Nebulised sodium cromoglycate and verapamil in methacholine induced asthma.

Fifteen children with asthma underwent challenges with methacholine on separate days after double blind administration by nebuliser of either verapamil (5 mg), cromoglycate (20 mg), or saline (placebo). The provocation doses that produced a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20) were analysed. There was variation in the protective effects of verapamil and cromoglycate among the patients. Although cromoglycate produced an increase in PD20 in 53% of the children tested, the protection was not significant when compared with the placebo. Verapamil was partially protective, however, in 80% of children and achieved significantly better results than the placebo. We suggest that this is likely to be due to a direct effect on bronchial smooth muscle.

Reliability of salivary theophylline concentration monitoring in children with bronchial asthma following the administration of different drug formulations.

The applicability and reliability of the clinical usefulness of monitoring salivary theophylline concentrations as a predictive measure of serum concentrations was evaluated in a total of 59 children with asthma, divided in four groups. Three pharmacological preparations of oral theophylline (aqueous, alcoholic and slow release) were evaluated after single administration (groups 1-3); slow release theophylline was also tested in a steady state of metabolism in children under chronic therapy with the drug (group 4). Although a good correlation between theophylline concentrations in serum and saliva was observed in each group, the wide range of variability in serum levels predicted from salivary levels (20-60%) appears to limit the usefulness of this approach. The salivary measurements of theophylline may be useful as a general guide in management of patients, or in assessment of compliance.

Inhibition of exercise-induced asthma by three forms of sodium cromoglycate.

Fifteen asthmatic children were tested in a double-blind fashion. The degree of prevention of exercise-induced asthma by three pharmacological forms of sodium cromoglycate (SCG with lactose powder, SCG in micropellets without lactose and SCG solution) was evaluated. FEV1 and FEF 25-75 were measured. Inhibition of the airway response to exercise was achieved by SCG without any statistical differences between the three active forms. Our data suggest that the new pelletised form of SCG without lactose is as active as the other preparations of the drug. The easy mode of administration allows a high compliance of the young asthmatic patients to chronic therapy.

[Liquid radioactive waste in health activities: annual dosage to the population]. / Rifiuti radioattivi liquidi nelle attività sanitarie: dosi annue alla popolazione.

A survey was taken of the amount of radionuclides, acquired, utilized, and released in one year's time, in the Adige river by the USL (Local Division of the National Public Health System) of Verona. The critical pathways of environmental pollution were analyzed and the individual and collective doses of some critical population groups and the population as a whole were compiled. Some suggestions to reduce the collective doses both from radioactive releases and diagnostic use of radionuclides are given.