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This publication discusses two compounds belonging to the psychoactive substances group which are studied in the context of depression treatment-psilocybin and esketamine. The former is a naturally occurring psychedelic. The latter was invented in the laboratory exactly 60 years ago. Although the substances were controversial in the past, recent studies indicate the potential of those substances as novel antidepressant agents. The PubMed/MEDLINE database was used to identify articles for systematic review, using the following search terms: (depression) AND (psilocybin) OR (ketamine). From 617 items, only 12 articles were obtained in the final analyses. Three articles were devoted to psilocybin in depression treatment and nine to esketamine. In most studies, esketamine showed a significant reduction in both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation shortly after intake and after a month of treatment compared to baseline and to standard-of-care antidepressant agents. Psilocybin's antidepressive effects occurred one day after intake and after 6-7 weeks of treatment and were maintained for up to 6 or 8 months of follow-up. One study indicated that psilocybin's effects are comparable with and may be superior to escitalopram treatment. Both esketamine and psilocybin demonstrated rapid and long-term effects in reducing depression symptoms and, after overcoming some limitations, may be considered as novel antidepressant agents in future.

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Due to an increasing number of depression diagnoses and limited effective treatments, researchers continue to explore novel therapeutic strategies for this disorder. Recently, interest has revolved around the use of serotonergic psychedelics to reduce the symptoms of depression. In this systematic review, we summarize the currently available knowledge on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic substances for the treatment of depression. A literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database identified 14 clinical trials from the last 10 years that examined the use of psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, or LSD for the treatment of depression symptoms. Some psychedelics, especially psilocybin, demonstrated an ability to reduce depressive symptoms as measured by several psychological scales, which was often sustained for months after the last psychedelic session. Moreover, one study revealed that psilocybin has comparable efficacy to escitalopram in the treatment of depression. None of the studies reported any serious adverse events associated with psychedelic administration. The reviewed studies suggest that psychedelics have great potential in depression therapy and, after addressing and overcoming the current study limitations, may be used as a novel method of treating depression in the future.

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Air pollution has a negative impact on one's health and on the central nervous system. We decided to assess studies that evaluated the relationship between air pollution and cognitive functions in children and adolescents by reviewing studies that had been published between January 2009 and May 2019. We searched three major databases for original works (26 studies) and for studies using brain imaging methods based on MRI (six studies). Adverse effects of air pollutants on selected cognitive or psychomotor functions were found in all of the studies. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, for example, was linked to impaired working memory, general cognitive functions, and psychomotor functions; particulate matter 2.5 was linked to difficulties in working memory, short-term memory, attention, processing speed, and fine motor function; black carbon was linked to poor verbal intelligence, nonverbal intelligence, and working memory; airborne copper was linked to impaired attentiveness and fine motor skills; isophorone was linked to lower mathematical skills; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fetal life were linked to lower intelligence scores. The studies using MRI showed that high concentrations of air pollutants were linked to changes in the brain's white matter or lower functional integration and segregation in children's brain networks. In view of the global increase in air pollution, there is a need for further research to elucidate the relationship between air pollution and cognitive and motor development in children. According to some studies, neuroinflammation, the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene, and gutathione-S-transferase gene polymorphism processes may play a role.

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OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine whether obesity affects cognitive functions in people suffering from mental illness. METHODS: 91 persons suffering from mental illness, including 51 women and 40 men took part in the study. Mean age of patients was 46 years. These persons were under constant psychiatric care, they were the participants of the daily support centre. Overweight and obesity was measured by Body Mass Index (BMI). Abdominal obesity was measured according to IDF guidelines and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Cognitive functions were examined using STMS, Verbal Fluency Test and Rey Auditory Verbal Test. RESULTS: Abdominal obesity was diagnosed in 70% of patients according to IDF guidelines and in 61% according to WHR, in women these results were respectively: 83% and 94%, while in men 62% and 32%. BMI distribution in the study group was respectively: obesity class II - 5 persons (5%), obesity class I - 26 persons (28%), overweight - 32 persons (35%), correct BMI - 27 persons (30%), underweight - 1 person (2%). There was a negative correlation between WHR, waist circumference and abstract reasoning, direct memory and delayed memory. BMI and body mass correlated negatively only with delayed memory. Number of medications taken by the studied persons showed a positive correlation with body mass and waist circumference. Negative correlations between cognitive functions and body mass, overweight and abdominal obesity was observed in women. In men these correlations were not observed, there were only correlations between cognitive functions and age. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity contributes to a decline in cognitive functions especially in direct memory and abstract reasoning.

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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Researchers' opinions are divided on whether metabolic syndrome is a separate clinical entity. Undoubtedly, the components of the syndrome, such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridaemia, adversely affect metabolism, bringing with it a number of consequences, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease which significantly impair the quality of life. ABBREVIATED DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: In recent years, much attention has been paid to research on the prevalence of metabolic disorders in mentally ill patients. This is due to a growing awareness that some antipsychotic medications contribute to weight gain in patients suffering from mental illness, and consequently lead to the development of a number of interrelated somatic factors, such as abdominal obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridaemia, and hypertension. Weight gain and other metabolic syndrome components have been noticed not only in patients, but also in their families. This paper presents current research on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in people with mental illness. An analysis of the causes of metabolic disorders in this population has been conducted, including the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and cortisol secretion in the development of components of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Components of the metabolic syndrome are especially observed in mentally ill people. The mechanisms of their formation are not fully understood. A large role in their formation besides the negative effects of antipsychotic medication and specific lifestyle, play a specific dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Undoubtedly, further research and analysis in this area is necessary.

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