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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid and widespread vaccination efforts, which proved critical in reducing the severity and mortality of the virus. However, the interplay between vaccinations, pre-existing skin conditions, and other comorbidities still needs to be explored. This study investigated the occurrence and severity of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with COVID-19 vaccines in individuals with chronic skin diseases and comorbidities within a Central European cohort. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted between May 2022 and February 2023, targeting students and employees of universities in Wrocław, Poland. A total of 513 respondents were analyzed, focusing on AEFIs following the first, second, and third doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the effects of COVID-19 on conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, acne vulgaris, rosacea, and various comorbidities. Results: COVID-19 vaccination effectively protected against severe disease across all doses. The analysis revealed no significant impact of either COVID-19 infection or vaccination on the course of selected skin diseases and comorbidities. The reporting of AEFIs to the Sanitary Inspection was notably low. The Moderna and Pfizer mRNA-based vaccines were associated with a higher reported number of AEFIs, particularly after the second and third doses, compared to AstraZeneca, which exhibited fewer adverse events after subsequent doses. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination is both safe and effective, even in patients with pre-existing skin conditions and comorbidities. Vaccine selection may benefit from considering individual health profiles, and better reporting of AEFIs is needed to enhance vaccine safety monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant attention to the role of dietary supplements, particularly Vitamin D, in enhancing immunity and possibly mitigating the severity of the disease. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of nutritional health in preventing severe outcomes from infections. Objective: This study aimed to assess consumption patterns of dietary supplements, with a focus on Vitamin D, among the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the demographic factors influencing these patterns. Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted in March 2021 among 926 pharmacy patients in Poland. The study analyzed the use of dietary supplements such as vitamin D, magnesium, and others in relation to variables like age, gender, and education level. Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson chi-square test. Results: The study revealed that 77.1% of the respondents reported using dietary supplements, with Vitamin D being the most frequently mentioned, used by 64.6% of participants. Magnesium was also widely used, with a higher overall prevalence of 67.3%, making it the most commonly consumed supplement. The use of supplements was significantly higher among women and individuals with higher education. Younger age groups, particularly those aged 18–30, were more likely to use supplements. Conclusions: The use of supplements was significantly higher among women, individuals with higher education, and those aged 18–30. However, the findings also indicate a growing awareness and increased use across the general population. This trend reflects increased public awareness of the potential health benefits of these supplements in boosting immunity. However, the study also highlights the need for public education on the risks of over-supplementation and the importance of appropriate dosages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Illegal anabolic-androgenic steroids are a significant lifestyle factor in infertility. The aim of our study was to analyze clinical cases resulting from their use for their frequency, geographical location, dynamics, substances used, the age and gender of the users, and the types of clinical complications. Methods: Publications were obtained by searching PubMed for the following terms: 'anabolic-androgenic steroids' and 'clinical case'. Publications from 1973 to 2022 were qualified for the analysis. Results: An increasing trend in the number of clinical cases resulting from the use of steroids, as well as the number of substances used simultaneously, was observed. The substances changed over the decades, but in the last 20 years, testosterone, nandrolone, stanozolol, methandienone, trenbolone, and methenolone have predominated. Cardiological side effects predominated in each period, with a continuous increase in their occurrence. The most common among these were myocardial infarctions and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The next most numerous adverse events involved psychiatric, endocrinological, hepatic, and oncological problems. We demonstrated a possible relationship between the use of individual steroids and medical issues; the strongest associations were between testosterone and endocrine complications, and methylstenbolone and hepatic complications. Conclusions: There has been an increasing trend in case reports describing serious health problems associated with the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids, a tendency to use several substances simultaneously, and a preferential use of substances with a high potential of causing serious side effects. These phenomena mainly concern men, with an average age of 30, and the health problems that dominate in clinical case reports—including serious cardiological, psychiatric, endocrinological, hepatic, and oncological diseases—may potentially affect reproductive health and pose a challenge for reproductive medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a huge challenge, affecting directly or indirectly the human race worldwide. Many COVID-19-related risk factors have been identified. Various drugs, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), have been claimed to increase the risk of acquiring or affecting the outcome of COVID-19 prior to the availability of vaccines. The aim of this review was to summarize the uncertain role of PPI use on the SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 clinical course, including both some well-established and presumptive indications to these potent inhibitors of gastric acid secretion, before vaccinations against COVID-19 were implemented on a massive scale. Summary: Although iatrogenic hypochlorhydria alters human microbiota and impairs the nonspecific innate immunity, increasing the likelihood of gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections, published data on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are quite inconclusive. On the contrary, the beneficial role of PPI use in the prevention of the upper gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly in at-risk patients receiving dual antiplatelet treatment and/or concomitant anticoagulation, constituting a significant proportion of COVID-19 patients, has been well-documented. Furthermore, PPIs have been marked as a potential antiviral remedy, just like many already existing repurposed drugs, that merit further studies in search of successful anti-CO-VID-19 pharmacotherapy. Key Messages: The controversial role of PPIs on the SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity propounded in the past should not prevent the use of these potent inhibitors of gastric acid secretion in well-established clinical indications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of agglomerations requires efficient and ecological transport systems, i.e. electrified transport. In order to achieve the required results of operation of electrified urban transport, especially energy efficiency, it is required to closely examine the existing power supply systems. The biggest share of urban traction systems in Poland belongs to tram systems (in 15 agglomerations and cities). Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in modernisation of the existing lines and construction of new ones. Enhancement of RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) and energy efficiency of supply systems is a necessary requirement, due to fact that new, modern tram rolling stock with higher power poses significant challenge for the existing, in many systems, old power supply infrastructure. Furthermore, due to low driving-range of autonomous vehicles equipped with batteries and a need of frequent charging of storage devices, catenary supplied urban transport will dominate in the areas of its use. In addition, it might be helpful in developing hybrid vehicles supplied both from a catenary and from energy storage devices (charged during run under catenary) on sections without catenary. The paper presents parameters characterizing tram power supply systems in Poland. The analyses carried out for many tram lines have shown that even at relatively low investments for modernisation of the tram power supply system, it is possible to obtain fast return (energy saving due to improvement of efficiency of recuperation and the resulting reduction of CO2 emission). Other advantages of modernisations include: enhancement of standards in supply of modern trams with higher power and improvement of reliability due to the reduced risk of disturbances and damages.

The paper presents a Simulink model of a DC metro traction supply system with a stationary energy storage device (SESD). The simulation model consists of traction substations, a train model, and an energy storage device (ESD) with supercapacitors (SC). A new energy management strategy considering the line voltage and current, SC state of charge (SOC) and SC charging and discharging current is proposed. This method can improve the energy savings and manage the remaining energy. Simulation results provided in this paper justify the control method. The proposed model can be used with different ESD, such as batteries.

Atherogenesis leads to the development of atherosclerosis, a progressive chronic disease characterized by subendothelial lipoprotein retention and endothelial impairment in the arterial wall. It develops mainly as a result of inflammation and also many other complex processes, which arise from, among others, oxidation and adhesion. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits are abundant in iridoids and anthocyanins—compounds with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to determine the effect of two different doses (10 mg and 50 mg per kg of body weight, respectively) of iridoid and anthocyanin-rich resin-purified Cornelian cherry extract on the markers that are important in the progress of inflammation, cell proliferation and adhesion, immune system cell infiltration, and atherosclerotic lesion development in a cholesterol-rich diet rabbit model. We used biobank blood and liver samples that were collected during the previous original experiment. We assessed the mRNA expression of MMP-1, MMP-9, IL-6, NOX, and VCAM-1 in the aorta, and the serum levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, CRP, PON-1, MCP-1, and PCT. The application of the Cornelian cherry extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw resulted in a significant reduction in MMP-1, IL-6, and NOX mRNA expression in the aorta and a decrease in VCAM-1, ICAM-1, PON-1, and PCT serum levels. The administration of a 10 mg/kg bw dose caused a significant decrease in serum ICAM-1, PON-1, and MCP-1. The results indicate the potential usefulness of the Cornelian cherry extract in the prevention or treatment of atherogenesis-related cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis or metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]