Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and gene copy number in the risk of oral cancer.

Unlabelled: Leukoplakia is the most common premalignant lesion of the oral cavity. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) abnormalities are associated with oral tumorigenesis and progression. We hypothesized that EGFR expression and gene copy number changes are predictors of the risk of an oral premalignant lesion (OPL) progressing to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Nitric oxide relaxes the vascular smooth muscle independently of endothelin-1- and U46619-induced intracellular increase of calcium.

A balance between circulating and locally released vasoconstrictors, such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), and vasodilators, such as nitric oxide, controls vascular smooth muscle tone. In the study reported here, using the technique of simultaneous measurements of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and tension, we investigated the effects of a nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (NaNP) on endothelin-1- and U46619- [a thromboxane angiotensin-II (TXA-II) mimetic] induced sustained increases in tension and [Ca2+]i in intact and endothelium-denuded rabbit thoracic aortas. Our results showed that, in both intact and endothelium-denuded preparations, the nitric oxide donor NaNP (10(-6) M) reverses the ET-1- (10(-7) M) and U46619- (10(-7) M) induced sustained increase in tension but not in [Ca2+]i.

Bronchial responsiveness among inbred mouse strains. Role of airway smooth-muscle shortening velocity.

To investigate the relationship between bronchial responsiveness and airway smooth-muscle (ASM) contractile properties, we studied inbred mice with known interstrain differences in airway responsiveness. Using oscillatory mechanics, we confirmed that A/J mice were hyperresponsive to methacholine (MCh) as compared with mice of the C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J strains. Analysis of respiratory system resistance and elastance at different flow oscillation frequencies indicated that interstrain differences in responsiveness are present in both central and peripheral airways of these mice.

Epidemiological study: chronotype and daytime sleepiness before and during Ramadan.

Few epidemiological data have been reported on the relation between Ramadan fasting, life habits (meal frequency, sleep habits) and daytime sleepiness during Ramadan. This paper presents the results of a detailed study of the chronotype and daytime sleepiness before and during Ramadan. It was conducted on a sample of 264 subjects aged between 20 and 30 years.

Specific cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors differently modulate contractile kinetics in airway smooth muscle.

The involvement of various phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in controlling the time-dependent mechanical properties of guinea pig trachealis smooth muscles was determined by using different classes of PDE inhibitors as pharmacological tools. These drugs produced low amplitude and long-lasting dose-dependent relaxations on the resting tone with the following EC50 values: rolipram, 3 nM; indolidan, 0.11 microM; and zaprinast, 0.