Mean Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Time Research Articles

The effect of COVID-19 on nasal mucociliary clearance

Background The impacts of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) have shown conflicting results. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether COVID-19 infections affect nasal mucociliary activity using the saccharin test to measure nasal MCC time. Material and Methods This prospective comparative investigation included 25 patients with COVID-19 infection and 25 healthy controls. The nasal MCC time was assessed using the saccharin test. Saccharin test was applied to COVID-19 patients between the 10th and 20th days of COVID-19 test positivity. Patients admitted to the otolaryngology outpatient clinic with non-nasal symptoms and no history of COVID-19 infection served as the control subjects. Results Age, gender distribution, smoking, and alcohol usage, and the existence of other systemic disorders had no statistically significant differences between the groups (p = 0.25, p = 0.77, p = 1.00, p = 0.28, p = 0.54, respectively). The COVID-19 group had a mean nasal MCC time of 12.00 ± 2.51 min, compared to 9.77 ± 2.51 min in the control group. The nasal MCC time in the COVID-19 group was statistically significantly longer (p = 0.043). Conclusions and Significance The COVID-19 infection negatively affects mucociliary activity and causes prolongation of MCC. As the nasal defense mechanism weakens in the early period after COVID-19 infection, susceptibility to respiratory infections may occur.

Nasal mucociliary clearance and hearing loss in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

To evaluate nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) and hearing loss in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. The study included 36 patients with PEX syndrome as the study group, and 39 healthy individuals as the control group. The duration of NMC was measured using the saccharine test. Audiometry was applied at 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000Hz frequencies to determine hearing thresholds and prevalence of hearing loss. No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of age and gender (p = 0.23 and p = 0.36, respectively). In the saccharine test, the mean NMC time was 18.41 ± 8.53min for the study group and 11.69 ± 4.96min for the control group. The mean NMC time of study group was significantly longer than that of the controls (p < 0.001). In the comparisons of the two groups in terms of the prevalence of hearing loss, no statistically significant difference was found at any of the evaluated frequencies (p > 0.05, for all). There was also no statically significant difference between groups in relation to hearing thresholds at these frequencies (p > 0.05, for all). The NMC time was significantly prolonged in patients with PEX syndrome. This result indicates that nasal mucosa cilia, which have similar elastic and mobile structures as the iris, are damaged in PEX syndrome, which is an infiltrative disease increasing the rigidity of affected tissues. In upper respiratory tract infections of unknown cause, PEX syndrome should be considered among the etiological factors. In this study, no significant relationship was detected between PEX and hearing loss.

Air Pollution and Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Time among Urban and Rural Residents in Two Philippine Communities

ABSTRACT&#x0D; Objective: To measure the nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time among adults residing in two Philippine communities with different air quality indices using the saccharin and methylene blue test.&#x0D; Methods:&#x0D; Design: Cross-Sectional Study&#x0D; Setting: Diliman, Quezon City and Puerto Princesa, Palawan&#x0D; Participantss: Fifty (50) participants, 25 residing in an urban city with fair air quality index and 25 residing in a rural province with good air quality index.&#x0D; Results: The mean NMC time of the urban group was 22.15±12.68 mins and was significantly longer than the NMC time of the rural group which was 5.29±2.87mins; t(48) = 6.643, p&lt;0.0001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Increased air pollution may be associated with significant prolongation of nasal mucociliary clearance time among urban residents with fair quality air index compared to rural residents with good quality air index.&#x0D; Keywords: nasal mucociliary clearance, naso mucociliary clearance time, air pollution, air quality index, saccharin test, methylene blue

Assessment of nasal mucociliary activity in patients with Behçet's disease.

To investigate nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with Behçet's disease. Thirty patients with Behçet's disease, diagnosed on the basis of criteria defined by the International Study Group for Behçet's Disease, and 30 healthy individuals were recruited. In both groups, individuals with conditions that could affect nasal mucociliary clearance were excluded. Nasal mucociliary clearance time was evaluated using saccharin tests. The time between placement of a saccharin tablet and the tasting of the saccharin was measured and recorded as the saccharin clearance time. The mean nasal mucociliary clearance time was significantly longer in the Behçet's disease patients than in the control subjects (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between Behçet's disease duration and nasal mucociliary clearance time (p < 0.001, r = 0.882). The results suggest that nasal mucociliary clearance time is longer in Behçet's disease patients than in control subjects, and is positively correlated with disease duration.

Evaluation of nasal mucociliary activity in patients with chronic renal failure.

The ability of respiratory mucosal surfaces to eliminate foreign particles and pathogens and to keep mucosal surfaces moist and fresh depends on mucociliary activity. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is an irreversible medical condition that may result in important extrarenal systemic consequences, such as cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory system abnormalities. Although there are studies describing nasal manifestations of CRF, data are lacking concerning the effects of the condition on nasal mucosa. The goal of the current study was to evaluate nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time in patients with CRF. This prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary referral center included 32 non-diabetic end-stage CRF patients and 30 control individuals. The control group consisted of voluntary participants who had been referred to our clinic for symptoms other than rhinological diseases. The mean NMC times in CRF patients and control individuals were 12.51 ± 3.74 min (range 7-22 min) and 8.97 ± 1.83 min (range 6-13 min), respectively. The mean NMC time in patients with CRF was significantly longer than that in control individuals (p < 0.001). Clinicians must keep in mind that NMC time in CRF patients is prolonged and must follow-up these patients more closely for sinonasal and middle ear infections.

Does menopause effect nasal mucociliary clearance time?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of menopause on nasal mucociliary clearance time by comparing the results of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. A total of 60 women met the criteria and were divided into two groups: premenopausal women (n = 30) and postmenopausal women (n = 30). Nasal mucociliary clearance time of these women was measured and compared. Moreover, the correlation between nasal mucociliary clearance time and menopause duration in postmenopausal women was evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 13.0 Evaluation for Windows. Normal distribution of continuous variables was tested with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Chi square test was used for comparisons between categorical variables. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for continuous variables when comparing the groups. The statistically significant level was accepted as p value <0.05. The mean nasal mucociliary clearance time in premenopausal and postmenopausal women was 11.43 ± 2.81 (7-16) and 16.76 ± 2.73 (12-22), respectively. The mean nasal mucociliary clearance time in postmenopausal women was significantly longer than in premenopausal women (p < 0.0001). Also, there was positive correlation between menopause duration and nasal mucociliary clearance time in postmenopausal women (r = 0.833, p < 0.0001). The clinicians must keep in mind that nasal mucociliary clearance time in postmenopausal women is prolonged and must follow up women in postmenopausal period more closely for respiratory tract diseases, sinonasal and middle ear infections.

Effects of Aging on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance

ABSTRACT Nasal mucociliary clearance is a primary physiological defense mechanism of upper as well as lower respiratory tract, and thus maintains the state of health of the respiratory tract. Any disturbance in number or movement of cilia and change in character or amount of mucus production leads to an altered nasal mucociliary clearance. The present study was undertaken to study the effect of aging on nasal mucociliary clearance. Nasal mucociliary clearance time was assessed in 240 normal subjects, 120 males and 120 females, which were divided in six groups, each comprising of one decade starting from 11 to 20 years. The mean nasal mucociliary clearance time ranged 7.34 to 14.48 minutes in males and 7.36 to 15.38 minutes in females in different groups (A-F). There was no statistical difference between males and females in each group (p &gt; 0.05). The nasal mucociliary clearance time was not found to be increased till 5th decade (p = 0.05). However, the nasal mucociliary clearance time was found to be increased in 6th and 7th decades (group E&amp;F) significantly (p 0.001), which was more marked in group F. This may explain the increased susceptibility of elderly to sinusitis chronic bronchitis, deep lung infections and increased incidence of pneumonia.

Influence of isotretinoin on nasal mucociliary clearance and lung function in patients with acne vulgaris

Retinoids are widely used to treat acne in patients with underlying systemic diseases. We evaluated the effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) on nasal mucociliary clearance and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with severe acne vulgaris. Each side effect was scored using a 4-point scale. Mucociliary clearance was evaluated by the saccharin test (ST). ST and PFTs were performed on all patients before and during the third month of treatment. A total of 40 acne patients (88% female, mean age 25 +/- 7 years) were included. The most common side effects were dryness, chapped lips, and xerosis. Mild epistaxis occurred in 13 patients; only two patients reported bleeding more than 10cc. There was no difference before and during the third month of treatment in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75)), and their predicted percentage ratios. Mean nasal mucociliary clearance time was 12.6 +/- 4.1 min before and 15.9 +/- 5.7 after treatment (P < 0.001). We found that nasal clearance was significantly prolonged with treatment, and there was significant correlation between drug dose and mucociliary clearance time. Isotretinoin caused signs and symptoms of dry nose and disturbed mucociliary clearance without affecting PFTs. Nasal complications generally are not serious, especially when isotretinoin is taken in low doses.

Nasal mucociliary clearance in healthy children in a tropical country

Introduction: Nasal mucociliary clearance is an important physiological function of nasal cavity that helps in protecting the lower respiratory tract from undesirable organic and inorganic matter including the micro organisms. The study was designed to establish normal mucociliary clearance time in healthy children in a tropical environment. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 100 randomly selected normal school children aged 4–15 years using saccharin method. The diseases that are known to affect the nasal mucociliary clearance were excluded. The study variables were age and sex. Results: Mean nasal mucociliary clearance time was 5.7±2.59 min with no significant difference between males and females. The clearance time was found to be impaired in groups A and B including children of 4–7 and 8–11 years of age respectively. Conclusion: Nasal mucociliary clearance is impaired in children of either sex between 4 and 11 years probably due to subclinical adenoiditis. However clearance returns to normal level at the time of puberty, which coincides with adenoids involution.