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Following surgical removal of esophageal tumors, leakage and mediastinitis is a frequent and often fatal complication. A new method has been developed to seal suture lines in the esophagus with preparations containing fibrinogen, cold insoluble globulin, factor XIII, antiplasmin, platelet growth factor, thrombin, and calcium chloride. In experimental animals operated on by standard methods, esophageal leakage developed in 50% of the animals and death in 40%. By contrast, in treated animals, esophageal leak and death developed in only 20%. More adhesions were found in treated animals than in control animals.

Hypercalcemia and hypercalcemic crisis are common and often life threatening complications of neoplastic disease. Even moderately increased mobilization of skeletal calcium can result in significant osteoporosis. This in turn can give rise to pathologic fractures, often followed by pulmonary fat embolism and death. Bone pain is at times the first sign of neoplastic disease and the reason for seeking medical help.

Stumptailed monkeys (Macaca arctoides) received 2000 rad irradiation to the upper half of the esophagus and to the bladder by a 6-MEV linear accelerator. Endoscopy and biopsy was obtained from these organs weekly for 3 weeks. At the end of this period, the animals were autopsied and histopathologic examination undertaken. Sodium meclofenamate in doses of 5-20 mg/kg/day p.os was found effective in reducing or preventing radiation induced esophagitis and cystitis.

This study describes an experimental model for the investigation of nephrotoxicity in which the aminoglycoside, gentamicin, is given after unilateral ureteral obstruction is produced. The preliminary findings indicate a significantly more severe loss of renal function in the obstructed kidney which receives gentamicin than in the obstructed kidney which does not.