[Ophthalmic complications in the course of opportunistic infections--part I]

One of the most important problem of contemporary medicine appears to be constantly increasing number of patients with opportunistic infections. The situation is mainly due to world epidemic of AIDS. The progress in transplantology, huge number of immunocompromised patients during oncological and hematological treatment as well as prolongation of life time in children with congenital immunodeficiencies are successive conditions for the development of opportunistic infection. Pathogens infecting immunocompromised individuals have very low virulence, but in these persons disease is often very severe and potentially lethal. Main agents responsible for opportunistic infections are: Toxoplasma gondii, Cytomegalovirus hominis, Herpes simplex virus, Varicella-zoster virus and fungi. In the paper we describe clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods and therapies of ocular toxoplasmosis and viral infections. Knowledge of diagnosing methods and treatment of opportunistic infections which, when untreated, may quickly lead to vision loss, is necessary in contemporary ophthalmological practice.

[Professor Henryk Brokman - scientist and paediatrician]

In the paper we have presented the history of life and scientific activity of Professor Henryk Brokman (1886-1976) one of the most prominent Polish paediatricians. H. Brokman studied in Warsaw, Berlin and Heidelberg. His scientific career was connected with Warsaw and Lodz Universities and Gdansk and Warsaw Medical Universities. Besides paediatrics, he dealt with serology, immunology, rheumatology and tuberculosis. In these fields he made many valuable discoveries, which were used in everyday clinical practice. Professor Brokman was the author of many scientific publications. He was a teacher of many Polish paediatricians.

[Pneumocystosis: progress in diagnosis and treatment]

In the paper we have presented taxonomy of Pneumocystis carinii, the way of infection transmission and risk factors for pneumocystosis. The clinical picture, contemporary treatment and prophylaxis methods, especially in HIV-positive patients have been described too. We have taken into consideration the problem of reinfection and reactivation of pneumocystosis.