The causes of asthma remain unknown although it is now clear that the underlying pathology of the disease, even in its mildest forms, is one of chronic persistent inflammation. This fact is recognised in many national, and more recently, international guidelines, which recommend that treatment in all but the most mild episodic asthma should be aimed at the underlying pathology rather than at su...

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...

OBJECTIVES To identify the protective role of sodium cromoglycate in mice during influenza virus infection. DESIGN H5N1 virus-infected mice were treated with the mast cell stabilizer sodium cromoglycate (SCG) to investigate its therapeutic effect. SAMPLE The nose, trachea and lungs from mice were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Virus replication and host responses were determined by plaq...

The effects of two mast cell stabilisers, sodium cromoglycate (SCG) and doxantrazole, on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were studied. Guinea-pig alveolar macrophages (AMs) generated lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL). This was increased when the cells were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or zymosan (by 133% and 464%, respectively, in total LDCL over 60 mi...