RU 41740 (Biostim) which is a purified glycoprotein extract from Klebsiella pneumoniae, is an orally active non-specific immunostimulant. In guinea pigs, 8 days after a 7 days oral administration of RU 41740 (10 or 100 mg/kg/day), an increase in the cell population of the pulmonary and peritoneal cavities was observed, especially in that of the macrophages. RU 41740 also enhanced the phagocytic activity of both the alveolar and peritoneal macrophages, when their chemotactic activity was not significantly modified. This increase in the number of pulmonary macrophages and the stimulation of their phagocytic function might explain the protective effect afforded by the oral administration of Biostim against respiratory infections in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1987

[Role of almitrine in the treatment of chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy].

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Almitrine↗

PubMed1985

Intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour.

We report the clinical and histological characteristics of a case of intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour, a rare multicentric pulmonary neoplasm of endothelial origin. This tumour affects predominantly women under 40 years of age and causes initially few symptoms. The disease may be found incidentally on a routine chest X ray. This tumour has a low metastasizing capacity and survival rate is quite high.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Occult exposure to asbestos in steel workers revealed by bronchoalveolar lavage.

To investigate the asbestos burden in a steelplant environment, we counted asbestos bodies (ABs) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 65 steel workers who had retired during the previous 5 y. They had worked for at least 15 y in the same area of the plant (coke oven or blast furnace) as maintenance or production workers. On the basis of occupational anamnesis, 28 had occasional past professional exposure to asbestos; the remaining 37 workers denied any contact with asbestos. A total of 54 white-collar workers who had no occupational exposure to asbestos were included in the study as controls. An increased prevalence and concentration of ABs was found in the BALF of steel workers. Electron microscopy and EDAX analysis of AB from steel workers revealed that the core fibers were mainly amphiboles. More ABs were found in the BALF of maintenance workers than in production workers. However, the BALF from steel workers who denied any contact with asbestos revealed an increased AB burden v. controls. This demonstrates that steel workers may be subject to an occult exposure to amphiboles in the steelplant environment.

Asbestos↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nonfibrous mineralogical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from blast-furnace workers.

Steelworkers are exposed to many pollutants, and they are at risk for developing lung cancer. We demonstrated previously that steelworkers may be subject to an occult exposure to amphiboles in the plant environment. In the current study, we further analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of steelworkers by measuring intramacrophagic trace-metal content and nonfibrous mineral particles, using the particle-induced x-ray emission method and electron microscopy, respectively. Forty-seven blast-furnace workers and 45 healthy white-collar workers volunteered for this study. Significantly increased levels of iron, titanium, zinc, and bromine were found in the steelworkers, and levels of lead, chromium, arsenic, and strontium tended to increase in the macrophages and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the steelworkers. Nonfibrous particles, including illite, kaolinite, talc, chlorite, amorphous silica, quartz, iron (compounds), and titanium hydroxide, were found in both groups, but the particle number per ml bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (particularly iron hydroxides and silicates) was more pronounced in blast-furnace workers. These elements and particles may act synergistically with other occupational carcinogens and cigarette smoke, the result of which may be an increased incidence of lung cancer in the ironsteel industry.

Adult↗