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Trabecular bone score (TBS) index has recently been obtained as a result of textural greyscale analysis of DXA images. Because it enables the assessment of bone microarchitectural texture, TBS may be useful in evaluating bone quality. This study explores the current knowledge of the use of TBS in patients with endocrine disorders with co-occurring bone structure changes. Currently, the clinical importance TBS was verified in terms of disorders of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-I) axis, glucocorticoid excess, thyroid and parathyroid disease, as well as in diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2. It has been clarified that patients suffering from various endocrinopathies are a group in which TBS should be used routinely because it correlates with clinical factors and may improve patient management in various endocrine disorders.

Background: The aim of the study was to scrutinize the scale of a current problem of psychoactive substances taking by adolescents aged 13–16, including the level of their knowledge of that subject. The results obtained can help to create an educational program targeted at decreasing the number of students using drugs. Material and methods: The study was performed on a group of 197 secondary school students in 2013 with the use of selfdeveloped query based on ESPAD (The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) questionnaire. Results: 25% of the students showed their curiosity in trying some psychoactive substances, if those were legal. 19% declared that they already have had a contact with drugs. Teenagers are worried about the possible reaction of their parents and legal consequences of the use of psychoactive substances. At least every tenth of the respondents have had an opportunity to try marihuana. Conclusions: Despite the low average age the group of respondents has had contact with psychoactive substances. Every third person has been offered psychoactive substances. At least 40% of teenagers know about the possible ways where to take the drugs from. The outcome of the study is quite alarming because it shows a considerable interest in common drugs, as well as in some OTC medicaments.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory obstructive airways disease. The disease occurs regardless of age and manifests with cough, attacks of breathlessness, and tightness in the chest. The pathophysiology of asthma is complex and still not fully understood. It is essential to find answers concerning the role of each part of the bronchial tree in asthma, especially the role of small bronchioles. With the development of newer generations of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and advanced post-processing methods it is possible to obtain more detailed images and gain insight into further aspects of asthma. MDCT post-processing methods can be divided into two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D). In 2D projections, visualized hypodense regions correspond to the airway flow limitations. With the more advanced methods, such as multi planar reconstructions (MPR), images in different planes (axial, coronal, or sagittal) can be created. In the MPR technique only the voxels which are adjacent to each other in the predetermined plane can be extracted from the data set. Using the minimal/maximal intensity projections and shaded surface display, the volume of interest (VOI) can be extracted. High resolution CT scans can be used to create a more advanced imaging tool - the virtual bronchoscopy (VB). Using the VB makes it possible to visualize regions of obturation in the bronchi of up to the 5-8th generation. The MDCT with advanced post-processing methods is likely to assume an important role in the differential diagnosis of asthma, particularly when the diagnosis is dubious or hard to settle due to accompanying other lung diseases.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory obstructive airways disease. The disease occurs regardless of age and manifests with cough, attacks of breathlessness, and tightness in the chest. The pathophysiology of asthma is complex and still not fully understood. It is essential to find answers concerning the role of each part of the bronchial tree in asthma, especially the role of small bronchioles. With the development of newer generations of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and advanced post-processing methods it is possible to obtain more detailed images and gain insight into further aspects of asthma. MDCT post-processing methods can be divided into two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D). In 2D projections, visualized hypodense regions correspond to the airway flow limitations. With the more advanced methods, such as multi planar reconstructions (MPR), images in different planes (axial, coronal, or sagittal) can be created. In the MPR technique only the voxels which are adjacent to each other in the predetermined plane can be extracted from the data set. Using the minimal/maximal intensity projections and shaded surface display, the volume of interest (VOI) can be extracted. High resolution CT scans can be used to create a more advanced imaging tool – the virtual bronchoscopy (VB). Using the VB makes it possible to visualize regions of obturation in the bronchi of up to the 5-8th generation. The MDCT with advanced post-processing methods is likely to assume an important role in the differential diagnosis of asthma, particularly when the diagnosis is dubious or hard to settle due to accompanying other lung diseases.

The aim of this study was to analyse the results of exhaled nitric oxide examination in a group of patients with hyper-responsive-ness. The study was performed on a group of 297 children who underwent spirometry, examination of exhaled nitric oxide, skin prick test and stress probe in years 2010-2012 in Pulmonology and Allergy Centre in Karpacz. Mean age of patients was 11.86. Patients were divided into four groups: with diagnosed asthma, with bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), with described asthma without BHR and a group with BHR without diagnosed asthma. The results of the study confirmed the presence of high-er amount of exhaled nitric oxide in patients with asthma and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. The elevation of NO concen-tration correlated with age; there was no significant difference between sexes.

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the amount of exhaled carbon monoxide which can be an indicator of the phenomenon of tobacco smoking among youngsters in a group of students of Wroclaw’s universities. Materials and methods: The study was performed on 347 students living in dormitories of four Wroclaw universities: Wroclaw Medical University, University of Wroclaw, University of Physical Education and Technical University. Every tested student underwent a measurement of quantities of exhaled carbon monoxide by a Micro Medical Smoke Check device. Every participant took part in an anonymous survey, which was divided into three parts (for smokers/non-smokers/ex-smokers) and included exposure to tobacco smoke, length of time smoking etc. Results: No difference in the amount of exhaled CO between students of particular universities was observed. The Smoke Check measurements are higher in actively smoking students compared to nonsmokers. The results are higher in students declaring passive smoking compared with those not exposed to tobacco smoke at all. No difference in level of CO between genders and particular age groups was observed. Conclusions: Despite higher health awareness, students of the Medical University and University of Physical Education reach for cigarettes as often as the other tested students. Male students smoke as often as female students and CO result was not dependent on age.