Broncho Alveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) from 30 asthmatics and 20 age and sex matched controls was analysed for fluid recovery, TLC, DLC and mast cells. In asthmatics, fluid recovery was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) TLC was similar to that of controls and DLC revealed a significant increase in eosinophils (p < 0.05) and a slight decrease in macrophages. Mast Cells were significantly increased in asthmatics (p < 0.05). BALF eosinophilia, as seen in asthmatics, is a primary inflammatory event of the airways and not secondary to peripheral blood eosinophilia. Besides, peripheral blood eosinophilia was not a constant finding in all asthmatics. BALF eosinophils increased with increasing severity of asthma (FEV1) and similarly mast cells also Increased with increasing severity of the disease. Out of the two, mast cells correlated better with the severity.

A short-course chemotherapy trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and the reliability of a self-administered Intermittent drug scheme in the existing programme conditions, after in initial period of one month hospitalisation. 1184 newly diagnosed and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients were treated for six months with 1 S7 R7 H7 Z7 + 5H2 R2 drug regimen. The continuation phase of Intermittent chemotherapy was totally unsupervised. Treatment was discontinued in 39 patients due to drug toxicity. While 14 patients died during treatment, 16 others continued their treatment elsewhere. 78% patients completed treatment as per the protocol. Bacteriological conversion was 85% at the end of the two months treatment. The relapse rate was 4.9% after 30 months follow up. Thus, this self-administered intermittent short course chemotherapy is highly effective in field condition, quite acceptable to patients and economically feasible for introduction in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme.

Adenosine deaminase activity was estimated in 80 patients of pleural effusions of different etiologies. Patients were classified into three groups (tuberculous (62) / malignant (13) / transudates (5)) based on etiological diagnosis made on pleural biopsy, fluid examination and other investigations. ADA activity was found to be significantly higher In tuberculous effusions (66.41 ± 29.31) when compared to malignant and transudative effusions (p < 0.001). Out of 62 cases of tuberculous pleural effusion, 61 had ADA activity > 38 IU. No correlation was found between ADA activity and total lymphocyte count as well as Mantoux reactivity (r =0.337, p > 0.05). The estimation of ADA activity proved to be simple, cheap and sensitive (98.4%) with positive predictive value of 100%.

Sixty patients who had biopsy proved peripheral bronchogenic carcinoma had undergone broncho alveolar lavage fluid cytology investigation. Thirty-nine patients (65%) had malignancy picked up in this way. BAL fluid cytology could help In the diagnosis of peripheral lung carcinoma.

A case of congenital Bochdalek hernia on right side in an adult male is reported. He presented with a short history of abdominal symptoms. Mental retardation and clubbing were present. He declined surgery and Improved on conservative management.

A case of pulmonary hydatid disease complicated by hydropneumothorax presented as acute abdomen. It has responded well to intercostal drainage and albendazole therapy.