Airway hyper-responsiveness.

<p>The airway resistance (<i>R</i>), after increasing concentrations of methacholine (0–10 mg/ml), was measured via the forced oscillation technique (FlexiVent) after repeated intratracheal instillation of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 15 µg/animal) with or without curcumin pretreatment. Data are mean ±SEM (n = 8 in each group). Statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni multiple-range tests. <>\scale 80%\raster="rg1"<> indicates P<0.001 between DEP and saline groups for the same methacholine concentration. Δ: indicates P<0.01 between DEP and curcumin+DEP groups for the same methacholine concentration. ΔΔ: indicates P<0.001 between DEP and curcumin+DEP groups for the same methacholine concentration.</p

Treatments and endpoints following the repeated intratracheal instillation (i.t.) of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP) with or without curcumin pretreatment (given by oral gavage) in mice.

<p>SBP: systolic blood pressure; BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage.</p

C-reactive protein (CRP, A), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α, B) and interleukin-6 (IL-6, C) concentrations in plasma, after repeated intratracheal instillation of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 15 µg/animal) with or without curcumin pretreatment.

<p>Data are mean±SEM (n = 8 in each group). Statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni multiple-range tests.</p

Systolic blood pressure, after repeated intratracheal instillation of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 15 µg/animal) with or without curcumin pretreatment.

<p> Data are mean±SEM (n = 8 in each group). Statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni multiple-range tests.</p

Circulating platelets numbers (A) and occlusion time in pial arterioles (B), after repeated intratracheal instillation of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 15 µg/animal) with or without curcumin pretreatment.

<p> Data are mean±SEM (n = 8 in each group). Statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni multiple-range tests.</p

Plasma concentrations of D-dimer (A), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1, B) and von Willebrand factor (vWF, C), after repeated intratracheal instillation of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 15

<p> <b>µg/animal) with or without curcumin pretreatment.</b> Data are mean0±SEM (n = 8 in each group). Statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni multiple-range tests.</p

Number of macrophages (A) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) (B), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α, C) and interleukin-6 (IL-6, D ) concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage, after repeated intratracheal instillation of saline or diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 15 µg/animal) with or without curcumin pretreatment.

<p>Data are mean ± SEM (n = 8 in each group). Statistical analysis by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni multiple-range tests.</p

The effect of swimming exercise on adenine-induced kidney disease in rats, and the influence of curcumin or lisinopril thereon

<div><p>Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been reported to benefit from different types of exercises. It has also been shown that the ACE inhibitor lisinopril, and the natural product curcumin are also beneficial in different models of CKD in rats. We assessed the influence of moderate swimming exercise (SE) on rats with adenine-induced CKD, and tested the possible effects of lisinopril and/or curcumin thereon using several physiological, biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters. Rats (either sedentary or subjected to SE) were randomly divided into several groups, and given for five weeks either normal food or food mixed with adenine (0.25% w/w) to induce CKD. Some of these groups were also concomitantly treated orally with curcumin (75 mg/kg), or lisinopril (10 mg/kg) and were subjected to moderate SE (45 min/day three days each week). Rats fed adenine showed the typical biochemical, histopathological signs of CKD such as elevations in blood pressure, urinary albumin / creatinine ratio, and plasma urea, creatinine, indoxyl sulfate and phosphorus. SE, curcumin or lisinopril, given singly, significantly ameliorated all the adenine-induced actions. Administering curcumin or lisinopril with SE improved the histopathology of the kidneys, a salutary effect not seen with SE alone. Combining SE to the nephroprotective agents’ curcumin or lisinopril might offer additional nephroprotection.</p></div

Chemical structure of chrysin (5,7 dihydroxy flavone).

<p>Chemical structure of chrysin (5,7 dihydroxy flavone).</p