Tromethamine improves mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis pigs.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), the loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mediated Cl and HCO  secretion across the epithelium acidifies the airway surface liquid (ASL). Acidic ASL alters two key host defense mechanisms: Rapid ASL bacterial killing and mucociliary transport (MCT). Aerosolized tromethamine (Tham) increases ASL pH and restores the ability of ASL to rapidly kill bacteria in CF pigs.

Transient acidosis while retrieving a fear-related memory enhances its lability.

Attenuating the strength of fearful memories could benefit people disabled by memories of past trauma. Pavlovian conditioning experiments indicate that a retrieval cue can return a conditioned aversive memory to a labile state. However, means to enhance retrieval and render a memory more labile are unknown.