The combined use of gemcitabine and ifosfamide in patients with Stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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The effects of gender on exhaled Nitric Oxide (NO) production among volunteers

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Anti-inflammatory treatment increased exhaled nitric oxide production on patients with active bronchiectasis

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Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and -9 (MMP-9) in bronchiectatic airways in vivo

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A multi-centered Asian trial of docetaxel (Taxotere) and cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

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Effects of herbal preparation, corioulus versicolor Yun-zhi, on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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The effects of gelomyrtol forte® on human ciliary beat frequency in bronchiectasis subjects in vitro

Poster PresentationAim Ciliary beat is the major determinant of mucociliary clearance mechanism, which maintains the sterility of the lower respiratory tract and thereby respiratory health against inhaled pathogens. Gelomyrtol Forte (GF) is phytomedicine, claimed to exhibit seretomucolytic functions and anecodotally used to treat COPD and sinusitis. Our lab have demonstrated that GF causes an increase in ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in healthy subjects in vitro. Its effects have not been studied in bronchiectasis subjects who have a lower basal ciliary beat frequency (CBF) when compared with healthy subjects. Methods We have examined the effects on GF on CBF of human respiratory mucosa of 12 bronchiectasis patients. The mucosa was obtained without anaesthetic from the inferior turbinate and suspended in M199 which contained 0 and 250 ng/mL of GF. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) for each GF concentration was examined using a phase contrast microscope and a photometric system linked to a digital converter as per standard established protocol in our laboratory at 0.2 and 4 h. Results The following table shows our data. Paired Samples t-test between 0 hr, 2 hr and 4 hr on all groups showed a significant increase in CBF after incubation (0 ng/mL GF and 250 ng/mL, p < 0.001). The increase in CBF was most obvious in the time interval between 0 hr and 2 hour. Also, CBF was significantly higher in samples which were incubated with GF at 250 ng/mL than at 0 ng/mL. (2 hr p = 0.008, 4 hr p = 0.019). Conclusion Our results suggest that Gelomyrtol Forte could have a mucokinetic action in bronchiectasis subjects.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin: discruption of ultrastructure of human respiratory mucosa in vitro

Purpose Previous studies showed that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is depleted from human respiratory epithelium in the presence of pyocyanin. The latter was also associated with an increase in oxidative stress in intracellular structures. It is postulated that mitochondrial ultrastructure would be affected by pyocyanin. Method The human respiratory mucosa was obtained without anaesthetic from the inferior turbinate of 6 healthy subjects, and suspended in M199 which contained 0 and 20mg/mL of pyocyanin. After 4 hrs incubation, the cells were fixed with 2.5% cacodylate-buffered glutaraldehyde and post-fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide. This was followed by standard serial dehydration through alcohols and embedding in araldite. An ultrathin section (70 to 90 nm) through the central portion of each specimen was examined with TEM at a magnification of x3000, which is the lowest magnification for mitochondria to be recognized. Ten digital images from each treatment were captured for every subject. Total mitochondrial volume of each ultrathin section was measured to be the area within the electronically traced area using the Photopro plus programme. Results Paired Sample t-test showed that there were significantly more swollen mitochondria in TEM sections in the pyocyanin-treated epithelial cells (p < 0.0001). Besides an increase in mitochondrial swelling, there was no damage of cell junctions or loss of cilia and the orientation of cilia were normal in the pyocyanin-treated epithelial cells. Conclusion It is concluded that pyocyanin causes mitochondrial ultrastructure damage

The effects of gelomyrtol forte on human ciliary beat frequency in vitro

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