Drugs that produce responses by interacting with adrenoceptors are referred to as adrenoceptor agonists or adrenergic agonists. Norepinephrine and isoproterenol are examples of such compounds. Agents that inhibit responses mediated by adrenoceptor activation are known as adrenoceptor antagonists, adrenergic antagonists, or adrenergic blocking agents. Prazosin and propranolol are examples of rec...

Ipratropium bromide is an anticholinergc bronchodilator administered by inhalation. Although producing bronchodilation in most patients with obstructive airways disease, it is somewhat less effective than beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist drugs such as salbutamol or fenoterol in patients with asthma, but is at least as effective as these agents in bronchitis. As with the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists,...

Selective alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists were used to test the hypothesis that both receptor subtypes increase transcellular Na+ transport in the nephron. Oxygen consumption (QO2) was used as an index of transcellular transport and provided a continuous dynamic record of the tubules' response to an agonist. Both alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists produced a linear dose-related i...

Catecholamines, either endogenous hormones or a variety of exogenous synthetic pharmacological agents, bind to adrenoceptors to mediate their ultimate clinical effects [21]. Since adrenoceptors mediate many cardiovascular responses, pharmacological stimulation and inhibition of adrenoceptors may be useful to the anaesthetist. Ahlquist described originally two adrenoceptor subtypes (alpha and be...

Beta2-adrenoceptors are widely, almost ubiquitously, expressed. Activation of these receptors on bronchial smooth muscle by short- and long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists causes bronchodilation. Here, the beta2-adrenoceptor is linked by the G protein, Gs, to adenylyl cyclase, which increases cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), thus activating protein kinase A, which affects calcium level...

Salmeterol is a new inhaled 2 adrenoceptor agonist, which has been shown in animal experiments to produce a more prolonged bronchodilator effect than currently available f2 adrenoceptor agonists. It was studied in eight adult asthmatic patients. Each patient received on separate test days salbutamol 200 pg and salmeterol 50, 100, and 200 pg according to a randomised, double blind, crossover des...

BACKGROUND Propofol may decrease myocardial contractility via actions on the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated signal transduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of propofol via beta-adrenoceptor-mediated signal transduction by measuring the tissue levels of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). METHODS The effects of propofol on beta-adrenoceptor mediated cascades were measured ...

b3-Adrenoceptor agonists have recently been introduced for the treatment of overactive urinary bladder syndrome. Their target, the b3-adrenoceptor, was discovered much later than b1and b2-adrenoceptors and exhibits unique properties which make extrapolation of findings from the other two subtypes difficult and the b3-adrenoceptor a less-understood subtype. This article discusses three aspects o...

β3-Adrenoceptor agonists have recently been introduced for the treatment of overactive urinary bladder syndrome. Their target, the β3-adrenoceptor, was discovered much later than β1- and β2-adrenoceptors and exhibits unique properties which make extrapolation of findings from the other two subtypes difficult and the β3-adrenoceptor a less-understood subtype. This article discusses three aspects...

OBJECTIVES Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, and sepsis is a frequent cause of death in hospitalised patients. We investigated the relationship between ALS and the subsequent risk of sepsis. DESIGN A retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING Patients with ALSs diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 in Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. PARTIC...