Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-24 @ 9:40 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-24 @ 9:40 PM
NCT ID:
NCT00596232
Brief Summary:
The purpose of this study is to investigate how mucus (phlegm or spit) is broken down once it forms in the airways (bronchial tubes) of people with lung disease. This research study will also examine whether blood groups have an effect on lung function or the type of mucus found in the lung. This study is not designed to be a treatment for asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or other lung disease. It is designed to help the investigators learn more about the causes of airway disease.
Detailed Description:
Accumulation of mucus in the airway involves the process of overproduction and reduced clearance of mucin glycoproteins. To date, little attention has been focused on mechanisms of mucin clearance from the airway. We hypothesize that there is enzymatic degradation of mucins ("mucinase activity") in the airway, which acts to break down mucins and facilitate their clearance. We further hypothesize that glycosidases function as mucinases by removing peripheral monosaccharides from oligosaccharides, including oligosaccharides on mucins. Removal of terminal or capping sugars on mucin side chains may be an important mechanism in mucin degradation and clearance from the lung. If mucinase activity exists in the airway then mucus collected from human subjects should demonstrate evidence of mucin degradation ex vivo, especially at 37ยบ celsius. As part of our protocol we propose to examine changes in airway mucus ex vivo under different experimental conditions. Our primary readout will be measures of sputum rheology, namely viscosity and elasticity. Our consultant for this methodology will be Dr Susan Muller (Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley). In order to conduct experimental studies in this way we will need multiple samples from the same subjects. Thus, up to 10 or more sputum samples per subject will be collected on different days. In addition, we are interested in the biochemical properties of sputum and saliva, specifically the composition of mucin molecules found in these fluids.
Study:
NCT00596232
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT00596232