[Influence of chronic glucocorticosteroid therapy on fat free mass in women with severe bronchial asthma].

During lifetime many changes in biochemical and morphological body composition take place. In women those changes are extremely rapid after menopause. Catabolic influence of steroid therapy is an additional factor inducing body composition disturbances.

[The effect of air pollution on pulmonary function in young men from different regions of Poland].

Unlabelled: The aim of study was to evaluate possible influence of air pollution on pulmonary function in the population of 1278 healthy non-smoking young men (18-23 years old) from different parts of Poland. Poland was divided into three regions depending on different concentration of SO2, NO2 and airborne particulate matter (PM10) in the air: region 1 comprised North Poland--agricultural areas with the lowest concentrations of pollution, region 2 comprised Central Poland--big agglomerations with moderate air pollution, region 3 comprised South Poland--big agglomerations and industrial centres with the highest pollution level. Subjects were divided further according to a study place (North Group--subjects from region 1, Central Group--subjects from region 2 and South Group--subjects from region 3).

[Air pollution--impact on the human respiratory system].

Authors present the problem of air-pollution in Central Europe at the turn of centuries. The main sources (natural & antropogenic), main types of pollutants (particularly SO2 and O3), WHO atmospheric air quality Guidelines, outdoor & indoor air pollution, episodic and chronic consequences and mechanisms with clinical effects of air pollution on the respiratory system (function, self-defence) were shortly performed).

[Sleep related breathing disorders in allergology practice].

1/3 of the contemporary population suffers from sleep disorders. Sleep related breathing disorders are very important from the clinical point of view, because they markedly contribute to high morbidity and mortality of this population. Pharyngeal and upper airway obstruction is the main cause of these disorders.

[Evaluation of the influence of tobacco smoking on pulmonary function in youg men].

Unlabelled: According to WHO estimates in the early 1990s there were around 1.100 million smokers in the world, about one third of the global population over 15 years of age. The aim of the study was to evaluate tobacco influence on pulmonary function tests in young healthy men.

[Efficacy of the FLUTTER VRP1 device for physiotherapy patients with chronic pulmonary disease].

Respiratory physiotherapy is essential to the treatment of all acute or chronic respiratory disorders which expectoration difficulties are major problem. The Flutter VRP1 is an easy to use physiotherapy device; combines safe endobronchial positive expiratory pressure with vibratory effects. Flutter is a useful device for sputum expectoration and markedly improvement of lung parameters.

[Sleep apnea syndrome in acromegalic patients].

The aim of this report was to analyse the sleep apnea rate and its clinical picture in acromegaly patients before and after the surgical treatment. The authors investigated both hormones levels and spirometric coefficients. They found, that surgical removal of microadenoma from transphenoidal approach led to the fast regression of the syndrome.

[Evaluation of pulmonary function tests in a population of young men from different regions of Poland].

The aim of study was the evaluation results of pulmonary function test (PFT) relationships between air pollution particular ozone concentration and smoking habit. PFT 417 volunteers (men aged 18-23) living in two regions of Poland were studied. These men were divided into 2 groups according to their living place: Warsaw and Gizycko (north-agricultural region of Poland).

[Clinical analysis of ofloxacin in treatment of postinfectious exacerbations of endogenous bronchial asthma].

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).

[Test of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity to water mist in patients with atopic bronchial asthma].

22 males with atopic asthma in clinical remission and 22 healthy males were evaluated. The age of the 44 males ranged from 19 to 23 years. Atopy was diagnosed in patients with a characteristic medical history, positive skin prick tests and elevated serum IgE levels.

[Effect of inhalation therapy with beclomethasone dipropionate on unspecific bronchial hyperreactivity in patients with asthma].

An effect of beclomethasone dipropionate (Beclocort-Polfa) was investigated in the group of 24 patients with atopic and non-atopic bronchial asthma who have shown unspecific bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine during the periods of remission. The drug was administered in the form of aerosol in a daily dose of 1.0 mg for 4 weeks.

[Evaluation of a single oral dose of nifedipine on the right- ventricular ejection fraction in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases].

Nineteen patients (12 males, 7 females, mean age 59 +/- 10 years) with chronic obstructive lung disease and lowered ventilatory reserves in partial and full respiratory insufficiency (FEV1 f = 51 +/- 19%; MEF 50 = 23 +/- 13% pred. value, R(aw) = 220 +/- 120%; pO2 = 59 +/- 5; pCO2 = 41 +/- 10 mmHg) were included in the study. All had RVEF measured using radionuclide angiocardiography before and 60 minutes after oral administration of 20 mg of nifedipine.

[Evaluation of the effect of chronic steroid inhalation therapy on the state of the upper airway in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of chronic steroid inhalation therapy on the upper airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 44 patients with a first time diagnosis of COPD were evaluated. 22 (11 males, 11 females) were treated with Beclomethasone (1 mg per day) for 6 months.

[Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) in patients with atopic bronchial asthma].

The aim of the study was to assess serum ACE (S-ACE) activity in atopic bronchial asthma. S-ACE activity values were determined in 50 subjects (11 blood donors, 39 asthmatics) using the radioenzymatic method with Ventrex Laboratories kits. The authors did not find any differences between asthmatics in clinical remission, not receiving therapy, patients receiving prednisone (mean daily dose 10.

[Three month treatment with budesonide in patients with corticoid dependent bronchial asthma--personal experience].

The experiment aimed at evaluating a three-month therapy of asthmatic patients with budesonide inhalations. The study involved 32 patients with long-lasting bronchial asthma depended on steroids. Therapy with budesonide (Pulmicort Astra) in a mean daily dose 1.

[Evaluation of right ventricular function using radioisotope angiography in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The aim of the study was the evaluation of equilibrium gated blood pool angiography in noninvasive assessment of right ventricular ejection fraction in 50 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The degree of ventilatory disturbances was measured using plethysmography to calculate air flow indexes--FEV1, MEF50 and Rt and gasometric values of arterialized capillary blood--PaO2, PaCO2, pH. The used method allowed calculation of RVEF in 41 patients, which were divided into three groups according to presence of symptoms of right ventricular failure and RVEF values.

[Study of the effects of calcium antagonists on respiration mechanics in patients with occlusive ventilation impairment].

In 113 patients and 33 controls the bronchodilating effect of three most frequently used calcium channel blockers nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem was studied. The group comprised 76 men and 41 women aged 20 to 60 years, with bronchospastic conditions of various aetiology. The Jaeger Bodytest apparatus was used.

[Evaluation of the protective effects of nifedipine and verapamil in patients with bronchial hyperreactivity].

The protective effect was studied of the drugs blocking the calcium channel on histamine-induced bronchospasm. In a group of 107 studied subjects with clinical suspicion of bronchial hyperreactivity in 37 cases hypersensitivity to histamine was diagnosed. The protective effect of one oral dose of nifedipine 20 mg and verapamil 1.