Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Catalytic CO Conversion.

Rising carbon dioxide (CO) levels in the atmosphere are recognized as a threat to atmospheric stability and life. Although this greenhouse gas is being produced on a large scale, there are solutions to reduction and indeed utilization of the gas. Many of these solutions involve costly or unstable technologies, such as air-sensitive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for CO capture or "non-green" systems such as amine scrubbing.

Moderate-intensity exercise training reduces vasorelaxation of mesenteric arteries: role of BKCa channels and nitric oxide.

Exercise training (ET) is well established to induce vascular adaptations on the metabolically active muscles. These adaptations include increased function of vascular potassium channels and enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxations. However, the available data on the effect of ET on vasculatures that normally constrict during exercise, such as mesenteric arteries (MA), are scarce and not conclusive.

Systemic Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Postmenopausal Women and Independently Associates with Homocysteine Levels.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of developing CVD due to decreased estrogen availability, which is accompanied by increased oxidative stress. Serum free thiols (R-SH) provide a robust and powerful read-out of systemic oxidative stress.

Downregulation of endothelial transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 channel underlines impaired endothelial nitric oxide-mediated relaxation in the mesenteric arteries of hypertensive rats.

The endothelium contributes to the maintenance of vasodilator tone by releasing endothelium-derived relaxing factors, including nitric oxide (NO). In hypertension, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) produces less NO and could be one of the contributing factors to the increased peripheral vascular resistance. Agonist-induced Ca(2+) entry is essential for the activation of eNOS.

Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference?

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of newly established asthma clinics (ACs) on asthma management at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Oman.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2011 and May 2012 in seven PHCs in the Seeb of Muscat, Oman. All ≥6-year-old asthmatic patients visiting these PHCs during the study period were included.