The effect of ribose-induced Maillard reaction on the physical and mechanical properties of gelatin films was investigated. Bovine gelatin solution (5 g/100 mL) containing glycerol and sorbitol (1:1) was mixed with 20% (R20), 40% ribose (R40), or 40% sucrose (S40) (weight % is based on gelatin dry weight) followed by heating (90oC, 2 h) and oven drying to produce dried gelatin films. R20 and R4...

Respiratory pumping in Aplysia consists of transient, synchronous pumping actions of the gill, siphon, mantle shelf, and parapodia. This behavior has previously been shown to be driven by a network of coupled interneurons in the abdominal ganglion, the R25 and the L25 cells. We describe here a pair of electrically coupled cells, the R20 cells, which when active can initiate respiratory pumping ...

BACKGROUND Health status, dyspnea and psychological status are important clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measured by spirometry, the standard measurement of airflow limitation, has only a weak relationship with these outcomes in COPD. Recently, in addition to spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS) measurin...

We studied frequency-dependent spike broadening in the two electrically coupled R20 neurons in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia. The peptidergic R20 cells excite the R25/L25 interneurons (which trigger respiratory pumping) and inhibit the RB cells. When fired at 1-10 Hz, the duration of the falling phase of the action potential in R20 neurons increases 2-10 fold during a spike train. Spike bro...

BACKGROUND The role of small airway obstruction in the clinical expression of asthma is incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypotheses that markers of small airway obstruction are associated with (i) increased asthma severity, (ii) impaired asthma control and quality of life and (iii) frequent exacerbations. METHODS Seventy-four adults with asthma and 18 healthy control subject...

OBJECTIVE We hypothesised that the airway resistance during tidal breathing would correlate with a particular pattern of increasing obesity, particularly when supine, and would differ between participants with and without ventilatory failure. METHODS In our cross-sectional cohort study, 72 morbidly obese patients (40 males, 32 females, mean body mass index (BMI) 47.2) had measurements of both...

BACKGROUND The main objective of this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, comparative study was to assess the efficacy and safety of rupatadine 10 mg (R10) and 20 mg (R20) administered once-daily for two weeks compared with those of loratadine 10 mg (L10) in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). METHODS A total of 339 SAR patients were randomized to receive R20 (111 patient...

BACKGROUND We investigated whether a relationship between small airways dysfunction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), expressed both in terms of ease of airway narrowing and of excessive bronchoconstriction, could be demonstrated in asthma. METHODS 63 (36 F; mean age 42 yr ± 14) stable, mild-to-moderate asthmatic patients (FEV1 92% pred ±14; FEV1/FVC 75% ± 8) underwent the methacholine...

BACKGROUND Obstructive lung disease is a growing health problem, especially in developed countries. This study aimed to compare Impulse Osillometry System (IOS) and Spirometry for evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study groups contained 87 healthy people, 87 asthmatic patients and 56 COPD patients. Spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC) and IO...

BACKGROUND We investigated whether a relationship between small airways dysfunction and bronchodilator responsiveness exists in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS We studied 100 (20 female; mean age: 68±10 years) patients with COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]: 55% pred ±21%; FEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC]: 53%±10%) by impulse oscillometry sy...