Compounds that increase cellular cyclic AMP concentrations, such as isoprenaline, adrenaline and prostaglandin El, inhibit the release of histamine from sensitive tissues after antigen challenge (Assem & Schild, 1969; Lichtenstein & Margolis, 1968). The present paper describes experiments that show that I.C.I. compound 74917, Bufrolin (6-n-butyl-2,8-dicarboxy-4,10-dioxo-1,4,7,1O-tetrahydro-l,7-...

In this study, we demonstrate that Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), a major source of airborne allergens, but not OVA, could rapidly activate mast cells in mice. This was indicated by an elevation of serum mouse mast cell protease 1, a mast cell-specific proteinase, as early as 30 min after intratracheal challenge. Administration of sodium cromoglycate (40 mg/kg, i.p., 1 h before Der f instill...

The airway response to the inhalation of ultrasonically nebulised distilled water was determined in 55 asthmatic patients and 16 normal subjects. We calculated the dose of water required to induce a 20% reduction (PD20) in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) by measuring the output of the nebuliser and the volume ventilated by each subject. Forty-eight of the asthmatic patients had a ...

A double-blind, cross-over study was undertaken to compare inhalation of betamethasone valerate (BV, 800 microgram daily) with sodium cromoglycate (SCG, 80 mg daily) in twenty children requiring bronchodilators for perennial asthma. Each treatment period lasted 4 weeks but statistical comparisons were made only in respect of the last 14 days of each therapy. When the children were using BV they...

Inhalation of adenosine causes bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects, but the effect of this purine nucleotide on airway vascular permeability is unknown. In order to determine whether adenosine produces airway microvascular leakage and, if so, to examine the effect of cromolyn (sodium cromoglycate (SCG)) on this extravasation of Evans blue was measured in the airways of ovalbumin-sensitize...

This study describes 17 cases of atopic keratoconjunctivitis in adults. In 8 cases the clinical appearances were nonspecific and sufficiently different from vernal keratoconjunctivitis to make diagnosis difficult. These atypical cases often showed a fine papillary conjunctival reaction on the upper tarsus, subconjunctival scarring, and in 1 case severe symblepharon. Corneal features included co...