Sleep is a fundamental biological process in athletes, indispensable for tissue regeneration, exercise adaptation, and injury prevention. Disruptions in sleep architecture and duration have been consistently associated with diminished physical performance and adverse health outcomes, impairing muscular strength, power output, and endurance capacity, and concurrently compromising cognitive function. On a physiological level, insufficient sleep disrupts endocrine homeostasis, elevating cortisol levels and reducing anabolic hormones such as testosterone and growth hormone. At the molecular level, sleep loss promotes the upregulation of pro-apoptotic gene expression and exacerbates pro-inflammatory signalling pathways. Optimal sleep duration and quality represent a critical “regenerative window”, essential for enhancing athletic performance and safeguarding physiological resilience. Ensuring adequate sleep among athletes can be effectively achieved through educational, behavioural, and nutritional interventions outlined in this review.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment; however, the availability of cost-effective blood-based biomarkers for prognostic and predictive factors of immune treatment in patients with solid tumors remains limited. Due to low cost and easy accessibility, blood-based biomarkers should constitute an essential component of studies to optimize and monitor immunotherapy. Currently available markers that can be measured in peripheral blood include total monocyte count, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), relative eosinophil count, cytokine levels (such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble forms of CTLA-4 and PD-1 or PD-L1, as well as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). In our mini-review, we discuss the latest evidence indicating that routinely accessible peripheral blood parameters—such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and rheological parameters, which so far have been rarely considered for such an application, may be used as non-invasive biomarkers in cancer immunotherapy. Rheological parameters such as whole blood viscosity are influenced by several factors, such as hematocrit, aggregability and deformability of erythrocytes, and plasma viscosity, which is largely dependent on plasma proteins. Especially in cases where the set of symptoms indicates a high probability of hyperviscosity syndrome, blood rheological tests can lead to early diagnosis and treatment. Both biochemical and rheological parameters are prone to become novel and future standards for assessing immunotherapy among patients with solid tumors.

Ménétrier’s disease is a rare condition characterized by enlarged gastric folds, usually located in the whole body and fundus of the stomach. This report presents an unusual case of localized Ménétrier’s disease elevated by a submucosal lipoma and thus looking like a polypoid mass and causing an episode of upper gas trointestinal bleeding. The mass was successfully removed with endoscopic submucosal dissection. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed on a 76-year-old male patient after an episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, manifesting as fatigue and melena. A large polypoid mass (4 cm × 1 cm) with enlarged mucosal folds was found in the body of the stomach, between the lesser curvature and posterior wall. A small ulcer at the distal end of the mass was identified as the source of the bleeding. Biopsy was negative for neoplasia. Computed tomography showed a submucosal lesion beneath the affected mucosa, most likely a lipoma. The mass was removed en bloc with tunneling endoscopic submucosal dissection. Final pathology de termined that the mass included Ménétrier’s disease and a submucosal lipoma. The patient was scheduled for follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Localized Ménétrier’s disease can coexist with a submucosal lipoma creating a polypoid mass with risk of bleeding.

Background and objectives: It is now increasingly acknowledged that psychological resilience and effective stress management are important factors in determining performance in professional sport. The present review examines various psychological interventions used in sport psychology, with particular emphasis on methods for improving performance under competitive pressure. It also assesses the psychometric scales and paradigm-based tools available for measuring stress, stress reactivity, and pre-competition anxiety in athletes. Methods: A narrative review was carried out using the OVID, EBSCO, PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, with a preference for randomised controlled trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and consensus guidelines. Results: The results form the foundation for creating more thorough athlete support programmes. Psychological interventions are necessary to improve or maintain sporting performance, manage stress and anxiety, promote healthy sleep habits, and reduce the risk of injury. Conclusions: Athletic performance is influenced by technical, tactical, physical, and psychological factors. Psychological interventions, including self-talk, imagery, goal setting, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques, help manage stress while maintaining focus and motivation. It is recommended that athlete sleep education and psychosocially informed injury prevention be incorporated into these strategies.

Wprowadzenie: Cukrzyca typu 2 (type 2 diabetes mellitus – T2DM) to powszechne i postępujące zaburzenie metaboliczne, charakteryzujące się przewlekłą hiperglikemią i związane z istotnymi powikłaniami naczyniowymi. Chociaż insulinooporność i dysfunkcja komórek β pozostają kluczowe w jej patogenezie, uwaga skupia się ostatnio na roli reologii krwi w procesie chorobowym. Zmiany parametrów hemoreologicznych są coraz częściej uznawane za czynniki przyczyniające się do dysfunkcji mikrokrążenia w cukrzycy, nasilające niedotlenienie tkanek i mogące przyspieszać postęp powikłań cukrzycowych. Celem niniejszego przeglądu jest podsumowanie aktualnej wiedzy na temat zaburzeń reologicznych obserwowanych w T2DM, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem ich podłoża patofizjologicznego, znaczenia klinicznego i potencjału jako celów terapeutycznych. Stan wiedzy: Zaburzenia hemoreologiczne odgrywają kluczową rolę w patologii naczyniowej T2DM. Zmiany te upośledzają mikrokrążenie, wpływają na niedotlenienie tkanek i zwiększają opór naczyniowy, przyczyniając się do powikłań naczyniowych, takich jak retinopatia, nefropatia, udar mózgu i choroba niedokrwienna serca. Coraz więcej dowodów wskazuje również na rolę białek osocza (np. AGER, HSP) i stresu oksydacyjnego w modulacji reologii krwi. Parametry hemoreologiczne zyskują zatem na znaczeniu nie tylko jako wskaźniki diagnostyczne, ale także jako cele terapeutyczne. Oprócz kontroli glikemii coraz większy nacisk kładzie się na interwencje poprawiające reologię krwi, w tym statyny w celu obniżenia poziomu fibrynogenu oraz pentoksyfilinę w celu zwiększenia odkształcalności erytrocytów i zmniejszenia lepkości. Wnioski: Zwiększona lepkość osocza, podwyższone stężenie fibrynogenu, agregacja erytrocytów i zmniejszona odkształcalność erytrocytów to najważniejsze parametry reologiczne, które warto monitorować. Utrzymanie optymalnego poziomu glikemii i lipidów, a także przyjmowanie leków takich jak statyny i pentoksyfilina poprawiają reologię krwi, zmniejszając ryzyko powikłań naczyniowych.