[The new bone formation and bone metabolism in Forestier disease]. / Stopien nowotworzenia kosci oraz metabolizm kostny w przebiegu zespolu Forestiera.

The study was performed on 36 male patients between 65 and 83 years who were either hospitalised or treated in the out-patients clinic due to Forestier's disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the advance of ectopic bone formation process in cervical spine and bony metabolic changes in treated patients. The study showed reverse corelation between the degree of advance of cervical hyperostosis and the prevalence of osteoporosis and metabolic disorders in the tested group. The authors have emphasized the need of precise evaluation and differentiation of Forestier's disease and degenerative spine disease.

[Mycotic complications of shunt infection in children with primary hydrocephalus]. / Grzybicze powiklania zakazen ukladu zastawkowego u dzieci z wodoglowiem wrodzonym.

Recently, the incidence of fungal infections in children, including children with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, has increased. The analysis comprised 8 children treated in the III Clinic of Pediatrics of ICZMP during the period of 12 months (12% of all infectious complications of the shunt system). The clinical picture of fungal infection included symptoms of shunt dysfunction: febrile conditions, vomiting, distress and loss of appetite. The most common pathogens isolated from the cerebro-spinal fluid were fungi from the Candida species. Mean value of pleocytosis in the cerebro-spinal fluid was 812 cell/microl, and mean protein concentration was 311 mg/dl. Treatment consisted of monotherapy with Diflucan, monotherapy with Ancotil or combined treatment with Ancotil and Amphotericine B. The drugs were administered intravenously and intraventricularly after removal of the shunt and application of external drainage. Sterility of cerebro-spinal fluid was obtained in the shortest time with the use of Ancotil. Prophylactic application of antifungal drugs decreases the frequency of infections in children with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.