[Diagnostic value of tumor markers in pleural effusions].

In order to discriminate between benign and malignant effusions, the value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (GNCH Sub-beta) has been estimated in pleural exudates. A sample of 65 patients, 33 with a malignant (histologically and/or cytologically established) and 32 with a benign effusion was analysed. Only mean CEA in malignant effusions was significantly higher than in benign effusions (p less than 0.

[Aphasia of deep localization].

A neurolinguistic and cerebral computed tomography (CT) study was carried out in 60 patients with aphasia. Fourteen had predominant subcortical involvement. Six of these showed involvement of the basal ganglia (5 with thalamic involvement), with small mass effect and small volume (less than 5 ml).

Penetration of inhaled He and SF6 into alveolar space at low tidal volumes.

To study mixing of inspired gas with lung gas, penetration of simultaneously inspired helium (He) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) into alveolar space was determined in normal subjects at low tidal volumes (from 50 to 500 ml) and at varied lung volumes and speeds of inspiration/expiration. The volume of inspired gas reaching the alveolar space, termed alveolar-tidal volume, VTA, was calculated from preinspiratory lung volume, inspired volume, and inspired and expired alveolar test gas concentrations. The difference between the VTA values calculated for He and SF6, VTA(He) - VTA(SF6), was influenced by tidal volume, lung volume, and the speed of inspiration/expiration, but it was always positive.

Rebreathing and single breath pulmonary CO diffusing capacity in man at rest and exercise studied by C18O isotope.

The pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, Dco, was estimated in normal subjects, using both a single breath technique (DcoSB) and a rebreathing technique (DcoRB). In order to measure CO by mass spectrometry, the stable isotope C(18)O was used. In three normal subjects Dco was measured at different lung volumes at rest, and at different levels of bicycle exercise.

Limiting role of stratification in alveolar exchange of oxygen.

On the basis of a simple lung model the limiting effects of stratification on tidal/alveolar transfer of O2 are calculated using values for diffusive conductance of distal airways previously obtained from analysis of wash-out kinetics of He and SF6. In particular it is shown that the alveolar-capillary transfer of O2 (neglected in a previous study) plays an important role in giving rise to stratificational gradients of O2 in distal airways. For 10 kg dogs breathing hypoxic mixtures the stratificational component of the alveolar-arterial Po2 difference is estimated at about 0.