To investigate the alterations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) serum levels in subjects with different intensity of cognitive impairment and different neurodegenerative processes. Serum BDNF levels were analyzed by ELISA kit in 378 subjects: 134 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 115 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 129 controls divided into two groups: neurodegenerative control group (ND), consisting of 49 Parkinson's disease patients without any cognitive complaints, and cognitively normal control group (CN), consisting of 80 subjects without any neurological disorders. AD patients had significantly lower (p<0.001) BDNF serum levels compared to MCI, CN and ND controls. Age and education had significant influence on BDNF serum levels regardless the diagnosis or group assignment. We have found no influence of depression on BDNF serum levels either in our group as a whole, or in each group assessed separately. We found significant correlation between BDNF serum levels and cognitive impairments. After multiple comparisons between the groups, we found that, after adjustment for confounding factors (age, gender, education, depression, cognitive impairment), BDNF serum levels were the lowest in AD group (p=0.05). Advanced age and low educational level are associated with decreased BDNF serum levels. Decreased BDNF serum levels correspond to the severity of cognitive impairment. There is no correlation between BDNF serum levels and depressive symptoms.

The relationship between the worsening of air quality during the colder season of the year and respiratory health problems among the exposed population in many countries located in cold climates has been well documented in numerous studies. Silesian Voivodeship, a region located in southern Poland, is one of the most polluted regions in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between daily concentration of particulate matter (PM: PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in ambient air and exacerbations of respiratory diseases during the period from 1 January 2016 to 31 August 2017 in the central agglomeration area of Silesian Voivodeship. The study results confirmed a significant increase of daily fine particulate matter concentration in ambient air during the cold season in Silesian Voivodeship with a simultaneous increase of the number of outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases. The moving average concentration was better suited for the modelling of biological response as a result of PM_2.5 or PM₁₀ exposure than the temporal lag of health effects. Each increase of dose expressed in the form of moving average concentration over a longer time leads to an increase in the daily number of respiratory effects. The highest risk of hospitalization due to respiratory diseases was related to longer exposure of PM expressed by two to four weeks of exposure; outpatient visits was related to a shorter exposure duration of 3 days.

Introduction: A rational way of nourishment, combined with adequate physical activity, are the basic components of maintaining proper body condition. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate nutritional status among children and adolescents with different levels of physical activity. Methods: The study group consisted of 1,013 students of both genders aged between 7 and 18 years attending elementary and post-primary schools (general and sports profile) in Siemianowice Slaskie. Results: The crude body mass index (BMI) values ranged from 12.78 to 35.3. Body mass within the limits of arbitrary standard referred to 70% of the examined group, overweight or obesity was found in over 25%. Percentage of body fat (FATP) values ranged from 5.7 to 45.2%. Conclusions: A significant number of children and adolescents were overweight or obese based on BMI categories and FATP values. Overweight and obesity were most common among younger children, particularly boys. Higher torso FATP levels were more common among sports-oriented class students. BMI is not a good tool for the determination of the nutritional status of children and adolescents, while the bioelectric impedance method enables one to conduct a precise analysis of adipose tissue content and location. Sports-oriented elementary school students from the study group were characterized by higher FATP values.

Cel pracy: Ból jest jednym z najczęściej zgłaszanych objawów stwardnienia rozsianego (SR). Wpływa na codzienne funkcjonowanie chorych, ogranicza zdolność do pracy, zmniejsza radość życia. Celem pracy była analiza wpływu dolegliwości bólowych na jakość życia oraz występowanie objawów lękowych i depresyjnych u chorych na SR.Metoda: Badaniem objęto 144 osoby (110 kobiet i 34 mężczyzn) z rozpoznanym na podstawie kryteriów Mc Donalda (2005) SR. Badanie przeprowadzono na podstawie autorskiej ankiety dotyczącej aktualnych i przebytych dolegliwości bólowych, kwestionariusza EuroQol 5D samooceny jakości życia chorych oraz szpitalnej skali oceny lęku i depresji (HADS).Wyniki: Wśród wszystkich badanych, aktualne dolegliwości bólowe zgłaszało 117 osób (81,3%), natomiast 120 osób (83,3%) deklarowało występowanie dolegliwości bólowych w przeszłości. Aktualnie chorzy zgłaszali: bóle kończyn –79 osób (54,9%), bóle głowy i twarzy –72 (50%), bóle kręgosłupa –72 (50%), bolesne kurcze mięśni –54 (38,6%), ból w gałce ocznej –37 (25,7%), objaw Lhermitte’a –32 (22,2%). Nasilenie objawów lękowych i depresyjnych było istotnie statystycznie wyższe u osób zgłaszających dolegliwości bólowe w porównaniu z chorymi bez tego typu dolegliwości (HADS-L: 8,0±4,3 vs 5,1±4,3; p<0,01; HADS-D: 6,0±4,2 vs 3,4±3,7; p<0,01), zaś jakość życia była istotnie niższa (EQ 5D: 8,1±1,9 vs 6,3±1,4; p<0,0001). Stwierdzono związek pomiędzy występowaniem bólu a płcią (p<0,01), wiekiem (p<0,05), stopniem niesprawności (p<0,05), wykształceniem (p<0,001) i pracą zawodową (p<0,01).Wnioski: Ból u chorych na SR wiąże się z wyższym nasileniem objawów lęku i depresji oraz niższą jakością życia. Płeć żeńska, starszy wiek, niższe wykształcenie, większa niesprawność oraz brak pracy zawodowej predysponują do występowania dolegliwości bólowych u chorych na SR.

Objectives: Published reports suggest that some adverse health impact may be related to noise exposure, and motor vehicle traffic is considered to be the main source of environmental hazard of noise. The aim of this study has been to assess an association between occurrence of sleep and...