The association of increased pre- and postnatal NO and PM exposure with the infant nasal microbiome composition and respiratory symptoms.

Background: Little is known about the mediating role of nasal microbiome on the association between pre- and postnatal air pollution exposure and subsequent respiratory morbidity in infancy. We aimed to examine the impact of air pollution on microbiome and respiratory symptoms, and whether microbiome mediates the association between air pollution and symptoms.

Methods: Nasal swabs from 270 infants in the prospective Basel-Bern Infant Lung Development cohort were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.

Optimized algorithm for speed-of-sound-based infant sulfur hexafluoride multiple-breath washout measurements.

Introduction: Major methodological issues with the existing algorithm (WBreath) used for the analysis of speed-of-sound-based infant sulfur hexafluoride (SF) multiple-breath washout (MBW) measurements lead to implausible results and complicate the comparison between different age groups and centers.

Methods: We developed OASIS-a novel algorithm to analyze speed-of-sound-based infant SF MBW measurements. This algorithm uses known context of the measurements to replace the dependence of WBreath on model input parameters.

TOLLIP and MUC5B modulate the effect of ambient NO on respiratory symptoms in infancy.

Background: Current knowledge suggests that the gene region containing MUC5B and TOLLIP plays a role in airway defence and airway inflammation, and hence respiratory disease. It is also known that exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory disease. We aimed to study whether the effect of air pollutants on the immune response and respiratory symptoms in infants may be modified by polymorphisms in MUC5B and TOLLIP genes.

Differences in autophagy marker levels at birth in preterm vs. term infants.

Background: Preterm infants are susceptible to oxidative stress and prone to respiratory diseases. Autophagy is an important defense mechanism against oxidative-stress-induced cell damage and involved in lung development and respiratory morbidity. We hypothesized that autophagy marker levels differ between preterm and term infants.

In utero smoking exposure induces changes to lung clearance index and modifies risk of wheeze in infants.

Background: Fetal exposure to tobacco smoking throughout pregnancy is associated with wheezing in infancy. We investigated the influence of in utero smoking exposure on lung ventilation homogeneity and the relationship between lung ventilation inhomogeneity at 7 weeks of age and wheezing in the first year of life.

Methods: Maternal smoking was defined as self-reported smoking of tobacco or validated by exhaled (e)CO > 6 ppm.

Bronchiolitis hospital admission in infancy is associated with later preschool ventilation inhomogeneity.

Background: Rhinovirus (RV) positive bronchiolitis episodes in infancy confer a higher risk to develop asthma in later childhood with associated lung function impairments. We aimed to investigate the association between the type of virus causing a bronchiolitis hospitalization episode and lung ventilation inhomogeneities at preschool age.

Methods: Infants hospitalized with a clinical diagnosis of moderate (ward admission) or severe (pediatric intensive care ward admission) bronchiolitis were prospectively followed-up at preschool age to assess nitrogen (N ) multiple breath washout (MBW).

The association of exhaled nitric oxide with air pollutants in young infants of asthmatic mothers.

Background: Exhaled nitric oxide is a marker of airway inflammation. Air pollution induces airway inflammation and oxidative stress. Little is known about the impact of air pollution on exhaled nitric oxide in young infants.

Higher exhaled nitric oxide at 6 weeks of age is associated with less bronchiolitis and wheeze in the first 12 months of age.

Background: Nitric oxide in exhaled air (eNO) is used as a marker of type 2 immune response-induced airway inflammation. We aimed to investigate the association between eNO and bronchiolitis incidence and respiratory symptoms in infancy, and its correlation with eosinophil protein X (EPX).

Methods: We followed up infants at 6 weeks of age born to mothers with asthma in pregnancy and measured eNO during natural sleep using a rapid response chemiluminescense analyser (CLD88; EcoMedics), collecting at least 100 breaths, interpolated for an expiratory flow of 50 mL/s.

Children With Asthma Have Impaired Innate Immunity and Increased Numbers of Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Compared With Healthy Controls.

Background: Asthma is the most frequent cause of hospitalisation among children; however, little is known regarding the effects of asthma on immune responses in children.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), PBMC composition and lung function in children with and without asthma.

Methods: Using a case-control design, we compared 48 children with asthma aged 3-11 years with 14 age-matched healthy controls.

Association between active tobacco use during pregnancy and infant respiratory health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate what is known about active tobacco use during pregnancy and the association with infant respiratory health.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Maternity and Infant Care were searched thoroughly until June 2020.

Clinical and lung function outcomes in a cohort of children with severe asthma.

Background: Uncontrolled severe asthma in children is burdensome and challenging to manage. This study aims to describe outcomes in children with uncontrolled severe asthma managed in a nurse-led severe asthma clinic (SAC).

Methods: This retrospective analysis uses data collected from children referred by a paediatric respiratory specialist to a nurse-led SAC for uncontrolled severe asthma between 2014 and 2019.