Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in dermatology: "How we do it".

In dermatology PDT has been proven to be effective in the treatment of actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinomas (BCC), Bowen's disease, superficial squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

[Therapy of Lesniowski-Crohn disease of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract].

The treatment of a form of Lesniowski-Crohn disease (L-CD) which occurs in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) in principle is similar to that which is used if other parts of the GI tract are involved in L-CD, however with certain modifications, and these problems are discussed in this paper. The treatment is based on 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), glucocorticosteroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs. For patients in whom the conventional therapy doesn't give expected results, the advent of infliximab (biologic agents) has greatly improved treatment possibilities of L-CD.

[Leśniowski-Crohn's disease in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract].

Leśniowski-Crohn's disease (L-CD) includes several clinical and pathological pictures which are manifestations of transmural inflammation. L-CD may affect any portion of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and in the upper part of GI it has been described in 0.5%-13.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in inhabitants of Zabrze].

In 2001 a modified MRC questionnaire and spirometry were performed in the inhabitants of Zabrze (Poland). Two hundred and thirty-nine men and 320 women aged 19-69 years were studied. Forty percent of men and 23% of women were smokers.

Autofluorescence endoscopy for detection of high-grade dysplasia in short-segment Barrett's esophagus.

Background: The occurrence of precancerous lesions, such as high-grade dysplasia, in patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus is controversial. This study assessed the efficacy of autofluorescence endoscopy for detection of high-grade dysplasia in short-segment Barrett's esophagus.

Methods: A total of 34 patients (28 men, 6 women; age range 40-77 years) with histopathologically proven short-segment Barrett's esophagus were studied.