Vitamin D is a steroid hormone essential to a broad spectrum of physiological processes. Synthesized in the skin via UVB exposure and obtained from dietary sources, it plays a central role in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and is critical to cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, metabolic, and reproductive health. Owing to its pleiotropic effects, vitamin D deficiency can lead to widespread systemic dysfunction and has been associated with increased all-cause mortality. According to a position statement of the European Calcified Tissue Society from 2019 its prevalence is between 30–60% in Western, Southern and Eastern Europe. The 2023 Polish recommendations titled "Vitamin D deficiency in developmental age – the scale of the problem, prevention, treatment, and the latest 2023 guidelines for Poland", state that approximately 90% of adults and nearly all adolescents in Poland are affected by vitamin D deficiency. High-risk groups include older adults, individuals with obesity, pregnant women, and those with limited sunlight exposure or chronic diseases. Although traditionally associated with autoimmune conditions, growing evidence links vitamin D deficiency to a range of non-autoimmune disorders. As a modifiable factor implicated in diverse chronic diseases, vitamin D deficiency underscores the need for standardized diagnostic criteria and targeted clinical trials. This review synthesizes molecular, clinical, and epidemiological findings to evaluate the systemic consequences of vitamin D deficiency. It identifies key research gaps, methodological inconsistencies, and the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria. The need for personalized supplementation strategies and large-scale randomized trials is emphasized to clarify causal relationships and inform evidence-based clinical guidelines.

Background: Construct validity is essential for psychiatric measurement tools that inform diagnostic decisions, treatment planning, and forensic evaluations. The four clinician rated instruments examined in this review MacCAT-T, PCL-R, PANSS, and CAPS represent distinct theoretical constructs that require a clear correspondence between their conceptual domains and empirical performance. Aims: To critically evaluate the construct validity of MacCAT-T, PCL-R, PANSS, and CAPS by examining their theoretical grounding, consistency of empirical findings, stability of factor structures, and contextual limitations relevant to clinical use. Methods: A structured narrative review was performed. One hundred forty five publications were identified and sixty two met predefined inclusion criteria. Studies were screened for psychometric relevance and appraised qualitatively with focus on construct representation, factor structure, reliability, and methodological limitations. Evidence was synthesized within two domains cognitive and behavioral assessment and psychiatric symptom rating. Results: MacCAT-T demonstrates construct validity for decisional capacity, although age related cognitive variation restricts its applicability across the lifespan. PCL-R shows support for its core construct across genders and ethnic groups, yet factor instability and context dependent score variation limit its theoretical coherence. PANSS retains core symptom domains and supports shortened forms, although inconsistencies in factor structure weaken its construct definition. CAPS displays robust construct validity across trauma exposed groups, while symptom overlap with other psychiatric disorders and trauma specific variability impose interpretive constraints. Conclusions: All four instruments show empirical support for construct validity, but the validity of each construct is conditional and shaped by population characteristics, contextual influences, and variability in factor structure. Accurate interpretation requires explicit attention to theoretical boundaries, methodological limitations, and the clinical conditions under which each construct remains stable.

Introduction: Obstructed HemiVagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly (OHVIRA) syndrome, also known as Herlyn–Werner–Wunderlich syndrome, is a rare congenital Müllerian duct anomaly, characterized by uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Symptoms typically appear shortly after menarche and include dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain. The psychological burden associated with fertility and reproductive outcomes in women with OHVIRA syndrome remains poorly investigated. Materials and methods: A 30-year-old primigravida with left renal agenesis and a history of vaginal abscess, dysmenorrhea, and chronic pelvic pain received a delayed OHVIRA syndrome diagnosis. The patient had previously been informed that spontaneous conception and an uncomplicated pregnancy were highly unlikely because of her congenital gynecological condition, resulting in significant fertility-related anxiety and psychological distress. Under careful supervision and counseling, she conceived successfully, and the pregnancy progressed without complications; an elective cesarean section was performed at term. A literature search using the PubMed and Embase databases was conducted between November 2025 to April 2026 to identify studies reporting reproductive outcomes and psychological aspects in patients diagnosed with OHVIRA syndrome and other Müllerian anomalies. Results: Evidence-based counseling contributed to improvement of quality of life and reduction of pregnancy-related anxiety of the reported patient with OHVIRA syndrome. A limited number of studies discuss the mental burden and fertility-related anxiety of patients with OHVIRA syndrome and other Müllerian anomalies. Conclusions: Spontaneous conception and uncomplicated pregnancy are possible for women with OHVIRA syndrome. The psychological burden associated with congenital gynecological conditions remains under-recognized and requires further investigation. Comprehensive counseling and interdisciplinary care are essential to improve reproductive education, mental health support, and pregnancy outcomes in patients with congenital gynecological anomalies.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiac rhythm disturbances represent a major and growing global health burden, contributing substantially to stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Because AF is frequently asymptomatic or paroxysmal, timely diagnosis remains a persistent clinical challenge. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the technological principles, diagnostic performance, clinical utility, and limitations of consumer smartwatches equipped with photoplethysmography (PPG) and single-lead electrocardiography (ECG) for the detection and prevention of heart rhythm disturbances. Large prospective cohorts, including the Apple Heart Study and the Fitbit Heart Study, together with multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses, demonstrate that smartwatch-based PPG and ECG algorithms achieve high sensitivity and specificity for AF detection. This enables opportunistic screening and supports targeted secondary prevention of thromboembolic events, particularly ischemic stroke. However, real-world implementation raises concerns regarding false-positive alerts, overdiagnosis, patient anxiety, and the necessity of physician-confirmed diagnosis. Smartwatch-based rhythm monitoring constitutes a clinically meaningful, evidence-supported adjunct to conventional arrhythmia detection, but its integration into routine cardiological practice requires structured confirmatory pathways, clinician education, and further research addressing diverse populations and long-term outcomes.