Effects of selective COX-2 inhibition on allergen-induced bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation in asthma.

Background: Prostaglandins that constrict and relax airways are synthesized in reactions catalyzed by either COX-1 or COX-2. It is not known whether selective inhibition of COX-2 makes asthmatic responses better or worse.

Objective: To determine the effects of the selective COX-2 inhibitor, etoricoxib, on allergen-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects.

Adhesion molecules in subjects with COPD and healthy non-smokers: a cross sectional parallel group study.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate how the expression of adhesion molecules changes as neutrophils migrate from the circulation to the lung and if these changes differ between non-smoking subjects and smokers with and without COPD.

Methods: Non-smoking healthy subjects (n=22), smokers without (n=21) and with COPD (n=18) were included. Neutrophils from peripheral blood, sputum and bronchial biopsies were analysed for cell surface expression of adhesion molecules (CD11b, CD62L, CD162).

Determination of triton X-100 in plasma-derived coagulation factor VIII and factor IX products by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Plasma protein pools are often virus-inactivated by the solvent-detergent method, using tri-n-butyl phosphate and Triton X-100, followed by removal and determination of these compounds. We used reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of Triton X-100 in coagulation factor VIII and factor IX products, Octonativ-M and Nanotiv, respectively (Pharmacia, Stockholm, Sweden). The chromatographic system included a C18 silica column and a linear acetonitrile gradient.