Editorials

	Brittle asthma: fiend or phantom? M R HETZEL Thorax 1998; 53: 235-236. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.235 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Improved survival in ARDS: chance, technology or experience? S BAUDOUIN Thorax 1998; 53: 237-238. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.237 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Lung research funding in the UK: the British Lung Foundation perspective W MACNEE and I M WALDEN Thorax 1998; 53: 239-240. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.239 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Original articles

	Rapid onset asthma: a severe but uncommon manifestation J Kolbe, W Fergusson, and J Garrett Thorax 1998; 53: 241-247. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.241 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Airway wall thickness in patients with near fatal asthma and control groups: assessment with high resolution computed tomographic scanning Nasser Awadh, Nestor L Müller, Chan S Park, Raja T Abboud, and J Mark FitzGerald Thorax 1998; 53: 248-253. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.248 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Chlamydia pneumoniae and asthma P J Cook, P Davies, W Tunnicliffe, J G Ayres, D Honeybourne, and R Wise Thorax 1998; 53: 254-259. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.254 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Induction of IL-8 production in human alveolar macrophages and human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro by swine dust Lena Palmberg, Britt-Marie Larsson, Per Malmberg, and Kjell Larsson Thorax 1998; 53: 260-264. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.260 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Clinical features and prognosis of life time non-smokers with severe 1-antitrypsin deficiency Niels Seersholm and Axel Kok-Jensen Thorax 1998; 53: 265-268. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.265 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Effects of theophylline and ipratropium bromide on exercise performance in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Mitsuhiro Tsukino, Koichi Nishimura, Akihiko Ikeda, Takashi Hajiro, Hiroshi Koyama, and Takateru Izumi Thorax 1998; 53: 269-273. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.269 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Clinical profiles of Chinese patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis Kenneth W T Tsang, Clara G C Ooi, Mary S M Ip, Wah-kit Lam, Henry Ngan, Eric Y T Chan, Brian Hawkins, Chu-shak Ho, Ryoichi Amitani, Eisaku Tanaka, and Harumi Itoh Thorax 1998; 53: 274-280. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.274 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Medium term results of lung transplantation for end stage pulmonary sarcoidosis Stuart Walker, Ghada Mikhail, Nicholas Banner, John Partridge, Asghar Khaghani, Margaret Burke, and Magdi Yacoub Thorax 1998; 53: 281-284. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.281 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Totally implantable venous access devices in children with cystic fibrosis: incidence and type of complications J Deerojanawong, S M Sawyer, A M Fink, K B Stokes, and C F Robertson Thorax 1998; 53: 285-289. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.285 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Short papers

	Comparison of nose and face mask CPAP therapy for sleep apnoea I L Mortimore, A T Whittle, and N J Douglas Thorax 1998; 53: 290-292. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.290 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Reduced mortality in association with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) S J C Abel, S J Finney, S J Brett, B F Keogh, C J Morgan, and T W Evans Thorax 1998; 53: 292-294. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.292 [Abstract] [Full text] [Request Permissions]

Review series

	Health effects of passive smoking  7: Parental smoking, bronchial reactivity and peak flow variability in children Derek G Cook and David P Strachan Thorax 1998; 53: 295-301. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.295 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Lung infections  4: Pathogenesis of lower respiratory tract infections due to Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Legionella and viruses Paul Andersen Thorax 1998; 53: 302-307. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.302 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Occasional reviews

	High resolution computed tomography in asthma Alan N Mclean, Michael W Sproule, Michael D Cowan, and Neil C Thomson Thorax 1998; 53: 308-314. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.308 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Brittle asthma Jon G Ayres, Jon F Miles, and Peter J Barnes Thorax 1998; 53: 315-321. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.315 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Case reports

	Commentary: "Histiocytosis X" Dinah V Parums Thorax 1998; 53: 322-323. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.322 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]
	Recurrence of recipient Langerhans' cell histiocytosis following bilateral lung transplantation S B Habib, J Congleton, D Carr, J Partridge, B Corrin, D M Geddes, N Banner, M Yacoub, and M Burke Thorax 1998; 53: 323-325. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.323 [Abstract] [Full text] [Request Permissions]
	Recurrence of Langerhans' cell granulomatosis following lung transplantation E Gabbay, J H Dark, T Ashcroft, D Milne, G J Gibson, M Healy, and P A Corris Thorax 1998; 53: 326-327. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.326 [Abstract] [Full text] [Request Permissions]

Letters to the editor

	Should steroids be first choice for asthma? GEORGE STRUBE; and MICHAEL RUDOLF Thorax 1998; 53: 328. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.328 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions]
	The tobacco epidemic in Japan HIROSHI KAWANE Thorax 1998; 53: 328. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.328a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions]
	Tobacco advertising ban in Europe STEPHEN G SPIRO Thorax 1998; 53: 328. doi:10.1136/thx.53.4.328b [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions]