Healthy lungs tolerate repetitive collapse and reopening during short periods of mechanical ventilation

The possible occurrence of lung damage if alveolar units are allowed to collapse and reopen breath by breath during mechanical ventilation with normal tidal volumes was investigated. Anaesthetised, paralysed, open chest rabbits were subjected to either intrathoracic negative (NEEP; n=6) or positive (PEEP; n=6) end-expiratory pressure during volume controlled mechanical ventilation. Both experimental settings were preceded by a 30 min control period and followed by a 30 min recovery period during which a PEEP of 0.2 kPa was maintained. Pao₂ and pulmonary compliance deteriorated significantly in the NEEP group during the experimental period and compared to ventilation with PEEP. Partial restoration of lung mechanics and blood gases was achieved during the recovery period. After an alveolar recruitment manoeuvre, this recovery was complete. Lung clearance studied by depositing an aerosol of technetium-99m-labelled diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (^99mTc-DTPA) in the alveoli, was significantly faster during ventilation with NEEP compared to the PEEP group ( P =0.0002) as well as the control period ( P = 0.0029). It did not recover completely during the recovery period but remained significantly faster. light microscopic histology was normal in both groups with no evidence of inflammation or epithelial disruption. We conclude that previously healthy rabbit lungs show only a transient disturbance of lung mechanics and blood gases with repetitive collapse and re-expansion. The integrity of the alveolar rnicrostructure is preserved. The disturbance in the alveolo-capillary permeability persists and may indicate surfactant related alveolo-capillary barrier dysfunction.     

Asbestos bodies in lung tissue following exposure to crocidolite

A series of 206 necropsies in Western Australia (WA) have had routine counts made of asbestos bodies in samples of lung tissue using conventional light microscopy. Thirty-two cases had worked in the asbestos industry at Wittenoom, WA and (log) counts of asbestos bodies in their lung tissue correlated well with estimates of their (log) cumulative airborne exposure to crocidolite fibers (r = 0.60). There was no association between the number of asbestos bodies and time since exposure to asbestos ceased. In subjects without known exposure to asbestos, there was a weak but nonsignificant increase in number of asbestos bodies with increasing age, with 26% of cases having no asbestos bodies present. It is concluded that the relatively simple technique of light microscopy for counting of asbestos bodies in lung tissue provides a reliable indication of the level of past occupational exposure to crocidolite in subjects whose exposure has been only to crocidolite. This could be extremely useful in follow-up studies of cohorts that lack reliable measures of airborne exposure to crocidolite asbestos.     

An Intrapleural Lung Prosthesis: Rationale, Design, and Testing

Abstract: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS or ECMO) is standard treatment for severe respiratory failure but poses many contraindications to future lung transplantation. The solution to this dilemma is the implantable gas exchange device (IGED) or artificial lung. Preliminary efforts to create such an artificial lung have been made since 1970 and include designs involving single devices, intravascular devices (i. e., IVOX), and combination heart–lung devices, Stringent requirements govern the design of such a device, the most important of which are high gas exchange efficiency, low resistance to blood flow, and size. This paper describes such a device. It incorporates large diameter inflow and outflow ports in close proximity and a low resistance wound hollow fiber core encapsulated in a compliant outer shell which conserves the work of the right ventricle. In a large animal model (adult sheep) this device was connected in line with the main pulmonary artery in series with the native lungs. This configuration has the advantages of using the lungs as an embolic filter, perfusing the lungs with fully oxygenated blood, and maintaining the integrity of the anatomy necessary for transplant. Laboratory experiments have run >8 h. Preliminary data show that the animals have remained hemodynamically stable while the devices have supported the animals completely by supplying 100% O₂ saturation with PO₂ values ranging from 250–350 mm Hg. Additionally, this model makes possible the study of respiratory failure without introducing other variables such as extracorporeal circuits or pumps. The other metabolic, endocrine, and reticuloendothelial functions of normal and injured lungs can now be studied more precisely by excluding these variables. Further studies are needed to evaluate this device in chronic (long–term implantation) experiments before clinical application.     

Chest wall implantation of lung cancer at the drainage tube site: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 70-year-old man in whom a chest wall implantation of adenocarcinoma of the lung at the drainage tube site was found 4 months after a right lower lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection had been performed for adenocarcinoma of the right lower lobe. The lesion was successfully treated by tumor extirpation. We believe that tumor seeding to the chest wall occurred at the time of thoracotomy. To prevent such tumor seeding, the pleural cavity should be washed out routinely with a massive volume of physiological saline solution prior to closure of the chest wall.     

煤烟型大气污染对儿童肺功能的影响

为观察煤烟型大气污染对儿童健康的影响 ,选择了太原市 3个污染程度不同地区的 45 0名儿童进行肺功能测试和问卷调查。研究结果显示 ,儿童呼吸功能表现为重度污染区 <中度污染区 <相对清洁区 ;肺通气功能阻塞性异常率表现为重度污染区 >中度污染区 >相对清洁区 ;Logistic回归分析发现肺通气功能阻塞性异常率与小学生家庭的取暖方式、厨房和卧室是否分开以及污染物的水平有关 ;多元线性回归分析显示重度污染区儿童的FVC、FEF5 0与相对清洁区相比分别减少了 65 80ml、119 2 7ml,中度污染区儿童的FVC、FEF5 0与相对清洁区相比分别减少了 5 7 2 8ml和 114 2 9ml;Ln(SO2 )每升高一个单位 ,FVC和FEF5 0分别减少69 10ml和 119 79ml,Ln(PM1 0 )每升高一个单位 ,FVC、FEF5 0等分别减少了 193 5 0ml和 171 69ml。结果提示 ,太原市煤烟型大气污染对儿童呼吸系统产生了危害。     

A retrospective mortality study of workers exposed to arsenic in a gold mine and refinery in France

A historical mortality study of a cohort of employees of a gold mining and refining company was carried out in Salsigne, France. A major goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between lung cancer mortality and exposure to arsenic, radon, silica, and other contaminants of the working environment. A twofold excess of lung cancer was found both among miners and smelters, mainly concentrated among workers who had experienced exposure to past levels of arsenic, radon, and silica. The consistency of the results in the mine and the refinery are suggestive of a carcinogenic risk from both soluble and insoluble arsenic, although the potential role of other factors cannot be dismissed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mortality among ferrous foundry workers

Mortality analyses were carried out for 278 male hourly workers who were employed for at least 10 years at a gray iron foundry and who died between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1981. Statistically significant excess proportional mortality due to non-malignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 177), lung cancer (SPMR = 148), and leukemia (SPMR = 284) was found among the 221 white males. Among nonwhite males there was a significant excess in proportional mortality due to circulatory diseases (SPMR = 143). White males in the Finishing classification experienced a significant excess of proportional mortality due to nonmalignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 279) and lung cancer (SPMR = 179). White males in the Core Room classification experienced an excess of proportional mortality due to nonmalignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 321). Case-control studies demonstrated a significant association between nonmalignant respiratory disease and the Finishing classification after controlling for the effects of age, prior occupations in coal mining or foundries, and smoking. A positive but nonsignificant association between lung cancer and Finishing was also found after controlling for age, prior work history, and smoking in case control studies.     

A nocturnal nasogastric feeding programme in cystic fibrosis adults

Fourteen adult patients (mean age 22.5 years, range 18–35) with cystic fibrosis undertook nocturnal nasogastric feeding for a mean period of 14.7 (range 6–18) months consuming an average of 1042 ml of a high energy feed on five nights of each week. Following this protocol all patients gained weight (mean weight gain 5.4 kg, range 2–17). For the group as a whole, lung function remained stable during the period of feeding; however a significant correlation between improvement in lung function and weight gain was demonstrated. Hyperglycaemia during feeding in this adult population was common (9/14, 64%) but was easily controlled with insulin therapy.     

A case of multiple leiomyomatous lesions of the lung: An analysis of flowcytometry and hormone receptors

A 36 year old woman was admitted to our department because of a chest X-ray which showed multiple developing shadows. She underwent bilateral exploratory thoracotomies and a total 5 tumors were resected and pathologically diagnosed as benign metastasizing leiomyoma, the largest of which was positive for the progesterone receptor and negative for the estrogen receptor. A histogram of this tumor using a flow cytometer showed a diploid pattern and 4.6 percent of the S phase which was not more than that of a leiomyoma of the uterus from another patient. Two months later, she underwent a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for treatment of the positive progesterone receptor in the pulmonary lesions. The resected uterine myoma and normal myometrium showed positive estrogen and progesterone receptors. For the subsequent 28 months she has been free of any further symptoms. Benign metastasizing leiomyoma of the uterus is a rare disease and very interesting because of its histological benignity and hormonal dependency. However, according to the literature, it is often confused in entity due to the fact that normal lung tissue also possesses hormone receptors. Considering our data on hormone receptors, it is rational to think that multiple leiomyomatous lesions in the lung should only be diagnosed as benign metastasizing leiomyomas when they possess positive estrogen and progesterone receptors.