Rationale: The common cold virus, human rhinovirus (HRV), is the most frequent cause of asthma exacerbations. However, a possible contribution of HRV to the pathogenesis of chronic, persistent asthma has not been defined. Objectives: To determine if patients with stable asthma, who are free of clinical signs of a respiratory infection for at least 3 weeks, harbor HRV in their bronchi more frequently than nonasthmatic control subjects, and whether clinical features of asthma are associated with the presence of HRV. Methods: Immunohistochemistry and the indirect in situ reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method were used to detect the presence of HRV in bronchial mucosal biopsies in patients with asthma and nonasthmatic control subjects. Measurements and Main Results: HRV was found by immunohistochemistry in 9 of 14 bronchial biopsies from subjects with asthma (64.3%) and 2 of 6 nonasthmatic control subjects (33.3%) (P 5 0.38). With the more sensitive indirect in situ reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method, HRV was found in the mucosal biopsies of 73% of patients with asthma and 22% of nonasthmatic control subjects (P , 0.001). Subjects positive for HRV had lower pulmonary function, higher numbers of blood eosinophils and leukocytes, and eosinophilic infiltration in bronchial mucosa. Conclusions: HRV was detected in the lower airway tissue of patients with asthma significantly more often than in nonasthmatic subjects, and its presence was associated with clinical features of more severe disease.

NIP allows 74% of R0 with no surgery delay. The few number of randomized patients did not allow to conclude on the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The tracheobronchomalacia is a life-threatening complication of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) without known effective, optimal treatment. The severe expiratory collapse of the trachea and bronchi is one of causes of the high rate of deaths in the course of airway impairment in MPSII patients. Case presentation: Due to the adynamic tracheobronchomalacia despite of enzymatic treatment (ERT) in our MPSII patient, a life-saving tracheal bifurcated type-Y endoprosthesis (a self-expanding, metal stent for the prosthesis of tracheal and bronchial stenosis) was implanted. In the followed months, the breathing efficiency improved, but then gradual worsening, progression of bronchi occlusion at the stent border resulted in patient's death. Conclusion: The Y-stent implantation appears to be a short-term, life-saving solution without satisfactory long-term effects due to the progress of peripheral bronchomalacia and increased tissue proliferation and granulation, that arises during the illness' course.

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The aim of the study was to consider the qualifications necessary for the procedure, the surgical treatment, and the long-term results. Material and methods. During the period between 1990 and 2005, twenty-five patients with benign esophageal tumors underwent treatment. Clinical symptoms, the size and localization of the tumor, and histological type were considered in cases of patients qualified for surgical intervention. Not all patients with esophageal leiomyomas were subjected to preoperative verification. Intraoperative endoscopic examinations identified the pathology, especially in cases of small lesions. Results. Patients diagnosed with esophageal leiomyomas were subjected to tumor enucleation. In cases of Abrikosow's tumor (three patients), the tumor was removed with the esophageal wall. Four patients underwent endoscopic resection. Esophageal fistulas during the perioperative period were not observed. Mortality was not observed during patient hospitalization. None of the cases presented recurrence or malignant transformation. Conclusions. Surgical treatment is the method of choice for treating benign esophageal tumors. During the postoperative period, neither disease recurrence nor malignant transformation was observed.