The endothelium controls the influx of macromolecules into the tissues, a process that may be disturbed at sites of inflammation and in atherosclerotic plaques. In this article, we report our evaluations of the effects of the inflammatory mediator, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), on the production of prostacyclin and the barrier function of human endothelial cell monolayers in an in vi...

In this work, the natural depletion process in sandstone and carbonate cores was modeled to investigate the asphaltene deposition mechanisms. A new permeability reduction correlation was proposed based on the Minssieux model that considers a combination of surface deposition, pore throat plugging, and filtration cake mechanisms. The results showed that the filtration cake is a dominant asphalte...

Fracture reservoirs contain most of the oil reserves of the Middle East. Such reservoirs are poorly understood and recovery from fractured reservoirs is typically lower than those from conventional reservoirs. Many efforts have been made to enhance the recovery and production potential of these reservoirs. Fractured reservoirs with high matrix porosity and low matrix permeability need a seconda...

We examined ZO-1 protein content in cultured retinal vascular endothelial cells to test the hypothesis that histamine alters tight-junction-protein expression. Histamine (10(-9) -10(-4) M) causes a reversible concentration-dependent reduction of ZO-1 protein content, mediated by both H1 and H2 receptors. Histamine reduces ZO-1 expression within the time associated with increased paracellular pe...

1. We have examined the inter-relationships between erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in a group of healthy subjects and in groups of patients with disorders known to change the sodium content of erythrocytes. 2. In the healthy subjects the sodium content of erythrocytes was inversely related to both the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane to sodium (as measured by the unidir...

Cyclizine (1-benzhydryl-4-methyl-piperazine, CAS 82-92-8, CYC, I), a piperazine derivative, belongs to H1 antihistamine group of drugs that shows such pharmacological properties as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-platelet effects, similar to other H1-receptor antagonists. In this study, two new tolyl and cumene derivatives of I (1-ethyl-4-[(p-isopropylphenyl) (p-tolyl) methyl]-piperaz...

Patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis often have no pulmonary oedema despite considerably increased pulmonary venous pressure. Pulmonary microvascular permeability was measured non-invasively by a previously validated method of double isotope scintigraphy with indium-113m and technetium-99m. This permits calculation of an index reflecting transferrin efflux and thus, indirectly, the microvasc...

Objective (s): Transdermal preparations for testosterone are becoming popular because of their unique advantages such as avoidance of first-pass effect, convenience, improved bioavailability, and reduction of systemic side effects. A novel testosterone transdermal delivery system (TDDS) was developed using a palm oil base called HAMINTM (a commercial product) and tested using in vitro and in vi...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate: 1) the effect of five dentin desensitizing agents (DDAs) on permeability using hydraulic conductance, and 2) morphological tubule changes with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS The agents tested were Seal & Protect, Gluma Desensitizer, HurriSeal, D/Sense 2, and Super Seal. Thirty extracted human molars were sectioned into ...