OBJECTIVES Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) is a rare, life-threatening condition. We report our results of surgical treatment and evaluation of the outcome of acquired non-malignant TOF. METHODS Twenty-five patients (aged 49 ± 21 years) with TOF were operated on between 2001 and 2011. Tracheo-oesophageal fistula was due to prolonged intubation/tracheostomy (84%), was secondary to other surg...

FIZZ1 is an adipokine highly expressed under inflammatory conditions, and yet, little is known of its function. In this study we examine the expression and function of FIZZ1 in an ovalbumin mouse model of asthma. Trachea from naïve or ovalbumin-sensitised and -challenged mice were compared for transcriptional, functional and proteomic differences using gene microarrays, ex vivo tracheal contrac...

1. Four 3-alkylxanthines (3-methylxanthine, 3-n-propylxanthine (enprofylline), 3-n-butylxanthine and 3-iso-butylxanthine) and four 1-methyl-3-alkylxanthines (1-methyl-3-methylxanthine (theophylline), 1-methyl-3-n-propylxanthine, 1-methyl-3-n-butylxanthine and 1-methyl-3-iso-butylxanthine (IBMX], were compared in terms of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition and trachealis muscle relaxa...

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in response to the contractile stimulation of tracheal smooth muscle. We hypothesized that FAK may play an important role in signaling pathways that regulate smooth muscle contraction. FAK antisense or FAK sense was introduced into muscle strips by reversible permeabilization, and strips were incubated with antisense or sense for 7 ...

Increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass is a major feature of airway remodeling in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Growth factors induce a proliferative ASM phenotype, characterized by an increased proliferative state and a decreased contractile protein expression, reducing contractility of the muscle. Transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a mitogen-activat...

We examined the effect of ethanol on single potassium channels derived from plasma membranes of bovine tracheal smooth muscles. The observed potassium channels had a conductance of 296 +/- 31 pS (mean +/- S.D.) in symmetrical 250 mmol/l KCl solutions, and exhibited a voltage- and Ca2+-dependence similar to BKCa channels. Ethanol at 50, 100 and 200 mM concentrations increased the probability of ...

Administering anaesthesia to a child with an anterior mediastinal mass may lead to respiratory or circulatory collapse, even in those without symptoms. Institutions should have algorithms to manage children with mediastinal masses. Preoperative evaluations should include computed tomography, echocardiography and flow-volume studies. Anaesthesia may be induced with inhalation agents and maintain...