Search

Exposure to water-pipe smoking, whether flavored or unflavored, has been shown to instigate inflammation and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice. This consequently results in alterations in the expression of inflammatory markers and antioxidant genes. This study aimed to scrutinize the impact of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—a key active component of green tea—on inflammation and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice exposed to water-pipe smoke. The experimental setup included a control group, a flavored water-pipe smoke (FWP) group, an unflavored water-pipe smoke (UFWP) group, and EGCG-treated flavored and unflavored groups (FWP + EGCG and UFWP + EGCG). Expression levels of IL-6, IL1B, TNF-α, CAT, GPXI, MT−I, MT−II, SOD−I, SOD−II, and SOD-III were evaluated in lung, liver, and kidney tissues. Histopathological changes were also assessed. The findings revealed that the EGCG-treated groups manifested a significant decline in the expression of inflammatory markers and antioxidant genes compared to the FWP and UFWP groups. This insinuates that EGCG holds the capacity to alleviate the damaging effects of water-pipe smoke-induced inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, enhancements in histopathological features were observed in the EGCG-treated groups, signifying a protective effect against tissue damage induced by water-pipe smoking. These results underscore the potential of EGCG as a protective agent against the adverse effects of water-pipe smoking. By curbing inflammation and oxidative stress, EGCG may aid in the prevention or mitigation of smoking-associated diseases.

Arterial hypertension (AH) remains the most common disease. One possible way to improve the effectiveness of the primary prevention of AH is to identify and control the preclinical orthostatic disturbances that precede the development of AH. The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility of a new protocol for the head-up tilt test (HUTT) with a standardized hydrostatic column height for the detection of asymptomatic orthostatic circulatory disorders and their racial differences in young African and European adults. Methods. In total, 80 young healthy adults (40 African and 40 European) aged 20–23 years performed the HUTT with a standardized hydrostatic column height of 133 cm. The hemodynamic parameters were recorded using a Task Force Monitor (3040i). The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was measured using a VaSera VS-2000 volumetric sphygmograph. Results. The baseline and orthostatic hemodynamic changes in both racial groups were within normal limits. Orthostatic circulatory disturbances were not detected in 70% of the European participants and 65% of the African participants; however, preclinical orthostatic hypertension, which precedes AH, was detected using the new HUTT protocol in 32.5% of the African participants and 20% of the European participants. The baseline CAVI was higher in the European group compared to the African group. Conclusion. The results of this study showed the feasibility of the detection of preclinical orthostatic disturbances in young adults and the detection of their racial differences using the HUTT protocol, providing the use of a standard gravity load. Further study on the evolution of preclinical orthostatic disturbances and their relation to increased vascular stiffness is necessary among large samples.

Background: Our work/study culture is biased towards the circadian clocks of “morning types”, whereas “evening types” are forced to advance their weekday waking times relative to weekend waking times. Since the experimental research consistently reveals a >2 h difference between these two chronotypes in the positions of their endogenous circadian phases, we hypothesized the necessity to permit a >2 h difference between them in weekday waking times to equalize their irrecoverable loss in sleep on weekdays. Methods: A total of 659 and 1106 participants of online surveys identified themselves as morning and evening types, respectively. The hypothesis was tested by applying a model of sleep–wake regulation for simulating sleep times reported by 245 lecturers of these two types, and by comparison of sleep times of these types among these lecturers and 1520 students. Results: The hypothesis was supported by results showing that, if, on weekdays, an “average” morning type wakes at 6 a.m., the equalization of the weekday sleep loss of the two chronotypes would require the waking time of an “average” evening type to be no earlier than 8 a.m. Conclusions: These results may be implemented in a model-based methodology for the correction of weekday waking times to equalize weekday sleep loss.

Acute pain in the initial period after surgery on cartilaginous part of the nasal septum was studied. It is shown that the pain level was significantly higher in women than in men (P