Corticosteroids prevent acute lung dysfunction caused by thoracic irradiation in unanesthetized sheep.

We sought to determine the effect of corticosteroid therapy in a new acute model of oxidant lung injury, thoracic irradiation in awake sheep. Sheep were irradiated with 1,500 rads to the whole chest except for blocking the heart and adjacent ventral lung. Seven experimental sheep were given methylprednisolone (1 g intravenously every 6 h for four doses) and thoracic irradiation; control sheep received only irradiation.

Heterogeneity of pathologic lesions in familial primary pulmonary hypertension.

We analyzed lung specimens from 23 affected members of 13 families with known familial primary pulmonary hypertension. In this heritable disease, the pathogenetic basis of disease should be distinct within families, and the pathologic lesions should reflect the underlying biologic mechanisms. Two pathologic types of primary pulmonary hypertension have been proposed to exist, "plexogenic" and "thromboembolic.

Mediastinal fibrosis complicating histoplasmosis.

Mediastinal fibrosis, the most serious late complication of remote infection by Histoplasma capsulatum, is a thick, dense fibrotic capsule which surrounds a small mediastinal focus of old caseous adenitis. The fibrotic process may accrue over prolonged periods and extend within the lumina of critical mediastinal structures to produce complete occlusion. We summarized clinical and radiographic data for 71 patients with mediastinal fibrosis; the criteria for inclusion were the clinical demonstration of occlusion of major central airways (trachea or mainstem bronchus) or major vessels (pulmonary arteries or veins) and the absence of other disease processes which might cause such obstruction.

Thromboxane receptor-mediated bronchial and hemodynamic responses in ovine endotoxemia.

The role of thromboxane A2 in sheep endotoxemia, an animal model of the adult respiratory distress syndrome, was investigated by a combined biochemical and pharmacological approach. Endogenous thromboxane biosynthesis was assessed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of urinary (thromboxane B2, 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2) and plasma (11-dehydrothromboxane B2) metabolites that demonstrated a significant stimulation by endotoxin. The functional relevance of thromboxane A2 was probed with a specific thromboxane-prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor antagonist, SQ 29548.

Noninvasive measurement of regional lung water distribution in healthy man and in pulmonary oedema.

A quasi steady-state noninvasive, radioisotopic technique for measuring regional lung water distribution in man is described. The method depends upon the dilution principle. 123I labelled human serum albumin (HSA) and sodium iodide (NaI) were injected intravenously, allowed to mix completely within the body fluids and then counted externally over the chest.

Acute effects of thoracic irradiation on lung function and structure in awake sheep.

To investigate the acute physiological and structural changes after lung irradiation, the effects of whole-lung irradiation were investigated in fourteen sheep. Ten sheep were prepared with vascular and chronic lung lymph catheters, then a week later were given 1,500 rad whole-lung radiation and monitored for 2 days. Four sheep were given the same dose of radiation and were killed 4 h later for structural studies.

Transbronchoscopic needle aspiration in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.

We examined the safety and yield of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in 28 patients who were subsequently proven to have lung cancer. TBNA in 48 sites produced no complications. TBNA was positive for carcinoma in the two patients whose tracheal carinae appeared abnormal on computerized tomography.

Effects of inspiratory resistance loading on lung fluid balance in awake sheep.

Because pulmonary edema has been associated clinically with airway obstruction, we sought to determine whether decreased intrathoracic pressure, created by selective inspiratory obstruction, would affect lung fluid balance. We reasoned that if decreased intrathoracic pressure caused an increase in the transvascular hydrostatic pressure gradient, then lung lymph flow would increase and the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) would decrease. We performed experiments in six awake sheep with chronic lung lymph cannulas.

MR imaging parameters in the study of lung water. A preliminary study.

The use of magnetic resonance (MR) to evaluate lung water is made difficult by several factors: paucity of proton signal from normal lung, respiratory and cardiac motion, and long relaxation times of lung fluids. To optimize scanning parameters for this use, and to test MR's ability to detect and quantitate regional and temporal variations in signal intensity in hydrostatic pulmonary edema, in vivo experiments were performed with a 0.5 tesla whole body MR imaging device.

Cyclooxygenase inhibition during phorbol-induced granulocyte stimulation in awake sheep.

In vitro, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) causes sheep granulocytes to release superoxide. Infused into sheep, PMA causes leukopenia, hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, and increased flow of protein-rich lung lymph. Lung lymph thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha levels rise markedly after PMA infusion.

Familial primary pulmonary hypertension: clinical patterns.

We recently identified a family with 6 deaths in 2 generations from primary pulmonary hypertension. The disease was undiagnosed in several of them, and the family members, geographically separated, were unaware that there was a familial disease. We hypothesized that familial primary pulmonary hypertension (FPPH) might be labeled as nonfamilial in situations where the family history was incomplete.

Septicemia and lung injury.

The results of investigations undertaken by the authors which deal with the functional and structural changes in the lungs resulting from gram-negative bacterial endotoxemia and the mechanisms of these changes are analyzed. The authors emphasize the major roles played by granulocytes and metabolites of arachidonic acid in mediating endotoxin-induced lung injury.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: arthrographic diagnosis and treatment.

Thirty-one patients (33 shoulders) had clinical adhesive capsulitis confirmed by arthrography and simultaneously treated by intra-articular injection of lidocaine and long-acting corticosteroid introduced with the contrast material during the examination. The routine arthrographic procedure was modified to include gentle passive manipulation of the joint while under the effect of the local anesthetic agent. The patients were instructed to continue exercises at home.

Effects of 100% oxygen on lung vascular function in awake sheep.

The purpose of this study was to define the time course of pulmonary toxicity during continuous breathing of 100% oxygen in adult sheep. Sheep were prepared for chronic measurement of vascular pressures, cardiac output, gas exchange, and for collection of lung lymph. Tracheostomies allowed accurate delivery of either 100% oxygen, compressed air, or hypoxic gas.

An evaluation of two methods for measuring fetal head and body circumferences.

Head and abdominal circumference measurements of 166 fetuses (15-40 weeks) were made by three different examiners using two measurement techniques. In method 1 the actual circumferences were measured using an electronic digitizer, while in method 2 the circumference measurements were estimated using the formula for calculating the circumference for an ellipse. Evaluation of the entire data set as a whole demonstrated no significant mean errors (P > 0.

Solitary subcutaneous lipoma: report of case.

A submental lipoma in a 66-year-old black man is presented. The etiology of the lesion is discussed and related to our case. The solitary subcutaneous lipoma is treated by excision.