This study examined the safety of sputum induction and the relation between sputum cell counts and clinical parameters in adolescents with severe persistent asthma. Within 5 days, induced sputum and reversibility in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), quality of life, provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) of adenosine monophosphate and histamine, exercise-induce...

1. Microscopical examination of sputum that has been washed with isotonic salt solution indicates its source. Sputum from above the vocal cords contains polygonal flat epithelial cells and numerous species of non-pathogenic microorganisms. Sputum from below the cords is clear of saprophytes, although it sometimes contains bronchoalveolar cuboidal cells. 2. The source of the sputum can be determ...

From purulent cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum, previous investigators partially purified a trypsinlike protease. A similar purified enzyme is available commercially as "human sputum trypsin." To explore the nature and origin of this preparation, we purified and NH2 terminally sequenced its major protein component. The resulting sequence, Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Tyr-Thr-(Cys)-Ala-Ala-Asn-Ser-Val/Ile-Pro-Tyr...

BACKGROUND Rapid sputum culture conversion at 2 months indicates the sterilizing capacity and potential of regimens to shorten duration of tuberculosis treatment. We compared results of sputum culture conversion by moxifloxacin and control regimens and identified factors affecting sputum culture positivity after 2 months of treatment. METHODS Human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected adults wit...

TO THE EDITOR—The sputum Gram stain and culture are crucial components of the diagnostic workup in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Prior studies have demonstrated a reduced yield of sputum studies when antibiotics are initiated prior to obtaining a sputum specimen [1–4], but we are aware of only a single study that relates this yield of sputum studies to the time after initiat...

Conventional sputum cytology can be used for the detection of lung cancer, but has shown a low yield in prospective screening trials. This review focuses on the technical aspects relevant to the outcome of DNA and image analysis in sputum. Published articles are discussed in the light of the technical background. Recent developments in DNA analysis and nuclear image analysis show a clear potent...

We evaluated the use of the molecular bacterial load (MBL) assay, for measuring viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum, in comparison with solid agar and liquid culture. The MBL assay provides early information on the rate of decline in bacterial load and has technical advantages over culture in either form.

Sputum.?Eosinophils were first noted in the sputum of asthmatics in 1889 by Yon Muller and by Gollasch. In 1892 Aranson and Phillip found that 66 per cent of the cells in the sputum of a patient with asthma were 'eosinophiles. Weiss (1891), Lewy (1900), Heineke and Deutschmann (1906), and Yon Strumpell (1908) found eosinophiles in the sputum in cases other than asthma and considered that the pr...

The retrospective study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of bronchial brushing and sputum using acid fast bacilli smear, mycobacterial culture and real-time PCR in detection of pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis, sensitivity and specificity of bronchial brushing and sputum examined by the three methods were calculated and compared to each other. Data showed there were no significant differe...