Latest documents http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/index/index/ Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:05:45 +0200 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:05:45 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25865 Background: Platelet activating factor and tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin B) are important mediators contributing to increased airway secretion in the context of different types of respiratory diseases including acute and chronic asthma. Leukotriene receptor antagonists are recommended as add-on therapy for this disease. The cys-leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist montelukast has been used in clinical asthma therapy during the last years. Besides its inhibitory action on bronchoconstriction, only little is known about its effects on airway secretions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of montelukast on platelet activating factor- and tachykinin induced tracheal secretory activity. Methods: The effects of montelukast on platelet activating factor- and tachykinin induced tracheal secretory activity in the rat were assessed by quantification of secreted 35SO4 labelled mucus macromolecules using the modified Ussing chamber technique. Results: Platelet activating factor potently stimulated airway secretion, which was completely inhibited by the platelet activating factor receptor antagonist WEB 2086 and montelukast. In contrast, montelukast had no effect on tachykinin induced tracheal secretory activity. Conclusion: Cys-leukotriene-1 receptor antagonism by montelukast reverses the secretagogue properties of platelet activating factor to the same degree as the specific platelet activating factor antagonist WEB 2086 but has no influence on treacheal secretion elicited by tachykinins. These results suggest a role of montelukast in the signal transduction pathway of platelet activating factor induced secretory activity of the airways and may further explain the beneficial properties of cys-leukotriene-1 receptor antagonists. Rene Schmidt; Petra Staats; Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Ulrich Wagner article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25865 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:05:45 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25655 Hypersecretion and chronic phlegm are major symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but animal models of COPD with a defined functional hypersecretion have not been established so far. To identify an animal model of combined morphological signs of airway inflammation and functional hypersecretion, rats were continuously exposed to different levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, 20 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm) for 3 (short-term) or 20–25 (long-term) days. Histology revealed a dose-dependent increase in edema formation and inflammatory cell infiltration in short-term-exposed animals. The submucosal edema was replaced by fibrosis after long-term-exposure. The basal secretory activity was only significantly increased in the 20 ppm group. Also, stimulated secretion was significantly increased only after exposure to 20 ppm. BrdU-assays and AgNOR-analysis demonstrated cellular metaplasia and glandular hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia as the underlying morphological correlate of the hypersecretion. In summary, SO2-exposure can lead to characteristic airway remodeling and changes in mucus secretion in rats. As only long-term exposure to 20 ppm leads to a combination of hypersecretion and airway inflammation, only this mode of exposure should be used to mimic human COPD. Concentrations less or higher than 20 ppm or short term exposure do not induce the respiratory symptom of hypersecretion. The present model may be used to characterize the effects of new compounds on mucus secretion in the background of experimental COPD. Ulrich Wagner; Petra Staats; Hans-Christoph Fehmann; Axel Fischer; Tobias Welte; Jan David Alexander Groneberg article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/25655 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:25:09 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/7760 Due to an increasing awareness of the potential hazardousness of air pollutants, new laws, rules and guidelines have recently been implemented globally. In this respect, numerous studies have addressed traffic-related exposure to particulate matter using stationary technology so far. By contrast, only few studies used the advanced technology of mobile exposure analysis. The Mobile Air Quality Study (MAQS) addresses the issue of air pollutant exposure by combining advanced high-granularity spatial-temporal analysis with vehicle-mounted, person-mounted and roadside sensors. The MAQS-platform will be used by international collaborators in order 1) to assess air pollutant exposure in relation to road structure, 2) to assess air pollutant exposure in relation to traffic density, 3) to assess air pollutant exposure in relation to weather conditions, 4) to compare exposure within vehicles between front and back seat (children) positions, and 5) to evaluate "traffic zone"- exposure in relation to non-"traffic zone"-exposure. Primarily, the MAQS-platform will focus on particulate matter. With the establishment of advanced mobile analysis tools, it is planed to extend the analysis to other pollutants including including NO2, SO2, nanoparticles, and ozone. Jan David Alexander Groneberg; Cristian Scutaru; Mathias Lauks; Masaya Takemura; Tanja Christina Fischer; Silvana Kölzow; Anke van Mark; Stefanie Uibel; Ulrich Wagner; Karin Vitzthum; Fabian Beck; Stefanie Mache; Carolin Kreiter; Bianca Kusma; Annika Friedebold; Hanna Zell; Alexander Gerber; Johanna Bock; Khaled Al-Mutawakl; Johannnes Donat; Maria Victoria Geier; Carolin Pilzner; Pia Welker; Ricarda Joachim; Harald Bias; Michael Götting; Mohannad Sakr; Johann P. Addicks; Julia-Annik Börger; Anna-Maria Jensen; Sonja Grajewski; Awfa Shami; Niko Neye; Stefan Kröger; Sarah Hoffmann; Lisa Kloss; Sebastian Mayer; Clemens Puk; Ulrich Henkel; Robert Rospino; Ute Schilling; Evelyn Krieger; Gesa Westphal; Andreas Meyer-Falcke; Hagen Hupperts; Andrés de Roux; Salome Tropp; Marco Weiland; Janette Mühlbach; Johannes Steinberg; Anne Szerwinski; Sepiede Falahkohan; Claudia Sudik; Anna Bircks; Oliver Noga; Nicolas Dickgreber; Quoc-Thai Dinh; Heiko Golpon; Beatrix Kloft; Rafael Neill B. Groneberg; Christian Witt; Sabine Wicker; Li Zhang; Jochen Springer; Birgitta Kütting; Ervin C. Mingomataj; Axel Fischer; Norman Schöffel; Volker Unger; David Quarcoo article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/7760 Tue, 18 May 2010 13:49:57 +0200 http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/3979 Die Zunahme an Gewalttaten, insbesondere durch Kinder und Jugendliche, wird in der öffentlichen und pädagogischen Diskussion weithin beklagt. Zwar zeigen zeitvergleichende Analysen, dass von einer dramatischen Erhöhung der Gewalhandlungen keine Rede sein kann; eher ist die öffentliche Sensibilität für derartige Vorfälle gestiegen. Andererseits gibt es erschreckende Beispiele für besonders brutale Übergriffe, die im öffentlichen Bewusstsein naturgemäß dominieren. Eindeutig zugenommen haben in den letzten Jahren politisch motivierte Gewalttaten, insbesondere mit rechtsextremistischem Hintergrund. Doch unabhängig davon, ob und wo die Zahl der Gewalthandlungen angestiegen ist, beinhaltet jede einzelne Tat einen Angriff auf die Menschenwürde und die politische Kultur und ruft deshalb nach Gegenmaßnahmen. Siegfried Preiser; Ulrich Wagner article http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/3979 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:18:54 +0200