INTRODUCTION Functional alterations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) increase the viscoelasticity of pulmonary secretions of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and require the use of therapeutic aerosols. The biochemical properties of exocrine secretions are influenced by the expression of the FUT2 gene which determine the secretor and non-secretor phenotypes of...

BACKGROUND Organic dusts may cause inflammation in the airways. This study was performed to assess the usefulness of the induced sputum technique for evaluating the presence of airways inflammation using inhaled endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) as the inducer of inflammation. METHODS To characterise the inflammatory response after inhalation of endotoxin, 21 healthy subjects inhaled 40 microgra...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Data regarding dosage-response relationships for using hypertonic saline in treatment of hyponatremia are extremely limited. Objectives of this study were to assess adherence to previously published guidelines (limiting correction to <12 mEq/L per d and <18 mEq/L per 48 h) in treating hyponatremia with hypertonic saline and to determine the predictive accuracy of the A...

OBJECTIVE To assess airway hyperresponsiveness to 4.5% hypertonic saline solution in comparison to that obtained through challenge with other bronchoconstriction agents and in relation to patient allergic sensitization. METHODS A cross-sectional, experimental study was conducted, initially involving 85 subjects. After exclusions, the final sample consisted of 62 patients, divided into two gro...

Central actions of angiotensin play an important role in cardiovascular control and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and heart failure. One feature of centrally or peripherally administered angiotensin is that the bradycardia in response to an acute pressor effect is blunted. It is unknown whether after central angiotensin this is due partly to increased cardiac sympathe...

BACKGROUND Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) has been reported to account for up to 40% of patients with chronic low back pain. Epidural fibrosis may be responsible for up to 30% of all cases of FBSS. Perineural fibrosis can interfere with cerebrospinal fluid-mediated nutrition, rendering the nerve root hyperesthetic and hypersensitive to compression. Traditionally, steroid injection has been...

Conventional resuscitation of traumatic hemorrhagic shock involves the intravenous administration of isotonic (normal saline) or slightly hypotonic (lactated Ringer’s, LR) solution beginning in the prehospital setting. Although not conclusive, prior animal and human studies have suggested that alternative resuscitation with hypertonic saline (7.5%) solutions may reduce mortality in these patien...

Renal hemodynamics and the excretion rates of six ions were studied in a group of 24 normotensive and hypertensive subjects during expansion of extracellular fluid volume (ECF) with intravenous infusions of hypertonic saline. In response to the 2.5% saline infusions arterial blood pressure did not change from control values, but glomerular filtration rate increased, and renal vascular resistanc...

This study was contemplated to determine the comparative beneficial effects of hypertonic saline solution and sterile saline solution in induced endotoxic shock in dogs. For this purpose, 12 healthy Mongrel dogs were randomly divided into two equal groups (A and B). All the animals were induced endotoxaemia by slow intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxins 0111:B4. Group A was t...