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A model of plant succession has been built for simulating the growth of six species, based on physiological processes such as photosynthesis, growth and maintenance respiration, carbon allocation, nitrogen absorption, fixation and remobilisation, organ mortality, seed dispersal and germination. The simulated global plant productivity decreases in response to an increase in soil nitrogen availability. The reason is a replacement of the rapidly-growing legume species by slow-growing shrub species that are higher than the legume and thus shade it. This paradoxical result could have a wide application field.

We analysed 150 cases of primary lung cancers investigated by bronchial aspirate and biopsy methods with clinical, radiologic and bronchoscopic findings. Among the 150 cases studied, three were characterized by mixed tumor cell components, thus allowing 153 cyto-histological comparisons. The cytologic and histopathologic typing agreed strictly in 102 cases of 153 (66.7%) and was considered as correct in 40 cases (26.1%). Only cases with divergent evaluation between small-cell carcinoma and non small-cell carcinoma were considered as discordant: such misclassification occurred in 11 specimens (7.2%), including two cases with mixed patterns. The cytologic typing was in agreement with the final diagnosis in all epidermoid carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, large-cell carcinomas and poorly differentiated carcinomas. In small-cell carcinomas, cytology was in agreement with histopathology in 20 of 26 cases (77%), and could only indicate undifferentiated features in four cases (15.4%). The analysis of bronchial aspirate specimens gave reliable typing in 92% of cases, and indicated a better tumor cell differentiation than histopathology in 6.5% of cases. The results obtained show that aggressive treatments can be reliably proposed on the basis of cytologic findings, even without tissue corroboration. This proposal is particularly helpful in cases where biopsy cannot be performed (peripheral lesions) or creates a danger to the patient (iatrogenic hemorrhage).

The authors record a case of semi-delayed hypersensitivity to sausage dust in an employee of a wholesale pork butcher and curing business. The symptoms combined cough and fever with rigors; there were no clinical or laboratory data to suggest alveolar disease. The immunoallergic "work-up" suggested a precipitin mediated disease with notably 10-14 precipitation arcs to the products of sausage sweepings. A microbiological analysis of the flora of the sausages, as well as an extensive search for precipitins and cutaneous tests have not enabled us to confirm the antigen responsible with certainty.

This study involved 14 cases or pleural effusions or ascites rich in amylase and unrelated to chronic pancreatitis, a pseudo-cyst of the pancreas or acute pancreatitis. A pleural effusion rich in amylase may be secondary to a pancreatic neoplasm but this possibility seems rare. Amylase-containing effusions related to a nonpancreatic neoplasm are more common. The lesion is in general an advanced pleuro-pulmonary carcinoma, frequently an adenocarcinoma. The amylase activity of neoplastic effusion fluid is significantly increased but although levels similar to those of certain pancreatic effusions may be seen, very high figures would appear to be rare. Finally, two cases of amylase-rich pleural effusions were related to a pleuro-digestive fistula and one left-sided effusion was secondary to abdominal trauma.

If mediastinal lymph-node calcifications are frequent, the "hodgkinian" origin of these calcified adenopathies is unusual; less than 30 cases are reported in the literature. A new observation is described here. These lymph-node calcifications occur most often after radiotherapy; exceptionally "hodgkinian" adenopathies can appear ready-calcified.

A cyclic and sequential combination of adriamycin, vincristine (or VM 26) and cyclophosphamide was used, with a follow up of 4 to 33 months in 38 patients with a "micro-cellular" carcinoma of the lung. Radiotherapy was used in association in a variable manner. Chemotherapy alone resulted in marked regression of the lesions (regression is greater than 50%) in approximately 65 per cent of cases and a level of complete regression which varied from 31 to 45 per cent according to the degree of diffusion of the lesions at the time of admission. In this study, survival in apparently localised forms was 70 per cent after one year and 55 per cent at eighteen months, whilst it was 34 per cent at one year and nil at eighteen months in patients with evidence of metastatic disease at the time of entry. These encouraging results indicate a hope for improvement, in certain patients reacting favourably to this protocol, in the still grave prognosis of "small cell" carcinoma of the lung.

We report a case, cytologically diagnosed, of broncho-alveolar cancer associated with localised interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. This association of fibrosis with bronchiolo-alveolar cancer is classical and a pathogenic affiliation has been deduced by the majority of authors. We review the pathogenesis in relation to recent datas concerning the activation of successive oncogenes: the first stage of carcinogenesis may correspond to the activation of an oncogene coding for a fibroblastic growth factor leading to fibrosis.

The pleurisies rich in amylase of the chronic pancreatitis and of pancreatic pseudo-cysts, studied in 20 cases, are quite unfrequent (0.5% of pleurisies of all kinds in the medical milieu). A pseudo-cyst was found 12 times out of 20 and a chronic pancreatitis without pseudocyst was found 8 times out of 20. Pleural effusion has a definite diagnostic valve, because in 70% of cases pancreatopathy cannot be recognized before it happens. The pleural liquid is rich in proteins and haemorrhagic in 2/3 of cases and its amylasic activity is either high or very high. Amylase level in pleural liquid is usually superior to amylasemia. The injection of lipiodol in the pleural cavity enables the visualization of a transdiaphragmatic fistula but this examination is not always well tolerated. The preoperatory cystography can opacify the pleura. In the absence of pseudo-cyst, medical treatment can dry the pleurisy in 70% of cases but does not modify the evolution of the pancreatic affection which will require surgery. Where a pseudo-cyst is concerned, surgery will often and quickly be the remedy.

Two case-reports are presented to support the hypothesis that bronchiectasis may occasionally be associated with a partial deficiency of T lymphocyte functions. This deficiency would represent another etiology of the heterogenous sino-pulmonary syndrome of which several causes have been identified or postulated: immunoglobulin deficiency, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, mucociliary abnormality, phagocytosis or bactericidia abnormalities, etc.

In two brothers treated for severe pulmonary emphysema, was demonstrated an alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency associated with a ZZ phenotype (Pi system). The authors carried out a genetic study of the family including 60 members spread over 4 generations. In all, were demonstrated 4 subjects of phenotype ZZ, 29 of phenotype MZ, 3 of phenotype MS ; one subject had a phenotype SZ and 23 members of this family had normal levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin and were of phenotype MM. The disease was transmitted in all cases as an autosomic codominant. The interest of a study of the phenotype in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is emphasized together with the practical steps to be taken on discovery of a subject with the allele responsible for a reduction in serum levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin.