The link of asthma outcome with AMP responsiveness and airway pathology

We investigated which markers characterized asthma patients in remission and asthma patients with fast and slow decline in lung function. Also, effects of smoking in asthma were investigated and which indirect markers for asthma control were associated with airway inflammation. Lung function tests were performed, the adenosine-5’-monophosphate (AMP) was investigated and airway biopsies and sputum were obtained for inflammation. Good control of asthma as assessed with questionnaires and lung function tests is relevant because it is associated with less airway inflammation and improved quality of life.

Airway Epithelial Changes in Smokers but Not in Ex-Smokers with Asthma

Rationale: Smoking has detrimental effects on asthma outcome, such as increased cough, wheezing, sputum production, and frequency of asthma attacks. This results in accelerated lung function decline. The underlying pathological process of smoke-induced deterioration of asthma is unknown. Objectives: To compare bronchial inflammation and remodeling in never-smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers with asthma. Methods: A total of 147 patients with asthma (66 never-smokers, 46 ex-smokers, and 35 current smokers) were investigated. Measurements and Main Results: Lung function, exhaled nitric oxide levels, and symptom questionnaires were assessed, and induced sputum and bronchial biopsies were obtained for determination of airway inflammation and remodeling. Smokers with asthma had lower FEV(1) and alveolar and bronchial nitric oxide levels than never-smokers. Smokers also had more goblet cells and mucus-positive epithelium, increased epithelial thickness, and a higher proliferation rate of intact and basal epithelium than ex-smokers and never-smokers. Smokers had higher numbers of mast cells and lower numbers of eosinophils than never-smokers. Ex-smokers had similar goblet cell numbers and mucus-positive epithelium, epithelial thickness, epithelial proliferation rate, and mast cell numbers as never-smokers. Conclusions: Smokers with asthma have epithelial changes that are associated with increased asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath and phlegm production. The fact that epithelial characteristics in ex-smokers are similar to those in never-smokers suggests that the smoke-induced changes can be reversed by smoking cessation

Protein film electrochemistry of iron–sulfur enzymes

A suite of dynamic electrochemical techniques known as protein film electrochemistry (PFE) offers important insight into the roles of active sites in enzymes, including properties of electron-transfer centers (individually or collectively), rates and dependences of catalytic electron transport, and binding and dissociation of inhibitors. In this chapter, we explain how PFE is used to investigate the properties of FeS clusters—centers lacking distinctive or convenient spectroscopic signatures that are often very sensitive to O2. We see that PFE allows simultaneous detection and control of the reactions of individual FeS clusters, and measurement of their relaying efficiency in long-range electron transfer