[The inhalation versus systemic prevention of pneumonitis during thoracic irradiation].

Background: Pneumonitis is a typical subacute reaction of healthy bronchial tissue to thoracic irradiation. The purpose of the present trial was to show whether prophylactic application of steroids in the course of and following radiotherapy would reduce the incidence of pneumonitis.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-seven patients receiving thoracic irradiation for bronchial carcinoma were assigned to 2 therapeutic groups; half of the patients were given 10 mg of oral prednisolone per day, while the other half received daily inhalative beclomethasone.

[Technical aspects in the Pari provocation test I].

Several methods are in use for performing the unspecific provocation test. The Pari provocation test I instrument offers the possibility of employing the reservoir method that possesses several advantages. On testing individual parameters of this instrument we determined an aerosol performance of 0.

[The effect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on stress-induced bronchial asthma].

Studies of the efficiency of the calcium antagonist nifedepine on the exercise-induced asthma bronchiale (EIA) were carried out in 15 cases of asthmatics (11 men, 5 women; average age 28.5 years; average time of illness 6.4 years).

[Change in cardiopulmonary function following surgery].

45 patients were subjected to pre- and postoperative radio-cardiographic examinations and 52 patients to respiratory function tests. Vital capacity, one-second capacity, maximum breathing capacity and peak flow decreased significantly, the oscillatory resistance increased significantly. During extra-abdominal interventions, the difference to the initial value appeared to be essentially lower.

[The measurement of bronchial mucociliary clearance using 99mTc for evaluating the success of the salt water cure].

We found a highly significant improvement in the pulmonary mucociliary clearance in the peripheral region of the lungs four weeks after saline spring treatment. We examined the possibility of applying the saccharin sky-blue test for evaluating the success of spa treatment.

[Reference values for the maximal expiratory flow volume curve for adults. Results of a cooperative study].

Reference values of the maximal expiratory flow-volume curve for the adult GDR's population have been ascertained by a co-operative study of 5 lung function laboratories. We analysed measurements in 1,004 healthy subjects aged 16 to 69 years (728 males and 276 females). Prediction equations for the maximal expiratory flow rates, several time constants of lung mechanics and screening parameters of ventilatory inhomogeneity have been calculated by means of the multiple linear regression analysis.

[Experience with ketotifen in respiratory tract diseases].

In 2 clinical studies we tested the efficacy of ketotifen in allergic rhinitis and allergic bronchial asthma. Ketotifen was demonstrated to have a convincing effect not only upon the typical inhalation allergens, such as pollen, house dust mite or animal hair, but also upon allergens ingested via the gastrointestinal tract (food). As even long-term administration has thus far not shown toxic side-effects, ketotifen, based on appropriate indication, can already in childhood be successfully applied.

[References for allergy testing in a polyclinic department of lung diseases and tuberculosis].

Because of the high prevalence of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis allergological tests are necessary upon a large scale. General reactions are seldom, therefore it is recommended to do skin tests in an outpatient department taking into consideration special directions. The extracts to be used are proposed.

[Effectiveness of the calcium antagonist nifedipine and the protease inhibitor with plasmin inactivating effect para-aminomethylbenzoic acid on stress-induced bronchial asthma].

In 15 asthmatics (7 females, 8 males, average age 23.3 years) the efficacy of the calcium antagonist nifedipine (Corinfar) and of PAMBA on the exercise-induced asthma was investigated. The patients underwent for 6 minutes a submaximal exercise (80 +/- 5% of the age-related maximum pulse rate) on the bicycle ergometer or by free running.

[Cardiopulmonary function after segmental resection of the lung].

By the combination of radiocardiography, ergooxytensiometry and heart probing on 22 lobectomized, cone- and segment-resected patients, respectively could be established in comparison to control groups that also after parenchyma-saving lung resection a pulmonary load parenchyma-saving lung resection a pulmonary load hypertension develops in 15 patients. The sequel of this increase of pressure and resistance in the pulmonary circulation is a functional insufficiency of the heart in 11 cases which is to objectify by reduction of the stroke volume, increase of the end-diastolic and end-systolic volume and by reduction of the contractility of the myocardium.

[Haemodynamic and respiratory changes after lung resection (author's transl)].

After lobectomy a slight increase of pulmonary arterial pressure can already be observed in the state of rest. The resistance of the pulmonary vessels reveals a marked dependance on the date of operation, it increases moderately on strain, but more significantly in the state of rest. At the same time cardiac output is decreased due to the exhaustion of the myocard after straining.

[Clinical ergometry in cardio-pulmonary functional disorders--a comparison of the usual ergometric technics].

It is reported on the results of a comparative examination of 18 patients with two usual ergometric methods (team pathophysiology of respiration and research group diseases of heart and circulation of the GDR). Referred to the intake of oxygen as a measure for the stress of the cardiorespiratory system by means of the ergometric methods recommended by the research group diseases of heart and circulation significantly higher minute volumes of the heart rate were established. Principal differences in the evidence of the two methods did not appear.

[Pulmonary mechanics of bronchial asthma (author's transl)].

Airway resistance was measured in 10 patients with bronchial asthma before and 5--30 minutes after gradual effort of 60 and 95 watt by means of bodyplethysmography. The resistance values showed three typical alterations: 1. no reaction; 2.

[Measurement of the oxyten partial pressure in the gingiva].

The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the inflamed gingiva was measured in 24 patients before and after the application of Gingivox. The Gingivox treatment led to a significant increase in pO2 from 72.2 mm Hg to 94.

[Basic-diagnostic-criterions of respiratory insufficiency--results of a community work of the working group "pathophysiology of breathing" (author's transl)].

11 laboratories of the working group "Pathophysiology of Breathing" cooperated with standardized methods to obtain generally admitted practical criterions for the definition of respiratory insufficiency. Function parameters of 2800 examined persons in different diagnostic groups were tested by manual statistical analysis and computed by data processing system. which were assessed with regard to their usefulness as criterions for respiratory insufficiency.

[72. Evaluation of the cardiac performance by means of radiocardiographic studies].

In 2 series of investigations could be established that there exist relations between the radiocardiographically determined stroke volume and minute volume in rest and the maximum receptivity of oxygen and that the effect of a digitalisation is to be judged according to the increase of stroke and minute volume in rest and under load. The values obtained by the use of 113m indium allow an evidence concerning the functional capacity of the heart. A clear reduction of the stroke volume correlates with a diminution of the maximum oxygen pulse established during an ergometric examination and the maximum receptivity of oxygen.