Retinal Microcirculation Measurements in Response to Endurance Exercises Analysed by Adaptive Optics Retinal Camera.

This study aimed to precisely investigate the effects of intensive physical exercise on retinal microvascular regulation in healthy volunteers through adaptive optics retinal camera (AO) measurement. We included healthy volunteers (11 men and 14 women) aged 20.6 ± 0.9. The heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP, DBP) were recorded before and after a submaximal physical exertion of continuously riding a training ergometer. The superior temporal retinal artery measurements were captured using the AO-rtx1TM (Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France) without pupil dilation. We compared measures of vessel diameter (VD), lumen diameter (LD), two walls (Wall 1, 2), wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR), and wall cross-sectional analysis (WCSA) before and immediately after the cessation of exercise. Cardiovascular parameter results: After exercise, SBP, DBP, and HR changed significantly from 130.2 ± 13.2 to 159.7 ± 15.6 mm Hg, 81.2 ± 6.3 to 77.1 ± 8.2 mm Hg, and 80.8 ± 16.1 to 175.0 ± 6.2 bpm, respectively (p < 0.002). Retinal microcirculation analysis showed no significant decrease in LD, Wall 1 after exercise: from 96.0 ± 6.8 to 94.9 ± 6.7 (p = 0.258), from 11.0 ± 1.5 to 10.4 ± 1.5 (p = 0.107), respectively, and significant reduction in VD from 118.5 ± 8.3 to 115.9 ± 8.3 (p = 0.047), Wall 2 from 11.5 ± 1.0 to 10.7 ± 1.3 (p = 0.017), WLR from 0.234 ± 0.02 to 0.222 ± 0.010 (p = 0.046), WCSA from 3802.8 ± 577.6 to 3512.3 ± 535.3 (p = 0.016). The AO is a promising technique for investigating the effects of exercise on microcirculation, allowing for the tracking of changes throughout the observation. Intensive dynamic physical exertion increases blood pressure and heart rate and causes the vasoconstriction of small retinal arterioles due to the autoregulation mechanism.

Is Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma a Vascular Disease? Assessment of the Relationship between Retinal Arteriolar Morphology and Glaucoma Severity Using Adaptive Optics.

BACKGROUND: Retinal vascular abnormalities may be associated with glaucomatous damage. Adaptive optics (AO) is a new technology that enables the analysis of retinal vasculature at the cellular level in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retinal arteriolar parameters using the rtx1 adaptive optics fundus camera (AO-FC) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) at different stages and to investigate the relationship between these parameters and changes in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and perimetry. METHODS: Parameters of the retinal supratemporal and infratemporal arterioles (wall thickness (WT), lumen diameter (LD), total diameter (TD), wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR), and cross-sectional area of the vascular wall (WCSA)) were analysed with the rtx1 in 111 POAG eyes, which were divided into three groups according to the severity of the disease, and 70 healthy eyes. The associations between RTX1 values and the cup-to-disk ratio, SD-OCT parameters, and visual field parameters were assessed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the POAG groups showed significantly smaller TD and LD values (p < 0.05) and significantly higher WLR and WT values (p < 0.05) for the supratemporal and infratemporal arterioles. TD was significantly positively correlated with the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) (p < 0.05). LD was significantly positively correlated with the RNFL, GCC, and rim area (p < 0.05). The WLR was significantly negatively correlated with the RNFL, GCC, rim area, and MD (p < 0.05), while it was significantly positively correlated with the cup-to-disc ratio and PSD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that vascular dysfunction is present in POAG, even at a very early stage of glaucoma, and increases with the severity of the disease.

Retinal Photoreceptors and Microvascular Changes in the Assessment of Diabetic Retinopathy Progression: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing global incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetic retinopathy (DR) has become one of the leading causes of blindness in developed countries. DR leads to changes in retinal neurons and microcirculation. Rtx1TM (Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France) is a retinal camera that allows histological visualisations of cones and retinal microcirculation throughout the DM duration. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the cones and retinal microvascular changes in 50 diabetic individuals and 18 healthy volunteers. The patients participated in the initial visit and two follow-up appointments, one and two years after the study, beginning with Rtx1TM image acquisition, visual acuity assessment, macular OCT scans and blood measurements. RESULTS: The study revealed significant differences in the cone density, mosaic arrangement and vascular morphology between healthy and diabetic patients. The final measurements showed decreased photoreceptor and microvascular parameters in the DR group compared with the control group. Furthermore, in the 2-year follow-up, both groups' Rtx1TM-acquired morphological changes were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Rtx1TM technology was successfully used as a non-invasive method of photoreceptors and retinal vasculature assessment over time in patients with diabetic retinopathy. The study revealed a trend toward more vascular morphological changes occurring over time in diabetic patients.

Extracellular MMP-9-Based Assessment of Ocular Surface Inflammation in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Objective assessment of dry eye disease (DED) severity and ocular inflammation using the InflammaDry® test for extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the impact of antiglaucoma eye drops in people with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Overall, 90 adults (180 eyes) were included: 60 had been diagnosed with POAG and were treated with prostaglandin analogue monotherapy and 30 were suspected of having POAG but did not receive any treatment (control group). Of those treated with prostaglandin eye drops, 30 received a preservative-free formulation (tafluprost) and 30 were treated with a formulation containing the preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAK) (latanoprost). Measurement of extracellular MMP-9 levels (InflammaDry test) provided a marker for ocular surface inflammation. Further assessments of disease severity and inflammation comprised Goldmann applanation tonometry for intraocular pressure (IOP), Schirmer's test with anesthesia, ocular surface staining with unpreserved fluorescein (Oxford scale index), tear breakup time (TBUT), McMonnies questionnaire, and the Ocular Surface Disease index (OSDI). RESULTS: Clinically significant MMP-9 levels (>40 ng/mL) were detected in tear film from 46.7% of subjects treated with BAK-containing medication. In contrast, only 16.7% of subjects treated with preservative-free medication or untreated individuals demonstrated similar MMP-9 levels. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). MMP-9 results correlated with other indicators of inflammation and disease severity. BAK-containing medication was associated with rapid TBUT (<5 seconds) in 50% of cases, while only 10% of untreated subjects and individuals using preservative-free medication demonstrated comparable TBUT results. CONCLUSION: Measurement of ocular surface MMP-9 level provides a useful marker for inflammation and DED in POAG. Use of a preservative-free topical prostaglandin formulation results in lower levels of ocular inflammation, compared with BAK-containing medication.

Adaptive Optics (rtx1) High-Resolution Imaging of Photoreceptors and Retinal Arteries in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of impaired vision in patients with diabetes mellitus. An adaptive optics retinal camera (rtx1™; Imagine Eyes, France) was used to capture images of cones and retinal arteries from patients with DR. OBJECTIVE: Cone parameters (density, interphotoreceptor distance, and regularity) and retinal artery parameters (wall thickness, lumen diameter, WLR, and WCSA) were analyzed in 36 patients with nonproliferative DR (NPDR; 22 with mild NPDR and 14 with moderate NPDR) and in 20 healthy volunteers (the control group). RESULTS: Cone density at 2° eccentricities was significantly lower in the DR compared to the control group (19822 ± 4342 cells/mm2 vs. 24722 ± 3507 cells/mm2, respectively). Cone density and regularity decreased with increasing severity of DR. The artery walls were significantly thicker in the DR group. The WLR and WCSA differed significantly between the DR and the control groups (WLR 0.339 ± 0.06 vs. 0.254 ± 0.04; WCSA 5567 ± 1140 vs. 4178 ± 944, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased cone regularity and density are seen in patients with mild and moderate NPDR. Abnormalities of retinal arterioles show signs of arteriolar dysfunction in DR. Retinal image analysis with the rtx1 offers a novel noninvasive measurement of early changes in the neural cells and retina vasculature in diabetic eyes.

The association between paracetamol use and the risk of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in the Polish population.

INTRODUCTION: A growing number of epidemiological studies suggest that paracetamol, which is commonly used in children, may be a risk factor for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine and characterize the correlation between paracetamol use and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema symptoms in the Polish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is part of the ECAP project involving the use of the ISAAC and ECRHS questionnaires. Completed questionnaires of 18,617 subjects, including 10,011 (53.8%) females, were analyzed. Children aged 6-7 (n=4,510), adolescents aged 13-14 (n=4,721), and adults aged 20-44 (n=9,386) constituted 24.2%, 25.4%, and 50.4% of respondents, respectively. Study subjects lived in 8 major urban centres and one rural area. The frequency of paracetamol use during the previous 12 months and symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema during that period were analyzed. RESULTS: The use of paracetamol was associated with a significant dose-dependent increase in the risk of asthma symptoms in all evaluated age groups. This was demonstrated via odds ratios (OR) for developing asthma symptoms, including wheezing or whistling in the chest in 6-7-year-olds and exercise-induced shortness of breath in 13-14-year-olds and adults, depending on the frequency of paracetamol use in the previous 12 months, compared to no paracetamol intake during that period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of paracetamol in the last 12 months was associated with a significant dose-dependent increase in the risk of rhinitis and skin allergy symptoms, as demonstrated by the odds ratio. Therefore, frequent paracetamol use may be a risk factor for symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and skin allergy in the Polish population.

Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Unipolar Depression: A Placebo-Controlled Study and Review of the Importance of Dosing and Magnesium Status in the Therapeutic Response.

Animal studies using tests and models have demonstrated that magnesium exerts an antidepressant effect. The literature contains few studies in humans involving attempts to augment antidepressant therapy with magnesium ions. The purpose of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of antidepressant treatment, in combination with magnesium ions. A total of 37 participants with recurrent depressive disorder who developed a depressive episode were included in this study. As part of this double-blind study, treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine was accompanied with either magnesium ions (120 mg/day as magnesium aspartate) or placebo. During an 8-week treatment period, each patient was monitored for any clinical abnormalities. Moreover, serum fluoxetine and magnesium levels were measured, and pharmaco-electroencephalography was performed. The fluoxetine + magnesium and fluoxetine + placebo groups showed no significant differences in either Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores or serum magnesium levels at any stage of treatment. Multivariate statistical analysis of the whole investigated group showed that the following parameters increased the odds of effective treatment: lower baseline HDRS scores, female gender, smoking, and treatment augmentation with magnesium. The parameters that increased the odds of remission were lower baseline HDRS scores, shorter history of disease, the presence of antidepressant-induced changes in the pharmaco-EEG profile at 6 h after treatment, and the fact of receiving treatment augmented with magnesium ions. The limitation of this study is a small sample size.

Retinal Photoreceptors and Microvascular Changes in Prediabetes Measured with Adaptive Optics (rtx1™): A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with prediabetes are at risk for diabetes, cardiovascular events, and microvascular complications. The rtx1 (Imagine Eyes, France) permits early detection of changes in the retinal photoreceptors and vessels. OBJECTIVE: Cone parameters and retinal microvasculature were analyzed with the rtx1 in 12 prediabetic patients and 22 healthy subjects. The analysis was based on cone density (DM), interphotoreceptor distance (SM), cone packing regularity, and retinal vessel parameters: wall thickness, lumen diameter (LD), wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR), and cross-sectional area of the vascular wall. RESULTS: DM in the prediabetic group was not significantly lower than that in the control group (18,935 ± 1713 cells/mm2 and 19,900 ± 2375 cells/mm2, respectively; p = 0.0928). The LD and WLR means differed significantly between the prediabetic and the control groups (LD 94.3 ± 10.9 versus 101.2 ± 15, p = 0.022; WLR 0.29 ± 0.05 versus 0.22 ± 0.03, p < 0.05). A multivariate regression analysis showed that the WLR was significantly correlated with BMI and total cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities found in rtx1 examinations indicated early signs of arteriolar dysfunction, prior to impaired glucose tolerance progressing to diabetes. The rtx1 retinal image analysis offers noninvasive measurement of early changes in the vasculature that routine clinical examination cannot detect.

Is atrial fibrillation a risk factor for normal-tension glaucoma?

Glaucoma (GL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are diseases of significant social importance. Cardiovascular disorders such as systemic hypertension, hypotension, increased blood viscosity, vasospasm, and diabetes are potential risk factors of GL, especially when intraocular pressure is not elevated. Only a few studies have reported a possible connection between cardiac arrhythmias and GL. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of GL in patients with AF.A total of 117 patients were included in the study, 79 with AF (AF group) and 38 with sinus rhythm (Control group), matched for age and sex. The mean ±â€Šstandard deviation age was 73.6 ±â€Š7.2 and 71.6 ±â€Š4.7 years for the AF and control groups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of systemic hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus type 2, or vascular disease between the groups. Patients were examined for the presence of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) by an ophthalmologist.NTG was confirmed in 40 patients (34.2%) in the entire group, with 35 (44.3%) in the AF group and 5 (13.15%) in the Control group. The incidence of NTG was significantly higher in the AF group (P = .0221). Women represented 60% of GL patients in the AF group and 80% in the control group. There were no significant differences in intraocular pressure between the groups (mean ±â€Šstandard deviation, 14.3 ±â€Š2.3 vs. 14.2 ±â€Š2.8 mmHg, P = .4202). Approximately three-fourths of patients with AF and NTG had early visual field damage based on the Hodapp classification.AF, independent of other known cardiovascular risk factors, increases the risk of developing NTG. Many AF patients do not have conspicuous symptoms of GL, so understanding the possible risk of its development is critical because early detection might help to prevent later visual impairment and even irreversible blindness.

Human photoreceptor cone density measured with adaptive optics technology (rtx1 device) in healthy eyes: Standardization of measurements.

The anatomic structures of the anterior segment of the eye enable correct reception of stimuli by the retina, which contains receptors that receive light impulses and transmit them to the visual cortex. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the size of the sampling window in an adaptive optics (AO) flood-illumination retinal camera (rtx1) on cone density measurements in the eyes of healthy individuals and to investigate the differences in cone density and spacing in different quadrants of the retina. Thirty-three subjects with no ophthalmic or systemic disease underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination. Photographs of retinal fragments 3 degrees from the fovea were taken using the rtx1 AO retinal camera. We used sampling windows with 3 sizes (50 × 50, 100 × 100, and 250 × 250 µm). Cone density, spacing, and shape were determined using AOdetect software. The median (interquartile range) cone density was 19,269 (4964) cones/mm. There were statistically significant differences between measurements taken with the 50/50 and 250/250-m windows. There were no significant differences in the cone spacing results between any of the windows examined, but the measurements differed according to location between the superior and temporal quadrants. The most common cone shape was hexagonal (47.6%) for all window sizes and locations. These findings may help in the development of a normative database for variation in cone density in healthy subjects and to allow the best window to be chosen for obtain the most correct values for eccentricity measurements of 3 degrees. In our study, the optimal sampling window was 100 × 100 µm.

Anti-hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in the working age population in Poland, 2004 to 2014.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a serious public health concern and one of the major public health priorities. In 2005, it was estimated that there are 185 million anti-HCV positive people in the world, which constitutes 2.8% of the global population. Our study estimates the anti-HCV seroprevalence in the working age population (15-64 years-old), mostly urban and suburban residents, in Poland from 2004 to 2014. The studied group consisted of 61,805 working-age population representatives whose data were obtained from electronic medical records of an outpatient clinic network operating on a countrywide level. Positive anti-HCV test results were obtained in 957 patients, representing 1.5% of the whole population studied throughout the analysed period. The average age of all anti-HCV positive patients was 36.8 years. Analysis of the data suggests that the proportion of anti-HCV positive patients decreased over the study period (mean positive anti-HCV = -0.0017 × year + 3.3715; R2 = 0.7558). In 2004, positive results were noted among 3.2% of patients undergoing HCV antibody tests, but in 2014, the percentage of patients with a positive result stood at 1.1%. The apparent decrease affected men and women similarly. Our study also provides evidence that screening people born before 1965 could be beneficial.

Application of advanced data collection and quality assurance methods in open prospective study - a case study of PONS project.

INTRODUCTION: Large-scale epidemiologic studies can assess health indicators differentiating social groups and important health outcomes of the incidence and mortality of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and others, to establish a solid knowledgebase for the prevention management of premature morbidity and mortality causes. This study presents new advanced methods of data collection and data management systems with current data quality control and security to ensure high quality data assessment of health indicators in the large epidemiologic PONS study (The Polish-Norwegian Study). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material for experiment is the data management design of the large-scale population study in Poland (PONS) and the managed processes are applied into establishing a high quality and solid knowledge. RESULTS: The functional requirements of the PONS study data collection, supported by the advanced IT web-based methods, resulted in medical data of a high quality, data security, with quality data assessment, control process and evolution monitoring are fulfilled and shared by the IT system. Data from disparate and deployed sources of information are integrated into databases via software interfaces, and archived by a multi task secure server. CONCLUSIONS: The practical and implemented solution of modern advanced database technologies and remote software/hardware structure successfully supports the research of the big PONS study project. Development and implementation of follow-up control of the consistency and quality of data analysis and the processes of the PONS sub-databases have excellent measurement properties of data consistency of more than 99%. The project itself, by tailored hardware/software application, shows the positive impact of Quality Assurance (QA) on the quality of outcomes analysis results, effective data management within a shorter time. This efficiency ensures the quality of the epidemiological data and indicators of health by the elimination of common errors of research questionnaires and medical measurements.

Consequences of smoke inhalation in the 'Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland' project (ECAP).

This paper presents a risk assessment of individuals with respiratory allergies who are exposed to active and passive tobacco smoke (environmental tobacco smoke or ETS). Smoking tobacco and ETS is a serious environmental hazard known to be harmful to human health. This analysis is based on the results of the Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland (ECAP) study, which was conducted from 2006-2008 on a sample of approximately 22,500 respondents in 9 areas of Poland, both urban and rural. Data collection was based on individual interviews and a questionnaire employing Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing technology (CAPI). 46.8% of respondents declared themselves as smokers, defined as those who smoke and have done so for at least one year. In this group, 41.5% of respondents were female and 54.3% were male. While differences between various areas of Poland were demonstrated, they did not necessarily correlate with urbanization. Rural Zamosc reported 41.4% of smokers while metropolitan Poznan had 41.9% of smokers. These statistics can be contrasted against other urban areas such as Katowice and Gdansk, which had 51.8% and 52.3% of smokers, respectively (n = 9376). 29.6% of rural women reported smoking, while this percentage was higher among urban women, ranging from 36.3% in Poznan to 49.5% in Gdansk. However, the highest percentage of smokers was among males in Zamosc at 56.1%. This percentage was higher than the overall average in this study. The largest percentages of active smoking occurred among laborers, craftsmen, miners, drivers, farmers and fishermen, the self-employed and gardeners. This quantitative assessment of the prevalence of smoking underlines the importance of the consequences of this habit as they relate to asthma and respiratory allergies. The findings demonstrate smoking as a serious social problem associated with allergic diseases, and a habit that differs between place of residence and work environment.

[Contribution of indicators of sensitized T lymphocytes in the diagnosis of IgE independent and IgE dependent cow's allergy in children]. / Udzial wskazników uczulenia limfocytów T w diagnostyce alergii IgE niezaleznej i IgE zaleznej na bialka mleka krowiego u dzieci.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is an abnormal response of the immunological system, especially of mucosal immunological system on antigens supplied per os. There are very complicated and still unexplained immunological mechanisms, which lead to hypersensitivity reaction. Most often food hypersensitivity is identified as the effect of atopy, which is connected with humoral response (specific IgE antibody). On the other hand cell immunological response are less investigated, however they can be very important, especially as a significant factor to initiate pathological allergic processes. AIM: To investigate, the usefulness of flow cytometry for estimation of specific sensitization of subpopulation of lymphocytes on food allergens in the allergy diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The investigations were performed on 60 children from 6 months to 5 years old: 20 children with CM A IgE dependent, 20 with CM A IgE independent and 20 healthy children. IgE total, sIgE, IgG, IgA, IgM, basic immunological panel, CD 23, CD25, CD26, CD30, CD69, PCNA were measured. RESULTS: We noticed decrease of expression of CD4+CD30+ between I and II examination (p=0.029), between I and III (p=0.009); decrease of expression of CD8+CD26+ between I and III test (p=0.038); decrease of expression of CD19+CD23+ between I and II examination (p=0.012) in I type of hypersensitivity. We observed a decrease of expression of CD4+CD25+ between I and III examine (p=0.026) and decrease of expression of CD4+ CD26+ between I and III examination (p=0.036) in IV type of hypersensitivity. Expression of CD69 was decreased after diet in IgE dependent allergy. Values of expression of PCNA are similar in I and IV type of hypersensitivity in children with CM A. Decrease of expression of PCNA in II examination was observed in both cases. Reintroduced allergen caused increase of expression of PCNA in both types of allergy (p=0.048 and p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Our recent research confirms changes of the expression of T lymphocytes activation markers. It is connected with in vivo stimulation to allergen or with allergen elimination. The study of expression of activation markers using flow cytometry in food allergy in children can be helpful in observation of the dynamic progress process, but it cannot be used as a single diagnosis test.

[Computerized image analysis in recognition and classification of aeroallergens]. / Komputerowa analiza obrazów w rozpoznawaniu i klasyfikacji aeroalergenów.

UNLABELLED: In medical practice and research, it would be convenient to receive pollen identification and monitoring results in much shorter time than it comes from human identification. Image based analysis is one of the approaches to an automated identification scheme for pollens grain and pattern recognition on such images is widely used as a powerful tool. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The goal of such attempt is to provide accurate, fast recognition and classification and counting of pollen grains by computer system for monitoring. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The isolated pollen grain are objects extracted from microscopic image by CCD camera and PC computer under proper condition for further analysis. RESULTS: The algorithms are based on the knowledge from feature vector analysis of estimated parameters calculated from grain characteristics including morphological features, surface features and other applicable estimated characteristics. Segmentation algorithms specially tailored to pollen object characteristics provide exact descriptions of pollen characteristics (border and internal features) already used by human expert. The specific characteristics and its measures are statistically estimated for each object. Some low level statistics for estimated local and global measures of the features establish feature space. Some special care should be paid on choosing these feature and on constructing the feature space to optimize the number of subspaces for higher recognition rates in low-level classification for type differentiation of pollens grain. CONCLUSIONS: The results of estimated parameters of feature vector in low dimension space for some typical pollen types are presented as well as some effective and fast recognition results of performed experiments for different pollens. The findings show the evidence of using proper chosen estimators of tailored characteristics for good enough classification measures even for low dimensional classifiers for type differentiation of pollens grain.

[Immunological and clinical study on therapeutic efficacy of inosine pranobex]. / Immunologiczne i kliniczne badania nad przydatnoscia terapeutyczna inozyny pranobeks.

Many studies in vitro and in vivo have shown immunomodulating and antiviral activities of inosine pranobex. The object of this research was to examine the potential beneficial effects of inosine pranobex (Groprinosin) on immune system in children with cellular immunodeficiency as a prophylaxis of recurrent infections, mainly of viral origin. 50 mg/kg b.w/day of inosine pranobex in divided doses was given to the group of 30 children aged 3-15 years for 10 days in 3 following months. Clinical and immunological investigations were done before and after the treatment. Statistically significant rise of CD3T lymphocytes number (p = 0.02) and in this CD4T lymphocytes number (p = 0.02) as well as statistically significant improvement of their function (p = 0.005) evaluated with blastic transformation method were found. These laboratory findings were parallel to clinical benefits. Control study was performed in the group of children completed by randomization and treated in the same way with garlic (Alliofil).

[Similarity of immunological mechanisms responsible for immunotolerance in healthy subjects and mechanisms induced by specific immunotherapy]. / Podobienstwo procesów immunologicznych warunkujacych immunotolerancje w stanie zdrowia i procesów wyzwalanycnh przez swoista immunoterapie.

The immonomodulatory mechanisms responsible for allergens tolerance in healthy subjects were described on the basis of the newest medical literature, including own papers and experience. It was detected that the same immunological mechanisms are built by specific immunotherapy. IL-10 and TGF-beta cooperate in the regulatory T-cell response to aeroallergens, food allergens and allergens of bee and yellow jacket venoms in healthy subjects as well as during specific immunotherapy making the tolerance to these allergens. The actual progress in improvement of specific immunotherapy methods is described.