Nasal mucus transportability in children with cleft palate.
OBJECTIVE
Children with cleft palate (CP) have a high prevalence of sinusitis. Considering that nasal mucus properties play a pivotal role in the upper airway defense mechanism, the aim of the study was to evaluate nasal mucus transportability and physical properties from children with CP.


METHODS
Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil and Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.


METHODS
Nasal mucus samples were collected by nasal aspiration from children with CP and without CP (non-CP). Sneeze clearance (SC) was evaluated by the simulated sneeze machine. In vitro mucus transportability (MCT) by cilia was evaluated by the frog palate preparation. Mucus physical surface properties were assessed by measuring the contact angle (CA). Mucus rheology was determined by means of a magnetic rheometer, and the results were expressed as log G* (vectorial sum of viscosity and elasticity) and tan delta (relationship between viscosity and elasticity) measured at 1 and 100 rad/s.


RESULTS
Mucus samples from children with CP had a higher SC than non-CP children (67+/-30 and 41+/-24 mm, respectively, p<0.05). Mucus samples from children with CP had a lower CA (24+/-16 degrees and 35+/-11 degrees , p<0.05) and a higher tan delta 100 (0.79+/-0.24 and 0.51+/-0.12, p<0.05) than non-CP children. There were no significant differences in mucus MCT, log G* 1, tan delta 1 and log G* 100 obtained for CP and non-CP children.


CONCLUSIONS
Nasal mucus physical properties from children with CP are associated with higher sneeze transportability. The high prevalence of sinusitis in children with CP cannot be explained by changes in mucus physical properties and transportability.
Trindade
Sergio Henrique Kiemle
SH
Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. sktrindade@usp.br
Macchione
Mariângela
M
Guimarães
Eliane Tigre
ET
Trindade
Inge Elly Kiemle
IE
Saldiva
Paulo Hilário Nascimento
PH
Lorenzi-Filho
Geraldo
G
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D009093:Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012212:Rheology