The hepatic involvement in adults suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis is variable. The incidence has varied from 0 to 20 per cent in the studies made in India. A histopathologic study of the liver tissue obtained by needle biopsy was carried out in 100 subjects suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis, 13 of whom showed enlargement of the liver. Biopsy specimens from eight subjects (8%) exhibited presence of tubercles in the portal tracts; of them only one showed caseation. All the eight had enlarged liver and the disease was extensive in their lungs. Non-specific changes wore noted in specimens obtained from 69 subjects and they were of the nature of Kupffer cell hyperplasia, fatty infiltration and round cell infiltration. In twenty three subjects no abnormality was revealed on the examination of biopsy spocimons. No acid-fast bacilli was demonstrated in any of the liver biopsy specimens. Low incidence of granuloma and absence of caseation suggest that the liver offers an unfavourable environment for the growth and development of tubercle bacilli.

From forced vital capacity (FVC) tracings obtained in 185 healthy non-smoking men between 19 and 62 years of age, FVC, Forced Expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and mean flow rates (V mean) at 25, 50, 62.5, 75 and 87.5% of FVC were derived. Normal values, correlation coefficients and regression equations are tabulated. A Mean Flow Volume curve was plotted with V mean on the ordinate against FVC volumes on the abscissa on which was also indicated the FEV1. This is similar to the Maximal Expiratory Flow Volume Curve, except that mean flows from spirometry are used instead of maximal flows which require special equipment. The clinician needs measure only three mean flow rates at 25, 50 and 75% of FVC to plot the curve. This format gives a rapid visual display of all the significant data obtainable from spirometry.

Initiation and maintaining factors of smoking habit among 100 adult Indian male cigaretto smokers and their attitude towards smoking have been studied. The inferences drawn are the following :- Education among senior school and college going boys regarding hazards of smoking habit is very important. A large majority of boys start smoking, out of ignorance, under the influence of advertisements/friends to experience the thrills associated with this habit-none the less, an injurious one. Once a person has started smoking, he continues with the habit to get some positive feeling (like stimulation, pleasure, relaxation etc.) or for reducing a negative feeling (like anxiety/tension, craving etc.). For a successful anti-smoking campaign a study of the incriminating factors is important t o provide suitable remedial measures. A great majority of smokers consider the habit as a waste and do not relish their near and dear ones taking to it.

Lung function studies were performed among 123 Vocal musicians, and the data are compared with South Indian norms. No significant differences are noted among the two groups of subjects.

Salbutamol and Theophylline both cause bronchodilation by increasing cellular cyclic AMP using different mechanisms. A combination of these drugs in small dosages was critically assessed in 36 perennial asthmatics by comparing it with the individual components of the tablet for its bronchodilator efficacy. Also a week's drug trial of the combination was administered for determining the side effects. The combination appeared to be superior due to the synergestic effect with no added side effects.

Eighty patients with Clinico radiologic diagnosis of lung cancer were subjected to rigid bronchoscopic examination and brushings material was simultaneously collected in all cases. Forty two of these 80 patients were cytopathologically positive for malignancy, giving a positivity rate of 52.5% for this method. There were 31 patients in whom both punch biopsies and brushings material were submitted. The positivity rates for punch biopsy alone and brush cytology alone were 23 (74.2%) of 31 and 20 (64.5%) of 31 subjects respectively. However, when both the methods were combined the positivity rate rose to 90.3%. These findings justify the use of brush cytology as a routine even with a rigid bronchoscope. The findings thus suggest that in institutes where flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy is not a routine, pulmonary cancer detection rates can be improved with the bronchial brush cytology method.

Available details of four cases of mediastinal adenopathy with a probable diagnosis of tuberculosis are presented. The possibility of the lesions being a manifestation of adult tuberculosis and the difficulties of establishing a diagnosis are discussed in each case. However. clinical response to anti-tubercular drugs has been observed in all the four cases; thus lending support to the aetiology.

A case of oat-cell carcinoma in a young male is reported. The patient expectorated tumour tissue in his sputum repeatedly.