IL-8 and pH values in exhaled condensate after antibiotics in cystic fibrosis children.

Interleukin (IL)-8 is a major factor in inflammatory response and the IL-8 levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) may be used as a marker of airway inflammation. Airway acidification is implicated in the pathophysiology of obstructive airway diseases and pH EBC values have been used as a marker of airway acidification. The aim of our study is to investigate whether IL-8 and pH levels in EBC of cystic fibrosis (CF) children with respiratory exacerbations change after antibiotic treatment. Lung function, IL-8 and pH EBC values were measured in fifteen CF children (mean age 11 years) with acute exacerbation before (T0) and after two weeks (T1) of antibiotic treatment. IL-8 and pH values were compared by paired t-test. A p less than 0.05 was considered significant. IL-8 EBC levels decreased after antibiotic treatment (T0 0.36+/-0.03pg/ml vs T1 0.28+/-0.03pg/ml; p=0.03) and pH values increased (T0 7.36+/-0.09 vs T1 7.61+/-0.08; p=0.04). Results suggest possible application of EBC as a non-invasive tool to monitor efficacy of antibiotic treatment in CF patients.

Rhinitis in pre-school children: prevalence, association with allergic diseases and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of rhinitis, sneezing, runny or blocked nose apart from colds in a pre-school children population and to evaluate the risk factors and relationship with allergic diseases and sensitization. METHODS: Eighteen nursery schools were randomly selected. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written questionnaire (WQ) was distributed and filled by parents of pre-school children (3-5 years). The allergic sensitization to common aeroallergens and foods was evaluated by skin prick test (SPT). chi2 tests were used to compare proportions between rhinitic and non-rhinitic children. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred and two (92%) valuable questionnaires were returned. Prevalence of rhinitis in the last 12 months was 16.8%. Rhinitic children compared to non-rhinitic children presented a significant increase of diagnosed asthma (20.8% vs. 6.2%, P<0.001), lifetime wheezing (43.2% vs. 21.6%, P<0.001), wheezing in the last 12 months (25.0% vs. 9.4%, P<0.001), atopic dermatitis (22.9% vs. 13.9%, P<0.001) and allergic sensitization (29.9% vs. 13.7%, P<0.001). Sensitization to grass pollen and house dust mites were significant risk factors for rhinitis (P<0.01). A family history of atopy, having pets at home, male gender and greater age were significant risk factors for rhinitis, but not smoking exposure, sharing a bedroom or breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: In pre-school children rhinitis has a strong association with wheezing symptoms, asthma and atopic dermatitis. Allergic sensitization is a risk factor for rhinitis and should be evaluated even in pre-school children.

Relationship between exhaled air temperature and exhaled nitric oxide in childhood asthma.

Airway inflammation is a characteristic of asthma. Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) has been demonstrated to be related to actual levels of airway inflammation in asthmatic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the temperature of exhaled air is related to eNO levels. Temperature of exhaled air and eNO were measured in 52 asthmatic children with a cross-sectional design. A significant relationship was demonstrated between eNO and temperature of peak and plateau exhaled air temperature. The relationship between both the peak and the plateau values and eNO was more evident when it was corrected for environmental temperature. These results suggest a relationship between exhaled nitric oxide and the temperature of exhaled air in asthmatic patients not treated with systemic steroids.

Exhaled nitric oxide, serum ECP and airway responsiveness in mild asthmatic children.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the possible relationships between exhaled nitric oxide (ENO), a circulating marker of eosinophil activation, serum eosinophil cationic protein (SECP), level of airway responsiveness to methacholine and lung function in asthmatic children, as well as to compare these markers between children with and without inhaled steroid therapy. In a cross-sectional study ENO, SECP and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine were evaluated in a group of 57 asthmatic children (21 without and 36 with regulator inhaled steroid therapy; aged 6-13 yrs). ENO was significantly lower in steroid treated children (p<0.01). No significant differences between steroid treated and untreated children were observed for the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1; PC20), SECP and FEV1. In the whole study population significant increase correlations were observed between PC20 and SECP (r=-0.329, p=0.013) and between ENO and FEV1% of predicted (r=-0.348, p<0.01). In the group not receiving inhaled steroids the inverse relationship between PC20 and SECP was more evident (r=-0.581, p<0.001). In the steroid-treated group a significant inverse relationship was observed between ENO and FEV1 (r=-0.426, p=0.0011). The level of exhaled nitric oxide and the relationships between lung function, bronchial reactivity and markers of inflammation are different between steroid-treated and untreated asthmatic children. This has implications for the monitoring of asthma in childhood.

Visual perception of human activity and gender in biological-motion displays by individuals with mental retardation.

By examining perception of biological-motion in three experiments, we investigated whether limitations in perceptual ability by individuals with mental retardation may extend to learning perceptual categories based on elements of actions. In two experiments individuals with mental retardation and age- and gender-matched controls reported gender and activity in randomly ordered point-light displays. In Experiment 2 decision times were measured and in Experiment 3, the effect of training with feedback on discriminating gender was assessed. Individuals with mental retardation identified walking, running, and stair-climbing without error but were less proficient in identifying throwing, had slower decision times for activity identification, and could not identify gender. For both groups feedback training improved gender identification in the short- and long-term. Improvements represented above-chance responding for the retarded group. Experimental outcomes are discussed in terms of capacity to classify perceptual stimuli as actions.