Copy number variation of FCGR genes in etiopathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

We have previously revealed that, in contrast to polymorphism of FCGR2B and FCGR3B, polymorphism of FCGR2A, FCGR2C and FCGR3A genes, encoding receptors for Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G (Fcγ receptors), play a role in increased level of circulating immune complexes with occurrence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock proteins in patients with sarcoidosis. However, this immunocomplexemia might also be caused by decreased clearance by immune cells due to a changed copy number of FCGR genes. Thus, the next step of our study was to evaluate copy number variation of FCGR2A, FCGR2B, FCGR2C, FCGR3A and FCGR3B in this disease.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica—case report and literature review.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TBO) is a rare disease of unknown etiology characterised by a formation of multiple, cartilaginous and osteocartilaginous submucosal nodules in the trachea and major bronchi. The course of the disease is usually benign but the narrowing of the respiratory tract can lead to chronic non-specific clinical symptoms. We present a case of a 50-year old man with chronic exertional dyspnoea and stenosis of the trachea visible in imaging tests, in whom the symptoms were caused by TBO.

Risk factors for anaphylaxis in patients with mastocytosis.

Introduction: Symptoms resulting from the activation and release of mediators from the mast cells are observed in about 30% of the patients with mastocytosis.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anaphylactic reactions and to identify the risk factors for anaphylaxis in patients with mastocytosis depending on the type of the disease. Furthermore, we analyzed a response to treatment of mediator-related symptoms in this patient group.

Transthoracic lung ultrasonography in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis - case report.

A pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease characterized by an accumulation of surfactant components in lung alveoli. In diagnosis and monitoring of the disease high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is usually used. Unfortunately, repeated exposure to CT scanning may be associated with an increased risk of radiation.

Intima-media thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea without comorbidities.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular events. The early stages of vascular complications can be visualized by means of ultrasound. Intima-media thickness (IMT) correlates with the presence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, tobacco smoking, or hyperlipidemia.

Cellular composition of induced sputum in sarcoidosis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cellular composition of induced sputum (IS) in sarcoidosis and its role in assessing the disease activity. The safety of the procedure was also determined.

Material And Methods: Sputum induction by inhalation of hypertonic saline was performed.

The osteocalcin gene rs1800247 polymorphism in Kashubian population.

Osteocalcin is the most important noncollagenous protein component of the bone. Polymorphisms of osteocalcin gene were reported to be associated with bone mineral density. However, this relation was only confirmed in some populations.

Integrated care for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a new approach to organization.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects approximately 10% of the population aged above 40 years. In advanced COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second <50% of the predicted value), patients suffer from severe pulmonary symptoms including dyspnea, chronic cough, poor exercise tolerance, which are commonly associated with systemic disorders, such as osteoporosis, loss of fat-free body mass, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, patients with advanced COPD experience annually an average of 2 to 3 episodes of exacerbations requiring hospitalization.

[Accuracy of spirometry performed by general practitioners and pulmonologists in Pomeranian Region in the "Prevention of COPD" NHS program].

Introduction: Spirometry is the key test in diagnosing and severity assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite the simplicity of the test, the discrepancy between results obtained by general practitioners and specialists is noted, what may lead to under- or overestimating of COPD prevalence. The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of spirometry testing and interpretation performed by general practitioners and pulmonologists.

[Style of coping with stress and emotional functioning in patients with asthma].

Introduction: The evaluation of styles of coping with stress resulting from a somatic disease was always considered controversial, since the stress is a consequence of the complexity of the disease as a stressful event and is linked with every field of human life and activity. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various styles of coping with stress - task-oriented, emotion-oriented, or avoidance-oriented - used by patients with asthma to cope with their disease and its consequences.

Material And Methods: 100 patients with asthma were examined including 15 with mild asthma, 40 with moderate asthma, and 45 with severe asthma.

[Invasive aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses, lung and brain].

A case of invasive aspergillosis (IA) of paranasal sinuses, lung and brain with a fulminant fatal outcome is reported. A 43-year-old man with a history of skin carcinoma of the nasal region and a course of systemic corticosteroids, presented with symptoms of lung infection. Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from respiratory and nasal samples.

[Isolated sarcoidosis of upper respiratory tract--a description of 2 cases].

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. In sarcoidosis almost all organs can be involved but the disease most often affects the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes. Isolated extrapulmonary organs involvement occurs very seldom.

[The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on the quality of life in patients with COPD].

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, hospitalization and disability among lung diseases. Its chronic, progressive nature and acute exacerbations influence the quality and expectancy of life of COPD patients. The pulmonary rehabilitation is a basic non-pharmacological intervention in COPD and its role is increasing in recent years.

[Assessment of exercise test and bronchial reversibility test as tools for asthma diagnosis in patients with normal spirometry].

Unlabelled: The bronchial obturation reversibility test is the corner stone in asthma diagnosis. Patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of asthma but normal spirometry need additional tests like non-specific bronchoprovocations. Exercise-induced bronchi spasm is a feature of asthma and is the basis for exercise-test bronchi provocation in asthma diagnosis.

[Quality of life of patients with asthma which has been well and poorly controlled].

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients with asthma who were well and poorly controlled.

Material And Methods: 70 patients with diagnosed asthma, aged from 18 to 40, were included into the study between November 2005 and February 2006 at the Specialist Hospital in Chojnice and Allergy out-patient Clinic of Medical University of Gdańsk. The diagnosis and stage of asthma, as well as the assessment of the control of disease was performed by the physician.

[Is COPD an autoimmune disease caused by smoking?].

Cigarette smoking is the main trigger for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For years the inflammatory reaction in COPD was focused on neutrophils, macrophages and protease-antiprotease balance. The concept of inflammation has been changed since the findings in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of smokers and COPD patients.

[Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in patients with perennial rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, allergic to house dust mites].

Unlabelled: Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) is released from activated eosinophils during the inflammation process.

The Aim: of the study was to evaluate levels of ECP in serum of patients with perennial rhinitis (with and without asthma) and atopic dermatitis allergic to Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Further it was designed to compare ECP levels in patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) and in patients treated symptomatically.

[Usefulness of exercise test and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) measurement in diagnosis and management of bronchial asthma].

The purpose of this manuscript is to define the benefit of exercise test and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) measurement in adult patients with bronchial asthma. Seventy-seven patients--forty-seven from examined group (21 women, 26 men) and thirty patients from control group (8 women, 22 men) participated in this study. Exercise tests (ET) were performed in all subjects in the beginning of the study (ET1) then repeated two months later (ET2) only to the examined group.