Role of nitric oxide in physiology and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

In this paper the physiological role of NO and isoforms of NOS in the gastrointestinal tract and the involvement of NO in pathological processes of digestive tract as well as the perspective of therapeutic use of NO-donating drugs and selective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase in the treatment of gastric diseases were presented.

[The estimation of Pneumocystis carinii in HIV-infected patients occurrence based on three different methods]. / Ocena wystepowania Pneumocystis carinii u chorych zakazonych wirusem HIV w oparciu o wyniki trzech metod diagnostycznych.

The frequency of Pneumocystis carinii occurrence in BAL of 38 HIV-infected patients was determined with three different method. BAL sediments were stained with Giemsa method, silvered according to Gomori-Grocott method and studied with indirect immunofluorescence assay. Using Giemsa method staining Pneumocystis carinii was diagnosed in 81.6% of patients, in Gomori-Grocott method--in 31.6% of patients, but results of indirect immunofluorescence assay were positive only in 23.,7%. In our study staining BAL sediments with Giemsa method allowed to detect Pneumocystis carinii in the highest percentage of examined patients.

[Effectiveness of antiviral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (a Polish multicenter study)]. / Efektywnosc leczenia przeciwwirusowego przewleklego zapalenia watroby typu C (wieloosrodkowe badania pòlskie).

Interferon alpha (INF) is routine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Many controlled investigations were evaluated to establish the optimal schedule of treatment with sustained virological and biochemical response. Recently, multicentre meta-analyses suggest that combination therapy (INF + Ribavirin) was more effective than treatment with interferon alone. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of four schedules of antiviral treatment in 445 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Combination therapy (INF + Ribavirin) given for 6 mo. and monotherapy (INF) for 18 mo. were more effective than interferon alone given for 6 mo. Treatment with INF alone for 6 mo. was demonstrated to be insufficient.

[Diagnostic value of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) determination in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the course of neural infections]. / Wartosc diagnostyczna oznaczania czynnika martwicy nowotworu--alpha (TNF-alpha) w plynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym w przebiegu neuroinfekcji.

In the central nervous system (CNS) infections a substantial role play inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-alpha. They are implicated to initiate the local response leading to cerebral damage during meningitis. The purpose of this study was estimation of the diagnostic value of determining TNF-alpha concentrations in the CSF in the course of neuroinfections. Analyses were performed in 15 patients with purulent, bacterial meningitis (group A) and in 15 patients with lymphocytic meningitis (group B). CSF's concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured by the ELISA method (Genzyme Diagnostic, Cambridge, USA), on the day of admission and on the fourteenth day of treatment. In group A mean TNF-alpha concentration in CSF on admission was 285.73 pg/ml and in group B 4.07 pg/ml. On the fourteenth day of treatment mean TNF-alpha concentrations were 1.14 pg/ml and 0 pg/ml, respectively. The highest CSF TNF-alpha levels were observed in the most severely ill patients (group A). In several cases in this group there were positive correlations between TNF-alpha concentration and CSF white blood cell counts and protein concentration. Correlation of high levels of TNF-alpha with the severity of clinical course was observed in group B as well. Examination of CSF for TNF-alpha concentration could be useful in the differential diagnosis of CNS inflammations. TNF-alpha concentrations in CSF correlate with the severity of clinical course of meningitis and could have a prognostic value.

[Liver and endocrine system. Part II: pituitary-gonadal axis and adrenal gland activity disturbances]. / Watroba a uklad wewnetrznego wydzielania. Czesc II: Zaburzenia czynnosci osi przysadkowo--gonadalnej i nadnerczy.

Up to date studies have demonstrated that more and more young people are affected by liver diseases. There is a close relationship between the liver and endocrine system as far as hormone inactivation and synthesis of protein binding hormones in the liver are related. Impairment of the hepatocyte function may lead to disturbed homeostasis of the endocrine system. In part II current opinions on plasma levels of pituitary--gonadal and--adrenal axis hormones and their binding proteins in chronic hepatic disorders are presented.

[Liver and endocrine system. Part I: pituitary-thyroid axis activity disorders]. / Watroba a uklad wewnetrznego wydzielania. Czesc I: Zaburzenia czynnosci osi przysadkowo-tarczycowej.

Recent studies have demonstrated that more and more young people suffer from liver diseases. There is a close relationship between endocrine system and the liver, where the hormone inactivation and synthesis of protein binding hormones takes place. Impairment of hepatocyte function may lead to disturbed homeostasis of the endocrine system. In part I current opinions on thyreometabolic state as well as plasma levels of pituitary-thyroidal axis hormones and their binding proteins in chronic hepatic disorders are presented.

[Evaluation of tumor necrosis factor and C-reactive protein level determination in cerebrospinal fluid of meningitis and encephalitis]. / Ocena oznaczania stezenia czynnika martwicy nowotworów i bialka C-reaktywnego w plynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym w zapaleniu opon i mózgu.

The evaluation of TNF-alpha and CRP in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations determining in the differential diagnosis of infectious meningitis was shown. The highest concentrations of these parameters were detected in the group of patients with bacterial meningitis. The findings correlated with the severity of clinical course of bacterial meningitis and with the routine determined laboratory data of CSF. Usefulness of examination CSF for TNF-alpha and CRP in differential diagnosis of meningitis was underlined, especially in cases, where routine parameters of CSF are not conclusive.

[Purulent meningoencephalitis treated in the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the Silesian Medical Academy in Bytom in 1994-1995: personal observations]. / Ropne zapalenia opon i mózgu leczone w i Klinice Chorób Zakaznych Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej w Bytomiu w latach 1994-1995: Obserwacje wlasne.

Among 267 patients with central nervous system infections, 43 patients (16.1%) suffered from purulent bacterial meningitis. An etiological agent was established in 15 cases (34.9%): Str. pneumoniae--9 cases, N. meningitidis--4 cases and Staph. aureus--2 cases. Most patients had severe course of the disease; lethality was 18.6%, the recovery with subsequent sequelae was noted in 11.6% cases, and 69.8% cases fully recovered. In two patients brain abscess and intracranial empyema, and persistent cerebral ischaemia were found, one of these patients died. Frequent use of antibiotics before hospitalization reduces the possibility of establishing the etiological agent. Bacterial infections of the central nervous system are still danger diseases producing high lethality and subsequent neurological sequelae.

[Small angle squint--to treat or not to treat? I. Evaluation of changes in squint angle]. / Zez z malym katem--leczyc czy nie leczyc? Czesc I. Ocena zmiany kata zeza.

The authors presented results of treatment of 127 patients with small strabismus deviation (to 10) in whom localization method was applied. Comparison was made between the patients who carried on the training for a long time and those who discontinued the therapy. The obtained data indicated that after 3.8 years of training mean reduction of the squint angle was 4.7 degrees, while after a 5.2 year break this angle increased by about 7.5 degrees. The authors concluded that in strabismus with small-angle, therapy should be continued for a long time.

[Small angle squint--to treat or not to treat? II. Evaluation of binocular vision]. / Zez z malym katem--leczyc czy nie leczyc? Czesc II. Ocena obuocznego widzenia.

The authors analysed the same group of patients as in part I, with the small strabismic deviation, divided into sub-groups depending on the alternation of the squint angle. They consider that systematic training allowed to gain the binocular vision in 40% of cases, at least on the levels of simultaneous perception and fusion.

[Poisoning after eating sausage in observations from I Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the Slask Academy of Medicine in 1985-1992]. / Zatrucia jadem kielbasianym w obserwacjach I Kliniki Chorób Zakaznych Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej w latach 1985-1992.

On the basis of our own material and the literature review the analysis of 10 cases of botulism is presented. A mild course of the disease was observed in 40%, a medium-severe course in 30% and a severe course also in 30% of patients. Fatal courses were not recorded. All patients were discharged from the Clinic in the good state of health. Etiopathogenesis, symptomatology and treatment of botulism is discussed. Attention is paid to new diagnostic method.

[Effect of various light sources on visual functions in the age aspect. II. Visual acuity, the range of accommodation and fusion and the visual field]. / Wplyw róznych zródel swiatla na funkcje wzrokowe w aspekcie wieku. II. Ostrosc wzroku, zakres akomodacji, zakres fuzji, pole widzenia.

The authors performed examinations in 15 middle aged persons and in 13 persons of older productive age in conditions of equivalent illumination, first the glow one, then the sodium one of 600 lx value at the stand of examination. They observed the dynamics of selected visual functions as the time went by in the forenoon hours. The group of older persons tolerated worse the sodium light and in both age groups one could observe the receding of the visual near point. The authors analyze the remaining visual functions in both conditions of illumination.

[Dynamics of visual functions in the conditions of glow and sodium lighting. I. Visual acuity, accommodation, flicker fusion, visual field and heterophoria]. / Ocena dynamiki funkcji wzrokowych w warunkach oswietlenia zarowego i sodowego. I. Ostrosc wzroku, akomodacja, fuzja, pole widzenia, heteroforia.

Investigations of the functions cited in the title were performed in 23 persons with a normal visual system in conditions of equal illumination, first the glow and the next day or later--the sodium one. All the tests were carried out three times in the morning hours evaluating in this way their dynamics as the time goes. The authors are analyzing the degree of the variability of the discussed functions in the time, as well as their behaviour in conditions of applied illumination. The results obtained suggest that in conditions of illumination by a high-pressure sodium lamp no negative characteristics of this source of light emerged. Deterioration of a small degree was observed only in the range of accommodation for near.

[Dynamics of visual functions in the conditions of glow and sodium lighting. II. Time of conscious reaction and visual space-hand localization]. / Ocena dynamiki funkcji wzrokowych w warunkach oswietlenia zarowego i sodowego. II. Czas swiadomej reakcji i wzrokowa lokalizacja przestrzenna reczna.

The authors present the results of investigations performed in 20 young persons with normal sight. A trial of evaluation of the strain of the central nervous system in conditions of various kind of lighting was carried out basing on its close connection with the visual hand localization as well as with the time of the conscious reaction. Analyzed was the behaviour of the quoted functions as the time passed during the morning hours and the results of the examinations obtained in conditions of glow and sodium illumination were compared. They suggest a favourable influence of the sodium light on the discussed functions.