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Hair and Scalp Health in Modern Lifestyle: Challenges and Natural Solutions
Get PDFIntroduction and Purpose
Hair, as epidermal appendages, serve protective, aesthetic, and psychosocial functions. Their condition reflects the health of the scalp, whose proper structure and function are essential for normal growth. Accurate diagnosis of scalp type and the selection of appropriate care methods constitute the foundation of effective trichological management. The aim of this study is to present natural methods of hair and scalp care in the light of available literature, with particular emphasis on the role of plant-derived ingredients and the importance of scalp diagnostics.
Material and Methods
This study was prepared using both international and Polish literature. Selected articles were reviewed from databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, as well as Polish- and English-language scientific sources.
Description of the State of Knowledge
The hair growth cycle consists of anagen, catagen, and telogen phases, and its disturbances may lead to weakening and hair loss. Structural damage results from mechanical, chemical, and thermal factors, as well as improper care practices. Increasing importance is attributed to natural preparations rich in antioxidants, micronutrients, and fatty acids, which support hair shaft regeneration and follicle function. An equally important aspect is the adjustment of care methods to the scalp type-dry, oily, normal, or sensitive-which helps maintain balance and improve hair quality.
Conclusions
Optimal hair condition requires a holistic approach, including scalp diagnostics, individualized care, and the use of natural preparations. Systematic and consistent therapy is essential to achieve lasting results and to support healthy hair growth
The Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D in Tendinopathy: A Review of Current Evidence
No full textIntroduction: Tendinopathy refers to pathological changes in tendons that cause pain, functional impairment, and limited physical activity. These changes often result from repetitive overloading without adequate recovery, leading to microtrauma, collagen disorganization, vascular alterations, and chronic inflammation. While corticosteroids offer short-term relief, they may weaken tendon structure, and regenerative therapies like PRP and stem cells remain inconclusive. Recently, vitamin D has gained attention for its potential role in tendon healing. Low vitamin D levels are linked to higher tendinopathy risk and delayed recovery. This review aims to summarize current evidence on the role of vitamin D in tendon regeneration and its potential therapeutic application.
Materials and methods: A review of selected literature in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Schoolar databases was conducted, using the following keywords: “Tendinopathy”, “Vitamin D”, “Tendon”.
Conclusions: The potential role of vitamin D in tendon regeneration is a subject that offers novel perspectives on the treatment of tendinopathies. The therapeutic options currently available are limited in scope, frequently offering only symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying pathophysiology. The evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments suggests that vitamin D can modulate inflammation, support collagen synthesis, and protect tenocytes from oxidative stress. Multidisciplinary management of tendinopathy should consider the assessment and correction of vitamin D deficiency, especially in older or physically active individuals. Further high-quality clinical studies are required to confirm these findings, determine optimal supplementation strategies, and evaluate long-term functional outcomes
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as an Objective Indicator of the Stress Response: Physiological Mechanisms, Diagnostic Potential, and Clinical Applications
Get PDFHeart rate variability (HRV) has gained recognition as a biomarker of autonomic nervous system activity and the body's adaptive capacity. This review discusses the physiological foundations of HRV and its relationship to the body's response to both acute and chronic stress. The main methods of HRV measurement are: time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear. These are presented, along with their advantages, limitations, and key technical requirements. Particular attention is given to the application of HRV in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of stress-related disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as the potential use of HRV biofeedback and mobile monitoring technologies. The review highlights current limitations in interpretative standards, the influence of confounding factors, and the need for individualized analysis. The potential for artificial intelligence tools to personalize stress assessment is also discussed. Despite growing clinical interest, HRV requires further standardization and research to enhance its utility as a tool for assessing psychophysiological states
Recurrent Electrical Storm in a Patient with Chronic Heart Disease: A Case Report
Get PDFBackground: Electrical storm (ES) is a life‑threatening cardiac emergency characterized by recurrent, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) episodes that are often refractory to standard therapies. It predominantly affects patients with structural heart disease - most notably those with ischemic cardiomyopathy and chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Case Presentation: We describe a 75‑year‑old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy and HFrEF admitted for sustained VT unresponsive to conventional management. His history included multiple catheter ablations, prior myocardial infarction, and an implanted ICD placed for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. Despite additional ablations and antiarrhythmic medication, he continued to experience electrical storms. Definitive rhythm control was achieved via a multidisciplinary strategy comprising left stellate ganglion block, upgrade to cardiac resynchronization therapy‑defibrillator (CRT‑D), personalized ICD reprogramming, and initiation of flecainide in combination with propranolol. Device interrogation at follow‑up confirmed effective biventricular pacing and complete suppression of sustained ventricular arrhythmias.
Conclusion: This case underscores the complexity of managing ES in patients with advanced structural heart disease and multiple comorbidities. Individualized device programming, innovative pharmacological regimens, and targeted interventional techniques can stabilize patients refractory to standard approaches. A holistic, team‑based model of care is essential to optimize outcomes and improve quality of life in this high‑risk population
The Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Inflammation and Immune Function: A Review
Get PDFBackground:Chronic low-grade inflammation and immune dysregulation contribute to cardiometabolic, autoimmune and infectious diseases. Dietary patterns, particularly plant-based diets, may influence these processes through metabolic, microbial and nutrient-mediated mechanisms.
Aim:To summarise current evidence on how plant-based diets affect systemic inflammation, immune activity, gut microbiota–immune interactions and clinical outcomes in infection and autoimmune disease.
Methods:A narrative review of studies from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, including randomised trials, cohorts, cross-sectional analyses, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and mechanistic or microbiome-focused research. Findings were synthesised qualitatively.
Results:Healthful plant-based diets are consistently associated with lower CRP, IL-6, TNF-α and other inflammatory markers. Mechanistic studies suggest roles for plant nutrients, microbial short-chain fatty acids and reduced ectopic fat in improving immune regulation. Clinical evidence indicates potential reductions in respiratory infections, asthma exacerbations, COVID-19 severity and some autoimmune conditions. Benefits depend on overall diet quality; processed plant-based diets show limited advantages.
Conclusions:Plant-based dietary patterns may beneficially modulate inflammation and support immune function, potentially lowering infection-related and autoimmune risks. Evidence remains limited by heterogeneous definitions and short study duration. Well-designed plant-based diets represent a promising non-pharmacological strategy to improve immune and inflammatory health
Public Knowledge about Screening Tests in South-East Poland
Get PDFBackground: Neoplastic diseases constitute a major public health challenge globally and in Poland. Despite the implementation of population-based screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, participation rates in Poland remain unsatisfactory. Early detection is the most effective tool for reducing cancer mortality, yet it relies heavily on public awareness and health literacy.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes of adult residents of the Podkarpackie and Małopolskie voivodeships (south-east Poland) regarding screening tests, and to analyze the influence of sociodemographic factors on health behaviors.
Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a diverse group of 288 adults (192 women and 95 men). The research tool was an original questionnaire containing 30 items regarding knowledge of screening types (mammography, cytology, colonoscopy), screening guidelines, and risk factors. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test (p<0.05).
Results: While general awareness of screening is high (99.7% of respondents recognized the terms), specific knowledge regarding frequency and age criteria is lacking. Education level proved to be the strongest predictor of adequate knowledge (p<0.001). A significant misconception regarding smoking was observed in the 50–65 age group, where many respondents believed smoking does not increase lung cancer risk. The main perceived barriers were low availability and lack of promotion.
Conclusions: There is a critical need for targeted educational campaigns, particularly addressing men and individuals with lower education levels. The misconceptions prevalent in the 50–65 age group require immediate rectification to improve the effectiveness of lung cancer prevention
Sustainable Development Education in International Higher Education: A Bibliometric analysis
Get PDFThe importance of sustainable development is increasingly recognized, prompting universities to strive toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This review focuses on the meticulous collection and analysis of relevant papers within the context of sustainable development education, followed by the organization and consolidation of these findings into distinct sustainable domains using the PRISMA methodology. A total of 77 existing articles and publications retrieved from the Web of Science database were utilized to conduct an in-depth exploration of current research. This study, based on 77 documents from the Web of Science core database, employs systematic bibliometric analysis to trace the education for sustainable development (ESD) in global universities. Using the PRISMA method, VOSviewer, and Excel tools, research clusters, high-output countries, and major journals were identified. Key findings indicate that research focus has shifted from theoretical exploration to practical innovation, encompassing service-learning, digital tools, and interdisciplinary curriculum integration. Core challenges include fragmented ESD implementation, insufficient sustainability assessment, and unequal resource allocation. This study proposes action strategies: embedding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into disciplinary frameworks, strengthening teacher training programs, and leveraging artificial intelligence to develop scalable solutions. This analysis provides a roadmap for policymakers, educators, and institutions to enhance ESD effectiveness and university sustainability
Microscopic Colitis: A Key Differential Diagnosis in Chronic Watery Diarrhea
Get PDFINTRODUCTION
Microscopic colitis (MC) is an often-overlooked inflammatory disorder of the colon. It presents with persistent, non-bloody, watery diarrhea. The characteristic of the condition is a lack of visible endoscopic abnormalities. It includes two main histological forms: collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. While it mostly affects older individuals, MC is often missed in clinical practice, resulting in prolonged symptoms and excessive diagnostic procedures.
AIM OF THE STUDY
This review aims to present current knowledge of microscopic colitis. We summarize its key symptoms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and available therapies. The goal of this study is to understand this disease better and demonstrate why early detection and accurate diagnosis are important.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A structured literature search was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies on MC. We focused on diagnostic methods and therapy possibilities. The search included relevant keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Supplementary articles were included through manual review of the reference lists from key publications.
CONCLUSION
Microscopic colitis can be treated. Unfortunately, it is often underdiagnosed as a cause of chronic diarrhea in adults. Once you identify it quickly and confirm the disorder with histological samples, you can initiate effective treatment, usually with budesonide. Early recognition can minimize unnecessary, often expensive, testing and patient suffering. Ongoing follow-up may be necessary in cases with frequent relapse.
 
The Current Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Treatment Algorithm: From 5-ASA to Biological Therapies
Get PDFBackground: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory condition affecting the colonic mucosa, typically progressing proximally from the rectum. Incidence rates are rising globally. The etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers such as smoking status and diet.
Aim: The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the current therapeutic landscape for ulcerative colitis, evaluating the efficacy and safety of established and novel pharmacological agents based on a systematic review of clinical trials and meta-analyses.
Materials and Methods: The review included scientific papers sourced from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases.
Results: Treatment strategies vary by disease severity. 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) remain the first-line therapy for inducing and maintaining remission in mild-to-moderate UC. For moderate-to-severe disease, corticosteroids are effective for induction but limited by systemic toxicity, leading to the development of second-generation formulations like Budesonide MMX. In steroid-refractory or dependent cases, biological therapies—including anti-TNF agents (infliximab, adalimumab), anti-integrins (vedolizumab), and interleukin inhibitors (ustekinumab) demonstrate significant efficacy. Recently, oral small molecules such as JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, upadacitinib) and S1P receptor modulators (ozanimod) have emerged as potent, non-immunogenic alternatives.
Conclusions: The management of UC has evolved from symptom control to achieving deep endoscopic remission and improving health-related quality of life. While conventional therapies remain foundational, the expansion of biologics and small molecules offers critical options for refractory patients, helping to reduce colectomy rates. Optimal treatment requires balancing therapeutic efficacy with long-term safety profiles
The Impact of Hippotherapy on Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Get PDFBackground. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders resulting from permanent damage to the central nervous system, typically occurring during the prenatal, perinatal, or early postnatal period. It is one of the leading causes of physical disability in children and is commonly associated with impaired motor development, muscle tone abnormalities, and postural control deficits. In addition to conventional physiotherapy, alternative therapeutic approaches are increasingly being incorporated into rehabilitation programs. One such method is hippotherapy – a form of movement-based therapy utilizing the three-dimensional motion of a horse to stimulate neuromotor functions.
Aim. The aim of this review is to analyze current research findings on the impact of hippotherapy on motor function development in children with cerebral palsy and to assess its therapeutic value.
Material and methods. This paper presents a literature review based on scientific articles selected from databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on studies that examined motor outcomes in children with CP undergoing hippotherapy.
Results. The literature confirms that hippotherapy can lead to significant improvements in balance, coordination, postural stability, and general motor functions in children with cerebral palsy. It is also well tolerated by patients and increases their motivation for further therapy.
Conclusions. Hippotherapy is an effective adjunctive intervention in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. Its incorporation into therapeutic programs may enhance motor outcomes and improve the overall quality of life. Further research is recommended to refine protocols and confirm long-term benefits