Collection of Lung Fluid and Tissue Samples for Research

This study will collect fluid and tissue specimens from the lungs and nose of healthy people and people with a history of lung infections. The specimens will be examined for differences between the two groups that may be associated with susceptibility to certain infections.

Healthy normal volunteers and people with a history of lung infections between 18 and 75 years of age who are followed at NIH may be eligible for this study.

Participants undergo the following procedures:

Medical history and physical examination.

Blood and urine tests.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest x-ray.

Treadmill exercise stress test (for people over 45 years old with a history of chest pain or ECG abnormalities).

Bronchoscopy: The subject s nose and throat are numbed with lidocaine and a sedative is given for comfort. A thin flexible tube called a bronchoscope is advanced through the nose or mouth into the lung airways to examine the airways carefully.

Fluid collection during the bronchoscopy using one of the following methods:

* Bronchoalveolar lavage: Salt water is injected through the bronchoscope into the lung and immediately suctioned out, washing off cells lining the airways. * Bronchial brushings: A brush-tipped wire enclosed in a sheath is passed through the bronchoscope and a small area of the airway tissue is gently brushed. The brush is withdrawn with some tissue adhering to it. * Endobronchial biopsies: Small pinchers on a wire are passed through the bronchoscope and about 1 to 2 millimeters of tissue is removed. * Nasal scrape: A small device is used to scrape along the inside of the nose to collect some cells. * Sputum induction * Exhaled breath condensate to obtain specimens for in vitro investigations and comparisons of both the cellular and acellular components. * Nasal nitric oxide production * Nasal potential difference * Exhaled aerosol mask sample collection * Cough aerosol collection * Exhaled particle collection * Lung Clearance Index (LCI)