[Quality control for maximal expiratory flow-volume curve as a pulmonary function test in school-age children].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality control for the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve in school-age children. METHODS: Eight hundred and sixty-two children who had two or more MEFV manoeuvres were classified into ≥6-year-old (n=379), ≥8-year-old (n=210), ≥10-year-old (n=64), and 12-17-year-old groups (n=109). The parameters of quality control and concordance with quality control criteria for MEFV were compared between the two groups. In addition, patients who were diagnosed with asthma were classified into two groups, one with normal pulmonary function (n=155) and the other with abnormal pulmonary function (n=62), based on the results of spirometry. Differences in the parameters of quality control for spirometry were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty-two children underwent 2 367 MEFV manoeuvres, 97.8% of which met the start of test criterion for backward extrapolated volume (VBE) of less than 0.15 L, with the highest concordance in the ≥6-year-old group and the lowest concordance in the 12-17-year-old group. Three hundred and eighty-one children (44.2%) met the end of test criterion for forced expiratory time (FET) and the concordance in children over 10 years of age was lower than that in children under 10 years of age (P<0.05). Differences in two best forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) manoeuvres were within 150 mL in 91.9% and 84.8%, respectively, of the children. The parameters of quality control for spirometry were better for asthmatic children with abnormal pulmonary function compared with asthmatic children with normal pulmonary function (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Concordance with the start of test criteria and the manoeuvre repeatability criteria is high, whereas the concordance with the end of test criteria is low. It is suggested that the concordance with the FET criteria should be improved.

[Related factors for asthmatic children's responses to long-term treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in pulmonary function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled breath (FeNO) in asthmatic children who have different responses to regular treatment. METHODS: A total of 52 asthmatic children who had a good compliance with regular stepped control treatment were selected as subjects. They were followed up every three months to evaluate the asthma control level, pulmonary ventilation function, and FeNO for 9 months. Besides, medications for asthma control were recorded. RESULTS: At three follow-up points (months 3, 6, and 9), the percentage of asthmatic children who used the first or the second level of control treatment in the stable group (with stable response to the treatment) was significantly higher than in the unstable group (with unstable response to the treatment) (P<0.05), while the percentage of asthmatic children who used the third level of control treatment in the stable group was significantly lower than in the unstable group (P<0.05). At the three follow-up points, the stable group had a significantly higher ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) than the unstable group (P<0.05); at the 3-month and 9-month follow-up points, the stable group had a significantly higher percentage of predicted maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF%) than the unstable group (P<0.05); at the initial evaluation and 3-month follow-up point, the stable group had a significantly higher FeNO than the unstable group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Continuously monitoring FEV1/FVC, MMEF% and FeNO is useful in the early evaluation of the responses to treatment in children with asthma.

[A comparision of the effects of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy on immunological responses in children with asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference in the effects of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on immunological responses in children with asthma. METHODS: A total of 86 children with asthma caused by dust mites were enrolled and divided into a SLIT group (n=29), a SCIT group (n=13), a group receiving complete SCIT course (complete SCIT group; n=14), and a group receiving conventional medication (control group, n=30). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and stimulated with house dust mite extract for 48 hours in vitro, and the percentage of regulatory T cells (Treg%) in CD4+ T cells was measured by flow cytometry. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was applied to compare the changes in humoral immunological indices and therapeutic effects in the SCIT and SLIT groups before treatment and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Before antigenic stimulation, Treg% in CD4(+) T cells in the SCIT group was significantly higher than that in the SLIT and control groups; after antigenic stimulation was given, Treg% in the four groups decreased significantly. After 6 and 12 months of immunotherapy, the SCIT group had significant changes in serum sIgE and sIgG4 levels, while the SLIT group only showed a significant change in serum sIgE level. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal difference exists in different immunotherapies to cause immunological responses in children with asthma, and immunological responses induced by SCIT may occur earlier.

Seasonal variation in circulating group 2 innate lymphoid cells in mugwort-allergic asthmatics during and outside pollen season.

BACKGROUND: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a newly identified cell population with the potent capability to produce Th2-type cytokines in a non-antigen specific manner. Previous study demonstrated that enhanced circulating ILC2s in cat-allergic patient after experimental allergen challenge, whereas the effects of natural allergen exposure on peripheral ILC2s are still unclear. We therefore examined the variations in circulating ILC2s among asthmatic patients sensitized to different allergens in- and outside- pollen season. METHODS: 10 patients sensitized to mugwort, 10 patients sensitized to house dust mites (HDM) and 12 healthy controls were recruited into this study. Blood samples were collected from the patients in- and outside- pollens season, 2-3 months apart. ILC2s (Lin-CD127+ CRTH2+) were enumerated by flow cytometry, as well as intracellular IL-5 and IL-13 expression. The levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in supernatants of Lineage- and Lineage+ cells stimulated with IL-25 and/or IL-33 in the presence of IL-2 were measured using a Milliplex human cytokine array kit. RESULTS: An obvious seasonal increases in percentages of total and IL-13+ ILC2s were observed in patients with mugwort sensitization during natural pollen exposure, however, the percentages of peripheral ILC2s in HDM-allergic patients were not affected significantly. A positive correlation between FeNO and IL-13+ILC2s was found in patients sensitized to mugwort. A mixture of IL-33 and IL-25 induced a significant production of IL-13 and IL-5 from Lineage- cells of both mugwort-allergic and HDM-allergic asthmatics. Stimulation with IL-33 alone induced a significantly greater quantity of IL-13 by Lineage-cells from mugwort-allergic asthmatic compared with that from HDM-allergic asthmatics, whereas IL-25 induced a significantly greater amount of IL-5 by the Lineage-cells from mugwort-allergic asthmatic compared with that from HDM-allergic asthmatics. CONCLUSION: Within pollen season the frequencies and function profiles of circulating ILC2s among asthmatic children are altered dynamically, which may be closely related to the sensitized type of allergens.

Allergy march of Chinese children with infantile allergic symptoms: a prospective multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: Allergy march refers to progression of allergic diseases from infantile food allergy to the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). Evidence come mostly from studies in European countries. This study aimed to investigate allergy march in Chinese children with infantile food protein allergy (FPA) with a special focus on the effect of different formula interventions. METHODS: From 2008 to 2010, 153 infants diagnosed with FPA were recruited in five tertiary hospitals across China. They were randomly treated with amino-acid-based formula or soy-protein-based formula for a period of 3 months. Long-term follow-up was performed when they reached early school age, using questionnaires, physical examinations, and serum-specific immunoglobulin E. RESULTS: The overall follow-up rate was 73.20%. In patients who reached their early school years, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed AR and asthma were 43.75% and 23.21%, respectively. Only 40% of the subjects remained positive for food sensitizations upon follow-up. Twenty-six subjects receiving aeroallergen screening tests in infancy all proved negative, but upon follow-up, 65.57% were sensitized to aeroallergens (P=0.005). No significant difference between the effects of amino-acid-based formula and soy-protein-based formula on children's allergy march was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion (47.32%) of Chinese infants with early allergic symptoms developed respiratory allergies by their early school years. Most food-sensitized infants outgrew their condition several years later, but then aeroallergen sensitization often occurred. Amino-acid-based formula showed no advantages over soy protein-based formula with respect to arresting the allergy march.

[Clinical, enteroscopic, and pathological characteristics of 796 cases of colorectal polyps].

OBJECTIVE: To study the age, clinical, enteroscopic and pathological characteristics of colorectal polyps and factors affected polyp-carcinoma. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical, enteroscopic and pathological characteristics of 7276 cases of colorectal polyps. RESULTS: The incidence of colorectal polyps was 10.94%, including 521 men and 275 women. The rate of colorectal polyp was 82.29% in 30-69 year olds. The adenomatous, inflammatory, hyperplastic and juvenile polyps were 43.84%, 42.09%, 11.06% and 1.51%, respectively. Polypoid lesions were located at cecum 3.29%, ascending 11.88%, transverse 4.89%, descending 11.58%, sigmoid 26.05%, and rectum 42.32%. Thirty-five cases (4.4%) were found to have polpous canceration. The canceration rates in villous, mixed and tubular adenomas were 29.73%, 11.11%, and 4.86%. The rate of canceration seemed to depend on its dimensions, being 1.3%, 7.4%, and 25.6% for the 0.6 - 1.0 cm, 1.1 - 1.9 cm, and > or = 2.0 cm in size, respectively. Conclusion The ages between 30-69 tend to suffer from colorectal polyps. The incidence in the male is higher than that in the female. Colorectal polyps are more likely to locate in left colon. The common pathological types were adenomatous and inflammatory polyps. There is a high canceration of polyps in the left colon, villous adenomas and > or = 2.0 cm polyps. The broader the pedicles and the larger the diameters of polyps are, the higher the canceration rate. All of the colon polyps should be excised and undergo the pathological examination. Enteroscopic polypectomy helps prevent colorectal polpous canceration.

Effect of house dust mite immunotherapy on interleukin-10-secreting regulatory T cells in asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous specific immunotherapy has been demonstrated to be capable of inducing T-cell regulatory response. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays a crucial role in inducing allergen-specific tolerance. However the reports of the changes of IL-10 in house dust mite (HDM)-specific immunotherapy were varied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of IL-10-secreting regulatory T cells in asthma children successfully treated with HDM immunotherapy. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 27 patients following 1.5 - 2 years of HDM-specific immunotherapy (SIT, SIT group) and from 27 matched treated asthmatic children allergic to HDM (asthma group). After 48 hours of in vitro stimulation with HDM extracts, IL-10-secreting regulatory T cells were measured by four colour flow cytometry. Sera were tested for allergen-specific IgG(4) and IgE using the Immuno CAP 100 assay. RESULTS: PBMCs from children undergoing immunotherapy following HDM extracts stimuli produced significantly more IL-10 compared with the asthma group. The frequency of iTreg cells and aTreg cells increased in SIT group after HDM stimulation, while it was not affected in the asthma group. Among the iTreg cells and aTreg cells, the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(-)IL-10(+) Treg cells increased the most which was 2 times higher than that in unstimulated cultures in SIT group. The levels of HDM-specific IgG(4) of SIT group was significiently higher compared with asthma group, but there was no correlation of the levels of HDM-specific IgG(4) and IL-10 secreting Treg cells. CONCLUSIONS: HDM-specific immunotherapy can successfully upregulate the frequency of IL-10-secreting Treg cells. CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(-)IL-10(+) Treg cells may play a key role in inducing the immune tolerance in HDM-specific immunotherapy.