Electrical conductivity of the global ocean.

The electrical conductivity of the ocean is a fundamental parameter in the electrodynamics of the Earth System. This parameter is involved in a number of applications ranging from the calibration of in situ ocean flow meters, through extensions of traditional induction studies, and into quite new opportunities involving the remote sensing of ocean flow and properties from space-borne magnetometers such as carried aboard the three satellites of the mission launched in 2013. Here, the first ocean conductivity data set calculated directly from observed temperature and salinity measurements is provided.

Neuronal plasticity in persistent perennial allergic rhinitis.

Objective: Persistent perennial allergic rhinitis belongs to the most frequent diseases in occupational and environmental medicine. Because the innervation may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease, the present study analyzed nasal mucosal nerve profiles.

Methods: Neuropeptide-containing nerve fibers were examined using immunohistochemistry and related to eosinophil and mast cell numbers.

Phenotypic alteration of neuropeptide-containing nerve fibres in seasonal intermittent allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common allergic disease affecting the respiratory tract. Next to inflammatory changes, the airway innervation plays an important modulatory role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Objective: To examine the participation of different neuropeptides in the human nasal mucosa of intermittent (seasonal) AR tissues in the allergic season.

Aspirin-sensitive rhinitis-associated changes in upper airway innervation.

Aspirin-sensitive rhinitis is the manifestation of aspirin intolerance in the upper respiratory tract. The disease represents a pseudoallergy against aspirin or related nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a major immunomodulatory role for airway innervation has been proposed in airway inflammatory diseases, the present study assessed changes in human nasal mucosa innervation in patients with aspirin-sensitive rhinitis in comparison to a control group.

Toxic rhinitis-induced changes of human nasal mucosa innervation.

Irritative toxic rhinitis is a nasal disorder induced by chemical compounds like ozone, formaldehyde, nickel, chrome, solvents and tobacco smoke. These noxious stimuli may have effects on the nasal innervation leading to a cascade of neuro-immune interactions and an augmentation of the symptoms. Here we examined changes in the neuropeptide content of mucosal parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory nerves of patients with toxic rhinitis caused by chronic cigarette smoke exposure.