Adenosine A1 receptor antagonist versus montelukast on airway reactivity and inflammation.

Adenosine produces bronchoconstriction in allergic rabbits, primates, and humans by activating adenosine A(1) receptors. Previously, it is reported that a high dose of L-97-1, a water-soluble, small molecule adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, blocks early and late allergic responses, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness to histamine in a hyper-responsive rabbit model of allergic asthma. Effects of a lower dose of L-97-1 are compared to montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist on early allergic response, late allergic response, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid following house dust mite administration.

A novel A1 adenosine receptor antagonist, L-97-1 [3-[2-(4-aminophenyl)-ethyl]-8-benzyl-7-{2-ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-ethyl}-1-propyl-3,7-dihydro-purine-2,6-dione], reduces allergic responses to house dust mite in an allergic rabbit model of asthma.

Adenosine, an important signaling molecule in asthma, produces bronchoconstriction in asthmatics. Adenosine produces bronchoconstriction in allergic rabbits, primates, and humans by activating A1 adenosine receptors (ARs). Effects of L-97-1 [3-[2-(4-aminophenyl)-ethyl]-8-benzyl-7-{2-ethyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]-ethyl}-1-propyl-3,7-dihydro-purine-2,6-dione] a water-soluble, small molecule A1 AR antagonist were investigated on early and late phase allergic responses (EAR and LAR) in a hyper-responsive rabbit model of asthma.

Antibacterial effects of Carica papaya fruit on common wound organisms.

The purpose of the study was to investigate antibacterial activity of ripe and unripe Carica papaya on selected micro-organisms. Cultures of micro-organisms were routinely maintained in nutrient agar slants at 4 degrees C. Extracts of immature, mature and ripe Carica papaya fruit were obtained by separately grinding factions of the epicarp, endocarp and seeds and filtering them through gauze.

Salt-induced hypertension in rats alters the response of isolated aortic rings to cromakalim.

The effect of cromakalim, an opener of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel, on precontracted aortic rings from control and salt-loaded rats was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Salt-loading experiments involved the induction of hypertension by 6-week feeding of 80 g sodium chloride (NaCl) per kilogram (kg) diet while the control diet had 3 g NaCl per kg diet. Blood pressure and heart rate were determined by cannulation of a femoral artery under urethane/alpha-chloralose anaesthesia.

Contractile response of normotensive rat aorta to serum from salt-loaded Sprague-Dawley rats.

Sprague-Dawley rats were made hypertensive by 6-week dietary salt loading with 8% NaCl in the diet and compared with control rats which had normal feed and water. At the end of this period, the salt-loaded group developed hypertension but the heart rate did not differ significantly from control. Serum taken from salt-loaded rats showed enhanced vasoconstrictor effect on normal rat's aorta when compared with controls.

Altered responses of aortic smooth muscle from Sprague-Dawley rats with salt-induced hypertension.

1. The contractile responses of aortic ring preparations from Sprague-Dawley rats made hypertensive by 6-week dietary salt loading were studied. The test and control diet contained 8.

Rouleaux formation in sickle cell traits.

Rouleaux formation of washed red blood cells (r.b.c.

Dietary salt-loading attenuates endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to histamine but not to acetylcholine in rat aortic rings.

Endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to histamine and ACh has been studied on precontracted aortic rings from control and salt-loaded Sprague-Dawley rats. Both ACh and histamine caused relaxation of the noradrenaline-induced precontraction only in the presence of the endothelium. The relaxation response to ACh in rings from control and salt-loaded rats did not differ significantly whereas histamine-induced relaxation was significantly attenuated in aortae from salt-loaded rats.

Sickle discocytes form more rouleaux in vitro than normal erythrocytes.

Rouleaux formation of washed erythrocytes was studied in 32 normal (HbAA) individuals and 30 sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) patients. Washed red cells were suspended in their plasma and rouleaux formation visualized with the aid of an inverted microscope connected to a video camera-monitor unit. Aggregation rate was studied by visual particle counting.