Surgical resection of segment VIII (anterosuperior subsegment of the right lobe) in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A limited liver resection was performed in two patients with cirrhosis and a hepatocellular carcinoma situated in segment VIII (anterosuperior subsegment of the right lobe). One of the patient had previously bled from esophageal varices. Resection of segment VIII was performed following the anatomical planes of section after complete mobilization of the right lobe of the liver.

[Effects of oral and injectable flecainide in patients with an accessory atrioventricular pathway].

Flecainide, a new Vaughan-Williams Class Ic anti-arrhythmic agent, was used in 21 patients with an accessory AV conduction pathway which was apparent in 16 cases (WPW syndrome), latent in 1 case and concealed in 4 cases (block in the anterograde direction). Seventeen patients had spontaneous and inducible arrhythmias; 13 supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) due to orthodromic reentry including the accessory AV pathway and 4 atrial arrhythmias. Intravenous flecainide (2 mg/kg over 5 minute period) terminated the 13 cases of SVT in an average of 3 minutes by depressing then blocking retrograde conduction in the accessory pathway and 3 out of 4 cases of atrial arrhythmias.

[Treatment of supraventricular and paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia with bepridil].

Bepridil is a molecule which, apart from its anti-anginal properties, also has antiarrhythmic effects due to its calcium antagonist action which depresses antero and retrograde AV conduction in the physiological pathways. Conduction in accessory AV pathways is also depressed to a lesser and more variable extent. It also has an anti-ventricular arrhythmic action probably due to an associated membrane-stabilising effect.

[Idiopathic bilateral salivary megacanals. Apropos 16 cases].

Investigation in 16 patients attending the stomatology outpatients clinic over the last 18 years has enabled definition of a particular radioclinical entity that has been named "idiopathic bilateral salivary megacanal". This generally parotid affection occurs in patients between 50 and 60 years, the onset usually being by an episode of sialodochitis. In addition to these inflammatory attacks there is the persistence of a bilateral "salivary ejaculation" from the ostia of the principal glands, sometimes after manual expression of a mucoid plug.

[Contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging].

Changing different parameters involved in imaging procedures, paramagnetic substances provide contrast enhancement in MRI. Contrast agents presently studied in animals and clinical trials, are either salts or complexes of mineral ions either nitroxide stable free radicals. Their development should extend the possibilities of tissular characterization and functional or metabolic evaluation of the MRI.

Quantitative evaluation of sensory irritating and neurobehavioural properties of aliphatic ketones in mice.

A decrease in respiratory rate resulting from irritation of upper airways and a decrease in duration of immobility in a 'behavioural despair' swimming test occurred in mice during and following short-term inhalation exposures to some commonly used aliphatic ketones. Linear concentration-effect relationships were obtained that allowed two different median active levels (MALs) to be calculated. MALs that produced a 50% decrease in respiratory rate (RD50) were calculated as indicators of the sensory irritation potency of diisobutyl ketone, mesityl oxide, methyl amyl ketone, methyl isoamyl ketone and methyl propyl ketone.

Prostacyclin bioassays using inhibition of platelet aggregation and relaxation of rabbit coeliac artery.

Bioassays of prostacyclin by inhibition of velocity and maximum of both irreversible and biphasic platelet aggregation, and by relaxation of the potassium-contracted isolated superfused rabbit coeliac artery have been undertaken. The use of each parameter is possible within a range of PGI2 concentrations, which have been determined for each of the five parameters studied. The optimal concentrations of PGI2 for a bioassay have also been determined, corresponding to each range.

Short-term inhalation test for evaluating industrial hepatotoxicants in rats.

Liver damage was investigated in rat using serum enzyme activities measurements. Responses were recorded 24 h after whole body inhalation exposure to vapors of bromobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, o-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloroethane and dimethylformamide as model toxicants. First, rats were exposed during a single 4 h period to different concentrations of each solvent and the minimally active concentration was determined.

[Maximum power (max W) and index of 2d minute recovery. Correlations with maximal oxygen consumption (max VO2)].

The maximum O2 intake (max VO2) is the best test in order to describe a subject's physical capacity. It is difficult to measure directly. The Astrand normogram gives an indirect and approximate measurement.

Concentration-dependent behavioral changes in mice following short-term inhalation exposure to various industrial solvents.

Mice were exposed during a 4-hr period to various concentrations of 13 aliphatic or aromatic solvents which affect primarily the central nervous system (CNS). The test compounds were benzyl chloride, butyl alcohol, chlorobenzene, cyclohexanone, 1,2-dichloroethylene, diisobutyl ketone, isopropyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, styrene, tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, toluene, and ortho-xylene. After exposure, measurements were made to see whether these neurotoxicants would decrease the immobility developed in a "behavioral despair" swimming test.

The pharmacological profile of TX 066 (17 alpha-acetoxy-6-methyl-19-nor-4,6-pregna-diene-3,20-dione), a new oral progestative.

17 alpha-Acetoxy-6-methyl-19-nor-4,6-pregna-diene-3,20-dione (TX 066) has the pharmacological profile of a pure progestogen with no side effect such as androgenic activity. Its pituitary suppressing effect is relatively weak, as is also its antiestrogenic activity. It possesses a powerful antiandrogenic effect, which, in addition to the classic uses for progestogens, may make TX 066 useful in the treatment of certain diseases such as prostatic hypertrophy or the Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

Sensory irritation caused by various industrial airborne chemicals.

A short inhalation experiment was performed on mice using 22 industrial airborne irritants. The parameter chosen as an index of sensory irritation was the reflex decrease in respiratory rate. For each compound, systematic determination of the concentration associated with a 50% decrease in the respiratory rate (RD50) permitted, on the basis of the same end point, a comparison of their relative potencies.

[Interaction between benzene and toluene in long term inhalation exposure in rats (author's transl)].

Industrial chemicals are seldom used as pure substances; hazards resulting from exposure to mixtures have, however not been solved. Our study deals with chronic inhalation toxicity of a mixture of benzene and toluene; few studies have been completed on this subject. Our results show: - leucopenia with benzene alone, at a concentration of 50 p.

[Comparison of the effects of acute respiratory acidosis and acute metabolic acidosis on the jaw-opening reflex in the anesthetized dog].

A few effects of carbon dioxide on pain threshold and acid-base balance are known. The purpose of this study was to investigate specifically the variations of analgesia in relation to hypercapnia during general anaesthesia and the respective roles played by carbon dioxide and [H+]. The nociceptive jaw opening reflex was studied on five beagle dogs anaesthetized with alfathesin administered at constant rate under acute hypercapnic conditions and acute metabolic acidosis.

Direct determination of plasma fibrinogen levels by heat precipitation. A comparison of the technique against thrombin clottable fibrinogen with spectrophotometry and radial immuno-diffusion.

We have studied the Thorp method for precipitation of fibrinogen from diluted plasma, using a specific buffer (pH 6.3) at 56 degrees C, and the preferred anticoagulant (EDTA). Nephelometric or turbidimetric measurements of the precipitate were compared with the results obtained by radial immunodiffusion, or by thrombin clotting, of fibrinogen.

[Comparative study of the effects of diazepam and fentanyl on the blink reflex threshold in the normal, conscious human (preliminary study)].

The search in man for experimental techniques suitable for study of the neurospecificity of anaesthetic drugs led us to use the blink reflex. Thirteen female volunteers undergoing gynaecological surgery received as a double-blind basis either 0.2 mg/kg of diazepam (7 cases) or 3 X 10(-1) mg/kg of fentanyl (6 cases) intravenously.

Possible high dosage gentamycin therapy in infected neutropenic patients.

Serum gentamycin levels have been studied in 23 neutropenic infected patients after high doses (62 mg/m2 and 72 mg/m2) of the drug, we observed: a higher gentamicin level than with an usual dosage, levels under the ototoxic 10/ml level, no renal failure, and, no patient ototoxicity.

The effect of duration of membership in a prepaid group health plan on the utilization of services.

This study concerns the changes in the use of medical care services as the duration of membership in a prepaid group plan increases. For each of ten cohorts of members of the prepaid group practice in Columbia, Maryland, the use of provider visits (for both "well" care and "problem-oriented" care), of inpatient hospital services, and of prescribed drugs were determined, and time trends for each type of service were developed. The rate of total provider visits (TPV's per member) and the proportion of "well" care visits declined during the first year of membership and were followed by stabilization during the second year in the Plan.