[Is chemotherapy with cisplatin useful in non small cell bronchial cancer at staging IV? Results of a randomized study].

The benefit of chemotherapy for patients with disseminated non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is controversial. The introduction of cisplatinum in the combination chemotherapy for NSCLC gave rise to higher response rates. To study the question of the usefulness of cisplatinum-based chemotherapy in disseminated NSCLC we conducted a prospective randomized trial comparing best supportive care to vindesine + cisplatin.

[Endobronchial aspergillosis associated with a carcinoid tumor].

We report a case of a 62 year old man who presented with effort dyspnoea accompanied by a cough and haemoptysis. The chest radiograph of the thorax showed atelectasis of the right upper lobe. Bronchoscopy showed evidence of a tumour like mass obstructing the right bronchus and this revealed itself to be a mass of organised fibrinous deposit in granulation tissue containing numerous colonies of Aspergillus.

[Pleurisy in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Apropos of a case].

The syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation is a little known aetiology of pleural effusion. It should be thought of in young women who are under treatment to induce ovulation. Serous effusions which occur in these cases are a serious sign.

[Evaluation of the prognosis in sarcoidosis: remission as an issue of biological criteria and current cellular activities (ACE and alveolar lymphocytosis)].

The spontaneous evolution of 60 patients suffering from recently diagnosed sarcoidosis was compared with their initial biological profile of "activity". 47% of this unselected group of patients belonged to an inactive group (ACE less than 35 nmol/ml/mn and the percentage of alveolar lymphocytes less than 30%). After a mean period of two years of follow up it turned out that the initial bioprofile of activity had no predicted value, even in the absence of any initial elevation of the markers (3 cases out of 28 grew worse).

[Multiple elemental organic components of the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid in normal subjects and in various lung pathologies (excluding silica and asbestos fibers)].

Owing to a technical analysis enabling the detection of mineral elements present in trace amounts in small volumes, an analysis of the liquid obtained in 148 broncho-alveolar lavages could be studied. The elements consistently recovered were as follows: iron, copper, zinc, nickel, lead and titanium. Normal values were established.

Simultaneous determination of trace elements in lavage fluids from human bronchial alveoli by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. 3. Routine analysis.

We applied the energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence technique to determination of trace elements in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Our analysis of more than 200 samples allowed us to determine normal reference values, to be used in characterizing occupational exposure. These values are expressed both in nanograms per 1000 cells (of all kinds) and nanograms per 1000 macrophages to correlate lavage efficiency and dust content of the alveoli.

[Uninodular bronchiolo-alveolar cancer. Apropos of 5 cases with a prolonged course].

Five cases of uninodular bronchioloalveolar cell (BAC) carcinoma are reported. These 5 cases were characterized by the protracted course of the disease: 14.5 and 11.

Simultaneous determination of trace elements in lavage fluids from human bronchial alveoli by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. 2: Determination of abnormal lavage contents and verification of the results.

We applied energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence to the determination of abnormally present elements or abnormal concentrations of elements in human broncho-alveolar lavage fluids. The low detection limits and the ability to perform multi-elemental analysis permit one to establish or confirm occupational exposure of workers. We also describe different methods used to check our method and our results.

A study of the criteria used for clinical evaluation of prophylactic treatment in bronchial asthma.

In an attempt to find better criteria for the evaluation of prophylactic treatment of asthma, we have studied the significance and the correlations of the 3 parameters usually measured: symptoms, bronchodilator requirements, changes in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). We have collected these data daily over a 16 week period in 13 adult asthmatics allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. For each patient, the 3 scores were compared graphically.

[Invasive aspergillar pneumopathy during the treatment of microcellular bronchial cancer. Efficacy of early antifungal treatment].

The invasive aspergillus pneumonias have been described particularly in chemotherapy for patients with haematological disorders. In respiratory disorders such cases are exceptional. The authors report a case of invasive aspergillus pneumonia, occurring during treatment of a small cell cancer; the rapid commencement of anti-fungal treatment by Amphotericin "B" and Flucytosine enabled an apparent cure of the tumour by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

[Noninvasive diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension in chronic respiratory insufficiency].

A precise assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (HTAP) in chronic lung disorders is not possible without right heart catheterisation. In spite of technological advances (floating catheters with or without balloons) the examination remains invasive, at least to a certain degree, in addition it is not currently practiced in respiratory function laboratories or in services specialising in thoracic medicine. The diagnosis of HTAP is important when considering both the prognosis and the therapeutic approach notably in chronic airflow obstruction (BPCO) and thus the interest in non-invasive diagnostic methods for HTAP.

Long-term course of pulmonary arterial pressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ninety-three patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of the bronchitic (n = 74) or emphysematous type (n = 19), who all had arterial hypoxemia, underwent 2 right cardiac catheterizations in a clinical steady state, with a delay of 5 yr or more between the first and the last catheterization. No patients received long-term O2 therapy or pulmonary vasodilator drugs. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the initial level of mean pulmonary artery pressure (Pap).

Transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

A total of 258 patients with suspected sarcoidosis underwent transbronchial needle aspiration lymph node biopsies and forceps bronchial biopsies during rigid bronchoscopy. Transbronchial needle aspiration biopsies revealed noncaseating granulomas in 66.3 percent of patients.

[Home oxygen therapy of chronic bronchitis patients. Clinical, functional and pulmonary hemodynamic results. Apropos of 17 cases].

Unlabelled: Seventeen subjects (16 male, 1 female) with a mean age of 60 +/- 7 years were studied.

Inclusion Criteria: severe chronic bronchitis (mean FEV1 = 960 ml with frank hypoxaemia (PaO2 less than 60 mmHg); past history of right heart failure or electrical signs of right ventricular hypertrophy or pulmonary hypertension (PAP greater than 20 mmHg); oxygen therapy at home for greater than 10/24 hours (most often greater than or equal to 12 hours) for more than a year; interval of more than 6 months between the first haemodynamic investigation (before the start of O2) and the last, this period being on average 23.9 +/- 18.

[Recurrent sarcoidosis in skin scars disclosing repeated thoracic sarcoidosis].

Recurrence of thoracic sarcoidosis after spontaneous regression is extremely rare. Its existence is proven by two new cases associating sarcoidosis with L ofgren 's syndrome and sarcoid in skin scars, the latter facilitating the recognition of the presence of thoracic disease. Surveillance of the behaviour of scars forms part of routine examinations in the sarcoid patient.

[Diffuse interstitial pneumopathy related to tungsten carbide, confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage, and responding to corticotherapy].

The authors report a case of severe diffuse interstitial hard metal lung disease responding to corticosteroid therapy. They point out that the course of this disease may be regressive and emphasise that analysis of broncho-alveolar washings showed no abnormality in the differential cell count. Mineralogical study of the same material confirmed exposure.

[Clinical aspects of occupational asthma].

Although on the increase overall, the actual prevalence of occupational asthma is difficult to assess because of variations seen according to periods, countries, jobs, and the agents responsible. In the authors' experience, this prevalence is slightly less than 10%. Three principal mechanisms, sometimes present together, not always elucidated: immunological, reflex and irritative, are responsible for such asthma.

[Practical value of the assay of serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity in sarcoidosis].

Serum levels of angiotensin conversion enzyme (A.C.E.

[5-year survival of resected bronchial cancer. Multifactorial analysis of its prognosis].

Prognosis in patients having undergone surgery for a bronchial carcinoma (oat cell. carcinoma excluded) was studied by comparing, with two statistical methods, a group of 178 patients surviving five years and more (group I) and a group of 178 patients who died within five years (group II). The two groups had undergone treatment during the same period.