Measurement characteristics of the childhood Asthma-Control Test and a shortened, child-only version.

The childhood Asthma-Control Test (C-ACT) is validated for assessing asthma control in paediatric asthma. Among children aged 4-11 years, the C-ACT requires the simultaneous presence of both parent and child. There is an unmet need for a tool that can be used to assess asthma control in children when parents or caregivers are not present such as in the school setting.

Albuterol Overuse: A Marker of Psychological Distress?

Background: Albuterol overuse, 3 or more canisters per year, is associated with poor asthma control and frequent exacerbations.

Objective: To describe albuterol use on symptom and symptom-free days and identify predictors of albuterol overuse and controller medication underuse.

Methods: Secondary analyses of data from adults with mild asthma from the Trial of Asthma Patient Education were carried out.

Lansoprazole Is Associated with Worsening Asthma Control in Children with the CYP2C19 Poor Metabolizer Phenotype.

Rationale: Gastric acid blockade in children with asymptomatic acid reflux has not improved asthma control in published studies. There is substantial population variability regarding metabolism of and response to proton pump inhibitors based on metabolizer phenotype. How metabolizer phenotype affects asthma responses to acid blockage is not known.

Exhaled breath condensate pH does not discriminate asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux or the response to lansoprazole treatment in children with poorly controlled asthma.

Background: Although exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH has been identified as an "emerging" biomarker of interest for asthma clinical trials, the clinical determinants of EBC pH remain poorly understood. Other studies have associated acid reflux-induced respiratory symptoms, for example, cough, with transient acidification of EBC.

Objective: We sought to determine the clinical and physiologic correlates of EBC acidification in a highly characterized sample of children with poorly controlled asthma.

Variability of methacholine bronchoprovocation and the effect of inhaled corticosteroids in mild asthma.

Background: The methacholine challenge test quantifies airway hyper-responsiveness, which is measured by the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% decrease in forced expiration volume in 1 second (PC20). The dose-response effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on PC20 has been inconsistent and within-patient variability of PC20 is not well established.

Objective: To determine the effect of high- vs low-dose ICS on PC20 and within-patient variability in those with repeated measurements of PC20.

Sex differences in asthma symptom profiles and control in the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers.

Objective: Important differences between men and women with asthma have been demonstrated, with women describing more symptoms and worse asthma-related quality of life (QOL) despite having similar or better pulmonary function. While current guidelines focus heavily on assessing asthma control, they lack information about whether sex-specific approaches to asthma assessment should be considered. We sought to determine if sex differences in asthma control or symptom profiles exist in the well-characterized population of participants in the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers (ALA-ACRC) trials.

Validation and psychometric properties of the Asthma Control Questionnaire among children.

Background: The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) is a patient-centered tool for evaluating asthma control. It has been validated in adults, but not well-validated among children.

Objective: We evaluated the reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change of the ACQ for assessing asthma control in children ages 6 to 17 years.

Obesity in children with poorly controlled asthma: Sex differences.

Background: Obesity increases asthma risk, and may alter asthma severity. In adults, sex appears to modify the effect of obesity on asthma. Among children, the effect of sex on the relationship between obesity and asthma severity remains less clear, particularly when considering race.

Asthma symptom utility index: reliability, validity, responsiveness, and the minimal important difference in adult asthmatic patients.

Background: The evaluation of asthma symptoms is a core outcome measure in asthma clinical research. The Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI) was developed to assess the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. The psychometric properties of the ASUI are not well characterized, and a minimal important difference (MID) is not established.

Association of dietary soy genistein intake with lung function and asthma control: a post-hoc analysis of patients enrolled in a prospective multicentre clinical trial.

Background: Broad dietary patterns have been linked to asthma but the relative contribution of specific nutrients is unclear. Soy genistein has important anti-inflammatory and other biological effects that might be beneficial in asthma. A positive association was previously reported between soy genistein intake and lung function but not with asthma exacerbations.

Methacholine challenge test: diagnostic characteristics in asthmatic patients receiving controller medications.

Background: The methacholine challenge test (MCT) is commonly used to assess airway hyperresponsiveness, but the diagnostic characteristics have not been well studied in asthmatic patients receiving controller medications after the use of high-potency inhaled corticosteroids became common.

Objectives: We investigated the ability of the MCT to differentiate participants with a physician's diagnosis of asthma from nonasthmatic participants.

Methods: We conducted a cohort-control study in asthmatic participants (n= 126) who were receiving regular controller medications and nonasthmatic control participants (n= 93) to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the MCT.

Association between depression and intima-media thickness of carotid bulb in asymptomatic young adults.

Objective: Although there is growing evidence that symptoms of depression influence the development of coronary artery disease, information on the underlying subclinical atherosclerotic process is scant in young adults. The study examined the association between symptoms of depression and subclinical atherosclerosis, determined by carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic young individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a semi-rural biracial (black-white) community.

Utility of waist-to-height ratio in detecting central obesity and related adverse cardiovascular risk profile among normal weight younger adults (from the Bogalusa Heart Study).

Data on the utility of the waist-to-height ratio in detecting central obesity and related cardiovascular risk among normal weight younger adults are scant. This aspect was examined in 639 normal weight (body mass index 18.5 to 24.