1,721,044 research outputs found
Exhaled nitric oxide daily evaluation is effective in monitoring exposure to relevant allergens in asthmatic children
No full textBACKGROUND: Though asthma is an airway inflammatory disease, the assessment of
treatment efficacy is mainly based on symptom monitoring and the evaluation of
lung function parameters. This study was aimed to evaluate the feasibility of
exhaled nitric oxide monitoring in allergic asthmatic children who were exposed
to relevant allergens in their homes.
METHODS: Twenty-two children allergic to mites underwent twice-daily fractional
exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) therapy using a portable device (NIOX MINO; Aerocrine
AB; Stockholm, Sweden) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements before,
during, and after periods of natural exposure to mite allergens. The children
were admitted to the study if they had lived in a mite-free environment for 3
months. They were observed in this environment for 10 days and then were moved to
a site with natural mite exposure at sea level for 19 days. Finally, they were
relocated to the mite-free environment for a period of 6 days for follow-up
measurements.
RESULTS: Significant differences were seen between the mite-free baseline FeNO
level (26.4 parts per billion [ppb]; range, 19.3 to 36.2 ppb) and FeNO levels
measured during natural mite exposure (37.3 ppb; 27.3 to 51 ppb) and after
natural mite exposure (34.9 natural mite exposure; 25.2 to 48.2 ppb). Six
children reported asthma symptoms during the mite exposure, and an increase in
FeNO was observed in each case (p<0.031); PEF values showed no significant
differences, whether between the different environments or between different
periods.
CONCLUSIONS: These data give further evidence for a possible role of frequent
determinations of FeNO in order to promptly assess changes in the level of airway
inflammation in asthmatic children
Lysinuric protein intolerance can be misdiagnosed as food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome.
No full textFood protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a rising non-IgE-mediated food allergy triggered by specific food proteins (cow's milk, soy, and grains are the common offending foods)
Exhaled nitric oxide in pediatrics: what is new for practice purposes and clinical research in children?
No full textFractional exhaled NO (FeNO) is universally considered an indirect marker of eosinophilic airways inflammation, playing an important role in the physiopathology of childhood asthma. Advances in technology and standardization have allowed a wider use of FeNO in clinical practice in children from the age of four years. FeNO measurements add a new dimension to the traditional clinical tools (symptoms scores, lung function tests) in the assessment of asthma. To date a number of studies have suggested a possible use of FeNO in early identification of exacerbation risk and in inhaled corticosteroids titration. The aim of this paper is to address practical issues of interest to paediatric clinicians who are attempting to use FeNO measurements as an adjunctive tool in the diagnosis and management of childhood airway diseases
Asthma and viruses: is there a relationship?
No full textAsthma is a multifactorial disease in which many factors play a role in its
development and exacerbations. Viral infections are known to be the main cause of
asthmatic exacerbations and are often the first manifestation of asthma in
preschool age. However, there is much evidence suggesting a role of viral
infections even in asthma development. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). has
been first associated with an increased risk to develop asthma, but recently new
viruses have been proposed to be involved in asthma pathogenesis. Further studies
will be needed to demonstrate a causative role of viral infections in asthma
development, in order to implement preventive strategies in high-risk children
Double-blind trial of house-dust mite immunotherapy in asthmatic children resident at high altitude.
No full textTwenty-three Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt)-sensitive asthmatic children
aged 7-14 years entered a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of standardized
immunotherapy (IT) (Alpare) while resident at high altitude. Dpt sensitivity was
evaluated by skin prick tests at different allergen concentrations at the
enrollment and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Bronchial hyperreactivity was
evaluated at the same time points, and on each occasion, histamine challenge and,
the following day, Dpt bronchial challenge were performed. All patients,
irrespective of active treatment, improved clinically and in lung function with
increased PC20 and Dpt-PD20. Alpare-treated patients had a significantly
decreased sensitivity on Dpt skin testing (P < 0.009) and felt that their asthma
had improved (P < 0.001) compared with placebo-treated subjects, but there was no
difference between the treatment groups in lung function or bronchial challenge
response. IT neither increased nor decreased bronchial histamine sensitivity. Our
results indicate that Dpt IT benefits asthmatic children, but improvement by
allergen avoidance at high altitude is even greater
Efficacy in allergen control and air permeability of different materials used for bed encasement.
No full textBACKGROUND: Different types of textile are used for the preparation of covers for
bed encasement. The aim of the present study was to evaluate different fabrics
employed for mattress covers regarding their efficacy in blocking Der p 1 and Fel
d 1 as well as their air permeability.
METHODS: Eleven different commercially available fabrics manufactured for
allergen avoidance have been tested and compared with regular cotton. Dust
samples titered for Der p 1 and Fel d 1 were pulled through the different fabrics
using a modified Fussnecker dust trap and collected by a filter located
downstream. Airflow through the dust trap was controlled by a vacuum pump
operating for 5 min and measured at the beginning (T0) and at the end (T1) of the
test.
RESULTS: All the tightly woven and laminated materials were able to control mite
allergen permeability allowing air passage but they significantly differed in Fel
d 1 permeability. Laminated tissues and laminated tissue not tissued were
effective in controlling both the allergens but they did not allow air
permeability.
CONCLUSIONS: Detailed knowledge about the actual properties of the products for
bed encasement needs to be considered in order to optimize allergen avoidance,
disease control and sleep comfort
Correlation between serum 25 (OH)-vitamin D levels and severity of atopic dermatitis in children
No full textVitamin D deficiency could be associated with the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD).
OBJECTIVES:
We carried out a study to see whether deficient/insufficient levels of vitamin D correlate with the severity of atopic skin disease.
METHODS:
Using the SCORAD index, we evaluated the severity of disease in 37 children (17 girls and 20 boys) aged between 8 months and 12 years with AD, consecutively enrolled in the study. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were determined by a chemiluminescent method. Specific IgE (sIgE) to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins and sIgE to Malassezia furfur were assayed by the ImmunoCAP system. anova and the Pearson correlation test were used for statistical evaluation.
RESULTS:
We found severe, moderate and mild AD in nine (24%), 13 (35%) and 15 (41%) children, respectively. Mean ± SD serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in patients with mild disease (36·9 ± 15·7 ng mL(-1)) compared with those with moderate (27·5 ± 8·3 ng mL(-1)) or severe AD (20·5 ± 5·9 ng mL(-1)). The prevalence of patients with sIgE to microbial antigens increased in relation to vitamin D deficiency and AD severity.
CONCLUSIONS:
These data suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be related to the severity of AD and advocate the need for studies evaluating the use of vitamin D as a potential treatment in patients with this disease
Pro: swimming in chlorinated pools and risk of asthma: we can now carry on sending our children to swimming pools!
No full text“The pool chlorine hypothesis is the hypothesis that long-term attendance at indoor chlorinated swimming pools by children up to the age of about 6–7 years is a major factor in the rise of asthma in rich countries since the late twentieth century
Is vitamin D deficiency correlated with childhood wheezing and asthma?
Full text linkThere is increasing evidence that vitamin D regulates immune responses. There is also epidemiological evidence of a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and development of asthma. In addition, several epidemiological studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy and early life are inversely associated with the risk of developing respiratory infections and wheezing in childhood. Vitamin D also seems to reduce asthma exacerbation and increase the response to glucocorticoids. These findings have led to considering a possible link between the occurrence of allergic respiratory diseases and low levels of vitamin D. However, the precise role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of asthma still remains unclear, emphasizing the need for well-designed trials on vitamin D supplementation to decipher its role in preventing and/or managing the disease. This review examines the relationship that exists between vitamin D deficiency and childhood wheezing and asthma
- …
