What factors may influence epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Poland and in the world?

The authors present the review of factors influencing epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Poland and in the world. The groups of increased risk of tuberculosis, and clinical conditions predisposing to activation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) such as HIV, uremia, diabetes mellitus, transplantation of organs, treatment with glucocorticosteroids and with antibodies to TNF and to its receptors, were presented. The higher prevalence and worse prognosis of tuberculosis in elderly people was emphasised.

Epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Poland: part II. What are the causes of the different epidemiological situation in various regions of Poland?

Introduction: The different epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in various regions of Poland (higher and lower notification rates) was described previously by our group. The patients diagnosed with tuberculosis in the higher notification rate areas were younger and there were more cases of primary tuberculosis (tuberculous pleurisy and tuberculosis of chest lymph nodes) than in the patients diagnosed in the lower notification areas. The aim of the present study was to assess the possible causes of the different epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in various regions of Poland.

The epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Poland: Part I. According to notification rates, the incidence of tuberculosis varies in different regions of Poland: is this true?

Introduction: In 2012 the incidence rate of tuberculosis in Poland was 19.6/100,000 but these was great variability between regions concerning notification rates (from 10.9/100,000 to 30.

[Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Poland in the years 1974-2010].

Introduction: The incidence of tuberculosis in Poland decreased from 128.5 in 100 000 in 1970 to 19.1 in 100 000 in 2010.

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome with two extraglandular sites involvement - case report.

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is a chronic, slowly progressive inflammatory autoimmune disorder, characterised by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, leading to decrease of glandular secretion. In 40-60% of pSS patients, extraglandular disease develops. We present the case of a patient with two extraglandular sites involvement in the course of pSS manifesting with progressive respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.

[Comparison of Th1 and Th2 response in the blood of tuberculous patients and healthy contacts].

Introduction: Th1 response is known to play a dominant role in the resistance to tuberculosis. Nevertheless, IFN gamma levels are frequently increased in tuberculous patients, especially at the site of the disease. It is also possible that the shift toward Th2 response is responsible for the loss of resistance.

[Familial predisposition to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The role of cigarette smoking in development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is well known, however only in about 20% of smokers clinical disease was diagnosed. It points to additional factors which influence the sensitivity to tobacco products. Familial clustering of COPD has been observed and genetic deficiency of alpha 1 antitrypsine with ZZ phenotype was proved to be a factor responsible for the early onset of this disease.

[Humoral immune response against mycobacterial antigens in patients with tuberculosis and mycobacterial infections other than tuberculosis].

The aim of the study was to compare humoral immune response against various mycobacterial antigens in TB and MOTT vs healthy control group. 350 serum samples from TB patients, 20 samples from MOTT patients and 58 samples from healthy donors were examined. ELISA detecting IgG, IgA and IgM against antigens: 38 kDa and 16 kDa, 38kDa and lipoarabinomannan, and A-60 were used.

[Invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients treated in the Institute of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases in the years 1993-2005--diagnostic problems].

The aim of this study was to present the diagnostic problems in pts treated for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in the IIIrd Clinic of the Institute of Tuberculosis in the years 1993-2005. The material consisted of clinical documentation of 18 pts. 15 out of 18 pts (83,4%) died.

[Mycobacterium kansasii infection in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), report of two cases].

Mycobacterium kansasii infection leads to significant morbidity both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. 7 subtypes of M. Kansasii were identified so far.

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection in a 20-year-old female with partial recessive IFNgammaR1 deficiency.

We report the case of a 20-year-old female with disseminated Mycobacterium avium disease involving bones, lungs and brain. She was completely healthy up until the present illness and had been vaccinated with BCG in infancy without complications. Mycobacteriosis progressed in spite of treatment with antituberculous drugs and was controlled only after addition of interferon-gamma subcutaneously.

[Antimycobacterial antibody level in pleural, pericardial and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculosis].

The goal of the study was to evaluate IgG, IgA and IgM mediated humoral immune response against 38kDa and 16 kDa or 38kDa and LAM mycobacterial antigens in pleural, pericardial or cerebrospinal fluid from patients with tuberculosis (TB) and to compare to non-tuberculous controls (NTB). 30 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) (16 TB pts and 14 NTB pts), 17 pericardial fluids (6 TB and 11 NTB) and 20 pleural fluids (7 TB and 13 NTB) were examined. Commercially available ELISA-based assays (Pathozyme Tb complex plus, Myco G, A and M--Omega Diagnostic) were used.

[Prognosis in limited disease (LD) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients according to status performance, local extension of lesions, type of treatment and the completeness of staging].

The aim of this study was to assess the prognosis in LD SCLC pts according to their performance status, local extension of lesions, type of treatment and the completeness of staging. In the period 01.01.

[Pulmonary mycobacterioses--frequency of occurrence, clinical spectrum and predisposing factors].

Various types of non-tuberculous mycobacteria can be the aetiologic factors of chronic lung infections especially in patients with underlying chronic lung diseases. The aim of this study is to present the cases of pulmonary mycobacterioses observed in Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in the years 1995-2001. There were 23 patients, 12 men and 11 women in the age between 35-77 years, mean 56 years.

[Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) serum level as a prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer].

The aim of the study was to assess the significance of elevated NSE serum level in NSCLC patients for tumor response to chemotherapy and for survival. The NSE serum level above 12.5 mg/l was regarded as elevated.