Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) being produced during fermentation of non-digestible polysaccharides are regulatory compounds with the potential to influence inflammatory, as well as emotional state and cognition through the gut–brain axis. We analyzed the association between stool concentration of SCFAs (acetic acid (C 2:0), propionic acid (C 3:0), isobutyric acid (C 4:0 i), butyric acid (C 4:0 n), isovaleric acid (C 5:0 i) valeric acid (C 5:0 n), isocaproic acid (C 6:0 i), caproic acid, and (C 6:0 n) heptanoic acid (C 7:0)) and depressive symptoms among women and looked for the potential confounders of microbiota byproduct synthesis. We enrolled 116 women aged 52.0 ± 4.7 years and recognized depression in 47 (40.52%). To analyze the emotional state, Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) was used. We assessed SCFAs content by means of gas chromatography. Fiber intake was estimated using parts of food frequency questionnaire. The content of acetic acid was significantly lowered compared to non-depressed women (median {IQR}: 29.49 {20.81} vs. 34.99 {19.55}, p = 0.04). A tendency toward decreased level of propionic acid was noticed (median {IQR}: 16.88 {9.73} vs. 21.64 {12.17}, p = 0.07), while the concentration of isocaproic acid was significantly increased in (median {IQR}: 0.89 {1.15} vs. 0.56 {0.95}, p < 0.01) comparison to matched healthy subjects. We found negative correlations between acetate, propionate, and Beck’s score (r = −0.2, p = 0.03; r = −0.21, p = 0.02, respectively). Statistically significant correlations between acetate and propionate and BDI somatic score (r = −0.21, p = 0.01; r = −0.17, p = 0.03), as well as correlations regarding isocaproic and both cognitive/affective (r = 0.37, p = 0.0001) and somatic (r = 9.37, p < 0.001) scores were found. Women who declared current usage of lipid-lowering and thyroid drugs in the past, had higher content of C6:0-i (Users; median {IQR}: 1.91 {3.62} vs. non-users; 0.55 {0.67}; p = 0.0048).and lower of C2:0 (Users; median {IQR}: 23.07 {12.80} vs. non users 33.73 {21.44}; p = 0.041), respectively. No correlations regarding SCFAs concentration and fiber intake were found. We concluded that SCFAs may potentially contribute to depression phenotype, however, due to the small size of groups suffering from moderately heavy (n = 5) and severe (n = 7) depression, the conclusion should be treated with caution. Pharmacotherapy of hyperlipidemia and thyroid disease might affect SCFAs synthesis. Studies with more participants are required.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh most common cause of death in the group of oncological diseases. Due to the asymptomatic course, early diagnosis is difficult. Currently, early detection methods are only used in high-risk groups. A literature review based on the available results of observational studies on patients with pancreatic cancer and people from high-risk groups was used to summarize the knowledge on risk factors. The GLOBOCAN 2020 data were used to assess the epidemiological situation in Europe. A summary of screening recommendations was prepared based on the available documents from medical organizations and associations. Pancreatic cancer risk factors are divided into two main groups: non-modifiable factors, e.g., hereditary factors and age, which increase the risk of developing this disease, and modifiable factors—BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Hereditary factors account for 10% of pancreatic cancer cases. The highly specialized methods of early detection, (MRI, CT, or EUS) are used for screening high-risk populations. Of all the imaging methods, EUS is considered the most sensitive for pancreatic cancer and allows an accurate assessment of the size of even small lesions (<30 mm) and the extent of tumour infiltration into blood vessels. The available studies vary on the level of sensitivity and specificity of these methods for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. EUS, MRI, and CT are also expensive procedures and in some patients can be invasive, which is one of the arguments against the introduction of population screening programs based on imaging methods. Therefore, it is important to look for viable solutions that would improve early detection. This is important from the point of view of healthcare systems in Europe, where almost 29% of all global pancreatic cancer cases are reported.

(1) The aim of the study was to analyze nurses’ attitudes toward a patient’s death, taking into account the emotions they experience and the general perception of death. (2) The study involved 516 nurses from the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. The research was carried out using the diagnostic survey method using The Death Attitudes Profile Revisited (DAP-R-PL), the Scale of Fear and Fascination with Death, and a demographic questionnaire. (3) Research has shown that nurses accept the phenomenon of death as a natural process of human life; however, they adopt the attitude of fear of death. Most of the respondents experienced: sadness (73.4%), helplessness (58.5%), and regret (43.6%) due to the patient’s death. (4) Both age, sex, marital status, and place of residence significantly influenced the attitudes of nurses toward the patient’s death. Therefore, it is important to provide psychological support or special education in the case of dealing with the fear of death.

(1) Background: Menopause is an important event in women’s lives, possibly contributing to the development of CVD, which is associated with changes in the cardiovascular risk profile, markers of metabolic health, and subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the association of menopause with CVD risk factors and subclinical markers of cardiometabolic disease. (2) Methods: The study involved 235 women from the general population at different stages of menopause. The methods used in this study were: diagnostic survey, anthropometric measurement (WC, height, BMI, WHtR), blood pressure measurement, biochemical analysis of venous blood (lipid profile, glucose, insulin, HbA1c), and CVD risk assessment (ASCVD Risk Calculator, POL-SCORE, SCORE-2). (3) Results: The vast majority of respondents had low cardiovascular risk, irrespective of the scale used for measuring the risk of CVD. The age at menopause was not an independent risk factor for CVD. In Model 1, the age at menopause and the time since menopause were found to be factors that increased CVD risk (OR = 1.186 and 1.267, respectively). In Models 2 and 3, the severity of menopausal symptoms was not a risk factor for CVD. Models 3 and 4 demonstrated that women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) were at a significantly higher risk of CVD. In model 5, the odds ratio of CVD with MetS as a standalone factor was 13.812. (4) Conclusions: Menopause predisposes women to an increased risk and MetS to a significantly higher risk of CVD.

(1) The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of sociodemographic (age, sex, religion, place of residence) and university-related factors (university, year of studies) on the attitudes of students towards organ donation and transplantation. (2) Methods: The study was conducted on 1530 students from the Faculty of Medicine from three medical universities in Poland. The measurement tool was a validated questionnaire of attitude towards organ donation and transplantation (PCID-DTO RIOS: A questionnaire designed by the International Collaborative Organ Donation project about organ transplantation and donation). (3) Results: The completion rate was 88.10% (n = 1348). The vast majority declared a willingness to donate their organs in the future (86.60%), and 31.71% had an organ donation card. It was found that place of residence (p = 0.018) and religion (p = 0.003) had a significant effect on the attitude towards transplantation. Age, sex, and year of the study were not found to have a statistically significant effect on the decision. (4) Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that medical students show a favourable attitude towards transplantation in the first year of their study, and their knowledge and positive tendencies increase in the final years of medical education.

(1) Rationing of nursing care is withholding, limiting or not fulfilling the necessary nursing activities for patients. It may have a negative effect on patient safety and the quality of care. The aim of the present paper is the assessment of the effect of stress on the rationing of nursing care. (2) The current research has a cross-sectional, observational design. The study sample comprised 567 nurses. The following questionnaires were used in the study PIRNCA and PSS-10. (3) It was demonstrated that nurses with a high level of perceived stress rationed nursing care to a greater extent and showed lower assessment of nursing care and lower job satisfaction in comparison with nurses with average and low levels of perceived stress. (4) 1. Stress in nurses has a negative effect on rationing of nursing care and job satisfaction. It is recommended that actions aimed at developing effective stress coping skills be implemented as early as at the stage of training to become a nurse. 2. Factors such as marital status, sex, form of employment, place of employment and the level of professional burnout syndrome may have an influence on the level of experienced stress. In turn, the level of experienced stress, marital status, education, place of work as well as the place of residence may have an effect on rationing of nursing care and, consequently, affect the quality of care.