Nitric Oxide Concentration Levels Research Articles

Cellular nitric oxide synthesis is affected by disorders in the interdependent [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] dynamics during cystic fibrosis disease.

Calcium ([Formula: see text]), inositol trisphosphate ([Formula: see text]), and nitric oxide (NO) signaling are essential to maintain the structural integrity and physiological activity of fibroblast cells. The accumulation of excess quantity of NO for longer periods can lead to a variety of fibrotic disorders, including heart disease, penile fibrosis in Peyronie's disease (PD), and cystic fibrosis. The dynamics of these three signaling processes and their interdependence in fibroblast cells are not clearly known to date. A systems biology model is proposed using reaction-diffusion equations for calcium, [Formula: see text], and calcium-dependent NO synthesis in fibroblast cells. The finite element method (FEM) is used to examine [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and NO regulation and dysregulation in cells. The results throw light on the conditions that disturb the coupled [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] dynamics and the influence of these factors on the levels of NO concentration in the fibroblast cell. The findings suggest that changes in source inflow, buffers, and diffusion coefficient might induce an increase or reduction in nitric oxide and [Formula: see text] synthesis, resulting in fibroblast cell diseases. Furthermore, the findings provide new information regarding the size and intensity of diseases in response to changes in several factors of their dynamics, which has been linked to the development of cystic fibrosis and cancer. This knowledge could be valuable for developing novel approaches to the diagnosis of diseases and therapies for various disorders of fibroblast cells.

The impact of ivacaftor on sinonasal pathology in S1251N-mediated cystic fibrosis patients.

ImportanceSinonasal symptoms in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis can negatively influence the quality of life and sinuses can be a niche for pathogens causing infection and inflammation leading to a decrease of lung function. Ivacaftor, a potentiator of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator protein, has shown improvement in pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis patients with different forms of class III gating mutations. However, the effects of ivacaftor on sinonasal pathology have hardly been studied.ObjectiveTo determine the impact of ivacaftor therapy on sinonasal pathology in patients with cystic fibrosis with an S1251N mutation.DesignProspective observational mono-center cohort study, between June 2015 and December 2016.SettingA tertiary referral center in Utrecht, The Netherlands.ParticipantsEight patients with cystic fibrosis with an S1251N mutation, treated with the potentiator ivacaftor were investigated.ExposuresIvacaftor (Kalydeco, VX-770) therapy. Computed tomography imaging of paranasal sinuses. Nasal nitric oxide concentration measurements and nasal endoscopy.Main outcomes and measuresPrimary outcome is opacification of paranasal sinuses examined with computed tomography scan analysis and scaled by the modified Lund-Mackay score before and one year after treatment. Secondary outcomes are nasal nitric oxide concentration levels, sinonasal symptoms and nasal endoscopic findings before and approximately two months and in some cases one year after treatment.ResultsComputed tomography scan analysis showed a significant decrease in opacification of the majority of paranasal sinuses comparing the opacification score per paranasal sinus before and after one year of treatment with ivacaftor. Median nasal nitric oxide levels significantly improved from 220.00 (IQR:136.00–341.18) to 462.84 (IQR:233.17–636.25) (p = 0.017) parts per billion. Likewise, the majority of sinonasal symptoms and nasal endoscopic pathology decreased or resolved at two months after the use of ivacaftor.Conclusion and relevanceIvacaftor appears to improve sinonasal outcome parameters and thereby sinonasal health in patients with cystic fibrosis with an S1251N mutation.

Effects of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica) juice on oxidative stress in diabetic cataract rats

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. It is often associated with complications, such as cataracts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cactus pear juice on oxidative stress and cataract formation in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Rats were divided into six groups, Group 1 untreated as negative control, Group 2 injected with alloxan only to induce diabetes as diabetic cataract positive control, Groups 3,4,5 and 6 injected with alloxan and given orally 1, 2, 3 and 4 ml concentrated cactus juice/rat/day, respectively. After 8 weeks, the animals treated with cactus juice showed a significant decrease in the level of blood glucose and lipid peroxidation in blood and lens, and a significant decrease in the concentration of lens Fas ligand, compared with negative control (group 1). Also, the treated groups showed significant increase in the level of reduced glutathione and the activity of superoxide dismutase and significant decrease in the levels of nitric oxide concentration. Slit lamp examination revealed that supplementation with cactus juice delayed the progression and maturation of cataract in the treated groups compared with positive control (group 2), which developed subcapsular cataract. The best result observed in Group 5, which was given orally 3 ml juice/rat/day. The data in the present study indicate that cactus juice is a rich source of natural antioxidants such as total phenolics, total flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene and total carotenoids. It can be concluded that regular consumption of cactus pear juice can protect the body from the oxidative stress and can attenuate the development of cataract as a complication of diabetes by reducing the level of blood sugar.

Respiratory Impairment in Norwegian Salmon Industry Workers

The aim of this study was to assess the respiratory status in salmon-processing workers. The study population was composed of 139 salmon workers and 214 controls. A study protocol comprised a questionnaire, spirometry, measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration, and total and specific immunoglobulin E analyses. Adjusted odds ratio of general respiratory symptoms ranged from 2.2 for wheezing to 3.6 for daily morning cough. Salmon workers were found to have an excess of work-related respiratory symptoms (2.9 ≤ adjusted odds ratio ≤ 13.6) and reduced lung function. Positive interaction of smoking and exposure was found for work-related upper respiratory symptoms and shortness of breath. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration levels were higher in controls. None from the controls had salmon-specific immunoglobulin E, compared with 2.2% of salmon workers. Salmon-processing workers exhibit impaired respiratory status and are more likely to be sensitized to salmon.

Ultrasensitive detection of nitric oxide at 5.33 μm by using external cavity quantum cascade laser-based Faraday rotation spectroscopy

A transportable prototype Faraday rotation spectroscopic system based on a tunable external cavity quantum cascade laser has been developed for ultrasensitive detection of nitric oxide (NO). A broadly tunable laser source allows targeting the optimum Q(3/2)(3/2) molecular transition at 1875.81 cm(-1) of the NO fundamental band. For an active optical path of 44 cm and 1-s lock-in time constant minimum NO detection limits (1sigma) of 4.3 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) and 0.38 ppbv are obtained by using a thermoelectrically cooled mercury-cadmium-telluride photodetector and liquid nitrogen-cooled indium-antimonide photodetector, respectively. Laboratory performance evaluation and results of continuous, unattended monitoring of atmospheric NO concentration levels are reported.

Modeling of the production of secondary gaseous products in confined atmospheres

Confined environments are indoor spaces in which the air is not renewed or very poorly renewed by fresh outdoor air (spacecraft, submarines, etc.). In these environments, indoor air quality (IAQ) is expected to be highly influenced by homogeneous and heterogeneous chemistry. This paper presents a representative example of the contribution of these two phenomena to the production of secondary gaseous pollutants indoors by analyzing the chemical degradation of isoprene. An indoor air quality model was developed in the Matlab environment to compute the concentrations of both organic and nonorganic gaseous species involved in this mechanism. Two kinds of initial conditions (concentrations of nitrogen oxides, ozone and isoprene) were considered for the simulations. The results show strong interactions between homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Especially, the integrated reaction rate (IRR) of the heterogeneous hydrolysis of nitrogen dioxide emerges very high. Demonstration of strong interactions between inorganic and organic chemistries is also made, the conversion between NO and NO 2 being of central importance in the degradation cycle of isoprene. The type and amount of secondary products obtained are assessed. The results emphasize the strong influence of ozone and nitric oxide concentration levels indoors.

Estimation of Nitric Oxide Concentration in Blood for Different Rates of Generation: EVIDENCE THAT INTRAVASCULAR NITRIC OXIDE LEVELS ARE TOO LOW TO EXERT PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator in the cardiovascular system. Several lines of experimental evidence suggest that NO or NO equivalents may also be generated in the blood. However, blood contains a large amount of hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells (RBCs). The RBC-encapsulated Hb can react very quickly with NO, which is only limited by the rate of NO diffusion into the RBCs. It is unclear what the possible NO concentration levels in blood are and how the NO diffusion coefficient (D) and the permeability (Pm) of RBC membrane to NO affect the level of NO concentration. In this study, a steady-state concentration experimental method combined with a spherical diffusion model are presented for determining D and Pm and examining the effect of NO generation rate (V0) and hematocrit (Hct) on NO concentration. It was determined that Pm is 4.5 +/- 1.5 cm/s and D is 3410 +/- 50 microm2/s at 37 degrees C. Simulations based on experimental parameters show that, when the rate of NO formation is as high as 100 nm/s, the maximal NO concentration in blood is below 0.012 nM at Pm = 4.5 cm/s and Hct = 45%. Thus, it is unlikely that NO is directly exported or generated from the RBC as an intravascular signaling molecule, because its concentration would be too low to exert a physiological role. Furthermore, our results suggest that, if RBCs export NO bioactivity, this would be through NO-derived species that can release or form NO rather than NO itself.

Kinetics of gas–liquid reaction between NO and Co(NH 3) 62+

Wet ammonia desulphurization process can be retrofitted for combined removal of SO 2 and NO from the flue gas by adding soluble cobalt(II) salts into the aqueous ammonia solutions. The Co(NH 3) 6 2+ formed by ammonia binding with Co 2+ is the active constituent of scrubbing NO from the flue gas streams. A stirred vessel with a plane gas–liquid interface was used to measure the chemical absorption rates of nitric oxide into the Co(NH 3) 6 2+ solution under anaerobic and aerobic conditions separately. The experiments manifest that the nitric oxide absorption reaction can be regarded as instantaneous when nitric oxide concentration levels are parts per million ranges. The gas–liquid reaction becomes gas film controlling as Co(NH 3) 6 2+ concentration exceeds 0.02 mol/l. The NO absorption rate is proportional to the nitric oxide inlet concentration. Oxygen in the gas phase is favorable to the absorption of nitric oxide. But it is of little significance to increase the oxygen concentration above 5.2%. The NO absorption rate decreases with temperature. The kinetic equation of NO absorption into the Co(NH 3) 6 2+ solution under aerobic condition can be written as N NO = K NO,G k 4 K 1 p NO + γ C Co ( N H 3 ) 6 2 + , L C Co ( N H 3 ) 6 2 + , L 2 p O 2 k − 3 + k 4 K 1 C Co ( N H 3 ) 6 2 + , L 2 p O 2 .

Kinetics of Gas−Liquid Reaction between NO and Co(en)33+

NO can be removed from exhaust gas streams by using a basic solution of cobalt ethylenediamine (en = H 2 NCH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ). The cobalt ethylenediamine acts as a homogeneous catalyst to oxidize NO into soluble nitric dioxide and realize the oxidation and absorption of nitric oxide simultaneously. The dissolved oxygen in equilibrium with the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas stream acts as the oxidant. A stirred vessel with a plane gas-liquid interface was used to measure the absorption rates of NO into Co(en) 3 3+ solutions under anaerobic conditions and under aerobic conditions. The experiments demonstrate that the nitric oxide absorption reaction can be regarded as instantaneous when nitric oxide concentration levels are at ppm levels. The gas-liquid reaction becomes gas film controlling as the cobalt ethylenediamine concentration exceeds 0.02 M. Oxygen in the gas phase is favorable for the absorption of nitric oxide. The optimal temperature for nitric oxide absorption is 60 °C under anaerobic conditions and 50 °C with 5.2% oxygen present in the gas phase. The kinetics equation of NO absorption into Co(en) 3 3+ solutions in the presence of oxygen can be written as N NO = [2K NO,G (p NO + γ C Co(en)3 3+ ,L )H O2 (k 2 D O2,L ) 1/2 p O2 ]/pk -1 + 2H O2 (k 2 D O2,L ) 1/2 p O2 ].

Korea red ginseng water extract increases nitric oxide concentrations in exhaled breath

Panax ginseng is well known to enhance the release of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells of the rat aorta and to reduce blood pressure in animals. In this study, we investigated the effects of water extract of Korea red ginseng (KRG) on NO concentration levels in the exhaled breath, blood pressure, and heart rate of human volunteers. We also are interested in whether NO levels in exhaled breath are increased by KRG extract, and correlated with blood pressure and heart rate. Twelve healthy, non-smoking male volunteers were recruited for this study. A single administration of KRG water extract (500 mg/50 kg) increased NO levels in exhaled breath, and concomitantly decreased mean blood pressure and heart rate. The correlation value between NO levels and heart rate (r = 0.94), and the correlation value between NO levels and heart rate (r = 0.84) are significant (P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis shows the clear conversed correlation between NO levels and blood pressure as well as heart rate. Therefore, present data suggest that KRG may be useful for the treatment of hypertension and pulmonary vascular obstruction.