title: Cytologic and functional alterations of nasal mucosa in smokers: temporary or permanent damage?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tobacco smoke is a significant risk factor for respiratory diseases. The purpose of this study is to analyze the cytologic and functional features of nasal mucosa in smokers, nonsmokers, and ex-smokers to evaluate if nasal alterations in smokers are permanent or reversible conditions after smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with planned data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  University medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety healthy volunteers recruited from the staff of Alfredo Fiorini Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, were enrolled in this prospective study from October to November 2013. We divided the cases according to smoking habits (smokers, nonsmokers, ex-smokers). Each group was composed of 30 subjects. Cytologic features of nasal mucosa and effectiveness of nasal mucociliary clearance were studied, focusing on 4 parameters: (1) nasal mucociliary clearance, assessed by saccharin nasal transit time; (2) ratio between the number of ciliated cells and goblet cells, analyzed by microscopic observation of cytologic specimens of nasal mucosa that had undergone May Grunwald Giemsa staining; (3) evaluation of ciliary motility; and (4) time of ciliary movement of ciliated cells analyzed by phase-contrast microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All parameters were significantly reduced in the smokers compared to the nonsmokers. There were no statistically significant differences between the nonsmoker and ex-smoker groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cigarette smoking causes cytologic modifications of nasal mucosa that influence the effectiveness of mucociliary clearance. Our preliminary study suggests that these changes are not permanent and that nasal mucosa of ex-smokers recovers normal cytologic and functional features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy giulio.pagliuca@libero.it.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagliuca
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martellucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensorial Organs, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Vincentiis
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensorial Organs, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensorial Organs, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensorial Organs, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Virgilio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallipoli
authors.affiliation: Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation Service, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, ENT Section, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: mucociliary clearance; nasal cytology; phase-contrast microscopy; smoke