[Nitric oxide (NO) in children with meningitis]. / Tlenek azotu (NO) w zapaleniu opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych u dzieci.

Twenty seven children with a documented bacterial (BM)-, 73 with viral (mumps and enteroviral) meningitis and 51 controls were included. CSF white blood cell counts, glucose and protein concentrations were determined routinely. CSF nitrite and nitrate levels (the stable degradation product of NO) were determined by a modified Griess reaction. The mean +/- levels of nitrite and nitrate in CSF on admission were higher in patients with BM in comparison with controls and in children with viral meningitis. In 10 patients dexamethasone therapy was started about 10 minutes before the first antibiotic dose and given every 12 hours of 0.4 mg/kg for 2 days. At 24 to 48 hours those who received dexamethasone therapy had a significantly lower mean +/- SD CSF nitrite concentration compared with that in non-steroid treated patients. In all patients with meningitis a significant positive correlation was found between CSF nitrite and CSF granulocyte counts and also CSF protein concentration. Increased production of NO in the CSF compartment during the acute phase of BM may contribute to the inflammatory process and tissue injury. Dexamethasone therapy administered before the first parenteral antibiotic dose reduces the production of NO in the CSF during BM.

[Nitric oxide]. / Tlenek azotu.

This paper is on nitric oxide dealing with various aspects of its physiological significance. Attention is also focused on how nitric oxide is involved in human pathology, environment and air pollution.

[Beta 2 microglobulin in children with neuroinfections]. / Beta2 mikroglobulina w neuroinfekcjach u dzieci.

CSF and plasma beta2 microglobulin (B2M) concentrations were determined by an enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) (Vidas-bioMerieux) in children with bacterial (B2M), viral (mumps and enteroviral) meningitis and in the controls. CSF B2M concentrations in children with B2M at admission, at 24-48 hrs of treatment and at recovery (day 10), in children with viral meningitis at admission and at recovery were significantly higher in comparison with the control group of children with non-pleiocytic CSF. The levels of CSF B2M at 24-48 hrs of treatment of B2M cases were significantly higher than those at the beginning of both mumps and enteroviral meningitis cases which may be helpful in differential diagnosis of meningitis, especially in cases of retarded diagnosis or partially treated B2M. Plasma levels of B2M during bacterial and mumps meningitis did not differ from those in healthy children but in children with enteroviral meningitis were significantly higher. There was a positive correlation between CSF B2M at the beginning of B2M and some laboratory findings of inflammatory response (CRP, ERS). The CSF B2M levels were significantly higher than its plasma levels in patients with B2M at 24-48 hours (second stage) of disease, mumps meningitis on admission and recovery which may suggest intrathecal production of B2M during central nervous system infection.

Photochemotherapy (PUVA) and psoriasis: comparison of 8-MOP and 8-MOP/5-MOP.

Twenty-eight psoriatic patients received PUVA treatment (psoralen and long ultraviolet irradiations. Two preparations were used; 8-methoxypsoralen and a mixture of 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen. Both gave considerable improvement, but in 6 cases the lesions reappeared after 2 to 8 weeks, in spite of maintenance treatment. In this report, photochemotherapy of psoriasis was compared, using a UVA emitting lamp, 8-MOP, and a mixture of 8-MOP and 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP).