[Ethical problems in molecular genetics and their reflection in clinical medicine].

There are at least two groups of issues connected with an impact of a realization of the "Human Genome Project": a) philosophical; b) ethical, which can be divided into four groups: 1) the influence of DNA technologies on everyday applications of bioethical principles; 2) ethical aspects of genetic diversity; 3) ethical aspects of genetic screening; 4) somatic and germ-cell gene therapy; Unlike essential philosophical issues practical realization of issues in question can be largely expressed as only revitalization of old ones and concerns: the principle of justice-equal access and priorities; protection of reproductive choices; disclosure to patients and to relatives at genetic risk (disclosure and exclusion tests); prenatal diagnosis for "mild to moderate" diseases with and without genetic indication-commercialization; insurance policy; non-directive and directive genetic counseling. Maybe there are regional and other differences, but in practice, the main ethical issues are likely to involve screening for genetic risk of common diseases of adult life e.g.

[General therapeutic approaches in systemic vasculitides].

The paper presents general therapeutic principles applied in systemic vasculitis. Several factors may help to contain the clinical activity, such as the location and extent of the inflammatory process affecting the vascular system, the ultimate narrowing of the vascular lumen with subsequent ischemia of the affected tissue and organ. Treatment of vasculitis involves besides glucocorticoids not only cytotoxic drugs (cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, methotrexate), and immunomodulatory therapeutic agents with immunosuppressive action (cyclosporin A) but also other immunomodulatory drugs, as e.

[Lyme borreliosis--the great imitator].

Three different pathomorphological findings were presented in patients with seropositive borreliosis. Skin biopsy, cytology of joint synovial fluid and imprint cytology of bulbar conjunctiva were included. Skin vasculitis as well as pleocytosis of synovial fluid were found in accordance with literature, the inclusions in conjunctival imprint were unusual.

[Beta-2-microglobulin and ankylosing spondylitis].

Serum beta-2-microglobulin was examined by radioimmunoassay in 103 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 111 healthy blood-donors. Statistically significant difference between the group of patients and healthy individuals was found related to increased levels of this protein in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Furthers correlation analysis of beta-2-microglobulin in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and chosen clinical and humoral parameters of the disease activity was performed.