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The purpose of this study was to design a paper strip-based non-invasive urine analysis system for the qualitative detection of biomarker aquaporin-1 (AQP1) in renal cancer (RC). RC accounts for 3% of all cancers and 85% of all kidney tumors and mainly originates from the kidney cortex. In recent times, higher urine concentration of AQP1 in patients with RC was confirmed as a specific biomarker of the disease. Hence, the noninvasive, user-friendly and self-diagnostic method is required for the detection of aquaporin biomarkers in RC.

The present research work was focused on the development and characterization of a dye conjugated cyclodextrin-based miniaturized system for impregnation on Whatman filter paper to identify RC using AQP1 biomarker present in urine samples.

It was observed that the test strip dipped into the urine sample, and the yellow color intensity increased with a decrease in AQP1 concentration due to the transformation of the dye system of free basic form into bound acidic form. The Hue-Saturation-Value profiling was used to observe the effect of color change using a smartphone application. The paper strip-based urine analysis system is highly sensitive for the detection of AQP1 in the range of 10 to 1,000 ng.

The successful validation indicated that this biosensor is likely to contribute to the development of point-of-care, novel, personalized diagnostics and ensure prolonged survival of RC patients in the near future.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a rare disease with unknown risk factors. The role of oxidative stress and nutritional factors is imprecise in NMOSD development. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the effects of dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) on the odds of NMOSD.

Dietary TAC was determined in 70 definite NMOSD cases and 164 healthy controls in term of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) method. A validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for dietary assessment. Three multivariate regression models were applied to analyze the odds of NMOSD across the TAC quartiles.

A significant inverse association was found between dietary TAC and odds of being assigned to the NMOSD group in all three regression models. In the fully adjusted model ORs (95% CI) in the second, third and fourth quartiles of TAC vs the first quartile were as follows: 0.11 (0.04-0.29), 0.05 (0.01-0.16) and 0.01 (0.00-0.05), respectively. Odds of NMOSD also indicated a significant decreasing trend across the quartiles of dietary TAC (p-trend: <0.01). Total energy (p < 0.01) as well as consumption of vegetables (p < 0.01), whole grains (p < 0.01), tea and coffee (p < 0.01), legumes (p < 0.01) and poultry (p < 0.01) significantly increased through the TAC quartiles.

In the present study, a new hypothesis was proposed concerning the influence of dietary TAC on the odds of NMOSD. A diet rich in foods with high TAC can be effective in the modification of the NMOSD odds.

The purpose of this paper is to assess nutritional habits and body composition parameters in the group of Polish pupils and students.

The study was conducted by the body composition analysis using the biological impedance method applying TANITA analyzer and diagnostic survey method using standardized direct interview with selected elements of the Sarzynska test. The research was carried out in various regions of Poland on a group of 1,000 pupils and students, using a targeted sample selection in the following subgroups: 250 middle school pupils, 250 high school students, 250 students living in a family home and 250 students living in an academic home.

Significantly the worst nutritional habits according to the Sarzynska test are shown by students living in academic home. As many as 21.6 percent of them eat very badly, while only 10.4 percent of students living in a family home eat very badly. This may indicate a lack of conditions, skills and time to prepare healthy meals, but also the lack of parental control in relation to what their child eats. The middle school pupils eat the healthiest meals (64.4 percent). It can be seen the regularity that the older the child is, the smaller the percentage of people in the healthy group.

A research limitation was the little sample size of the study (1,000 person) and participants might have felt uncomfortable during research.

People planning class schedules should also plan breaks for a full-value meal. It is necessary to organize affordable courses that would teach simple and fast food preparation that does not require a lot of equipment and little popular ingredients. It would also be necessary to draw parents’ attention to excessive care and the fact that not allowing children to “experiment” in the kitchen may arouse in them the reluctance and fear of cooking.

Among students, one should conduct universal education regarding a healthy lifestyle, which should focus on the subject of proper nutrition and physical activity, because there are no systemic solutions that would include adults. In order to improve nutritional habits, social rooms in academic homes should be adjusted so that students have the conditions to prepare nutritious meals, as well as provide access to canteens, where students would receive a reasonable meal at a reasonable price. The qualifications of the staff working there should also be improved.

The present study adds to the existing body of literature nutritional habits and body composition parameters in the group of Polish pupils and students. The results are the foundation for providing recommendations to policy makers, universitets, schools, food organizations and parents.