Pulmonary haemodynamic effects of verapamil in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The hemodynamic effects of intrapulmonary administration of verapamil were studied in 12 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]. Verapamil induced significant changes in pulmonary artery pressure [PAP], or pulmonary central venous pressure [PCP], while the cardiac output [CO] decreased with subsequent increase in pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR]. No clinically useful benefit was found with verapamil in the dosage used in this group of patients

use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in localised pulmonary lesions: an experience in 150 cases

A total of 150 cases of undiagnosed pulmonary lesions were examined by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The details of the procedure and its complications were described

Serum iron and copper in bilharzial patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under different regimens of antituberculous treatment

Study of serum levels of iron, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], Transferrin, Copper, and ceruloplasmin was conducted on bilharzial patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and the result were compared to those of bilharzial patients without any chest disease. The tuberculous patients were divided into three groups, each receiving a different regimen of antituberculous treatment for six months. The effects of these regimens of the studied parameters were evaluated and compared. Although the three regimens proved to be equally effective as antituberculous agents. However the first regimen [using streptomycin, Isoniazid, and ethambutol] was found superior to the other two regimens in correcting most of the abnormalities in iron levels. This may be attributed to minor hepatic adverse effects of this regimen on the liver in comparison to the other two regimens which contain rifampicin in regimen two and pyrazinamide in regimen three in addition to streptomycin and isoniazid

Experimental pulmonary schistosomiasis: parasitological and immunopathological studies

This study was carried out on 200 male Swiss albino mice infected with 150, 300, 500 and 1000 S. mansoni cercariae. The work included parasitological, histopathological and direct immunofluorescent studies. Parasitologically the lung allowed the passage of a fixed percentage of the infecting cercarial dose up to the second week, and ova could be detected in it 7 weeks post infection. Immunopathologically, on the first week schistosomules inside blood vessels gave positive fluorescence. Two weeks after infection heavily infected mice showed positive fluorescence related to mononuclear follicles. On the fourth week cellular infiltration and oedema of the alveoli were marked, whereas fluorescence was negative. Granulomata were noticed 10 weeks post infection onwards revealing negative fluorescence. Endarteritis obliterans was seen without fluorescence on the 16th week post infection

role of schistosomal lung on circulating immunglobulins and leucocytic migration inhibition factor

Humoral and cell mediated immune responses were monitored in the arterial and central venous blood of 10 patients with schistosomal cor pulmonale. Serum immunoglobulins and leucocytic migration inhibition factor [MIF] were estimated. The immune response of schistosomal lung was found to be of more humoral than a cell mediated one

Regional ventilation-perfusion study with Xe133 in cases of idiopathic kyphoscoliosis

This work was carried on ten patients with idiopathic kyphoscoliosis. Complete pulmonary functions on all the patients as well as regional ventilation/perfusion studies on five of them using Xenon [133] were done. The ventilatory defect on the studied cases was essentially that of restrictive pattern. There was no evidence of airway obstruction since the forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV[1]] and maximum expiratory flow rate [MEFR] were with in normal. All lung volumes were reduced except the residual volume which registered a normal value. There was CO[2] retension and hypoxemia attributable to alveolar hypoventilation and ventilation/perfusion [V/Q] imbalance. The latter error was illustrated by diminusion of ventilation and perfusion of the lower lung zones that was evident in the right lung possibly due to lung compression by the scoliotic curve. The disturbance in perfusion was less than that of ventilation with the result of low V/Q ratio at the lung bases and high V/Q ratio at the upper lung zones. That was partially responsible for arterial hypoxemia

Regional vetilation-perfusion study with Xe133 in patients with pectus excavatum deformity

Ten patients with pectus excavatum deformity have been evaluated by routine clinical, radiological, ECG and pulmonary function tests as well as radio-isotopic lung function studies using Xe[133]. The results showed no correlation between subjective complaints and objective findings and also no correlation with the degree of deformity. The routine pulmonary function tests showed a mild restrictive pattern. Arterial gas tensions showed a mild drop in PaO[2] and a normal PaCO[2] Regional lung study on five patients showed impairment of ventilation and perfusion in the form of hypoventilation and perfusion in the form of hypoventilation and hypoperfusion of Zone [3] of the left lung with corresponding hyperventilation and hyperperfusion of zone [3] of the right lung due to heart displacement to the left and compression of the left lung base

Tuberculin test: a measure for clinical evaluation

Intradermal testing of tuberculin [intermediate strength] was performed on 100 subjects with different ages ranging from one to 65 years as a measure for clinical evaluation. Analysis of the results was done taking into consideration many factors as age, sex, physical conditions, clinical presentation, drug intake, treatment with anti-tuberculous therapy, time and chronicity of the disease. Also other factors and circumstances affecting the results of the tuberculin reaction were also assessed

study on the failure of first line antituberculous therapy in Egypt

The study was devoted to fifty patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were treated and followed at Tanta Sonatorium Hospital. They received primary line anti-tuberculous chemotherapy [Streptomycin, isoniazid and para-aminosalicylic acid], in the usual recommended dosages according to the body weight. Failure of therapy in them was concluded after a suggested period of 6 months for which possible causes were suggested and studied

Cigarette smoke and pulmonary surfactant

This study was performed on 30 healthy guinea pigs. The surfactant was extracted by bronchial lavage. The application of cigarette smoke to bronchial washings resulted in a reduction in the effect of surfactant with an increase in the tension at the lower surface area and a decrease in the tension at the expanded area. Neither the best type of commercial cigarette filters nor macrobubble water traps removed enough the smoke to prevent the alteration of surfactant. This effect of cigarette smoke was demonstrated to be comparable to that of ordinary house dust suggesting that the alteration of surfactant may largely, if not solely, be attributable to the particulate matter in cigarette smoke. These alterations markedly reduced the index of stability of the lung extract, and as applicable to the alveoli tend toward the development of emphysema