Chemiluminescence of pulmonary macrophages from patients with inactive sarcoidosis, in different radiological stages.

Luminol-amplified chemiluminescence was generated by alveolar macrophages, harvested from the bronchoalveolar lavages of 16 patients with different radiological stages of non-invasive (asymptomatic) sarcoidosis. None of the patients received any steroid therapy during this study. The mean duration of the disease in these patients was 8 months, with a duration time range of 6-14 months. Six patients were in radiological stage 1, five in radiological stage 2 and five in radiological stage 3. Alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavages of eight healthy non-smoking volunteers were used as controls. All alveolar macrophages were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate. A significant decrease was recorded in the intensity of chemiluminescence generated by the phorbol-ester-stimulated alveolar macrophages obtained from patients with sarcoidosis of radiological stages 1 and 2, as compared to the cells collected from healthy individuals (controls). No decrease was recorded in the chemiluminescence generated by stimulated alveolar macrophages collected from patients with radiological stage 3, or from unstimulated alveolar macrophages of any patient. These results provide us with an indicative tool, which might enable us to differentiate, on a functional basis, between the activities of alveolar macrophages in non-active sarcoidosis.

[Plasma erythropoietin concentration in lung cancer patients]. / Erytropoetynemia u chorych na raka pluca.

UNLABELLED: The goal of this study was to evaluate serum level of EPO in 32 men with lung cancer (Squamous cell lung cancer N = 11, Adenocarcinoma N = 10, Small cell lung cancer N = 11) in relation to the degree of anemia, stage of disease and the regimen of anticancer therapy. The control group consisted of 29 men, among whom were 15 patients with posthemorrhagic anemia. Blood samples were withdrawn for assessment of blood count, serum concentration of EPO, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and ferritin. The assessment of all parameters was repeated after 3 months of therapy: RESULTS: Patients suffering from lung cancer were characterized by a lower hemoglobin level and higher level of EPO as compared with the control group. A significant negative correlation was found between hemoglobin level and EPO serum concentration in all groups of patients and in the control group. The strongest correlation was observed in the control group t = -0.812. In each group of patients the serum level of EPO increased after treatment; although a significant increase was found only in surgically treated patients and patients after chemotherapy. After treatment the correlation between hemoglobin and EPO became stronger especially in the group of patients with small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Patients with lung cancer are characterized by inappropriately low serum EPO levels when related to the degree of anemia, 2. The suppressive effect of lung cancer on EPO secretion depends on the histological type of the cancer (with the exception of small cell lung cancer). 3. The increase of EPO level after treatment seems to be caused not only by a decrease of hemoglobin concentration, but also by reduction of the tumor mass.

[Transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions]. / Przezoskrzelowa aspiracyjna biopsja igla Wanga w diagnostyce zmian obwodowych w plucach.

In 1996-2000 in 55 patients (16 females, 39 males) admitted to Department of Phtisiopneumonology in Zabrze because of peripheral lung lesions (diameter 2.5-9.5 cm mean 4.5 cm). The transbronchial aspiration needle biopsy (TANB) was performed as diagnostic procedure during fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Subjects classified to TANB showed no pathologic changes in the bronchial tree during fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In all subjects the TANB was performed using special Wang's needles and always under fluoroscopy supervision. Based on pathologic examination of specimens obtained by Wang's needle the diagnosis was established in 29 (52.7%) cases. The most frequent diagnosis was non small cell carcinoma--in 22 (40%) of examined patients. The small cell carcinoma was confirmed only in 1 patient. In 3 (5.5%) patients tuberculosis was diagnosed. TANB was good tolerated by almost all patients, only in 1 patient small pneumothorax was recorded and in 6 cases small bleeding occurred. We conclude that transbronchial aspiration needle biopsy is safe and efficient method in diagnosis of peripheral lung tumors.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in inhabitants of Zabrze]. / Przewlekla obturacyjna choroba pluc u mieszkanców miasta Zabrza.

In 2001 a modified MRC questionnaire and spirometry were performed in the inhabitants of Zabrze (Poland). Two hundred and thirty-nine men and 320 women aged 19-69 years were studied. Forty percent of men and 23% of women were smokers. In men but not in women a decline in smoking habit was observed as compared with previous studies in Zabrze carried out in the eighties. More men (32%) than women (19%) gave up smoking. The prevalence of chronic productive cough was closely related to smoking habit. Dyspnea and wheezing were also related to smoking but less strongly than productive cough. The prevalence of COPD (diagnosed according to GOLD criteria) was 10.2%. COPD was more common in smokers than in non-smokers, especially among men (19% and 2% respectively). Persistent productive cough, wheezing and advanced dyspnoea as well as intensive smoking (more than 40 pack years) were strongly connected with the prevalence of COPD. COPD was previously diagnosed in more than 50% of subjects identified as having COPD in this study. Almost 80% of subjects with COPD were not given any treatment in the past year.