Background: The current review aims to present the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin and empagliflozin) on several hemodynamic parameters such as blood pressure, filtration pressure at the level of the glomerular capillaries, and the improvement of the preload and afterload of heart muscle. In order to stop chronic kidney disease (CKD) from progressing, SGLT2 inhibitors have become an important disease-modifying treatment. Materials and methods: Recent clinical studies have shown the success of these drugs in treating heart failure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and mortality. Results: The hemodynamic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors include a diuretic effect, due to reduced sodium reabsorption. Also, at this level, numerous studies have confirmed the beneficial effect of dapagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease, associated with a 44% reduced risk of progression in this pathology. SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with a reduction in blood pressure and weight loss, because of their diuretic effect, especially empagliflozin, which can explain the beneficial effects in patients with heart failure. In addition, mainly empagliflozin reduces stiffness and arterial resistance. Conclusions: Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, SGLT2 inhibitors reduce the interstitial volume by blocking the tubular reabsorption of glucose. This leads to reduced blood pressure and enhanced endothelial function. Consequently, there have been improvements in hospitalization and fatality rates. Because of their beneficial effects, these medications have been guidelines for managing heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

This review covers recent data on the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and faecal microbiome and examines the co-relations between the use of probiotics and changes in psychiatric state. We conducted a thorough search of academic databases for articles published between 2018 and 2022, using specific keywords and previously established inclusion/exclusion criteria regarding faecal microbiota, depressive disorder, and probiotics. Of 192 eligible articles (reviews, original papers, and clinical trials), we selected 10 that fully met our criteria and performed a careful review to determine any correlation between microbiome, probiotic treatment, and depression. All patients were adults (mean age, 36.8), with at least one MDD episode and onset of depression during adolescence (duration of 31.39 years of depressive episodes). We found mixed but mostly positive results regarding the influence of probiotic/prebiotic/postbiotic effects on depression. We could not identify the precise mechanism of action that led to their improvement. Antidepressants did not alter the microbiota, according to studies that evaluated this aspect. Probiotic/prebiotic/postbiotic treatments were proven to be safe, with few and mild side effects. Probiotics seemingly could be beneficial in patients with depression, as evidenced by well-established depression scales. Based on this finding and the high tolerability and safety of probiotics, no caveats against their routine use can be made. Some unmet needs in this field include determination of the dominant type of microbiota in specific patients with depression; study of microbiome-directed/driven treatment regarding dose and duration adjustments; and multiple versus single strain treatments.

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are reported to have changes in body structure, with negative impact on the course of disease. This study explored the effects of a standardized nutritional supplement containing five bacterial strains of at least five billion bacteria (Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Enterococcus faecium), L-glutamine, and biotin on the body composition and quality of life of patients with UC. Ninety-three patients over 18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of UC, for whom body composition could be accurately determined, were included in this observational follow-up randomized study. These patients were split into two groups: UC-P (44 patients with dietary counselling and supplement with probiotics) and UC-NP (49 patients with dietary counselling, without supplement). Body composition was assessed using the multifrequency bioelectrical impedance device, and the quality of life related to UC was evaluated by applying the short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (SIBDQ). The results showed that the average value of muscular mass (MM) and sarcopenic index (SMI) significantly increased (p = 0.043, respectively, p = 0.001) and a large fraction (p = 0.001) of patients had their SMI levels normalized in the UC-P group compared with UC-NP group. The extracellular water to total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) also had significantly different mean values (p = 0.022), favoring the UC-P group. By testing the differences between the average values of body composition parameters before and after treatment, we obtained significant results in body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.046), fat free mass (FFM) (p < 0.001), and ECW/TBW ratio (p = 0.048). The SIBDQ total score increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the UC-P group and was more strongly associated with changes in body parameters. Supplementation with probiotics associated with L-glutamine and biotin can improve body composition parameters, which in turn implies an increase in the overall quality of life of patients with UC.

The multidisciplinary nature of quality of life calls for appropriate definitions of the concept. Although it is specific to the field of sociology, it appears more and more often in ecology, economy, health, climatology, etc. The phenomenon of metamorphosis thus involves the different fields with activities that produce natural and technical changes. The modification of natural systems and their transformation due to natural-technical causes, characteristic of post-industrial mining areas, brings the new fields of research closer to the geographical environment. The analysis of the quality of life of the communities in these areas involves a transdisciplinary approach (between and within various disciplines as well as beyond any of them) to understand the physiognomy and health of landscapes, respectively the ecology of landscapes loaded with life resources. Through the lens of geotectonic movements in the last period of time, in addition to safe underground mining, ensuring security and health in public and private above-ground spaces requires the need to analyze the real situation, primarily in public institutions, in the public and private health system (hospitals, ambulatories). This paper briefly reviews the geoecology of quality of life, focusing on the most important definitions of the concept and highlighting the elements applicable to post-industrial mining areas.

Our aim was to analyse the characteristics of a large cohort of patients with IBS from Bihor County. We retrospectively studied 525 patients with IBS admitted between 2018-2023 in Bihor Emergency Clinical County Hospital. We extracted, interpreted and statistically analysed the following parameters: age, gender, environment, family history, smoking and alcohol status, Bristol scale, results of colonoscopy and treatment. The overall prevalence of IBS was 0.2%. Fifty-six % were women, 61% of patients were from urban environment, average age was 57.74 years, with a significant statistical difference between medium age in women vs men. There was a significant statistical correlation between the medium age, medium height, and weight of our patients and smoking status, alcohol consumption, and positive family history. Colonoscopy was done in 148 patients and conditions found in addition to IBS appeared in 7.6% of the cases. The dominant finding was tumoral (4% of IBS cases), followed by various inflammatory conditions. The mean age for patients with normal results was 55.07 years, 50.84 years for patients with inflammatory lesions and 67.81 years for tumoral lesions, with statistically significant correlations between age and the results of colonoscopy. We did not find statistical correlation between Bristol Scale and the results of colonoscopy. Only 142 patients followed specific treatment, suggesting low compliance. The epidemiological traits of our IBS patients seem to remain constant along the time as our research lines up with other studies. Among these, age, female gender and urban provenance seem to be the most significant factors, whereas habits, body mass index, and family history seem not to be statistically significant. As Rome criteria accurately diagnose IBS, we have to remember that colonoscopy should be recommended to a rather small and well selected cases of patients of older age, as in such cohorts tumoral lesions were most frequent.

To expose humans to microwave emissions damages biological welfare. For measuring the dielectric properties of biological tissues, it was studied whether current safety standard recommendations are inappropriate as far as human blood function is concerned. Thirty age and gender matched blood samples will serve as control. For increased accuracy detection of any possible alteration and to help orientate towards the details that are to be studied ultra-structurally, a special stain was used. An electronic microscope analysis will be performed on all the blood samples after specific preparation to see whether such microwave exposure might affect the ultra-structure of the blood cells. After modeling and sectioning the blocks were contrasted using acetate-uranyl and lead-citrate and study them with an electronic microscope. The obtained images are processed using Viewer Imaging Analysis software for further analysis. In the end, scanning microscopy must be used in order to detect any surface dimorphisms that might appear due to the microwave exposure.