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A randomised double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted to compare oral ciprofloxacin (500 mg b.d.) and amoxycillin (1 g t.d.s.) in the treatment of infective exacerbations of bronchiectasis. The commonest organism isolated from sputum was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which accounted for 34% of all positive sputum cultures. Other Pseudomonas species and Haemophilus influenzae, accounted for 19%, respectively. Ciprofloxacin produced better clinical response, a higher sputum to serum antibiotic level (mean of 0.65 in the ciprofloxacin group vs. 0.18 in amoxycillin group, p = 0.0001), broader spectrum of antibacterial activity and less side-effect. It was also better tolerated by patients. The findings suggest that ciprofloxacin is an effective treatment of infective exacerbations of bronchiectasis.

The effects of two recently developed long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists, formoterol and salmeterol, on mast cells from different sources were compared with those of the prototype short-acting analogue, salbutamol. With the exception of high concentrations of salmeterol (> 10(-5) M), none of the tested beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists inhibited the anti-IgE-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. In contrast, all three compounds dose dependently inhibited the immunologically induced histamine release from isolated lung mast cells of guinea pig and human at concentrations < or = 10(-5) M.

The increasing use of air-driven nebulised bronchodilators by patients with airflow obstruction has raised concern about the safety of this practice. We have investigated the effects of 10 mg salbutamol, nebulised in air, on blood gas tensions, heart rate and plasma potassium (K+), when administered alone to 9 patients with severe chronic obstructive airway disease and then in combination with a therapeutic dose of oral sustained-release theophylline to 5 of them on 2 separate occasions. No significant reductions in PaO2 were observed with either treatments. Heart rate increased significantly from 77.8 +/- 3.7 beats/min (mean +/- s.e.m.) at baseline to a peak of 87.1 +/- 4.4 beats/min at 45 min (p less than 0.001) with salbutamol alone and there was a similar trend of increase after combined therapy. K+ decreased significantly from a baseline of 4.0 +/- 0.3 to a minimum of 3.6 +/- 0.2 mmol/l at 90 min (p less than 0.001) with combined therapy but did not change significantly with single therapy. No subject developed any significant cardiac arrhythmias on either occasion. Although the number of subjects studied is small, our data suggest that air-driven nebulised high-dose salbutamol may be safe in the treatment of severe chronic obstructive airway disease but when combined with oral theophylline, a significant fall in plasma potassium may occur. This could be of clinical significance in hypokalaemic patients. When combination treatment is used, monitoring of plasma potassium is recommended.

We describe a case of recurrent urinary tract infection caused by Mycobacterium terrae complex in a patient with obstructive nephropathy. The mycobacterium was resistant to most antituberculosis drugs and despite its apparent clearance in the urine, the patient finally died of urinary sepsis caused by multiple bacterial pathogens.

Objective : To compare the differences in craniofacial morphology in Chinese patients with and without obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Method : We performed lateral cephalometric radiographs on 94 consecutive patients (77 males) referred with snoring or other symptoms suggestive of OSA for polysomnography (PSG). Significant OSA was defined as an apneoa-hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥ 10/h of sleep on overnight PSG. The cephalometric data were compared between those with and without significant OSA. Results (mean±SD): There were 69 (56 males) with significant OSA with mean age 53±12 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.6±5.0kg/m 2 , AHI 36.5±20.6/h, and minimum S aO 2 76±14%. There were 25 controls (21 males) without significant OSA with similar age and BMI. The mandibular plane to hyoid bone distance (MPH) and the perpendicular distance from hyoid bone to the line connecting C3 vertebra and retrognathion (HH1) were significantly longer in the OSA patients. The angle measurement from sella to nasion to point A (SNA) was smaller in the OSA group. MPH distance was the only independent variable for significant OSA with an odds ratio of 3.47 (95% CI 1.39–8.66). Abnormalities of the MPH and SNA were more marked in the OSA patients with BMI ≥30kg/m 2 . Conclusions : Significant differences in craniofacial morphology are noted between OSA patients and non-apnoeic controls. An inferiorly positioned hyoid bone and a retropositioned maxilla may predispose obese patients to more severe OSA.

INTRODUCTION: Large scale surveys in Europe (AIRE), Asia Pacific (AIRIAP), and Latin America (AIRLA) showed that current levels of asthma control fall short of guideline-defined goals. AIMS: This analysis determines the relationship between level of asthma control and use of unscheduled healthcare resources in 26 countries across the regions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Responses of patients aged =12 years included in the three surveys were mappedto the five items ofthe Asthma Control Test (ACTTM). Unscheduled healthcare resources used by patients (inpatient stay, ER visit, unscheduled primary care) were analysed for patients with not well controlled (NWC) asthma (derived ACTTM score