Sinomenine ameliorates the airway remodelling,apoptosis of airway epithelial cells,and Th2 immune response in a murine model of chronic asthma

Background

Sinomenine (SIN), an alkaloid isolated from the root of Sinomenium acutum which has a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammation, immunosuppression and anti-angiogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of SIN on airway remodelling, epithelial apoptosis, and T Helper (Th)-2 derived cytokine levels in a murine model of chronic asthma.

L-carnitine does not exert any in vitro relaxant effect in Guinea pig trachea,lung parenchyma and human bronchial tissue

The aim of the present study was to investigate the probable in vitro relaxant effect of carnitine in guinea pig trachea, guinea pig lung parenchymal strips, and human bronchial tissue. It was suggested by an in vivo study that carnitine pretreatment prevented the subclinic bronchospasm in children who underwent chronic hemodialysis. Tracheal and lung parenchymal preparations of 10 guinea pigs and 5 human bronchial tissues were prepared and mounted in 20-mL organ baths. In the first series of experiments, contractions to carbachol and histamine (10(-9) to 10(-3) M) were compared after the tissues were incubated with different concentrations of L-carnitine (10(-6) to 10(-4) M). pD(2) values were compared with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and P <.05 was considered as significant. In the second part of experiments, the inhibitory effect of L-carnitine (10(-9) to 10(-3) M) was investigated on the sustained contractions of preparations to carbachol (10(-6) M) and histamine (10(-5) M). In the first part of the study pD(2) values obtained with carbachol were 6.48 +/- 0.09, 5.42 +/- 0.05, and 6.48 +/- 0.02 for guinea pig trachea, guinea pig lung parenchymal strips, and human bronchial tissues, respectively. pD(2) values obtained with histamine were 5.34 +/- 0.10, 5.74 +/- 0.06, and 6.32 +/- 0.03 for guinea pig trachea, guinea pig lung parenchymal strips, and human bronchial tissues, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the pD(2) values before and after incubation with carnitine (P >.05). In the second part of the study, only 10(-4) M L-carnitine exerted an insignificant relaxant effect (6.16% +/- 1.22% on carbachol induced contractions and 4.48% +/- 0.85% on histamine induced contractions) in guinea pig trachea. Our results show that L-carnitine exerts no in vitro relaxant effect in guinea pig trachea, guinea pig lung parenchymal strips, and human bronchial preparations.     

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphisms in Turkish asthmatic children

BackgroundPolymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genes have been implicated in susceptibility to asthma. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there was any association between childhood asthma and polymorphisms of the PAI-1 and ACE genes.MethodsTwo hundred and three Turkish children aged 5–15 years, including 102 asthmatic patients and 101 healthy control subjects were included in this study. The asthma group was divided into two groups as follows: Group I: Asthmatic children with positive family history for atopy (n = 53), Group II: Asthmatic children without any family history for atopy (n = 49). One hundred and twenty-eight atopic family members were also included in the study. The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE and PAI-1 4G/5G gene polymorphisms was carried out by polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe prevalence of the PAI-1 4G allele was significantly greater in asthmatic children compared to control group (p < 0.05, OR: 1.64 (1.11–2.43)) but there was no significant relation between ACE I/D genotypes and childhood asthma. No significant difference was detected between Groups I and II in terms of these ACE and PAI-1 genotypes and allele frequencies. No significant relationship was found between both gene polymorphisms and total serum IgE and skin prick test results.ConclusionIt has been established that PAI-1 4G allele may be a genetic risk factor for childhood asthma but ACE gene I/D polymorphisms do not play a role in the development of asthma in the sample of Turkish children.     

Change of mean platelet volume values in asthmatic children as an inflammatory marker

BackgroundAsthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood in industrialised countries. T helper-2 (Th-2) cells, mast cells and eosinophils have a role in inflammation of asthma. Recently it was shown that platelets also play a role in asthma. Mean platelet volume shows platelet size and reflects platelet activation.ObjectiveThe aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate levels of mean platelet volume in asthmatic patients during asymptomatic periods and exacerbations compared with healthy controls.MethodsThe study consisted of 100 asthmatic patients (male/female: 55/45, mean age: 8.2 ± 3.3) and 49 age and sex matched healthy children as a control group.ResultsMean platelet volume values of asthmatic patients during asymptomatic period were 7.7 ± 0.8 fL while mean platelet volume values in asthmatics during exacerbation were 7.8 ± 0.9 fL. Comparison of mean platelet volume values of asthmatic patients and healthy controls both in acute asthmatic attack and asymptomatic period showed no difference (p > 0.05). Comparison of mean platelet volume values at asthmatic attack and asymptomatic period also had no difference (p > 0.05). The presence of atopy, infection, eosinophilia, elevated immunoglobulin E, and severity of acute asthmatic attack did not influence mean platelet volume values.ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that mean platelet volume values may not be used as a marker in bronchial asthma, although prospective studies with larger number of patients are needed to evaluate the role of mean platelet volume in asthma.     

The efficiency of the symptom-based score in infants diagnosed with cow's milk protein and hen's egg allergy

Introduction and objectives

Symptom-based score (SBS) quantifies the number and severity of suspected cow's milk-related symptoms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of SBS in patients diagnosed with cow's milk protein (CMPA) and hen's egg allergy (HEA).

The determination of asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and atopy prevalence in 9- to 11-year-old children in the city of Izmir.

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase II was designed to allow comparisons between populations in different countries and to investigate possible etiologic factors. This study was conducted to better delineate the prevalence and etiologic factors of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in Izmir (Turkey) and to be included in the international comparisons by using a standard methodology of ISAAC phase II. The questionnaire was distributed to 2112 students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades of 12 selected primary schools in urban and rural boroughs of Izmir. One thousand two hundred seventeen of these questionnaires were evaluated and physical examinations and skin-prick tests were performed on 1098 of these children. The prevalence values were 15.9% for recent wheezing and 4.8% for physician-diagnosed asthma. The prevalence of sneezing or runny or blocked nose in the past 12 months when the child did not have a cold or flu was 30%. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis was 17%. The prevalence of an itchy rash that was coming and going for at least 6 months was 7.2% and the prevalence of physician-diagnosed eczema was 4.9%. Atopic sensitization prevalence in the population was 8.8% with house-dust mite sensitization being the most frequent one. Secretion rales and sibilant wheezing rhoncus were detected in 2.7% of children by chest auscultation. In 1.1% of children flexural dermatitis was detected. Objective tests are necessary for epidemiologic studies of the aforementioned diseases.     

Comparison of the efficiency of irrigation of single and double-needle techniques of temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis: A cadaver study

Objective: To compare the efficacy of the double- and single-needle arthrocentesis techniques in removing methylene blue from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space.

Methods: This study was performed in 20 TMJs from 10 fresh cadavers. A total of 1 ml of 10 μM methylene blue solution was injected into the upper joint spaces, just prior to irrigation. Ten arthrocentesis procedures were carried out using the double-needle technique, and the remaining 10 were completed using the single-needle technique. The photo-absorbance values of methylene blue solution injected into and removed from the joint space were measured at a 665 nm wavelength. Statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro–Wilks test and t-test.

Results: The t-test analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two methods in the removal of methylene blue.

Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the single-needle technique may be a good alternative with the advantages of easier application in cases where it is not possible to perform the double-needle technique.     

Economic impact of primary headaches in Turkey: a university hospital based study: part II

This study was planned to investigate the economic impact of headache on Turkish headache sufferers attending a tertiary care outpatient headache clinic. A total of 937 headache patients were included in this study and questioned using a questionnaire for the profile of patients and headache, quality of life of patients and economic impact of headache. The median total direct cost was found to be 88.0 USD and the median total cost was 160.7 USD. The drug treatment cost was the highest item followed by the specialist outpatient care cost. The average lost and inefficient work/school days was 1.5 (0–45) and 8.4 (0–100) days for one year. It was shown that loss of productivity was higher for migraine without aura group when compared with the episodic and chronic tension–type headache groups. The results of this nationwide university hospital based study methshowed that headache, especially migraine, has considerable economic impact on patients.     

Hand gripping effect on cerebral blood flow in normal subjects.

The changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) related to metabolic demand depend on both integrity of neuronal function and vascular blood flow. Therefore, we assessed the motor stimulus to blood flow velocity (BFv) changes of bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCA) by transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography in normal subjects. Eighteen subjects (nine female, aged 48.0+/-3.8 years; nine male, aged 54.4+/-4.8 years) were investigated. Bilateral TCD sonography from both MCA were monitored during ten cycles of 20 s when subjects were performing bilateral hand gripping with a frequency of one per second, and subsequently 20 s when they were rest. Bilateral hand gripping showed a significant BFv increase on both MCA (P<0.001). These values were (19+/-2)% on both sides. There was no significant side to side difference between the absolute BFv values both at rest and during bilateral hand gripping. Additionally, the absolute BFvs and BFv increases were not significantly different between male and female subjects. This study was based on a small sample size, and the method requires the subject cooperation. Our results suggest that bilateral hand gripping may affect blood flow in both MCA without side to side differences. Finally, our suggestion is that test might be useful to assess the neurovascular integrity.     

Cerebrovascular manifestations of Behçet’s disease

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disease commonly characterized by oral and genital ulcerations, with skin and eye involvement. Its cause is still unknown, but vasculitis is the major pathologic feature. BD is a rare condition, seen more commonly in Turkey, as well as in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Far Eastern countries. Neurological involvement is reported to manifest as brainstem or corticospinal tract syndromes, increased intracranial pressure mostly related to venous sinus thrombosis or aseptic meningitis, isolated behavioral symptoms or isolated headache. This report presents a 34-year-old BD patient with secondary cerebral infarction due to head trauma. The clinical and central nervous system findings of BD are discussed.