[Differential cell count of sputum in patients with asthma challenged with allergen provocation]. / Sklad komórkowy plwociny u chorych na astme poddanych wziewnej prowokacji alergenem.

Inhalation of hypertonic saline aerosol is a noninvasive method of obtaining sputum for examination of inflammatory processes in the airways. The aim of our investigation was to evaluate the effect of the bronchial provocation test with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus on both total and differential cell counts in the sputum of allergic asthma patients. The studies were carried out on 20 mild or moderate allergic asthmatics. In each case the studies were performed on three consecutive days. Sputum was induced on the first day of the study, the next day the bronchial provocation test with the allergen was performed and on the last day the sputum induction was repeated again. Twenty-four hours after the allergen challenge an increase in the total cell count and in eosinophils and a decrease in the percentage of macrophages were found in the induced sputum. The above changes were more marked in the patients demonstrating the dual asthmatic reaction after allergen challenge.

[Concentration of glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (Vit. C), and thiobarbiturate acid reacting components (MDA) in brain neoplasms]. / Stezenie glutationu (GSH), kwasu askorbowego (Vit. C) oraz substancji reagujacych z kwasem tiobarbiturowym (MDA) w nowotworach mózgu.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (Vit C), and thiobarbiturate acid reacting components (MDA) in brain neoplasms in specimens from normal brain tissue. The group of 72 individuals treated surgically for brain neoplasm in Department of Neurosurgery Medical Academy of Bialystok (Poland) in the period from 1996 to 1999 was included into the study. The GSH concentration was estimated with GSH-400 method, ascorbic acid by the use of Kyaw method, and MDA by Salaris and Babs method. The statistical analysis revealed diminished concentration of GSH and Vit. C (p < 0.001), and analogous increase of MDA concentration (p < 0.001) in the investigated specimens compared to the mentioned above substances concentration in the specimens obtained from normal brain tissue.

[Activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) and superoxide dismutase in the brain tumors]. / Aktywnosc peroksydazy glutationowej (GSH-Px), reduktazy glutationowej (GSSG-R) i dysmutazy nadtlenkowej (SOD-1) w nowotworach mózgu.

The aim of the study was to estimate the activity of glutathione peroxydase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dysmutase in the brain tumours. The activity of GSH-Px was evaluated with the use of spectrophotometry, GSSG-R was evaluated based on the Mize and Langdon method, and SOD-1 with Sykes et al. method. The 55 specimens (45 specimens of neoplasm and 10 specimens of healthy brain tissue) were studied. The statistical analysis revealed significant increase of enzymes within the brain tumours in comparison to the healthy brain tissue.

[Long-term results of surgical treatment of lumbar disk herniation in adults]. / Odlegle wyniki chirurgicznego leczenia przepukliny jadra miazdzystego w ledzwiowej czesci kregoslupa u ludzi doroslych.

The authors present long-term results (10.2 years post-op) of surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation in 1003 patients operated at the Department of Neurosurgery by the University of Medical Sciences in Bialystok. The operated group comprised 33.1% women (mean age--55.6 years) and 68.7% men (mean age 57.3 years). Ten years post-op 15.9% women and 5.8% men kept the recommended diet, 14% women and 7.0% men continued muscle strengthening exercise. Ten years post-op excellent and good results were noted in respectively 42.4% and 46.5% women and 45.4% and 46.6% men.

[Evaluation of results of surgical treatment of epidural canal lipomatosis with 3 years of follow-up of a case]. / Ocena wyników chirurgicznego leczenia samoistnej tluszczakowatosci nadtwardówkowej kanalu kregowego po uplywie trzyletniego okresu obserwacji pooperacyjnej. Opis przypadku.

We present the results of surgical treatment of idiopathic epidural lipomatosis in a 38 year-old man. Our results were evaluated 3 years; after operation. This is the third case of idiopathic epidural lipomatosis in literature in which a very good result of treatment was obtained and patient returned to previous work.

[Lateral lumbar disk herniation]. / Krancowo-boczna przepuklina jadra miazdzystego w ledzwiowej czesci kregoslupa.

The authors present the clinical evaluation of 41 patients with extreme lateral disc herniation in the lumbar spine. This group of patients represented 3.1% of all patients operated to to discopathy of the lumbar spine at the Department of Neurosurgery of the Medical Academy of Bialystock in the years 1988-1997. Males constituted 95.1% of the study series, with an age range 41-60 years. In 92.7% of the patients extreme lateral herniation was diagnosed either at L4-L5 level or L5-S1 level. In 78.1% of the cases different types of motoric disturbances were observed, while in 65.8% radicular type disorders in superficial sensibility were noted.

[Early results of surgical treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus in the lumbar spine in adults patients]. / Bliskie rezultaty chirurgicznego leczenia przepukliny jadra miazdzystego w ledzwiowej czesci kregoslupa u ludzi doroslych.

Between 1978 and 1997, 2250 patients underwent surgery due to nucleus pulposus herniation in the lumbar spine at the Department of Neurosurgery of the Medical Academy in Bialystok. Surgery was performed on 718 women (31.9% of the cases) and 1532 men (68.1% of the cases) age ranging from 19 to 71 years. In 90.1% of cases herniation was found at levels L4-L5 and L5-S1. In most cases the herniated disc was removed following a fenestration (58.7% of the cases) or following hemilaminectomy of the vertebral arch (28.5% of the cases). Basing on a questionnaire sent out 12 months post-surgery 78.3% of the female patients and 68.3% of the male patients evaluated the results of the above treatment as very good. Within the 12 months observation follow-up period, 9.9% of the analyzed group underwent repeated surgery.

[Interleukin-13 in the nasal lavage of pollinosis patients after specific intranasal challenge]. / Interleukina-13 w popluczynach nosa chorych na pylkowice po swoistej prowokacji donosowej.

The unique properties of interleukin-13 have drawn the attention of investigators to its role in atopic diseases and in the mechanism of specific immunotherapy. The aim of this paper was to determine whether the presence of interleukin-13 will, apart from interleukina-4, be found in the nasal lavage after specific challenge and if the levels of these cytokines will differ. The studies included 13 patients in whom grass and rye pollen allergy was confirmed by the case history, skin tests and the presence of specific IgE in the blood serum. In all these persons active anterior rhinomanometry and than specific challenge with gradually increasing concentrations of the grass pollen allergen were performed before the season. At the end of these challenge, nasal lavage was done and the lavage fluid was preparated for determination of IL-4 and IL-13. Both cytokines were found to be present in the nasal lavage and in 6 patients the IL-13 concentration was higher than that of IL-4. Three of these patients had been previously hyposensitized. Although the results presented here are preliminary, they may provide inspiration four further investigations of the role of IL-13 in the specific immunotherapy in pollinosis patients.

[Lipoma of the corpus callosum]. / Tluszczak spoidla wielkiego mózgu.

The authors present a case of lipoma of corpus callosum in a 25-years old patient. The results of psychological testing, plain skull X-ray. EEG investigation, images of CT, MRI of the brain and right carotid angiography are presented. The patient refused surgical treatment. His neurological state after discharge from hospital was good.

[Anamnestic and anthropometric assessment of patients with herniated lumbar intervertebral disc]. / Anamnestyczna i antropometryczna ocena chorych z dyskopatia ledzwiowej czesci kregoslupa.

The paper presents results of anamnestic and anthropometric assessment of patients with herniated lumbar intervertebral disc operated in the Department in the years 1978-1987 (983 patients) and in the decade 1988-1997 (1308 patients). Recent decade brought 33.1% increase in disectomies. Typically, discopathy patient is tall individual, with relatively high BMI and aged between 19 and 48 years. The number of female patients increased by 8.2% in recent decade and traumatic origin of the disc herniation was noted in 8.8% more than previously. Special attention should be paid to the twofold increase of female smokers among patients operated due to discopathy.

Late posttraumatic epilepsy in patients with an alcoholic problem treated surgically for posttraumatic chronic subdural hematomas.

The frequency and time of late posttraumatic epilepsy in 34 patients (6 women and 28 men) was evaluated on the basis of a three-year observation and performed examinations (CT of the head and EEG). These patients were treated surgically in the years 1989-1994 in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Medical Academy of Bialystok due to chronic posttraumatic subdural hematoma. On the basis of environmental and family interviews it was concluded that 41.1% of the patients operated systematically abuses alcohol. Within 14-30 minutes following the surgery, seizures of late posttraumatic epilepsy took place in 20.6% of patients. They took place over eight times more frequently in the case of patients with alcohol problems that in the ones without such problems.

[Immediate and short-term results of surgical treatment for lumbar disc protrusion in children and adolescents]. / Bezposrednie i bliskie rezultaty chirurgicznego leczenia dyskopatii ledzwiowej u dzieci i mlodziezy.

Twenty-nine patients aged 13-18 (14 girls and 15 boys) were treated surgically for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation at Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University in Bialystok between 1970 and 1993. Clinical and radiological assessment of these patients and results of surgical treatment are presented. The condition was of traumatic origin in 30% of the cases. Neurological deficit has been found in 16.6% of children below 15 years of age and in 50% of patients up to 18 years of age. The results were rated good in 100% of the children up to 15 and in 87% adolescents below 18 years of age at one month follow-up and, respectively, 100% and 78.3% at one year follow-up.

[Idiopathic epidural lipomatosis of the vertebral canal]. / Samoistny przerost tkanki tluszczowej nadtwardówkowej kanalu kregowego.

Epidural lipomatosis is most frequently seen in patients on chronic steroid treatment. Only fourteen cases of idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis have been described. In this report we present an additional case of this condition in a 38 year-old man.

[Long-term results of surgical treatment of lumbar discopathy in children and adolescents]. / Odlegle wyniki chirurgicznego leczenia dyskopatii ledzwiowej u dzieci i mlodziezy.

Long-term results of surgical treatment of lumbar discopathy in 29 patients with 5 years follow-up (14 girls, 15 boys) operated at the age of 13-18 years in Neurosurgery Department, Medical University in Bialystok between 1970 and 1993. Ten years follow-up was available in 26 patients (14 girls, 12 boys) operated between 1970 and 1988. Over period of 10 years 64.3% girls and 16.7% boys preserved recommended diet, 92.8% and 8.3% boys continued muscle strengthening exercises. Cigarette smoking abandoned 100% girls and none of the boys. Ten years after surgical treatment for lumbar discopathy excellent results were found in 85.7% females and 50% males.