Search results for "muscle relaxation"
showing 10 items of 94 documents
The relaxant effects of cromakalim (BRL 34915) on human isolated airway smooth muscle
1992
Cromakalim (BRL 34915) is a potassium channel opener with therapeutic potential as a bronchodilator in asthma. Cromakalim (0.1–30 μmol/l) inhibited the spontaneous tone of human isolated bronchi n a concentration-related manner being nearly as effective as isoprenaline or theophylline. The order of relaxant potencies (expressed as -log10 IC50 mol/l; mean ±SEM) was isoprenaline (7.29 ± 0.27; n = 8) > cromakalim (5.89 ± 0.12; n = 7) > theophylline (4.07 ±0.13; n = 10). In human bronchi where tone had been raised by addition of histamine (0.1 mmol/l), acetylcholine (0.1 mmol/l) or leukotriene D4 (LTD4, 0.1 μmol/l), the relaxant effect of cromakalim was substantially reduced. Cromakalim suppres…
Effects of SCA40 on human isolated bronchus and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: comparison with rolipram, SKF94120 and levcromakalim
1996
1. SCA40 (0.1 nM-0.1 mM) produced concentration-dependent suppression of the spontaneous tone of human isolated bronchus (-log EC50 = 6.85 +/- 0.09; n = 10) and reached a maximal relaxation similar to that of theophylline (3 mM). The potency (-log EC50 values) of SCA40 compared to other relaxants was rolipram (7.44 +/- 0.12; n = 9) > SCA40 > or = levcromakalim (6.49 +/- 0.04; n = 6) > SKF94120 (5.87 +/- 0.10; n = 9). 2. When tested against the activity of the isoenzymes of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isolated from human bronchus, SCA40 proved highly potent against PDE III (-log IC50 = 6.47 +/- 0.16; n = 4). It was markedly less potent against PDE IV (4.82 +/- 0.18; n = 4) and …
Objective, Noninvasive Evaluation of Velopharyngeal Function in Cleft and Noncleft Patients
1998
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate a new diagnostic method that provides an approach to noninvasive, objective measurement of velopharyngeal movement by acoustic determination of epipharyngeal volume changes with velopharyngeal muscle function. Design This was a case control study, using consecutive samples. Setting This study took place at the Cleft Palate Rehabilitation Center of the University of Mainz, Germany. Patients Subjects were 29 consecutive cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients and 31 controls (21 patients with dysgnathia and 10 healthy volunteers). Intervention A series of transnasal acoustic measurements (pressure wave: 55 dB for 2 milliseconds) of epipharyng…
Relaxant activity of three aporphine alkaloids from Annona cherimolia on isolated aorta of rat.
1995
Abstract In the present study we tested the relaxant effect of three aporphine alkaloids—roemerine, anonaine and dehydroroemerine—isolated from the roots of Annona cherimolia, on isolated strips of rat thoracic aorta. All compounds completely relaxed KCl- and noradrenaline-induced contractions with different potencies depending on their structural characteristics. The experiments, carried out in Ca2+-free medium using two different agonists (noradrenaline and caffeine) which mobilize calcium intracellularly by different mechanisms of action, showed that the alkaloids made no contribution to intracellular calcium processes. The present study provides evidence that the relaxant effects produc…
Role of the Endothelium in the Relaxation Induced by Propofol and Thiopental in Isolated Arteries from Man
1997
Abstract Induction of anaesthesia with intravenous propofol and thiopental is often accompanied by hypotension. This study evaluates whether propofol and thiopental induce relaxation of isolated arteries from man and whether this effect is modulated by the endothelium. Mesenteric artery rings (with and without endothelium) from 12 patients were placed in organ baths and precontracted with phenylephrine before addition of propofol (10−3 M) or thiopental (10−3 M). Relaxation induced by propofol and thiopental was evaluated for rings with intact endothelium in the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 10−4 M) or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor i…
Stability of pedalling mechanics during a prolonged cycling exercise performed at different cadences.
2005
The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of pedalling rate on the pattern of mechanical torque application and on neuromuscular fatigue during prolonged cycling exercise. Eleven well-trained individuals performed three 1-h pedalling sessions, at 50 rev.min-1, 110 rev.min-1 and a freely chosen cadence, at an intensity corresponding to 65% of their maximal aerobic power. The mechanical torque applied on the right pedal was recorded for 30 s every 5 min while pedalling. Contractile and neural properties of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles were analysed before and immediately after each of the three pedalling sessions. The post-exercise reduction in knee extensors maximal voluntary c…
Involvement of K+ channels in the relaxant effects of YC-1 in vascular smooth muscle
1999
This study addresses the question whether K(+) channels are involved in the vasorelaxant effects of 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl-indazole (YC-1 ). In rat aorta, guinea pig aorta, and guinea pig a. carotis, YC-1 inhibited contractions induced by phenylephrine (3 microM) more potently than those induced by K(+)(48 mM). In rat aorta, tetraethylammonium (10 mM), charybdotoxin (0.2 microM), and iberiotoxin (0.1 microM), but not glibenclamide (10 microM), attenuated the relaxant effects of YC-1. In guinea pig a. carotis, YC-1 (30 microM) induced a hyperpolarisation which was antagonised by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 50 microM). In rat aorta, YC-1 (30 microM) incr…
Noninvasive assessment of respiratory muscle strength and activity in Myotonic dystrophy
2017
Objective To evaluate sensitivity/specificity of the maximum relaxation rate (MRR) of inspiratory muscles, amplitude of electromyographic activity of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), scalene (SCA), parasternal (2ndIS) and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles; lung function and respiratory muscle strength in subjects with Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) compared with healthy subjects. Design and methods Quasi-experimental observational study with control group. MRR of inspiratory muscles, lung function and amplitude of the electromyographic activity of SCM, SCA, 2ndIS and RA muscles during maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax) and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (…
Inhibitory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a plant-derived polyphenolic compound, on rat intestinal contractility
2009
Abstract Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) exerts pharmacological actions (e.g. anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive) which are relevant for potential clinical application in the digestive tract. However, no study has been published on its possible effects on intestinal motility, to date. In the present study, we investigated the effect of this plant-derived polyphenolic compound on the spontaneous contractions of the rat isolated ileum. CAPE reduced (in a tetrodotoxin-insensitive manner) spontaneous ileal contractions and this effect was reduced by the l -type Ca 2+ channel blocker nifedipine and the chelant of calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. However, the effect of CAPE was not mo…
Nitric oxide induces muscular relaxation via cyclic GMP-dependent and -independent mechanisms in the longitudinal muscle of the mouse duodenum
2003
The aim of this study was to investigate, in mouse duodenum, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the relaxation of longitudinal muscle evoked by nerve activation and the coupled action mechanism. Electrical field stimulation (EFS; 0.5ms, 10-s train duration, supramaximal voltage, at various frequencies) under nonadrenergic noncholinergic conditions evoked muscular relaxation occasionally followed, at the higher stimulus frequencies, by rebound contractions. Inhibition of the synthesis of NO by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100μM) virtually abolished the evoked relaxation. The relaxation was reduced also by apamin (0.1μM) and by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 1μM)…