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Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed the effects of supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) known as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs), commonly called fish oils, on the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. In a living organism, omega-3 FA (EPA and DHA) and omega-6 FA (arachidonic acid [AA]) are also involved in the formation of key regulators of platelet aggregation, vasodilation and inflammation. It is important to know that EPA and DHA act in different ways on membrane structure and lipid metabolism. For this reason, combining DHA with EPA may modify the clinical effects of only EPA treatment. The effects of omega-3 FAs on cardiovascular system remain uncertain. Two recent negative trials of EPA + DHA, STRENGTH and OMEMI, have put the utility of omega-3 FAs in preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular events under debate. This paper presents the actual knowledge on the role of polyunsaturated acids in cardiovascular diseases. more...

Fatty acids are important structural and functional elements of human body. We can distinguish several types: among others polyunsaturated fatty acids, which include omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3PUFA) and omega-6 fatty acids(ω-6PUFA). The first group has pleiotropic health-promoting effects, while the second group, ω-6PUFA, negatively affects the homeostasis of the human body and contributes to the development of numerous diseases. Both the amount and the relative ratio of these acids in the diet is an important factor affecting health and quality of life. more...

Increasing knowledge of the gut microbiota and its interference in human homeostasis in recent years has contributed to a better understanding of number of different interactions occurring in the gastrointestinal tract. Disruption of the microbiota is detrimental to health and contributes to the development of numerous diseases and may also be an accelerator of pathophysiological processes such as atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide, so the development of new methods to support the treatment and prevention of these diseases becoms one of the priorities of modern medicine. Probiotics may constitute an important element of support in the treatment and prevention of CVD (cardiovascular diseases). A number of papers support such a statement, however, larger clinical trials are needed. Through a number of mechanisms including mitigating inflammation, sealing the intestinal epithelium, and affecting metabolism, probiotics may have a beneficial effect on general health and slow down the pathogenesis of many diseases, including those affecting the cardiovascular system. This article contains a review of current discoveries on the role of probiotics in the prevention and support of CVD treatment. more...

The human microbiota has a tremendous effect on our health. In the last decades, our knowledge about interactions between bacteria and humans have grown greatly. Not only is it necessary for humans to synthesize vitamins, to have tight intestinal barriers or protect from pathogens, it also has an impact on our immune system and thus plays an important role in autoimmune diseases and prevention of excessive inflammatory response. The idea of probiotics is to restore the balance in humans digestive microbiota. There is a growing number of scientific papers that proves a positive impact of using probiotics in various diseases. However, there are still questions that need to be answered before probiotics play a bigger role in the treatment. This paper presents the information about the use of probiotics in most common diseases of gastrointestinal tract. more...

Ballota nigra, also known as black horehound is a common medical herb used in folk medicine around the world. First reported mentions of its medical properties and use goes as far as the 13th century. The use of black horehound depends on regions and countries. It is used mostly to treat e.g. mild sleep disorders, nervousness, upset stomach, wound healing. It can be used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antifungal drug. Moreover, it has been reported as a potential cancer drug. This extensive usage is particularly interesting for us. The aim of this review is to present available data on B. nigra pharmacological effects and known traditional uses gathered from a wide range of scientific articles published in 1997–2020. more...

Introduction: Plants are a rich source of healing substances. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide while breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are potential founder cells for metastasis. Therefore, their assessment may be used for monitoring of treatment as well as detecting cancer metastatis. Hence, it is suggested that the number of CTCs may be a valuable tumour biomarker during therapy. more...

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignant cancer among women. Both drug resistance and metastasis are major problems in the treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, adjuvant therapy may improve patients’ survival and affect their quality of life. It is suggested that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is well known for its chemopreventive activity and acts on numerous molecular targets may inhibit the growth and metastasis of some cancers. Hence, discovering the metastatic molecular mechanisms for breast cancer may be useful for therapy. more...

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial systemic skeletal disease that is characterized by a low bone mineral density (BMD) and the microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility. The search for new genes that may play an important role in the regulation of bone mass and the development of osteoporosis is ongoing. Recently, it was found that altering the activity of the endothelin-1-converting enzyme encoded by the ECE1 gene may affect bone mineral density (BMD). Another gene involved in the process of osteoblast differentiation and maturation is believed to be PPARG (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma). This participates in regulating the transformation of stem cells and affects the process of bone formation and resorption. Therefore, we analyzed the association of the ECE1 and PPARG variants with osteopenia and osteoporosis risk in the Polish population. This study included a group (n = 608) of unrelated Polish women (245 individuals with osteoporosis (aged: 57 ± 9), 109 individuals with osteopenia (aged: 53 ± 8) and 254 healthy controls (aged: 54 ± 8)). The real-time PCR technique was used to determine the genetic variants for rs213045 (-338G>T) and rs213046 (-839A>C) of the ECE1 gene and rs1801282 (Pro12Ala, C>G) of the PPARG gene. Analysis of the PPARG rs1801282 variants did not show any association with the risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia. However, in the densitometric results, lower median Z-score values were observed for the T allele compared to the G allele for the rs213045 variant of the ECE1 gene (−1.11 ± 1.07 vs. −0.78 ± 1.21, p = 0.021). Moreover, the TT genotype for the rs213045 variant was more common in women with osteopenia (13.8%, OR = 2.82, p < 0.05) and osteoporosis (7.8%, OR = 1.38, p > 0.05) compared to the control group (5.5%). Additionally, our results suggested that the T allele of rs213045 was more common in women with osteopenia compared to the controls. We further observed that the haplotype containing two major GA alleles of ECE1 (rs213045, rs213046) could reduce the risk of osteopenia in our population. Finally, we found that women with osteoporosis had statistically significantly lower body mass and BMI values compared to the control group. Our results suggest that the ECE1 rs213045 variant may increase the risk of osteopenia. However, the data obtained require confirmation in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Pain is one of the most common symptoms that lead people to seek medical attention. In standard medical practice, a patient's well-being depends on pain relief. There is still a need for innovative approaches to pain management, since numerous drugs currently used to manage it have significant adverse effects. Narcotic herbal remedies (e.g. THC) have gained popularity in recent years as a potential treatment with minimal negative effects and analgesic impact. Others, like morphine, are widely used in medicine, and are placed in the analgesic ladder of WHO. Cocaine derivatives are sometimes used in otolaryngologist practice. This publication aims to provide an overview of the the analgesic effect of narcotic herbal treatments in a range of situations where pain management is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

One of the most prevalent symptoms that prompt people to seek assistance is pain. In regular medical practice, alleviating pain is essential for a patient’s well-being. Many different medications are used to control it, but many of them have major side effects, so there is still a demand for novel ways to treat pain. In recent years, herbal medicines have increasingly been seen as a promising solution with few side effects and analgesic activity. The aim of this publication is to summarise the information about the analgesic effect of non-narcotic herbal remedies in a variety of situations in which pain management is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Cancer is one of the most serious problems facing modern medicine. Research on new methods of treating this disease is being conducted. Existing methods are increasingly effective, but they also have risks to human health. The attention of scientists is focused on compounds of natural origin, as they are less toxic to human body than traditional chemotherapeutics. They are also much more accessible and their production is much less complex and expensive. There are several natural compounds with anticancer potential. In this article, we present three groups of potential therapeutic importance - polyphenols, brassinosteroids, and flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

CYP3A5 enzyme encoded by CYP3A5 is important for drug metabolism in gut and liver, whereas P-glycoprotein by ABCB1, is an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump which exports endo- and exogenous substances outside the cell. The study was to assess the prevalence of CYP3A5 alleles: *1, *2, *3, *4, *6 and *7, and C and T of ABCB1 in Poles, Belarusians and Bosnians and to compare it with the data reported from other European populations. Overall, 511 unrelated healthy subjects from Poland (n = 239), Belarus (n = 104) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 168) were included in this study. Allele frequencies and statistical parameters (AMOVA version 2.9.3) were determined. In Poles, Belarusians and Bosnians the *3 allele of CYP3A5 was the most common, and wild-type allele *1, were: 5.8%, 1.6% and 2.1%, respectively. Allele *2 was very rare, and alleles *4, *6 and *7 were not detected. For the populations mentioned above, the ABCB1 allele C was: 48.1%, 51.4%, 52.4%, respectively. In compared populations, the distribution of CYP3A5 variants but not ABCB1, differed significantly. Alleles *4, *6 and *7 of CYP3A5 did not occur or occurred rarely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objective: To examine the association of four FCN1 SNPs: −542G>A (rs10120023), −144C>A (rs10117466), +6658C>T (rs148649884), and +7895A>G (rs150625869) with dental caries in Polish children. Subjects and Methods: The study group consisted of 261 15‐year‐old Polish teenagers: 82 children with "higher" caries experience (having Decayed Missing Filled Teeth, DMFT >5) and 179 children with "lower" caries experience (having DMFT ≤5). Moreover, in additional comparison, a group of 229 children with caries experience (DMFT ≥1) was compared to a caries‐free (DMFT =0) group of 32 children. Extraction of genomic DNA was performed from buccal swabs, and genotyping was performed by Real‐Time PCR. Results: FCN1 SNPs +6658C>T and +7895A>G appeared to be monomorphic in our sample. The genotype, allele, or haplotype distributions in FCN1 SNPs −542G>A and −144C>A in children with "higher" caries experience did not differ significantly from those in "lower" caries experience group. Similar results with no significant differences were demonstrated for subjects with DMFT ≥1 compared to subjects with DMFT =0. Conclusion: FCN1 SNPs are not the markers of dental caries susceptibility in Polish children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objectives: Hyperandrogenism is a frequently recognized endocrine imbalance in which there is excessive production of androgens. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms on chosen bone metabolism and biochemical parameters in women with hyperandrogenism., Material and Methods: Eighty young females with hyperandrogenism were enrolled in the study, in whom selected parameters of bone turnover, endocrine and metabolic parameters were determined. Two polymorphisms of the VDR gene were analyzed: rs731236 (TaqI) and rs1544410 (BsmI), using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical tests were performed in this research with the program SPSS Statistics 17.0 for Windows., Results: The rs731236 and rs1544410 polymorphisms of the VDR gene turned out to be statistically significantly related to the concentration of insulin determined in the 60 'glucose tolerance test. There was no relationship between the studied polymorphisms of the VDR gene and the determined parameters of bone metabolism and other biochemical parameters., Conclusions: The research presented that VDR gene variants may influence disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism in young women with hyperandrogenism. more...

The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of the TLR2 (Toll-like receptor 2 gene) 2258G>A (rs5743708), TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4 gene) 896A>G (rs4986790), and TLR4 1196C>T (rs4986791) polymorphisms with dental caries in Polish children. The participants, 261 15-year-old children, were divided into two groups: 82 cases (i.e., children with DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index >5, having either moderate or high caries experience, assigned as the "higher" caries experience group) and 179 controls (i.e., children with DMFT ≤ 5, having either low or very low caries experience, assigned as the "lower" caries experience group). Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal swabs, and genotyping was determined by means of real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). There were no significant differences in the genotype or allele distributions in all tested SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) between children with "higher" caries experience and those with "lower" caries experience. TLR4 haplotype frequencies did not differ significantly between cases and controls. In an additional analysis with another case definition applied (subjects with DMFT ≥ 1 were assigned as "cases", whereas children with DMFT = 0 were assigned as "controls"), no significant differences in the TLR2 and TLR4 genotype, allele frequencies, and TLR4 haplotype frequencies were found between the case and the control groups. The results of the present study broaden our knowledge on the potential genetic factors that might affect caries risk and suggest that TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 rs4986790 and rs4986791 SNPs are not associated with dental caries susceptibility in Polish children. more...

Introduction: Toll-like receptors (TLR) may play a key role in initiating cellular signaling pathways by increasing the levels of inflammatory cytokines which, cooperating with osteoclasts, influence bone turnover Numerous research articles focused on the genetic background of this condition, among others on polymorphic variants in TLR genes. The aim of the study was to examine the role of 20877G>A (Arg753GIn) in TLR2 gene and 8993C>T (Thr399lle) in TLR4 gene in the etiopathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis in Polish women., Material and Methods: This study included 180 postmenopausal women (t-score < or = -2.5), 153 postmenopausal women with osteopenia (t-score between -2.5 and -1), and 91 postmenopausal healthy women with correct t-score (t-score >-1). The 20877G>A TLR2 and 8993C>T TLR4 polymorphisms were determined by PCR/RFLP analysis., Results: The analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences in the distribution of genetic variants of 20877G>A TLR2 polymorphism between the investigated groups of women. The most interesting results were connected with 8993C>T TLR4 polymorphism. Comparison of the group with osteoporosis and controls revealed overrepresentation of heterozygous 8993CT genotype (13.3 vs. 5.5%, OR=2.65, p=0.03). Also, mutated 8993T allele was overrepresented in the group with osteoporosis (6.7 vs. 2.7%, OR=2.52, p=0.04). Higher frequency of heterozygous 8993CT genotype (13.3 vs. 4.6%, OR=3.21, p=0.004) and mutated 8993T allele (6.7 vs. 2.3%, OR=3.05, p=0. 005) was noted in osteoporotic women as compared to the group with osteopenia. Higher frequency of heterozygous 8993CT genotype (13.3% vs. 5.3%, OR=2.73, p=0.003) and mutated 8993T allele (6.7 vs. 2.7%, OR=2.67, p=0.004) was observed in the group with osteoporosis as compared to women with osteopenia and with correct t-score., Conclusions: Results of our study suggest an important role of mutated 8993T allele of 8993C>T TLR4 polymorphisms in the etiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Nevertheless, this observation requires further investigation with larger sample size comprised of Polish women. more...