An Hptlc Approach to Quantitative Determination of Some Prostaglandins in Serum: Study in Normal and Asthmatic Subjects

Abstract

A modified HPTLC technique was applied in investigating venous peripheral blood concentrations of PGE1, FGE2, FGF1α, FGF2α, PGA1 and PGAP2 in three subjects with occupational asthma, undergoing specific bronchial challenge test with chemical sensitizers, as well as in two control subjects, exposed to the same test. The findings obtained show that the technique employed in our study is quite suitable and could be Useful to acquire more information on some biochemical events occurring during asthmatic responses to bronchial challenge.     

Respiratory function in singers: Medical assessment, diagnoses, and treatments

A healthy voice depends upon healthy respiration. An understanding of respiratory function is essential in evaluating disorders that affect the voice. This review addresses the assessment of respiratory complaints by history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and endoscopic procedures. Allergy testing and pulmonary function testing are covered in detail. Special problems that confront the professional voice user, such as the need to optimize respiratory function even in mild disease states, exposure to environmental irritants, and the athletic demands of performance, are related specifically to respiratory function. The discussion of diagnosis and treatment of common ailments such as allergic rhinitis and bronchitis is directed toward treatment of the active singer.     

A Gibbs sampling method to determine biomarkers for asthma

PurposeTo identify potential biomarkers and to uncover the mechanisms underlying asthma based on Gibbs sampling.MethodsThe molecular functions (MFs) with genes greater than 5 were determined using AnnotationMFGO of BAGS package, and the obtained MFs were then transformed to Markov chain (MC). Gibbs sampling was conducted to obtain a new MC. Meanwhile, the average probabilities of MFs were computed via MC Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, followed by identification of differentially expressed MFs based on the probabilities of MF more than 0.6. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their correlated genes were screened and merged, called as co-expressed genes. Pathways enrichment analysis was implemented for the co-expressed genes.ResultsBased on the gene set more than 5, overall 396 MFs were determined. After Gibbs sampling, 5 differentially expressed MF were acquired according to alfa.pi > 0.6. Moreover, the genes in these 5 differentially expressed MF were merged, and 110 DEGs were identified. Subsequently, 338 co-expressed genes were gained. Based on the P value < 0.01, the co-expressed genes were significantly enriched in 6 pathways. Among these, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis contained the maximum numbers of 35 co-expressed genes, and cell cycle were enriched by the second largest number of 11 co-expressed genes, respectively.ConclusionsThe identified pathways such as ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and cell cycle might play important roles in the development of asthma and may be useful for developing the credible therapeutic approaches for diagnosis and treatment of asthma in future.     

Paradoxical vocal fold motion: Presentation and treatment options

Paradoxical vocal fold motion is a rare disorder in which adduction of the folds occurs on inspiration. The disorder presents with signs of airway obstruction and often airway distress, so proper diagnosis by the otorhinolaryngologist is critical to subsequent management. We present a retrospective review of 10 patients with the diagnosis of paradoxical vocal fold motion seen over a 6-year period. Eight patients were females, and 6 required an acute airway intervention at presentation; 3 patients eventually underwent tracheotomy for respiratory decompensation. Six patients had a prior diagnosis of asthma, and this was determined to contribute to their respiratory status. Five patients were treated with botulinum toxin and 2 with flexible nasolaryngoscopic biofeedback, which improved the outcome. A review of the literature confirms a female predominance of patients presenting with paradoxical adduction and airway distress, often with a history of asthma and psychopathology. Our experience with botulinum toxin and biofeedback suggests that these procedures are viable treatment options in the management of patients with this disorder.     

Dysphonia associated with inhaled steroids

The use of inhaled steroids in the treatment of asthma is not without its complications. In some studies up to 50% of such patients complain of oropharyngeal and voice problems. We present the findings in 22 patients complaining of dysphonia who underwent videostrobolaryngoscopy (VSL) and computerized speech analysis. A number of abnormalities were identified. On VSL, these included mucosal changes (noted in 58%), apposition abnormalities (noted in 43%), and supraglottic hyperfunction (noted in 40%). On speech analysis, cycle-to-cycle irregularity was frequently noted (mean of 39%). Maximum phonation time was reduced in 73%. Our findings did not confirm the widely held views that steroid dysphonia is due primarily to a fungal infection or a steroid-induced adductor myasthenia of the larynx. A larger-scale prospective study is indicated.     

A miniaturized active sampler for the assessment of personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide

A personalized, miniaturized air sampling system was evaluated to estimate the daily exposure of pediatric asthmatics to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The lightweight device (170 g) uses a sampling pump connected to a solid sorbent tube containing triethanolamine (TEA)-impregnated molecular sieve. The pump is powered by a 9 V battery and samples air over a 24 h period at a collection rate of 0.100 L/min. After exposure, the solid sorbent is removed from the tubes for spectrophotometric analysis (Griess Assay). The lower detection limit of the overall method for NO₂ is 11 μg/m³. The linearity, precision and accuracy of the sampler was evaluated. Different NO₂ concentrations generated in the laboratory (range: 50 to 340 μg/m³) were simultaneously measured by the TEA tube samplers and colocated continuous chemiluminescent NO_x analyzers (reference method). The coefficient of determination for the laboratory test derived from ordinary linear regression (OLR) was r ²=0.99 (y _OLR=0.94x−4.58) and the precision 3.6%. Further, ambient NO₂ concentrations in the field (range: 10–120 μg/m³) were verified with continuous chemiluminescent monitors next to the active samplers. Reweighted least squares analysis (RLS) based on the least median squares procedure (LMS) resulted in a correlation of r ²=0.68 for a field comparison in Riverside, CA (y _RLS=1.01x−0.94) and r ²=0.92 in Los Angeles, CA (y _RLS=1.31x−7.12). The precision of the TEA tube devices was 7.4% (at 20–60 μg/m³ NO₂) under outdoor conditions. Data show that the performance of this small active sampling system was satisfactory for measuring environmental concentrations of NO₂ under laboratory and field conditions. It is useful for personal monitoring of NO₂ in environmental epidemiology studies where daily measurements are desired.     

Multipumping Nitrite Determination in Exhaled Breath Condensate

Abstract

A flow system based on multicommutation is proposed for the rapid, clean, and inexpensive determination of nitrites in small volumes of breath condensates. The procedure exploits the colorimetric detection of nitrite with the Griess reagent [0.03% naphthylethylene diamine dihydrochloride (NED), 0.5% sulpfhanilamide, and 3.0% phosphoric acid] in acidic medium at 540 nm correcting the variations of the baseline with measurements at 424 nm. The flow system was designed with a set of solenoid micropumps to minimize sample and reagent consumption and waste generation. The detection limit was estimated as 3.8 ng mL^?1 (99.7% confidence level) with a linear response ranging up to 500 ng mL^?1. The coefficient of variation was estimated as 0.7% for a solution containing 300 ng mL^?1 nitrite (n=9). Approximately 144 determinations can be carried out per hour, consuming only 678.4 µg Griess reagent and generating 1.184 mL of effluent per determination, thus providing an environmentally friendly alternative and a nonexpensive method. The procedure was successfully applied to determine nitrite in breath condensates.     

Synthetic studies toward human interleukin-5

Disulfide-reduced form of IL-5 is assembled from three peptide segments in the N to C direction. Reconstitution of the protein under different folding conditions has also been investigated.     

Respiratory and glottal efficiency measures in normal classically trained singers

Respiratory and glottal efficiency measures were collected from a pool of 40 classically trained singers with normal larynges. All singers had ?3 years of formal classical voice training and were active professional solo classical singers. Mean flow rates were obtained from all subjects to assess glottal efficiency. Additionally, maximum phonation times and phonation quotients were obtained from a subset of the singers. Pulmonary function test data on forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow were obtained for all subjects. Results were compared with published normal values, not specifically derived from trained singers, used commonly in voice laboratoires. Differences were found, suggesting the need for separate normative data to be used for evaluation of the vocal athlete.