Search

Background: The prevalence of water pipe (WP) smoking was studied using a standard questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests were also compared between WP smokers and non-smokers. Materials and Methods: The prevalence of WP smoking was studied using a standard questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal expiratory flow at 75%, 50%, and 25% of the FVC (MEF75,50,25) were compared between WP smokers and non-smokers. Results: A total of 673 individuals including 372 males and 301 females were interviewed. The number of WP smokers was 58 (8.6%) including 24 males (6.5%) and 34 females (11.3%). All pulmonary functional test (PFT) values in WP smokers were lower as compared to the non-smokers (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). The prevalence and severity of respiratory symptoms (RS) in WP smokers were higher than non-smokers (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). There were negative correlations between PFT values and positive correlation between RS and duration, rate, as well as total smoking (duration X rate) (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this study the prevalence of WP smoking in Mashhad city was evaluated for the first time. The results also showed a significant effect of WP smoking on PFT values and respiratory symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s) In the present study, the differences in the relaxant effects of aqueous, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Rosa damascena on tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pigs were examined. Materials and Methods The relaxant effects of three cumulative concentrations of each fraction (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g%) in comparison with saline and three cumulative concentrations of theophylline (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) were examined on precontracted tracheal chains of guinea pig by 60 mM KCl (group 1, n= 5) and 10 μM methacholine (group 2, n= 8). Results In group 1, all concentrations of theophylline, ethyl acetate fraction and two final concentrations of n-butanol fraction showed significant relaxant effects in comparison with saline (p< 0.05 to P< 0.001). In group 2, all concentrations of theophylline, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions showed concentration dependent relaxant effects compared to that of saline (p< 0.01 to P< 0.001). In addition, the effect of ethyl acetate fraction in group 1 was significantly higher than those of theophylline (p< 0.05 to p< 0.001). However, the effects of other fractions were significantly lower than theophylline in both groups (p< 0.01 to p< 0.001). There were significant correlations between the relaxant effects and concentrations for theophylline and all fractions (except aqueous fractions in group 1) in both groups. Conclusion The results showed a potent relaxant effect for ethyl acetate fraction of R. damascena on tracheal smooth muscle comparable to that of theophylline but a relatively weak relaxant effect for aqueous and n-butanol fractions at concentrations used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of duration of administration of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol on tracheal responsiveness to ovalbumin and total and differential white blood cell in sensitized guinea pig was examined. Six groups of guinea pigs (n=7) were sensitized to ovalbumin. Three groups of them were subjected to inhaled fluticasone propionate and salmeterol, one group during sensitization (A), one group after that (for 18 days, B), and the other one during sensitization but with 18 days delay before measurements (C). Three other groups were treated with placebo in the same manner. The tracheal responsiveness to ovalbumin and total and differential white blood cells of three placebo groups were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.001 for all cases). Tracheal responsiveness to ovalbumin and total and differential white blood cell in treated groups with fluticasone propionate and salmeterol were significantly decreased compared to those of placebo groups (nonsignificant to P<0.001). The improvement in all variables in treatment groups A and C were more pronounced than group B. The results showed that fluticasone propionate and salmeterol had a prevention effect on tracheal hyperresponsiveness to ovalbumin and lung inflammation which was more pronounced when administered during than after sensitization.