Effect of the Ages of Parasitoid and Host Eggs on Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) Parasitism.

This study investigates the influence of parasitoid age and egg age of the hosts Euschistus heros (Fabricius) and Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas) on parasitism of Telenomus podisi Ashmead. Six separate bioassays were conducted: parasitism on eggs of E. heros (bioassay 1) and D. melacanthus (bioassay 2) by T. podisi females of different age (1, 5, and 10 days old); parasitism by T. podisi on eggs of different age (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days of embryonic development) of the hosts E. heros (bioassay 3) and D. melacanthus (bioassay 4); preference of T. podisi females for eggs at different embryonic developmental stages (eggs of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days) of the hosts E. heros (bioassay 5) and D. melacanthus (bioassay 6). The age of T. podisi females and their hosts affected parasitism on both E. heros and D. melacanthus eggs. Overall, the parasitism rate was higher in older than younger parasitoids, independent of the tested host species, and host eggs between 1 and 3 days old were similarly parasitized. Thus, in T. podisi mass rearing facilities, it is recommended to use older adults (5 to 10 days old) as mother wasps to increase parasitism on the offered eggs. In addition, when hosts are completely absent in the field, or climatic conditions are unfavorable for release, mass-reared adults can be kept in the laboratory (25°C) for up to 10 days for later release in the field without any impairment of their subsequent parasitism performance.

[Chronic expanding hematoma following pneumonectomy managed with a thoracic balloon: a case report].

A 64-year-old male was treated for a chronic expanding hematoma three years after pneumonectomy for left lung cancer (p T2N2M0, Stage IIIA). Two years prior to admission a left pleural effusion shadow was detected on a follow-up chest X ray, and since then there had been a progressive mediastinum shift to the right. The suspected diagnosis on referral was recurrent lung cancer or giant intrathoracic hematoma. Chest CT scans and thoracentesis led to a diagnosis of a chronic expanding hematoma developing after pneumonectomy. Surgery was performed because of the severity of symptoms and the progressive nature of the tumor. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of chronic expanding hematoma. During the operation, it was difficult to achieve hemostasis, but bleeding was effectively managed with a thoracic balloon.

Pulmonary capacity in lung cancer patients prior to lung resection--comparison of the unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion test with expired gas analysis during exercise testing.

We attempted to determine if expired gas analysis during exercise testing has equal value to the unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion test (UPAO). Sixty-four lung cancer patients were evaluated. We performed UPAO and measured mean pulmonary artery pressure (PPA) and cardiac output (C.O.) 15 min later, and calculated total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPVR). Expired gas analysis during exercise testing was performed, and the maximum oxygen consumption per unit body surface area (VO2max/m2) and the anaerobic threshold (AT/m2) were calculated. The patients were divided into two groups according to the PPA as follows: Group PPA(L) and Group PPA(H), and the TPVR as follows: Group TPVR(L) and Group TPVR(H). Comparative studies of the mean values of VO2max/m2 and AT/m2 were performed between the two groups. VO2max/m2 was significantly higher in Group PPA(L) than in Group PPA(H). VO2max/m2 was significantly higher in Group TPVR(L) than in Group TPVR(H). TPVR and VO2max/m2 showed no significant correlation, but a weak negative quadratic correlation with the equation y = 2276-246.6 logx was found. This result led a minimal acceptable levels for lung resection of Vo2max/m2 of 650 ml/min/m2 corresponding to the TPVR levels of 700 dyne.sec.cm5/m2.

[Pre-operative screening tests for lung cancer using the analysis of expired gas with exercise testing--principally VO2 max/m2].

The analysis of expired gas with exercise testing was conducted preoperatively with lung cancer patients in order to examine the relationship between maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and postoperative complications, determining the cut-off of VO2 max/m2. The usefulness of the test as a preoperative screening test for both pulmonary ventilation and circulation was evaluated in comparison to pulmonary ventilation tests with spirometry and pulmonary circulation tests with Swan-Ganz catheter. Preoperative VO2 max/m2 was calculated from VO2 max in 111 patients with lung cancer who underwent lobectomy of more than one lobe. Also preoperatively conducted were pulmonary ventilation tests by spirometry and pulmonary circulation tests using the Swan-Ganz catheter to measure VC, %VC, FEV1.0, FEV1.0%, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PPA) and cardiac output coefficient (C.I.). Form theses measurements, VC/m2, FEV1.0/m2 and total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPVR) were calculated. After the cut-off values of VO2 max/m2 were set tentatively at three stages, 600, 650 and 700 ml/min/m2 based on the incidence of postoperative complications, the 111 patients were divided into two groups in each cut-off value; one with VO2 max/m2 greater than the cut-off value and the other less than the cut-off value. Comparison of measurements obtained by spirometry between the two groups disclosed significant differences (p < 0.001) in VC/m2, %VC and FEV1.0/m2 in all cut-off values. Similarly, comparison of measurements obtained using the Swan-Ganz catheter between the two groups yielded significant differences (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01) in PPA and TPVR in all cut-off values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Evaluation of the exercise capacity recovery process after lung cancer surgery by exercise test and expire gas analysis].

This study was conducted to evaluate the numerical changes and the recovery process in exercise capacity over time, and to establish new criteria that will objectively evaluate the recovery in exercise capacity after lung surgery using an expired gas analysis incorporating an exercise test. The subjects consisted of 47 patients that underwent curative resection (only lobectomy) for lung cancer in the four years from 1989 to 1992 that were able to undergo expired gas analysis incorporating an exercise test before and after surgery. The expired gas analysis were performed within one week prior to surgery and over a period from 14 to 449 days after surgery, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and anaerobic threshold (AT) measured, and the VO2max/m2 and AT/m2 were calculated as an index by dividing by the body surface area (m2). In addition, in order to examine the changes in exercise capacity after surgery, the presurgical values were used as 100, and the rate of change after surgery found. These rate were divided into the following measuring times, and the postsurgical changes over time analyzed. The postsurgical measuring times were divided into five groups from 14-30 days (n = 11), from 31-90 days (n = 25), from 91-180 days (n = 8), from 181-270 days (n = 19), and greater than 271 days (n = 8) after surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prediction of performance status after pneumonectomy].

To predict performance status (P.S.) following pneumonectomy, patients with lung carcinoma underwent pre-surgical pulmonary function tests with spirometry and unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion test (UPAO test). Between 1980 and 1991, twenty-nine patients who had survived more than six months after surgery were selected for the study. These patients were divided into two groups according to P.S. measured at six months after surgery: 16 patients with P.S. 0 to 1 were in Group A, and 13 patients with P.S. 2 to 3 were in Group B. The results of the following tests obtained prior to surgery were compared for the two groups to predict post-surgical P.S.; vital capacity (VC), VC/m2, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0), FEV1.0/m2, predicted VC/m2 and predicted FEV1.0/m2 calculated with residual pulmonary segments, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PPA) before UPAO and 15 minutes after UPAO, total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPVR) before and during UPAO, and rate of changes in PPA and TPVR. Results obtained were as follows: Group B demonstrated significantly higher TPVR (p < 0.05) before the UPAO, PPA (p < 0.05) and TPVR (p < 0.002) during UPAO, and rate of change in TPVR (p < 0.02) than those in Group A. There were no significant differences between the two groups for other test results. From these results, lowering of post-surgical P.S. might be predicted when the TPVR during UPAO was 350 dyne.sec.cm-5/m2 or more.

[Experimental study of changes in the right-sided heart hemodynamics and in the reserve force of pulmonary vascular bed after pneumonectomy].

Experimental results are reported of the characteristic impedance in the right-sided heart hemodynamics, and of the reserve force of the pulmonary vascular bed, both in the acute phase and in the chronic phase, following pneumonectomy. To investigate the difference in the reserve force of the pulmonary vascular bed between immediately after left pneumonectomy and 30 days afterward, a total of 15 mongrel dogs were divided into three groups for investigation; Group A--examined immediately after left simple thoracotomy, Group B--immediately after left pneumonectomy, and Group C--examined at 30 days after left pneumonectomy. Immediately after left pneumonectomy (Group B), both the mean pulmonary artery pressure and the total pulmonary resistance index were higher than when after only left simple thoracotomy (Group A). However, by 30 days afterwards (Group C), there was no difference between them. The right-sided heart hemodynamics were investigated by repeated infusions through the right atrium of glass beads (diameter size 100-150 microns, 50 mg/kg). In Group C, the mean pulmonary pressure and total pulmonary resistance index did not increase over that in Group B until the volume of the infusion exceeded that in Group B until the volume of the infusion exceeded that in Group B, suggesting that Group C had a large reserve force of the pulmonary vascular bed than had Group B. Furthermore, Group C revealed a significantly decreased characteristic impedance immediately after the infusion of the glass beads compared to before the infusion, but it increased later.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transdiaphragmatic liver scanning: a new intraoperative imaging technique for examination of the liver from the thoracic cavity.

In order to examine the liver during thoracotomy, a new intraoperative imaging technique called "transdiaphragmatic liver scanning" was developed. Transdiaphragmatic scanning performed with high-frequency transducers provided clear visualization of the entire liver from the thoracic cavity through the diaphragm. In our study, transdiaphragmatic scanning was used in 27 thoracotomy operations performed for the treatment of malignant diseases, including lung and esophageal cancers. One 5-mm liver cyst, one 3-mm x 4-mm hemangioma, and one 5-mm x 6-mm ill-defined lesion (possible metastasis), all of which were unrecognized preoperatively, were detected. In 3 operations, preoperatively suspected liver metastases were excluded by transdiaphragmatic scanning. Because transdiaphragmatic scanning provides high-resolution images of the liver and is the only method capable of examining the liver during thoracotomy, this intraoperative scanning technique may become a useful tool in the evaluation of liver metastases from thoracic or mediastinal malignancies.

Operative ultrasonography for lung cancer surgery.

During 60 operations for lung cancer, high-resolution (7.5 MHz) operative ultrasonography was performed to evaluate direct cardiovascular invasion of tumor (24 operations), lymph node metastasis (30 operations), liver metastasis (13 operations). Immediately after thoracotomy or sternotomy but before tissue dissection, operative scanning enabled delineation and evaluation of the evaluation of the vessels and heart (atrium) behind or within the tumor and detection of regional lymph nodes. The accuracy of operative ultrasound in diagnosing the presence or the extent of cardiovascular invasion was 91.7% (22 of 24 operations), which was significantly (p less than 0.02) higher than preoperative studies (62.5%), including computed tomography and angiography. Of the 24 surgical procedures, 23 were consistent with operations proposed on the basis of operative ultrasound findings, whereas only 16 were consistent with preoperatively proposed (p less than 0.01). Operative ultrasound provided the capability of depicting lymph nodes as small as 3 mm. More lymph nodes (8.0 +/- 1.84 nodes per cancer) were detected with operative ultrasound than with computed tomography (4.8 +/- 1.56 nodes) (p less than 0.001); however, the sensitivity and specificity of operative ultrasound in determining lymph node metastasis were 82.4% and 67.3%, respectively. No liver metastasis was identified. The information provided by operative ultrasound regarding cardiovascular invasion and lymph node and liver metastasis was considered helpful in selecting the type of surgical procedure an in avoiding unnecessary tissue dissection.