Airway epithelial damage and inflammation in children with recurrent bronchitis.

Inflammation and epithelial damage of the bronchial mucosa are frequently identified in children with bronchial diseases. Nevertheless, until now the quantitative assessment of the epithelial damage has never been studied in relation to clinical or respiratory function or mucus abnormalities. Bronchial biopsies and brushings were performed in 31 children with recurrent bronchitis and without atopia. The quantitative histologic data were compared with clinical results, the endoscopic appearance of the mucosa, ciliary beating frequency, mucus transport capacity, leukocyte count, and protein concentration in mucus samples. Most of the biopsies (87%) collected in this group of children without recent acute infections showed extensive epithelial damage. A significant correlation was observed between the degree of shedding and edema (p < 0.01). Bronchial epithelial edema was associated with a significantly decreased (p < 0.01) mucus transport rate. Inflammation of the submucosa was significantly correlated with lymphocyte epithelial infiltration (p < 0.01), total mucus protein content (p < 0.01), and local airway inflammation estimated by bronchoscopy. These results demonstrate that children with recurrent bronchitis develop a severe bronchial inflammation associated with an increased mucus protein content and a reduction in the mucociliary function.

[Anaplastic small-cell bronchial carcinoma of the composite type]. / Carcinome bronchique anaplasique à petites cellules de type composite.

The authors report an anatomico-clinical case (with ultrastructural study) of bronchial anaplastic carcinoma with composite, triple differentiation oat-cell subtype. The patient underwent early surgical excision followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. With the help of data from the literature concerning this composite subtype which suggests new theories on the histogenesis of bronchial cancer, the authors emphasize the value of surgical treatment for this unusual subtype of anaplastic carcinoma.

[A case of Carrington's chronic eosinophilic pneumonia associated with bronchocentric granulomatosis in an asthmatic patient]. / A propos d'un cas de pneumonie chronique à éosinophiles de Carrington associée à une granulomatose broncho-centrique chez une asthmatique.

A case of Carrington's chronic eosinophilic pneumonia associated with bronchocentric granulomatosis in a young asthmatic woman is reported. Among the numerous forms of "eosinophilic lung", the characteristic features of these two diseases in asthmatic patients are briefly described. Concerning the association, the authors have found that some authors suggest a common nosological framework with many transitional forms.

[Accidental poisoning by volatile hydrocarbons in children (apropos of 57 cases)]. / Intoxication accidentelle par les hydrocarbures volatils chez l'enfant (a propos de 57 observations.

Most of the accidentally intoxicated children who are admitted into hospital have swallowed volatile hydrocarbons. The ingested products are either aliphatic hydrocarbons, whether white spirit or petrol, or aromatic hydrocarbons. We have collected informations upon 57 children admitted into the pediatric department of The American Memorial Hospital in Reims, from 1973 to 1982. The children's average age is 24 months and they have usually swallowed very small amounts of the products. Early clinical manifestations involve mainly respiratory and digestive systems, while the most frequent manifestation is high fever. The early roentgenologic manifestations have a predominantly alveolar pattern which is to be found in the lower lobes. The appearance of pneumatoceles is the typical roentgenologic disturbance. The recovery is usually complete. Hydrocarbons directly reach the lungs down the respiratory tract-even without the children's swallowing down the wrong tract-owing to the physical characteristics of those products. That accounts for any gastric lavage being both unnecessary and dangerous.