Surface tension in human pathophysiology and its application as a medical diagnostic tool

Abstract

Introduction: Pathological features of disease appear to be quite different. Despite this diversity, the common feature of various disorders underlies physicochemical and biochemical factors such as surface tension. Human biological fluids comprise various proteins and phospholipids which are capable of adsorption at fluid interfaces and play a vital role in the physiological function of human organs. Surface tension of body fluids correlates directly to the development of pathological states. Methods: In this review, the variety of human diseases mediated by the surface tension changes of biological phenomena and the failure of biological fluids to remain in their native state are discussed. Results: Dynamic surface tension measurements of human biological fluids depend on various parameters such as sex, age and changes during pregnancy or certain disease. It is expected that studies of surface tension behavior of human biological fluids will provide additional information and might become useful in medical practice. Theoretical background on surface tension measurement and surface tension values of reference fluids obtained from healthy and sick patients are depicted. Conclusion: It is well accepted that no single biomarker will be effective in clinical diagnosis. The surface tension measurement combined with routine lab tests may be a novel non-invasive method which can not only facilitate the discovery of diagnostic models for various diseases and its severity, but also be a useful tool for monitoring treatment efficacy. We therefore expect that studies of surface tension behavior of human biological fluids will provide additional useful information in medical practice.

Tensiometric and Phase Domain Behavior of Lung Surfactant on Mucus-like Viscoelastic Hydrogels

“…This suggests that the surface tension gradient that exists between the alveolar and tracheobronchial mucus may be due, in part, to increasing resistance to surfactant mobility of the more viscoelastic mucus of the conducting airways. As a number of diseases that affect the conducting airways have been linked to changes in surface tension 14 , a better understanding of this surface tension behavior of lung surfactant could facilitate lung disease diagnosis and treatment. Further, the higher surface tensions and reduced surfactant transport associated with viscoelastic subphases may play a crucial role in the barrier function of tracheobronchial mucus, serving to reduce the ability of microorganisms and deposited aerosols to penetrate into the mucus or transport laterally across the surface.…”

Rheological and Infrared Spectroscopic Investigations of Normal and Chronic Kidney Disease Urine

“…The g is more accurate and continuous predictor of protenuria. g of biological liquid may depend on age and sex, but more under some physiological conditions such as menstrual period and various diseases 3 . In this study it is observed that excretion of large amount of albumin through urine lowers the g of CKD urine.…”

“…This relationship may be used to identify the major proteins present in the fluid from an ovarian cyst. The change in g is responsible for bubble formation in urine, which can be attributed to kidney disease and changes in Physiological condition of body 3 . The g of urine and effect of bile salts, protein, and temperature and storage time has been investigated 4 .…”

Inhaled Kathon may induce eosinophilia‐mediated disease in the lung

“…Human biological fluids contain numerous surfactants that help maintain essential functions of various tissues and organs by controlling the surface tension of human tissue and organ interfaces, and altered surface tension is a characteristic of some diseases . Pulmonary surfactants can be secreted by alveolar type II epithelial cells and maintain very low surface tension of the lung at the end of expiration for efficient gas exchange.…”