Clinical value of continuous monitoring of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide in childhood asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate changes in the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in childhood asthma, and to evaluate the clinical value of continuous monitoring of FeNO.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty children with mild to moderate asthma were enrolled from the special outpatient clinic for asthma. Follow-up was performed at 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 weeks after treatment. At each follow-up, asthmatic symptoms were recorded, pulmonary function was evaluated and FeNO was measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean FeNO decreased rapidly 8 weeks after treatment and slowly afterwards. It decreased significantly 8,16,24 and 40 weeks after treatment (P<0.01). It increased significantly during acute attacks of asthma and decreased rapidly during periods of remission. There was significant negative correlation between FeNO and forced expiratory volume in one second (r =-0.193 P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve of FeNO showed that FeNO had a sensitivity of 87.9% and a specificity of 80% for uncontrolled asthma when FeNO was 35.5 ppb, and that it had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 27.1% when FeNO was 20.5 ppb.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>monitoring of FeNO can be used to evaluate the control level of airway inflammation in childhood asthma. When FeNO is less than 20.5 ppb, airway inflammation may be well controlled. When FeNO is more than 35.5 ppb, airway inflammation may be out of control. A sharp increase in FeNO suggests the possibility of acute asthma attack in children.</p>

Pulmonary function of healthy children at ages of 1-48 months in Shenzhen area / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the development of pulmonary function of healthy children between 1-48 months.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 295 healthy children at ages of 1-48 months were classified into 7 groups according to their age, i.e., 1-2 months, 3-4 months, 5-7 months, 8-12 months, 13-24 months, 25-36 months, and 37- 48 months. Pediatric pulmonary function laboratory type 2600 (Sensor Medics Corporation USA) was used to detect tidal flow volume curve, which can partially replace the maximum expiratory flow volume curve and reflect airway ventilation function. Passive expiratory flow volume technique was used to examine respiratory system static compliance and total airway resistance. Open nitrogen washout method was used to measure functional residual capacity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The values of tidal, peak tidal expiratory flow, and respiratory system static compliance functional residual capacity increased with the increasing age and were significantly different among the 7 groups. However, respiratory rate and total airway resistance decreased with the increased age. The value of each parameter of tidal flow volume curve was stable during 1-48 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study displayed the developmental characteristics of pulmonary function of healthy children at ages of 1-48 months, which is useful to observe the changes of pulmonary function in respiratory diseases.</p>