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According to American College of Rheumatology fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common health problem characterized by widespread pain and tenderness. The pain and tenderness, although chronic, present a tendency to fluctuate both in intensity and location around the body. Patients with FMS experience fatigue and often have sleep disorders. It is estimated that FMS affects two to four percent of the general population. It is most common in women, though it can also occur in men. FMS most often first occur in the middle adulthood, but it can start as early as in the teen years or in the old age. The causes of FMS are unclear. Various infectious agents have recently been linked with the development of FMS. Some genes are potentially linked with an increased risk of developing FMS and some other health problems, which are common comorbidities to FMS. It is the genes that determine individual sensitivity and reaction to pain, quality of the antinociceptive system and complex biochemistry of pain sensation. Diagnosis and therapy may be complex and require cooperation of many specialists. Rheumatologists often make the diagnosis and differentiate FMS with other disorders from the rheumatoid group. FMS patients may also require help from the Psychiatric Clinic (Out-Patients Clinic) due to accompanying mental problems. As the pharmacological treatment options are limited and only complex therapy gives relatively good results, the treatment plan should include elements of physical therapy.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, hospitalization and disability among lung diseases. Its chronic, progressive nature and acute exacerbations influence the quality and expectancy of life of COPD patients. The pulmonary rehabilitation is a basic non-pharmacological intervention in COPD and its role is increasing in recent years. The goal of this work was to evaluate the impact on quality of life patients undergoing 3 weeks pulmonary rehabilitation program., Material and Methods: 132 patients with COPD were admitted to pulmonary rehabilitation program; 70 completed the 3 weeks long program. Pulmonary function tests, exercise endurance, quality of life (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire) were measured at baseline, 3 weeks, and 3 months., Results: There was significant improvement in quality of life in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and exercise endurance (treadmill) measured at 3 weeks and at 3 months. Parameters of lung function tests did not improved after completion of rehabilitation., Conclusions: 3 weeks pulmonary rehabilitation program of patients with COPD was effective in improving exercise endurance and the quality of life. The improvement was noted as well at 3 months post rehabilitation.

The purpose of the study was in analysis of both causes and social conditioning leading to attempts of self-intoxications by the use of psychotropic drugs. The study included 234 patients treated in the Gdańsk Toxicological Center during years 1982-1987. In a majority, the intoxications referred to young subjects up to 30 year of age, more frequently women than men. Only 10% of subjects studied have had university education. The alcohol or drug dependence and various psychiatric disturbances has been noted in a majority of cases studied. The lack of real suicidal determination was characteristic pattern of group observed.

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus is reported in a woman aged 41 years with exudative pericarditis as the predominating manifestation of the disease. Attention is called to the diagnostic usefulness of demonstration of LE cells in pericardial effusion.