This double-blind study determined the influence of serum neutralizing antibody titers on the rate of infection and magnitude of disease expression after experimental exposure of adult volunteers to rhinovirus strain Hanks (RV-H). A total of 133 healthy volunteers were tested for antibody status, cloistered for a 6-day period, and challenged with RV-H at the end of the first cloister day. On th...

Tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance was measured with the radioaerosol technique in 25 patients with stable, mild asthma, none of whom was taking systemic corticosteroids. The results were compared with those obtained from a control group of 25 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. All patients and healthy subjects were non-smokers. Ventilatory function was significantly impaired in the ...

Mechanical stimulation of the cell surface or cilia of cultured ciliated epithelial cells derived from the rabbit tracheal mucosa resulted in a transitory ciliary beat frequency increase of 20% or more. This response was composed of a lag, rise, and recovery phase. The duration of the response, but not the maximal frequency, was increased by stronger stimulation. The ability of these ciliated c...

Airway mucins, the major component of airway mucus or apical surface fluid that covers the entire surface of the airways, have been shown to possess multi-factorial functions that are necessary for first line defense, the major function of airway mucus. In this mini-review, I will provide some evidence, both theoretical and experimental, that the multi-factorial functions of airway mucins are m...

Objective-To study the relation between exposure and nasal function in woodwork teachers. Methods-39 selected woodwork teachers employed full time and 32 control subjects (other school personnel) were examined at the beginning and at the end of a working week with symptom rating, nose and throat inspection, rhinomanometry, nasal mucociliary clearance test, and a smell identification test. Durin...

The epithelium of the respiratory tract forms a large surface area that maintains intimate contact with the environment. Through the act of breathing, this mucosal surface encounters an array of pathogens and toxic particulates. In response to these challenges many strategies have evolved to protect the host. These include the barrier functions of the epithelium, cough, mucociliary clearance, r...