[Antileukotrienes in asthma - critical view].

This article discusses the role of cysteinyl leukotrienes in asthma and addresses the problem of the use of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) in the treatment of asthma. The author points out that these drugs are inferior to inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonists and should be used as "add on" drugs being a third choice in the management of asthma. Lack of response to LTRA has a genetic background.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease needs adjectives: "guiltless" COPD, "asthma like" and "emphysemal" COPD].

The author proposes an extension of terminology of COPD by introducing to certain situations the adjectives "guiltless" (for patient who never smoked) , "asthma like" (for patients with symptoms with reversible bronchoconstriction and eosinophilia) and emphysemal COPD. The aim of this proposal is better understanding of certain events in the disease and subsequently proper treatment.

[Familial clustering of symptoms typical for OSAS].

The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) symptoms in relatives of subjects with OSAS and in relatives without OSAS but with clinical symptoms of this disease. The study group consisted of 186 relatives of patients with OSAS and 117 relatives of patients with symptoms of OSAS in whom the disease was not confirmed by polysomnography. They were all mailed a questionnaire with questions concerning anthropometric data, the presence of symptoms typical for OSAS and the presence of concomitant diseases.

[Diagnostic utility of pleural fluid eosinophilia].

Diagnostic utility of eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) is still the matter of controversy. Some earlier studies have showed that pleural fluid eosinophilia considerably reduces the probability of malignancy, while some later analyses were not able to confirm such an observation. To evaluate the diagnostic significance of EPE the retrospective study of all patients with pleural effusion (PE) managed in our hospital between 1995 and 2001 has been undertaken.

[Hypersensitivity to poppy seeds].

Unlabelled: Hypersensitivity to poppy seeds is rare and it may develop due to immune (allergy) and non-immune reactions of fulminant course. Two cases of hypersensitivity to poppy seeds are presented: in a 21-year-old woman and 32-year-old man in whom life-threatening symptoms and signs of anaphylaxis (SSA) developed after consumption of poppy seeds in various situations, e.g in the street after consumption of a roll with poppy seeds or a cake prepared on a moulding board on which poppy seeds were previously squeezed.

[Education of asthmatic patients].

Asthmatics education is the essential part of their therapy--category A of clinical evidences. Authors show the advantages from the correctly conducted educational process and the world experiences in realization of preventive programmes. Possibilities of such procedure in Poland are underlined.

[Next GINA report. What could be expected?].

The advantages, certain drawbacks and future problems of the next GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma Management and Prevention) elaboration are presented. It is suggested that the next issue is to arrive in 2004 or 2005.

Lymphocyte subsets differences in smokers and nonsmokers with primary lung cancer: a flow cytometry analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells.

Background: Tobacco smokers are at a higher risk of lung cancer than nonsmokers. This may be a result of changes in immunological status. The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphocyte phenotypes in the peripheral airways of patients with lung cancer and healthy subjects in relation to smoking history.

[The influence oc glycocorticoid therapy on sputum ECP concentration in symptomatic patients with bronchial asthma].

Unlabelled: ECP released from the granules of activated eosinophils is regarded to be a marker of airway inflammation in asthma. The study was performed to compare the usefulness of measuring serum and sputum ECP for monitoring the asthma treatment. 29 subjects with mild to moderate asthma (mean age 41 +/- 17) were admitted in exacerbation (FEV1 55.

[Ambulatory criteria of dry powder inhaler selection based on peak inspiratory flow recordings].

In 185 patients (106 with asthma and 79 with COPD) peak inspiratory flow (PIFR) without resistance and across valves of popular in Poland dry powder inhalers (DPI): Discus, Turbuhaler and Aerolizer were recorded. "In-Check" device was used for these purposes. Clement-Clarke principle of minimal and optimal PIFR for lung drug deposition was accepted.

Sympathetic skin response in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Examination of the sympathetic skin response (SSR), a non-invasive method of studying conduction in the sympathetic nervous system was performed in 15 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) evaluated by polysomnography who were compared with 7 non-apneic snorers and 26 controls. The aim of the study was to assess sympathetic nervous system function in OSAS, to compare the results with those found in non-apneic heavy snorers, to define the pattern of abnormalities and to study the correlations between SSR results and polysomnographic parameters. In the OSAS group the mean hand latency was significantly longer than in non-apneic snorers and healthy subjects.