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Introduction: Among the most common extrapulmonary manifestations of COPD are nutritional status disorders. The specific loss of weight, called cachexia, characterized by loss of lean body mass in some COPD patients is observed. The aim of the study was the quantitative and qualitative analysis of COPD patients' nutritional status disturbances., Material and Methods: Fifty-five patients in different stages of COPD--43 males and 12 females (mean age 62.31 +/- 11.08) and 32 subjects from a control group (mean age 57.43 +/- 8.79) participated in the study. In both groups nutritional status was assessed using different indicators such as PIBW--percentage of ideal body weight, BMI--body mass index, FFMI--fat-free mass index and FMI--fat mass index., Results: Malnutrition measured by PIBW, BMI, BMI percentiles, and FFMI was observed in 5.45%, 3.64%, 3.64% and 18.18% of COPD patients, respectively, and in the control group 3.12%, 0%, 3.12% and 3.12%, respectively. The BMI mean value did not differ significantly between groups. It was confirmed that cachexia assessed by FFMI occured more frequently in COPD patients than in the control group--19.05 kg/m2 vs. 20,55 kg/m2 (p = 0.04)., Conclusions: 1. Nutritional status disorders pose a serious problem, which concerns about 1/5 of the COPD population. 2. It is necessary to perform quantitative analysis of nutritional status (assessment of lean and fat mass) because indicators of body mass (PIBW, BMI) are not sufficient for cachexia detection. 3. Having normal body mass does not exclude the possibility of nutritional status disorders in COPD patients.

The aim of the study is to present the up-to-date data concerning bronchoscopy in the Silesian region in the year 2002. The study was performed as a survey. The survey was mailed to all the 18 pulmonological centres in the silesian region. The questions included in the survey, were divided into three groups: Doctor, Patient, Performance. This article, which is the second part of the analysis, presents data concerning the Performance. We conclude, on the ground of the collected data, that there are differences in performing bronchoscopy in the analysed centres. It may result from the fact, that the practice is often guided by personal experience and some drugs and diagnostic procedures are not equally available. It seems to be necessary to perform prospective clinical studies in order to indicate the optimal procedures in bronchoscopy. One should also recommend to work up up-to-date instructions for the postgraduate training in the fields of bronchology.

The aim of the study is to present the up-to-date data concerning bronchoscopy in the Silesian region in the year 2002. The study was performed as a survey. The survey was mailed to all the 18 pulmonological centres in the silesian region. Questions included in the survey, were divided into three groups: Doctor, Patient, Performance. This article, which is the first part of the analysis, presents data concerning doctors and patients. We conclude, on the ground of the collected data, that there are differences in performing bronchoscopy in the analysed centres. It may result from the fact, that the practice is often guided by personal experience and some drugs and diagnostic procedures are not equally available. It seems to be necessary to perform prospective clinical studies in order to indicate the optimal procedures in bronchoscopy.

The aim of the study is to estimate human cytomegalovirus DNA copy number in different compartments (BAL cells, blood leukocytes, serum) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). There were 16 patients (mean age 40.87 +/-10.97; 9 males, 7 females) with newly diagnosed and so far not treated IPF included in the study. The diagnosis of IPF was confirmed by typical HRCT findings and/or lung biopsy histopathological examination (result of the biopsy: "usual interstitial pneumonia"). There were also 16 adult volunteers (mean age 36.75 +/- 6.43; 12 males, 4 females) included in the study as a control group. Using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction the HCMV DNA copy number was estimated. The prevalence of HCMV DNA positive subjects in the IPF group (75%) was higher, but did not differ significantly from the control group (69%). The HCMV DNA copy number in 1 million BAL cells was significantly higher comparing to blood leukocytes, both in IPF and control group (log10 = 2.7 vs. 1.2 for IPF and 2.8 vs. 0.9 for control, respectively). Higher mean HCMV DNA copy number was observed in IPF patients comparing to control group (log10 = 3.2 for IPF and 2.0 for control) in 1 mL of blood serum. We concluded that the lungs play an important role in human cytomegalovirus latency and infection reactivation and thus could be a cofactor modulating the course of IPF in humans. The contribution of HCMV infection in IPF patients should be taken into account during immunosuppression therapy planning.

Among 3498 patients with hemoptysis 513 had normal chest x-ray picture. Bronchoscopy performed in all these patients allowed to recognise malignant neoplasms of the lungs, trachea and pharynx in 109 patients. In 222 patients--nonspecific bronchitis and in 46--tuberculosis were recognised. In 86 patients diagnosis was not established.

A cases of unilateral hyperlucent lung syndrome (Swyer-James', MacLeod's syndrome) in a 45-years old male patients is presented. The patient was being treated since 1982 because of recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract's infections. An increasing dyspnea was the main patient's manifestation. In 1997 the patient was admitted to the Department of Phthisiopneumonology Silesian Medical University when diagnosis of unilateral lucent lung syndrome was established. The value of conventional radiological examination of the chest in diagnosis of this syndrome and the meaning of perfusion and ventilatory lung scintigraphy in its differentiation are emphasised.

A case of amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity is presented in a 64 years old male. The patient had been treated with amiodarone for four years in daily dose 200 mg/day without any adverse effects until the daily dose was doubled. After withdrawing the drug, without any additional treatment, clinical, functional and partly radiological improvement was observed. Further radiological remission followed the introduction of corticosteroids. This case confirms the importance of dose boosting in the induction of amiodarone's toxicity. It also suggests a significant clinical and functional response to the discontinuation of amiodarone's administration.