Acute Interstitial Pneumonia Developed in a 3-Year-Old Boy

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) is one of the interstitial lung diseases characterized by rapid development of progressive dyspnea with cough and histopathologically diffuse alveolar damage by unknown cause. Because the overall onset is around 55 years of age, very few pediatric cases have been reported since 1986 when the first AIP was introduced. It has so poor prognosis that mortality rate is over 70% although intensive care is supplied. We experienced a 3-year-old boy whose clinical progress and radiologic findings were typical with acute interstitial pneumonia which was confirmed by necropsy, showing diffuse alveolar damage with proliferation of fibroblasts and inflammatory cell infiltrates. We herein present a case with a with a brief review of literature.ope

Major scuba diving factors and the correlation between underwater fitness and physical fitness

학위논문(석사) --서울대학교 대학원 :체육교육과,2009.8.Maste

Impulse oscillometry and spirometry exhibit different features of lung function in bronchodilation

Objective: Bronchodilator responses (BDRs) from impulse oscillometry (IOS) are not interchangeable with those from spirometry. We aimed to identify the characteristics of children with small airway hyperresponsiveness and to determine whether BDR from IOS provides an important supplement to BDR from spirometry. Methods: The records of 592 children with asthma or suspected asthma who underwent spirometric and oscillometric BDRs were retrospectively reviewed. Oscillometric BDR was defined as positive when relative or absolute changes of Rrs5 or Xrs5 were beyond two standard deviations and spirometric BDR as positive when absolute change of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was ≥12%. Subjects were classified as positive for spirometric BDR only, positive for oscillometric BDR only, positive for both BDRs, or negative for both BDRs. Results: The results indicated that 101 (17.6%) subjects were positive for spirometric BDR only, 49 (8.5%) positive for oscillometric BDR only, 48 (8.3%) positive for both BDRs, and 377 (65.6%) negative for both BDRs. The agreement between spirometric and oscillometric BDRs was poor. Baseline FEV1, Rrs5, and Xrs5 values strongly influenced the BDRs. Subjects positive for oscillometric BDR only were found to be younger than those positive for spirometric BDR only (P < 0.001). Subjects positive for both BDRs were more likely to have asthma, atopic dermatitis, wheezing apart from cold, or decreased baseline lung function relative to those positive in either test (P < 0.001). Conclusions: There was a low concordance between spirometric and oscillometric BDRs. Use of IOS to detect small airway hyperresponsiveness may add more information about a clinical profile of subjects with asthma.restrictio

Patterns of psychosocial adaptation and allergic disorders in korean schoolchildren

BACKGROUND: To date, there is little evidence to support an association between symptoms of pediatric allergic disorders and psychosocial factors in the general population, particularly in Asian countries. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors and symptoms of allergic disorders and to investigate the association between behavior problems and biomarkers of atopy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of parental responses to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was conducted from one elementary school in Seoul, Korea. Skin prick tests for 18 major allergens were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 780 children with valid CBCL surveys were included in the study. Externalizing problems were significantly larger in children with asthmatic symptoms, while internalizing problems were significantly larger in children with symptoms of both asthma and allergic rhinitis. Social adaptations were significantly lower in children with symptoms of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Boys with more positive allergens via the skin prick tests showed larger internalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS: While school children with allergic symptoms have been reported to have more difficulties with psychosocial adaptation, the patterns of psychosocial problems varied somewhat according to the types of atopic disorder. There was a positive relationship between atopy and behavior problems, especially in boys.ope

RANTES gene promoter polymorphisms are associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness in Korean children with asthma

Regulated upon activation in normal T cells, expressed, and secreted (RANTES) protein is abundantly expressed during atopic asthma, suggesting that it is an important mediator of this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of RANTES promoter polymorphisms in children with asthma. We genotyped 271 children with atopic asthma, 55 children with nonatopic asthma, and 253 control children for allelic determinants at two polymorphic sites in the promoter region at positions -403G>A and -28C>G by restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of the RANTES -403G>A and -28C>G polymorphisms when the atopic asthma, nonatopic asthma, and control groups were compared. However, atopic asthmatic patients who were homozygous GG for the RANTES -28C>G tended to have lower PC20 methacholine than those carrying the wild genotype. In addition, a significantly lower PC20 was demonstrated for the homozygous haplotype -403A/-28G in asthmatic children. The polymorphisms within the RANTES promoter may have a disease-modifying effect in Korean children with asthma.ope

Parent-reported ISAAC written questionnaire may underestimate the prevalence of asthma in children aged 10-12 years

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the validity of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written (WQ) and audiovisual questionnaires (AVQ 3.0) in two age-groups (10-12 and 13-15 years, respectively). METHODS: The 13-15 year olds performed the self-completed the WQ and AVQ on the same day. The 10-12 year olds performed the self-completed the AVQ and the parent-completed WQ was completed by their parents. The methacholine challenge test was conducted in 10-12 year olds from one elementary school. RESULTS: In 10-12 year olds, the AVQ detected a generally higher prevalence of asthma symptoms than WQ. In 13-15 year olds, this was reversed. In 10-12 year olds, poor agreement was found between the parent-completed WQ and the self-reported AVQ. In 13-15 year olds, moderate agreement was found between the self-reported WQ and AVQ. Low sensitivity was found, in predicting bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) for all questions of both WQ and AVQ in 10-12 year olds. However, the AVQ had slightly higher sensitivity than WQ, with the exception of wheeze ever, although it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The ISAAC AVQ may be another effective instrument for assessing the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children aged 10-12 years, whereas the parent-reported-WQ may underestimate the prevalence of asthma symptoms in this age-group.ope

A Case of Chronic Pneumonitis of Infancy in a 3-Year-Old Boy

Interstitial lung disease, mostly chronic lung disorder, is usually characterized by diffuse infiltrates and disordered gas exchange, is a very rare disease in children. Chronic pneumonitis of infancy (CPI) is a recently described entity representing a distinct form of interstitial lung disease affecting infants and young children. The histologic findings suggest marked alveolar septal thickening, striking alveolar pneumocyte hyperplasia, and alveolar exudates containing numerous macrophages and foci of eosinophilic debris. A 3-year-old boy visited a local clinic with cough and tachypnea for a duration of 3 weeks. His clinical symptoms were aggravated and he was referred to our hospital. He was diagnosed with chronic pneumonitis of infancy after undergoing open lung biopsy. We herein present the case with review of literature.ope

소아 천식과 호산구성 기관지염에서 혈관 내피세포 성장인자(VEGF)의 의의

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma. We aimed to explore whether VEGF is expressed at elevated levels in asthmatic airways or eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) and associated with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in children. Methods: One hundred seventeen asthmatic children, 77 children with EB, and 84 healthy children were enrolled. Sputum supernatants were collected and VEGF and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured. Results: Asthmatic children had significantly higher levels of VEGF in induced sputum [89.04 (29.95-178.09) pg/mL] compared to children with EB [25.30 (11.02-80.23) pg/mL] and healthy children [37.37 (16.56-71.30) pg/mL; P=0.0003]. VEGF in sputum positively correlated with sputum ECP (r=0.524; P<0.0001). Negative significant correlations were found between sputum VEGF and FEV1, (r=-0.252; P=0.001) or post-bronchodilator FEV1 (r=-0.181; P=0.038) whereas nonsignificant correlations were found between sputum VEGF and sputum eosinophils. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that VEGF is associated with activated eosinophils in the asthmatic airway, but not EB. Sputum VEGF could be a supportive marker that represents activation of airway eosinophils and persistent airflow limitation in asthmatic children.ope

Relationship between amphiregulin and airway inflammation in children with asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis

BACKGROUND: Amphiregulin, a member of the epidermal growth factor family, has been shown to promote the growth of fibroblasts, to be associated with the T-helper type 2 cell adaptive immune response, and to up-regulate mucin gene expression. We aimed to determine whether sputum amphiregulin is expressed at elevated levels in patients with asthma or eosinophilic bronchitis (EB), and whether it is associated with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children. METHODS: A total of 117 children with asthma, 77 with EB, and 84 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Amphiregulin and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in sputum supernatants. We performed pulmonary function and methacholine challenge tests while measuring total eosinophil count, and serum levels of total IgE and ECP in all children. RESULTS: The children with asthma had significantly higher levels of sputum amphiregulin (mean, 10.80 pg/mL; range, 4.07 to 38.75 pg/mL) than both the children with EB (mean, 5.76 pg/mL; range, 0.61 to 21.65 pg/mL; p = 0.013) and the control subjects (mean, 6.56 pg/mL; range, 0.51 to 17.98 pg/mL; p = 0.003). Sputum amphiregulin levels positively correlated with levels of sputum eosinophils (gamma = 0.221; p = 0.007) and sputum ECP (gamma = 0.601; p < 0.0001). Negative significant correlations were found between sputum amphiregulin and FEV(1) (gamma = -0.181; p = 0.006) or post-bronchodilator therapy FEV(1) (gamma = -0.233; p = 0.002). In children with asthma who were not receiving any controller medications, sputum amphiregulin level was negatively correlated with the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV(1) (r = -0.398; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that childhood asthma is associated with sputum amphiregulin, whereas EB is not, and that sputum amphiregulin would be a supportive marker of airway inflammation in asthma.ope

Increased serum B cell-activating factor level in children with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a tumour necrosis factor superfamily member best known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. BAFF activity is seen in naïve and effector/memory T cells. AIM: To investigate the level and role of BAFF in serum of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: Levels of serum BAFF, a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and total serum IgE level, and total eosinophil count were measured in 245 children. RESULTS: Patients were characterized as having atopic eczema (AE) (n = 90) or non-AE (n = 77); the remainder were healthy control subjects (n = 78). Serum BAFF level in children with AE (1625.04 +/- 708.32 pg/mL) was significantly higher than in non-AE children (1194.69 +/- 448.44 pg/mL, P < 0.0001) or healthy controls (1062.89 +/- 444.74 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). Serum APRIL level was not different between the three groups. Serum BAFF level significantly correlated with total serum IgE level (gamma = 0.42, P < 0.0001) and total eosinophil count. It was also positively correlated with serum BAFF and egg-specific IgE level (gamma = 0.252, P = 0.045) in AE. CONCLUSIONS: Serum BAFF level is high in AE and might be a useful marker for AE.ope