[Smoking associated with alcoholism: introduction to the major human dependencies]. / Associação tabagismo-alcoolismo: introdução às grandes dependências humanas.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the existence of an association between smoking and alcoholism in a general population sample and to compare two samples of alcoholics and non alcoholics matched by age and sex. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Health Teaching Unit Murialdo-State Health Department-RS-Brazil in a limited area of 65,000 predicted population a cross-sectional study was undertaken in which adults of 35 y.o. or more were sampled. Of this sample, the alcoholics were selected by applying the CAGE Scale. A non alcoholic random sample was compared with the alcoholic one. It was identified 129 alcoholics among 1,387 adults of 35 y.o. or more. From the general list of adults a random sample of 129 non alcoholics were selected and matched to the alcoholics by age and sex. Both groups were compared. Data were obtained from a 19 item questionnaire. Answers to generic questions were obtained from all family members, such as: income and smoking habit. Specific data were obtained from the interviewed person of 35 y.o. or more, such as: schooling grade, occupation, diseases and respiratory symptoms, smoking habit, Peak Expiratory Flow and alcoholism. RESULTS: Of 129 alcoholics, 109 (84.5%) were male and 20 (15.5%) were female. The smoking prevalence among alcoholics (67%) was greater than among non alcoholics (43%) (p < .002). The kind of occupation distinguished both groups. Among alcoholics unemployment and elementary levels of occupation are more usual while among the abstemious intermediate and superior levels are more frequent (p < .003). The family as well as the personal income are higher among the abstemious (p < .001). There is an increased non significant number of non whites, illiterate people and family smokers among the alcoholics (p < .06). The tendency to start smoking earlier in life and to smoke more cigarettes for a longer period of time was noticed among alcoholics. CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistical association between smoking and alcoholism in the sample studied. Alcoholism in this sample is more prevalent among people who fulfil the following conditions: smokers, low income, rudimentary cultural and professional levels.

A multicentre double-blind group comparative trial of two dose levels of nedocromil sodium and placebo in the management of perennial extrinsic asthma.

The efficacy of nedocromil sodium 4 mg or 2 mg q.i.d. in the management of perennial extrinsic asthma was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Nedocromil sodium, especially at the dose of 4 mg q.i.d., was consistently rated higher than placebo on clinical assessment and diary card measurement. Compared with placebo, there were significant improvements for nedocromil sodium (4 X 4 mg) in asthma severity scores (p less than 0.05 after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment) and clinician's opinion of treatment (p less than 0.001). The results suggest that nedocromil sodium is effective in the maintenance treatment of patients with perennial extrinsic asthma and further studies with longer-term treatment periods are suggested.