Paweł Izdebski

A systemic literature review of neuroimaging studies in women with breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive deficits in patients with breast cancer, predominantly in attention and verbal memory, have been observed in numerous studies. These neuropsychological findings are corroborated by the results of neuroimaging studies. The aim of this paper was to survey the reports on cerebral structural and functional alterations in women with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy (CTx). First, we discuss the host-related and disease-related mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment after CTx. We point out the direct and indirect neurotoxic effect of cytostatics, which may cause: a damage to neurons or glial cells, changes in neurotransmitter levels, deregulation of the immune system and/or cytokine release. Second, we focus on the results of neuroimaging studies on brain structure and function that revealed decreased: density of grey matter, integrity of white matter and volume of multiple brain regions, as well as their lower activation during cognitive task performance. Finally, we concentrate on compensatory mechanisms, which activate additional brain areas or neural connection to reach the premorbid cognitive efficiency.

THE CONCEPT, SUBJECTIVE HEALTH ASSESSMENT, HEALTH BEHAVIOURS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL IN EARLY ADULTHOOD

Wstęp. Głów nym ce lem pod ję tych ba dań by ło opi sa nie związ ku po mię dzy po zio mem po dej mo wa nej ak tyw no ści fi zycz nej a za cho wa nia mi zdro wot ny mi w gru pie mło dych do ro słych oraz ró żnic w po strze ga niu po ję cia zdro wia i sa mo oce nie sta nu zdro wia. Ma te riał i me to dy. Ba da nia mi ob ję to 230 osób stu diu ją cych na stu diach sta cjo nar nych i nie sta cjo nar nych oraz słu cha czy szkół po li ce al nych i kur sów za wo do wych. Wśród nich znaj do wa li się spor tow cy i nie -spor tow cy. Do po mia ru za sto so wa no Kwe stio na riusz Oce ny Spraw no ści Psy cho fi zycz nej Mi chał ków, Li stę Kry te riów Zdro wia (LKZ) i In wen tarz Za cho wań Zdro wot nych (IZZ) au tor stwa Ju czyń skie go oraz ska lę do oce ny ogól ne go sta nu zdro wia w opra co wa niu wła snym. Wy ni ki. Prze pro wa dzo ne ba da nia po twier dza ją ist nie nie związ ku po mię dzy po zio mem ak tyw no ści fi zycz nej a in ny mi za cho wa nia mi zdro wot ny mi. Im czę ściej oso ba po dej mu je ak tyw ność, tym bar dziej dba o pra wi dło we ży wie nie i pro fi lak ty kę zdro wia oraz wy ka zu je bar dziej po zy tyw ne na sta wie nie psy chicz ne. Wy ka za no ta kże, że śro do wi sko spo łecz ne (kie ru nek edu ka cji) oraz płeć ró żni cu ją pro wa dzo ny styl ży cia. Naj więk szy po ziom ak tyw no ści wy ka zu je gru pa spor tow ców, naj ni ższy – gru py stu den tów pe da go gi ki i in for ma ty ki. Naj mniej za cho wań zdro wot nych po dej mu ją stu den ci in for ma ty ki, WF -nie spor tow cy i pe da go gi ki, naj wię cej – przy szli in struk to rzy fit ness, ko sme tycz ki i fry zjer ki. Styl ży cia po wią za ny jest z wy ższą oce ną wła sne go sta nu zdro wia. Po ziom ak tyw no ści fi zycz nej spa da wraz z wie kiem osób ba da nych. Wnio ski. Umiar ko wa na ak tyw ność fi zycz na po wią za na jest z utrzy my wa niem po zy tyw nych na wy ków zdro wot nych. Do nie sie nia ba daw cze wska zu ją na to, że te go ty pu dzia ła nia, okre śla ne ja ko zdro wy styl ży cia, przy czy nia ją się do zmniej sze nia ry zy ka wy stą pie nia cho rób cy wi li za cyj nych, a więc sta no wią jed ną z me tod pro fi lak ty ki zdro wia.

Mild iron deficiency may affect female endurance and behavior

The function of central nervous system (CNS) processes is highly dependent on iron containing enzymes and proteins. Therefore, even mild iron deficiency (ID) may result in decreased endurance, increased irritability and withdrawal behavior among women. The current study was designed to assess the effects of iron status on perceived energy level along with its electroencephalographical (EEG) correlates and cognitive capacity of young women, since this group is at particular risk of experiencing depleted iron stores and iron deficiency anemia. The study group consisted of 23 non-anemic women of reproductive age (20-32 years) during their follicular phase of menstrual cycle. All participants were moderately physically active with a mean weekly energy expenditure of 1110 ± 450 Metabolic Equivalent of Task per minute-(MET/min). The groups electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha asymmetry and psychometric data - intelligence, anxiety level and temperamental traits (activity, briskness, sensory sensitivity, emotional reactivity, perseveration and endurance) were assessed and compared between iron deficient (serum ferritin <12 μg/l) and iron sufficient (serum ferritin ≥12 μg/l) females. Participants with depleted iron stores reported lower levels of activity (p = .004; partial η2 = 0.34) and endurance (p = .038, partial η2 = 0.25), temperamental traits, and presented increased relative left EEG alpha activity in prefrontal regions (p = .004; partial η2 = 0.63), which is a characteristic EEG pattern for withdrawal tendencies. Iron-depleted females did not differ in anxiety and general intelligence scores from those which were iron sufficient, however needed more time (median difference: 3 min, p = .004; partial η2 = 0.53) to complete an administered intelligence test, which may reflect lowered endurance during a cognitive-demanding task. These data provide proof that that even mild iron deficiency may be connected with CNS function and lead to decreased endurance, or at least cognitive endurance, which may be a risk-factor for mood disorders. Therefore, more attention should be paid to preventing even mild iron deficiency, particularly among young women.

Temperamental Traits Versus Individual Physical Fitness Components and a Physical Activity Level

Abstract The main aim of the study was to examine whether relationships exist between particular temperamental traits within the concept of Regulative Theory of Temperament and components of physical fitness, that are most crucial for success in sport. The research involved 108 individuals including 63 men (age 21.1 ± 1.6 yrs) and 45 women (age 20.7 ± 1.3 yrs). None of the respondents were professionally engaged in sport. Components of physical fitness included: aerobic capacity, strength, agility, static-dynamic balance and reaction time. The respondents also completed two questionnaires: the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour – Temperament Inventory and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The results indicate that the temperamental traits had average to poor correlations with the components of physical fitness, whereas more statistically significant correlations were observed in women. Negative correlations were obtained between emotional reactivity and agility, which was a result confirmed by previous research. All temperamental traits related with the energetic aspects of behaviour correlated with simple reaction time in women. Physical activity and aerobic capacity did not correlate with any of the studied traits. The results do not allow for any general conclusions to be drawn, but can serve as a reference point for future research on temperamental traits as delineated by Regulative Theory of Temperament and their relationship with the components of physical fitness.

Nadmierne korzystanie z sieci społecznościowych

Abstract Social networking sites (SNS) have become an integral part of peoples lives, especially the young. In Poland, the most popular SNS is Facebook – almost 14 million use it every day. Users might communicate by SNS with their friends, share photos and movies or participate in groups. There are many functions of SNS that make them attractive. SNS satisfy their users’ needs such as the need to connect or to self-present. However it is not easy to find one reason why people use SNS. Because of the popularity of this media, a new question arises: it is possible to become addicted to SNS? Scientist use terms such as: excessive use, problem use or even an addiction, but there are still no precise criteria that might be useful to identify this problem. One might find analyses of time spending on SNS and activities performed by users in scientific articles about excessive SNS use. SNS addictive tendency was usually measured by questionnaires based on some internet addiction scales. Future research in this area is needed because SNS are still a novelty and it is necessary to differentiate normal usage from the abnormal.

A serious game – a new training addressing particularly prospective memory in the elderly

Abstract A training in the form of a computer game that aims at improving five cognitive functions in the elderly has been developed: visuospatial memory, attention, memory for prose, working memory and prospective memory. It was devised as a collaboration among the Department of Cognitive Psychology in Warsaw, Department of Individual Differences Psychology in Bydgoszcz, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science – Game Academy in Cracow, and Department of Human Psychology and Department of Psychiatry of Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz. This software is an example of the so-called serious games. To the best of our knowledge it is the first one to focus particularly on prospective memory. This is the first report concerning the present training, which is currently being elaborated. The next step in its development will be testing its validity.