Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Selected Lifestyle Elements among Young Women with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus from Northeast Poland: A Case-Control COVID-19 Survey

An appropriate balanced diet and dietary patterns are important at every stage of life, but in the case of young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), it is especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess health and nutritional behaviors, mainly adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland among women with T1DM, and to compare them with a healthy population. This survey (based on a questionnaire) was conducted in December 2020 and included 219 young women, healthy (n = 106) and with T1DM (n = 113), from northeast Poland. Over 30% of the study group admitted that they did not engage in any physical activity. A large proportion declared that their screen time was 5–7 h a day (48% in control and 40% in T1DM group). High intakes of sweet-beverages, sweets and red meat, but also low intakes of olive oil, fish and nuts were observed. The vast majority of participants (60% vs. 71%) were moderately adherent to the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). The study demonstrated that despite the similarity between the behaviors of healthy people and those with T1DM, negative health and nutritional practices, such as low physical activity, long screen time, medium and high levels of stress and inappropriate eating habits were observed.     

Aspartame—True or False? Narrative Review of Safety Analysis of General Use in Products

Aspartame is a sweetener introduced to replace the commonly used sucrose. It was discovered by James M. Schlatter in 1965. Being 180–200 times sweeter than sucrose, its intake was expected to reduce obesity rates in developing countries and help those struggling with diabetes. It is mainly used as a sweetener for soft drinks, confectionery, and medicines. Despite its widespread use, its safety remains controversial. This narrative review investigates the existing literature on the use of aspartame and its possible effects on the human body to refine current knowledge. Taking to account that aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener, it seems appropriate to continue research on safety. Studies mentioned in this article have produced very interesting results overall, the current review highlights the social problem of providing visible and detailed information about the presence of aspartame in products. The studies involving the impact of aspartame on obesity, diabetes mellitus, children and fetus, autism, neurodegeneration, phenylketonuria, allergies and skin problems, its cancer properties and its genotoxicity were analyzed. Further research should be conducted to ensure clear information about the impact of aspartame on health.     

Effect of Co Substitution and Thermo-Magnetic Treatment on the Structure and Induced Magnetic Anisotropy of Fe84.5−xCoxNb5B8.5P2 Nanocrystalline Alloys

In the present work, we investigated in detail the thermal/crystallization behavior and magnetic properties of materials with Fe_84.5-xCo_xNb₅B_8.5P₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 at.%) composition. The amorphous ribbons were manufactured on a semi-industrial scale by the melt-spinning technique. The subsequent nanocrystallization processes were carried out under different conditions (with/without magnetic field). The comprehensive studies have been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, hysteresis loop analyses, vibrating sample magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Moreover, the frequency (up to 300 kHz) dependence of power losses and permeability at a magnetic induction up to 0.9 T was investigated. On the basis of some of the results obtained, we calculated the values of the activation energies and the induced magnetic anisotropies. The X-ray diffraction results confirm the surface crystallization effect previously observed for phosphorous-containing alloys. The in situ microscopic observations of crystallization describe this process in detail in accordance with the calorimetry results. Furthermore, the effect of Co content on the phase composition and the influence of annealing in an external magnetic field on magnetic properties, including the orientation of the magnetic spins, have been studied using various magnetic techniques. Finally, nanocrystalline Fe_64.5Co₂₀Nb₅B_8.5P₂ cores were prepared after transverse thermo-magnetic heat treatment and installed in industrially available portable heating equipment.     

Comparison of Failure for Thin-Walled Composite Columns

The novelty of this paper, in relation to other thematically similar research papers, is the comparison of the failure phenomenon on two composite profiles with different cross-sections, using known experimental techniques and advanced numerical models of composite material failure. This paper presents an analysis of the failure of thin-walled structures made of composite materials with top-hat and channel cross-sections. Both experimental investigations and numerical simulations using the finite element method (FEM) are applied in this paper. Tests were conducted on thin-walled short columns manufactured of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material. The experimental specimens were made using the autoclave technique and thus showed very good strength properties, low porosity and high surface smoothness. Tests were carried out in axial compression of composite profiles over the full range of loading—up to total failure. During the experimental study, the post-buckling equilibrium paths were registered, with the simultaneous use of a Zwick Z100 universal testing machine (UTM) and equipment for measuring acoustic emission signals. Numerical simulations used composite material damage models such as progressive failure analysis (PFA) and cohesive zone model (CZM). The analysis of the behavior of thin-walled structures subjected to axial compression allowed the evaluation of stability with an in-depth assessment of the failure of the composite material. A significant effect of the research was, among others, determination of the phenomenon of damage initiation, delamination and loss of load-carrying capacity. The obtained results show the high qualitative and quantitative agreement of the failure phenomenon. The dominant form of failure occurred at the end sections of the composite columns. The delamination phenomenon was observed mainly on the outer flanges of the structure.     

Could the day hospital wards be a possibility of reducing treatment costs in psychiatry?

The aim of the article is a presentation of the possible manner in which cost reduction of psychiatric treatment could be achieved by introducing a day hospital system. Based on literature, a similar improvement in clinical and social outcome between both partial and full hospitalization was shown. The comparison of costs in the studied models of treatment demonstrated a probable level of savings assessed at 20-30% for the day treatment. The presented data obtained from the epidemiologic registry of Lower Silesian district showed a significant increase of hospital admissions of mostly non-psychotic patients--the most cost-saving group of mental dysfunctions while treated in a day hospital. As the cited articles concerned, studies conducted in other countries where the economic environment differs from the Polish one--there is a need of cost comparison between day hospital and inpatient treatment in the country.     

Cavernous carotid artery calcification and white matter ischemia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relevance of cavernous carotid artery calcification on unenhanced CT scans of the brain has recently been investigated against the backdrop of the widespread implementation of coronary artery calcification scoring. We sought to determine whether the degree of cavernous carotid artery calcification correlated with scores of white matter hyperintensity seen on MR images. In so doing, we sought to establish a relative risk for future stroke on the grade of carotid calcification. METHODS: Neuroradiologic findings in 187 patients who underwent CT and MR imaging examinations within 1 month of each other were retrospectively reviewed. The degree of circumferential calcification and thickness of calcification were graded for the cavernous carotid arteries on the basis of CT findings. Using the scale developed by the Cardiovascular Health Study, the white matter was graded for degree of disease on the basis of MR findings. Correlation tests and regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of age, race, and sex on results. RESULTS: Although the cavernous carotid calcification scores and the MR imaging white matter scores showed good correlation (P <.001), the effect was mediated by age. With age factored in as a covariant, no correlation was shown between CT calcification scores and MR imaging white matter scores. Sex had no effect, but African American study participants had worse MR imaging white matter scores than did white participants. CONCLUSION: After adjusting for age, cavernous carotid calcification grades and MR imaging white matter scores do not show a significant correlation. The relative risk for future stroke cannot be predicted from cavernous carotid calcifications.     

A novel host defense system of airways is defective in cystic fibrosis

RATIONALE: The respiratory tract is constantly exposed to airborne microorganisms. Nevertheless, normal airways remain sterile without recruiting phagocytes. This innate immune activity has been attributed to mucociliary clearance and antimicrobial polypeptides of airway surface liquid. Defective airway immunity characterizes cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator, a chloride channel. The pathophysiology of defective immunity in CF remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the ability of non-CF and CF airway epithelia to kill bacteria through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). METHODS: ROS production and ROS-mediated bactericidal activity were determined on the apical surfaces of human and rat airway epithelia and on cow tracheal explants. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Dual oxidase enzyme of airway epithelial cells generated sufficient H(2)O(2) to support production of bactericidal hypothiocyanite (OSCN(-)) in the presence of airway surface liquid components lactoperoxidase and thiocyanate (SCN(-)). This OSCN(-) formation eliminated Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on airway mucosal surfaces, whereas it was nontoxic to the host. In contrast to normal epithelia, CF epithelia failed to secrete SCN(-), thereby rendering the oxidative antimicrobial system inactive. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate a novel innate defense mechanism of airways that kills bacteria via ROS and suggest a new cellular and molecular basis for defective airway immunity in CF.