Carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity in intravenous drug abusers: the effect of cigarette smoking and HIV infection.

A reduction in the Dco has been frequently found in intravenous drug addicts (IVDAs) and in subjects with HIV infection. Since also cigarette smoking decreases Dco, we studied a group of street IVDAs, who did not show respiratory symptoms and/or infiltrates on chest x-ray film. Sixty-two patients were presently smoking, 2 had never smoked.

Effect of long-term treatment with sodium cromoglycate on non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity in non-atopic patients with chronic bronchitis.

Reduction in non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity has been reported in atopic asthmatic patients as a consequence of long-term treatment with sodium cromoglycate. As bronchial hyperreactivity is an undesirable feature in other forms of obstructive airways disease, we examined the effect of regular treatment with sodium cromoglycate (20 mg, 4 times daily, for 30 days) in a group of non-atopic bronchitic subjects who showed a significant bronchoconstrictor response to the inhalation of ultrasonically nebulised distilled water (fog challenge). After 30 days treatment with sodium cromoglycate, there was a significant reduction in response to fog challenge, compared with pretreatment values.

[The effect of respiratory mechanics on the hematocrit. III. Study in patients with bronchopulmonary disease treated with intermittent positive pressure inhalation therapy].

The Authors studied the behaviour of lung volumes and mechanics and of haematocrit after intermittent pulmonary positive pressure breathing (IPPB) in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. An improvement of obstructive sindrome at 10'-20'-40' and a contemporary decreasing of haematocrit were observed. This statistically significant modification was regarded as an expression of a different distribution of blood in lung vessels dued to an increasing of this vascular compliance and to a decrease of alveolar inflation.

[Changes in the acid-base and water-electrolyte balance induced by salbutamol. "In vivo" studies in patients with chronic broncho-pulmonary disease and "in vitro" by tonometry of venous blood].

The Authors studied the effects of e.v. Salbutamol evaluating the acute "in vivo" variations of acid-base and hydro-electrolitic balance in 16 chronic obstructive lung patients undergoing e.

[Changes in paO2 and of acid-base equilibrium of the arterial blood of hypoxemic polyglobulic patients subjected to acute blood depletion].

Partial respiratory gas tension and acid-base equilibrium patterns were examined in polyglobulic patients subjected to acute blood depletion. The increase in oxyhaemoglobin concentration and fall in haematocrit value already described were confirmed. It was also noted that: 1) pH increased significantly in all subjects; 2) urinary osmolarity increased in all subjects; 3) blood sodium and potassium concentration increased significantly in 14 patients (1st group), but fell in the 2nd group (8 subjects).

[Changes in vitro of the electrolyte content and erythrocyte volume of the venous blood of patients with chronic pneumopathy subjected to tonometry in oxygen].

As previously observed in vivo, statistically significant variations characterized by increase in chlorine and diminution in sodium, associated with an increase in red cell volume, have been noted in vitro in samples of venous blood taken from patients undergoing tonometry under oxygen. These variations appear to be independent of the basic concentration of chlorine and do not occur if the blood samples are incubated with theophylline at the same time. These results confirm the hypothesis of a "non respiratory" plasmatic acidifying effect of oxygen therapy inhibited by the antiphosphodiesterasic action of theophylline.

[Acid-base equilibrium of the arterial blood of subjects with grave hypercapnia subjected to mechanical ventilation with the iron lung (concerning 2 cases of post-hypercapnic alkalosis)].

Two cases of severe chronic respiratory insufficiency in severely acute phase with disturbances in acid base balance characterized by serious gaseous acidosis are reported. Therapy was based essentially on controlled ventilotherapy using an iron lung and considerable improvements were achieved clinically with practically total normalization of the acid base imbalance after only a few hours of treatment. In the following days, however, a picture of metabolic alkalosis established itself and this is discussed and interpreted as an expression of post-hypercapnic hypochloraemia.

[Gasometric changes and acid-base equilibrium of venous blood oxygenated in vitro and incubated with or without a phosphodiesterase inhibitor].

Changes in partial tension of the respiratory gases and in acid-base balance were studied in venous blood subjected to oxygenation, with or without incubation with theophylline. The following modifications were noted: 1) increased pO2; 2) decreased CO2 due to true wash-out caused by tonometry in oxygen; 3)decreased hydrogen ion concentration and bicarbonates following CO2 washing in both experimental models. A smaller reduction in pH and HCO3 was statistically significant in specimens treated with theophylline.

[Changes in acid-base equilibrium of the arterial blood in hypoxemic-eucapnic subjects subjected to oxygen therapy with and without an antiphosphodiesterase drug].

The behaviour of the partial tensions of respiratory gases and the main parameters of acid base balance in hypoxaemic and eucapnic chronic bronchopneumopathics undergoing oxygen therapy has been assessed. The patiests were subdivided into two groups, the first consisting of subjects undergoing oxygen therapy alone, the second of subjects having oxygen and i.v.

[Changes in partial pressures of gases and of pH in the arterial blood of hypocapnic and hypercapnic subjects subjected to oxygen therapy].

The behaviour of partial tensions of respiratory gases and pH in the arterial blood was evaluated in anoxiaemic and hypercapnic (1st group) and hypo-eucapnic (IInd group) subjects undergoing oxygen therapy. The following phenomena were observed: 1) normalization in paO2 values in both groups; 2) statistically significant diminution in paCO2, especially as regards hypercapnic subjects; 3) statistically significant diminution in blood pH; 4) statistically significant diminution in bicarbonates. In the light of these findings, it is considered that other variables, such as the electrolytes, might play an important role in pH diminution during oxygen therapy and that further research should be carried out to look into the possibility.

[Influence of the ventilation mechanics on the hematocrit value. II. Research on patients subjected to pleural and pericardial punctures].

Changes in haematocrit values in rabbits subjected to pleural and pericardial puncture were studied. Highly significant decreases were noted. These are attributed to lung re-expansion with redistribution of the capillary bed, together with improved venous reflux, with predominance of the first or second phenomenon for each group.