We have investigated the influence of diabetes mellitus including the presence of late complications of the pulmonary system. To check this relationship 31 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients (mean age 30.6 +/- 5.32 years, mean duration of diabetes 12.9 +/- 5.05 years) were admitted into the trial and compared with 18 control subjects. Pulmonary function tests were measured including spirometric parameters, diffusing capacity, specific diffusing capacity and dynamic compliance measured at 20 and 60 breaths per min. No disturbance of the spirometric parameters was observed in the diabetic patients. Diffusing capacity in the diabetic patients with complications was significantly lower than in both the diabetic patients without complications and the control group (81.2 +/- 16.2%, 104 +/- 13.7%, 99.3 +/- 2.8%; p < 0.001, p < 0.005 respectively). Specific diffusing capacity was significantly lower in the diabetic patients than in the control subjects (80.3 +/- 13.1% vs 89.4 +/- 12.9%; p < 0.05). In the group with late complications specific diffusing capacity was lower than in the group without complications (69.7 +/- 9.17%; 87.2 +/- 10.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Dynamic compliance at 20 breaths per min in diabetic patients was 84.06 +/- 17.08% vs 95.2 +/- 11.59% in the control subjects (p < 0.05). It was particularly low in the group with late complications 80.6 +/- 13.2% and patients with metabolic poor control, 80.3 +/- 12.02% (both p < 0.005 vs the control group). Dynamic compliance at 60 breaths per min was 60.1 +/- 15.0% as compared to 83.2 +/- 13.3% in the control group (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

extract of propolis (EEP) has antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties, in addition to many biological effects. Our laboratory has demonstrated a syner­gistic effect of EEP and antibiotics on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, and suggested that the bactericidal effect of EEP was expressed mainly on virulent mycobacteria rather than on non-virulent (attenuated) ones. The present study was designed to reconfirm the latter finding, by subjecting 17 different mycobacteria strains to EEP, and evaluating whether there is a correlation between the virulence of the mycobacteria strains studied and their susceptibility to EEP. Our findings demonstrate that while the four non-virulent strains studied are not susceptible to EEP, out of the 13 virulent strains studied seven are susceptible and six are resistant to it. These results suggest that while there is no full correlation between virulence of the mycobacteria tested and their susceptibility to EEP, the few strains that were resistant to EE P were non-virulent.

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Anatomical and functional estimations of the upper airways in patients after partial laryngectomies (cordectomy, hemilaryngectomy, enlarged hemilaryngectomy) carried out due to cancer are discussed in this paper. The post-operative lumen of the larynx and the trachea were estimated by radiological examination. The coefficient larynx/trachea (L/T) was proposed to describe fixed obstruction.At the same time, all patients underwent spirometric examinations. Inspiratory and expiratory parameters of the flow-volume loop were evaluated. In 39 patients the L/T coefficient was lower than in a group of patients with chronic bronchitis (P<0.05). Also inspiratory and some expiratory parameters of the flow–volume loop decreased in contrast to the group with chronic bronchitis. All results showed the usefulness of radiological and spirometric methods in detecting upper airway obstructions and confirmed their fixed character. The influence of the area of operation on the degree of upper airway obstruction was emphasized.

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