Folia Medica Cracoviensia

Introduction: Natural hallucinogens derived from fungi and animals have been used for centuries in shamanic, ritualistic, and medicinal practices across diverse cultures. These compounds exhibit a wide range of structures and mechanisms of action, affecting various neurotransmitter systems pathways. Fungal hallucinogens, primarily indole alkaloids like psilocybin and ergot alkaloids, as well as animal-derived toxins, such as bufotenine, ciguatoxins, or semiochemicals from insects, can induce profound alterations in perception, cognition, and mood. Despite their traditional use and psychoactive effects, many of these substances remain underexplored in terms of pharmacology and therapeutic potential. Recent studies suggest their possible roles in treating neuropsychiatric disorders, inflammatory conditions, and chronic pain, highlighting the need for a systematic review of their biological activity and medical applications. Aim of the study: This review aims to provide an overview of hallucinogenic compounds of fungal and animal origin, focusing on their chemical nature, pharmacodynamic properties, and current evidence for potential therapeutic use. Methodolog y: The review was based on publications retrieved from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, covering the period from 1983 to 2025. Search terms included: fungal hallucinogens, animal-derived psychedelics, natural psychoactive compounds, toxicity, therapeutic application of hallucinogens, and psychedelic drug research. Results: The analyzed hallucinogens differ markedly in terms of chemical structure, receptor activity, intensity of hallucinogenic effects, and potential for clinical use. Preclinical and limited clinical data suggest beneficial effects in mood and anxiety disorders, treatment-resistant depression, pain syndromes, and potentially neurodegenerative diseases. Some compounds show promise as leads for the synthesis of novel bioactive molecules. Conclusions: Hallucinogens of fungal and animal origin represent a biologically diverse and pharmacologically rich group of natural substances. Further interdisciplinary research is required to explore their mechanisms of action, safety profiles, and therapeutic potential. Their continued investigation may lead to the development of innovative treatments in neuropsychiatry and beyond.

Gastrointestinal diseases often manifest in the oral cavity, sometimes preceding systemic symptoms and serving as early indicators of underlying conditions. This review explores the oral manifestations associated with various gastrointestinal disorders, emphasizing their diagnostic significance and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and rare syndromes like Peutz-Jeghers, Gardner’s, Cowden, and Plummer-Vinson are discussed in terms of their oral presentations. These include specific lesions such as lip swelling, mucositis, enamel defects, and pigmentation, as well as non-specific symptoms like aphthae, glossitis, dry mouth, and halitosis. Early recognition of oral symptoms can facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment, improving patient outcomes. Despite growing interest, further research is needed to clearly define oral manifestations across gastrointestinal diseases and enhance diagnostic protocols.

Introduction: Some of the events concerning various killings in Polish history to this day remain unclear. Even though there were some historical studies done about the shootings we describe, there still remained the forensic side to verify. By doing so we have uncovered facts that change our view of that night established previously by various documents and historical articles, which all described deaths of the victims as executions. The aim of the study is to verify any circumstances of deaths that occurred during the shootings nearby Zelczyna in 1946/47. Materials and Methods: 6 autopsy protocols and archival documents from 1947 were analyzed to compare with the official course of events with results of autopsies. Results: Around midnight 31.12.1946/01.01.1947 a group of several armed men, later established to be anti-communist partisans, launched two attacks on local militia men (ORMO) in and around the village of Zelczyna, killing 6 people. Firearms used were not identified in the autopsy reports due to lack of cartridges in the bodies. Autopsy protocols show that the victims were shot in random places on the bodies, which indicates deaths in action, with the exception of one victim. Those reports also contained inaccuracies regarding names and number of the victims. Conclusions: Autopsy results do not confirm previous description of events, with only one of the victims showing signs which could suggest execution. All the other victims, judging by their wounds were most likely killed in action.

Background: Pelvic fractures are caused by high-energy trauma, consisting of traffic accidents, falls from heights. They are associated with a high percentage of complications, as well as the need for rapid surgical repair. The least invasive anastomosis for this type of injury is the TiFi method, which shows minimal postoperative complications and the possibility of early rehabilitation and weight-bearing, mobilising patients after surgery. Methods: Review of thematically available articles from the last 20 years on TiFi pelvic fracture anastomosis after high-energy trauma and ongoing rehabilitation. Results: After extraction, 10 articles on the surgical treatment of pelvic fracture with the TiFi method and rehabilitation management were obtained. 100% of the papers indicated a beneficial effect of the applied, minimally invasive anastomosis in restoring pelvic stability. Patients derived therapeutic and physiotherapeutic benefits from TiFi, compared with other applied anastomoses. The articles used defined the study group in the age range of 16–76 years, recommend that rehabilitation should be included as soon as possible after surgery, wheelchair mobility without loading of the lower limbs is acceptable 1 week after surgery, starting loading within 6–8 weeks after surgery. The decision to start loading is dependent on the operator related to the patient’s condition and the bone fusion visible on X-ray. The follow-up of patients after TiFi included a minimum of 1 year with extensions up to 3 years. Conclusions: More evidence and research is still needed to rigorously determine the timing of safe limb loading and the feasibility of implementing a specific rehabilitation plan in patients following TiFi pelvic fusion. However, the current reports already provide some insight into the need to start patient improvement as soon as possible, with operator decision-making and a period of 6 weeks after surgery as the baseline elements to begin full patient mobilisation.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT), defined by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels with preserved circulating thyroid hormone concentrations, may subtly affect physiological processes relevant to athletic performance. Emerging evidence suggests that levothyroxine (LT4) therapy can enhance muscle strength, mobility, and cardiopulmonary reserve, particularly in younger and middle-aged populations. This review critically examines current data on the physiological effects of levothyroxine in subclinical hypothyroidism, with a focus on its potential implications for athletic performance. The most consistent findings relate to cardiac physiology: LT4 therapy reverses diastolic dysfunction, reduces systemic vascular resistance, and enhances cardiopulmonary reserve, suggesting that functional cardiac abnormalities in sHT are largely reversible. In contrast, effects on energy metabolism remain limited. Patients with sHT exhibit impaired exercise tolerance, altered substrate utilization, and increased lactate accumulation, and these disturbances are only partially ameliorated by LT4. Overall, LT4 therapy in sHT shows promise in improving selected physiological parameters, yet evidence for meaningful enhancement of overall exercise capacity or athletic performance remains weak. Until robust, athlete-specific data are available, treatment decisions should continue to follow established clinical criteria rather than anticipated performance gains.

Introduction: Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant nutrition. Although milk production occurs independently of the mother’s nutritional status, it can deplete her energy reserves and micronutrient stores. The first days after childbirth are a particularly sensitive nutritional period for both the mother and child, making it crucial to focus on nutritional needs in maternity wards. Aim: The aim of the study was to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of meal plans intended for breastfeeding women in maternity wards. Materials and Methods: The study included four hospitals with active maternity wards in Cracow. The quantitative assessment was conducted by calculating the energy content and levels of individual dietary components for each full-day meal plan within the Kcalmar dietary program. The qualitative assessment of the menus was carried out using the point-based evaluation method by Starzyńska and the Bielińska test modified by Kulesza et al. Results: Quantitative assessment revealed inaccurate intake of protein, saturated fatty acids, vitamin A, C, B2, iron and iodine in all hospitals as well as caloric content, vitamin B1, calcium, zinc and water depending on the institution. In the Starzyńska scoring method, the menus from hospitals A, B, C, and D scored 17, 25, 20, and 20 points, respectively. The Bielińska test, as modified by Kulesza et al., indicated that most main dishes were nutritionally rational. Conclusions: Hospital diets in maternity wards should be properly balanced, ensuring that meals are well-composed in terms of quality. Eliminating dietary errors in meal plans offered to breastfeeding women is crucial.

Physiology, as a science, is the foundation of modern medical knowledge and the starting point for understanding the mechanisms of most diseases. The dynamic development of physiology at the Jagiellonian University dates back to the 14th century, but the last 150 years have yielded notable discoveries, including those of Napoleon Cybulski. Over the last century, the Department of Physiology at the Jagiellonian University have made a valuable contribution to the development of experimental and clinical gastroenterology, which Prof. Stanisław Konturek greatly expanded. This paper aims to present the biography and achievements of Prof. Konturek against the background of a short history of the Department of Physiology. For research purposes, historical studies on the development of the Krakow school of physiology over the centuries, as well as biographical notes and interviews conducted with Prof. Stanisław Konturek, were used and analyzed. The most significant findings of the Department of Physiology in the 19th century, including the discovery of adrenaline and research on brain electrophysiology, are undoubtedly associated with Professor Napoleon Cybulski. The most valuable achievements of Prof. Stanisław Konturek include the role of neuropeptides and intestinal hormones in the physiology and pathology of the digestive system, as well as the involvement of Helicobacter pylori in the development of inflammatory, dysplastic, and neoplastic changes in the gastric mucosa. Professor Konturek was one of the most outstanding physiologists of our time. His scientific legacy includes 650 articles, numerous books, and many successors, professors, and doctors who continue his work.

Bifid ribs are a congenital anomaly that in the majority of cases does not demonstrate clinical symptoms. Nevertheless, their presence may be linked to several genetic disorders that affect different systems of the human body. Symptomatic conditions of bifid ribs can appear as follows: chest deformity and pain, breathing difficulties due to the structural changes in the thoracic wall, and neurological complaints caused by compression of the intercostal nerves. Hereby, we presented a concise review of clinical reports documenting symptomatic cases of bifid ribs and their potential associations with systemic disorders. This article also examines cases of bifid ribs encountered in the clinical practice of plastic surgeons, pediatric surgeons, and cardiothoracic surgeons.

The gold standard for assessing liver fibrosis is core needle biopsy. Its invasive nature, however, limits its wide use. Hence the need for non-invasive methods in patients with hepar venostaticum due to right ventricular [RV] failure: one of them is the FIB4 index. Another method, Fibroscan, is based on an ultrasound technique from elastography. Objective: to assess the correlation and determination indices between the FIB4 index and the assessment of liver stiffness by Fibroscan (E) on one hand and echocardiographic parameters describing RV function on the other hand. The study group: 33 patients (74 ± 13 years) with heart failure due to pulmonary hypertension, arterial hypertension, valvular diseases, myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathy. Results: echocardiography — RV dimension 38 ± 8 mm, systolic pressure in pulmonary artery (SPAP) 53 ± 24 mmHg, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) 17 ± 4mm, acceleration time of flow through the pulmonary valve (ACT) 79 ± 23 ms, the degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation 2 ± 1; the FIB4 result in this group — 2.54 ± 1.19, and the stiffness index E: 13.79 ± 12.55 kPa. Only RV dimension and the degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation showed moderately strong positive correlation with the stiffness index E: the correlation index — 0.327 and 0.382, respectively, with the determination index 27.9% and 43.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The results emphasize the relationship between the morphological remodeling of the RV and the degree of secondary tricuspid regurgitation and the advancement of fibrotic changes in the liver and encourage the continuation of studies on larger groups of patients with a homogeneous etiology of RV failure, using a wider spectrum of echocardiographic parameters.

Objectives: The study examined the natural progression of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection during pregnancy, comparing initial and postpartum results. It also assessed delivery mode’s impact on outcomes and strategies to improve follow-up care for women with abnormal cervical cancer screening results. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 59 pregnant women with SIL/positive HPV, assessing variables such as cytology, HPV status, and delivery mode. Statistical tests included Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: The average age of patients was 29 years. Over 50% were primigravidas. A significant reduction in abnormal cytology was observed postpartum (89.83% vs. 62.50%, p = 0.009), with an increase in normal results (10.17% vs. 37.50%). No significant differences were found in HPV status (88.89% vs. 81.25%, p = 0.655). Colposcopy findings were stable for 76.32% of patients between Visits 1 and 2, with 50% stability between Visits 2 and 3. Postpartum, 30.43% showed regression, while 8.70% showed progression (p = 0.017, p_adj >0.050). Higher regression rates were observed after vaginal birth compared to the cesarean section (45.45% vs. 15.38%, p = 0.182) but no significant differences were found (p = 1.000). Almost 60% of patients were lost to postpartum follow-up. Conclusion: Further studies with a larger population of Polish patients are needed. Cervical cancer screening should be optimized and integrated into a national registry. Pregnant patients with abnormal screening results should be managed by experts, and strategies to enhance patient compliance must be implemented.

The primary role of the healthcare system and its cooperating entities is to ensure the health security of citizens and individuals residing in a given country. Over the past twenty years, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats have become an increasingly significant problem. This underscores the need to include this topic in the education and training of medical personnel. The aim of this article is to identify and analyze current gaps in the education and training of Polish healthcare workers regarding CBRNE threats. Based on a review of the literature, curriculum documents, and applicable educational standards, it has been demonstrated that the preparation of medical professionals to respond to CBRNE incidents is insufficient and requires systemic intervention. The article presents and analyzes the main areas of educational deficits regarding CBRNE, including a lack of awareness of the need for training, insufficient standardized training protocols, limited integration of modern didactic methods, and inadequate institutional preparation. The authors also present possible educational solutions in the field of CBRNE that could be implemented in Poland, as well as proposals for cooperation with the crisis management system. The conclusions drawn from the analysis point to the need to develop comprehensive educational programs to increase the readiness of medical personnel to respond to CBRNE threats. However, this area requires continuous monitoring and the implementation of regularly updated solutions.

Loss of voice in patients after total laryngectomy is a significant issue that medicine has been grappling with since the 19th century. Scientific literature reports unequivocally confirm the substantial impact of total laryngectomy on patients’ quality of life, which directly translates into their psychological well-being. The purpose of this study is to compile and organize the latest scientific findings on tracheoesophageal prostheses and subsequently integrate the description of this treatment modality with its rehabilitative aspects. In light of the growing number of patients using TEP, this paper also aims to reintroduce and clarify the topic for a broad range of ENT surgeons and other physicians who are increasingly likely to encounter TEP patients in clinical practice. The tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP), first described in 1972 by Professor Erwin Mozolewski and independently introduced into the English-language literature in 1980 by Blom and Singer, has become a key method for voice rehabilitation in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy and currently, used prostheses function based on a one-way air valve implanted in a surgically created tracheoesophageal fistula. This method is considered highly effective, as it is utilized in over 90% of cases. In addition to providing better voice quality compared to other techniques, the TEP prosthesis also positively impacts the overall quality of life of the patients who use it. Scientific studies highlight the analysis of quality of life and the effectiveness of voice rehabilitation as key endpoints in assessing the success of both surgical and rehabilitative treatment in laryngectomized patients. Over the years, various methods of voice rehabilitation have been developed in an effort to find the best approach that meets the needs of patients.

There is a lack of research that methodically clarifies baseline muscle tone values and demonstrates their activation during balance tests using selected parts of the 4-Stage Balance Test. The study involved 41 men and 34 women (mean age approximately 22 years (X = 21.83 y, SD 1.5 y)). Data were collected using a questionnaire containing socio-demographic and anthropometric data. Range of motion was measured using a goniometer (SFTR Goniometer Baseline 360 degrees), limb length and circumference were measured using a ADE MZ10021 tape measure and static balance was assessed using two tests from the 4-Stage Balance Test. Eight muscles (Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Lateralis (VL), Vastus Medialis (VM), Semitendinosus (S), Biceps Femoris (BF), Tibialis Anterior (TA), Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM), Gastrocnemius Lateralis (GL)) bioelectrical activity data were obtained using a Noraxon MR 400 sEMG device and MyoTrace software. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics v25. In parallel foot position the highest EMG activity was observed in the VM (99.18 mV), S (55.27 mV) and RF (33.06 mV) muscles. In semi-tandem foot position the highest activity was observed in S (120.8 mV), GM (59.03 mV), and TA (47.84 mV) muscles, with the lowest in BF (6.58 mV) muscle. 1. Lowered base of support increases the activity of the semitendinosus and medial gastrocnemius muscles. 2. Maintaining the feet-together stance depends on the synergy between the semitendinosus and medial gastrocnemius muscles. 3. Maintaining semi-tandem positioned halfway in front of the other foot depends on the synergy between the vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior muscles.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic hepatitis B on fatty acids (FA) composition in erythrocyte membranes (RBC) and plasma, and its effect on lipoxin A4 and resolvin D1 levels. Materials and Methods: Sixty participants were enrolled: 30 hepatitis B patients (15 with cirrhosis, 15 without) and 30 healthy controls. Fatty acids content in plasma and RBC membranes was analyzed by gas chromatography. Serum lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and resolvin D1 (RvD1) were measured via enzyme immunoassay. Principal component analysis (PCA) assessed correlations between fatty acid composition, LXA4 and RvD1 levels. Results: Hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis exhibited significantly lower plasma lipoxin A4 (1812 pg/mL) compared to controls (2230 pg/mL) and non-cirrhotic hepatitis B patients (2453 pg/mL). Plasma n-3 FA levels (15.4% vs. 8.7%) and the n-3/n-6 ratio (0.8 vs. 0.4) were significantly reduced in cirrhotic patients. PCA data revealed associations between LXA4 and saturated fatty acids, and between n-3 FA and RvD1 pathways, suggesting disrupted lipid-mediated inflammation resolution. Erythrocyte membranes showed elevated trans C18:1 in cirrhotic hepatitis B. Conclusions: Chronic HBV infection, especially with cirrhosis, alters fatty acid profiles and reduces lipoxin A4 level, contributing to persistent hepatic inflammation and highlighting potential lipid-targeted therapies.

Intestinal dysbiosis affects numerous health conditions in human body. At the same time its impact on the bone remodelling process has been discovered quite recently. Studies are in agreement that the gut microbiota might directly or indirectly affect on bone metabolism through the functions of the immune system, hormone levels or calcium absorption. Having said that regulation of the intestinal microbiota will play a significant role in the bone metabolism it may represent a potential therapeutic measure in those at the risk of osteoporosis. The purpose of the following review was to assess the impact of probiotics, as major gut microbiota regulators, on the parameters of bone health. In particular as it refers to the bone mineral density, bone turnover markers as well as calcium and vitamin D in the blood serum. Special attention was placed on postmenopausal women, due to their increased risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. The analysis of the available literature suggests potential anti-osteoporotic effect of some selected probiotic bacteria strains. Therapy with the use of probiotics might be complementary in the prophylactics and treatment of osteoporosis due to its good tolerance and well documented effectiveness in majority of the studies. Despite the promising results, there is still a great need for further clinical studies which would allow to determine the optimal dosage, duration of the supplementation as well as the efficiency confirmation of particular probiotic strains.