Gender and age affect the levels of exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children.

Gender and age affect the levels of exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children.

Exp Ther Med. 2013 Apr;5(4):1174-1178

Authors: Zhang H, Shu L, Cai X, Wang Z, Jiao X, Liu F, Hou P, Wang L, Shan L, Chen N, Shang Y

Abstract
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung and diagnosis is difficult in children. The measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may be useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of treatments. A number of factors affect FeNO levels and their influence varies across countries and regions. This study included 300 healthy students, aged from 6 to 14 years, who participated voluntarily. A comprehensive medical survey was used and measurements of FeNO levels and spirometric parameters were recorded in Shenyang, China. We observed that the median FeNO was 11 ppb (range, 8-16 ppb) in children from the northern areas of China. For males, the median level was 13 ppb (range, 9-18 ppb) and the median level was 10 ppb (range, 8-14 ppb) for females. There was a significant difference between males and females (P= 0.007) and age was correlated with FeNO (R(2)= 0.6554), while weight, height, body mass index (BMI), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), FEV1/FVC and peak expiratory flow (PEF) had no correlation with FeNO. In conclusion, the median FeNO is 11 ppb (range, 8-16 ppb) in male and female healthy children from northern areas of China and is affected by gender and age.

PMID: 23596487 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Nitric oxide and its metabolites in the critical phase of illness: rapid biomarkers in the making.

Related Articles

Nitric oxide and its metabolites in the critical phase of illness: rapid biomarkers in the making.

Open Biochem J. 2013;7:24-32

Authors: Mian AI, Aranke M, Bryan NS

Abstract
The potential of nitric oxide (NO) as a rapid assay biomarker, one that could provide a quantum leap in acute care, remains largely untapped. NO plays a crucial role as bronchodilator, vasodilator and inflammatory mediator. The main objective of this review is to demonstrate how NO is a molecule of heavy interest in various acute disease states along the emergency department and critical care spectrum: respiratory infections, central nervous system infections, asthma, acute kidney injury, sepsis, septic shock, and myocardial ischemia, to name just a few. We discuss how NO and its oxidative metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, are readily detectable in several body compartments and fluids, and as such they are associated with many of the pathophysiological processes mentioned above. With methods such as high performance liquid chromatography and chemiluminescence these entities are relatively easy and inexpensive to analyze. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic rapidity, as this relates directly to quality of care in acute care situations. Further, a rationale is provided for more bench, translational and clinical research in the field of NO biomarkers for such settings. Developing standard protocols for the aforementioned disease states, centered on concentrations of NO and its metabolites, can prove to revolutionize diagnostics and prognostication along a spectrum of clinical care. We present a strong case for developing these biomarkers more as point-of-care assays with potential of color gradient test strips for rapid screening of disease entities in acute care and beyond. This will be relevant to global health.

PMID: 23539501 [PubMed – in process]

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Relation of bronchial and alveolar nitric oxide to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in atopic children and adolescents.

Relation of bronchial and alveolar nitric oxide to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in atopic children and adolescents.

Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2011 Dec 7;

Authors: Linkosalo L, Lehtimäki L, Holm K, Kaila M, Moilanen E

Abstract
To cite this article: Linkosalo L, Lehtimäki L, Holm K, Kaila M, Moilanen E. Relation of bronchial and alveolar nitric oxide to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in atopic children and adolescents. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011; Doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01223.x ABSTRACT: Background and objective:? Exercise challenge test is widely used in diagnostics and follow-up of childhood asthma, but the method is complex, time consuming, and expensive. In this study, we aimed to find out whether flow-independent nitric oxide (NO) parameters (bronchial NO flux [J’aw(NO) ] and alveolar NO concentration [CA(NO) ]) predict exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in atopic children and adolescents with asthma-like symptoms. Also, the respective NO parameters corrected for axial backward diffusion (J’aw(NO) [TMAD] and CA(NO) [TMAD]) were calculated and included in the analysis. Methods:? Thirty patients (6-19?yr old) with confirmed atopy (positive skin prick tests or allergen-specific IgE) and asthma-like respiratory symptoms were included in the study. Before the current investigations, none of the patients had been diagnosed to have asthma and none were on inhaled corticosteroids. Exhaled NO was measured at multiple exhalation flow rates, and exercise challenge test was carried out. Bronchial NO flux and alveolar NO concentration were calculated according to the linear method with and without correction for axial backward diffusion. Sixty-six healthy school children served as controls. Results:? The patients were divided into two groups according to EIB. Patients with EIB (EIB+ group, n = 18) had enhanced bronchial NO output as compared to patients without EIB (EIB- group, n = 12); but the EIB- group did not differ from healthy controls. EIB+ group had also higher alveolar NO concentration than EIB- group and healthy controls, but EIB- group did not differ from healthy controls. When bronchial NO flux and alveolar NO concentration were corrected for axial diffusion, J’aw(NO) (TMAD) had equal difference as J’aw(NO) between the groups as expected. However, only EIB+ had higher CA(NO) (TMAD) than healthy controls, and the patient groups did not differ from each other. In patients, bronchial NO output correlated with the magnitude of exercise-induced change in PEF (r(s) = -0.388, p = 0.034), FEV(1) (r(s) = -0.395, p = 0.031), and FEF(50%) (r(s) = -0.431, p = 0.020), i.e., the higher the bronchial NO output, the larger the decrease in PEF/FEV(1) /FEF(50%) . Alveolar NO concentrations correlated with the change in FEV(1) (r(s) = -0.439, p = 0.015), FEF(50%) (r(s) = -0.454, p = 0.013), FEF(75%) (r(s) = -0.447, p?=?0.017), and FVC (r(s) ?=?-0.375, p?=?0.045). For J’aw(NO) (TMAD), the correlations and p-values were equal to those of J’aw(NO) , but, interestingly, CA(NO) (TMAD) had no significant correlations with any of the exercise-induced changes in lung function. Conclusion:? The results showed that in atopic children and adolescents, increased bronchial NO output as well as J’aw(NO) (TMAD) were associated with EIB, while alveolar NO concentration (but not CA(NO) [TMAD]) correlated with the degree of obstruction in smaller airways induced by exercise challenge.

PMID: 22145648 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Model of Asthma by Downregulating Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Model of Asthma by Downregulating Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Planta Med. 2011 Mar 30;

Authors: Zhou DY, Du Q, Li RR, Huang M, Zhang Q, Wei GZ

Allergic asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness and inflammation of the airway with increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and overproduction of nitric oxide (NO). Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been proved to have antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of GSPE on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/c mice, sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), were intraperitoneally injected with GSPE. Administration of GSPE remarkably suppressed airway resistance and reduced the total inflammatory cell and eosinophil counts in BALF. Treatment with GSPE significantly enhanced the interferon (IFN)- ? level and decreased interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels in BALF and total IgE levels in serum. GSPE also attenuated allergen-induced lung eosinophilic inflammation and mucus-producing goblet cells in the airway. The elevated iNOS expression observed in the OVA mice was significantly inhibited by GSPE. In conclusion, GSPE decreases the progression of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by downregulating the iNOS expression, promising to have a potential in the treatment of allergic asthma.

PMID: 21452107 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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