Alveolar nitric oxide and its role in pediatric asthma control assessment.

Background: Nitric oxide can be measured at multiple flow rates to determine proximal (maximum airway nitric oxide flux; JawNO) and distal inflammation (alveolar nitric oxide concentration; CANO). The main aim was to study the association among symptoms, lung function, proximal (maximum airway nitric oxide flux) and distal (alveolar nitric oxide concentration) airway inflammation in asthmatic children treated and not treated with inhaled glucocorticoids.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with prospective data collection was carried out in a consecutive sample of girls and boys aged between 6 and 16 years with a medical diagnosis of asthma.

Young infants with recurrent wheezing and positive asthma predictive index have higher levels of exhaled nitric oxide.

Objective: The aim of this post hoc analysis was to establish the relationship between FE(NO) levels and the asthma predictive index (API) among infants with recurrent wheezing.

Methods: Infants with recurrent wheezing (three or more episodes) were recruited consecutively and online FE(NO) tests at tidal breathing with multiple breaths were performed.

Results: Twenty-seven (84%) out of 32 infants (median age of 12 months) who met the inclusion criteria for this post hoc analysis, successfully performed the FE(NO) determinations.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans: outcome in the medium term].

Background: Bronchiolitis obliterans is a chronic obstructive lung disease that follows a severe insult to the lower respiratory tract. Severity and outcome are different depending on the geographic area. The aim of this study was to communicate the results of our sample.

Association among lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, and the CAN questionnaire to assess asthma control in children.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association among a validated symptom-based questionnaire for asthma control in children (CAN), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)).

Methods: Observational cross-sectional study was performed in a consecutive sample of asthmatic children aged between 7 and 14 years old from December 2007 to February 2008. FE(NO) was measured with a portable electrochemical analyzer and forced spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society.

[Differences in airway resistances in children measured by plethysmography with and without closure of the occluder].

Background: There have been several studies that have measured airway resistances using plethysmography without closing the occluder.

Objective: To investigate the differences between the total resistances (sRaw(TOT)) and the specific resistances (sRaw) with the same technique (plethysmography) but different methodology (with and without closure of the occluder) in child subjects.

Material And Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study of a consecutive sample of children between 6 and 14 years old who were seen at the Childhood Pneumology clinics from 15th January to 15th February 2009.