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Nowadays, due to a higher resistance to drugs, antibiotics, and antiviral medicaments, new ways of fighting pathogens are intensively studied. The alternatives for synthesized compositions are natural products, most of which have been known in natural medicine for a long time. One of the best-known and intensively investigated groups are essential oils (EOs) and their compositions. However, it is worth noting that the method of application can play a second crucial part in the effectiveness of the antimicrobial activity. EOs possess various natural compounds which exhibit antimicrobial activity. One of the compositions which is based on the five main ingredients of eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, and lemon is named “five thieves’ oil” (Polish name: olejek pięciu złodziei) (5TO) and is used in natural medicine. In this study, we focused on the droplet size distribution of 5TO during the nebulization process, evaluated by the microscopic droplet size analysis (MDSA) method. Furthermore, viscosity studies, as well as UV-Vis of the 5TO suspensions in medical solvents such as physiological salt and hyaluronic acid, were presented, along with measurements of refractive index, turbidity, pH, contact angle, and surface tension. Additional studies on the biological activity of 5TO solutions were made on the P. aeruginosa strain NFT3. This study opens a way for the possible use of 5TO solutions or emulsion systems for active antimicrobial applications, i.e., for surface spraying.

Background: ‪ The objective of this study was to check whether the type of education is related to the development of a dual career in professional sport. Material and methods: ‪ This study used the Chi-square test of independence and Student’s t test to analyze 7 scenarios (not experienced and experienced) presented to the participants. A final survey-list, consisting of 38 items of competences (possession and importance) and completed by 243 young people: 218 (89.7%)athletes obtaining secondary education and 25 (10.3%) obtaining or having higher education. Results: ‪ There were statistically significant differences between people with higher education and secondary education in terms of possessed competences, but there were no statistically significant differences between higher education and secondary education in terms of the importance of competences. There were statistically significant differences between people with secondary education and people with higher education in experiencing scenario 1 and 5. Conclusions: ‪ The results of both studies confirmed three hypotheses. It turned out that the level of education is related to the course of athletes’ dual career. Of particular importance are the athletes’ social competences and life experience

To meet the growing interest in natural antibacterial agents, we evaluated the physicochemical and biological properties of the folk medicine known as “five thieves’ oil” (Polish name: olejek pięciu złodziei). Five thieves’ oil consists of a mixture of five oils: rosemary, lemon, clove, eucalyptus, and cinnamon. In this study, we performed gas chromatography, FTIR, and UV–vis spectroscopic analysis, as well as L-a-b color tests, contact angle determination, and surface tension determination. To verify its antibacterial activity, the metabolic activity and changes in cell membrane permeability of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas were studied. As a result, it was found that among the constituent oils, the oils of clove and cinnamon were the least volatile and, at the same time, had the strongest antibacterial activity. However, a mix of all the oils also showed comparable activity, which was even more pronounced for the oils after 4 weeks of aging. This effect can be linked to the high content of terpene derivatives such as eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, which can cause changes in bacterial membrane permeability, affecting cell activity and survival. This study is the first to characterize the constituents of the popular folk medicine five thieves’ oil, confirming and explaining its strong antibacterial activity, thus constituting a significant contribution to contemporary health education.

Background: In the process of modernising and improving physical fitness classes on offer, there is a growing trend to complement them with extra means characterized by different directions of interactions. Training of respiratory muscles (TRM) is one of them used in sports training but also increasingly more often in health training. The aim of the study was to as- sess changes in physical capacity under the influence of 6 weeks' training of a different type of inspiratory muscles incorporated into the programme of fitness classes for women aged 20-25 years. Material/Methods: The study involved 33 not training professionally young women aged 20-25 years. To assess the capacity of the respiratory sytem, dynamic spirometry was performed with a use of the K4b2 Spirometry apparatus by Cosmed company, and inspiratory muscle strength was measured with a use of a respiratory pressure meter by Micro Medical. Aerobic capacity was evaluated based on a direct method, using an incremental load test until exhaustion. Measurements were taken before and after a training session throughout six weeks with a frequency of three sessions per week. Results: As a result of a six-week special training in the POWERbreathe group there was a significant increase in spirometric indices compared to the initial measurement: FVC l (BTPS), FEV1 l (BTPS), PEF (l·secˉ1), MVV (l·minˉ1), MIP (-mH2O). However, apart from the above-mentioned effects in the group of those training with bands also a significant increase in MEP (cmH2O) was noted compared to the control group. Conclusions: The special inspiratory muscles training programme improved the functionality of the respiratory system, which is revealed in the increase in indicators characterizing aerobic capacity (with no significant influence on changing the body composition). The results obtained in our study indicate the possibility of practical application of respiratory training simulators in health and recreational physical activities enabling the growth of aerobic capacity of those exercising.

Background: The purpose of the research was to check opinions of students of various stages of education in the Pomeranian province about the attractiveness of Nordic Walking in comparison with other activities.Material/Methods: About 500 intentionally selected students participated in the survey. These were students of 11-18 years of age. Half of them participated in Nordic walking PE lessons. The researched students’ schools were localized in the Pomeranian province in Poland. Methods of a diagnostic survey using two questionnaires were applied. The first one was used to assess the level of students’ physical activity and was also used to research health behaviours of children and adolescents in Europe (HBSC). The second one - our own - was created to asses the attractiveness of Nordic walking. In the first part, the subjects ranked Nordic walking in comparison with other forms of physical activity. In the second part, they declared eagerness to attend such lessons.Results: The collected data imply a vast diversity of students’ opinions about the attractiveness of Nordic walking in comparison with other forms of physical activity and indicate the need to do research in the area of students’ preferences in planning PE lessons at school.Conclusions: It seems that in subsequent years of education, NW will gain followers among this group because it is a natural form of movement, whose health effects are starting to be seen not only by teachers but also by students

Regardless of which part of the world people live in, approx. 10-15% of society is disabled in terms of senses, physical or intellectual development.The objective of the undertaken studies was to assess physical fitness of intellectually disabled people on the example of disabled people under the custody of the Nursing Home (NH) in Gdańsk as well as to examine the impact of the authors’ improvement program entitled “Me and my fitness” on improvement of physical fitness.The studies involved 23 participants who were divided according to the degree of disability and age. Initial measurement of physical fitness was performed using the Eurofit Special test. After diagnosing physical fitness, the authors’ improvement program was introduced into the patients’ daily schedule. The program was implemented for six months, after which another measurement was performed using the same research tool.It was stated that the implemented motor improvement program beneficially impacted results in selected tests regarding physical fitness of the participants with mild intellectual disability. The results did not indicate significant changes, in particular in the group of people with moderate intellectual disability.1. The authors’ improvement program “Me and my fitness” indicates statistical symptoms beneficially impacting the relation with maintaining physical fitness measured by the Eurofit Special test among the participants with mild intellectual disability in a group of 30-45 year-olds. 2. The studies indicated that there are certain trends, curves showing the direction of changes, which after a longer period of improvement applying the authors’ program may become statistically significant.