Spherical monodisperse ferromagnetic iron oxide particles of 1.9 microm geometric and 4.2 microm aerodynamic diameter were inhaled by seven patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) using the shallow bolus technique, and compared to 13 healthy non-smokers (NS) from a previous study. The bolus penetration front depth was limiting to the phase1 dead space volume. In PCD patients deposition w...

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to airway epithelia is inefficient in part because its receptor is absent on the apical surface of the airways. Targeting adenovirus to other receptors, increasing the viral concentration, and even prolonging the incubation time with adenovirus vectors can partially overcome the lack of receptors and facilitate gene transfer. Unfortunately, mucociliary clearanc...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic disorder characterized by acute pulmonary exacerbations that comprise increased cough, chest congestion, increased mucus production, shortness of breath, weight loss, and fatigue. Typically, severe episodes are treated in the inpatient setting and include intravenous antimicrobials, airway clearance therapy, and nutritional support. Children with less-severe fi...

Many cell types in the airway express the adhesive glycoprotein for leukocytes intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) constitutively and/or in response to inflammatory stimuli. In this study, we identified functions of ICAM-1 on airway epithelial cells in defense against infection with Haemophilus influenzae. Initial experiments using a mouse model of airway infection in which the bacterial...

Background We previously reported the phenotypic distribution patterns of airway smooth muscles in severe asthmatics; with smooth muscle bundle thickening only in large airways and in whole airways [1] , by different mechanisms, hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia [2], which was reexamined recently to fit in 55 fatal asthmatics by James AL, et al. [3]. We also revealed that pulmonary lymphatics dist...

Accessible online at: http://BioMedNet.com/karger Asthma is a disease of unknown cause that tends to affect predominantly the airways. Components of the asthmatic syndrome include acute and chronic bronchospasm and evidence of airway inflammation. Patients who die of asthma are often noted to have signs of severe airway abnormalities including plugging with mucus and thickening of the airway wa...

Background. Vest chest physiotherapy (VCPT) enhances airway clearance in cystic fibrosis (CF) by an unknown mechanism. Because cilia are sensitive to nitric oxide (NO), we hypothesized that VCPT enhances clearance by changing NO metabolism. Methods. Both normal subjects and stable CF subjects had pre- and post-VCPT airway clearance assessed using nasal saccharin transit time (NSTT) followed by ...

Role of CFTR in Airway Disease. Physiol. Rev. 79, Suppl.: S215-S255, 1999. - Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which accounts for the cAMP-regulated chloride conductance of airway epithelial cells. Lung disease is the chief cause of morbidity and mortality in CF patients. This review focuses on mechanisms whereby ...

BACKGROUND Airway clearance is frequently needed by patients suffering from blunt chest wall trauma. High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) has been shown to be effective in helping to clear secretions from the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, emphysema, COPD, and many others. Chest wall trauma patients are at increased risk for ...