[Natural interferon alpha (Le-IFNalpha) treatment in patients with thrombocytopenia during chronic HCV infection--our observations].

The aim of our study was to assess efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment with natural interferon alpha in patients with thrombocytopenia during chronic HCV infection. The study group consisted of 14 patients infected with HCV genotype lb. There were 8 women and 6 men (mean age 50).

[Impact of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin therapy of chronic hepatitis C on peripheral blood and intrahepatic lymphocytes].

Unlabelled: The role of cellular immune response in pathogenesis of liver cell injury and course of chronic hepatitis C have been previously confirmed. The aim of this study was to determine the modification of T-lymphocyte subsets during pegylated interferon alpha (PegIFN) and ribavirin treatment and its correlation with response to the treatment.

Material And Methods: The assessment of subsets of intrahepatic lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes was done in 62 patients with chronic hepatitis C using flow cytometry and immunohistochemical method.

[Thrombocytopenia in HCV infection. Natural interferon as an alternative therapy].

The current standard of care for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The interferon-based therapy is contraindicated in patients with HCV-associated thrombocytopenia. The pathogenesis of HCV-associated thrombocytopenia is still unclear.

[Botulism in the past and today--etiological, epidemiological and pathogenic aspects].

In this paper we review the most recent approach to etiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of botulism.

[Botulism in the past and today--clinical aspects].

In this paper we review the most recent approach to clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of botulism.

[Intrahepatic and peripheral blood lymphocytes during hepatitis C].

Objective: The pathogenesis of liver cell injury during chronic hepatitis C is poorly understood and cellular immune response is thought to play a key role in both inhibition of viral replication and liver pathology. We investigated a panel of markers of intrahepatic T-lymphocyte subsets in 44 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients.

Methods: The assessment of subsets of intrahepatic lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes was done using flow cytometry and immunohistochemical study.

Vitiligo associated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C: a case report.

The use of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin is considered standard therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Many adverse effects of IFN appear to be of autoimmune origin. Vitiligo is a hypomelanotic disease, whose cause, despite many investigations, remains unknown, although some evidence points to an autoimmune pathogenesis.

[Pegylated interferon-alfa 2a with ribavirin in chronic viral hepatitis C (final report)].

Unlabelled: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a [40KD] (Peg-IFNalpha-2a) plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C in an open-label programme in a routine clinical setting in Poland. Patients received Peg-IFNalpha-2a 180mg/week plus ribavirin 800-1200 mg/d for 48 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA (<50IU/mL) at the end of follow-up (week 72).

TT virus (TTV)--etiologic agent of acute hepatitis?

TT virus (TTV) was first isolated in 1997 from the patient with acute posttransfusion hepatitis. This fact led to the conclusion the virus was hepatotropic and could be considered as one of causative agents of acute hepatitis. However, later it was found in other human tissues and serological studies have revealed it is widespread.

Concentration of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (f1 + 2) in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis C infection.

The aim of this study was to assess the serum concentration of F1 + 2 in patients with liver cirrhosis developed during HCV infection and in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The study group consisted of 52 patients hospitalised at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Medical University of Lublin, Poland. Among them, 18 patients (8 men and 10 women), aged 19-59 years, had a stable liver cirrhosis and 34 patients (21 men and 13 women), aged 20-41 years, were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Pregnancy during lamivudine therapy in chronic hepatitis B--case report.

In case of a pregnancy in a patient infected with hepatitis B virus there is a risk of intrauterine fetus infection, which rises significantly with the serological profile of positive hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis Be antigen and in the presence of HBV DNA in serum. Therefore, in clinical practice the monitoring of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B in women of reproductive age is becoming especially important. The safety of lamivudine use in pregnant women infected with hepatitis B virus has not yet been proven.

Dynamics of proinflammatory cytokines serum levels during viral hepatitis type A.

In this study we assessed the dynamics concerning IL-2, sLL-2R and IL-4 serum levels in the course of an acute viral hepatitis A infection. The study group consisted of 48 persons. The serum concentrations of IL-2, sIL-2R and IL-4 were assessed with the use of ELISA methods.

TT virus infection and pancreatic cancer: relationship or accidental coexistence.

TT virus (TTV) was first isolated in 1997 from the patient with acute post-transfusion hepatitis. This fact led to the conclusion that the virus was hepatotropic and could be one of the causative agents of acute hepatitis. Afterwards, however, the virus was found in other human tissues and serological studies revealed that it was widespread.

[Dynamics of changes in magnesium (Mg) serum levels in patients suffering from infectious mononucleosis].

The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of changes in magnesium (Mg) serum levels in the acute, symptomatic period of infectious mononucleosis and during the convalescence period, when clinical symptoms were no longer present. 50 subjects were included, among them 26 patients (14 women and 12 men) at the age of 16 to 27 years in the acute, symptomatic stage of the disease. The diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis was based on the clinical, hematological, biochemical and serologic criteria.

The risk of exposure to Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in Mid-Eastern Poland.

Both the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks and the seroprevalence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis have been reported in different parts of Europe. There are few reports concerning this problem in Poland. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks, and to detect antibodies against the HGE agent in serum of forest workers in the region of Mid-Eastern Poland.

[Serum copper and zinc level in patients suffering from infectious mononucleosis and after the regression of clinical symptoms].

Unlabelled: The aim of this work was to assess the serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) level and ratio Cu/Zn in the acute, symptomatic period of infectious mononucleosis and during the convalescence period, when no clinical symptoms were present.

Material And Methods: We examined 50 persons, including 26 patients (14 women and 12 men) in the age of 16 to 27 years, examined in the acute, symptomatic period of the disease. The diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis was based on the clinical, haematological, biochemical and serologic criteria.

[Peginterferon alpha-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

150 adult patients were assigned pegylated interferon alpha-2b (once weekly 1.5 microg/kg) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg depending on bodyweight). The treatment lasted 52 weeks and was completed by 139 persons (92.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and androstenedione concentration in the serum of male patients with chronic hepatitis C.

In this study the dynamics of DHEAS and androstenedione serum concentration in male patients with CHC infection were analyzed. The study group consisted of 52 men, 26 of them being the control group of healthy men. The DHEAS and androstenedione serum concentration was determined twice with radioimmunological method (RIA).

Copper/zinc ratio in measles patients.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) levels and Cu/Zn ratio in measles patients in comparison to the control group. The study was conducted on 26 patients. The serum Cu and Zn levels were determined three times using atomic absorbtion spectrometry.

[Ramsay Hunt syndrome--a case study].

In this work we present a patient, aged 40 with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, who was treated at the Department of Infectious Disease, Medical Academy in Lublin (Poland). The diagnosis of the disease was based on the anamnesis concerning epidemiology of the disease, the course and three major symptoms: facial paralysis, neuralgia, herpetic eruption in the mouth and on the ear. The combined treatment with antiviral drugs and corticosteroids was partially successful and did not resolve the seventh nerve palsy.

Prolactin concentration in the serum of male patients with chronic hepatitis C.

In this work we analysed the dynamics of prolactin serum concentration in male patients with chronic hepatitis C. A group of 52 men were included in the study, 26 of them constituted the control group. The diagnosis of the disease was confirmed by the presence of HCV-RNA in the serum and by the histological examination of the liver.

Serum zinc (Zn) level dynamics in blood serum of patients with acute viral hepatitis B and early recovery period.

The aim of the present study was an analysis of serum zinc level dynamics in patients with acute hepatitis B and early recovery period compared with control group. The investigation included 39 patients aged 18-76 hospitalised in the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Medical University of Lublin, because of acute hepatitis B. Determinations of zinc (Zn) level in blood serum were made four times during hospitalisation and once, four weeks after discharging from the clinic in the early recovery period using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

[Clinical and epidemiological analysis of patients with botulism hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Disease, Medical University of Lublin in 1990-2000].

In the paper we presented results of clinical and epidemiological analysis of 32 patients with botulism hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin in 1990-2000. In the studied group, the relationships between botulism incidence and sex and place of residence were not significant. The incubation period ranged from 7 hours to 5 days (average 36 hrs).

[Concentration of sVAP in serum of patients with different forms of Lyme borreliosis].

Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the serum concentration of soluble VAP-1 (sVAP-1) in patients with arthral type of borreliosis and erythema migrans.

Methods: We included in our study 30 patients in the age of 17-53 years who were treated for erythema migrans and 30 patients in the age of 25-63 years who were diagnosed with arthral type of borreliosis. The control group consisted of 30 healthy blood donors.

[Profile of microorganisms isolated in nasopharyngeal swabs from the patients with acute infectious mononucleosis].

Infectious mononucleosis is a self-limiting lymphoproliferative disorder, which contribute to the development of the various clinical symptoms. Exudative tonsillitis was found to be caused by Epstein-Barr virus in 19% of all viral infections and may imitate a bacterial etiology. The aim of this study was to identify the microbes from the nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from the patients with exudative tonsillitis and to assess their susceptibility to antibiotics.