Development of Anti-Asthma Drugs

ContentsIntroduction Part 1 Asthma—The Nature of the Disease 1 Asthma—The Nature of the Disease Definition—What Is Asthma? Natural History Epidemiology Pathological Mechanisms Part 2 Mediators 2 Histamine Introduction Histamine Release Actions of Histamine Concluding Remarks 3 Leukotrienes Introduction Structure, Formation and Metabolism Biological Activities of the Leukotrienes Conclusions 4 Platelet-Activating Factor Introduction Historical Overview of Platelet-Activating Factor Structure and Metabolism of PAF PAF Production In Inflammation PAF-Induced Platelet Stimulation Other Inflammatory Effects of PAF Physiology Effects On Smooth Muscle Effects of Vascular Permeability Pharmacological Modulation Conclusion 5 Eosinophils and Neutrophils Introduction General Properties of Eosinophils and Neutrophils Allergy and the Eosinophil Allergy and the Neutrophil Inflammatory Cells and the Progression of Asthma Corticosteroids, Eosinophils and Neutrophils Summary 6 Acetylcholine Laurie Introduction Acetylcholine As A Neurotransmitter The Cholinergic Nervous System In Asthma Summary Part 3 Pharmacological Approaches Section 1 Competitive Antagonists 7 Hi Antihistamines 8 SRS-A Antagonists 9 Anti-Cholinergic Drugs Section 2 Functional Antagonists 10 Drugs Acting At Adrenoceptors 11 Theophylline 12 Prostaglandins and Related Compounds Section 3 Inhibitors of Mediator Release 13 Disodium Cromoglycate and Compounds With Similar Activities 14 Corticosteroids 15 Non-Steroidal Inhibitors of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism 16 Specific Hyposensitization SummaryIndex