Sakalauskaitė, Sandra

Background and Objectives: One of the strongest early factors influencing later psychoactive substance use is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Studies investigate a variety of adverse experiences in relation to substance use, yet not all adverse childhood experiences are equal in intensity and harm. Our study aimed to address this gap by examining in detail the associations between individual ACEs, broader ACE categories, and different forms of psychoactive substance use. Materials and Methods: The study included 709 participants who completed self-report questionnaires. ACEs were measured using the MACE questionnaire. Marijuana use was measured using the CUDIT-R, alcohol use using the AUDIT, and heavy psychoactive substance use using the ASSIST. Linear regression analyses were used to predict associations. As expected, only a small part of the sample reported hard drug use; some analyses are limited to substantially fewer observations. Results: All regression models were statistically significant and predicted all three categories of psychoactive substances, but if we count the individual adverse experiences, the results become different. Although the results showed that ACE is a significant predictor of hard drug use and explains 25% of the variance, it is separately only emotional neglect that is associated with hard drug use. The regression analysis also explains 14% of the variance in marijuana use, but when considered separately, we found associations only with emotional neglect. The severity of alcohol use explains 13% of the variance, but only a few ACEs reach statistical significance: peer physical bullying, physical violence, and sexual abuse. Conclusions: The findings of our study suggest that adverse childhood experiences may not be qualitatively equivalent and therefore may not be evaluated only as a cumulative risk score. Separate ACE evaluations, instead of aggregate calculation of ACEs, may be useful to understand better which specific negative experiences have the greatest impact on subsequent use of psychoactive substances. The regression models explain only a small portion of the variance, which suggests that other factors may contribute to a larger share.

Įvadas. Alerginės kvėpavimo takų ligos yra lėtinės, dažnai kartu egzistuojančios uždegiminės būklės - astma, alerginis rinitas ir lėtinis rinosinusitas. [...]

Background and Objectives: The average prevalence of sensitization to house dust mite in developed countries is more than 20%. The three major allergens of D. pteronyssinus—Der p 1, Der p 2, and Der p 23—have been associated with asthma severity. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is the only personalized and effective treatment that can change the natural course of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma. Despite ASIT being an established treatment method, its effectiveness is still assessed using patient-reported outcome measures that determine quality of life, and there are no objective biomarkers that can accurately and reliably indicate the therapeutic efficacy of ASIT. This study aimed to monitor sensitization profiles to allergens, assess the effectiveness of ASIT, and evaluate total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and quality of life after six months of ASIT treatment. Materials and Methods: The molecular allergy diagnostic system was used to assess changes in patients’ sensitization profiles to allergens, and the validated questionnaires RQLQ and TNSS were used for quality-of-life assessment. Results: After 6 months of ASIT treatment against house dust mite allergens, a statistically significant increase in sIgE against the Der p 23 component was noted. In addition, a significant decrease in practical problems and an improvement in patients‘ emotional state were observed, while the TNSS score remained unchanged. Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of the Der p 23 component during further stages of ASIT is, therefore, essential to determine whether the observed changes reflect de novo sensitization or represent an immunological response to therapy.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognized risk factors for later substance use. Yet, data remain scarce—particularly regarding the differentiated effects of specific types of ACEs and their distinct associations with various psychoactive substances. The current study is one of the first in Lithuania to explore the associations between specific ACEs and psychoactive substance use in young adulthood (ages 18–29). This cross-sectional study included a total of 709 participants who completed an online survey. ACEs were measured using a combination of adapted ACEs items and the MACE questionnaire. Substance use was assessed using self-reported instruments: CUDIT-R (cannabis), AUDIT (alcohol), ASSIST (heavy psychoactive substances), and nicotine use. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was chosen to examine predictive relationships. Results revealed that experiences of sexual abuse and physical maltreatment in childhood predicted higher levels of alcohol use in young adulthood. Sexual abuse was positively associated with nicotine, cannabis, and heavy psychoactive substance use, while witnessing interpersonal violence was only associated with higher nicotine use. However, verbal abuse showed significant negative associations across several substance categories. No significant associations were found between family addiction history and substance use. The absence of an important relationship between family history of addiction and substance use indicates that genetic factors may be less decisive than environmental or psychosocial conditions. The main findings of this study are that ACEs are not qualitatively equivalent to one another, so it is worth examining them separately, rather than summing them. Furthermore, based on the negative associations with verbal abuse and the generally statistically negative associations, we can assume that ACEs may not be the most important factors increasing substance use. Further studies should look for other factors that influence substance use.

Įvadas. Įsijautrinimas kailinių gyvūnų alergenams (KGA) yra vis dažnesnė problema, kylanti populiarėjant naminių gyvūnų auginimui, ypač tarp asmenų, kurie jau serga alerginėmus kvėpavimo takų ligomis, tokiomis kaip astma ir alerginis rinitas. Epidemiologiniai duomenys rodo, kad Europoje maždaug 25% suaugusiųjų yra įsijautrinę katės arba šuns alergenams. Nežiūrint to, kad literatūroje pateikiami duomenys apie bendrą įsijautrinimą KGA, nepakanka informacijos apie atskirų alergenų komponentų tarpusavio sąsajas. Mažai žinoma apie tai, kaip skirtingoms baltymų šeimoms priklausantys alergenai, ypač lipokalinai ir serumo albuminai (SA), prisideda prie polisensibilizacijos ir kryžminio reaktyvumo tarp skirtingų gyvūnų rūšių alergenų.

Tikslas. Įvertinti suaugusiųjų įsijautrinimo katės ir šuns molekuliniams alergenams profilius bei sąsajas tarp specifinių IgE (sigE) antikūnų prieš skirtingų KGA alergenų komponentus.

Metodika. Į tyrimą įtraukti 59 suaugę asmenys (27 vyrai, 32 moterys, am-Zius: 20-60 m.), kuriems pasireiškia alerginio rinito, ir/ar alerginės astmos ir/ar atopinio dermatito simptomai. Išplėstinis sIgE profilis buvo nustatomas kraujo mėginiuose panaudojant molekulinės alergijos diagnostikos makro-gardelę (Alex, MAD GmbH, Austrija).

Rezultatai. Įsijautrinimas KGA nustatytas 54.24% tirtų asmenų. Iš jų, monosensibiliazacija nustatyta 15,63 % kates (75%. Fel d 1) arba šuns (75%. Can (5) alergenams, 3.13 % arklio. Polisensibilizacija buvo nustaty ta: 43.75% kates ir šuns alergenams, 18.75%-katės, šuns ir arklio alerge nama, o 3.13%-šuns ir arklio alergenams. Dažniausiai sigE buvo nustatyti prieš katės alergenų komponentus Fel d 1 (uteroglobinas, 68,75%) ir Fel d 7 (lipokalinai: 28,13 %). Vertinant antikūnus prieš šuns alergenus dažniausiai nustatyti sIgE priel Can 15 (50,00%) ir Can f 1 (lipokalinat: 37,50%) komponentus. Įsijautrinimas arklio lipokalinui Equ c 1 (21,43%) nustatytas rečiausiai. Vertinant sąsajas tarp sIgE prieš alergenų komponentus, nustatytas stiprus ryšys tarp sIgE prieš Fel d 7 ir Can f 1 (lipokalinai): Fel d 2 ir Can f3 bel Equ c 3 (SA) (r=-0,902, 0,872; p<0,05). Taip pat nustatytos vidutinio sti-prumo sąsajos tarp sigE prieš skirtingoms baltymų šeimoms priklausančius komponentus: Fel d 2 (SA) ir Can 14 (lipokalinas) (r=0,619; p <0,05), bei Equ c 3 (SA) ir Can 16 (lipokalinas) (r=0,573: p <0.05).

Išvados. Penkiasdešimt procentų tirtų asmenų, kuriems pasireiškia aler gijos simptomai, buvo įsijautrinę kailinių gyvūnų alergenams, dažniausiai Fel d 1 ir Can F5 komponentams. Nustatytas reikšmingas kryžminis reak tyvumas ne tik tarp tarp lipokalinų ir serumo albuminų, bet ir sąsajos tarp skirtingoms šeimoms priklausančių baltymų, todėl išsamus molekulinis profiliavimas yra svarbus taikant personalizuotą paciento ištyrimą ir gydymą.

Įvadas. Alergenų specifinė imunoterapija (ASIT) – tai vienintelis alerginių kvėpavimo takų ligų gydymo būdas, galintis keisti natūralią ligos eigą. ASIT kai kuriems pacientams būna neveiksminga, o to priežastys nėra aiškios. Be to, iškelta hipotezė, kad gydant ASIT galimi įsijautrinimo alergenams profilio pokyčiai, tačiau duomenų šiai hipotezei patvirtinti arba paneigti vis dar stinga. Molekulinių alergenų komponentų ištyrimas, stebint įsijautrinimo profilio kitimą gydymo ASIT metu, gali būti naudingas vertinant ASIT veiksmingumą. Tikslas. Nustatyti įsijautrinimo molekuliniams alergenų komponentams profilį prieš pradedant taikyti ASIT ir po vieno mėnesio gydymo. Metodai. Į tyrimą įtraukti penki alerginiu rinitu sergantys vyrai, kuriems, atlikus odos dūrio mėginius, nustatytas įsijautrinimas namų dulkių erkėms (NDE). Alergenams specifinio imunoglobulino E (sIgE) kiekis serume nustatytas in vitro diagnostikos sistema „Alex2“ („Macro Array Diagnostics GmbH“, Austrija) prieš pradedant taikyti ASIT su NDE alergenu ir po vieno mėnesio gydymo. Rezultatai. Nustatyta, kad prieš gydymą ASIT visi tiriamieji buvo įsijau-trinę Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ir Dermatophagoides farinae alergenams: Der f 2, Der p 2 (100 proc.), Der p 1 (80 proc.), taip pat Der p 5 ( 60 proc.), Der f 1, Der p 7 (20 proc.), Der p 21 (60 proc.), Der p 23 (40 proc.). Po vieno mėnesio gydymo: 1) keturiems pacientams nustatytas bendrojo IgE padidėjimas; 2) visiems pacientams nustatytas sIgE prieš Der p 23 padidėjimas, o vienam jų tai buvo naujos sensibilizacijos atsiradimas; 3) visiems pacientams, kurie buvo įsijautrinę Der p 1, sIgE kiekis prieš šį komponentą padidėjo, o prieš Der p 2 sumažėjo keturiems pacientams. Išvados. Tyrimo rezultatai rodo, kad praėjus vienam mėnesiui nuo gydymo ASIT pradžios daugeliui pacientų sIgE kiekis prieš namų dulkių erkių alergenų komponentus padidėja, o įsijautrinimo profilis gali kisti. Šio tyrimo atveju nustatyta de novo sensibilizacija Der p 23 komponentui, o tai gali rodyti šio komponento svarbą vertinant imunologinį atsaką gydymo pradžioje.

Statistical data demonstrate a concurrent rise in smoking prevalence and mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, which may be attributed to contemporary lifestyle factors, including social media and recent global events. This indicates a potential correlation between these trends, as individuals with mental disorders may engage in smoking as a form of self-medication to alleviate anxiety. However, smoking is harmful and increases the risk of many diseases. Therefore, smoking cessation strategies are increasingly being considered. Nicotine is a naturally produced alkaloid in plants that makes smoking so addictive. Unfortunately, the public’s lack of understanding of the effects of nicotine leads to misleading claims in the public and media about its biological effects. Thus, current narrative literature review is focused on the examination of the biological effects of organic nicotine from various angles, considering the psychological aspects of addiction and the immune system. Analysis of recent data showed that nicotine not only causes addiction but also has therapeutic benefits in certain diseases (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) and has anti-inflammatory properties (autoimmunity, neurodegenerative diseases), and a deeper understanding and a broader approach to its effects is needed.

Tobacco control policies have aimed to reduce the global prevalence of smoking. Unfortunately, the recent survey data shows that about 24% of Europeans still smoke. Although combustible cigarettes remain the most used tobacco product, the tendency made evident in the prevalence of smoking-alternative nicotine-containing products increases. Studies that can objectively assess the long-term health effects of the latter products are lacking, so assessing toxic substances associated with smoking-alternative products and comparing them to substances from combustible cigarettes could inform future public health efforts. The manufacturers of these alternative products claim that the use of alternatives to combustible cigarettes reduces exposure to toxic compounds, but the reality is unclear. This study compares the concentrations of toxic substances in generated aerosols and performs calculations based on mainstream cigarette smoke and aerosols from smoking-alternative products. It summarizes the amounts of harmful and potentially harmful constituents per single puff. Alternative smoking products are undoubtedly harmful to non-smokers. Still, based on the analysis of the latest independent studies’ empirical data, the concentrations of inhaled HPHCs using heated tobacco products or e-cigarettes are reduced up to 91–98%, respectively; therefore, for those who cannot quit, these could provide a less harmful alternative. However, more well-designed studies of alternative product emissions are needed, including an analysis of the compounds that are not present in conventional tobacco products (e.g., thermal degradation products of propylene glycol, glycerol, or flavorings) to evaluate possible future health effects objectively.

Background. The problem is of outstanding importance since sensitisation to furry animal allergens (FAA) has been increasing rapidly over the last decade, and it is considered a risk factor for the occurrence and development of respiratory allergic diseases such as asthma and/or rhinitis in sensitised individuals. Studies show that precise diagnosis to FAA is challenging due to unexpected sensitisation to minor allergens, which can be identified by molecular component analysis. Still, it remains unknown in which cases molecular testing is appropriate. Aim. The study aimed to evaluate and compare sensitisation profile results received by two in vitro techniques: molecular component (MC) analysis and allergen extracts (AE). Methods. 55 adult patients (aged 20–60) with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma and/or atopic dermatitis who are sensitised to the most common inhaled allergens (identified by Skin Prick test) were included in the study. Specific IgE (sIgE) assays were performed using different in vitro systems: AE (Euroline, Euroimmun, Germany) and MC (Alex2, MAD GmbH, Austria). The agreement between MC and AE techniques was evaluated by Cohen‘s Kappa coefficient. Results. According to two in vitro assays results, 28.00% (MC) vs 22.00% (AE) of studied subjects were sensitised to animal allergens, of which 46.43% vs 38.10% to cats and dogs, 21.43% vs 23.81% to cats, dogs, and horse and 14.29% vs 9.42% monosensitised to dogs. It was determined that patients monosensitised to cat allergens were 10.71% (MC) vs 28.57% (AE). Only one patient was monosensitised to horse allergen Equ c 1. The most commonly identified molecular components of cat allergens were Fel d 1 (67.86%) and Fel d 7 (32.14%). Can f 5 and Can f_Fd 1 components of dog allergens were the most prevalent (53.57% and 32.14%, respectively). The concordance between results of MC and AE techniques in the determination of sensitisation profile to FAA varied from poor (in patients, monosensitised to minor dog allergen components: Can f 5, Can f_ Fd 1 (ê = 0.241, p = 0.056; 0.321 (p < 0.001)) to very good (in patients sensitised to the main allergens: Can f 1 (from dog, ê = 0.825, p < 0.001) and Fel d 1 (from cat, ê = 0.882; p < 0.001)). sIgE against dog AE was not identified in patients monosensitised to MC Can f d 1 or Can f 5. Conclusions. When patients are sensitised to the major furry animal allergens testing with allergen extracts is sufficient for diagnosis. However, additional molecular component analysis is required when sensitisation to minor allergen is present.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a diverse group of small, naturally occurring molecules that orchestrate the innate immune response of various organisms, from microorganisms to humans. Characterized by their broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses, AMPs are increasingly recognized for their potential as novel therapeutic agents in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. Here, we present several newly designed AMPs, one of which, DTN6, exerts significant activity against several organisms with MIC values as low as 0.5 µg/mL. The D-TN6 peptide influences both bacteria and yeasts. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the bacterial membrane is affected by D-TN6, which is resistant to proteases and is effective against antibiotic-resistant pathogens with hemolytic activity and low toxicity. The D-TN6 peptide is effective in vivo against standard S. aureus strains in wounds. Thus, D-TN6 is a potent antibiotic candidate with a broad spectrum of activity. Overall, AMPs are a promising tool for the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents that could mitigate global health threats posed by multidrug-resistant pathogens.