Untitled research work

At present, sputology is applied to the followig items.1. Researches on the characteristic physicochemical properties of the sputum in various respiratory diseases, particularly in chronic bronchitis and in bronchial asthma.2. Researches on the relationship between rheological properties and chemical constituents of the sputum.3. Researches on the relationship between rheological properties and ciliary transport rate of the sputum.4. Evaluations on the pharmacological effects of expectorants and of anti-asthmatic drugs in a scientifically acceptable way.Up to date, the author obtained the following results.1. The mean concentration of fucose in sputa collected from patients with chronic bronchitis was significantly (P<0.01) higher than those of bronchial asthma.2. Sputa collected from patients with bronchial asthma showed a tendency to higheralbumin concentration compared with those of chronic bronchitis.These results (1 & 2) highly suggested that while bronchial secretory component is predominant in sputum of patients with chronic bronchitis, serum component is predominant in sputum of patients with bronchial asthma.3. The mean yield value and spinnability of sputa collected from patients with chronic bronchitis was higher compared with those of bronchial asthma.4. Sputa collected from patients with bronchial asthma during clinical exacerbation showed a tendency to lower ciliary transport rate on frog palate compared with those of during clinical improvement.The author proposes the new category of expectorant drug “mucoregulators”. This is an agent which lubricates the airway wall by augmenting the output of respiratory tract fluid including surface active material and reduces the adhesiveness between mucus and tracheobronchial epithelial surface.For the advance of pathophysiological researches on respiratory diseases, a new approach based on sputology should be developed.