Nanoparticles larger than the reported mesh-pore size range (10-200 nm) in mucus have been thought to be much too large to undergo rapid diffusional transport through mucus barriers. However, large nanoparticles are preferred for higher drug encapsulation efficiency and the ability to provide sustained delivery of a wider array of drugs. We used high-speed multiple-particle tracking to quantify...

Airway mucus overproduction is one of the most common symptoms of asthma that causes severe clinical outcomes in patients. Despite the effectiveness of general asthma therapies, specific treatments that prevent mucus overproduction in asthma patients remain lacking. Recent studies have found that activation of GABAA receptors (GABAAR) is important for promoting mucus oversecretion in lung airwa...

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and mono-hydroxy acid products of arachidonic acid were measured in mucus of freshly recovered morning stools of a patient with an exacerbation of ulcerative proctocolitis. Eicosanoids in ether extracts were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and amounts determined by radioimmunoassay. Four hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids were detected, of which the ...

Off the coast of Vietnam, two recent events seem to have contributed death coral reefs: rapid invasion a small marine snail called Drupella, and emergence disease that spreads over corals. We decided investigate whether there is link between corals, snails, disease. analyzed mucus covering surface both in healthy corals those infested by Drupella snails. Mucus produced usually full helpful micr...

BACKGROUND Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant. Alveolar collapse and obstruction of conducting airways leads to mismatch of ventilation and perfusion and profound hypoxemia. We postulated that surfactant deficiency could alter the properties of respiratory mucus in such a way that it would be poorly cleared from airways and promote air...

In Deroceras reticulatum, mucus cell ultrastructure and the histochemistry of the epidermis and the digestive tract epithelia were shown to be influenced by carbamate and metaldehyde, two molluscicides used as both contact and oral toxins. After carbamate poisoning mucus production is increased and the chemical composition of the slime is modified. Ultrastructural damage is less intense than af...

N-acetylcysteine L-lysinate Nacystelyn (L-NAC) is a newly synthesized mucolytic agent, of which the action in vivo has not been well defined. In six healthy mongrel dogs, the rheological properties of mucus, its mucociliary and cough clearability, and the transepithelial potential difference (PD) of the tracheobronchial epithelium were evaluated after placebo and L-NAC metered dose inhaler (MDI...

The effects of carbachol, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), secretin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and second mediator-like substances (A23187, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and dibutyryl cAMP) on mucus secretion from cultured gastric epithelial cells were investigated. Gastric mucus was measured by an enzyme-linked lectin assay with soybean agglutinin and wheat germ agglutinin. Intracellular...

BACKGROUND It has been proposed that a pathogenic effect of Helicobacter pylori is a weakening of the protective mucus barrier; however, this remains controversial. AIMS To clarify the effects of H pylori infection on the mucus gel barrier in vivo. METHODS Mucus gel polymeric structure and the thickness of the adherent mucus barrier were measured in endoscopic biopsy samples in subjects wit...