[Clinical analysis of ofloxacin in treatment of postinfectious exacerbations of endogenous bronchial asthma]. / Ocena kliniczna ofloksacyny w leczeniu pozakaznych zaostrzen endogennej astmy oskrzelowej.

The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical effectiveness of ofloxacin in treatment of post-infectious exacerbations of endogenous bronchial asthma. Twenty eight patients (20 males, 8 females) were assessed. The following parameters were evaluated: bacteriological examination of the sputum (before and after treatment), morphological analysis of peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (performed in 11 patients). Additionally in 7 patients lymphocyte subpopulations of the peripheral blood were determined (OKT4/OKT8). Diurnal variations of serum levels of theophylline were assessed in 12 patients. The authors observed a clinical improvement in 26 patients. Following treatment the white cell blood count (WBC) and the CD4/CD8 ratio decreased. The same observations were made analysing the BAL differential count, in which a marked decrease of neutrophils was seen. The authors conclude that ofloxacin is a safe and efficient antimicrobial agent.

[Alpha fetoprotein levels in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with lung cancer and other diseases of the respiratory system]. / Stezenie alfa-fetoproteiny w surowicy i materiale z plukania oskrzelowo-pecherzykowego chorych na raka pluca i inne choroby ukladu oddechowego.

Concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) may be increased in some type of lung cancer. In the study concentration of AFP was evaluated in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with lung cancer. The values of concentration were compared with results obtained from patients with other diseases of the respiratory tract. Examinations were performed in 14 patients with lung cancer, 12 with sarcoidosis, 23 with chronic obstructive bronchitis and 16 with acute bronchitis. Liver pathology was excluded according to biochemical analytical tests. In all patients bronchofibroscopy was performed and BALF was obtained in routine way. Concentration of AFP in serum and BALF was determined by immuno-assay technique. In performed examinations non significant increase of AFP concentration was determined in serum and BALF of patients with lung cancer. However, obtained values were increased twice than in patients with acute bronchitis. Moreover, it was noticed that in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis the AFP concentration was the highest, especially in the group treated by steroids. The study indicates that evaluation of AFP concentration is out of value in diagnosis and differentiation of lung cancer. It seems to be necessary to continue the examinations for explanation a role of steroids in inflammatory process and increase of AFP concentration.

[Concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with lung cancer]. / Stezenia antygenu karcinoembrionalnego w surowicy i materiale z plukania oskrzelowo-pecherzykowego u chorych na raka pluca.

Serum and BAL CEA levels were determined in stage I (WHO scale) lung cancer patients. The immuno-enzyme assay for the quantitative determination of CEA according to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) principle was used. Eight smokers without symptoms of respiratory disease served as a control group. The CEA levels were also determined in 48 patients with chronic bronchitis to evaluate the influence the role of the inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract in producing CAE. All determined serum, and BAL fluid CEA levels were related to total protein and albumin for comparison of both media. It was shown that the BAL fluid CEA levels in lung cancer patients exceeded 10-fold the control levels, and twice fold the levels found in chronic bronchitis. It must be emphasized that serum levels were within normal limits in all analysed groups. The concentration of CEA expressed as ratio to total protein and albumin supported a diagnostic usefulness of CEA in BAL and indicated a slight modification of it by inflammatory process.

Theophylline in serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in atopic bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.

To evaluate the penetration of theophylline into the airways its concentration (Theo-Dur, Astra, Sweden) was determined in BAL and in serum in 20 patients with atopic bronchial asthma, 24 patients with chronic bronchitis and 5 smokers as controls. The results were statistically analyzed. Slow-release theophylline in Theo-Dur was well tolerated. The mean concentrations of theophylline in BAL and serum in all analyzed groups were similar, but theophylline concentration in BAL was 1/3 of serum value. Moreover, the low correlation between concentrations of theophylline in BAL and serum was detected. The calculation of theophylline values in relation to total protein or albumin is not recommended.

Serum proteins of the free-ranging European bison.

The paper presents the values of total protein (TP) and protein fractions in the serum of 57 European bisons from the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, 47 of these animals being free-ranging and 10 living in enclosures. It was found that the amount of TP and amount of alpha 1- and gamma-globulin fractions are significantly lower in adult females than males. The amount of TP and gamma-globulin fraction increase significantly with age in all examined Europeans bisons, whereas the amount of alpha 1- and alpha 2-globulin fractions increase only in free-ranging animals.