Mucus respiratory

Holma, B. (1985). Influence of buffer capacity and pH-dependent rheological properties of respiratory mucus on health effects due to acidic pollution. Set. Total Environ. 41, 101-123. 

Human exposure to endrin may occur by ingestion, inhalation, or by dermal contact. Dermal absorption can be significant. Gastrointestinal absorption is enhanced by dietary fats. While not highly volatile, endrin-laden aerosols or dust particles can be trapped in respiratory mucus and swallowed, leading to gastrointestinal absorption. 

Three factors contribute to airway obstruction in asthma (1) contraction of the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways (2) excessive secretion of mucus and in some, secretion of thick, tenacious mucus that adheres to the walls of the airways and (3) edema of the respiratory mucosa. Spasm of the bronchial smooth muscle can occur rapidly in response to a provocative stimulus and likewise can be reversed rapidly by drug therapy. In contrast, respiratory mucus accumulation and edema formation are likely to require more time to develop and are only slowly reversible. 

A) Inhibition of a viral enzyme that aids the spread of virus through respiratory mucus and is required for the release of progeny virus... 

Barriers to pulmonary absorption of proteins and peptides include respiratory mucus, mucociliary clearance, pulmonary enzymes/proteases, alveolar lining layer, alveolar epithelium, basement membrane, macrophages and other cells [3, 18]. The molecular weight cutoff of tight junctions for alveolar type I cells is 0.6 nm, while endothelial junctions allow the passage of larger molecules (4-6 nm). In order to reach the bloodstream in the endothelial vasculature, proteins and peptides must cross this alveolar epithelium, the capillary endothelium, and the intervening extracellular matrix. 

One method by which mucus protects the nasal epithelium is by acting as a physical barrier and respiratory mucus has been reported to retard the diffusion of water and a range of //-lactam antibiotics used to treat respiratory infections. The use of mucolytics, which alter the viscoelasticity of mucus, has been shown to increase the absorption of intranasally administered human growth hormone (hGH, M. Wt.=22 kDa). However, other studies have shown that antibodies (150-970 kDa) are able to diffuse through cervical mucus relatively unimpeded these latter studies tend to suggest that the diffusion barrier presented by mucus in the nasal cavity would be insignificant. 

Van Halbeek H, Breg J, Vliegenthart JE, Klein A, Lamblin G, Roussel P. Isolation and structural characterization of low-molecular-mass monosialyl oligosaccharides derived from respiratory-mucus glycoproteins of a patient suffering from bronchiectasis. Eur. J. Biochem. 1988 177(2) 443 60. 

Marom ZM, Goswami SK. Respiratory mucus hypersecretion (bronchorrhea) a case discussion— possible mechanisms(s) and treatment. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1991 87(6) 1050-5. 

I initially used Serenoa repens tincture to loosen chronic respiratory mucus that was resistant to other herbal expectorants. The results were positive. The extract was made using 2 parts Korbel brandy to 1 part fresh ripe Serenoa repens whole berries in 2-quart jars. The crushed berries remained in the extract. Dosage was 1/2 ounce per day. 

J. M. Zahm, S. Girod de Bentzmann, E. Deneuville, C. Perrot-Minot, A. Dabadie, F. Pennaforte, M. Roussey, S. Shak, and E. Puchelle. Dose-dependent in vitro effect of recombinant human DNase on rheological and transport properties of cystic fibrosis respiratory mucus. Eur. Respir. J. 8 381-386 (1995). 

Severe cases of ciguatera may be accompanied by respiratory distress and cardiac disturbances. Supplemental oxygen and artificial respiration may be necessary. Atropine sulfate for bradycardia and dopamine infusion in cases of severe hypotension may be used (Yasumoto 1984). However, a drug that can prevent respiratory or cardiac failure in cases of ciguatera has not yet been found. Some authors feel that atropine sulfate may be contraindicated because it can make the respiratory mucus more viscous and difficult to aspirate (Johnson and Jong 1983 Halstead 1978). 

Respiratory mucus is a complex mixture of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, lipids, and smaller quantities of other proteins (82). Glycoproteins appear to be the most important component conferring viscoelastic properties to the mucus (see also Chap. 13). 

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