In vitro performance of spacers for aerosol delivery during adult mechanical ventilation.

Background: During mechanical ventilation, different aerosol generators are employed with various interfaces. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a range of spacers, including a new device called Combihaler® designed for connection with both nebulizers and pressurized Metered-Dose Inhalers (pMDIs).

Methods: To assess the spacers, we used a ventilator and the Dual Adult Training and Test Lung (model 5600i, Michigan Instruments).

Methotrexate modulates tight junctions through NF-κB, MEK, and JNK pathways.

Objectives: Chemotherapy often induces intestinal mucositis, which is associated with an increase in intestinal permeability; however, underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Thus, we aimed to study the regulation of 3 tight junction (TJ) proteins, claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1, after anticancer treatment.

Methods: Methotrexate (MTX) was subcutaneously injected for 3 consecutive days in Sprague-Dawley rats to induce intestinal mucositis and was applied on Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Intestinal inflammation influences α-MSH reactive autoantibodies: relevance to food intake and body weight.

Autoantibodies reacting with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an anorexigenic neuropeptide, are involved in regulation of feeding. In this work we studied if intestinal inflammation (mucositis) may influence α-MSH autoantibodies production relevant to food intake and body weight. Mucositis and anorexia were produced in Sprague-Dawley rats by methotrexate (MTX, 2.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effect of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in intestinal microvascular endothelium.

Background & Aims: The role of endothelial cells in inflammatory bowel disease has been recently emphasized. Endothelial activation and expression of adhesion molecules are critical for leukocytes recruitment into the inflammatory wall. Compelling evidence demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects of long chain n-3 PUFA in inflammatory models.

Influence of leucine on protein metabolism, phosphokinase expression, and cell proliferation in human duodenum1,3.

Background: Although leucine increases protein anabolism through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in human muscles, its effects on intestinal mucosal proteins remain unknown.

Objective: We aimed to assess the effects of leucine on duodenal protein metabolism in healthy humans and to elucidate the signaling pathways involved.

Design: Eleven healthy volunteers received for 5 h, on 2 occasions and in random order, an enteral supply of maltodextrins (0.