Although biomass smoke associated COPD (BS- COPD) is highly prevalent in India and other developing countries, there is paucity of knowledge whether this COPD is morphologically similar or different from tobacco-smoke associated COPD (TS-COPD). Aim: To compare lung-HRCT patterns of BS-COPD with that of TS-COPD and healthy subjects. Method: Inspiratory and expiratory axial HRCT images were obtained from 42 BS-COPD, 38 TS-COPD, 20 healthy biomass exposed ( BS-Healthy) and 14 Healthy-smokers (TS-Healthy) subjects from a rural setting in India. Lung abnormalities were evaluated at the parenchymal and airway levels using visual semi-quantitative scoring of HRCT morphology by two independent experienced radiologist. The parenchymal patterns were scored at a lobar level to the nearest 5%, and the airways abnormalities were graded on a four point scale. Results: Compared to TS-COPD, subjects with BS-COPD had significantly lower mean sum emphysema scores (265.±343 vs 40±70, p 0.05). The Mean sum emphysema scores and LAA scores amongst TS-Healthy and BS-healthy were significantly lower than TS-COPD and BS-COPD ( both p
Background: Isorhapontigenin (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxystilbene, ISO), a dietary resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) derivative, possesses various health-promoting activities. To further evaluate its medicinal potentials, the pharmacokinetic and metabolomic profiles of ISO were examined in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: The plasma pharmacokinetics and metabolomics were monitored by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), respectively. Results: Upon intravenous injection (90 μmol/kg), ISO exhibited a fairly rapid clearance (CL) and short mean residence time (MRT). After a single oral administration (100 μmol/kg), ISO was rapidly absorbed and showed a long residence in the systemic circulation. Dose escalation to 200 μmol/kg resulted in higher dose-normalized maximal plasma concentrations (Cmax/Dose), dose-normalized plasma exposures (AUC/Dose), and oral bioavailability (F). One-week repeated daily dosing of ISO did not alter its major oral pharmacokinetic parameters. Pharmacokinetic comparisons clearly indicated that ISO displayed pharmacokinetic profiles superior to resveratrol as its Cmax/Dose, AUC/Dose, and F were approximately two to three folds greater than resveratrol. Metabolomic investigation revealed that 1-week ISO administration significantly reduced plasma concentrations of arachidonic acid, cholesterol, fructose, allantoin, and cadaverine but increased tryptamine levels, indicating its impact on metabolic pathways related to health-promoting effects. Conclusion: ISO displayed favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and may be a promising nutraceutical in view of its health-promoting properties.
"β2-Agonists and Corticosteroids: New Developments and Controversies: Report of a Meeting in November 1990." American Review of Respiratory Disease, 146(6), pp. 1637–1641
Noninvasive coronary computed tomography angiography has shown to be an accurate method for the exclusion of significant coronary artery stenosis, with negative predictive values. The bioresorbable vascular scaffold has a translucent polymeric backbone that allows for noninvasive coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). The recommendations for image acquisition for scaffold evaluation are similar to the recommendations for native coronary vessels. The assessment of the images should focus on the treated segment. Scrolling of transaxial images allows displaying the course of the treated vessel and assists identifying the radio-opaque markers located at each edge of the scaffold. Luminal and vessel segmentation is visually assessed in the multi-planar reformation (MPR) images. After coronary lumen segmentation, three-dimensional (3-D) vessel reconstruction is performed. The 3-D geometry could be further processed using computational fluid dynamic and the finite element method to evaluate physiologic parameters such as fractional flow reserve and shear stress in a patient-specific model.
The domestication of grasses took place some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Strains were gradually selected whose seeds remained attached to the fruiting head long enough for the crop to be harvested and these strains gave rise to the wheat and barley we know today. Wheat grain was ground between stones to a coarse flour and as early as the Roman period sieves were used to separate bran from the fine flour to allow a more palatable bread to be baked. Even when advanced to the watermill and windmill, stone‐grinding still left a proportion of the germ in the flour in a powdered state. We now know that this flour must have stored badly, soon gone rancid and lost its baking qualities due to the presence of oil from the fine particles of raw germ. With the advent of the roller‐mill in the nineteenth century came the possibility of removing the intact germ to produce a stable flour and to yield wheat germ which could be stabilised, safely stored and used in its own right as a nutritious food. The purpose of this article is to discuss the nature, source, applications and composition of wheat germ and in particular its nutritional value.
Background Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are key features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress enhances COPD inflammation under the control of the pro-inflammatory redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB). Histone acetylation plays a critical role in chronic inflammation and bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) proteins act as "readers" of acetylated histones. Therefore, we examined the role of BET proteins in particular Brd2 and Brd4 and their inhibitors (JQ1 and PFI-1) in oxidative stress- enhanced inflammation in human bronchial epithelial cells. Methods Human primary epithelial (NHBE) cells and BEAS-2B cell lines were stimulated with IL-1β (inflammatory stimulus) in the presence or absence of H2O2 (oxidative stress) and the effect of pre-treatment with bromodomain inhibitors (JQ1 and PFI-1) was investigated. Pro-inflammatory mediators (CXCL8 and IL-6) were measured by ELISA and transcripts by RT-PCR. H3 and H4 acetylation and recruitment of p65 and Brd4 to the native IL-8 and IL-6 promoters was investigated using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The impact of Brd2 and Brd4 siRNA knockdown on inflammatory mediators was also investigated. Result H2O2 enhanced IL1β-induced IL-6 and CXCL8 expression in NHBE and BEAS-2B cells whereas H2O2 alone did not have any affect. H3 acetylation at the IL-6 and IL-8 promoters was associated with recruitment of p65 and Brd4 proteins. Although p65 acetylation was increased this was not directly targeted by Brd4. The BET inhibitors JQ1 and PFI-1 significantly reduced IL-6 and CXCL8 expression whereas no effect was seen with the inactive enantiomer JQ1(-). Brd4, but not Brd2, knockdown markedly reduced IL-6 and CXCL8 release. JQ1 also inhibited p65 and Brd4 recruitment to the IL-6 and IL-8 promoters. Conclusion Oxidative stress enhanced IL1β-induced IL-6 and CXCL8 expression was significantly reduced by Brd4 inhibition. Brd4 plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory genes and provides a potential novel anti-inflammatory target.
Noninvasive coronary computed tomography angiography has shown to be an accurate method for the exclusion of significant coronary artery stenosis, with negative predictive values of 97%-99% [1,2]. However, in patients previously treated with percutaneous coronary interventions, the artifact from the metallic stent precludes appropriate luminal assessment [3]. In contrast, the bioresorbable vascular scaffold (ABSORB, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) has a translucent polymeric backbone that allows for noninvasive coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) [4].
