Protease concentration in amniotic fluid at term and early childhood respiratory symptoms.

Objective: Asthma is a common chronic disease associated with altered proteolytic activity. The present study tested the hypothesis that altered protease concentration in amniotic fluid (AF), an index of airway fluid at birth, precedes early cough and wheeze.

Methods: AF was collected and analysed for the following: matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -2, -8 and -9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) -1 and 2, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1.

Leukotriene antagonist FPL 57231 prevents the acute pulmonary effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin in cats.

We studied the effects of a selective leukotriene (LT) antagonist (FPL 57231, 2 mg kg-1 min-1) on the acute cardiopulmonary changes observed in feline endotoxin shock. LTC4 and LTD4 (0.1-3.