2014 Long-acting β-agonists (LABAs) are the standard of care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with advanced disease, those with mild to moderate disease and frequent exacerbations or those with significant dyspnea. Currently available LABAs include salmeterol, formoterol, indacaterol, vilanterol and olodaterol. The bronchodilatory effect of LABAs is mediated via the bin...

Intravenous magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) has successfully been used in the treatment of acute asthma. The present study investigated the efficacy of nebulized MgSO4 as a bronchodilator in acute asthma as compared to nebulized salbutamol. This was a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Asthmatics aged 12-60 yrs in acute exacerbation, with a peak expiratory flow (PEF) <300 L x min(-...

In the previous studies the relaxant, anti-cholinergic (functional antagonism) and anti-histaminic effects of Nigella sativa have been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. To elucidate the main substance responsible for the relaxant effect of this plant, the effect of thymoquinone, one of the main constituent of Nigella sativa was examined in this study. The bronchodilatory effects of th...

In a guinea pig model of allergic asthma, we investigated the effects of the selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors rolipram (phosphodiesterase 4-selective), Org 9935 (phosphodiesterase 3-selective) and Org 20241 (dual phosphodiesterase 4/phosphodiesterase 3-selective), administered by aerosol inhalation in approximately equipotent bronchodilatory doses, on allergen-induced early and late asthm...

Martin, Christian, Andrea Wohlsen, and Stefan Uhlig. Changes in airway resistance by simultaneous exposure to TNF-a and IL-1b in perfused rat lungs. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 280: L595–L601, 2001.—Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a and interleukin (IL)-1b are formed simultaneously under inflammatory conditions such as asthma and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here we investigated the ...

Multiple and paradoxical effects of airway smooth muscle (ASM) 7-transmembrane-spanning receptors activated during asthma, or by treatment with bronchodilators such as beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) agonists, indicate extensive receptor crosstalk. We examined the signaling of the prostanoid-EP(1) receptor, since its endogenous agonist prostaglandin E(2) is abundant in the airway, but i...

Recent studies suggest that alterations of the arginine metabolome and a dysregulation of nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. L -Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, is a common substrate for both the arginases and NO synthase (NOS) enzyme families. NO is an important vasodilator of the bronchial circulation, with both bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory...

Deep inspirations modulate airway caliber and airway closure and their effects are impaired in asthma. The association between asthma and obesity raises the question whether the deep inspiration (DI) effect is also impaired in the latter condition. We assessed the DI effects in obese and nonobese nonasthmatics. Thirty-six subjects (17 obese, 19 nonobese) underwent routine methacholine (Mch) cha...

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation, mucus secretion, remodeling and hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Recent research has established the bronchodilatory effect of bitter taste receptor (TAS2R) agonists in various models. Comprehensive pre-clinical studies aimed at establishing effectiveness of TAS2R agonists in disease models are lacking. Here we aimed to determine the effect of TAS2R ago...

The causes of severe childhood asthma are poorly understood. Our aim was to define global patterns of gene expression in children with severe therapy-resistant and controlled asthma. White blood cells were isolated and the global transcriptome profile was characterised using the Affymetrix Human Gene ST 1.0 chip in children with severe, therapy-resistant asthma (n=17), controlled asthma (n=19) ...