Digital monitoring of peak air leakage and patterns of air leakage were useful for predicting prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection. Information on the disappearance of air leak could be derived from the change in the rate of air leakage and from the increase in fluctuation of pleural pressure.

ABSTRACT. The inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ), pentoxifylline (PTX) and dexamethasone (DEX) was investigated in a model of endotoxin shock in Holstein calves following an intravenous administration of Esherichia coli endotoxin (LPS). Initial correlations with its effects on the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a pivotal mediator of endotoxin shock, and clinical signs were obtained. The pretreatment of CPZ or DEX significantly decreased the serum levels of TNF, and reduced endotoxic shock. But the pretreatment of PTX hardly reduced the increase of serum TNF levels and endotoxin shock. The levels of serum endotoxin were not significantly different a minute of postinjection of LPS in calves. The results of this study indicate that pretreatment of CPZ or DEX inhibit various biological effects on endotoxin in calves. -KEY WORDS: calf, LPS, TNF.

Hemangioma is a rare tumor of the mediastinum. We report a case of cavernous hemangioma of the anterior mediastinum that was incidentally detected by chest radiography during a routine health check. A mass lesion was seen in the anterior mediastinum on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the chest. Because a thymoma with cystic degeneration was suspected preoperatively, extended thymectomy was performed. The tumor was confined to the left lobe of the thymus without invasion into the adjacent structures. It measured 42x32x17 mm, and was completely resected without any major bleeding. Pathological examination led to the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma. A total of 61 cases of mediastinal hemangioma, including our case, reported in Japan over the past 50 years are reviewed.

ABSTRACT. The effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ), pentoxifylline (PTX) and dexamethasone (DEX) on mRNA expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory cytokines were examined in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. The expression of inflammatory cytokine mRNAs was analyzed by RT-PCR and Southern blot hybridization in bovine PBMCs. CPZ and DEX decreased the expression of cytokine mRNA (such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α) after stimulation with LPS in a dose-dependent manner. However, pretreatment with PTX had no inhibitory effect on the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines. These results indicated that pretreatment with CPZ and DEX might be effective to reduce the production of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines in bovine PBMCs in vitro.

This regimen is feasible in the treatment of patients with completely resected NSCLC. A multicenter phase III trial is warranted to assess the efficacy of this regimen at promoting survival and preventing recurrence.