This study aims to assess the effect of an increase in daily physical activity to prevent cognitive decline, sustain brain volumes and maintain healthy biomarker levels in previously inactive (< 7,000 steps/day) mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects aged 50-65 years. In total, 198 subjects with MCI (assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test) will be recruited and randomised into two groups: active and passive. The active group will be instructed, encouraged and motivated to increase their physical activity to a moderate level (≥ 10,000 steps/day), while the passive group should maintain their normal activity levels. All subjects will undergo cognitive assessment, neuroimaging and biomarker tests before and after a one-year intervention. During the intervention, physical activity will be measured by the Fitbit Inspire HR wristband. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register database (registration no. DRKS00020943, date of registration: 09.03.2020, protocol version: 1.0).

Background: A growing incidence of invasive fungal infections, especially among immunocompromised patients, has given increased significance to microbiological diagnostics of yeast-like fungi. More accurate and faster fungi identification methods that can compete with classical methods are being searched for. In this paper, classical microbiological methods are compared to MALDI–TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry). Methods: The diagnostic material was collected from buccal mucosa from 98 adults, including 69 with HIV. Only positive cultures were included in the study. Results: Matching results were obtained in 45 samples, and there were nonmatching results in 35 samples, with the majority of these in the study group, constituting 50% of identifications within this group. A particularly common mistake resulting from the use of classical methods is the false identification of C. dubliniensis as C. albicans. Additionally, C. tropicalis proves to be difficult to identify. Conclusions: Our results and literature data suggest that MALDI–TOF MS should be considered an effective alternative to classical methods in terms of fungi identification, especially among HIV-positive patients, due to the different morphology of fungal colonies.

In the midst of today’s COVID-19 pandemic, attitudes towards psychological online interventions (POI) in both the general population and many healthcare target groups could become crucial information for healthcare providers. Acceptability of POIs is seen as an important factor contributing to the effectiveness of the implementation online help in healthcare. This article aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Attitudes towards Psychological Online Interventions (APOI-PL) with a sample of volunteers from the community. In Study 1 (N = 304), a confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the original four factors (Anonymity benefits, ABE; Technologization threat, TET; Confidence in effectiveness, CON; Scepticism and perception of risks, SCE) and adequate internal consistency. The APOI-PL demonstrated partial invariance over gender. In Study 2 (N = 162), criterion validity with the use of a personality measure (IPIP NEO-Five Factor Inventory-50) and virtual social integration were shown. The Openness was negatively related to the SCE and ABE, and positively with CON. Agreeableness is related to higher positive attitudes but lower SCE and TET; however, the correlations are low. Virtual integration was not related to the APOI scales, with the exception of the CON, where a low positive correlation was noted.

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