Lung function measurements in children - copsac
Lung function measurements in children - copsac
Lung function measurements in children - copsac
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<strong>Lung</strong> <strong>function</strong> test<br />
Children of 7 years and above used a spirometer to measure Forced Expiratory Volume <strong>in</strong> the<br />
first second (FEV 1 ) (Vitalograph Spirotrac) accord<strong>in</strong>g to the criteria of the American Thoracic<br />
Society (19).<br />
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Children less than 7 years were tested us<strong>in</strong>g the whole body plethysmography to measure<br />
specific airway resistance (sRaw) as previously detailed (20, 21). We used the MasterScreen<br />
Body Unit Software JLAB (E. JAEGER GmbH, Wuerzburg, Germany).<br />
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Bronchial responsiveness<br />
Children of 7 years and above were tested for responsiveness to methachol<strong>in</strong>e chloride with<br />
FEV 1 <strong>measurements</strong> before and 3 m<strong>in</strong>utes after each dose. Methachol<strong>in</strong>e was delivered <strong>in</strong><br />
successively <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g doses accord<strong>in</strong>g to a protocol previously validated for school <strong>children</strong><br />
(22) by an automatic, <strong>in</strong>halation synchronized, dosimetric jet-nebulizer (Spira Elektro 2;<br />
Respiratory Care Center, Hämeenl<strong>in</strong>na, F<strong>in</strong>land). PD20 value (mol) was calculated by l<strong>in</strong>ear<br />
<strong>in</strong>terpolation between the dose po<strong>in</strong>ts bracket<strong>in</strong>g the 20% fall <strong>in</strong> FEV 1 (23).<br />
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Children less than 7 years were tested with dry-air hyperventilation as previously described<br />
and validated <strong>in</strong> this age-group (24, 25).<br />
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Fractional exhaled nitric oxide<br />
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (F E NO) was measured by the onl<strong>in</strong>e s<strong>in</strong>gle breath method<br />
accord<strong>in</strong>g to European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society task force (26) us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the NIOX equipment (Nitric Oxide Monitor<strong>in</strong>g System; Aerocr<strong>in</strong>e, Sweden).<br />
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