Cystic fibrosis occurs in India more commonly than has been believed so far. The diagnosis has to be established after clinical screening by the careful application of iontophoresis with pilocarpine to establish elevated chloride and sodium in the sweat. In Indian conditions in the adolescent and early adult life the disease is not as lethal as in some centres elsewhere. Clinicians should insist on proper sweat chloride estimation in any suspected cystic fibrosis patients. The clinical profile is presented.

Study of serial peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) changes in 30 patients of bronchial asthma showed maximum improvement following oral administration of the drug at four hours, while maximum improvement following inhalational and intravenous route occurred at 90 minutes. On inter group comparison, inhalational and intravenous routes were found to be superior to oral route upto 90 minutes, but at four hours the differences were statistically non-significant in inhalational group. When the intervals. A high incidence of side effects was observed with intravenous salbutamol while inhalational route was remarkably free from side effects. Inhalational route of salbutamol is recommended for long term management of stable bronchial asthma.

Effects Of various yogic exercises (Kriyas, Asans and Pranayams) were assessed in 41 patients of bronchial asthma over a period of six to eight weeks. Measurements of various lung function parameters showed improvement in 36 cases to varying degrees. However five patients showed a decline in these values. 30 patients felt subjective improvement in their symptoms. The literature has been reviewed.

The accuracy of radiologic method in determining total lung capacity (TCL) was assessed by correlating radiologic TLC values with those obtained by Helium dilution method. Total lung capacity was estimated by both the methods in 60 normal healthy adult subjects and 30 patients of obstructive and restrictive lung diseases. Excellent correlation was found between these two methods in case of normal subjects and interstitial lung disease patients. No correlation however, was found in chronic obstructive airways disease patients.

Twenty-six patients (mean age - 38.82 years, age range – 14-68 years; male: female-1.6: 1) having uncontrolled haemoptysis due to varied etiology (unknown-9, bronchiectasis-5, tuberculosis-5, bronchogenic carcinoma-4, others-3) were treated with infusion of diluted Batroxobin (2-4 ml.) through fiber optic bronchoscope (FOB). It achieved effective haemostasis in 24 out of 26 patients (nine patients with > 200 ml. bleed). It was very effective in achieving haemostasis in all the 26 patients with past punch biopsy bleed (two patients with > 200 ml. bleed). No untoward side effects could be attributed to Batroxobin infusion. It is recommended in patients with uncontrolled haemoptysis (with no underlying bleeding disorder) to tide over the crisis.

A total of 1441 patients were admitted to a study containing Short Course regimen with three anti - tuberculosis drugs viz., Rifampicin, Isoniazid and Pyrazinamide over a period of four years in Pondicherry and 986 completed treatment. Fifty-nine (6%) of those who had completed treatment, complained of one or more adverse reactions with the drugs. Jaundice was reported by eight (0.8%), giddiness by 16 (1.6%) joint pains by 17 (1.77%), vomiting by six (0.3%), gastritis by six (0.6%) and skin rashes by three (0.3%). The acceptability of the drug under programe conditions is encouraging. The biochemical investigations carried out in a section of the 1441 patients are also presented and discussed.

A case of an unusual foreign body of plum seed in an adult who presented with right upper lobe collapse is reported herewith because of the rarity of its location in right upper lobe bronchus

Hamartoma is a slowly growing benign neoplasm, constituting 6-8% of pulmonary nodules (SPN) occurring in the lung. A case of hamartoma presenting as a SPN which doubled 2.37 times in volume in five years from 1984 to ' 89 while from 1980-' 84 it showed no change in its size is reported.