V. N. Solopov, I. I. Reznikov, I. V. Lunichkina
Non-conventional approaches to sputum investigations in patients with COPD
Soviet Association of aid to patients with cystic fibrosis,
Pogodinscaya 8 — 2, 119121 Moscow, USSR.
We applied the method of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) radiospectroscopy to the determination of free sulphydryl groups (SH groups) concentration in the sputum of bronchial asthma patients. For the quantitative titration of SH groups the mercuric spin mark 4-chlormercur-2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-pepyridine-1-oxyl in ethyl achohol was used. The content of SH groups in the sputum of the 25 patients with asthma was found to vary from 0.34±0.03×105 to 0.89±0.06×105 molxl-1 (mean ± SD) and to increase during remission of the disease. The analysis of EPR spectrums of the bound mark showed their characteristics were not constant. This may be connected with the changes of the glycoprotein molecules mobility in the gel structure as a result of mucus depolymerization.
Conclusions: The EPR method may be used for the evaluation of the changes in the COPD patients sputum.
The European Respiratory Journal, 1990, Vol. 3, Suppl. 10, P868.