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Readers will be aware that asthma is one of the commonest chronic diseases of industrialised societies, with an increase in morbidity and mortality, despite the availability of a range of different drugs. In an effort to improve the treatment of asthmatic patients, international guidelines have recently recognised asthma as an inflammatory disease, and there has been a change in emphasis from bronchodilator drugs towards earlier use of anti-inflammatory treatments. This volume brings together the latest developments in our understanding of the mechanisms of asthma, considers the safety ofbeta-adrenoceptor agonists, and explores latest developments in the use of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors in asthma therapy. The second international conference on "New Drugs in Allergy and Asthma" was held in Davos on 8-10 July 1992. There were six sessions with specialist chairmen: PDE isoenzymes (c. D. Nicholson), atopy and the environment (8. Villiger), adhesion molecules (R. H. Gundel), cytokines (M. Baggiolini), airway hyperreactivity (S. Makino) and neurotransmitters (J. G. Widdicombe). The success of the meeting was ensured by a high standard of presentation, with extensive reference to recent experimental data. The chairmen were instrumental in fostering stimulating discussion periods, that considerably enlivened the meeting. Particular thanks are due to the Swiss Institute for Asthma and Allergy Research (SIAF) and also to the e1inicians of Davos for their assistance and hospitality. In addition, a number of pharmaceutical companies were kind enough to support this meeting that was devoted to academic aspects of drug discovery. John Morley FRCPath.
List of contents
Phosphodiesterase (PDE) Isoenzymes.- Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Isoenzymes and Asthma - Outstanding Issues.- Role of Cyclic GMP in Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxation.- Identifying Protein Kinases in Crude Extracts that Phosphorylate cGMP-binding cGMP-specific Phosphodiesterase.- Lung Phosphodiesterase Isoenzymes.- Biochemical Characteristics and Cellular Regulation of Phosphodiesterase IV.- Atopy and the Environment.- Atopy and the Environment.- Air Pollution and Airway Epithelial Cells.- The Immunology of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Asthma.- Occupational Asthma - a Model to Study the Natural History and Pathogenic Mechanisms in Asthma.- Isocyanate Induced Lung Disease.- Recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus allergen I/a (rAsp f I/a) in the Diagnosis of Aspergillus Related Diseases.- Adhesion Molecules.- The Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Asthma - An Overview.- Efficacy of Monoclonal Antibodies against Adhesion Molecules in Animal Models of Asthma.- Adhesion Proteins on Airway Eosinophils in Allergy and Asthma.- Strategies for in vivo Blocking of Adhesion Molecules.- Cytokines.- Cytokines in Allergic Inflammation.- Eosinophils and Cytokines.- Mast Cell Cytokines in Allergy and Inflammation.- Airway Hyper-Reactivity.- Bronchial Hyperreactivity and Eosinophil Granule Proteins.- Is Airways Hyperreactivity Selective or Non-Selective?.- Anti-Asthma Drugs Acting on Muscarinic Receptors and Beta2-Adrenoceptors.- Muscarinic Receptor Subtypes: Implications for Therapy.- Inhaled Long-Acting ?2- agonists: Comparative Pharmacology of Formoterol and Salmeterol.- (±) Isoprenaline Revisited: Adverse Effects of Sympathomimetics in Asthma.- Anomalous Bronchospasm following Inhalation of (+) isoprenaline by Asthmatics.- Methods for Drug Evaluation.- Non-invasive Methods toExamine the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Drugs.- Methods for Evaluation of Anti-Asthma Drugs in the Primate.
