[Degree of nicotine dependence in the Gastroenterology Ward of Clinical Hospital number 4 in Lublin]. / Stopien uzaleznienia od nikotyny pacjentów hospitalizowanych w Oddziale Gastroenterologii SPSK 4 w Lublinie.

It is common knowledge that smoking badly influences people's health. Amount of toxic chemical substances delivered to the human organism is directly proportional to the number of smoked cigarettes. Tobacco smoking increases the number of ill people and accelerates death. The problem of nicotine addiction has both social and medical aspects. The aim of the work was to assess the tobacco smoking among patients hospitalized in the Gastroenterology Clinic in SPSK 4 in Lublin. We found that smoking prevalence in the investigated group considerably exceeds the average values for Polish population.

T lymphocytes modifying factors in sera of patients with Myasthenia gravis.

The examination of patients with Myasthenia gravis revealed that before thymectomy the number of T and B cells in the peripheral blood did not deviate from the norm. It was also observed that their sera contained factor stimulating T lymphocytes to the spontaneous rosette formation, theta antigen generation in xynogeneic system and hydrocortisone-resistant thymocytes. No factor inhibiting the spontaneous rosette formation by T lymphocytes or causing the transmission from Thy-1.2+ cells to Thy-1.2-cells was detected in these sera. Thymectomy resulted in the immediate fall of T lymphocytes number in the peripheral blood of the patients examined. Besides, serum of most patients almost totally lost the stimulating factor. The fall of T cells number did not involve the appearance of the inhibitory factor in the patients' serum. Different than in others results gave blood and serum analysis in the patient tymectomized 10 years earlier. Her blood contained the normal number of T and B lymphocytes and the stimulatory factor of a "limited" activity. It displayed only the ability of generating hydrocortisone-resistant cells, it appeared nonactive in generating theta antigen or restoring the ability of rosette formation by T cells.

HLA antigens and susceptibility to myasthenia gravis.

HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR antigen frequencies determined in a group of 73 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients were compared with those of a control group of 205 subjects. The strongest positive association with MG was found antigens B8 and DR3 (relative risks 9.56 and 8.84 respectively). Analysis of our data indicates that both antigens, independently from their linkage disequilibrium, are involved in susceptibility to MG. No relationship between HLA antigens on thymic pathology was observed in our material. In male MG patients the association with DR3 was weaker than in female patients. The difference in DR3 frequency between male and female patients was statistically significant; no significant difference was found for antigen B8. It appears that DR3 contributes to development of MG only in females. In male patients aged more than 30 years at the onset of disease, MG was not associated with B8 or DR3. In contrast, in female patients aged more than 30 years at the onset of disease there was a strong association of B8 and DR3 with the disease.

[Paradoxical vestibular reaction in patients with consciousness disorders (nystagmographic recording)]. / Paradoksalny odczyn przedsionkowy u chorych z zaburzeniami przytomnsci (rejestracja nystagmograficzna)

In 32 patients with coma of varying intensity and aetiology the effect of light on caloric nystagmus was studied. During consciousness disturbances a light stimulus provoked or increased the intensity of induced caloric nystagmus. This reaction was thus a reverse (paradoxical reaction) of that observed in waking state. Photic stimulation may provoke the rapid phase of nystagmus through facilitating impulses coursing from the subcortical or cortical visual centres to Cajal's nuclei and then through the reticular formation to the vestibulo-oculomotor system. In waking state these impulses are inhibited while in precomatic state they may become prevalent. The paradoxical reaction disappears in deep coma together with all vestibular reactions.

[Evaluation of language therapy in aphasia after stroke]. / Testowa ocena wyników reedukacji mowy u chorych z afazja po udarze naczyniowym mózgu.

In 27 patients with aphasia and hemiparesis following strokes speech was tested before and after completion of sanatorium treatment. After three weeks of speech re-education aphasia improved in various degrees in 19 patients. The best results of logopedic treatment were obtained in patients with medium-grade or slight aphasia subjected to rehabilitation treatment during the first three months after stroke. Effective motor rehabilitation conducted parallelly with re-education exercises in early period after stroke has a favourable effect on advance in therapy and later resocialization of patients.

[Effect of tensilon on the behavior of optokinetic nystagmus in myasthenia]. / Wplyw tensilonu na zachowanie sie oczoplasu wzrokowo-ruchowego w miastenii

In 14 myasthenics tensilon test was performed together with electronystagmographic recording of optokinetic nystagmus. The mean amplitude of deflections and the mean frequency of nystagmus were calculated before and after intravenous administration of tensilon 10 mg. The results were compared with those obtained in a control group. The test was positive in 11 myasthenics: the amplitude and frequency of nystagmus beats increased and extinction at the end of the test was absent or diminished. In the control group the test was negative, with the exception of 3 cases in which a slight increase in amplitude and frequency was observed. The authors stress the advantages and disadvantages of tensilon test and state that it is diagnostically valuable in myasthenia and myasthenic syndromes in subjects sensitive to the drug.