Overview of ROC-curves of 3 predictive models for asthma exacerbations.

<p>ROC1: exacerbation prediction model on the basis of the acidity of EBC and inflammatory markers in EBC alone; ROC2: model on the basis of FeNO, reversibility to a bronchodilator as increase in FEV1% of predicted value, PC₂₀, daily dosage of ICS; ROC3: model all variables of model 1 and 2.</p

Overview of study parameters.

<p>ACQ = Asthma Control Questionnaire, GINA = Global Initiative for Asthma, FeNO = Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide, EBC = exhaled breath condensate, PC₂₀ = histamine bronchial hyperresponsiveness test.</p><p>* Symptom score based on GINA criteria was collected during 2 weeks preceding the clinical visit. This score was combined with FEV₁, to assess asthma control as defined by GINA.</p><p>^† Home monitoring consisted of daily symptom score plus FEV₁ measurements.</p><p>Overview of study parameters.</p

KNN- prediction of asthma exacerbation based on acidity of EBC, inflammatory markers in EBC, FeNO, and asthma clinical characteristics.^*

<p>* KNN algorithm is performed as statistical technique.</p><p>KNN- prediction of asthma exacerbation based on acidity of EBC, inflammatory markers in EBC, FeNO, and asthma clinical characteristics.^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0119434#t005fn001" target="_blank">*</a>}</p

Patient characteristics at baseline.

<p>Site A = Maastricht, Site B = Sittard, FEV₁ = forced expiratory volume in one second, SD = Standard Deviation, ICS = Inhaled Corticosteroids, ACQ = Asthma Control Questionnaire, IQR = Inter Quartile Range, PAQLQ = Pediatric Asthma Control Quality of Life Questionnaire, FeNO = Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide.</p><p>* Six children did not use ICS at baseline.</p><p>^† PC₂₀: concentration of histamine inducing a 20% drop in FEV₁.</p><p>^‡ Atopy is defined as a positive Phadiatop (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden), or RAST, or a positive allergen skin test.</p><p>Patient characteristics at baseline.</p

Concentrations of inflammatory markers in EBC and FeNO.

<p>IL = interleukin, TNF = tumor necrosis factor, FeNO = Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide.</p><p>Concentrations of inflammatory markers in EBC and FeNO.</p

Consort flow diagram of the study.

<p>Consort flow diagram of the study.</p

Performance of acidity of EBC, inflammatory markers in EBC, FeNO, and asthma clinical characteristics in prediction of asthma exacerbation.

<p>IL = interleukin, TNF = tumor necrosis factor, FeNO = Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide, PC₂₀ = histamine bronchial hyperresponsiveness test, FEV₁ = forced expiratory volume in one second, ICS = Inhaled Corticosteroids, ACQ = Asthma Control Questionnaire.</p><p>Performance of acidity of EBC, inflammatory markers in EBC, FeNO, and asthma clinical characteristics in prediction of asthma exacerbation.</p