We examined some of the metabolic events that regulate sensitizing cancer extract-induced leukocyte adherence inhibition and found that human leukocytes adhere in a comparatively passive manner to glass in serum-free medium. Adherence of leukocytes to glass did not require oxidative metabolism, microtubules, microfilaments, or calcium entry, whereas leukocyte mobility excited by sensitizing can...

Histamine is the main mediator of urticaria and H1-receptor antagonists represent the treatment of choice in all patients with chronic urticaria. Leukotriene receptor antagonists as montelukast have also been used in patients with chronic urticaria unresponsive to H1-antihistamines alone. We report a patient with chronic urticaria whose disease was paradoxically exacerbated by H1-antihistamines...

Chronic asthma is a major health concern for children and adults worldwide. The goal of treatment is to prevent symptoms by reducing airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. Step-up therapy for symptom control involves initiation with low-dose treatment and increasing intensity at subsequent visits if control is not achieved. Step-down therapy starts with a high-dose regimen, reducing intensity...

The present study investigated whether single-dose oral leukotriene receptor antagonists as add-on therapy to short-acting beta-agonists, immediately after allergen challenge, block the late-phase airway response. In total, 35 mild asthmatics (mean age 24 yrs, 19 males) sensitised for house dust mites underwent two courses of bronchial allergen challenge. After the early allergic response (EAR)...

Precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) allow comparison of airway responses of different species under identical experimental conditions. Our aim was to establish and characterize PCLS from guinea pigs (GP) and to compare them to human PCLS. Guinea pig PCLS were prepared according to previously published procedures with the exception that the agarose solution and the initial incubation medium contain...

The role of endogenous 5-lipoxygenase products in modulating tachykinergic neurotransmission in guinea pig isolated trachea was investigated. Tachykinin-containing afferent nerve fibers were stimulated with either electrical field stimulation or antidromic stimulation of the right vagus nerve. This resulted in contractions of the isolated caudal trachea and bronchus that could be blocked with e...

Polyunsaturated fatty acids play a role as precursors of biolo­gically active compounds that can act as mediators or modulators  of various cell functions. Thus three main groups of derivatives­ the prostaglandins, the thromboxanes, and recently discovered  leukotrienes are formed by oxygenation and further transformation of various polyunsaturated fatty acids of which arachidonic acid  plays t...