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The effect of vitamin C on skin condition and health - mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, and therapeutic applications
Get PDFVitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a crucial water-soluble antioxidant and a cofactor in multiple enzymatic processes essential for skin health. This review discusses the biochemical mechanisms of vitamin C function, clinical evidence of its efficacy, and its therapeutic applications in dermatology and cosmetology. Vitamin C is transported into the skin by sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCT1 and SVCT2), ensuring high intracellular concentration that protects against oxidative stress, supports collagen synthesis, and modulates melanogenesis. Topical and oral vitamin C have been shown to improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and provide photoprotection against UV-induced damage. Clinical studies confirm its beneficial effects in photoaging, wound healing, and the management of inflammatory and neoplastic skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, acne, and melanoma. However, limitations such as variable bioavailability, formulation instability, and heterogeneity in study designs remain challenging. Further research is needed to standardize dosing, optimize delivery systems, and clarify its role as an adjuvant therapeutic in dermatology. Vitamin C remains a key ingredient in evidence-based strategies for maintaining skin health and combating aging and disease
Effects of physical exercise on cancer patients: a systematic review
Get PDFBackground: Cancer and its treatments frequently lead to substantial declines in physical function, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and overall quality of life. Common symptoms such as fatigue, reduced mobility, and psychological distress can persist long after treatment completion, underscoring the need for supportive interventions that address the broader physical and psychosocial burden of cancer. Over recent decades, physical exercise has become a staple of supportive oncology, with growing evidence demonstrating its ability to mitigate treatment-related side effects, preserve functional capacity, and enhance well-being across the cancer care continuum.
Aim: Evaluation and emphasis of the effects of physical exercise on physical, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes in adults with cancer. Specifically, this review synthesizes evidence across different exercise modalities, cancer types, and treatment phases to determine the overall benefits, safety, and feasibility of exercise in oncology care.
Material and methods: A systematic review of selected literature was conducted using the PubMed and open-access databases, using keywords such as: exercise*, physical* activity*, cancer*. This review includes a mix of randomized controlled trials, pilot and feasibility studies, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and mechanistic systematic reviews. The analysis focused on peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024.
Results and conclusions: Across cancer types and treatment phases, structured exercise consistently improved fitness, reduced fatigue, and enhanced quality of life. Prehabilitation improved preoperative capacity and reduced complications in upper-GI cancers. Exercise was safe and feasible, including in metastatic populations, and mechanistic evidence showed reductions in inflammatory markers. Overall, the evidence supports exercise as an effective, low-risk supportive therapy that enhances functional outcomes and should be integrated into routine oncology care
The Impact of Swimming on the Human Body and the Long-Term Physiological Consequences of The Sport - A Literature review
Get PDFSwimming is a comprehensive form of physical activity that provides significant physiological and psychological benefits. This review analyzes data from studies conducted between 1990 and 2024 concerning the effects of swimming on cardiovascular and respiratory function, musculoskeletal health, metabolism and mental well-being. Regular swimming enhances cardiac output, pulmonary function and muscle strength while supporting favorable metabolic adaptations such as improved lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity. Although it has a limited effect on bone mineral density compared to weight-bearing activities, it contributes to overall musculoskeletal stability and functional fitness. Furthermore, swimming reduces stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and supports cognitive health by preserving hippocampal volume in older adults. Long-term engagement in swimming is associated with improved mobility, reduced fall risk and lower all-cause mortality, confirming its role as an effective strategy for promoting longevity
Relacje kobiet z roślinami – od tradycyjnego folkloru po współczesną codzienność. O potrzebie związków człowieka z naturą
Get PDFPrzyroda traktowana jako aktywny uczestnik rzeczywistości społeczno-materialnej, relacyjnej sieci współzależności, w której współistnieją ludzie, nie-ludzie, przedmioty, krajobrazy i technologie stanowi istotny przedmiot zainteresowań antropologii posthumanistycznej (por. Ingold 2003; 2011; Majbroda 2021). Szczegółowo rozpatrywane udziały różnych gatunków roślin w kształtowaniu sposobu życia tradycyjnych społeczności eksponowane są w pracach z obszaru etnografii środowiskowej, etnobotaniki, a także studiów nad folklorem (por. Kujawska i in. 2016; Bartmiński 2022). Wątek tego rodzaju powiązań człowieka ze środowiskiem naturalnym, także światem roślinnym, pojawia się również w szerszym dyskursie społecznym, co potwierdzają podejmujące ten temat rozmaite debaty publiczne, inicjatywy społeczne oraz wystawy muzealne 1. Akcentowanie znanych z tradycji ludzko-roślinnych zależności wydaje się szczególnie ważne w czasie kryzysu klimatycznego i ekologicznego, wzrostu znaczenia w życiu społecznym nowoczesnych technologii informatycznych, a zwłaszcza sztucznej inteligencji, która odsuwa nas od myślenia o wadze naturalnych procesów środowiskowych. W diagnozowaniu i opisywaniu aktualnej sytuacji kulturowej coraz częściej wskazuje się na potrzebę powrotu do silnych związków człowieka z naturą. Szczególną wartość zyskują w tym kontekście odwołania do specyfiki współbycia ludzi i środowiska w kulturze tradycyjnej wsi, kojarzonej z przywiązaniem do ziemi, uprawą roli jako podstawą egzystencji i życiem w otoczeniu doskonale rozpoznanej, ale też intensywnie doświadczanej przyrody.
Tematyka wieloaspektowych związków roślin z życiem ludzkim podjęta została również w wydanej ostatnio monografii Sary Orzechowskiej Kobiety i rośliny w folklorze polskim (2024). W tej pracy autorka koncentruje się na relacjach między społecznością chłopską, w szczególności kobietami, a szeroko rozumianym środowiskiem, w którym one żyły, zarówno kulturowym, jak i przyrodniczym. Opisuje miejsce roślin w życiu kobiet uwzględniając silne uwikłanie wybranych gatunków w konteksty obrzędowe i wierzeniowe oraz ich potencjał sprawczego wpływania na otaczającą rzeczywistość w sposób nie tylko symboliczny, ale i dosłowny. W ujęciu autorki rośliny towarzyszą życiu chłopskiej kobiety na kolejnych etapach jej fizycznego i społecznego dojrzewania, służą potwierdzaniu zmian dokonujących się w kobiecej biografii. Ze względu na przedmiot zainteresowań S. Orzechowskiej praca ta lokuje się w obszarze antropologicznych badań nad folklorem, ale jednocześnie w szerszej perspektywie łączącej etnobotanikę, ekologię kulturową, gender studies oraz antropologiczne nurty badań nad relacjami ludzi i nie-ludzi. Potwierdza doskonale ustalenia antropologów, dotyczące ważności powiązań człowieka jako twórcy kultury z otaczającym go środowiskiem naturalnym (por. m.in. Herzfeld 2001: 241–268; Ingold 2003: 73–86; Macnaghten, Urry 2005: 228–279); ukazuje jak przyroda, a dokładnie wybrane rośliny, mają wpływ na ludzkie/kobiece zachowania – obrzędowe i powszednie, oddziałując także na szerszy charakter stosunków społecznych
Evolution of Scientific Paradigms in Understanding Water Balance
Get PDFBackground: This review is a historical synthesis of research on the “Development of Scientific Paradigms in the Study of Water Balance: A Retrospective View and the Shaping of Current Notions.” It includes seminal work by Homer Smith, the Berliner and Bennett hypothesis of the countercurrent mechanism, mathematical models of urine concentration, quantitative nephrology, and the clearance concept. It also emphasizes the groundbreaking aquaporins, especially CHIP28/AQP1 by Peter Agre, which won him the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 2003. Structural–functional analysis by Preston et al., together with expression studies in Xenopus laevis oocytes, identify paradigmatic transformations in water homeostasis. This argument critiques traditional dualities and engages with Robertson’s challenge to the dichotomous approach in consideration of the complexities of clinical disorders such as SIADH and CSWS. It highlights the need for a holistic perspective through systems biology and a network methodology, inspired by the tenets of network biology proposed by Barabási and Oltvai and by the systemic properties of biological systems exemplified by robustness, modularity and hierarchy put forward by Kitano. These principles are analyzed in relation to water homeostasis.
Objectives: The review seeks to taxonomize the historical evolution of paradigms, evaluate foundational physiological and molecular contributions, compare quantitative nephrology models, and explore systems biology approaches to elucidate the intricacies of water homeostasis.
Methods: A systematic analysis of interdisciplinary literature was conducted, encompassing classical physiology, molecular biology, mathematical modeling, and network theory.
Results: Key findings elucidate the pivotal role of Homer Smith's clearance concept and the countercurrent mechanism in establishing the foundations of quantitative renal physiology; the transformative impact of aquaporin discovery alongside structural-functional characterization on the molecular comprehension of water transport; and the significant advancements achieved through mathematical and systems biology models that integrate signaling pathways and cellular dynamics to encapsulate regulatory complexity. Furthermore, a critical reassessment of traditional binary models is warranted in the context of clinical syndromes such as SIADH and CSWS, accentuating the necessity for integrative frameworks.
Conclusions: These findings converge to underscore the evolution from reductionist to holistic paradigms, accentuating emergent properties and network robustness in water homeostasis. This synthesis highlights the essential need for multi-scale systems-level approaches to bridge molecular mechanisms with clinical phenotypes, thereby informing future research and therapeutic strategies
Effects of Isometric Training on Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Get PDFObjective: To systematically review and meta-analyze the long-term effects of isometric training on heart rate variability (HRV), update previous research on isometric training's impact on HRV, explore and validate potential mechanisms and pathways underlying its blood pressure-lowering effects, and provide neurophysiological evidence for optimizing exercise prescriptions for hypertension. Methods: We retrieved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the long-term effects of isometric training on HRV from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases from their inception to May 8, 2025, for controlled trials examining the long-term effects of isometric training on HRV. Main effects were pooled using a random-effects model in R 4.3.3 software. Results: Ten studies involving 310 participants (70% hypertensive) aged 24–66 years were included. The meta-analysis revealed no significant differences between isometric training and non-exercise control groups in time-domain indicators (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50) or frequency-domain indicators (LF, HF, LF/HF) of HRV (p > 0.05). However, marginal effects were observed for LF (Hedge’s g = -0.26 [-0.53, 0.01]) and LF/HF (Hedge’s g = -0.22 [-0.46, 0.01]) (p < 0.1). Conclusion: Isometric training has not yet demonstrated significant advantages in improving heart rate variability. However, the marginal significance of related indicators suggests that isometric training may attenuate sympathetic nervous system function by reducing LF and LF/HF, thereby reshaping autonomic nervous system balance. This offers a potential exercise intervention pathway for autonomic dysfunction caused by abnormal sympathetic activation commonly observed in hypertensive patients. Future studies should validate the potential benefits of isometric training on autonomic function through larger sample sizes, standardized intervention protocols, and long-term follow-up
Navigating family migration in social science research
Get PDFThis article focuses on identifying different types of family migration and their effects on family life. Through an in-depth literature review, it discusses the motivations for migration, decision-making processes, and the challenges families encounter as they embark on their migration journeys. Furthermore, it presents the experiences of the family within a conceptual framework that goes beyond the Western understanding of these concepts. It emphasizes the parental perspective which is found to be missing in academic literature. Therefore, constructs such as kinship, agency, and belonging serve as lenses through which parental experiences are examined. The article reveals both macro and micro levels of family migration processes and their social perceptions, which contribute to the formation of parental culture and in turn influence migrant parents’ experiences. Finally, it serves as a call for future research, including more nuanced studies of family migration and migrant parenthood in particular
Lewiatan dla antropologów
Get PDFIn the eyes of anthropologists, Hobbes's Leviathan is no longer an interesting text. But the theory of the social contract presented in this treatise can be interpreted as a theoretical myth that speaks of the birth of society, state and civilisation, although the word civilisation appeared a century after the publication of Leviathan. As a theoretical myth, Hobbes's theory is also comparable to Claude Lévi-Strauss's views on the relations existing between nature and culture. In turn, the empirical content of the representation of Warre of every man against every man is captured by the framing of this Hobbesian category within Victor Turner's social theory.W oczach antropologów Lewiatan Hobbesa nie jest już interesującym tekstem. Ale przedstawioną w tym traktacie teorię umowy społecznej można interpretować jako mit teoretyczny, który mówi o narodzinach społeczeństwa, państwa i cywilizacji, chociaż słowo civilisation pojawiło się sto lat po opublikowaniu Lewiatana. Jako mit teoretyczny jest też teoria Hobbesa porównywalna do poglądów Claude’a Lévi-Straussa, dotyczących relacji istniejących między naturą i kulturą. Z kolei empiryczna treść wyobrażenia wojny każdego z każdym zostaje uchwycona przez ujęcie tej hobbesowskiej kategorii w ramy teorii społecznej Victora Turnera
Black-on-Red Pottery in the Levant: A Petrographic Contribution from Tell Keisan
Get PDFThis article focuses on the problem of identifying the possible origin of the so-called Black-on-Red pottery of the Iron Age found at Tell Keisan, a site in southern Phoenicia/Lower Galilee. Sixteen samples were selected for petrographic, chemical, and micropaleontological analyses, representing the entire period of the pottery occurrence (late tenth–fifth century BC) at the site. The results allow the authors to conclude that most of the vessels from which the samples came should be considered imports from southern and western regions of Cyprus. This result aligns with similar studies undertaken on Black-on-Red pottery from other sites on the Levantine coast. Looking at it from a broader perspective, the currently dominant hypothesis of Cyprus as the main production centre of the Black-on-Red pottery in the Iron Age also gains a strong reinforcement from Tell Keisan.This article focuses on the problem of identifying the possible origin of the so-called Black-on-Red pottery of the Iron Age found at Tell Keisan, a site in southern Phoenicia/Lower Galilee. Sixteen samples were selected for petrographic, chemical, and micropaleontological analyses, representing the entire period of the pottery occurrence (late tenth–fifth century BC) at the site. The results allow the authors to conclude that most of the vessels from which the samples came should be considered imports from southern and western regions of Cyprus. This result aligns with similar studies undertaken on Black-on-Red pottery from other sites on the Levantine coast. Looking at it from a broader perspective, the currently dominant hypothesis of Cyprus as the main production centre of the Black-on-Red pottery in the Iron Age also gains a strong reinforcement from Tell Keisan
Assessment of patient satisfaction with primary health care
Get PDFIntroduction: Primary health care (PHC) is a key element of the healthcare system, serving as the first point of contact in medicine and providing access to early diagnostics, prevention, and patient qualification for further treatment.
Methodology: To assess satisfaction, a diagnostic survey method with a questionnaire technique was used, employing an original questionnaire containing 24 closed questions and one open question. The questionnaires were handed to patients after using PHC services. The analysis included surveys from 140 individuals (55% women, 45% men; the largest group of patients was aged 41-60 years (35%); 45% had secondary education).
Results: Reasons for choosing the practice: mainly proximity to place of residence (64.3%) and good opinion of family/friends (55%), waiting time for an appointment (25.7%). Evaluation of service availability: telephone registration was often rated as average (47.9%), availability of tests and referrals mostly rated good or very good. Premises conditions: 77.8% rated them as good or very good. Information on Patient Rights was available in 63.6% of clinics, and 45% of patients confirmed compliance with these rights. Satisfaction level: 42.1% of patients declared an average level, 38.6% high, 19.3% low.
Conclusions: The main motives for choosing a PHC facility are proximity to the place of residence and positive opinion of the environment. Most patients are satisfied with the quality of services provided, but older people (over 60 years) report significantly lower satisfaction levels. A key role in building satisfaction is played by the method of conveying information and the quality of nursing care. Reducing waiting time for an appointment significantly increases patient satisfaction. Regular measurement of patient satisfaction should be a permanent element of quality management in primary health care