Relationship of CT-quantified emphysema, small airways disease and bronchial wall dimensions with physiological, inflammatory and infective measures in COPD.

Background: COPD is a complex, heterogeneous disease characterised by progressive development of airflow limitation. Spirometry provides little information about key aspects of pathology and is poorly related to clinical outcome, so other tools are required to investigate the disease. We sought to explore the relationships between quantitative CT analysis with functional, inflammatory and infective assessments of disease to identify the utility of imaging to stratify disease to better predict outcomes and disease response.

Modulation of antioxidant systems by subchronic exposure to the aqueous extract of leaves from Achillea millefolium L. in rats.

We determined the effects of subchronic exposure to aqueous extract of leaves from Achillea millefolium (AE) on enzyme- and non-enzyme-dependent antioxidant systems in rats. Seven days treatment with AE (1 g/kg/twice a day, p.o.

Emphysema predicts hospitalisation and incident airflow obstruction among older smokers: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Emphysema on CT is common in older smokers. We hypothesised that emphysema on CT predicts acute episodes of care for chronic lower respiratory disease among older smokers.

Materials And Methods: Participants in a lung cancer screening study age ≥ 60 years were recruited into a prospective cohort study in 2001-02.

Acute Exacerbation and Respiratory InfectionS in COPD (AERIS): protocol for a prospective, observational cohort study.

Introduction: The aetiology of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains incompletely understood and strategies for treatment and prevention have not altered significantly for many years. Improved understanding of the role of respiratory pathogens in acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) is required and the use of molecular microbiological techniques may lead to insights into host-pathogen interactions and the development of more targeted therapeutic approaches.

Methods And Analyses: Acute Exacerbation and Respiratory InfectionS in COPD (AERIS) is a longitudinal epidemiological study to assess how changes in the COPD airway microbiome contribute to the incidence and severity of AECOPD.

Muscarinic-dependent inhibition of gastric emptying and intestinal motility by fractions of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart ex. Reissek.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reissek (Celastraceae) is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat gastric disturbances.

Plasma carbonyls do not correlate with lung function or computed tomography measures of lung density in older smokers.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are hallmarks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A critical byproduct of oxidative damage is the introduction of carbonyl groups into amino acid residues. We hypothesize that plasma carbonyl content is inversely correlated with lung function and computed tomography (CT) measures of lung density among smokers and is elevated in COPD.

Reproducibility and validity of a handheld spirometer.

Background: Handheld spirometers have several advantages over desktop spirometers, but worries persist regarding reproducibility and validity of data from handheld spirometers. We undertook an independent examination of the EasyOne handheld spirometer.

Methods: The laboratory testing included reproducibility and validity testing with a waveform generator.

Dietary clofibrate stimulates the formation and size of estradiol-induced breast tumors in female August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats.

Administration of 0.4% clofibrate in the diet stimulated estradiol (E(2))-induced mammary carcinogenesis in the August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rat without having an effect on serum levels of E(2). This treatment stimulated by several-fold the NAD(P)H-dependent oxidative metabolism of E(2) and oleyl-CoA-dependent esterification of E(2) to 17beta-oleyl-estradiol by liver microsomes.

No effect of cigarette smoking dose on oxidized plasma proteins.

Cigarette smoking is a major source of oxidative stress. Protein carbonyls have been used as a biomarker of oxidative stress because of the relative stability of carbonylated proteins and the high protein concentration in blood. Increased levels of carbonyl groups have been found in serum proteins of smokers compared to nonsmokers.

Impaired flow-mediated dilation is associated with low pulmonary function and emphysema in ex-smokers: the Emphysema and Cancer Action Project (EMCAP) Study.

Rationale: Basic science research suggests a causal role for endothelial dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical studies examining endothelial function are lacking, particularly early in the disease. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a physiologic measure of endothelial reactivity to endogenous nitric oxide.

Flavonoid-rich fraction of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reiss protects the gastric mucosa of rodents through inhibition of both H+,K+ -ATPase activity and formation of nitric oxide.

Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reissek (Celastraceae), a medicinal plant known in Brazil as "espinheira-santa" is commonly used to treat gastric disorders.

In vivo inhibition of gastric acid secretion by the aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis L. in rodents.

The freeze-dried aqueous extract (AE) from the aerial parts of Scoparia dulcis was tested for its effects on experimental gastric hypersecretion and ulcer in rodents. Administration of AE to animals with 4h pylorus ligature potently reduced the gastric secretion with ED(50)s of 195 mg/kg (rats) and 306 mg/kg (mice). The AE also inhibited the histamine- or bethanechol-stimulated gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated mice with similar potency suggesting inhibition of the proton pump.

Phase II antioxidant enzyme activities in brain of male and female ACI rats treated chronically with estradiol.

Activities of Phase II antioxidant enzymes, including NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), glutathione S-transferase (GST), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), and phenol sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1) were measured in brain of August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats exposed chronically to low doses of estradiol (E(2)). ACI rats were selected for study because this strain is highly responsive to treatment with low doses of E(2) as indexed by a high incidence of E(2)-induced mammary tumors compared to other strains. Rats were exposed chronically to 3 mg E(2) contained in cholesterol pellets implanted subcutaneously for 6 weeks.

Safety and antiulcer efficacy studies of Achillea millefolium L. after chronic treatment in Wistar rats.

Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae), popularly known as yarrow, has been used in folk medicine to treat complaints such as inflammation, pain, wounds, hemorrhages and gastrointestinal disturbances. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the aqueous extract (AE) of the plant after chronic exposure.

Phenobarbital treatment inhibits the formation of estradiol-dependent mammary tumors in the August-Copenhagen Irish rat.

Exposure of female August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats for 28 weeks to 3 mg of estradiol (E(2)) contained in cholesterol pellets elevated blood E(2) levels and caused palpable mammary tumors in all animals. Coadministration of phenobarbital (PB) in their drinking water reduced the incidence, number, and size of mammary tumors (MTs) but did not reduce blood E(2) levels. Inhibition of MTs by PB was accompanied by significant changes in total hepatic metabolism of E(2) measured in vitro.

Inhibition of gastric H+,K+-ATPase activity by flavonoids, coumarins and xanthones isolated from Mexican medicinal plants.

Medicinal plants are commonly used in Latin American folk medicine for the treatment of gastric problems. In order to understand the properties of some of their chemical constituents, four natural xanthones, an acetylated derivative, two coumarins (mammea A/BA and mammea C/OA) isolated from Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess and two flavonoids (minimiflorin and mundulin) isolated from Lonchocarpus oaxacensis Pittier, and the chalcone lonchocarpin isolated from Lonchocarpus guatemalensis Benth were tested for their activities on gastric H+,K+-ATPase isolated from dog stomach. All the compounds tested inhibited H+,K+-ATPase activity with varied potency.

Gastroprotective mechanisms of indole alkaloids from Himatanthus lancifolius.

The indole alkaloids mixture (AlkF) obtained from the barks of Himatanthus lancifolius (Muell. Arg.) Woodson was evaluated for gastroprotective properties in rodents.

Effects of alkaloids of Himatanthus lancifolius (Muell. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae, on smooth muscle responsiveness.

Himatanthus lancifolius, popularly known as "agoniada" in Brazil, is largely used in folk medicine against asthma, dysmenorrhea and as an emenagogue and abortive. This study reveals the effects of an alkaloid rich fraction (AlkF) obtained from the bark of Himatanthus lancifolius in vascular and non-vascular smooth muscle responsiveness. Incubation of AlkF (3-30 microg/ml) during 15 min generates a concentration-related and fully reversible reduction in maximal contractile responses evoked by acetylcholine and phenylephrine in rat jejune and aorta preparations, respectively.

Dietary clofibrate inhibits induction of hepatic antioxidant enzymes by chronic estradiol in female ACI rats.

Excess production of H2O2 has been implicated in oncogenesis. The object of the present study was twofold: first, to determine the influence of chronic estradiol (E2) on the activities of selected hepatic antioxidant enzymes in female ACI rats, a strain that is highly sensitive to the induction of estrogen dependent mammary tumors; secondly, to evaluate the actions of dietary clofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator, on activities of these enzymes in control and E2-treated ACI rats. Enzymes selected for study were: NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

Esterification of vertebrate-like steroids in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica).

The esterification of two model vertebrate steroid hormones - estradiol (E2) and dehidroepiandrosterone (DHEA) - was studied in the oyster Crassostrea virginica. The activity of acyl-CoA:steroid acyltransferase was characterized in microsomal fractions isolated from oyster digestive glands. The apparent Km and Vmax values changed with the fatty acid acyl-CoA used (C20:4, C18:2, C18:1, C16:1, C18:0 or C16:0), and were in the range of 9-17 microM, and 35-74 pmol/min/mg protein for E2, and in the range of 45-120 microM, and 30-182 pmol/min/mg protein for DHEA.

Esterification of vertebrate-type steroids in the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica).

Characteristics of acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA):steroid acyltransferase from the digestive gland of the oyster Crassostrea virginica were determined by using estradiol (E2) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as substrates. The apparent Km and Vmax values for esterification of E2 with the six fatty acid acyl-CoAs tested (C20:4, C18:2, C18:1, C16:1, C18:0, and C16:0) were in the range of 9-17 microM E2 and 35-74 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Kinetic parameters for esterification of DHEA (Km: 45-120 microM; Vmax: 30-182 pmol/min/mg protein) showed a lower affinity of the enzyme for this steroid.

Induction of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione S-transferase activities in livers of female August-Copenhagen Irish rats treated chronically with estradiol: comparison with the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Estradiol (E2) has been linked to both, protection against damage associated with chronic diseases or exposure to chemicals, and to the incidence of cancer. In its protective role, E2 appears to attenuate oxidative stress while as a carcinogen, E2 damages macromolecules via formation of reactive catechol metabolites. Alterations in the expression of antioxidant and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes upon administration of pharmacological doses of E2 have been previously identified, but the effect of chronic exposure to low concentrations of E2 on activities of those enzymes in liver is unclear.

Catechol estrogen formation in liver microsomes from female ACI and Sprague-Dawley rats: comparison of 2- and 4-hydroxylation revisited.

Estradiol (E(2))-hydroxylation was studied in liver microsomes from ACI and Sprague-Dawley female rats, which differ markedly in their susceptibility to E(2)-induced formation of mammary tumors. NADPH-dependent oxidation of E(2) by liver microsomes from ACI and Sprague-Dawley rats produced several metabolites of which 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E(2)), estrone (E(1)), and 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E(1)) were predominant. Incubations with either low (9 nM) or high (50 microM) concentrations of radiolabeled E(2) and with varying amounts of microsomal protein indicated the formation of only small amounts of 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OH-E(2)).