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Pure trichloroethylene (tri), stabilized by an amine base, was administered by inhalation at 0, 100, and 500 ppm for 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 18 months to mice, rats and Syrian hamsters of both sexes. No significant increase in tumor formation was observed in any species or dosing group, except in malignant lymphomas, which were increased in female mice in the following incidence rates: 9/29 (controls), 17/30 (100 ppm), and 18/28 (500 ppm). Whether or not this high occurrence of lymphomas, which is peculiar to this strain of mice (NMRI) has any relationship to tri-exposure, cannot be decided upon by the present experiment. It is concluded that from these findings no indication for a carcinogenic potential of pure trichloroethylene can be deduced.

IntroductionCommon medications used to treat mild persistent asthma are glucocorticoids, leukotriene receptor antagonists and theophylline. The aim of the study was to evaluate monotherapy with either inhaled steroids, oral leukotriene receptor antagonist or theophylline in Egyptian children with mild persistent asthma by determining their clinical, laboratory and spirometric responses to treatment.Material and methodsThirty-nine mild asthmatic children between 8 and 13 years of age were included in the study. Patients were classified according to therapy received into four groups: oral leukotriene receptor antagonist (montelukast), inhaled corticosteroid (fluticasone propionate), sustained-release (SR) theophylline, and no treatment. Pulmonary function testing was performed at the start of therapy and 8 weeks later using spirometry. Eosinophil count and serum nitric oxide were estimated in the blood. Minitab statistical package was used for analysis of data.ResultsFollow-up after 8 weeks revealed significant improvement in FEV1% in groups 1 (p < 0.01) and 3 (p < 0.05), significant improvement in PEFR in groups 1 (p < 0.05) and 2 (p < 0.01), significant decline in serum NO levels in groups 1 (p < 0.05) and 2 (p < 0.05), as well as significant improvement in eosinophil count in groups 1, 2 and 3 (p < 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.01 respectively). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the decline in serum NO and the decline in blood eosinophil % in group 2 (p < 0.05).ConclusionsInhaled corticosteroids and montelukast have a significant role in controlling the pulmonary functions and the inflammatory process in children with mild persistent asthma, although inhaled corticosteroids seem to yield a better response. Children with mild persistent asthma should receive a controller medication, and SR theophylline may be a good cost-benefit alternative for low socio-economic groups of patients.

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