system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, METHODS, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adult, Air, Cold Temperature, Female, Humans, Inflammation Mediators, Male, Mucous Membrane, Pain, Pharyngitis, Therapeutic Irrigation, Young Adult.
user
Does tonic stimulation of the pharyngeal mucosa cause pain and a reversible increase of inflammatory mediators? Context: To develop a model of the inflammatory component of non-infectious sore throat using tonic stimulation and quantification of inflammatory mediators in pharyngeal lavage fluid. Forty-five healthy volunteers. Cold dry air. Tonic stimulation of the pharynx was achieved using a constant stream of cold dry air to the back of the throat. Following optimization of stimulation conditions (phase 1), pharyngeal pain, irritation, and swallowing discomfort were assessed using visual analog scales, and the concentration of inflammatory markers were measured in pharyngeal lavage fluid (phase 2). Optimum conditions for tonic pharyngeal stimulation were cold dry air at 12 °C, relative humidity 20 %, at a flow rate of 12 L/min for 15 min. Analysis of pharyngeal lavage fluid collected 5 min after stimulation showed significant increases in prostaglandin E₂ (P = 0.018), thromboxane B₂ (P < 0.001), and substance P (P < 0.001), but no increase in peptidoleukotriene. When the stimulus was removed, the level of inflammatory markers in pharyngeal lavage fluid returned to baseline by 30 min post-stimulation. These objective measures mirrored subjective pain ratings.
assistant
Tonic stimulation of the pharyngeal mucosa with cold dry air causes pain and an increase of inflammatory mediators which are reversible. Final Decision: yes