Three hundred non-smoking women, of whom 200 had asthma, were interviewed in Chest Clinic with the help of a questionnaire regarding cooking habits and smoke in kitchen. Asthmatics were also questioned about their drug requirements, and the number of acute episodes, emergency room visits, hospitalization and days off work in the preceding one year. Use of biomass fuel was significantly more common among asthmatic women than the controls (25.%vs.4.0%). There was no significant increase in any of the indices of morbidity from asthma among patients using either king of fuel. However, patients using biomass fuels and having smoking kitchens had a higher number of emergence room visits and days off work per patients than patients using similar fuels but having relatively less smoky kitchen (P<0.05). We conclude that indoor air pollution from biomass fuel combustion does not cause increased morbidity among non-smoking women with asthma, except probably where the exposure is heavier and persistent.

This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of salbutamol alone and ipratropium bromide alone with salbutamol plus ipratropium bromide combined, through inhalational route in stable patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study was carried out in 97 patients of COPD. Salbutamol inhalation was administered to 32 patients and ipratropium bromide inhalation was given to 29 patients. 36 patients were treated with the combination of salbutamol and ipratropium bromide inhalations. Pulmonary functions were recorded before and after 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes of inhalation of bronchodilator drug(s). Bronchodilation was significantly more in patients treated with the combination therapy as compared to patients treated with salbutamol or ipratropium bromide separately. It was more sustained in the combination therapy, as the effect started declining after 120 minites in salbutamol, after 180 minutes in ipratropium bromide and after 240 minutes in combination therapy with ipratropium and salbutamol. Thus, ipratropium bromide plus salbutamol combination therapy is better in patients of COPD than treated with either of the agents alone.

Setting: Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, Government Medical College, Nagpur. Objective: To Study the incidence of hyperuricaemia during antituberculous treatment and the relation of pyrazinamide and ethambutol to hyperuricaemia and manifest toxicity. Design: Hospital based prospective intervention study with three groups of 100 patients each and a control group of 50 patients. The following regimens were prescribed: i) 2EHR/10HT (Group E), ii) 2HRZ/6HT (Group Z), iii) 2EHRZ/6HT (Group EZ) and iv) the control regimen, 9HR(Group HR) Results: The incidence of hyperuricaemia was estimated to be 17%, 20% and 48% in Groups E, Z and EZ respectively, which increased with the duration of treatment and the incidence of arthralgia was calculated to be 3%, 6% and 14% in Groups E, Z and EZ respectively. Conclusion: This study confirms the earlier observation that the effect of pyrazinamide and ethambutol is more when they are administered simultaneously rather than separately. Arthralgia also followed a similar trend.

The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence and pattern of respiratory morbidity among cotton textile workers and comparison group and to study epidemiological factors associated with respiratory morbidity. This cross-sectional study consisted of 514 cotton textile workers and equal number of neighbourhood controls. Controls were group matched for age and were chosen from occupations other than cotton textile or any other form of cotton dust exposure. The overall prevalence of respiratory morbid conditions among cotton textile workers and comparison group was 19.6% and 13.4% respectively (P<0.05). Significantly higher prevalence to their occupational exposure. Age > 30 years, dust exposure, duration of exposure> 10 years and smoking were found to be significant risk factors on univariate and multivariate analyses.

Giant cell tumours of the bones rarely involve ribs and the spine. We present a case of such tumor arising from the adjoining parts of a rib and spine and presenting as a posterior mediastinal tumour.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum has been rarely described in patients with interstitial lung disorders. We present a patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who developed this complication during the course of treatment.

The most common frequently fatal, opportunistic pulmonary infection is Pneumocystis carinii infection. It is also an eminently treatable disease if diagnosed early. Here, we are reporting a case of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a lady who had renal transplantation two years back, human immunodeficiency virus negative and presented with an acute clinicoradiological picture.

An Unusual case of desquamative interstitial pneumonitis is described. The patient presented with an acute respiratory illness, had extensive bilateral lesions and died in three weeks of her illness.