Dioxins and dibenzofurans in adipose tissue of US Vietnam veterans and controls.

The primary reason for concern about the adverse effects of exposure to Agent Orange is attributable to its toxic contaminant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or dioxin. We studied adipose tissues from 36 Vietnam veterans, a similar group of 79 non-Vietnam veterans, and 80 civilians; the tissue specimens were selected from the 8,000 archived tissues collected from the non-institutionalized general population by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The geometric mean (+/- standard deviation) dioxin levels in adipose tissue for Vietnam veterans, non-Vietnam veterans, and civilian controls were 11.7 (+/- 1.7), 10.9 (+/- 1.7), and 12.4 (+/- 1.9) parts per trillion on a lipid weight basis, respectively. The mean levels for these groups were not significantly different from each other with or without adjustment for age of individuals, body mass index, and specimen collection year. In addition, none of the surrogate measures of Agent Orange exposure such as military branch, service within specific geographic region, military occupation, and troop location in relation to recorded Agent Orange spray was associated with the dioxin levels in adipose tissue of Vietnam veterans. Our results suggest that heavy exposure to Agent Orange or dioxin for most US troops was unlikely.

Dependence of maximal sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures on lung volume.

The maximal sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures of six healthy volunteers (three women and three men) were measured at various lung volumes between residual volume and 95% of total lung capacity. At residual volume the mean (SD) maximum transdiaphragmatic pressure was 163 (18) cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.0981 kPa). With increasing lung volume the maximum pressures generated declined, so that at 95% of total lung capacity the mean pressure was 68 (15) cm H2O. Mouth pressures showed a similar relation to lung volume. At residual volume the mean maximum mouth pressure was 74 (8) cm H2O, compared with 38 (6) cm H2O at 95% of total lung capacity. The relation between pressure and lung volume was linear for measurements at lung volume levels between residual volume and 85% of total lung capacity; values at 95% of total lung capacity, however, were lower than predicted from the linear regression of the other points. The use of a second order polynomial regression showed a higher coefficient of determination in all cases (0.72 and 0.69 for transdiaphragmatic and mouth pressures on the basis of all pressure values for all subjects). Sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures show a predictable dependence on lung volume, supporting their use as measures of global inspiratory muscle power and diaphragm strength respectively.

Detection of antigen-specific antibodies on lung tissue in a patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

A patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis showed positive Ouchterlony's immunodiffusion tests against pigeon faecal extract, Cephalosporium and Pullularia antigens. Deposits of immunoglobulins-IgG and IgM antibodies-were detected in a subendothelial position in arterial and venous vessels and on alveolar macrophages in the lung tissue. The IgG deposits in blood vessels belonged to IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses and the absorbed IgG on alveolar macrophages to all IgG subclasses. The detection of allergen specific antibodies in lung tissue was made by indirect immunofluorescent staining with FITC conjugated antigen extracts from pigeon faeces and demonstrated the aetiology of this hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

[Chemotherapy of small cell carcinomas of the lung]. / Zur Chemotherapie des kleinzelligen Bronchuskarzinoms.

This report gives a comparison of two polychemotherapeutic regimen: Vincristin-Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (VAC) versus Vinblastin, Methotrexate, Fluoro Uracil, Cyclophosphamide (Israel-Karrer-Sighart regimen). 35 patients have been treated with VAC, 27 with IKS, some of them received additional irradiation. Response was quite similar in both regimens, survival was significantly increased for patients treated with VAC (49 weeks medial survival time versus 31 weeks). Best results were obtained in combination with intermittent radiotherapy (so called "sandwich-method"), survival time in this treatment had been 73 weeks. Side effects of the chemotherapy were tolerable and not severe. VAC in extensive disease alone and in limited disease in addition to radiotherapy can, therefore, be recommended in outdoor-patients treatment in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

[Activation and cell-aggregation of mononucleus cells after short-term stimulation with mitogen and tuberculin]. / Aktivierung und Zellaggregation mononukleärer Rundzellen nach einer Kurzzeitstimulation mit Mitogenen und Tuberkulin. Mit 8 Abbildungen.

The aim of the study was the description of morphological changes in mononukleated cells after short-term stimulation by mitogen and tuberculin visible by light- and electronmicroscopy and in differences between nucleus areas measured by planimetry. Already 1 hr. after p.h.a. stimulation lymphocytes forme clusters in which the mononucleated cells were present mostly as irritated and exhausted cells. In PPD-stimulated lymphocytes clusters were formed after 16 to 24 hrs. These cells were activated. Within clusters strong intercellular contacts were visible using the electron-microscopy. The results of planimetry in regard to nucleus areas of lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly dependent from the kind of mitogen or antigen and the duration of incubation time (analysis of variance).