title: Role of simulated repetitive coughing in mucus clearance.
abstract: The role of repetitive simulated coughing on the clearance of gel mucus simulant was investigated in vitro, by using a simulated cough machine. The repetition of cough induced a significant increase (p less than 0.01) in mucus simulant clearance (139.3 +/- 78.7 mm) in comparison to a single cough (24.9 +/- 27.5 mm). Moreover, the increase in frequency of the repetitive coughing induced a marked and significant increase in mucus simulant clearance (75.4 +/- 51.1 mm and 139.3 +/- 78.7 mm at 0.1 Hz and 1.6 Hz frequency, respectively). A significant (p less than 0.05) correlation was observed between the percentage increase of clearance and both shear-thinning index (r = 0.62) and the thixotropic index (r = 0.63). These results suggest that the shear-dependent properties of mucus, associated with a repetitive coughing, may increase the efficiency of mucus clearance by air flow mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U.314, Université de Reims, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zahm
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duvivier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pierrot
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girod
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puchelle
mesh_terms: D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009093:Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D012212:Rheology; D013183:Sputum / Q000502:physiology; D014783:Viscosity