Martina Valachovičová

Background/Objectives: Pregnancy is characterized by profound metabolic and physiological adaptations that influence systemic redox balance. Longitudinal data assessing trimester-specific changes in antioxidant status and oxidative stress markers remain limited. Methods: In this longitudinal study, plasma levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamins A, C, E, and carotenoids) and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, protein carbonyls, and DNA strand breaks) were analyzed in 31 healthy non-smoking pregnant women during the first, second, and third trimester. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure was evaluated using urinary cotinine. Statistical analyses were performed using Friedman repeated-measures tests followed by Dunn’s post hoc comparisons with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction. Results: Vitamin A was the only antioxidant that consistently decreased across all trimesters and represented the only antioxidant marker showing a consistent decline. In contrast, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, xanthophylls, and lycopene increased significantly during gestation, whereas vitamin C remained relatively stable. Markers of oxidative damage, including malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, protein carbonyls, and DNA strand breaks, showed significant trimester-dependent increases. Total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) remained unchanged throughout pregnancy. Conclusions: Physiological pregnancy is characterized by coordinated, marker-specific adaptations in systemic redox balance. Vitamin A was the only antioxidant showing a consistent decline across gestation, whereas several lipid-soluble antioxidants increased and total antioxidant capacity remained stable. These findings indicate that pregnancy is associated with increased oxidative activity accompanied by preservation of systemic antioxidant capacity rather than global antioxidant depletion.

Background: Wearable technologies enable continuous, ecologically valid monitoring of physiological responses to therapeutic interventions in real-world settings. Yoga-based physiotherapy is increasingly integrated into preventive and rehabilitative healthcare due to its potential effects on autonomic regulation, sleep, and psychological well-being. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a short-term yoga-based physiotherapy intervention on objective physiological parameters and subjective health-related quality of life, and to assess the feasibility and limitations of wearable device-based monitoring in ecological conditions. Methods: A prospective within-subject observational study was conducted in 30 healthy adults over a four-week period, including a two-week control phase followed by a two-week intervention phase. During the intervention, participants performed daily 10–15-minute yoga-based physiotherapy sessions incorporating breathing exercises, postural control, and relaxation techniques. Continuous monitoring of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), stress index, and sleep duration was performed using Garmin wearable devices. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Paired t-tests were applied to compare phases (p < 0.05). Results: The intervention led to a significant reduction in heart rate (74.06 ± 5.0 vs. 71.39 ± 5.2 bpm; p = 0.024) and a significant increase in sleep duration (6.55 ± 0.8 vs. 7.04 ± 0.7 h; p = 0.044). HRV showed a non-significant increase (50.13 ± 10.2 vs. 54.80 ± 9.8 ms; p = 0.086), while stress levels remained unchanged (p = 0.661). SF-36 results indicated significant improvements in physical functioning, role-physical, vitality, and mental health, alongside small but significant declines in bodily pain and role-emotional domains. Conclusions: Short-term yoga-based physiotherapy induces measurable improvements in cardiovascular regulation and sleep, with domain-specific effects on quality of life. Wearable devices offer valuable tools for real-world physiological monitoring; however, discrepancies between objective and subjective outcomes highlight the need for multimodal assessment approaches in rehabilitation research.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants detected in terrestrial, aquatic, and human systems. Emerging evidence indicates that MPs interact with microbiota through biofilm formation, induction of oxidative stress, enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and disruption of short-chain fatty acid metabolism, leading to dysbiosis and altered host immune responses. These interactions contribute to dysbiosis, altered immune responses, and increased dissemination of ARGs, which pose health risks. This review synthesizes current knowledge on mechanisms of microplastic–microbiota interactions, highlighting evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and environmental studies. We discuss methodological challenges, including variability in particle types, concentrations, aging, and analytical approaches. Recent advances in multi-omics techniques provide deeper mechanistic understanding and reveal functional consequences of MP exposure. We outline key knowledge gaps and propose future research directions to assess the impact of microplastic exposure on ecosystems and human health.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants detected in terrestrial, aquatic, and human systems. Emerging evidence indicates that MPs interact dynamically with microbiota across ecosystems, including host-associated microbiota such as the human gut, influencing microbial composition, metabolic activity, and functional potential. These interactions contribute to dysbiosis, altered immune responses, and increased dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), posing health risks. This review synthesizes current knowledge on mechanisms of microplastic–microbiota interactions, highlighting evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and environmental studies. We discuss methodological challenges, including variability in particle types, concentrations, aging, and analytical approaches. Recent advances in multi-omics techniques provide deeper mechanistic understanding and reveal functional consequences of MP exposure. We outline critical knowledge gaps and propose future research directions, aiming to provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating ecological and human health consequences of microplastic exposure.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are among the persistent organic pollutants characterized by their persistence in the environment, high mobility, and adverse impact not only on the ecosystem but also on human health. The biggest challenges in human biomonitoring are the low concentrations of PFASs in biological matrices and the presence of matrix interferents in samples. The combination of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) as a sample preparation technique appears to be the most suitable solution for achieving the desired selectivity and sensitivity in PFAS determination. The aim of this review is to describe possible sources of PFASs, their presence in various human matrices, analytical methods for determining PFASs in different biological matrices using various pretreatment techniques for complex samples, as well as adverse health risks associated with PFAS exposure. The most studied PFASs include PFOA and PFOS, which are most frequently detected in matrices such as plasma, serum, and breast milk. The average concentrations of PFOA range from 1.0 to 2.6 ng.mL⁻¹ in plasma, 1.9 to 2.4 ng.mL⁻¹ in serum, and 0.4 to 3.1 ng.mL⁻¹ in breast milk. For PFOS, the average concentrations were 2.0–4.0 ng.mL⁻¹, 3.7–4.6 ng.mL⁻¹, and 3.6–4.8 ng.mL⁻¹ for plasma, serum, and breast milk, respectively. The most significant health effects associated with exposure to long-chain PFASs (such as PFOA and PFOS) include lipid disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, infertility, cancer, obesity, autism, neurodevelopmental issues, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney and liver disorders. It is of utmost importance to monitor PFAS exposure, predict their toxicity, and develop effective strategies to mitigate their potential effects on human health.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the persistent organic pollutants, which are characterized by persistence in the environment, high mobility and their adverse impact not only on the ecosystem, but also on human health. The aim of this study is to describe possible sources of exposure to PFAS, their presence in various human matrices, analytical methods for determining PFAS in different biological matrices using various pretreatment techniques for complex samples, as well as adverse health risks associated with PFAS exposure. The most significant health effects associated with PFAS exposure include lipid disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, fertility, cancer, obesity, autism, neurodevelopments, cardiovascular diseases, kidney and liver disorders, etc. It is of utmost importance to monitor PFAS exposure, predict their toxicity, and effective strategies to mitigate potential effects on human health. Therefore, sufficiently sensitive analytical methods, such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are needed.

Microplastics are small plastic pieces with sizes less than 5 mm. They are becoming a global concern due to the potential risk to human health. The potential risks of microplastics may be greater for infants because they do not have sufficiently developed metabolizing enzymes, have less ability to remove microplastics, and have highly sensitive target organs. Infants should be breastfed for the first six months of life. Breast milk is considered to be the most complete and suitable source of nutrition. However, if breastfeeding during this period is not possible, it is necessary to use formulas designed for infant initial feeding. Infants may be exposed to higher levels of MPs through infant foods or plastic products. The aim of this study is to describe the possible sources of exposure to microplastics such as the human placenta, plastic feeding bottles, and toys as well as the presence of released microplastics in infant feces, breast milk, and infant formulas. There is still not enough data available for this study area. Therefore, it is necessary to pay increased attention to minimizing the negative effects of microplastics on human health.

Microplastics are small plastic pieces with sizes less than 5 mm. They are becoming a global concern due to the potential risk to human health. The potential risks of microplastics may be greater for infants because they do not have sufficiently developed metabolizing enzymes, have a lower ability to remove them, high sensitivity of target organs. Infants should be breastfed for the first six months of life. Breast milk is considered to be the most complete and suitable source of nutrition. However, if breastfeeding during this period is not possible, it is necessary to use formulas designed for infant initial feeding. Infants may be exposed to higher levels of MPs through infant foods or plastics products. The aim of this study is to describe the possible sources of exposure to microplastics such as human placenta, plastic feeding bottles, toys as well as the presence of released microplastics in infants feces, breast milk and infant formulas. There is still not enough data available from the studied area. Therefore, it is necessary to pay increased attention to minimizing the negative effects of microplastics on human health.

4-Nonylphenol belongs to the alkylphenol group of chemicals, and its high occurrence in the environment can cause an adverse effect on human health. Breast milk can serve as a marker to take measure of human exposure to these chemicals through different routes of exposure. In this work, the influence of selected factors (the kind of water drank by the mothers; the consumption of fish, pork, and beef; wearing gloves; using nail polish, gel nails, vitamins, and medication) on the concentration on 4-nonylphenol in 89 breast milk samples was studied. The concentrations of nonylphenol in breast milk were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The lowest and highest concentrations of 4-nonylphenol in breast milk were 0.97 ng/mL and 4.37 ng/mL, respectively. Statistical significance was observed for the consumption of pork (p = 0.048) and fish (0.041) in relation to the 4-nonylphenol concentration. Certain parameters (use of gel nails, beef consumption, and vitamin supplementation) were at the border of statistical significance (p = 0.06). Other parameters did not show any statistical significance. The results showed that breast milk in Slovakia does not contain a harmful dose of 4-nonylphenol and does not cause health problems. But it is necessary to continue this research and perform extended screening on a larger number of samples.

: Nonylphenol is an endocrine disruptor who belongs to alkylphenol group of chemicals and its high occurrence in the environment can caused an adverse effect on human health. The breast milk can serve as a marker to take measure of human exposure to these chemicals through different routes of exposure. In this study, the influence of different factors (kind of wastes mothers drink, consummation of fish, pork and beef; using gloves, mail polish, using vitamins and medication) on the concentration on nonylphenol in breast milk were studied. Concentrations of nonylphenol in breast milk were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The lowest and highest concentration of nonylphenol in breast milk was 0.97 ng/mL and 4.37 ng/mL, respectively. The selected factors such as pork, beef, fish consumption, vitamin supplementation, medication, using of gloves, nail polish and gel nails were observed in relation to 4-nonylphenol concentration.