Cross tolerance to salbutamol occurs independently of beta2 adrenoceptor genotype-16 in asthmatic patients receiving regular formoterol or salmeterol.

BACKGROUND: The development of tolerance following the use of long acting beta(2) agonists in asthmatic patients with either the homozygous arginine (Arg-16) or glycine (Gly-16) genotypes is poorly documented, especially in relation to the acute reliever response to salbutamol in constricted airways. A study was undertaken to evaluate the Arg-16 and Gly-16 genotypes for the acute salbutamol response following methacholine bronchial challenge between the first and last doses of formoterol (FM) and salmeterol (SM) combination inhalers. METHODS: Parallel groups of 10 matched homozygous Arg-16 and 10 homozygous Gly-16 patients completed a randomised, double blind, double dummy, crossover study. Following a 1 week washout period, patients received treatment for 2 weeks with either inhaled budesonide (BUD) 200 micro g + FM 6 micro g (two puffs twice daily) or inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) 250 micro g + SM 50 micro g (one puff twice daily). After washouts and randomised treatments (1 hour after the first and last inhalation) a methacholine challenge was performed followed by salbutamol 200 micro g, with recovery over 30 minutes (the primary outcome). RESULTS: Washout values for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), methacholine hyperreactivity, and salbutamol recovery were similar for both treatments and genotypes. Pre-challenge FEV(1) values for both genotypes did not differ significantly between the first and last doses of each treatment. Salbutamol recovery as mean (SE) area under the 30 minute time-response curve was significantly delayed (p<0.05) equally in both genotype and treatment groups. There were no differences in salbutamol recovery in either genotype or treatment group. CONCLUSION: Acute salbutamol recovery in methacholine constricted airways was significantly delayed to a similar degree in both genotypes due to cross tolerance induced by FM or SM.

Racially determined abnormal essential fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism and food allergies linked to autoimmune, inflammatory, and psychiatric disorders among Coastal British Columbia Indians.

British Columbia Coastal Indians possess abnormal patterns of essential fatty acid (EFA) and prostaglandin (PGE) metabolism as racially determined genetic traits, probably a consequence of evolving for tens of thousands of years on a diet extremely rich in EFA's. EFA metabolism abnormalities and unusual epidemiological patterns suggest fundamental pathologies so subtle as to be obscured in other groups, yet readily observable among these Indians. It is hypothesized that eicosapentaenoic acid and prostaglandin El deficiencies predispose Coastal Indians to food allergies which in turn predispose them to autoimmune, inflammatory, and psychiatric disorders.

Low incidence of schizophrenia in British Columbia coastal Indians.

Schizophrenia rates were obtained from a British Columbia coastal Indian group numbering 14 000. One subgroup numbering 12 200 showed an incidence of 10 cases per 100 000 population a year. An atypical subgroup of 1800 showed an incidence of 49 cases per 100 000 a year. These rates appear to be relevant to a hypothesis that suggests that schizophrenia may be caused by abnormal fatty acid metabolism. A study is reviewed which implies the existence of a delta-5 or delta-6 desaturase enzyme mutation or both, in the Indian population under study.

Thermal and mechanical properties of aluminized fabrics for use in ferrous metal handling operations.

Protective garments are normally worn in molten handling operations to provide some protection against molten metal splashes. These garments are also intended to provide protection against radiant heat, and they should be as heat resistant and comfortable as possible. Asbestos-based fabrics have been employed for many years, but recently some concern has been expressed over possible asbestos exposure. This program was undertaken to explore the ability of several types of fabrics to resist heat transfer during molten metal impact. A molten metal splash test, along with standard methods for determining tensile strength, flame resistance, and abrasion-flexing resistance were used to evaluate several classes of protective fabrics. The results indicate that there are materials available that offer equal or better mechanical properties and thermal protection compared to aluminized asbestos.

Foundry air contaminants from green sand molds.

The major gases evolved from foundry molds have been determined in the laboratory. The principal gases evolved during pouring and shakeout of castings include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons with smaller amounts of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and sulfur dioxide.