Effect of disodium cromoglycate treatment on peripheral blood mononuclear cell adhesion to cultured endothelium in allergic asthmatics.

In this study we have compared the adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a healthy control group with two groups of allergic asthmatics, not treated or treated with disodium cromoglycate (DSCG). The adhesion and blocking experiments were performed by the flow cytometric adhesion assay. No differences in the adhesion of lymphocytes were observed in any of the groups.

Selenium status is decreased in patients with intrinsic asthma.

Lowered selenium (Se) status has been observed in asthma patients. An increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) owing to inflammatory condition has also been found in these patients and thus antioxidant properties of Se via glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity are of great importance. Concentrations of Se in plasma and erythrocytes as well as erythrocyte GPx activity in 22 intrinsic asthma patients (five patients; all women were aspirin-sensitive) were compared with those of 33 control subjects.

Plasma zinc, copper and copper/zinc ratio in intrinsic asthma.

Plasma zinc and copper levels and copper/zinc ratio of 22 intrinsic asthma patients were compared to that of 33 healthy control subjects. Five of the intrinsic asthma patients were aspirin (ASA) intolerant. The zinc content of plasma was found to be significantly lower in patients than in control individuals with the values being 0.

Recovery functions of short and long latency reflexes in hand muscles evoked by paired stimulation of peripheral nerves.

Double-shock bifocal peripheral nerves stimulation with varying interstimulus intervals (ISI) from 1 ms to 5000 ms was applied to healthy human subjects. Short (SLRs) and long latency reflexes (LLRs) from the slightly active first interosseus dorsalis muscle were recorded after an electrical conditioning stimulation of the index finger and test stimulation of the median nerve. It was found that with intervals from 1 to 5 ms the size of the SLR and LLRs after the second shock was unstable and almost oscillated around that evoked by a single shock, possibly due to transmitter depletion at these short ISIs.

[Muscle reflex responses to paired electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves].

Double-shock bifocal peripheral nerve stimulation with varying interstimulus intervals (ISI) was applied to healthy human subjects. Short (SLR) and long latency reflexes (LLR) from the slightly active first dorsalis interosseous muscle of the hand were recorded after an electrical conditioning stimulation of the index finger and test stimulation of the median nerve. It was found with intervals from 1 to 5 ms the size of the SLR and LLRs was smaller and unstable, possibly due to transmitter depletion at these short ISIs.