Circulating nitric oxide [NO] in acute attacks of bronchial asthma

Thirty patients with bronchial asthma were included in this study. The airway reversibility in pulmonary function tests including forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] was more than 15% after the use of salbutamol inhaler. Venous blood levels of total nitrous oxide metabolites as serum nitrite and nitrate during and in-between acute asthmatic attacks were measured. ABGs were measured during and in-between asthmatic attacks. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the circulating nitric oxide level is suppressed in acute attacks of bronchial asthma, this is promptly reversible with the relief of the acute attacks

Vascular effects induced by long term treatment with beta blockers in rats

The aim of this study was to study the possible effects of prolonged treatment with metoprolol and propranolol on vascular reactivity. Normotensive male rats were used and they were divided into three groups. First group, received metoprolol, second group received propranolol and third group served as control. Their aortae were isolated and studied for their reactivity and comparison done between pretreatment preparation and control ones. There was a significant increase in the contractile response to noradrenaline in the aortic rings taken from metoprolol or propranolol treated rats as compared with controls. In contrast, there was nonsignificant difference in contractile response to phenylephrine. The relaxation response to acetylcholine in tonically contracted aortic rings showed significant increase in relaxation of aortic rings taken from metoprolol or propranolol treated rats as compared ith control. Whereas, there was no significant change in the relaxant response to sodium nitroprussid in pretreated aortic preparation compared with the control ones