Experimental studies with high frequency oscillation.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Laval.
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Observations in two pairs of identical twins illustrate the importance of genetic factors in determining the outcome of exposure to asbestos in relation to pleural plaques and bronchogenic carcinoma. The first pair of twins, laggers with french railroad (S.N.C.F.), were discovered fortuitously, after only several years exposure, to have bilateral pleural plaques and calcification at the same site on the axillary and diaphragmatic surfaces. The second set of twins developed epidermoïd bronchial carcinoma : one at the right hilum, the other postero-basally on the right in 1969 and 1977 respectively. Both were in ship-building and each had been exposed to asbestos in the same yard for 20 years between 1945 and 1965. Radiographs showed left sided pleural calcification and reticular shadowing at the bases in the two cases. These observations show the role of the host in the generation of asbestos disease. They are in keeping with studies on the presence of certain tissue types (HLA B27, and HLA B8) in those with asbestosis and of non-specific auto-antibodies (anti-nuclear factor, rheumatoid factor) in asbestosis, silicosis and the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The relation between genetic factors and asbestos-induced cancer is suggested by the variable susceptibility of different kinds of animals to carcinogenesis in response to asbestos and by the increased inductibility of the enzyme system Aryl-hydrocarbon-hydroxylase in subjects exposed to this air-born contaminant who develop pleural tumours and/or bronchitis. There are only two other publications of bronchial carcinoma in twins in the literature.
Two different techniques are utilized: aerosol with 198Au particles (size 0.5-15 micron) and different gaz mixtures (air; O2 20% + He 80+; O2 60% + N2 40%; O2 60% + He 40%) with 133Xe and registration of the regional distribution along a wash-in (upper, middle and basal) of every lung (gamma camer, computer, Polaroid photographs, scans), performed in three groups of subjects (normal: 5, bronchogenic carcinoma: 11 and chronic bronchitis: 5). Modifications of the airway distribution and blood gas data according to the technical approach (particularly, variations of densities and viscosities) are compared with results in normal subjects.
Broncho-alveolar macrophages were obtained by bronchial washing from 20 pairs of matched smokers and non-smokers. The following parameters were studied: phagocytosing ability of macrophages on silica in cell culture in the presence or absence of cotinin, a biocompound of nicotin; migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and power and level of alpha 1-antitrypsin in sera of patients. The results are reported as a function of absolute number of macrophages obtained, their viability, the amount of cigarettes smoked, and the action of cotinin. MIF was stronger in the smokers. There was no difference between the groups as far as power and level of alpha 1-antitrypsin are concerned. Cotinin provokes important lesions in the macrophages. The phagocytic power was not significantly different in smokers and non smokers, but the results were better in non-smokers.
Every high smokers are not able to make a lung carcinoma, on the over hand nonsmokers can be able to develop a bronchial carcinoma. It is possible that genetic factors can be involved in the occurrence of this carcinoma. Dermatoglyphic studies are one of the technics to appreciate this problem. The study was done upon 37 bronchial carcinoma and 51 lung diseases (European origin, only man, same age). There are some big differences upon: --The Cummins index: the right index as well as the left are higher in bronchial carcinoma than in controls, but it is significative only for the right one (p less than 0,05) (28,89 +/- 3,7 to 26,88 +/- 4,55). --The frequency of the ten fingerprints: the differences between lung carcinoma and controls are highly significative (p less than 0,01) for the whorls (22,7 to 34,9) and slightly significative (p less than 0,05) for the ulna loops (65,4 to 57,4), the other fingerprints (arch, radial loops) are quite the same in the two groups. The studies upon the other figures (TFRC and the position of the axial tri-radius) do not show any differences. It seems to us that the dermatoglyphic studies of men with bronchial carcinoma differ from controls (hospitalized for lung diseases). These population have the same dermatoglyphic structure than a control population from blood donors of Marseilles. The dermatoglyphic studies can be an aid to identify high risk people.
This study involved 20 patients, 13 female and 7 male, with a mean age of 49 years, suffering from localized (6 cases) scleroderma or generalized without Raynaud's syndrome (6 cas), with Raynaud's syndrome (6 cas) or acrosclerosis (2 cases). Respiratory function tests included study of volumes, flow rates, CO transfer (TLCO) and blood gases. There were 38% normal chest X-rays, 58% ventilatory disturbances (predominance of restrictive syndrome and decrease in (TLCO) was found in only 25% of cases. The authors emphasize the extent of pulmonary vascular lesions in these patients.
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Tuberculosis still remains a current disease, of difficult eradication as shown by numerous studies and epidemiological surveys. The authors studied 180 newly affected tuberculous patients admitted to Pr. Laval's department at Marseille and tried to discover why only 91 (50.6%) were still followed or could be traced 3 years after their first hospitalization. Five parameters were studied: origin, sex and age, living area, socio-economical data (change of address, lack of accomodation, profession), tobacco and alcohol addiction. No significant part was played by nationality, living area, or profession. On the other hand, changing of address, chronic tobacco and alcohol addiction were the factors responsible for loosing sight of the patients. An attempt to define this tuberculous patient, which would not be followed up for long, gave the picture of a 40 to 45 years old man, living in a hotel or with no fixed accomodation, smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day and drinking. Such a profile of a tuberculous patient should increase the watchfulness over likely ones.
The authors report the first results of a transversal survey done from the end of November 1976 to the end of April 1977 in 4 secondary schools (CES, CEG) in Marseille and its suburbs. 1.795 children, between 11 and 15, in the first and fourth form, filled up a questionary inquiring into their smoking habits and consumption. Already a certain number of results can be drawn: --in this group of children, mostly girls (926 G/882 B) 181 were regular smokers (10,07%); --among these smokers, 70 smoked every day (38,6%), 60 smoked more than a packet a week (33%), finally 122 inhaled smoke; --they acquired the habit of smoking regularly between the age of 14 and 15, in the 3rd and 4th forms, as there was only 9,4% of smokers in the 3rd and 19% in the 4th form; --finally, parents seem to play a fundamental inducing part in this habit, as among smoking children 32.8% have parents both smoking, 41% a smoking mother, 71.2% a smoking father, while for non smokers the percentage were respectively of 19.9%, 24.9% and 54.3%.
UNLABELLED: Experimental study of rhabdomyosarcoma with successive transplantation upon C3H/He mice, treated by irradiation (Co 60) and combined irradiation-hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), dating from 3, 14 and 15 days after transplantation. The data (tumor volume evolution, histological modifications, pulmonary metastases) are compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: curative radiotherapy depends on starting treatment as soon as possible with or without HBO. After the 14th day, sensitisation to combined HBO and C60 is seen. The extension of pulmonary metastases is a function of tumor growth. Paradoxically metastases were less frequent after HBO only and more frequent after HBO-Co 60.
Authors have shown that in some favorable cases radiotherapy of localized bronchial carcinoma could give very good results. The study on the cases from 1960 to 1969 shows that authors have 8% of three years survival upon 105 patients who have been treated by 50 Grays or more in 5 weeks. The survival was better for the small cancers T2 than for the large ones. The study on the cases from 1970 to 1977 shows that to obtain 101 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (T2,4 -N0,2 -M0) authors were obliged to study 564 cases. The three years survival was 3,1% for carcinoma receiving more than 40 Grays/4 weeks. The survival is better for small cancer and for the cases without radiological mediastinal nodes. In conclusion, radiotherapy is the best treatment after surgery, limited disease can be cure, and iterative radiotherapy increases our results.
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Continuous recording of the respiratory cycle with the simultaneous or sequential radionucleic exploration (gamma camera) of ventilation (133Xe) and perfusion (MAT-99) was performed to determine the V/Q index in regional areas (Polaroid photography, mini-computer, memory visualization system, Benson incremental tracer, etc.) from the level of 1,024 points. An average ratio per sector was calculated and only three median sectors were retained. The wash-in and wash-out curves were traced by computer, and the calculation of the average T 1/2 for the different compartments of each median sector (apex--middle and base) was done in about 22 observations: in 18 diffuse emphysema, 11 of which were associated with giant cystic emphysema (spirometric, plethysmographic and radiographic data), T 1/2 values were greater than those of normal subjects (compartments C1 and C2) in diffuse emphysema and can become indefinable in zones of cystic emphysema. The values of the index V/Q approach the normal in diffuse emphysema with a tendency toward equalization of the ratios from the apex to the base. Extremely large divergence is observed in the elevated V/Q ratios in cystic emphysema.
Nocardioses are unusual broncho-pneumopathies with a dangerous evolution which should be better known. They occur usually, except in case no. 1, in patients with decreased immunity. For this reason they belong to superinfection with opportunist germs. It should be kept in mind when identfying the nocardia so as to start an early specific treatment.
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The authors present a preliminary work on 37 pulmonary tomodensitometry performed on 18 bronchial cancers, 7 pleuro-pulmonary metastases, 4 normal lungs and 8 various respiratory diseases. This method presents a double advantage:--first it localizes the affection in relation to pleura, mediastinum or heart; specially interesting in case of a transparietal puncture in carcinology;--secondly, densitometry enables a differentiation between dense tumoral tissue and ventilatory disorders or pleurisy; it is also useful in determining the tumoral target volume. Finally this new technique can show air cavities (emphysema, tuberculous or cancerous caverns) as well as pleurisies of small volume.