Persistent mercury hot spot in Central Europe and Skalka Dam reservoir as a long-term mercury trap.

This study aimed to evaluate the relevance of the floodplain pollution sinks of the legacy mercury (Hg) hot spot in Kössein-Röslau river system (east Bavaria, Germany) for further mobilisation and fluvial transport of mercury in suspended particulate matter (SPM), as an important transport medium of Hg in aquatic systems. The channel belt fluvial erosion as the secondary pollution pathway was also considered. The hot spot has originated from the production of Hg compounds such as C2H5HgCN and C6H5HgCl in Chemical Factory Marktredwitz, and even more than 30 years after the factory abandonment, the Kössein and the Röslau rivers still export polluted fine grained SPM (median 25-35 µm) with mean annual concentrations of 17.4 mg/kg. SPM sampling was performed by floating samplers, supported by floodplain drill cores and by recent channel sediments manually collected along the polluted rivers further. Based on long-term monitoring data set from state enterprise Povodí Ohre, fish in the Skalka Reservoir have had Hg concentrations in their muscles up to 6 mg/kg for at least the last 14 years, exceeding the European maximal limit of 0.5 mg/Hg/kg. In addition, the Hg inventory in the Kössein-Röslau river stretches was therefore calculated; it produced an estimate of ca. 21 t Hg in a 22-km-long channel belt, prone to fluvial remobilisation during floods. Although a major portion of the fluvially transported Hg has yet been trapped by the Skalka Reservoir, the Hg content in the SPM exported farther downstream still varies between 2 and 10 mg/kg Hg. Due to the considerable Hg inventory in the Kössein-Röslau rivers, an improvement will not occur downstream unless specific measures target the secondary pollution mechanism(s).

Direct counting and sizing of mitochondria in solution.

Resistive particle counting has been developed for the accurate sizing and counting of mitochondria in solution. The normal detection limit with a 30 micro aperture is 0.48 micro diameter, or 0.056 micro(3) particle volume The mean volume of rat liver mitochondria was 0.42 micro(3) or 0.93 micro in diameter. The average value for numbers of particles per milligram of mitochondrial protein was 4.3 x 10(3), and per gram of rat liver was about 11 x 10(10). These values compare satisfactorily with those derived by light microscopy and electron microscopy. The mean volume for mitochondria from rat heart was 0 60 micro(3) and from rat kidney cortex, 0.23 micro(3). These values agree within 15% of those determined by electron microscopy of whole tissue. Mitochondrial fragility and contaminating subcellular organelles were shown to have little influence on the experimentally determined size distributions The technique may be applied to rapid swelling studies, as well as to estimations of the number and size of mitochondria from animals under different conditions such as liver regeneration and hormonal, pathological, or drug-induced states Mitochondrial DNA, RNA, cytochrome c-oxidase, cytochrome (a / a(3)), and iron were nearly constant per particle over large differences in particle size. Such data may be particularly valuable for biogenesis studies and support the hypothesis that the net amount per particle of certain mitochondrial constituents remains constant during mitochondrial growth and enlargement

Progressive loss of phenotypic proteins in mature granulocytes before the onset of blast crisis in human chronic myelogenous leukemia.

A combined high-performance liquid chromatography-sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis method for the study of the phenotypic protein patterns of mature blood granulocytes was previously described. With the use of this method in the present study, the progression of human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) from the stable to the blast crisis stage was shown to be accompanied by a progressive decrease in the amounts of cell membrane and granule phenotypic proteins in mature granulocytes. Survival time from the initial diagnosis was significantly shorter for CML patients whose levels of granulocyte phenotypic proteins were below the normal range compared with survival time for those patients whose levels were normal or higher than normal. The data suggest that these changes in mature granulocytes serve as useful diagnostic indicators of an impending blast crisis in CML patients.

Direct analysis of differentiation proteins in normal and leukemic human granulocytes by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The feasibility of the use of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for detecting differences in the protein phenotypes of highly purified fractions of normal and chronic myelogenous leukemic (CML) mature granulocytes isolated from peripheral blood was determined. At least 21 protein peaks were consistently and reproducibly detected in the RP-HPLC profiles of acetonitrile-trifluoroacetic acid extracts of normal granulocytes. This assay takes only 60 minutes to perform and can be done on 4 X 10(6) granulocytes (approximately the number of granulocytes in 1 ml normal blood). Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the RP-HPLC fractions provides a second dimension to the analysis of the polypeptide pattern of these cell lysates. Analyses of subcellular fractions by these methods revealed that most of the major peaks in the RP-HPLC profiles of intact granulocytes originate mainly from the granule and membrane fractions. Although the protein phenotypes of mature granulocytes were remarkably uniform among normal individuals, those of mature granulocytes obtained from the blood of CML patients were consistently abnormal and varied considerably among individual patients. The results indicate that the approach used here could have useful application in the study of abnormal granulocyte differentiation in leukemia.

Steroid 21-hydroxylase is a major autoantigen involved in adult onset autoimmune Addison's disease.

An adrenal-specific protein reacting with autoantibodies in the sera of patients with adult onset Addison's disease has been purified from human adrenal glands. The protein, mol.wt. 55K, has the biochemical characteristics of steroid 21-hydroxylase and reacts on Western blots with rabbit antibodies to recombinant 21-hydroxylase. Absorption of the native human 55K adrenal protein with human adrenal autoantibodies prevented the subsequent reaction of the 55K protein with rabbit antibodies to 21-hydroxylase in Western blot analysis. In addition, human adrenal autoantibodies reacted with recombinant 21-hydroxylase expressed in yeast. These data indicate that the adrenal specific enzyme steroid 21-hydroxylase is a major autoantigen involved in adult onset autoimmune Addison's disease.

Expression of human thyroid peroxidase in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula polymorpha.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha have been used to express both full-length and a large hydrophilic domain of human thyroid peroxidase (TPO). Expression of TPO in S. cerevisiae, using the natural signal sequence or the yeast alpha-mating factor (MF alpha) signal sequence, resulted in undetectable or very low levels of recombinant TPO production. However, TPO was expressed when the natural TPO leader sequence was replaced by the yeast STE2 signal sequence. This recombinant TPO reacted with both rabbit anti-human TPO polyclonal and mouse anti-human TPO monoclonal antibodies on Western blots. In the case of H. polymorpha, TPO expression was achieved when the natural TPO leader sequence was replaced by the MF alpha leader and the construct placed under the control of the methanol-regulated promoter from the methanol oxidase gene. The recombinant TPO produced in H. polymorpha reacted with both TPO polyclonal and TPO monoclonal antibodies. No TPO was produced when the signal sequence of SUC2 (invertase) or the TPO natural signal sequence was used to direct expression.

Evidence for a factor in normal human serum that induces human neutrophilic granulocyte end-stage maturation in vitro.

The end-stage maturation of neutrophilic granulocyte precursor cells isolated from normal human bone marrow by Ficoll density centrifugation was studied in a liquid culture assay system used previously to study the maturation of guinea pig granulocyte precursors. Dialyzed normal human serum induced end-stage morphological maturation of human granulocyte precursors and this induction was proportional to a serum level of up to 5.0% in the assay medium. At serum concentrations greater than 5.0% a pronounced inhibition of maturation was observed. Passage of serum through a DEAE-Fractogel 650S column equilibrated with 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) resulted in the binding of the end-stage granulocyte maturation factor to the column. The activity eluted from the column in a fraction containing 17% of the starting serum protein that was inhibitor-free and was also capable of inducing the appearance of granulocyte alkaline phosphatase, a specific biochemical marker for granulocyte end-stage maturation. GMF is most likely a protein since it was destroyed by protease digestion. The data also indicate that neither purified human transferrin nor human recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor can substitute for human serum GMF as a granulocyte end-stage maturation factor in this assay system. It was observed, however, that purified human transferrin greatly potentiated the effect of GMF suggesting that transferrin plays a supporting role in the end-stage maturation of human granulocytes in vitro. To our knowledge the evidence presented here indicates for the first time the existence of a neutrophilic granulocyte end-stage maturation factor in normal human serum.

Persistent expression of a soluble form of Fas/APO1 in continuously activated T cells from a patient with SLE.

OBJECTIVE: To report a patient with SLE whose T cells expressed disproportionally increased amounts of an alternatively spliced form of Fas/APO1 transcript and secreted a soluble form of Fas. METHODS: We established continuously activated, short-term T cell lines from 16 patients with SLE and from 6 normal controls. The structure, expression and function of Fas was examined using RT-PCR and sequencing, flow cytometry (surface expression of Fas), ELISA (measurement of soluble Fas) and a PI-based cytotoxicity assay (functional analysis). RESULTS: A soluble form of Fas which originates from an alternatively spliced transcript and lacks the transmembrane domain of the original molecule was the dominant product of the Fas-gene in one line (S18B) derived from a patient with very active SLE. Compared to a control line, the S18B cells displayed decreased surface Fas expression but increased accumulation of Fas inside the cell. The amount of soluble Fas in the culture supernatant of S18B was found to be 1.8 times higher than that of a control line. Culture supernatants from S18B cells inhibited anti-Fas mAb-medicated T cell death. CONCLUSION: Continuously activated T cells from one patient with SLE displayed increased amounts of soluble Fas that inhibits anti-Fas mediated cell death. Although the frequency of this abnormality among patients with SLE and other diseases is unknown, increased production of soluble Fas may have contributed to the pathogenesis of SLE in the patient presented here.

Frey's syndrome.

Frey's syndrome occurs after parotid gland surgery or injury to the parotid gland and is characterized by gustatory sweating and erythema of the face upon mastication. The syndrome occurs in 50 to 60 per cent of all patients undergoing parotid surgery but the symptoms are only distressing to about 10 per cent of patients undergoing parotidectomy. A case of Frey's syndrome is reported The patient obtained good relief of symptoms with scopolamine cream and atropine cream. Other methods of therapy are discussed along with their limitations. Noninvasive therapy with topical anticholinergic creams is effective and seems appropriate in the control of gustatory sweating.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of high doses of beclometasone dipropionate suspension for nebulization and beclometasone dipropionate via a metered-dose inhaler in steroid-dependent adults with moderate to severe asthma.

Nebulization for the administration of high doses of inhaled corticosteroids can benefit steroid-dependent asthmatics. The objective of this double-blind, double-dummy, multicentre, randomized, parallel-group study was to compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose corticosteroids given by nebulization or metered-dose inhalation in adult patients with asthma. Following a 2-week run-in period, 124 patients, aged 18-70 years, with moderate to severe asthma treated with high-dose inhaled steroids were randomized to one of two treatment groups for 12 weeks: beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) suspension for nebulization 3,000-4,000 microgday(-1) b.i.d. given via a nebulizer (n = 63), or BDP spray 1,500-2000 microgday(-1) b.i.d. given via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) plus spacer (BDP MDI) (n = 61). Comparable improvements over baseline, which were statistically significant in most cases, were reported at study end for the two treatment groups in the various efficacy parameters evaluated (pulmonary function tests, clinical symptoms scores, and the use of rescue salbutamol). The primary efficacy endpoint was morning pulmonary expiratory flow rate (PEFR). For the intent-to-treat population, in the BDP nebulization group mean morning PEFR increased statistically significantly from 308.7 +/- 107.81 min(-1) to 3 19.2 +/- 104.01 min(-1) while in the BDP MDI group the increase was from 301.5 +/- 94.71 min(-1) to 309.3 +/- 86.71 min(-1). The two treatments were equally well tolerated.A total of 19 patients in each group reported adverse events during the treatment period, and these were generally mild-moderate in severity. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that BDP suspension for nebulization 3,000-4,000 microg day(-1) given via a nebulizer and BDP spray 1,500-2,000 microg day(-1) given via an MDI plus spacer are equally effective, with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, when used in steroid-dependent adult patients with moderate to severe asthma.

Enhanced lipid peroxidation in cancer tissue homogenates in non-small cell lung cancer.

The oxidative modification of nucleic acids by reactive oxygen species may lead to malignant conversion, but its exact role in lung cancer biology is still not clear. Lipid peroxidation, a well-known index of free radicals activity, is a process of oxidative polyunsaturated acids destruction. Our study was aimed to investigate the level of lipid peroxidation ex vivo in tumor tissue and lung parenchyma obtained from patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Thirty-two patients with lung cancer (including 19 with squamous cell lung cancer) were enrolled in the study. During a surgical resection, tumor tissue and lung parenchyma were obtained and the concentration of lipid peroxidation products, i.e. conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxides, measured. In the whole group of patients the concentrations of conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxides in the tumor tissue were higher than those in lung parenchyma (1.008 +/- 0.503 A233 nm vs. 0.717 +/- 0.283 A233 nm; p < 0.05 and 0.109 +/- 0.062 A532 nm vs. 0.102 +/- 0.087 A532 nm; p < 0.05, respectively). Similar results were obtained in squamous cell carcinoma patients (0.975 +/- 0.348 A233 nm vs. 0.708 +/- 0.300 A233 nm; p > 0.02 and 0.094 +/- 0.029 A532 nm vs. 0.080 +/- 0.071 A532 nm; p < 0.05, respectively). In both groups of patients, a positive correlation between concentration of conjugated dienes in tumor tissue and clinical stage (R = 0.45; R = 0.52; p < 0.05, respectively) was found. Our results confirm the enhanced lipid peroxidation in cancer tissue as compared with matched lung parenchyma. Additionally, a higher level of oxidative stress, expressed as the concentration of conjugated dienes in tumor tissue, was associated with clinical progression of the tumor.

[QT dispersion in DDD and VVI paced patients after myocardial infarction or with left ventricular hypertrophy]. / Dyspersja odstepu QT w dlugotrwalej stymulacji dwujamowej typu DDD i komorowej VVI u chorych po zawale miesnia serca lub z jego przerostem.

The aim of this study was to assess the alterations of stroke volume (SV) on the QT dispersion (QTD) as a result of different pacing modes and programmed AV delays in patients (pts) after myocardial infarction (MI) or with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We studied 14 MI pts (9 M, 5 F) in mean age 72.3 +/- 3.7 yrs (Group I) and 12 pts with LVH (7 M, 5 F) in mean age 67.3 +/- 5.9 yrs (Group II), in whom DDD pacemakers were implanted due to complete atrioventricular block. The control group (Group III) consisted of 9 pts without MI or LVH. In all cases basic rate of the pacemaker was programmed at 70/min. Resting ECG showed all atrial and ventricular complexes captured. AV delay optimization was based on the measurements of SV by Doppler echocardiography. QT intervals (QTi) were measured from 12-lead ECG at 50 mm/s speed. QTD was calculated as the difference between maximal and minimal QTi. It was measured at optimal (opt. DDD, with highest SV) and "unoptimal" (unopt. DDD) programmed AV intervals and then in VVI mode (with lowest SV) after following reprogramming of the pacemaker. In Group I and II, a strong correlation between SV and QTD was found (R = 0.816 and -0.897, respectively). In control group, it was insignificant (R = -0.339). In VVI mode SV was significantly lower than in unopt. DDD (in Mi pts: 56.1 ml vs 71.1 ml, respectively, p < 0.01; in LVH pts: 64.1 ml vs 96.7 ml, respectively, p < 0.005) and QTD was significantly greater (74.8 ms vs 66.8 ms, respectively, p < 0.005 and 70.0 ms vs 53.5 ms, respectively, p < 0.005). In LVH pts or MI pts programming of different AV intervals and pacing modes significantly influences QTD.

[Evaluation of the relationship between the clinical course of severe asthma and ventilatory parameters]. / Ocena zwiazków miedzy klinicznym przebiegiem ciezkiej astmy oskrzelowej a wskaznikiem wentylacji.

The aim of the study was the assessement of relations between the clinical symptoms of asthma, ventilatory parameters and nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness. 22 patients with severe asthma, 12 females and 10 men, aged 43-68 years (mean 56) were observed for two years. The duration of asthma ranged from 6 to 38 years (mean 18). All the patients were treated with inhalatory steroids in dose 800-1200 mg. Three months before entering the study the patients had no exacerbation or respiratory tract infection. Throughout the study diary cards were filled and the symptoms were recorded on 0-4 scale. PEF was measured two times a day, the highest value noted. Spirometry and reversibility tests were performed. On the last day patients underwent histamine challenge test. Data from four weeks were analyzed statistically. The significant correlation was established between PEF variability and clinical symptoms scores, both mean and measured in the last day of the study. The relationship between mean PEF variability and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was also observed.

[The role of prolonged cardiac pacing in management of secondary bradyarrhythmias based on personal experiences]. / Miejsce przewleklej stymulacji elektrycznej serca w leczeniu wtórnych bradyarytmii na podstawie wlasnych spostrzezen.

Three patients with bradyarrhythmia who were admitted to the Department for urgent pacemaker implantations are presented. The careful clinical evaluation revealed that these arrhythmias were remarkably secondary to underlying diseases (e.g. severe coronary heart disease, valvular defects). Surgical treatment applied in these cases (coronary bypass grafts, valve replacement) has resulted in successful outcome. We concluded that in some patients the pacemaker implantation alone, without heart surgery, would not be beneficial enough.

[The effect of changes in stroke volume on QT dispersion during long-term DDD and VVI pacing]. / Wplyw zmian rzutu skurczowego na dyspersje odstepu QT w przewleklej stymulacji DDD i VVI.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations of stroke volume (SV) on the QT dispersion (QTD) as a result of different pacing modes (DDD, VVI) and programmed AV delays (AVD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 60 patients (pts) (22 F, 38 M) in mean age 67.5 +/- 7.5 yrs in whom DDD pacemakers were implanted due to complete atrioventricular block (AVB III degree). 10 pts had coronary artery disease (CAD)--"CAD" subgroup, 14 pts arterial hypertension (AH)--"AH" subgroup, 27 pts CAD and AH--"AH + CAD" subgroup. The control group consisted of 9 pts without structural heart disease, but with AVB III degree, paced in DDD mode. Previous myocardial infarction was recognised in 7 patients in "CAD" subgroup and in 7 patients in "AH + CAD" subgroup. Left ventricular hypertrophy was detected in 4 men in "AH" subgroup and in 8 patients in "AH + CAD" subgroup. In all cases basic rate of the pacemaker was programmed at 70/min. Resting ECG showed all atrial and ventricular complexes captured. AVD optimization was based on the measurements of SV by Doppler echocardiography. QT intervals (QT) were measured from 12-lead ECG at 50 mm/sec. speed. QTD was calculated as the difference between maximal and minimal QT. It was measured at optimal AVD (with highest SV--opt. DDD) and "unoptimal" AVD (unopt. DDD) programmed AV intervals and then in VVI mode (with lowest SV) after 24 hrs following reprogramming of the pacemaker. RESULTS: In the whole population, in DDD mode, we found a strong correlation between SV and QTD (r = -0.655; p < 0.01). In VVI mode SV was significantly lower than in unopt. DDD (78.7 ml vs 90.0 ml, p < 0.001) and QTD was significantly greater (74.3 ms vs 69.2 ms, p < 0.05). The modifications in AVD and conversion of pacing mode (VVI to DDD) leading to maximal SV resulted in decreased QT dispersion. The highest SV (128.9 ml at opt. DDD) and the lowest QTD (48.3 ms at opt. DDD) were seen in the controls, but changes in dispersion were the least and insignificant during different pacing modes. In CAD; AH + CAD pts, we observed the lowest SV (61.7 ml; 74.9 ml at VVI respectively) and the highest QTD (77.8 ms; 80.9 ms at VVI respectively). In these pts, the modifications of AVD and conversion of pacing mode (VVI to opt. DDD) leading to maximal SV (106.8 ml; 115.9 ml in CAD and AH + CAD pts, respectively) resulted in decreased QTD (53.9 ms; 56.6 ms, respectively). During DDD pacing there was significant correlation of QTD to SV (r = -0.680; r = -0.656, respectively). In CAD pts with myocardial infarction or in AH pts with LV hypertrophy the correlation of SV to QTD was stronger (r = -0.937, r = -0.886, p < 0.025, respectively). We didn't find the correlation in the control group (r = -0.318). CONCLUSIONS: Programming of different AVD and pacing modes significantly influences QTD in CAD and/or AH pts. QTD reflects hemodynamic status of these paced pts.

[The effect of nedocromil sodium on the clinical course, ventilatory parameters and nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity in patients with nonatopic bronchial asthma treated with beclomethasone dipropionate]. / Wplyw nedokromilu sodu na przebieg kliniczny, wskazniki wentylacyjne i nieswoista nadreaktywnosc oskrzeli u chorych na astme nieatopowa leczonych beklometazonem.

The efficacy of nedocromil sodium (NED) (8mg twice daily) in controlling the clinical symptoms of asthma (score symptoms), the pulmonary parameters (FEV1, FVC) and bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine was assessed. The study was performed in double-blind, cross-over and placebo-controlled way in 16 patients suffering from nonatopic, stable, moderate asthma treated with beclomethasone dipropionate (from 400 micrograms to 800 micrograms). NED and placebo were administered in a randomized way with 8-week wash-out period. Bronchial reactivity to histamine, was measured as the amount of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20H in mg/ml). Treatment with NED did not change asthma symptom scores, FVC and FEV1. Decreased usage of beta 2-agonist was observed. NED did not influence bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine (xg PC20H was respectively 0.09 and 0.11 mg/ml after placebo and 0.06 and 0.08 after NED). The authors conclude that studies with NED in nonatopic asthmatics should be continued, but the dosage of the drug ought to be bigger and the time of treatment ought to be longer.

[The influence of salmeterol and salbutamol on bronchial constriction in patients with bronchial asthma]. / Wplyw salmeterolu i salbutamolu na zwezenie oskrzeli u chorych na astme oskrzelowa.

The aim of the study was to compare bronchodilatating effect of inhaled salmeterol, salbutamol and both drugs administered simultaneously. 14 subjects (7 females, 7 men), aged 30-65 years (mean 49 yrs), suffering from moderate to severe asthma were examined. The improvement of FEV1 greater than 15% within 15 minutes of inhaling 200 micrograms of salbutamol was demanded. The study was performed in randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled design. Throughout the study, all patients kept a daily score of symptoms and treatment. Each day of the trial, FEV1 in 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minute was measured. The statistically significant increase of FEV1 was noted only in 30 minute after salbutamol and in 180 minute after inhaling of salmeterol in comparison to salbutamol alone. No significant advantage of adding salbutamol to the patients previously treated with salmeterol was observed.

[Chemotactic serum activity for neutrophils and eosinophils and spontaneous production of histamine releasing factor in patients with seasonal bronchial asthma treated with nedocromil sodium]. / Aktywnosc chemotaktyczna surowicy dla neutrofili i eozynofili oraz samoistna produkcja przez komórki jednojadrowe krwi obwodowej czynnika uwalniajacego histamine u chorych na sezonowa astme oskrzelowa leczonych nedokromilem sodu.

Nedocromil sodium (NS- Tilade) is an effective therapeutic agent against asthma and has been shown to exhibit antiinflammatory activity in vitro. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of NS on the serum neutrophil (NCA) and eosinophil (ECA) chemotactic activity and mononuclear cells-derived histamine releasing factor (HRF) activity in 14 patients with seasonal allergic asthma. The chemotactic activities, HRF and bronchial reactivity to histamine (PC20H in mg/ml) were determined before the grass-pollen season and at the end of the 14-day placebo treatment and 21-day NS treatment during the pollen-season. NCA and ECA were assessed using of the Boyden chamber methods. Blood samples for mononuclear cells culture were collected during the trial. The supernatants were assayed for HRF activity with basophils from a single donor. The NCA index was unaltered during the trial. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the ECA after the NS treatment period (ECA index--2.5) compared with out of season and after placebo treatment (ECA index, 1.88 and 1.82). HRF activity increased after placebo compared with out of season (HRF % activity--38.62 before season, 47.61 after placebo p < 0.05) but NS did not revealed the further effect on HRF activity (49.81 p > 0.05). During placebo the significant decrease in PC20H from 1.81 mg/ml to 0.54 mg/ml (p < 0.05) was observed. NS did not have the effect on nonspecific bronchial reactivity--PC20H--0.74 mg/ml (p > 0.05). The correlation between PC20H and spontaneous production of HRF activity was not found. The results indicate that NS has some effect on inflammatory process which takes place in seasonal asthmatic patients during the natural allergic exposure.

[Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and the influence of loratadine and beclomethasone on this hyperresponsiveness]. / Wystepowanie nieswoistej nadreaktywnosci oskrzeli u chorych na sezonowy alergiczny neizyt nosa oraz wplyw loratadyny i beklometazonu na te nadreaktywnosc.

60 patients aged 16 to 46 years with seasonal allergic rhinitis were selected for study. Daily symptom scores of seasonal allergic rhinitis and nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine (PC20H in mg/ml) before, during the pollen season and after 3 weeks of treatment with loratadine, beclomethasone dipropionate were evaluated. The control group received oxymetazoline. Nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness for 11 patients (18.3%) before the seasons was observed. At the beginning of the season frequency of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness increased to 26.3% and to 36.8% after 3-week treatment course. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was not related to any of the way of treatment. The patients treated with beclomethasone dipropionate and oxymetazoline showed significant relief of nasal symptoms. The patients without bronchial hyperresponsiveness showed lower value of symptom scores.

[The influence of multiple histamine inhalation on nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness to histamine in patients with bronchial asthma]. / Wplyw wielokrotnego wziewania histaminy na nieswoista nadreaktywnosc oskrzeli na histamine u chorych na astme oskrzelowa.

The study was performed in 19 patients with stable mild/moderate asthma aged from 16 to 66. Nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness (AH) to histamine was measured according to Cockcroft's et al. method and expresses as PC20H in mg/ml. The study was controlled by inhalation of PBS. The histamine or PBS challenges were performed three times at 45 min. intervals on the third day in case when the stability of AH on two preceding days was observed. The geometric means of PC20H (xg PC20H) during the consecutive three days did not change. They were 0.97, 0.92, 0.87 mg/ml (p > 0.05) respectively. Three times histamine challenges performed on the same day induced the decrease of AH (xg PC20H increased from 1.48 to 6.55 mg/ml) in 5 patients. In 4 other subjects the increase of AH was observed (xg PC20H decreased from 1.14 to 0.20 mg/ml). In 10 subjects the three times histamine challenges performed on the same day had no influence on AH to histamine.