title: Physicochemical properties of human middle ear effusions (mucus) and their relation to ciliary transport.
abstract: Middle ear effusions were collected from 10 patients (14 ears) with secretory otitis media. Mucoid samples were pooled and reconstituted to various concentrations of nondialyzable solids. Viscoelasticity was studied using a magnetic microrheometer and compared with mucociliary transport rates measured on the frog palate. Results indicate that the viscoelastic properties of middle ear mucus correlate with mucociliary transport. A transport maximum was found at a 2% nondialyzable solids content. Implications relative to ineffective mucociliary transport in secretory otitis media are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002648:Child; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus / Q000032:analysis; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D012212:Rheology