New targets for resolution of airway remodeling in obstructive lung diseases.

Airway remodeling (AR) is a progressive pathological feature of the obstructive lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The pathology manifests itself in the form of significant, progressive, and (to date) seemingly irreversible changes to distinct respiratory structural compartments. Consequently, AR correlates with disease severity and the gradual decline in pulmonary function associated with asthma and COPD. Although current asthma/COPD drugs manage airway contraction and inflammation, none of these effectively prevent or reverse features of AR. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the features and putative mechanisms affecting AR. We further discuss recently proposed strategies with promise for deterring or treating AR

Design of a GSM 900 Energy Harvesting Model for a Remote-Control device

This paper deals with designing and simulation of an efficient RF-DC energy harvesting system for a remote control device. GSM downlink frequency of 935MHz to 960MHz and uplink frequency of 890MHz to 915MHz is taken as the RF source with centre frequency as 950MHz and 900MHz respectively. The simulation model has been created by using Advanced Design System (ADS) software. The performance of the circuit has been tested with matching and without matching circuits. The output voltage obtained was 0.372V DC and maximum efficiency up to 35.73% was achieved for the downlink GSM frequency by the lumped method for -10dB input source power. By considering more number of rectifier stages, output DC voltage can be increased and it can be utilized for replacing the DC battery of the remote control device

Bitter Taste Receptors for Asthma Therapeutics.

Clinical management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has primarily relied on the use of beta 2 adrenergic receptor agonists (bronchodilators) and corticosteroids, and more recently, monoclonal antibody therapies (biologics) targeting specific cytokines and their functions. Although these approaches provide relief from exacerbations, questions remain on their long-term efficacy and safety. Furthermore, current therapeutics do not address progressive airway remodeling (AR), a key pathological feature of severe obstructive lung disease. Strikingly, agonists of the bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) deliver robust bronchodilation, curtail allergen-induced inflammatory responses in the airways and regulate airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation and mitigate features of A

An attempt at optimizing the flow characteristics of blast furnace slag by investigation with synthetic slag prepared in the laboratory using pure oxides

In the cohesive zone the ore layer becomes compacted due to softening-melting and the gas passes predominantly through the sandwiched coke layer (coke slits). Minimizing the size and lowering the position of the cohesive zone will improve productivity and decrease coke rate. This work is designed at arriving at a slag composition through actual experimentations which will ensure the lowering of the cohesive zone of the blast furnace with simultaneous decrease in the difference between the softening temperature (ST) and flow temperature (FT) of the slag. Slag samples from SAIL, Rourkela were brought and their flow characteristics were measured under the heating microscope. With the same composition as obtained from the plant, a synthetic slag was prepared in the laboratory. It was melted to 1600 °C and then water quenched to form the glassy state. Flow characteristics for the same were also determined. In addition, all slag samples were sent to DISIR, Rajgangpur for slag analysis as well as to determine the mineralogical phases present in them. For this, they heated the slag samples to 1500 °C followed by slow cooling to convert them to crystalline form. Then, XRD analysis was done to determine the mineralogical phases. Finally, with relevant phase diagram study, we arrived at a composition which will ensure the lowering of cohesive zone. Moreover, flow characteristics data of synthetic slag was compared with that obtained from Blast Furnace slag

Lung secretoglobin Scgb1a1 influences alveolar macrophage-mediated inflammation and immunity

Alveolar macrophage (AM) is a mononuclear phagocyte key to the defense against respiratory infections. To understand AM\u27s role in airway disease development, we examined the influence of Secretoglobin family 1a member 1 (SCGB1A1), a pulmonary surfactant protein, on AM development and function. In a murine model, high-throughput RNA-sequencing and gene expression analyses were performed on purified AMs isolated from mice lacking i

Olanzapine induced hyperprolactinemia

Olanzapine, a second generation antipsychotic is widely used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Though olanzapine is an efficacious antipsychotic it has been associated with many adverse effects like weight gain, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, etc necessitating its discontinuation. Here, we present two cases of hyperprolactinemia induced by olanzapine