Pericardial ectopic thymoma.

Primary intrapericardial thymoma is an unusual localization. We report a case of a patient with an isolated and primary pericardial thymoma. This 72-year-old woman presented with dyspnea, dysphony and myalgia.

Preliminary results of collapse therapy with plombage for pulmonary disease caused by multidrug-resistant mycobacteria.

Seven patients underwent collapse therapy with polystyrene sphere plombage for pulmonary disease caused by multidrug-resistant mycobacteria. Four patients were infected with multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, two with Mycobacterium xenopi, one with Mycobacterium avium. All patients were heavily pretreated before surgery, had extensive, bilateral cavitary disease and were considered unsuitable for resection because of extensive disease or functional respiratory impairment.

[Value of video-surgery in the treatment of voluminous emphysematous bullae].

In general, giant emphysematous bullae develop within the substance of dystrophic pulmonary parenchyma. The bullae impede normal mechanical ventilation by the volume they occupy and by the compression which they exert. This addition can lead to acute complications.

[First experience in treatment of terminal cardiac insufficiency using multisite stimulation].

We hypothesized that the presence of an abnormal ventricular mechanical activation sequence and/or a delayed left ventricular (LV) contraction may have adverse hemodynamic effects in congestive heart failure (CHF) and could be improved by synchronous RV-LV pacing in a multisite (MS) configuration. 8 NYHA IV CHF patients were included with a LV delay due to 1/ preexistent pacemaker in 4 pts (2 VVI and 2 DDD); 2/ left bundle branch block in 2 pts; 3/ intraventricular conduction delays in 2 pts. An acute hemodynamic evaluation was performed.

Effects of SCA40 on human bronchi and on guinea pig main bronchi in vitro. Comparison with cromakalim.

The aim of this study was to examine the activity of SCA40, a novel charybdotoxin-sensitive potassium channel opener, against a variety of spasmogens or against electrical field stimulation in guinea pig isolated main bronchi and in human isolated bronchi; the effects of SCA40 were compared with those of cromakalim. Like cromakalim, SCA40 reduced the contractility of guinea pig and human isolated bronchi precontracted with acetylcholine 10(-6) M or neurokinin A 10(-6) M, SCA40 being more efficient and more potent than cromakalim. Moreover, on guinea pig isolated main bronchi, SCA40 can exert a preventive effect on contractions induced by acetylcholine, neurokinin A or capsaicin, that is, it shifts to the right the concentration-effect curves of these substances, whereas cromakalim has no such effect.

[Tracheobronchial cylindroma. Success after left pneumonectomy and plastic repair of a large right tracheobronchial break with a musculo-pleural pedicle and bone graft around a temporary Dumont prosthesis].

A 54-year-old woman with a cylindroma of the lower trachea underwent exploration with dissection of the tracheobronchial junction. The main left bronchus was invaded and there was major tissue loss of membranous tracheo-bronchial substance. Histology showed both tracheal and bronchial involvement.

Beta 3-adrenoceptor agonists, BRL 37344 and SR 58611A, do not induce relaxation of human, sheep and guinea-pig airway smooth muscle in vitro.

The existence of atypical- or beta 3-adrenoceptors has now been generally accepted. These receptors have been shown to be abundant in adipose tissue and in a number of gastrointestinal smooth muscle preparations. A recent study reported that beta 3-adrenoceptor stimulation mediated relaxation of isolated canine bronchial smooth muscle.

Effects on the isolated human bronchus of SR 48968, a potent and selective nonpeptide antagonist of the neurokinin A (NK2) receptors.

Tachykinins produce concentration-dependent contraction of the human isolated bronchus by stimulation of receptors that belong to the NK2 type. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of a new, potent, and selective nonpeptide antagonist of the neurokinin A (NKA) (NK2) receptors, SR 48968 [(S)-N-methyl-N-[4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidino-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) butyl]benzamide] on human isolated airways. Our experiments were performed on human isolated bronchi obtained from patients with lung cancer.

Penetration of minocycline into lung tissues.

The penetration of minocycline into different lung tissues and bronchial mucus was studied in 17 patients undergoing pulmonary surgery for cancer. The patients received oral minocycline 100 mg at night for 3 days preceding surgery. Minocycline concentrations were measured in plasma samples collected before the operation and in tissues and mucus taken from in and around the part of the lung that was surgically removed.

Innominate artery involvement in type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

We report two cases of innominate artery involvement in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. In the first patient, spontaneous dissection of the innominate artery was treated successfully. In the other, the patient died of spontaneous rupture of the innominate artery in the early postoperative course after operation for aneurysm of the celiac artery.

[Diffusion of minocycline in pulmonary tissue].

The penetration of minocycline into lung tissue was evaluated in 14 patients about to undergo excision of the lung for cancer. The patients received minocycline orally in doses of 100 mg twice a day for 3 days, the 100 mg in the morning of the operation day. Minocycline concentrations were measured in plasma samples taken before surgery and in the lung tissue resected.

Characterization of neurokinin effects and receptor selectivity in human isolated bronchi.

Sensitive afferent nerves and the neurokinins they release upon activation are considered to be important in controlling bronchomotor tone. Human isolated bronchi respond to neurokinin A (NKA), substance P (SP), and neurokinin B (NKB) with dose-dependent contractions. The order of potency of the three natural neurokinins is NKA greater than SP greater than NKB, suggesting the presence of NK-2 receptors.

Interaction between fenoterol, ipratropium, and acetylcholine on human isolated bronchus.

Functional antagonism between fenoterol (F) and acetylcholine (ACh) and interaction between F and ipratropium (Ipr) on ACh-induced contraction were evaluated on isolated human bronchi. In the presence of increasing concentrations of ACh (2 X 10(-4) and 2 X 10(-3) mol/L), dose-response curves of the relaxant effect of F were shifted to the right (0.45 and 0.

Effects of noradrenaline on the isolated human bronchus. Comparison with the isolated guinea pig trachea.

The pharmacodynamic activity of noradrenaline was evaluated comparatively in vitro on isolated human bronchi and on guinea pig tracheal spirals. Noradrenaline exerted a contractile effect on both preparations under resting tone and in the presence of propranolol 10(-6) M; maximal noradrenaline-induced contraction was 15-20% of maximal acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction. Without propranolol, the contractile effect of noradrenaline was negligible when the preparations were under resting tone and absent when they were precontracted with ACh.

[Benign mediastinal hemangiomas].

Haemangiomas represent a very rare form of primary mediastinal tumour. Their benign character, though rare, should not allow one to forget that their excision is correct, though sometimes tricky on account of their special anatomic situation. Two new observations are reported here as evidence of this difficulty.

[Repair of loss of substance of the thoracic wall and pericardium using a net of resorbable material].

After wide excision of the chest wall for primary tumour or bronchopulmonary carcinoma involving the ribs, the gap must be filled to prevent paradoxical respiration and its immediate functional consequences during the post-operative period. This can easily be achieved by using a polyglactin 910 piece of net cut to size out of a 25 X 25 cm plaque and sutured between the ribs under tension. The prosthesis ensures thoracic stability and acts as support for re-adherence of the lung to the chest wall.

[Surgery for carcinoma of the oesophagus. A plea for precise technique and pleuro-mediastinal drainage (author's transl)].

During surgery for carcinoma of the oesophagus, the authors emphasise the need for selective intubation using a Carlens tube, of avoiding damage to the diaphragm and the phrenic nerve at all levels, and of draining the hemithorax involved in the operation by three drains: anterior and posterior thoracic and madiastino-abdominal. These precautions reduce post-operative difficulties, justifiy excision surgery for carcinoma of the oesophagus, and to a certain extent make it possible to reduce the contraindications, in particular in the presence of tracheo-bronchial spread. Amongst 107 patients undergoing surgery, in whom there was a risk of respiratory insufficiency in one quarter, surgery (sometimes with extension of the excision: one case in four) was associated with an operative and post-operative mortality of 18%.