In a placebo-controlled study; forty patients of acute asthma were randomly allocated to two groups of 20 patients each. The treatment group received Aminophylline bolus injection followed by infusion, in addition to intravenous hydrocortisone and nebulised salbutamol. The control group received placebo instead of aminophylline. Rest of the treatment remained the same. Both the groups were followed up for 13 hours during which their clinical response in the form of Wood's asthma score and objective response by Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) was monitored at 0,1,5,9 and 13 hours. Aminophylline levels were estimated at 2 and 8 hours. Wood’s asthma score and PEFR showed significant improvement in both the groups as compared to 0 hour (p<0.001) but the two groups did not differ from each other at any point of time (p<0.05). The mean serum theophylline concentration in the treatment group was 14.93±4.33 µg/dl at 2 hours and 14.64±4.7 µg/dl at 8 hours, both of which were within the therapeutic range. The adverse drug reactions were more frequent in the treatment group as compared to the control group. Our study showed that theophylline adds to the toxicity and cost of treatment of acute asthma with no additional benefit.

Anti A-60 IgG titers were measured in sixty patients of tuberculous lymphadenitis by ELISA technique. Twenty two (36.67%) patients were found to have IgG levels upto 300 units, twelve (20%) had between 301-600 units and twenty six (43.33%) patients more than 600 units. Mean IgG titers marginally increased with the advancement of age, being lowest in 0-14 years age group (441.33 units) and highest in 25 and above age group (608.33 units). Similarly mean IgG titers significantly increased with duration of illness. Highest mean IgG titers (906.67 units) were found in patients with more than six months duration of illness and lowest in patients with less than three months duration of illness (356.67 units). No significant effects of sex, size, site and multiply of lymphnodes were noticed on IgG titers. After three months of anti-tubercular treatment (ATT), increase in IgG titers was observed in twenty one (35%) patients and decline in thirty nine (65%) patients. At six months of treatment all patients showed decline, and forty two (70%) patients became seronegative. It was concluded that humoral immune response of mycobacterial infection in patients with tubeculous lymphadenitis was similar to that of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Slightly higher IgG titers were found in higher age group patients. IgG titers increased significantly with duration of illness. Anti tubercular therapy resulted in decline in IgG titers. Some patients showed increase in titers as a response to therapy during first few months and eventually fell to reach insignificant levels.

A case of Achalasia Cardia is presented.