1,720,973 research outputs found
Effects of κ- and μ-opioid agonists on cholinergic neurotransmission and contraction in isolated bovine trachealis
No full textLOW COST OPEN SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE TO ACQUIRE DATA ON AIRWAY SMOOTH MUSCLE CONTRACTILITY
No full textThe contractile properties of airway smooth muscle are clearly a fundamental determinant
of airway caliber and responsiveness to both contractile and relaxant stimuli in normal or
pathological conditions. To perform contractile measures on airway smooth muscle tissue
it is necessary to continuosly acquire data from force trasducers with adeguate temporal
precision and accuracy. We realized a simple low-cost device, based on arduino due and
processing, two open products, to continously record airway smooth muscle tone. In this
work we introduce this device and its use.
Low-cost open software and hardware to acquire data on airway smooth muscle contractility.. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266850612_Low-cost_open_software_and_hardware_to_acquire_data_on_airway_smooth_muscle_contractilit
Review: Airway smooth muscle as a model for new investigative drugs in asthma
No full textBronchial asthma as such exists because airway smooth muscle (ASM) contracts excessively in response to various stimuli. After several decades during which research was mainly focused on airway inflammation, increasing attention is now being paid to a possible abnormal behaviour of ASM. Thus, ASM is regarded as a major target for anti-asthma treatments. This review first describes the mechanisms of ASM contraction and airway hyperresponsiveness, through cellular, animal and human models. The developments of new drugs targeting extra and/or intracellular pathway of ASM contraction are discussed
Noninflammatory mechanisms of airway hyper-responsiveness in bronchial asthma: an overview
No full textAirway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) is a cardinal feature of asthma. Its absence has been considered useful in excluding asthma, whereas it may be present in other diseases such as atopic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AHR is often considered an epiphenomenon of airway inflammation. Actually, the response of airways to constrictor stimuli is modulated by a complex array of factors, some facilitating and others opposing airway narrowing. Thus, it has been suggested that AHR, and perhaps asthma, might be present even without or before the development of airway inflammation. We begin this review by highlighting some terminological and methodological issues concerning the measurement of AHR. Then we describe the neurohumoral mechanisms controlling airway tone. Finally, the pivotal role of airway smooth muscle and internal and external modulation of airway caliber in vivo are discussed in detail
Beta-Adrenergic Agonists
No full textInhaled β2-adrenoceptor (β2-AR) agonists are considered essential bronchodilator drugs in the treatment of bronchial asthma, both as symptoms-relievers and, in combination with inhaled corticosteroids, as disease-controllers. In this article, we first review the basic mechanisms by which the β2-adrenergic system contributes to the control of airway smooth muscle tone. Then, we go on describing the structural characteristics of β2-AR and the molecular basis of G-protein-coupled receptor signaling and mechanisms of its desensitization/ dysfunction. In particular, phosphorylation mediated by protein kinase A and β-adrenergic receptor kinase are examined in detail. Finally, we discuss the pivotal role of inhaled β2-AR agonists in the treatment of asthma and the concerns about their safety that have been recently raised
Lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide as a marker of fibrotic changes in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias
No full textLung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is decreased in both usual interstitial pneumonia-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (UIP-IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), but is moderately related to computed tomography (CT)-determined fibrotic changes. This may be due to the relative insensitivity of DLCO to changes in alveolar membrane diffusive conductance (DMCO). The purpose of this study was to determine whether measurement of lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) better reflects fibrotic changes than DLCO. DLNO-DLCO were measured simultaneously in 30 patients with UIP-IPF and 30 with NSIP. Eighty-one matched healthy subjects served as a control group. The amount of pulmonary fibrosis was estimated by CT volumetric analysis of visually bounded areas showing reticular opacities and honeycombing. DMCO and pulmonary capillary volume (VC) were calculated. DLNO was below the lower limit of normal in all patients irrespective of extent and nature of disease, whereas DLCO was within the normal range in a nonnegligible number of patients. Both DLNO and DLCO were significantly correlated with visual assessment of fibrosis but DLNO more closely than DLCO. DMCO was also below the lower limit of normal in all UIP-IPF and NSIP patients and significantly correlated with fibrosis extent in both diseases, whereas VC was weakly correlated with fibrosis in UIP-IPF and uncorrelated in NSIP, with normal values in half of patients. In conclusion, measurement of DLNO may provide a more sensitive evaluation of fibrotic changes than DLCO in either UIP-IPF or NSIP, because it better reflects DMCO
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