Aerobic exercise capacity at long-term follow-up after paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic SCT.

Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), a measure of aerobic exercise capacity, predicts mortality and morbidity in healthy and diseased individuals. Our aim was to determine VO2peak years after paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic SCT (HSCT) and to identify associations with baseline patient and donor characteristics, transplantation factors, pulmonary function and self-reported sports activity. In this cross-sectional, population-based study, we measured VO2peak, spirometry and diffusion capacity of the lung (DLCO) 3-10 years post HSCT. Z-scores were calculated by reference values from healthy subjects. Self-reported hours of sports activity were obtained by interview. We included 63 patients (mean age (range) 14.4 (7-24) years). HSCT patients exhibited lower mean VO2peak (-1.42 z-score, 95% confidential interval (-1.7; -1.1)) compared with healthy subjects (P<0.001). Sixteen patients (25%) had VO2peak values <-1.96 z-score. Low VO2peak was associated with reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 s (R(2)=0.11, P=0.009), reduced DLCO/VA (R(2)=0.09, P=0.01) and low physical activity (mean VO2peak z-score inactive group: -2.1 vs most active group: -1.1, P=0.02). No associations between VO2peak and diagnosis, donor type or GvHD were found. Although causes for reduced VO2peak may be multiple, our findings stress the need to focus on physical activity post HSCT to prevent lifestyle diseases and improve quality of life.

Clinical effects of sinus surgery and adjuvant therapy in cystic fibrosis patients - can chronic lung infections be postponed?

BACKGROUND: The paranasal sinuses can be a bacterial reservoir for pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) METHODOLOGY: In this prospective, non-randomised, uncontrolled, intervention cohort study, the clinical effect of sinus surgery followed by two weeks` intravenous antibiotics, 6 months` antibiotic nasal irrigations was assessed in 106 CF patients. RESULTS: One year after sinus surgery, the prevalence of intermittently colonised patients had decreased by 38%, while the prevalence of non-colonised patients had increased by 150%. The frequency of pulmonary samples with CF pathogens was reduced after surgery. Specific IgG against P. aeruginosa decreased after six months. Additionally, the self reported symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis and quality of life improved. CONCLUSION: Combined sinus surgery and postoperative systemic and topical antibiotic treatment significantly reduced the frequency of pulmonary samples positive for CF pathogens in the first year after sinus surgery.

Bronchiolitis obliterans after allo-SCT: clinical criteria and treatment options.

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) following allogeneic haematopoietic SCT (HSCT) is a serious complication affecting 1.7-26% of the patients, with a reported mortality rate of 21-100%. It is considered a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease, but our knowledge of aetiology and pathogenesis is still limited. Diagnostic criteria are being developed, and will allow more uniform and comparable research activities between centres. At present, no randomised controlled trials have been completed that could demonstrate an effective treatment. Steroids in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs still constitute the backbone of the treatment strategy, and results from our and other centres suggest that monthly infusions of high-dose pulse i.v. methylprednisolone (HDPM) might stabilise the disease and hinder progression. This article provides an overview of the current evidence regarding treatment options for BO and presents the treatment results with HDPM in a paediatric national HSCT-cohort.

Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and wheezing symptoms in infants.

Long-term exposure to air pollution is suspected to cause recurrent wheeze in infants. The few previous studies have had ambiguous results. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of measured long-term exposure to indoor air pollution on wheezing symptoms in infants. We monitored wheezing symptoms in diaries for a birth cohort of 411 infants. We measured long-term exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO(x)), NO(2), formaldehyde, PM(2.5) and black smoke in the infants' bedrooms and analyzed risk associations during the first 18 months of life by logistic regression with the dichotomous end-point 'any symptom-day' (yes/no) and by standard linear regression with the end-point 'number of symptom-days'. The results showed no systematic association between risk for wheezing symptoms and the levels of these air pollutants with various indoor and outdoor sources. In conclusion, we found no evidence of an association between long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and wheezing symptoms in infants, suggesting that indoor air pollution is not causally related to the underlying disease. Practical Implications Nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde and fine particles were measured in the air in infants' bedrooms. The results showed no evidence of an association between long-term exposure and wheezing symptoms in the COPSAC birth cohort.

Heterogeneity of FeNO response to inhaled steroid in asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide in exhaled air is regarded as an inflammation marker, and may be used to monitor the anti-inflammatory control from inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). However, this response to ICSs exhibits a heterogeneous pattern. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to describe the independent variables associated with the heterogeneity in the response of exhaled nitric oxide to ICSs. METHODS: Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), lung function, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), specific IgE to common inhalant allergens, blood eosinophils, other atopic manifestations and variants in nitric oxide synthethase 1 (NOS1) gene were studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover comparison of budesonide (BUD) Turbohaler 1600 mcg daily vs. placebo in asthmatic schoolchildren. RESULTS: Forty children were included in the study from a screening of 184 asthmatic children with moderately persistent asthma, well controlled on regular BUD 400 mcg daily: 20 children with normal FeNO and 20 with raised FeNO. FeNO, BHR and forced expiratory volume in 1 s improved significantly after BUD 1600 mcg (BUD1600). However, FeNO after ICS treatment exhibited a Gaussian distribution and FeNO was significantly raised in 15 children. Allergy and BHR, but none of the other independent variables under study were significantly related to FeNO after BUD1600. CONCLUSION: Exhaled nitric oxide exhibited a heterogeneous response to ICS in asthmatic schoolchildren. Allergy and BHR were driving FeNO level independently of high-dose steroid treatment. This should be considered when using FeNO for steroid dose titration and monitoring of ICS anti-inflammatory control in asthmatic children.

FeNO measured at fixed exhalation flow rate during controlled tidal breathing in children from the age of 2 yr.

We have outlined a new method to measure exhaled nitric oxide on-line at fixed flow rate during controlled tidal breathing (FeNO [controlled]) in young children aged 2 yr and older. FeNO(controlled) measures NO on-line during operator-controlled tidal breathing. The operator targets the exhaled flow of the child within preset limits of 0.4-0.6 L/s by continuously adjusting an expiratory resistance. FeNO(controlled) is estimated during end exhalation. We have validated this method against the reference method of the single breath on-line (SBOL) maneuvre (FeNO[SBOL]) and compared it with NO in mixed exhaled air collected in a bag (FeNO [mixed]). Sixty-seven children were studied: 16 school children and 51 children aged 2-5 yr; 14 of the young children were healthy, 22 had asthma treated with regular inhaled budesonide, and 15 had mild episodic wheeze treated with inhaled terbutaline as necessary. FeNO (controlled) showed good agreement with FeNO(SBOL) (factor difference 0.7-1.4), whereas FeNO(mixed) showed poor agreement with FeNO(SBOL) (factor difference 0.51-5.37). FeNO(controlled) (mean [95% confidence interval]) was 6 ppb (4-8 ppb) in young children with asthma, 5 ppb (3-7 ppb) in young children with mild episodic wheeze, and 3 ppb (2-4 ppb) in healthy control subjects (asthma versus control subjects: p = 0.006; episodic wheeze versus control subjects: p = 0.057). FeNO(controlled) increased from 4 ppb (2-7 ppb) to 13 ppb (10-18 ppb) (p < 0.0001) when the mean daily maintenance dose of budesonide was tapered in nine young children with asthma. FeNO(controlled) is feasible in young children from age 2 and shows better agreement with FeNO(SBOL) than FeNO(mixed). FeNO(controlled) covaries with asthma disease severity and steroid dose. FeNO(controlled) is therefore suggested as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for monitoring asthma disease activity in young children with asthma from the age of 2 yr.

[Meckel's diverticulum. From embryology to therapy]. / Meckels divertikel. Fra embryologi til behandling.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD), an remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct, is the most common congenital abnormality of the small bowel. The aim of this paper is to give a review of MD, from embryology to diagnosis, complications and treatment.

Measurement of cerebral oxyhaemoglobin saturation and jugular blood flow in term healthy newborn infants by near-infrared spectroscopy and jugular venous occlusion.

Data of cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation are important for optimal treatment and prognosis in neonatal intensive care. Mostly premature and asphyxiated infants have been examined, but near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allows estimations in healthy term newborns. In this study, cerebral venous saturation (CVsO2) and jugular blood flow (JBF) was estimated in 11 healthy term newborns. Mean CVsO2 was 64.12 +/- 4.6%, which conform with expectations. Mean JBF was only 6.1 ml/100 g/min, which is unacceptably low compared to earlier published data. We discuss physiological and methodological aspects and conclude that the combination of NIRS and venous occlusion appears to be a reliable method for estimation of CVsO2 in normally healthy newborns, whereas the reason for the failure of the method for estimation of JBF is unclear.