The increasing availability of appliances for measuring lung function in infants may allow clinical and epidemiological applications. The aim of the present study was to establish reference values for tidal breathing lung function in awake newborn infants and to investigate potential sources of variability. Tidal flow-volume loops were measured in 803 awake, healthy infants (427 males and 376 females) and passive respiratory mechanics (single-breath occlusion technique) in 664. Mean postnatal age was 2.7 +/- 0.9 (sd) days, gestational age 39.8 +/- 1.4 weeks and birthweight 3.59 +/- 0.49 kg. Tidal expiratory volume (Vt), peak tidal expiratory flow (PEF), and mid-expiratory flow increased significantly with increasing birthweight. Flow ratios: ratio of time to PEF to total expiratory time (Tpef/Te), ratio of volume to PEF to total expiratory volume (Vpef/Ve); and ratio of tidal flow at 25% remaining expiration to PEF (TEF25/PEF), were highest in 1 day old infants (medians 0.39, 0.46 and 0.81 respectively), decreasing to a minimum in 4-5 day old infants, but were not influenced by birthweight. Tidal flows and flow ratios were higher in males versus females, even after weight adjustment. Respiratory rates correlated significantly with tidal flows (r = 0.66), inversely with Vt (r = 0.40), but not with flow ratios. Mean compliance of the respiratory system was 1.18 ml.cmH2O-1.kg birthweight (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.15-1.21) and mean resistance 0.051 cmH2O.ml-1.s (95% CI 0.049-0.054). These results demonstrate that lung function in awake healthy infants varies according to weight, gender and postnatal age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Background: In allergic rhinitis, a relevant outcome providing information on the effectiveness of interventions is needed. In MASK-air (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for work is used as a relevant outcome. This study aimed to assess the performance of the work VAS work by comparing VAS work with other VAS measurements and symptom-medication scores obtained concurrently. Methods: All consecutive MASK-air users in 23 countries from 1 June 2016 to 31 October 2018 were included (14 189 users; 205 904 days). Geolocalized users selfassessed daily symptom control using the touchscreen functionality on their smart phone to click on VAS scores (ranging from 0 to 100) for overall symptoms (global), nose, eyes, asthma and work. Two symptom-medication scores were used: the modified EAACI CSMS score and the MASK control score for rhinitis. To assess data quality, the intra-individual response variability (IRV) index was calculated. Results: A strong correlation was observed between VAS work and other VAS. The highest levels for correlation with VAS work and variance explained in VAS work were found with VAS global, followed by VAS nose, eye and asthma. In comparison with VAS global, the mCSMS and MASK control score showed a lower correlation with VAS work. Results are unlikely to be explained by a low quality of data arising from repeated VAS measures. Conclusions: VAS work correlates with other outcomes (VAS global, nose, eye and asthma) but less well with a symptom-medication score. VAS work should be considered as a potentially useful AR outcome in intervention studies.

Asthmatic children on moderate or high doses of inhaled corticosteroids had reduced salivary cortisol, but co-morbidity of asthma and rhinitis was also associated with reduced cortisol levels.

E Eo os si in no op ph hi il l c ca at ti io on ni ic c p pr ro ot te ei in n a an nd d t ti id da al l f fl lo ow w v vo ol lu um me e l lo oo op ps s i in n c ch hi il ld dr re en n 0 0--2 2 y ye ea ar rs s o of f a ag ge e TFV loops were measured in 79 awake children (mean age 14 months). Minimum two wheezy episodes (mean 3.2) or minimum 4 weeks persistent wheeze were reported in 41 children (cases), whereas the 38 controls had no history of wheeze. Airways responsiveness (change in ratio of time until peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time (tPEF/tE) after inhaled nebulized salbutamol) was measured in 26 cases and 24 controls. Serum ECP and serum myeloperoxidase (s-MPO) were measured in all children.Cases had significantly lower mean tPEF/tE (0.21) than controls (0.33), and higher mean s-ECP (21.9 µg·L -1 ) than controls (14.0 µg·L -1 ). Serum ECP (but not s-MPO) correlated significantly with the percentage change in tPEF/tE from baseline (r=0.7), but not with initial tPEF/tE. Serum ECP increased significantly with increasing immunoglobulin E (IgE), airways responsiveness and eosinophil count, but decreased with increasing age.TFV responsiveness to salbutamol and s-ECP levels correlate strongly, both probably reflecting airways inflammation, and may possibly be valuable prognostic tools in recurrent wheezy infants and toddlers.