Objective measurement of frequency and pattern of nocturnal cough in children with asthma exacerbation.

Objective measurement of frequency and pattern of nocturnal cough in children with asthma exacerbation.

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016 Jun 30;

Authors: Hirai K, Enseki M, Tabata H, Nukaga M, Matsuda S, Kato M, Furuya H, Mochizuki H

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although a number of patients with asthma report experiencing persistent cough during sleep, it has not yet been objectively investigated.
OBJECTIVE: To classify cough severity and evaluate a characteristic pattern of cough frequency in children with asthma using an objective cough monitoring system.
METHODS: An objective cough monitoring system that specialized in children was used to measure cough frequency and nocturnal cough patterns. Coughs were recorded with microphone and accelerometer and analyzed using a customized software program. The number of nocturnal coughs and the pattern of cough frequency in 30-minute intervals were measured along with the severity of each asthma exacerbation, and the results were compared with children without asthma.
RESULTS: The total overnight cough count of 34 children with asthma was higher than that of 15 children without asthma (P < .001). The total overnight cough count in children with severe asthma exacerbation was higher than that in children with moderate asthma exacerbation (P < .05). The cough counts were significantly increased at the time of falling asleep and waking. This pattern was not observed in children without asthma. The total cough counts and cough patterns in children with asthma were not affected by sex, age, cause of asthma exacerbation, or therapy.
CONCLUSION: Our data indicate huge cough counts and characteristic nocturnal cough patterns in children with asthma. Objective and precise cough monitoring is useful for the management of childhood asthma.

PMID: 27372657 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Th1/Th2 cytokine pattern in Arab children with severe asthma.

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Th1/Th2 cytokine pattern in Arab children with severe asthma.

Int J Clin Exp Med. 2014;7(8):2286-91

Authors: Al-Daghri NM, Alokail MS, Draz HM, Abd-Alrahman SH, Yakout SM, Clerici M

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bronchial Asthma has recently emerged as one of the most prevalent diseases in Arab countries. Environmental and geographical influences were shown to be the reasons of the variations in the rates of prevalence; no analyses have nevertheless yet been performed on the immunologic background associated with this condition in Arabic children.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the cytokine production from T cells in children with and without asthma, and to determine the role of the most related cytokine patterns in childhood asthma.
METHODS: A total of 195 Saudis children (98 asthma pediatric patients and 97 healthy controls) were randomly selected from the Riyadh Cohort Study for inclusion. Asthma was based on established pediatric diagnosis and medications taken.
RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the two groups, thus, GMCSF, INF-?, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8 and IgG-3 were reduced in patients compared to controls; in these same patients IgE, resistin, IL-4 and IgG-4 were significantly increased. In contrast with these results no differences between patients and controls were seen in CRP, TNF-?, IL-1, IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, IL-13, IgG-1, IgG-2, IgG-A and IgG-M. Result of a principal component analysis suggested that IL4. INF-? and IgE are major players in the pathogenesis of asthma in Arabic children.
CONCLUSION: These are the first data obtained in asthmatic children in Saudi; data herein confirm that this disease is associated with a profound degree of immune impairment independently of the peculiar genetic of the analyzed individuals, and of the environmental conditions that are present in this part of the world.

PMID: 25232422 [PubMed]

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