title: Eustachian tube dysfunction after tobacco smoke exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of tobacco smoke exposure on eustachian tube (ET) function.
  
  
  METHODS
  ET pressures of Sprague Dawley Rats (n = 16) were measured after 1, 7, and 15 exposures and in control animals. Passive opening pressure, passive closing pressure, active clearance of positive pressure, and active clearance of negative pressure were measured. Mucociliary clearance times were also quantified (n = 32).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Passive opening and passive closing pressures of smoke-exposed animals were greater than controls (P < 0.05). Passive opening pressure in smoke-exposed animals increased with increasing exposure (P < 0.001). Animals with 1 exposure had an active clearance of positive pressure higher than controls (P = 0.005) and those with 7 and 15 exposures had more negative active clearance of negative pressure than controls (P = 0.002, 0.03) Mucociliary clearance time was significantly elevated in experimental animals with 7 exposures (P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in ET function exist in animals exposed to tobacco smoke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET dysfunction after tobacco smoke exposure may predispose children to the development of otitis media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7070, USA. mdubin@nc.rr.com
authors.forename: Marc G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dubin
authors.forename: Hoke W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buenting
authors.forename: Jiri P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Prazma
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology; D011312:Pressure; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution