Effect of bidi smoking on nasal mucociliary clearance: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nasal mucociliary clearance in adult non-smokers, cigarette smokers and bidi smokers using the methylene blue dye test. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 20 non-smokers, 20 cigarette smokers and 20 bidi smokers (age range, 20-40 years). A single drop of the methylene blue dye was placed at the anterior end of the inferior turbinate of the participants' nasal cavity. The distance travelled by the methylene blue in 15 minutes inside the nasal cavity was measured. Nasal mucociliary clearance of the three groups was compared using the Kruskal Wallis test. RESULTS: Nasal mucociliary clearance was significantly decreased in bidi smokers as compared to cigarette smokers and non-smokers (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between nasal mucociliary clearance and bidi smoking, number of cigarettes or bidis smoked per day, and pack-years (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nasal mucociliary clearance measurement is a simple and useful index for assessing the effect of smoking on the mucociliary activity of nasal mucosa.

Spectrum of antibiogram against pathogens related to respiratory tract infections with a special reference to ceftibuten: a multicentric study.

In a multicentric study at several leading hospitals of this country, microbiological assessment was carried out in 500 specimens from patients suffering from respiratory tract infections (RTIs; both upper and lower) for a period of 6 months from January, 1999 to June, 1999. The antibiotic sensitivity study was done in 201 isolates from 500 different specimens of throat swab, postpharyngeal swab, sinusitis drainage fluid, sputum, broncho-alveolar lavage (BL), etc. Ceftibuten, an orally active third generation cephalosporin showed encouraging results when compared with seven other selected antibiotics used for RTI. The majority of the patients with acute or chronic RTIs showed an excellent in vitro response to ceftibuten in the analysis of the isolates. Seventy to ninety per cent of the isolated respiratory pathogens were found to be sensitive to ceftibuten in vitro; which offers a promising alternative to other antibiotics included in this study.

A multicentric trial of loratadine and cetirizine in urticaria.

Two hundred and ten patients with chronic urticaria were divided into two groups; one group was treated with Loratadine 10mg daily while the other with cetirizine 10mg daily. The total duration of treatment was four weeks. Pretreatment and post-treatment evaluations were made. It was noticed that loratadine was superior to cetirizine in terms of a rapid onset of actions, overall clinical efficacy and minimal side effects.