Akademicka Platforma Czasopism
Not a member yet
37874 research outputs found
Sort by
Protein Intake and Kidney Health: A Literature Review of Healthy Individuals, Athletes and CKD Patients
Get PDFBackground: The relationship between dietary protein intake and kidney health varies across populations. High-protein diets are widely used by healthy individuals and athletes, while protein restriction is central to managing chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Objective: To systematically review current evidence on the effects of dietary protein intake on kidney function in healthy individuals, athletes, and CKD patients.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from January 2000 to June 2025. Keywords included “protein intake,” “kidney function,” “CKD,” “high-protein diet,” “low-protein diet,” and MeSH terms. Studies were included if they were original research, meta-analyses, or RCTs examining protein intake and kidney outcomes. A total of 72 studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework.
Results: High-protein diets in healthy adults result in adaptive, reversible hyperfiltration without long-term renal damage. Athletes show similar short-term safety, but prolonged high intake, especially from animal sources, may accelerate renal functional decline. CKD patients benefit from low- or very-low-protein diets, especially plant-based or ketoanalogue-supplemented regimens, which slow disease progression and improve metabolic outcomes. Evidence supports personalized dietary strategies based on population-specific needs.
Conclusions: Protein intake impacts kidney health differently across populations. Personalized dietary guidance, including protein quantity and source considerations, is essential for maintaining renal function and preventing disease progression
Impact of physical exercise on low back pain: a review
Get PDFLow back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, affecting up to 80% of the population at least once in their lifetime. As the leading cause of disability worldwide, LBP significantly impacts quality of life and functional ability. Due to the limited effectiveness of pharmacological treatments, there is growing interest in non-pharmacological therapies, particularly physical exercise.
The aim of this review was to analyze the effectiveness of various forms of physical activity in the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP). The review considered stabilization training, core exercises, yoga, Pilates, breathing exercises, aquatic therapy, isokinetic training, dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS), pelvic floor muscle training, and combined interventions, such as manual therapy with sexual counseling or group-based online programs.
The results of the analyzed studies indicate that exercise—especially when individually tailored and comprehensive—is effective in reducing pain, improving function, and enhancing quality of life in patients with CNSLBP. Particularly beneficial outcomes were observed in programs that combined motor training with a psychosocial approach
The Competency Model of Students' Axiological Culture: Structure, Levels, and Correlations
Get PDFThe research was aimed at a comprehensive assessment of the students’ axiological culture through singling out and experimental testing of five key competences: cognitive, emotional-value, reflective, communicative, and behavioral. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed; it consisted of 50 statements and used a 4-point Likert scale. The research involved 197 university students from 5 regions of Ukraine.
Methods: the statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis H-test), and Spearman rank correlation.
Results: the research revealed that the general level of axiological culture of students was sufficient (M = 3.04, SD = 0.47). The highest indicators were recorded for emotional-value (M = 3.16, SD = 0.51) and cognitive (M = 3.09, SD = 0.50) competences. The behavioral competence had the lowest indicators (M = 2.91, SD = 0.52). The research revealed statistically significant differences by gender (U = 3312.5, p = 0.012, r = 0.18) and year of study (H = 15.89, p = 0.007, ε² = 0.07). All competences show strong positive correlations (ρ = 0.72-0.85, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: the research results prove that the axiological culture of students is multidimensional in nature, and its development requires a systemic integrative approach. The research emphasized the problem of the gap between value awareness and real behavior, which indicates the need to introduce a significant axiological component into the professional training programs for students.
 
Metformin - An Antidiabetic Drug With Anti-aging, Cardioprotective And Potential Anti-cancer Properties
Get PDFIntroduction: This review aims to examine the role of metformin, a widely used oral antihyperglycemic agent, and its emerging potential cardioprotective, anticancer, and anti-aging effects.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the following keywords: “metformin”, “anti-aging”, “cardioprotective”, ”anti-cancer”, “AMPK”, “diabetes”, “anti-inflammatory”, “cancer”, “mTOR”
Summary: Metformin, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, has been widely used due to its effectiveness in lowering blood glucose without causing hypoglycemia, and it exhibits a strong safety profile with additional benefits like weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. Beyond diabetes management, metformin shows promising anti-aging effects by improving mitochondrial function, regulating protein homeostasis, reducing inflammation, and modulating the microbiome. Furthermore, metformin has potential protective roles against dementia, skin aging, cardiovascular diseases, and various cancers through mechanisms involving AMPK activation and immune modulation.
Conclusions: Metformin demonstrates a wide range of beneficial effects beyond glucose control, including anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protective, and potential anticancer properties. Through its cellular and metabolic mechanisms, metformin shows promise not only as a treatment for type 2 diabetes but also in the prevention and management of various age-related diseases. However, more high-quality clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings
The Perfect Scale for the Depression Diagnosis in the Athletes: A Comparison of the Clinical Tools – Review
Get PDFBackground: This review provides a critical analysis of selected clinical assessment instruments for depression, with emphasis on their utility in everyday medical practice and their adaptability to individual patient profiles. Given the multifactorial etiology and diverse symptomatology of depressive disorders, appropriate diagnostic tool selection is essential for accurate evaluation and monitoring.
Aim: The paper reviews widely used depression assessment scales, including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), and others, analyzing their relevance to various clinical populations, including athletes.
Materials and Methods: A structured literature review was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science databases. Keywords included: major depressive disorder, psychometric assessment, screening tools, diagnostic evaluation, and mood disorders.
Results: The examined tools differ in structure, scoring methods, and clinical applicability. Their utility varies depending on age, comorbidities, and context. Some instruments are better suited for older adults, postpartum women, or adolescents, while others may offer better sensitivity in athletic populations. Matching the tool to the individual's clinical and psychosocial profile improves diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes.
Conclusions: Selecting depression assessment scales based on psychometric quality and population specificity—particularly in underrepresented groups such as athletes—can optimize diagnosis and facilitate effective, personalized treatment strategies
Vitamins A and C as radiotherapy adjuncts - literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence
Get PDFIntroduction: Radiotherapy (RT) is a cornerstone in cancer treatment, but its success is often hindered by tumor radioresistance and normal tissue toxicity. Vitamins A and C are being investigated as potential adjuvants to modulate RT outcomes through radiosensitizing, radioprotective, and immune-regulatory mechanisms.Methods and Materials: We reviewed preclinical and clinical studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar using keywords like “radiotherapy”, ”radiation”, “vitamin A”, “vitamin C”, “retinol”, “β-carotene”, “α-carotene”, “β-cryptoxanthin”, “ascorbic acid” and “radiosensitivity”.Results: Vitamin A, particularly all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), enhances radiosensitivity by promoting immune-mediated tumor regression, impairing DNA repair in cancer stem cells, and reducing radiation-induced normal tissue damage. However, clinical data on β-carotene suggest potential risks, including increased recurrence in some populations (e.g., smokers). Vitamin C shows dose-dependent effects: at physiological levels, it protects normal tissues via antioxidant activity, while at pharmacological intravenous doses, it selectively sensitizes tumors through pro-oxidant mechanisms. Clinical trials indicate potential for mitigating RT toxicity, such as improved xerostomia, but evidence is currently limited.Conclusions: Vitamins A and C may enhance the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy via distinct biological mechanisms. However, their clinical use requires careful consideration of dose, timing, and patient-specific factors. Further research through well-designed trials is needed to establish optimal protocols and identify which patients are most likely to benefit
The Impact of LED Therapy on Skin: The Review
Get PDFSkin health can significantly impact quality of life and mental health. Erythema, acne or aging-related changes are leading reasons for dermatological consultation. It has been proven, that one third of dermatological patients struggle with mental health issues (1). In recent years, light-emitting diode (LED) technology gained massive popularity for offering clinicians and patients a non-invasive, safe and effective method for treating a wide spectrum of skin conditions. LED phototherapy uses specific wavelengths of visible and near-infrared light to modulate cellular activity, resulting in the rejuvenation of skin, accelerating wound healing and modulation of the inflammatory response. The comprehensiveness and excellent safety profile of the LED devices have led to their wide use in both medical and cosmetic fields. Clinical studies have shown significant benefits of use LED technology in coping with acne vulgaris, melasma, skin fibrosis and aging signs, among many others. As research on this technology develops, it is becoming an integral part of protocol in many therapies (2–4)
Melatonin deficiency and sleep fragmentation in frequent travelers: A modern circadian health crisis
Get PDFBackground: Frequent travel disrupts the circadian rhythm, often leading to disturbed melatonin production. This disruption contributes to sleep fragmentation, reduces sleep quality, and cumulative fatigue that many travelers experience as more than just temporary jet lag. Despite the growing spread of global travel, the long-term consequences of melatonin deficiency and chronic circadian misalignment remain underrecognized and insufficiently addressed.
Aim: To review the available literature on how frequent travel leads to melatonin deficiency and sleep fragmentation and to highlight the need for better strategies to address this growing circadian health issue.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using 35 peer-reviewed articles identified through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The studies were organized into six thematic categories: biological mechanisms of melatonin production, circadian rhythm disturbances and frequent long-distance travel (jet lag), sleep fragmentation – mechanisms and consequences, correlation between melatonin deficiency and sleep fragmentation, long-term health issues and current intervention strategies.
Results: Melatonin deficiency and sleep fragmentation in frequent travelers, by disrupting the central circadian rhythm, are associated with a number of serious long-term health consequences, such as neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, mental health issues and increased risk of cancer. Further research is needed to develop better strategies for managing circadian rhythm disruption and reducing its long-term effects.
Conclusions: The circadian rhythm dysfunction is closely connected to many future health problems. Addressing this growing issue requires greater awareness and more effective, evidence-based strategies to support circadian stability in those who travel regularly
Cervical cancer in women in Norway – epidemiology and prevention
Get PDFIntroduction. In accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as part of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health coordinates the implementation of primary and secondary prevention measures, aiming to achieve the near-total elimination of this cancer in the general female population in Norway within the next fifteen years.
The aim of this study is to present the current epidemiological situation of women with cervical cancer in Norway and the prevention of this cancer.
Materials and methods. The study involved a review and analysis of literature from the Cancer in Norway database from 2023 and 2024, as well as data published by: Folkehelseinstituttet - FHI (from 2020-2025), Årsrapport, Screeningaktivitet og resultater fra Livmorhalsprogrammet (from 2023 and 2024), Helsedirektoratet Livmorhalskreft – pakkeforløp (from 2022), Helsenorge –Livmorhalskreft (from 2025), Kreftregisteret (from 2022-2025).
Results. Every year, approximately 25,000 Norwegian women are diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which, as a result of persistent infections, is responsible for the development of dysplastic changes and cervical cancer. In 2024, 269 new cases of cervical cancer were reported, most of them in the early stages of the disease, and the incidence rate was 9.4 per 100,000, showing a significant downward trend compared to previous years. The average age of women at diagnosis was 48, and the disease rarely affected women under the age of 25.
Conclusions. Norway's experience shows that comprehensive preventive measures significantly contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. This model confirms that consistent implementation of primary and secondary prevention strategies can lead to long-term improvements in women's health and serve as a model for other countries
Piszę do was do Moskowii Uładzimira Arłoua: historyczna rekonstrukcja i przepowiednia katastrofy
Get PDFThe novella I Am Writing to You in Moscovia by Belarusian author Uladzimir Arlou portrays events from the time of the Livonian War, particularly the years 1563–1565, including the Siege of Polotsk in 1563. Alexei, the narrator of the novella and the author of a letter to his family in Moscovia, is a direct participant in the military campaign – a keen observer and critic of the atrocities committed by the tsar. In his letter to his family, Alexei describes his experience of war crimes, violence, murder, and betrayal – all of which remain unimaginable to most people due to the tsar’s propaganda. The narrator finds himself in a state of so-called “internal emigration,” his representation of the collective “us” is marked by internal contradiction and fragmentation. This distortion stems from his reflections on the figure of Ivan the Terrible. The narrator emphasizes Ivan’s cruelty, highlighting the tsar’s moral depravity. The way Arlou constructs his depiction of 16th-century Muscovite society contains clear allusions to the period of Stalinist repression. Moreover, in the contemporary historical and political context of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, the novella serves as a dire warning of a looming disaster. According to Kremlin ideology, both Belarus and Ukraine are still regarded not as sovereign nations, but as mere parts of the Russian Empire – an entity the Russian authorities are now attempting to restore.W opowiadaniu Uładzimira Arłoua Piszę do was do Moskowii są przedstawione obejmujące lata 1563–1565 wydarzenia z historii Białorusi, w tym szturm Połocka w 1563 roku, a także zarys osoby Iwana Groźnego. Narratorem w utworze jest strzelec Aleksy, bezpośredni uczestnik kampanii wojennej, uważny obserwator i krytyk cara. W liście do rodziny Aleksy opisuje swoje doświadczenia zbrodni wojennych, przemocy, gwałtu – wszystkiego, czego większość społeczeństwa moskiewskiego nie może sobie wyobrazić ze względu na działanie carskiej propagandy. Narrator jest w sytuacji tzw. „emigracji wewnętrznej”, prezentowane przez Aleksego obrazy „my” cechuje wewnętrzna niespójność i rozwarstwienie. Powodem do zaburzenia obrazu „my” są refleksje na temat sylwetki Iwana Groźnego. Narrator skupia się na okrucieństwach Iwana, jego zepsuciu moralnym. Konstruowanie przez Arłoua obrazu społeczeństwa XVI-wiecznej Moskowii zawiera wyraźne aluzje do okresu represji stalinowskich. Z kolei, w kontekście bieżących wydarzeń historycznych w Białorusi, Ukrainie i Rosji opowiadanie uznać można za przepowiednię katastrofy: z punktu widzenia władz moskiewskich Białoruś i Ukraina, podobnie jak w XVI wieku, to jedynie części wielkiego imperium, które Rosja próbuje odbudować