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Nutrients Jan 2021Human skin is continually changing. The condition of the skin largely depends on the individual's overall state of health. A balanced diet plays an important role in the... (Review)
Review
Human skin is continually changing. The condition of the skin largely depends on the individual's overall state of health. A balanced diet plays an important role in the proper functioning of the human body, including the skin. The present study draws attention to bioactive substances, i.e., vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, with a particular focus on their effects on the condition of the skin. The aim of the study was to review the literature on the effects of bioactive substances on skin parameters such as elasticity, firmness, wrinkles, senile dryness, hydration and color, and to define their role in the process of skin ageing.
Topics: Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Humans; Minerals; Skin; Skin Aging; Vitamins
PubMed: 33445474
DOI: 10.3390/nu13010203 -
Nutrients Sep 2021Nowadays, caffeine is one of the most commonly consumed substances, which presents in many plants and products. It has both positive and negative effects on the human... (Review)
Review
Nowadays, caffeine is one of the most commonly consumed substances, which presents in many plants and products. It has both positive and negative effects on the human body, and its activity concerns a variety of systems including the central nervous system, immune system, digestive system, respiratory system, urinary tract, etc. These effects are dependent on quantity, the type of product in which caffeine is contained, and also on the individual differences among people (sex, age, diet etc.). The main aim of this review was to collect, present, and analyze the available information including the latest discoveries on the impact of caffeine on human health and the functioning of human body systems, taking into account the role of caffeine in individual disease entities. We present both the positive and negative sides of caffeine consumption and the healing properties of this purine alkaloid in diseases such as asthma, Parkinson's disease, and others, not forgetting about the negative effects of excess caffeine (e.g., in people with hypertension, children, adolescents, and the elderly). In summary, we can conclude, however, that caffeine has a multi-directional influence on various organs of the human body, and because of its anti-oxidative properties, it was, and still is, an interesting topic for research studies including those aimed at developing new therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics; Animals; Antioxidants; Caffeine; Cardiovascular System; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Child; Digestive System; Humans; Immune System; Mental Disorders; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Receptors, Purinergic P1; Respiratory System; Urinary Tract
PubMed: 34578966
DOI: 10.3390/nu13093088 -
Nutrients Sep 2023In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks by young adults and athletes has risen significantly, but concerns have been raised about the potential health risks... (Review)
Review
In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks by young adults and athletes has risen significantly, but concerns have been raised about the potential health risks associated with excessive consumption. These concerns include cardiovascular problems, nervous system disorders, and the potential for addiction. This review aims to examine the reported effects of acute or chronic abuse of energy drinks on human health. The analysis shows a significant prevalence of adverse effects, particularly on the cardiovascular and neurovegetative systems. In particular, the analysis identified nine cases of cardiac arrest, three of which were fatal. The aetiology of these adverse effects is attributed to the inherent neurostimulant properties of these beverages, of which caffeine is the predominant component. A comparison of documented effects in humans with experimental studies in animal models showed an overlap in results. This review highlights the need for greater rigour in the assessment of sudden cardiac death, particularly in young people, as legal substances such as energy drinks may be involved. We propose stricter limits on the consumption of these beverages than for caffeine, based on the evidence found and the data in the literature. This review also calls for the establishment of regulations governing the consumption of these products in view of their potential impact on human health.
Topics: Animals; Young Adult; Humans; Adolescent; Energy Drinks; Human Body; Caffeine; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Athletes
PubMed: 37764707
DOI: 10.3390/nu15183922 -
Journal of Burn Care & Research :... 2012The term "spontaneous human combustion" refers to a situation when a human body is found with significant portions of the middle parts of the body reduced to ashes, much... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
The term "spontaneous human combustion" refers to a situation when a human body is found with significant portions of the middle parts of the body reduced to ashes, much less damage to the head and extremities, and minimal damage to the direct surroundings of the body. Typically, no observable source of ignition is found in the vicinity of the victim and a bad smelling oily substance is noted. In the past, such a situation was erroneously attributed to supernatural powers, as such phenomenon occurs in the absence of any witness. The purpose of this review article was to analyze articles published from January 1, 2000, on this unique type of burn injury. Further aims were to gather and present data on the causes and events leading to this situation. The literature was reviewed with PubMed interface using the key words spontaneous human combustion and preternatural combustion. Specific inclusion criteria resulted in 12 patients. A unique sequence of events takes place for the human body to incinerate to ashes. The flame burn victim has to die for the body fat to start melting. A tear in the skin has to occur for the melted fat to impregnate the charred clothes, igniting a wick effect that produces localized heat for extended period. A phenomenon called spontaneous human combustion is reality. The term "spontaneous human combustion" has nuances which are not applicable to this situation or to these modern times, therefore we suggest a new term "fat wick burns."
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Aged; Body Surface Area; Burns; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Injury Severity Score; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Assessment; Spontaneous Combustion; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing
PubMed: 22269823
DOI: 10.1097/BCR.0b013e318239c5d7 -
Science (New York, N.Y.) Jul 2023New proposed legislation on "forever" chemicals is under consideration in Europe and the United States, where per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a hot topic...
New proposed legislation on "forever" chemicals is under consideration in Europe and the United States, where per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a hot topic for regulators and lawmakers. On both sides of the Atlantic, regulation of widely used PFAS has been complex and evolving. Their presence in hundreds of different products-from nonstick cookware to food packaging to firefighting foam-and their persistence in food, drinking water, and the environment have resulted in a pollution problem of unprecedented scale. Recently, for example, it was reported that 45% of the tap water in the United States contains at least one type of PFAS. Because these compounds are so chemically stable that they do not degrade in the environment (including in the human body), PFAS seriously challenge long-established ideas of how chemicals can be used, assessed, and regulated, and it remains to be seen whether the new regulations will solve this problem.
Topics: Humans; Drinking Water; Europe; Fluorocarbons; Food; Environmental Pollution; Hazardous Substances; Persistent Organic Pollutants
PubMed: 37471534
DOI: 10.1126/science.adj7475 -
Vestnik Oftalmologii 2021Iontophoresis in medicine is a combined pharmacological and physical method of treatment that unites the therapeutic effect of an electric current with the...
Iontophoresis in medicine is a combined pharmacological and physical method of treatment that unites the therapeutic effect of an electric current with the pharmacological effect of medicinal substances administered at the same time via an electric current. The article describes the physical basis of the therapeutic effect of direct electric current on biological tissues, and highlights the physical and chemical mechanisms of target administration of pharmaceutical substances into the human body through intact skin or mucous membrane by means of direct electric current. In addition, it presents the results of international as well as Russian domestic scientific studies on the clinical effectiveness of iontophoresis in ophthalmology.
Topics: Eye; Humans; Iontophoresis; Russia
PubMed: 34965077
DOI: 10.17116/oftalma2021137061119