title: [Age distribution of transepithelial water loss in human nasal mucosa].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dry nose is a common complaint in the elderly. Age distribution of transepithelial water loss of human nasal mucosa (TEWL) value was evaluated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight volunteers (50 men and 30 women) ranging from 10 to 75 years old were recruited for this study. Measurement of TEWL was performed on the inferior nasal turbinate. TEWL was measured with an evaporation meter applying Fick's law (Tewameter TM 300; Courage and Khazaka, Cologne, Germany).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEWL value tends to increase in order of age, indicating that the barrier function of epithelium may decline with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of transepithelial water loss should be contributed to assess the efficiency of nasal mucosal barrier disorders in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo Medical University. masato@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*