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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells: Biobanking in the Context of Precision Medicine
Published on: April 22, 2022
[Age distribution of transepithelial water loss in human nasal mucosa]
Masato Miwa1, Noriyuki Nakajima, Takashi Hirose
1Department of Otolaryngology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo Medical University. masato@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Background:
Dry nose is a common complaint in the elderly. Age distribution of transepithelial water loss of human nasal mucosa (TEWL) value was evaluated in this study.
Methods:
Eighty-eight volunteers (50 men and 30 women) ranging from 10 to 75 years old were recruited for this study. Measurement of TEWL was performed on the inferior nasal turbinate. TEWL was measured with an evaporation meter applying Fick's law (Tewameter TM 300; Courage and Khazaka, Cologne, Germany).
Results:
TEWL value tends to increase in order of age, indicating that the barrier function of epithelium may decline with age.
Conclusion:
The measurement of transepithelial water loss should be contributed to assess the efficiency of nasal mucosal barrier disorders in the elderly.
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