[Comparison of local and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and pneumonia coexisting with lung cancer]. / Porównanie wybranych parametrów lokalnego i systemowego stanu zapalnego u chorych na pozaszpitalne zapalenie pluc i zapalenie pluc wspólistniejace z rakiem pluca.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare the local and systemic markers of inflammatory processes in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and in those with pneumonia coexisting with lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with community-acquired pneumonia (group I), 14 patients with pneumonia and lung cancer (group II), and 24 patients with lung cancer (group III) were enrolled into the study. Sixteen healthy smokers served as a control group (group IV). Concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The levels of VEGF and TNF-α were also measured in serum. RESULTS: The concentrations of VEGF (317.83 ± 77.78) and TNF-α (1.98 ± 0.13) in EBC were significantly higher in patients with pneumonia and lung cancer as compared to patients with community-acquired pneumonia (VEGF 30.20 ± 6.56; TNF-α 0.31 ± 0.05). Also the level of H(2)O(2) (0.96 ± 0.16) in EBC in patients with pneumonia and lung cancer was elevated in comparison to patients with CAP (0.66 ± 0.09), however the difference was not statistically significant (p 〉 0.05). The serum concentrations of both studied cytokines were significantly higher in patients with pneumonia (VEGF 1112.62 ± ± 244.38 and TNF-α 2.6 ± 0.48) than in those with pneumonia and lung cancer (VEGF 392.9 ± 78.2; TNF-α 1.6 ± 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pneumonia and lung cancer exhibited higher levels of oxidative stress and local inflammatory reactions than those with pneumonia. However, inflammatory markers in serum were significantly lower in patients with pneumonia and lung cancer as compared to those with CAP.

[Chemical structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Part I--lipids]. / Budowa chemiczna prqtka gruzlicy. Czesc I--lipidy.

Tuberculosis is a burning health issue in the contemporary world. Recognition of mechanisms by means of which pathogenic bacilli affect host cells and their virulence factors is indispensable to developing and synthesis of new drugs and vaccines. The authors discuss groups of the most important chemical compounds from the pathological point of view, which are responsible for morbidity and virulence of tubercle bacillus. They also point out the construction of cellular structures with reference to their functions. High content of lipid compounds especially in bacterial cell wall is a specific feature of tubercle bacillus. These molecules play different and very important roles both in growth and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

[Chemical structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Part II--proteins]. / Budowa chemiczna pratka gruzlicy. Czesc II--Bialka.

In this paper the structure of M. tuberculosis cell, especially mycobacterial proteins were analized. Cytoplasmatic and secretory proteins were reviewed according to their function and the role in immunological reactions. Some diagnostic and therapeutic aspects were demonstrated.

[Comparison of oxidative stress markers in exhaled breath condensate and in serum of patients with tuberculosis and sarcoidosis]. / Porównanie wybranych wykladników stresu oksydacyjnego w kondensacie powietrza wydechowego oraz w surowicy u chorych na gruzlice i sarkoidoze.

UNLABELLED: Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis represent the granulomatous diseases. The aim of the study was to compare the markers of oxidative stress: in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and in serum of patients with tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 19 patients with active lung tuberculosis and 15 patients with sarcoidosis were enrolled into the study. As a control served 15 healthy subjects. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was measured in EBC and the ends products of lipid peroxidation (TBARs) were assessed in serum. RESULTS: The concentrations of H202 and TBARs (1022.96+/-186.02 nM and 4.22+/-0. 80 microM, respectively) were significantly higher in patients with tuberculosis as compared with the controls (398.15+/-37.10 nM and 0.48+/-0.17 microM, respectively). The patients with sarcoidosis revealed only the significantly elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (963.30+/-105.77 nM) in breath condensate. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that local and systemic oxidative stress were present in patients with tuberculosis, while in those with sarcoidosis existed only the local reaction.