A case of transient myocarditis, complicating pneumococcal pneumonia is reported.

A 45 year old male who developed eosinophilic pleural effusion after administration of metoprolol is described. This type of reaction with metoprolol has not been reported so far and hence this report.

Sixty six patients, clinico-radiologically suspected to be having lung cancer were subjected to rigid bronchoscopic examination. Bronchial washings, brushings, punch biopsy (whenever possible), pleural fluid (if there was effusion) and post-bronchoscopic sputa (2-4 samples) were collected. The positive diagnosis of lung cancer by single specimen examination like sputum, washing, brushing, pleural fluid and biopsy was 57.6%, 33.3%, 56.1%, 4.5% and 35.2% respectively. Multiple cytologic study raises the detection to 68.2%. When cytology was combined with histopathology the positivity rate went up to 72.7% in bronchoscopically visible tumours cytology and histopathology studies in combination yield 91.4% positive disgnosis.

Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is rare. A 50 year old man clinically euthyroid presenting with lump in the neck is described. The diagnosis is confirmed on aspiration needle biopsy.

A total of 1006 Samples of fiberoptic bronchoscopic channel aspirate were cultured before scopy. This revealed growth of pathogenic organisms in 23 of them. 967 samples were sterile. In the authors’ opinion, routine culture of bronchoscopic channel aspirate is indicated so as to confirm the sterile status of the Fiberoptic bronchoscopic (FOB) channel and to avoid iatrogenic infection in patients undergoing these procedures.

Coned lateral radiographs of sella turcica were studied in 65 patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with associated hypercapnia and hypoxemia. Abnormal changes in sella were seen in 27 patients. Two out of 25 age-matched controls showed corresponding changes. Difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01) A close correlation was observed between the presence of abnormal sellar changes and the arterial Pco2 levels. Age, sex, smoking history and duration of symptomatology did not have any effect on the occurrence of these abnormal sellar changes. The above changes are probably secondary to chronic raised intracranial tension caused by hypercapnia.

Patients with chronic, unexplained cough were investigated for the diagnosis of occult asthma by methacholine bronchoprovocation test. Sixteen out of 26 cases showed hyper-reactivity of the airways with 20% or more reduction in FEV1 after a Provocation dose of 2.5 mg/ml or less. None of the 16 control subjects reacted with this dose. It is concluded that asthma is an important cause of chronic cough in this region and in case of suspicion methacholine bronchoprovocation test is helpful.

The oxygen consumption (VO2 max) was estimated in 30 state level sportsmen of different events (athletics, judo, volleyball boxing) during maximal exercise on a treadmill. Pyruvate and lactate levels in venous blood were estimated before and immediately after the exercise. No significant differences were seen in VO2max, blood pyruvate and blood lactate in sportsmen of different events. The VO2 max, and lactate build up in the present study were lower than the reported levels for National and International level sportsmen.