Hydatidosis is a strict zoonosis, man acquiring the infection from dogs harbouring Echinococcus granulosus. The numerous reports and surveys available from lndia reveal its occurrence in most of the States of which Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu predominate. Reports of Pulmonary hydatidosis from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are reviewed. Surgery is undoubtedly the sure method of cure for this parasitic disease and anthelmintics are of little value. Not enough is known of the epidemiology and epizootiology of hydatidosis in India. Preventive measures include observance of stricter hygienic standards, exercising of utmost caution in feeding dogs with meat and systematic medication of dogs with arecoline hydrobromide, the anthelmintic of choice. The application of advanced radiographic techniques and the collaboration of clinicians, surgeons and parasitologists in the country are urged in tackling the problem of pulmonary hydatidosis.

Weekly serum uric acid concentrations were estimated in 118 patients on various pyrazinamide (PZA) regimens and in 70 patients on non-pyrazinamide regimens. Hyperuricemia was encountered in 45 per cent at the end of first week, 72 percent by end of second week, and 79 per cent by end of fourth week in patients taking pyrazinamide and in none of the patients on non-pyrazinamide regimens except two on streptomycin, isoniazid and ethambutol (SHE) regimen. There was a continuous rise in serum uric acid levels throughout the four weeks observation period; however, the maximum increase was observed during first week. Though statistically highly significant (P<0.001), elevations in uric acid levels caused by ethambutol were of smaller magnitude as compared to pyrazinamide, it only marginally raised the a low incidence being observed in those on rifampicin containing regimens.

Ten patients with malignant pleural effusion secondary to spread from underlying bronchogenic carcinoma were treated with intrapleural instillation of tetracycline and thoracostomy drainage. The procedure prevented reaccumulation of fluid in the pleural space in six patients over six months follow-up and two patients who died in three months from progress of the underlying disease did not demonstrate reaccumulation of fluid during that period. In two patients the treatment failed to prevent reaccumulation of fluid. The procedure is safe, simple and effective (80%) and can be carried out in any hospital. Tetracycline acts as an effective sclerosing agent to bring about pleural symphysis.

Patients with unilateral lung involvement were evaluated with lateral position test (L.P.T.). The severity of the disease of each lung was qualitatively measured. This is the spirometric test which to a large extent accurately measures the percentage of differential ventilation of each lung and the paper discusses the method and its merits.

The findings of Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy carried out in 50 patients of smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis are detailed in this report. All smears were stained by Ziehl-Neelson method and examined under light microscope. The bronchial aspirate smears were examined by concentration method and cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Prebronchoscopy and postbronchoscopy sputum specimens were treated similarly. Prebronchoscopy sputum culture was positive in 14% of the patients only. While bronchial aspirate smear could detect acid fast bacilli in 21 (42%) patients, culture of bronchial aspirato for tubercle bacilli yielded positive results in 35 (70%) patients. Of the remaining 15 patients two were found positive for tubercle bacilli on postbronchoscopy sputum culture. Thus, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was found to be a useful procedure in the diagnosis of smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis.

The present paper deals with the results of an exploratory study of 52 house-dust samples taken randomly between April-September, 1982, from 30 houses in Bombay occupied by persons with or without suspected respiratory allergy to house-dust. Out of 52 house-dust samples examined for the presence of mites by the floatation method, 48 samples were found to contain mites. The most common species was Dermatophagoides farinae which was particularly abundant in floor-dust followed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus which showed dominating occurrence in matress-dust of allergic patients. Other than mites, allergenic pollen and fungal spores were also detected in the dust samples.

Eleven patients of tropical eosinophilie had their lung functions studied before and after successful treatment with diethyl carbamazine. There was significant improvement of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) and Absolute Eosinophil Count (AEC) within a period of eight weeks providing yet another supportive evidence in favour of filarial etiology in this entity.

The case of a fifty year old house wife admitted to the Government General Hospital, Madras, with complaints of vague chest pain of four years duration is reported. Investigations revealed a solitary pulmonary nodule situated over the apex of the right lung posteriorly. lnspite of thorough investigations, it could not be made out whether the tumour was benign or malignant. As the diagnosis was in doubt, she was taken up for thoracotomy, where a 2’’/2'' circumscribed solid tumour was removed from the posterior mediastinum at the apex of the right lung. Histopathological examination clinched the diagnosis of schwannoma.