Pro-inflammatory mechanisms of muscarinic receptor stimulation in airway smooth muscle.

Background: Acetylcholine, the primary parasympathetic neurotransmitter in the airways, plays an important role in bronchoconstriction and mucus production. Recently, it has been shown that acetylcholine, by acting on muscarinic receptors, is also involved in airway inflammation and remodelling. The mechanism(s) by which muscarinic receptors regulate inflammatory responses are, however, still unknown.

Muscarinic M3 receptor stimulation increases cigarette smoke-induced IL-8 secretion by human airway smooth muscle cells.

Acetylcholine is the primary parasympathetic neurotransmitter in the airways and is known to cause bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion. Recent findings suggest that acetylcholine also regulates aspects of remodelling and inflammation through its action on muscarinic receptors. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of muscarinic receptor stimulation on cytokine production by human airway smooth muscle cells (primary and immortalised cell lines).

Tympanic electrocochleography for diagnosis of Menière's disease.

Objective: Tympanic electrocochleography (ECOG) is a noninvasive technique for recording cochlear potentials with an electrode placed on the tympanic membrane. Electrocochleography is used clinically in the evaluation of patients for endolymphatic hydrops. This study was undertaken to obtain normative data for ECOG responses to clicks and tone bursts and to determine clinical indicators that result in high test specificities.