Melatonin is known as a regulator of circadian sleep and waking rhythm. This hormone secreted by the pineal gland also has protective, oncostatic, and antioxidant properties. This systematic review was designed to answer the question “Is there a relationship between salivary melatonin changes and oncological diseases?”. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, ten studies were included, according to PRISMA statement guidelines. In all included studies, the diagnostic material was unstimulated whole saliva, in which the melatonin changes were determined by different laboratory methods. Most studies concerned changes in melatonin levels in patients with brain tumours due to a direct effect on the circadian rhythm centres. Other studies focused on disorders of melatonin secretion and its inclusion as a diagnostic marker in patients with prostate cancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The association between melatonin changes and sleep quality and chronotype in patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer and lymphoma survivors was also investigated. In conclusion, our systematic review may suggest trends for melatonin secretion alterations in oncological patients. However, due to the significant heterogeneity of the included reports, it is not possible to clearly determine a link between changes in salivary melatonin levels and the oncological diagnosis.

Introduction: Periodontal disease and psoriasis are chronic and multifactorial inflammatory conditions which share immunopathological mechanisms and risk factors. They often coexist and reflect each other as extensive research proved a correlation between the advancement of periodontitis and the severity of psoriasis. Aim: The main aim of this study was to assess the influence of the prevalence of psoriasis and periodontitis using the selected markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1α and IL-17. Material and methods: Test sample consisted of 30 psoriatic inpatients, subjected to dental examination and blood tests. 29 healthy individuals constituted the control group and underwent thorough clinical examination to rule out psoriasis. Results: Our results confirmed that all dental indices reflecting oral hygiene and periodontal health were significantly better in healthy controls than in patients with psoriasis. Further analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between the levels of CRP, a few of the cytokines (IL-1, IL-17), and dental indices in psoriatic patients. Moreover, we found that patients with psoriasis visited the dentist less frequently than healthy participants. Conclusions: In order to fully establish the relationship between psoriasis, periodontitis and markers of inflammation, further research on larger sample sizes is needed. However, the results obtained point to the crucial role of diagnosing and treating periodontitis in preventing and mitigating psoriasis. Joint effort of physicians and dentists is necessary to ensure a comprehensive treatment of a psoriatic patient.

Introduction: Smog is formed by the interaction of various oxides, metals, and volatile organic compounds with solar radiation and fog. In Poland, the primary sources of pollution emissions come from road transport and combustion processes from municipal and residential sources. One of the air pollution parameters is particulate matter (PM), a complex mixture of solid particles and liquids. Aim: The study discusses the most severe effects of particulate matter on child development. Material and methods: Literature search was performed using the medical database PubMed in time period from 2007 to 2021 using the following MESH-terms: air pollution, child, particulate matter, low birth weight, asthma, environmental pollutions, respiratory system. Results: The harmful effects of air pollution on foetal growth and the development of the child's internal organs and its endocrine system are presented in this paper. In the prenatal phase, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), by mimicking or even blocking the action of specific human hormones, may affect the endocrine balance of oestradiol and progesterone, which have a significant influence on the child's organ development. Air pollution can trigger and exacerbate asthma in children who already have it, while the role of air pollution in asthma development is debatable. Components of air pollution, including PM0.1, can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and activate inflammatory protein markers IL-6 and TNF-α, and induce inflammatory microstates. Conclusions: Even a slight reduction in air pollutant emissions has a positive effect on a child's health.