Onset of action of inhaled glucocorticoids on bronchial and alveolar nitric oxide output

Background: Induced sputum in children with bronchial asthma represents a non-invasive method of bronchial inflammation assessment. The main objective of our study was to analyze the cellularity of sputum in patients with bronchial asthma according to the level of disease control and the controlling therapy (with/without inhaled glucocorticoids). The second objective was to establish the correlation between sputum cellularity and other indirect parameters used to evidence bronchial inflammation (exhaled nitric oxide) and obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 second).Methods: The study included children with bronchial asthma that were assessed clinically (physical exam, questionnaire on the control of bronchial asthma in children) and by medical tests (induced sputum, exhaled nitric oxide, spirometry).Results: In patients with partially controlled asthma and those with uncontrolled asthma, the eosinophils percentage in the sputum was higher than in patients with controlled asthma (19.8±26.4% respectively 9.2±20.5% versus 4.5±14.6%, p<0.001). Higher percentage of neutrophils in the sputum was found in the partially controlled and uncontrolled asthma than in the controlled asthma (43.9±20.1% respectively 51.6±38.3% versus 35±19.7%, p=0.009). We also evidenced a direct and statistically significant correlation between the exhaled nitric oxide and the neutrophils percentage in the sputum (r=0.67, p=0.0003). Also, an indirect, moderate to good correlation (r=-0.56, p=0.005) was evidenced between the values of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the high eosinophils percentage in the sputum.Conclusions: In partially controlled and uncontrolled bronchial asthma the eosinophils and neutrophils count in the sputum is significantly higher than in patients with controlled asthma. There is an indirect correlation between the high eosinophils count in the sputum and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second, as well as a direct correlation between the neutrophils count and the exhaled nitric oxide, suggesting that induced sputum should be used in combination with other indirect parameters for the evidence of bronchial inflammation.

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Localization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the normal and failing human atrial myocardium

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100166397 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 786-787

Author(s):

Chi-Ming Wei ◽

Margarita Bracamonte ◽

Shi-Wen Jiang ◽

Richard C. Daly ◽

Christopher G.A. McGregor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽

Cardiac Tissues ◽

Mammalian Tissues ◽

End Stage Heart Failure ◽

End Stage ◽

Oxide Synthase ◽

Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent endothelium-derived relaxing factor which also may modulate cardiomyocyte inotropism and growth via increasing cGMP. While endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) isoforms have been detected in non-human mammalian tissues, expression and localization of eNOS in the normal and failing human myocardium are poorly defined. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate eNOS in human cardiac tissues in the presence and absence of congestive heart failure (CHF).Normal and failing atrial tissue were obtained from six cardiac donors and six end-stage heart failure patients undergoing primary cardiac transplantation. ENOS protein expression and localization was investigated utilizing Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining with the polyclonal rabbit antibody to eNOS (Transduction Laboratories, Lexington, Kentucky).

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