[Comparative study of the effects of regular or on-demand salbutamol inhalation in the treatment of asthma].

52 asthmatic patients aged 18 to 70 years took part in a double-blind crossover trial comparing the effects of regular treatment of asthma with inhaled salbutamol (400 micrograms qds) versus irregular treatment (400 micrograms prn), each prescribed for 4 weeks. There were no differences between the two schedules regarding intensity of clinical symptoms, morning and evening values of peak expiratory flow rates and spirometric measurements. The mean daily consumption of salbutamol was higher in the period of regular treatment (2148 +/- 548 micrograms) than in the period of free treatment (800 +/- 700 micrograms).

[Results of needle-biopsy of the pleura (author's transl)].

The technique of needle-biopsy of the pleura started with the Vim-Silvermann needle (often inadequate) and has now spread generally with the greater use of the Harefield-Abrams needle. The overall percentagetrue positive results (tuberculosis, cancer) has, over time, slowly fallen, because of the fall in the number of tuberculous cases and an increase in biopsies with insufficient material (T 1 1964 : 45%, T 2 1979 : 26,5%). In our third study (T 3), we studied in 150 cases selected at random out of the 628 cases studied in T 2.

[Selective aplasia of neutrophils: auto-immune origin].

Autoimmunity is a recognized factor in pure red cell aplasia and in some cases of aplastic anemia, but not in agranulocytosis. The case reported here demonstrated that pure neutrophilic aplasia of autoimmune origin may exist in man. A 75-year-old male is described who presented with complete agranulocytosis and absence of neutrophilic precursors in the bone marrow without thrombocytopenia or anemia.