. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of consumption of fish, vegetable oils, and products rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and evaluate DHA supplementation by pregnant women, as well as to assess knowledge of PFAs, especially DHA and EPA. Material and methods: 210 pregnant women were included in the study. A self-administered and online survey questionnaires were used as the research tool. A database was created using Microsoft Excel. Results: According to the recommended amounts, 2-3 times a week, Marine fish was consumed by only 12.86% of the women surveyed. Regular consumption of ALA-rich products, such as flaxseed, was declared by 10 respondents, while 59.05% of the surveyed women did not consume it at all. The use of DHA acid supplementation during pregnancy was unequivocally declared by 58 women surveyed, representing only ¼ of the women surveyed. Conclusions: The dietary behavior of pregnant women related to fish consumption is not correct, the overall proportion of fish in the diet of the subjects does not cover the recommended amounts. Vegetable oils and products rich in PFAs are not consumed with adequate frequency by pregnant women. DHA supplementation by pregnant women, despite low fish consumption, is underestimated and at a very low level.

Background: Thyroid diseases including Hashimoto's chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis represent an increasing epidemiological problem of the 21st century. Thyroid disease is estimated to affect approximately 7.0-9.0 per cent of the population up to the age of 60 years, and as much as 10.0-12.0 per cent after the age of 60 years. Hashimoto's disease is much more common among women of childbearing age, but it is also increasingly common among children and adolescents. The number of reported cases of autoimmune thyroiditis is steadily increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional knowledge of female patients with Hashimoto's disease in selected closed online support groups for patients with thyroid disease. Materials and methods: A self-administered online survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study. Results: 321 women were enrolled in the study. The largest group of respondents, aged between 20 and 40 years, lived in cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants and had a university education. Hypothyroidism along with Hashimoto's disease was declared by the largest number of respondents. The respondents' main source of nutritional knowledge was the media; the level of knowledge was assessed as insufficient. Conclusions: There is a need to increase nutritional education among patients in order to reduce the incidence of disease complications, the development of other comorbidities and will allow for health-promoting effects during the pharmacotherapy process.

Introduction. Obesity is recognized as one of the increasingly common diseases of civilization. It poses a great threat to the health and life of every person. Overweight and obesity have also been called a worldwide epidemic. Obesity is most often caused by prolonged positive energy balance: bad eating habits, low physical activity and other problems such as emotional. The current pandemic situation also promotes the incidence of overweight and obesity. Aim of the study. The main aim of the study was to investigate the impact of lockdown on the occurrence of overweight and obesity in adult population, while the specific aim was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the level of physical activity among adults. Material and Methods. A total of 244 adults participated in the study on the impact of lockdown on overweight and obesity. The criterion for inclusion in the study was a correctly completed questionnaire. The questionnaire was properly completed by 237 respondents, who were then qualified for further analysis. The study was conducted during the fall and winter seasons using a proprietary survey questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2010, and the results and conclusions of the scientific study were obtained from it. Results and Conclusions. The results of the study indicate that the respondents do not have enough knowledge about proper nutrition. In addition, it was found that their physical activity is decreasing and they are working more and more often remotely, which limits their movement during the day.

Chronic diseases of the osteoarticular and muscular system belong to a group of health problems that lead to a limitation of the organism's efficiency, making it difficult or impossible for individuals to function normally. Of the forms of treatment used for chronic diseases of the osteoarticular system, rehabilitation is by far the most common. These activities are mainly financed by the National Health Fund, as well as by social insurance. A complementary role is played by local governments that finance medical rehabilitation for their residents in the form of health policy programmes, implemented as public health tasks. An important argument in favour of rehabilitation at the self-governmental level is the long waiting time for medical rehabilitation services financed by the National Health Fund. The aim of the paper was to show the role of local government in increasing access to therapeutic rehabilitation services for patients with musculoskeletal diseases. The paper discusses such issues as the importance of musculoskeletal diseases for the efficiency of individuals, organization and financing of guaranteed services in curative rehabilitation, as well as increasing access to these services at the local government level.

Physical inactivity is a major public health issue. For the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and a number of malignancies, regular physical activity is a critical protective factor. Along with helping to maintain a healthy weight and overall wellbeing, physical activity has positive effects on mental health, including the avoidance of cognitive decline and the symptoms of despair and anxiety. Local governments all across the world have responded to this problem by launching population-level projects that give locals access to exercise opportunities. Local governments, through the implementation of their own tasks of health promotion and protection, carry out public health tasks as defined by the Law of 11 September 2015 on Public Health. These tasks include activities in the area of physical activity. The aim of the article was to show the role of local government in promoting physical activity among the local community. The article discusses such issues as WHO recommendations for physical activity as well as activities undertaken by local governments in the area of health promotion in the form of health policy programs and activities carried out in cooperation with NGOs.

Background: An increasing number of parents report problems with feeding their children to dieticians. Failure to expand the diet or sudden discontinuation of a variety of foods makes them increasingly worried about their child's monotonous diet and mealtime behavior The aim of this study was to assess parents' awareness of food neophobia and the attitudes and behaviors associated with it. Material and method: The study was carried out using a questionnaire-based indirect survey technique using a web form (CAWI). A total of 224 adults (parents of preschool children) participated in the study. The research tool was an anonymous survey questionnaire consisting of three parts. In the last part, a scale concerning neophobic behavior was used. The study group consisted mainly of mothers - 78.3% (n=159); fathers - 21.7% (n= 44). Results: In the study group, no child scored several points indicating a very high probability of neophobia. A high probability is possible in 28 children (13.79%), a possible predisposition to the occurrence of food neophobia exists in 66 children (32.51%), while 109 children (53.69%) do not present a predisposition to food neophobia. Conclusions: The study did not show children's behaviors reported by parents that could indicate a very high probability of food neophobia in their children. Moreover, the results of the questionnaire of neophobia scale indicate that this problem in the studied population concerns about 10% of the examined children.

When analyzing the structure of cancer incidence in Poland, it is extremely important to take chemopreventive actions as early as possible, which are aimed at reducing the incidence of the most common cancers, focusing on the prevention and use of natural bioactive factors contained in food. Anthocyanins are a large group of ingredients contained in plants that do not have a nutritional function, but play a significant role in the regulation of metabolic processes in the human body, which has a multidirectional pro-health and preventive effect in relation to many diseases, especially cancer. High hopes in chemoprevention are associated with the biological activity of the most common representative of anthocyanins, i.e. cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy3G). Most of the studies on Cy3G bioactivity come mainly from in vitro cell line tests and in vivo experimental studies on rodents. Studies of the biological activity of Cy3G most often include: the process of free radical absorption, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, insulinotropic, antimicrobial, chemotherapeutic and epigenetic effects. This publication summarizes the results of in vitro studies conducted on various cancer cell lines, which prove the antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive activity of Cy3G.

Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is one of the disorders with a psychological basis. The word ‘orthorexia’ comes from Greek, where ‘orthos’ means proper ‘orexia’ appetite. The disorder is characterized by an obsession with healthy eating, and as the disease worsens, significant food exclusions occur. In extreme cases of ON, the affected person forgoes eating any food, explaining it as a health concern. The degree of prevalence of ON in society is still highly questionable. Numerous studies indicate the prevalence of this problem, but there is no consistent data on the degree of severity of ON. The degree of severity of ON in the general population ranges from 6% to as high as 90%, such significant variation may be due to cultural reasons or a defect in the measurement tool. To date, a useful tool for diagnosing ON has not been developed, little that ON is still not treated as a separate disease or disorder. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present diagnostic possibilities in the form of psychometric tools that can be used in conducting scientific research and in psychological and dietetic practice.

Within the bone marrow, megakaryocytes thrive in an environment rich in numerous growth factors that influences their development, maturation, and may play a role in signaling the start of platelet production. Up to now, experiments concerning localisation of various populations of cells in rat bone marrow showed their certain relationship to the blood vessels. There are strikingly few reliable sources of information available in the literature that confirm the relationship between the localisation of these cells in connection to nerve fibers. Therefore the purpose of the present study was to examine if megakaryocytes are located in a defined relation to sensory and sympathetic nerve fibers. The study used immature 6 weeks rats of the Wistar breed of both sexes. The animals were kept under constant lighting conditions (12 hours light-dark cycle) and temperature, and had unrestricted access to water and food (standard laboratory rodent feed).Double immunostaining method was applied with usage of secondary antibodies conjugated with fluorochromes (Cy3 and DTAF) to identify cells. The antibody against CD42d was used to immunolocalise megakaryocytes, while in order to identify the distribution of nerves, antibodies anti-NPY (for detection sympathetic nerve fibers) and anti-PGP 9.5 (sensory nerve fibers) were applied. These findings showed the presence of megakaryocyte and megakaryoblastic cells which were distributed with a close relationship to the blood vessels but some of them were located in parenchyma. It was shown that NPY-positive and PGP 9.5-positive cells were present in the vicinity of blood cells. Furthermore, some megakaryocytes were located near PGP 9.5-labelled cells. The relationship between sympathetic nerve fibers containing neuropeptide Y and megakaryocytes was also detected.

Pre- and postnatal factors influence the formation of the newborn’s microbiome as early as birth and the intrauterine period has a substantial impact on the composition of the baby’s gastrointestinal microbiota and its subsequent development. This study intends to measure pregnant women’s knowledge of the importance of microbiota for the health of the newborn. The sample was selected based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The assessment of women’s knowledge was assessed by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests. This study population comprised 291 adult pregnant women with a mean age of 28.4 ± 4.7 years. A total of 34% (n = 99), 35% (n = 101), and 31.3% (n = 91) were at the 1–3 trimester, respectively. The results showed that 36.4% of the women were aware that the intrauterine period changes the makeup of the gastrointestinal microbiota, whereas 5.8% exhibited awareness of the composition of the child’s normal gut microbiota. Most of the women surveyed—(72.1%)—know that colonization of the tract occurs as early as the birth period. Women with student status (those who will pursue higher education in the future) and those who had given birth to the most children exhibited higher levels of knowledge.

There has been a need to organize the information on COVID-19 that has accumulated in the few months since the emergence of this new disease entity. There are already thousands of scientific publications on COVID-19. On top of that, there are also tens of thousands of press releases, and millions of pieces of information on social media. Being attacked with such an overabundance of information, often contradictory, has confused the public and thus made them susceptible to irrational, false theories about the COVID-19 epidemic. This is a major setback in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, which, to be successful, must be conducted in a rational manner. In view of this, the purpose of this article is to gather theoretical knowledge about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of negative emotions and frustration in society. The article considers three spheres of consideration: information noise, conspiracy theories, and social risk.

A new way of spending leisure time browsing the Internet, using social networking sites, and playing games has created a new health problem: cell phone addiction. So-called phonoholism or netholism is most thriving among young people, who prioritize entertainment in the real world, which most often necessitates physical activity, over entertainment in the virtual world, which requires a more static approach. However, some companies have gone against the traditional use of phone games by creating multimedia city games that require a dynamic-movement approach. The aim of this review is to gather current theoretical knowledge about electronic forms of entertainment in the context of their influence on users' physical activity, creation of health potential and formation of risk of addiction to such forms of entertainment.

Introduction Proper nutrition has the task of providing the right amount of energy and nutrients. A balanced diet should include vegetables and fruit at every meal. These products are rich in vitamin C, which is involved in many metabolic pathways in the body. A well-balanced diet will generally provide you with enough ascorbic acid. The content of vitamins in products depends on many factors, including the place of origin of the product, season, species, processing methods, or the conditions and time of storage. Vitamin C is easily destroyed by contact with oxygen, light radiation or metal ions. Aim of the study The aim of the study is to assess the content of vitamin C in juices squeezed from different types of oranges using various processing methods. Material and methods Three species of oranges were used for the study: Valencia, Saluciana and Novelina. Each type of orange was squeezed with 3 processing methods, using: a juicer, a slow-speed squeezer and a manual squeezer. The determination of vitamin C content in the obtained juices was performed by the Tillmans titration method with the use of standard, blue, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol dye. The vitamin C content in juices was determined: immediately after squeezing the juice, one hour after squeezing and 24 hours after squeezing. The juices were stored in the refrigerator between determinations. A pH meter was used to measure the pH, and a portable digital sucrose refractometer was used for the% sucrose measurement. Results The highest content of vitamin C immediately after pressing was observed in the juice of hand-squeezed oranges from the Salustiana variety. The decrease in vitamin C after 24 hours averaged 37.8%. Statistically significant differences were found between the method of squeezing and the time after squeezing the juice. Valencia variety was characterized by the highest pH, Navelina - the lowest. Significant differences were found in the mean level of the pH indicator and the type of orange.

Introduction. Cellular potential disruption leads to several polyplatoligias due to increased systemic inflammation, as a consequence of the visualized multivariate appearance. Objective. To highlight the relevance of the pathomechanism of oxidative stress and oxidative potential about changes in metabolic mechanisms at the cellular level, predisposing to polypatoligia and the development of destructive transformations visualized in outward appearance targeted by a pro-inflammatory nutritional model. Material and methods. A sample of 226 subjects was selected by random selection of respondents. The author's questionnaire concerned metric data, level of physical exercise, diagnosed disease entity, inflammatory changes within the body dermis, and level of frequency of consumption of selected food groups. The obtained results were verified by statistical analysis with a significance level of α

ObjectiveThe study aimed to assess the level of disease acceptance as well as the wellbeing and emotions that accompany cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and MethodsThe study involved 1,000 patients of the oncology centers (Silesia, Poland). The following questionnaires were used for the study: WHO-5–Well-Being Index, BDI–Beck Depression Inventory, disease acceptance scale, and proprietary multiple-choice questions regarding the impact of the epidemic situation on the respondents’ lives so far. The questionnaire study was conducted twice: in March-October 2020 (the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland) and March-October 2021 (renewed tightening of sanitary restrictions in Poland). The differences between the given periods were statistically analyzed.ResultsAt the time of the study, the respondents felt mainly anxiety related to the possibility of contracting COVID-19, the possibility of infecting a loved one, or staying in quarantine. Anxiety was also caused by the vision of poorer access to health services. Along with the duration of the epidemic, the acceptance of neoplastic disease has decreased and the incidence of depressive symptoms has increased.ConclusionThe wellbeing of the respondents deteriorated significantly during the pandemic. The respondents, in their daily functioning, were mainly accompanied by anxiety. The risk of depression has increased and the acceptance of the disease has decreased significantly.