Effects of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine "shoseiryuto (SST, xiao-qing-long-tang in Chinese)", which has been used for the treatment of allergic bronchial asthma clinically, were examined on ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized allergic airway inflammation model (i.e., bronchial asthma) in a mouse. When SST was orally administered at 0.5 g kg(-1) day(-1) from day 1 to 6 after OVA inhalation, SST redu...

There is strong evidence to implicate transforming growth factor-beta in the remodeling that occurs in asthma, as levels are increased in bronchial lavage fluid and gene expression is increased in bronchial tissue. Transforming growth factor-beta is also known to increase the release of collagen from airway smooth muscle. Here we identify for the first time a possible mechanism for the effects ...

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coa reductase inhibitors (statins), are effective serum cholesterol-lowering agents which also have anti-inflammatory properties. the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on bronchial hyperresponsiveness. adult patients (age 14 to 65 years) with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (bhr) diagnosis based on the spirometry with methacholine challe...

the purpose of the present study is to investigate the prevalence of th17 and regulatory t (treg) cells in children with allergic rhinitis (ar) accompanying with bronchial asthma (ba).24 children with ar, 22 children with ba, 18 children with ar accompanying with ba,and 20 healthy controls were recruited. the prevalence of peripheral blood th17 and treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. ...

OBJECTIVE To characterize structural changes in pulmonary vessels of dogs with dirofilariosis. ANIMALS 8 dogs with dirofilariosis and 2 unaffected control dogs. PROCEDURE Pulmonary artery pressure was measured in affected dogs, and dogs then were euthanatized. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine vascular corrosion casts of pulmonary vasculature. Tissue sections of pulmonary vas...

Despite their relevance to mucosal defense, production of IgA and the function of lung B-cells remain unknown in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed IgA synthesis in the lungs of COPD (n=28) and control (n=21) patients, and regulation of B-cells co-cultured with in vitro-reconstituted airway epithelium. In COPD lung tissue, synthesis of IgA1 was increased, which led to its...

BACKGROUND Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP) play an important role in the defense against inhaled toxicants, and expression of CYP enzymes may differ among various lung cells and tissue compartments. METHODS We studied the effects of tobacco smoke in volunteers and investigated gene expression of 19 CYPs and 3 flavin-containing monooxygenases, as well as isoforms of glutathione S-transfer...

Carbocysteine is a mucoactive drug and is being used for both acute and chronic infectious airway diseases. Although carbocysteine can repair the damage of epithelial cells caused by exposure to various agents, the effects of this agent on allergic airway diseases such as asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis with an isolated chronic cough, in both of which epithelial damage may be characteristic,...

BACKGROUND Although researchers have consistently demonstrated systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), its origin is yet unknown. We aimed to compare the lung bronchial and parenchymal tissues as potential sources of major acute-phase reactants in COPD patients and resistant smokers. METHODS Consecutive patients undergoing elective surgery for suspected primary ...

BACKGROUND Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) is a glucocorticoid-induced protein with multiple actions in the regulation of inflammatory cell activation. The anti-inflammatory protein ANXA1 and its N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) have protective effects on organ fibrosis. However, the exact role of ANXA1 in asthma remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to identify the role of ANXA1 in bronchia...