Tuberculous endometritis: a clinicopathological study of 1000 cases

Summary. A histopathological diagnosis of tuberculous endometritis was made in 2.3% of 42 770 specimens of non-pregnant endometrial curet-tings and biopsies examined in Delhi. A retrospective analysis of the women with tuberculous endometriosis showed that 62% were in their third decade and the commonest presenting symptoms were infertility (47%) and amenorrhoea (26%). Discrete granulomas were seen in 60%. In the absence of a typical granuloma dilatation of glands, active destruction of epithelium and inflammatory exudate in the lumen suggested tubercular aetiology.     

Comparison of sodium cromoglycate pressurized aerosol and powder in the treatment of asthma

The effect of a pressurized aerosol formulation of sodium cromoglycate divided in doses of 8 mg a day was compared with that of a standard sodium cromoglycate powder (80 mg a day) in a double blind crossover trial lasting 16 weeks. No significant differences between the two formulations were detected in terms of patients' asthma severity and lung function, recorded monthly at the clinic and daily by the patients. The pressurized aerosol in a much smaller dose appears to be as effective a method as standard cromoglycate, and an alternative method of inhaling sodium cromoglycate for patients who prefer an aerosol to a dry powder formulation.     

并存甲状腺癌的多原发恶性肿瘤：附18例临床分析

我院自１９６４－１９９０年间收治１８例并存甲醇腺癌的多原发恶性瘤病人，甲状腺癌为第１原发癌者１０例；甲状腺癌为第２原发癌者７例；为第３原发癌者１例。甲状腺癌的病理类型以乳头状腺癌最多（１３）例，其次为滤泡性腺癌。不同种类的肿瘤均采取相应的治疗措施，其中甲腺癌元旦行手术术治疗。本文对并存甲状腺癌的多原发恶性肿瘤的发病年龄与性别，肿瘤的部位，发生癌的间隔时间，有关的致病因素和预后等问题进行讨论。     

Role of videofluorography in assessing functional abnormalities in patients of head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy

Aim:   The major toxicity following treatment for head neck cancer is swallowing dysfunction which can be easily assessed by videofluorography (VFG), allowing documentation of the site and extent of abnormality thereby facilitating directed management.
Methods:   Between October 2003 and January 2007, 56 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer were treated by an accelerated radiotherapy schedule with concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy. Three months following treatment, these patients were locally disease free clinically, but complained of varying degrees of dysphagia and were subjected to a VFG evaluation.
Results:   This group comprised 52 men and four women with a median age of 56 years. The primary site distribution was: oral cavity (9), oropharynx (22), larynx (19), hypopharynx (5) and unknown primary (1). Swallowing function abnormalities in the form of structural displacement and temporal delays were documented and recorded as weakness of the tongue musculature ( n  = 6), palatal kink ( n  = 8), premature leak into the oropharynx ( n  = 20), impaired hyoid elevation ( n  = 23), impaired epiglottic tilt ( n  = 26), unilateral pharyngeal wall impairment ( n  = 16), residuum in vallecula or pyriform fossa ( n  = 30), aspiration in trachea ( n  = 29) and loss of nasopharyngeal seal ( n  = 7). Multiple abnormalities of different sub-sites were seen in each patient.
Conclusion:   VFG can document dysmotility disorders of upper aero-digestive tract like dysfunction of the base of tongue, larynx and pharyngeal musculature leading to stasis of the bolus and vallecular residuum, epiglottis dysmotility resulting in silent aspirations, and inadequate nasopharyngeal seal leading to nasal regurgitation. A clinical correlation alongwith quantification of VFG findings is required.     

Beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol compared with dry powder in the treatment of asthma

In a double-blind trial, beclomethasone dipropionate inhaled as a dry powder in doses of 200 μg three times a day was compared with the conventional aerosol of 100 μg three times a day, each for a period of 4 weeks. Neither the dry powder nor the aerosol showed any significant advantage over each other in terms of ventilatory function. Plasma cortisol levels were unaltered with the two medications in spite of the doubled dose of the corticosteroid powder. Choice of one or the other method of administration of medication depended on patient preference and the ease with which he could familiarize himself with either technique.