Psychotic treatment-resistant depression is a complex and challenging manifestation of mood disorders in the clinical setting. Psychotic depression is a subtype of major depressive disorder characterized by mood-consistent hallucinations and/or delusions. Psychotic depression is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Ketamine appears to have rapid and potent antidepressant effects in clinical studies, and the Federal Drug Agency approved the use of ketamine enantiomer esketamine-nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression pharmacotherapy in 2019. This study aimed to assess the usage of ketamine for major depressive disorder with psychotic features as an add-on treatment to the standard of care. Here we present four inpatients suffering from treatment-resistant depression with psychotic features, including one with severe suicidal crisis, all treated with 0.5 mg/kg intravenous infusion of ketamine. Subsequent monitoring revealed no exacerbation of psychotic symptoms in short and long-term observation, while stable remission was observed in all cases with imminent antisuicidal effect. Results suggest ketamine may benefit individuals with treatment-resistant depression with psychotic features.

Introduction and objective: The COVID-19 pandemic caused necessary changes to the health care system in terms of the organization and treatment of patients. Remote forms of medical consultations were widely introduced to minimize the risk of viral transmission. The aim of the study was to...

The low attendance rate for cancer screening tests in Poland is a major healthcare concern that requires specific analysis and the development of implementation recommendations for prevention, and both actions are likely to benefit culturally similar countries. Four female cancers account for approximately 20% of all cancer cases—breast cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer—suggesting that gynecologists have a significant preventative role. Of the four, breast cancer and cervical cancer are among the 10 most common malignant neoplasms globally, regardless of gender, occur only in women and are known to have effective screening measures. Our research aims to create a screening model that combines cervical cancer and breast cancer to maximize health outcomes for women at risk of both cancers. In the study protocol, we have created a model that maximizes benefits for patients with minimal additional costs to the health care system. To achieve the set goal, instead of regular clinical breast exams as recommended by the gynecological societies, we proposed an ultrasound examination, during which palpation may also be performed (in the absence of elastography). We present a scheme for such a protocol that takes into consideration all types of prevention in both cancers, and that emphasizes breast ultrasound as the most frequently missing element. Our study includes a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of our strategy, and the crucial need for infrastructure and education for the successful implementation of the program. We conclude that our model merits consideration and discussion among health-care decision makers, as the screening changes we propose have significant potential benefits for the female population.

Objectives: Dietary supplements and herbal products are widely used by patients undergoing anticancer treatment, and a considerable proportion of this use is never mentioned to their physician. This review summarises current evidence on the prevalence of such use, the pharmacological basis of interactions with anticancer agents, and the factors underlying non-disclosure on the part of both patients and clinicians. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for publications from January 2011, and July 2026, using combinations of terms relating to dietary supplements, herbal medicine, oncological treatment, herb–drug interactions and physician–patient communication. Priority was given to systematic reviews, meta-analyses and studies conducted in populations receiving anticancer treatment. Key findings: Reported prevalence varies widely between studies, depending on which products are counted and on the populations examined. Interactions arise principally through effects on drug metabolism and transport. Patients most often cite the absence of any question from the clinician as their reason for not disclosing; clinicians, in turn, describe their own knowledge of these products as insufficient. Training programmes have been developed to address this, but their effectiveness has yet to be established. Conclusions: Interactions between anticancer agents and dietary supplements or herbal products may be clinically relevant, yet often go unrecognised because their use is not disclosed. Non-disclosure is better understood as a feature of the consultation than as a behaviour of the patient. Two forms of intervention follow: strengthening clinicians' competence, and making enquiry about supplement use routine and free of judgement.