Quality of life in children with diseases causing central airway obstruction: Reliability and validity of the TAPQOL questionnaire.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyse the psychometric performance (reliability and validity) of the TAPQOL questionnaire in measuring the global quality of life in children with central airway obstruction (CAO), which encompasses pathologies with a low prevalence that have a common anatomical or functional affectation.

Method: The study population consisted of 109 patients with CAO attended in a national reference airway unitafter signing informed consent. The TAPQOL questionnaire was used to measure the global quality of life and its psychometric characteristics were analysed.

Update of the European paediatric respiratory medicine syllabus.

The 10-year-old European syllabus for paediatric respiratory medicine (PRM; also known as paediatric pulmonology) was updated by a consensus-based method using an expert task force for redrafting, and a subsequent Delphi process to achieve consensus. There was a high degree of consensus for the final syllabus, which has been streamlined and made more relevant to current practice. All modules are now mandatory apart from the undertaking of research projects, which is optional.

Central-peripheral Temperature Monitoring as a Marker for Diagnosing Late-onset Neonatal Sepsis.

Background: The prognosis for late-onset sepsis depends largely on a timely diagnosis. We assess central-peripheral temperature difference monitoring as a marker for late-onset neonatal sepsis diagnosis.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study focusing on a cohort of 129 very low-birth-weight infants.

Validation of a questionnaire in Spanish on asthma knowledge in teachers.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the NewCastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (NAKQ) for determining asthma knowledge in teachers.

Design And Sample: A cross-sectional observational study in educational centers of A Coruña providing preschool, primary school and/or compulsory secondary education. Centers were selected by random sampling, stratified by ownership and educational level (24centers, 864teachers).

The impact of atmospheric pollutants on the prevalence of atopic eczema in 6-7-year-old schoolchildren in Spain; ISAAC Phase III.

Atopic Eczema (AE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects children and adults, and alters quality of life with a high morbidity rate and severe economic burden. The objective of the present work was to analyse specific atmospheric pollutants (O3, NO, PM10 and SO2) affecting the prevalence of diagnosed AE and its symptoms among 6-7-year-old schoolchildren.The participants included 21311 schoolchildren aged 6-7 years from 8 Spanish regions, whose parents completed the ISAAC Phase III questionnaire to ascertain AE diagnosis and symptoms.

The association between acetaminophen and asthma: should its pediatric use be banned?

During the last few decades, a huge epidemiological effort has been made all over the world in order to cast some light on the origin of asthma (or 'wheezing disorders' as a general term) and its recent increase in prevalence. The focus on genetic factors has failed to show any genetic signal strong enough to be seriously considered, and the tiny genetic signals found have never been appropriately replicated. The focus on environmental factors has provided some variable signals on the role of infections, allergens and bacterial substances, the direction of which have curiously varied from protecting to inducing asthma.

Atopic dermatitis and indoor use of energy sources in cooking and heating appliances.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence has considerably increased worldwide in recent years. Studying indoor environments is particularly relevant, especially in industrialised countries where many people spend 80% of their time at home, particularly children. This study is aimed to identify the potential association between AD and the energy source (biomass, gas and electricity) used for cooking and domestic heating in a Spanish schoolchildren population.

Screening for symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in children with severe craniofacial anomalies: assessment in a multidisciplinary unit.

Objective: To assess the incidence of airway obstruction symptoms and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea in children with severe craniofacial anomalies by a proactive screening program using a standard questionnaire and cardiorespiratory polygraphy.

Patients And Methods: Children with severe craniofacial anomalies referred to our paediatric airway unit from February 2001 to June 2011 were eligible to be included in this retrospective, single centre study. Symptoms of airway obstruction were proactively investigated using the shorter version of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ).

Central-peripheral temperature gradient: an early diagnostic sign of late-onset neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants.

Aims: We assessed central-peripheral temperature gradient alteration for the diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis and compared earliness detection of this sign with altered blood cell count and C-reactive protein.

Method: Thirty-one preterm babies (<1500 g or <32 weeks) participated in an observational prospective study. Axillary (central) and sole (peripheral) temperatures were continuously monitored with a thermal probe (ThermoTracer; Dräger Medical AGF & Co.

The role of bronchoscopy in the management of patients with severe craniofacial syndromes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence of airway anomalies in children with severe craniofacial syndromes and to establish the role of bronchoscopy in the care of these patients.

Methods: Consecutive children with craniofacial syndromes, including both bony deformities of the skull and face, in which a bronchoscopy was performed between 1995 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Thirty-six patients (22 boys, 14 girls; mean age, 39 months) were studied.

Climate and prevalence of atopic eczema in 6- to 7-year-old school children in Spain. ISAAC phase III.

Atopic eczema (AE) is a chronic skin disease. Recent reports indicate that the worldwide prevalence of AE is increasing and that various environmental factors are implicated in its aetiology. Climatic conditions have been related with AE prevalence, and Spain has varying climatic conditions.

[Prevalence of atopic eczema and nutritional factors in 6-7 year old children].

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of atopic eczema (AE) and to find the characteristics of the diet of children with AE.

Design: Descriptive, transversal study.

Setting: Primary schools.

A different pattern of risk factors for atopic and non-atopic wheezing in 9-12-year-old children.

Few epidemiological studies have compared the risk factors of asthma or wheezing between atopic and non-atopic children. The objective of this study was to determine if there are specific risk factors for current wheezing related to atopic status in schoolchildren. Schoolchildren 9-12 yr of age from three Spanish cities (n = 2720) were subject to a cross-sectional study of asthma risk factors (by questionnaire) and atopy (by skin prick test) according to the ISAAC phase-II protocol.

[Time trends in prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis in 13-14 year-old schoolchildren in 8 areas of Spain between 1993-1994 and 2001-2002 according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)].

Background And Objective: Our goal was to estimate the time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) and its geographic variations.

Population And Method: During 2001-2002, the phase 3 of ISAAC study was carried out, and a comparison with the phase 1 (1993-1994) was done. This cross sectional study included 30,046 schoolchildren 13-14 years-old from 9 centers (Asturias, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Castellon, Madrid, Pamplona, Valencia, and Valladolid).

[Patients with cystic fibrosis managed at the cystic fibrosis units of Madrid: cross-sectional study of 387 subjects].

Background And Objective: Our objective was to describe the clinical and genetics features of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) attended in Madrid.

Patients And Method: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of CF patients attended during 2001. Demographic, genetic, anthropometric, pancreatic insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, lung function and body mass index (BMI) (z score) data were recorded and compared with the American CF Registry.