Levels In Asthmatic Children Research Articles

Asthma control associated with anxiety and depression in asthmatic children following post-acute COVID-19.

Poor asthma control may adversely affect mental health. Our study investigates the correlation between inadequate asthma control, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels, and anxiety and depression among pediatric asthma patients with COVID-19. This prospective case-control study enrolled 520 asthmatic children (8-15 years), including 336 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 after rapid antigen testing at home and 184 age-matched asthmatic patients without COVID-19 infection. FENO and spirometry were performed 1 month after COVID-19 infection. Scores for Child Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED) and depression screen derived from Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess their mental health status. Childhood asthma control test (C-ACT), FENO levels, and spirometry were correlated with the SCARED and PHQ-9 questionnaires. SCARED subscales, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, school avoidance, and depression scores from PHQ-9, exhibited a significant increase in asthmatic patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (p < .05). Among asthmatic children with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the poor asthma control group exhibited the highest SCARED and PHQ-9 measurements (p < .01). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that reduced C-ACT scores and elevated FENO levels in asthmatic children with COVID-19 were significant risk factors for both anxiety and depression scores (p < .05). Lower C-ACT scales were associated with high scores of SCARED (r = -0.471) and PHQ-9 (r = -0.329) in asthmatic children (p < .001). The current study emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to closely monitor asthma control in asthmatic children to prevent heightened risks of depression and anxiety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Childhood asthma biomarkers including zinc: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Childhood bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. Nutritional conditions, including zinc deficiency, can affect such allergic disorders. To outline the difference in serum zinc levels between asthmatic children and healthy controls. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Children's Hospital, Cairo University, investigating serum zinc levels in children with BA (n = 40) and healthy children (n = 21). Other markers included serum ferritin, iron, hemoglobin (Hb), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Independent t-tests and Mann-Whinny tests were used for comparisons. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare serum ferritin and IgE levels with regard to asthma severity. Spearman's rank correlation was performed to explore the relationship between serum ferritin levels and both iron and Hb levels in asthmatic children. Children with BA had higher levels of zinc, yet the difference was not significant (P = 0.115). Serum ferritin and IgE levels were significantly higher in asthmatic children (P = 0.006 and 0.001, respectively), yet their levels did not differ significantly by severity (P = 0.623 and 0.126, respectively). There was a nonsignificant weak correlation between serum ferritin levels and both serum iron and Hb levels. Serum zinc levels do not seem to differ between asthmatic children and healthy children. Serum ferritin levels may be a marker of asthma control. Serum IgE levels are not markers of asthma severity.

The age and residence impact on IgE serum level in patients with allergic asthma

Abstract Background: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) has a role in mediating allergic reactions and their powerful effector functions, but numerous factors influence its value. Objective: To find any difference in total and specific IgE serum levels at the different age groups and residences. Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven asthmatic children, including 57 males and 30 females with asthma aged between 1 and 16 years old, 32.2% living in rural and 67.8% living in urban, were collected at Kerbala Teaching Hospital for Children. All asthmatic children in this study were subjected to measuring total IgE level using AccuBind IgE ELISA kit, Human Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG using Cpn IgG ELISA kit, and Human C. pneumoniae IgE using Cpn IgE ELISA kit. Results: There was a significant positive linear correlation between age and total IgE level and a significant negative correlation between age and C. pneumoniae IgE in asthmatic children (0.255, P = 0.017, -0.233, P = 0.03, respectively). Further, there was a significant positive linear correlation between total IgE and C. pneumoniae IgE under age controlling (0.225, P = 0.019). In urban residents, the asthmatic children more than eleven years old had a low C. pneumonia IgE serum level (5.845 ± 1.821 ng/L) compared with asthmatic children who lived in rural areas (8.206 ± 2.793 ng/L). Depending on age groups, there was a significant difference (P = 0.047) in C. pneumonia IgE serum levels in asthmatic children who lived in urban areas. Conclusion: C. pneumonia-specific IgE decreased in early adulthood urban asthmatic children.

Expression of circulating angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in children with asthma and the effects of inhaled corticosteroids.

The global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a significant disease burden, yet asthma patients do not have the expected high morbidity and mortality rates in the pandemics of COVID-19. To find the difference of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in asthma and nonasthma children and evaluate the effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on its expression. The ACE2, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and eosinophils were tested in different children. A total of 157 children aged 3-16 years were enrolled. The expression of ACE2 in asthma children were lower than nonasthma children (T = -2.512, p = .013). Allergic nonasthma children had a significant higher ACE2 expression than children with allergic asthma (p = .013) and nonallergic asthma (p = .029). The expression of ACE2 had no significant difference between first-diagnosed asthma children and that had been treated with ICS for ≥6 months (F = 0.028, p = .598). The allergic asthma children showed a significantly higher eosinophils cells (EC) count than the allergic nonasthma (W = 200, p < .001) and nonallergic nonasthma children (W = 1089, p < .001). Nonallergic asthma children also had a significant higher EC count than the allergic non-asthma (W = 182.5, p < .001) and nonallergic non-asthma (W = 200.5, p < .001) children. There was no significant difference in IgE levels between asthmatic children and non-asthmatic children (W = 2792.5, p = .18). Circulating ACE2 levels in asthmatic children were lower than those in non-asthmatic children and ICS treatment for ≥6 months did not affect the expression of ACE2 in peripheral blood in the asthma children.

Evaluation of Total Serum Immunoglobulin E level in Asthmatic Children and its Relation to Disease Severity

Background Asthma is a multifaceted disease marked by recurrent airway inflammation. The aim of the study is to evaluate the significance of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) in asthmatic children and find the relation of its level to the disease severity Patients and methods Forty-five children with acute bronchial asthma aged between 5 and 16 years, and 15 control children with comparable age and sex distribution were included in the study. All children will be subjected to complete blood picture, Total IgE, and spirometry test Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC. Results Among the 45 patients, 57.8% were male, with a median age of 10 years. There were statistically significant differences between the asthmatic groups and the control group as regards sex, weight, total IgE level, FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio. There was a significant positive correlation between IgE level and age, weight and height (r=0.465, P&lt; 0.001, r=0.349, P=0.019, r=0.314, P=0.036, respectively) Conclusion Total IgE level was shown to have a role in the diagnosis of asthma and can be used as a predictor of asthma severity in children

Long-term effects of vitamin D on exacerbation rate, health care utilization and lung function in children with asthma.

Asthma exacerbations lead to unplanned health care utilization and reduced lung function in children. Sufficient vitamin D level has been found to have a short-term protective effect against asthma exacerbation in children. However, it is unclear whether this effect remains in the long term. We evaluated the long-term effects of vitamin D levels on the occurrence of asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits or hospitalizations, and lung function among children with asthma, and further investigated the temporal trends of the effects. In this retrospective cohort study, children with asthma who were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2017 to 2021 were enrolled. Negative binomial, Poisson, or logistic regression model was used for the multivariable analysis, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index z-score, and severity of asthma exacerbation. Of the 370 children with asthma, 87.8% had vitamin D level less than or equal to 30 ng/mL. After adjustment for confounding factors, higher baseline vitamin D levels in asthma children were significantly associated with reduced occurrence of asthma exacerbations during the first [odds ratio 0.842, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.805-0.881; P<0.001], second (odds ratio 0.848, 95% CI: 0.793-0.907; P<0.001) and third years (odds ratio 0.865, 95% CI: 0.811-0.922; P<0.001) of follow-up. Higher vitamin D levels in asthmatic children were also strongly associated with a reduced number of emergency department visits or hospitalizations during the first (odds ratio 0.880, 95% CI: 0.842-0.920; P<0.001), second (odds ratio 0.885, 95% CI: 0.832-0.941; P<0.001), and third years (odds ratio 0.922, 95% CI: 0.851-0.998; P=0.044) of follow-up. In addition, the vitamin D levels in asthmatic children were found to be negatively associated with the odds of large airway dysfunction (odds ratio 0.865, 95% CI: 0.771-0.970; P=0.013) and small airway dysfunction (odds ratio 0.922, 95% CI: 0.855-0.996; P=0.038) during the first year of follow-up. Sufficient vitamin D level is associated with lower risk of asthma exacerbations and health care utilization over a 3-year period, and improved lung function over 1 year. The protective effects of vitamin D on asthmatic children decreased over time.

TSLP bronchoalveolar lavage levels at baseline are linked to clinical disease severity and reduced lung function in children with asthma.

RationaleThymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is increasingly recognized as a key molecule in asthma pathogenesis and as a promising therapeutic target in adults. In contrast, in asthmatic children the clinical relevance of TSLP secretion in the lower airways has been remarkably understudied. We tested the hypothesis that pulmonary TSLP levels in asthmatic children correlate with clinical severity, airway inflammation and lower airway obstruction.MethodsBronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples and relevant clinical data were collected from asthmatic children undergoing clinically indicated bronchoscopy at Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C. Protein levels of TSLP, IL-5, IL-1β, and IL-33 were quantified in BAL at baseline and correlated with individual severity and clinical features including spirometry, serum IgE and eosinophils, BAL neutrophil and eosinophil counts.ResultsWe enrolled a total of 35 asthmatic children (median age: 9 years). Pediatric subjects with severe asthma had greater TSLP BAL levels at baseline relative to mild or moderate asthmatic subjects (p = 0.016). Asthmatic children with the highest TSLP levels (>75th percentile) had higher IL-5 and IL-1β BAL levels and greater lower airway obstruction (lower FEV1/FVC ratios).ConclusionOur study demonstrates for the first time that higher pulmonary TSLP levels obtained at baseline are linked to asthma disease severity in a subset of children. These data indicate that TSLP may play a key role in the pathogenesis of pediatric asthma and thus provide initial support to investigate the potential use of anti-TSLP biologics to treat severe uncontrolled asthmatic children.

Correlation between Parental Knowledge Regarding Components of Written Asthma Action Plans and Asthma Control Levels in Asthmatic Children in Southern Taiwan

Background: Under the hypothesis that poor asthma control in Taiwan is associated with the underuse of written asthma action plans (WAAPs), we investigate the relationship between parental knowledge of key components of WAAP and asthma control levels. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective study from July 2019 to July 2021. “Written Asthma Action Plan” questionnaires were completed by the parents of asthmatic children, and the responses were correlated to the asthma symptom control level according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Results: A total of 67 asthmatic children were enrolled (males 71.6%, mean age 6.3 ± 3.3 years). The asthma control level was significantly related to WAAP questionnaire score. The key components of “know the daily medication and how to use them” and “know the triggers and how to deal with them” both showed significantly higher understanding rates in the partly controlled children compared to the uncontrolled children (P &lt; 0.005). The rates of having WAAPs were both below 10% in these two groups. Conclusion: The asthma control level was significantly and positively related to the understanding of key WAAP components. The development of an easy-to-use WAAP and its use as a standard tool for asthmatic children is expected to greatly improve asthma control in Taiwan.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in childhood asthma development and environment-mediated protection.

While childhood asthma prevalence is rising in Westernized countries, farm children are protected. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway with its negative regulator dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1) is presumably associated with asthma development. We aimed to investigate the role of MAPK signaling in childhood asthma and its environment-mediated protection, including a representative selection of 232 out of 1062 children from two cross-sectional cohorts and one birth cohort study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from asthmatic and healthy children were cultured upon stimulation with farm-dust extracts or lipopolysaccharide. In subgroups, gene expression was analyzed by qPCR (PBMCs, cord blood) and NanoString technology (dendritic cells). Protein expression of phosphorylated MAPKs was measured by mass cytometry. Histone acetylation was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Asthmatic children expressed significantly less DUSP1 (p=.006) with reduced acetylation at histone H4 (p=.012) compared with healthy controls. Farm-dust stimulation upregulated DUSP1 expression reaching healthy levels and downregulated inflammatory MAPKs on gene and protein levels (PBMCs; p≤.01). Single-cell protein analysis revealed downregulated pMAPKs upon farm-dust stimulation in B cells, NK cells, monocytes, and T-cell subpopulations. Lower DUSP1 baseline levels in asthmatic children and anti-inflammatory regulation of MAPK in several immune cell types by farm-dust stimulation indicate a regulatory function for DUSP1 for future therapy contributing to anti-inflammatory characteristics of farming environments.

Serum zinc level and children`s asthma: A systematic and meta-analysis review article.

Background:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disorder. Nutritional conditions affect allergic diseases such as asthma. The aim of this study was to review the serum zinc level in children with asthma.Methods:This is a review article found in databases such as Google, PubMed, SID, Irandoc, Scopus and up-to-date. Key words for search included zinc, asthma, children and pediatric. There was no time limitation for the search. These articles on zinc levels in asthmatic children were meta-analyzed.Results:Out of the 40 articles, 19 articles were excluded and 21 articles were included in this analysis. 15 articles evaluated serum zinc levels, 4 articles on hair zinc levels, one article evaluated nail zinc levels and another on zinc level in erythrocyte cells in children with asthma. Only 3 articles evaluated effects of zinc supplement treatment in children with asthma. Meta-analysis of studies showed that there was no significant difference between the standard mean differences of zinc level in asthmatic patients compared to the control group. We cannot analyze the association between zinc levels in hair and nail in children with asthma. All clinical trial studies show that zinc supplement improves clinical manifestations of asthma and patient’s pulmonary function test.Conclusion:We found that the mean serum zinc level difference is not significant in children with asthma than healthy control group and it seems that there is no relation between mean serum zinc level and severity of asthma in children.

Correlation of vitamin D and asymmetric dimethylarginine in children with bronchial asthma

ABSTRACT Bronchial Asthma is outlined as a chronic irritation of the airways in children. Vitamin D is a real immune system regulator which has a potential part in allergy. Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine (ADMA) is an endogenic Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) inhibitor. This study is to determine if there is a role of vitamin D deficiency, ADMA in the pathogenesis of asthma in children, And whether the decreased arginine bioavailability and NOS suppression by ADMA contribute to respiratory tract blockage or not. We measured serum vitamin D, ADMA, nitric oxide and plasma L-arginine in 30 asthmatic and 10 healthy children. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, plasma L-Arginine and serum Nitric Oxide were decreased significantly in asthmatic patients compared to healthy children. On the other hand, ADMA serum levels were increased significantly in asthmatic patients. In asthmatic children, there were positive correlations between serum vitamin D concentration and forced expiratory volume in the first, second FEV1 (%predicted). Furthermore, there were negative correlations between serum ADMA concentration and FEV1 (%predicted). In conclusion, marked reduction of vitamin D and elevated ADMA serum levels in asthmatic children has contributed to NOS-related pathophysiology, therefore ADMA and vitamin D could be considered reliable in managing oxidative stress in asthma.

Serum magnesium level in asthmatic children as an indicator of asthma severity

Background Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness. Magnesium (Mg++) has been shown to relax bronchial smooth muscle and influence the function of respiratory muscles. Hypomagnesemia has been associated with diminished respiratory muscle power. Objective This study aims to assess serum Mg level in children with asthma and its correlation with the severity of asthma. Patients and methods It was a case–control study carried out at Alzahraa University Hospital on two groups of children: group 1 consisted of 60 patients with bronchial asthma, comprising 41 males and 24 females, with age ranged from 6 to 15 years, with a mean 10.8±1.6 years, and the second group (control group) consisted of 30 apparently healthy children, with age and sex matched to the diseased patients. Pulmonary function test was done for the studied children, and serum levels of Mg were measured. Results The data hence collected were systematically tabulated and analyzed with SPSS software. The descriptive statistics for the case and control group showed there was a statistically significant decrease in mean serum Mg in asthmatic patients in comparison with controls (P&lt;0.05). Moreover, there was a highly significant lower level of Mg in patients with severe persistent asthma compared with those with mild intermittent asthma and mild, moderate, and persistent asthma (P&lt;0.001), and also, there were significant (P&lt;0.001) positive correlations between serum Mg level and each of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)% (r=0.712) and FEV1/forced vital capacity% (0.680) (i.e. in most cases, serum Mg level tended to decrease with the decrease in FEV1% and FEV1/forced vital capacity% ratio). Conclusion Children with bronchial asthma have a great risk of Mg deficiency, and serum Mg level has a significant relation to the severity of asthma and pulmonary function test.

An evaluation of depression levels in asthmatic children and their mothers during the course of the disease

An evaluation of depression levels in asthmatic children and their mothers during the course of the disease

Effects of sublingual-specific immunotherapy on pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide levels in asthmatic children with and without allergic rhinitis.

BackgroundAllergic asthma and allergic rhinitis are common chronic respiratory diseases in children. The prevalence rate of disease is increasing year by year. And avoid allergens, drug treatments and special immunotherapy (SIT) is the fundamental treatment for respiratory allergies diseases. But there are few comprehensive studies on the control level of asthma, improvement of lung function, and changes of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) after SLIT treatment in children with allergic asthma and rhinitis.MethodsIn all, 71 child asthma patients who received sublingual-specific immune therapy for 1 year or more were divided into an asthmatic rhinitis group (31 cases) and an asthma-alone group (40 cases). The two groups of patients were compared before and after treatment in terms of rhinitis symptom scores, daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores, visual analog scale (VAS) score, drug score, pulmonary function, and exhaled nitric oxide level (FeNO).ResultsAfter treatment, daytime symptom scores, VAS scores, drug scores, and FeNO levels of the asthma-alone group were all lower than before treatment, and the lung function was significantly improved (P<0.05), while the difference in night symptom scores before and after treatment was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The lung function and FeNO level of children in the asthmatic rhinitis group were lower after treatment than before treatment, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The scores of rhinitis and VAS in the asthmatic rhinitis group were higher than those in the asthma-alone group, and the differences were statistically significant. There was no significant difference in other scores between the two groups. There was no significant difference in lung function and FeNO level between the two groups.ConclusionsSLIT for children with or without allergic asthma or with or without rhinitis has a significant effect, but its effect on children with asthma combined with rhinitis is not superior to that of children with asthma alone.

Effects of montelukast versus inhaled beclomethasone on asthma control and immunoglobulin-E levels in asthmatic children

Background: Beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler is a corticosteroid medication used as the controller of persistent asthma. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist used as the second-line in controlling the symptoms of the asthmatic child. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the comparison between the effects of beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler and montelukast on the total serum level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) in asthmatic children. Patients and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was done in Kerbala Teaching Hospital of pediatric from August 2014 to the end of October 2015, 97 patients were collected from asthma outpatient clinic aged 4 to 11 years with mild persistent asthma and randomly divided into beclomethasone group (51 patients) and montelukast group (46 patients), the total serum IgE was done before the initiation of treatment, and another reading was done after 3 months. The score of symptoms control was evaluated by C-ACT after 1 month of treatment, and another evaluation was done 2 months later. Results: There was a significant reduction in total serum IgE level (21% for montelukast group and 27% for beclomethasone group) after 3 months of treatment compared to baseline IgE, and there was significant improvement in childhood C-ACT scores (16% for montelukast group and 24% for beclomethasone group) after 3 months of treatment compared to the 1st month of treatment. There was a significant improvement in the beclomethasone group compared to the montelukast group after 3 months of treatment. Conclusions: Both beclomethasone and montelukast are effective controllers for asthma symptoms and reducing the total serum IgE level. Beclomethasone is better than montelukast in improving C-ACT scores.

Severity of Asthma and Serum Vitamin D Levels in Asthmatic Children

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been rediscovered as a public health problem worldwide. It has been postulated that vitamin D deficiency explains a portion of the asthma epidemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the serum vitamin D levels in children with asthma as compared with the non-asthmatic population and to investigate the association of serum vitamin D levels with the severity of asthma.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) levels in 50 children with mild intermittent to moderate persistent asthma at the time of enrollment and 50 age- and sex-matched non-asthmatic children in a case-control study. The independent sample t-test, c2 test, and spearman correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data.&#x0D; Results: Vitamin D level was 13.6 ± 1.1 ng/ml and 19.2 ± 1.8 ng/ml in asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals, respectively. The mean (±SD) levels of serum vitamin D were statistically significant between asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals. Females had lower levels of vitamin D than males. Asthma severity was inversely associated with serum vitamin D level.&#x0D; Conclusion: Findings of the present study demonstrate the significance of vitamin D in asthma. Sufficient doses of vitamin D should be administered to pregnant mothers and the babies monitored for symptoms of wheezing or asthma during childhood. Clinical trials are needed to definitively answer questions about the role of vitamin D in asthma.

Correlation between Serum vitamin D and Asthma Control in Asthmatic Children

Asthma is a chronic ,inflammatory ,respiratory tract disease accompanied by hypersensitivity of airways, recurring wheezing episodes, respiratory distress and coughing. The aim of this study was to estimate vitamin D level and specific IgE level in asthmatic children who were on controller medication and correlated their serum level with asthma control . Our results clarified that The serum vitamin[D] levels were closely related to asthma attacks. As,There were statistically significant positive correlations between serum vitamin D level and asthma control in asthmatic children. There were no significant difference in mean serum vitamin [D] between male and female and according to parent consanguinity while shows significant difference regarding order of sibling. there were no significant difference in mean serum vitamin [D] according to family history of atopy and passive smoking, while shows significant difference regarding family history of asthma, associated allergic condition, day time symptoms, night time awakness, degree of asthma control, recurrent hospital admission , interference with activity and frequency of exacerbation and influenza &pneumococcal vaccination. significant difference in mean serum vitamin [D] according to food born allergen: apple ,banana ,casein ,cow milk ,egg white, peanut while regarding airborne allergen shows nonsignificant difference with ,Der.pteronyssinus, Der.farinae ,Cockroach and Honey bee venom and Aspergillus fumigatus . Common wasp venom , Altearia alternate, Honey bee venum,Birch ,Candida albican ,Dog epith. and cat epithelium demonstrated significant difference. From our results, it would be concluded that there was a significant correlation between vitamin [D] level and asthma control in asthmatic children .

The role of vitamin D deficiency in environmental health and childhood asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease, and many of its risk factors have been identified. Although various studieson the link between vitamin D and asthma have been conducted, the role of vitamin D in the onset of asthma as an environmental health problem has not been well identified. This study aims to investigate the link between serum vitamin D level and asthma in children in Kashan, Iran. This case-control study was conducted on the asthmatic (n=99) and non-asthmatic (n=99) children. Asthma was monitored and examined using spirometry and by an allergy and asthma specialist. The patients were divided into three groups (mild, moderate, or severe) in terms of asthma severity. The age-matched children in the control group were selected from among non-asthmatic children. Serum vitamin D level was measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique. The mean serum vitamin D level of asthmatic children and the children in the control group was 14.76±14.19 ng/ml and 30.47±9.7 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean serum vitamin D level of the children with mild, moderate, and severe asthma was 17.6±14.2 ng/ml, 14.6±6.99 ng/ml, and 11.9±4.6 ng/ml, respectively, which was significantly less than the control group (p <0.001). Serum vitamin D levels were not significantly different in terms of asthma severity. The results of this study showed that serum vitamin D level in asthmatic children is significantly less than in non-asthmatic children. Keywords: vitamin D, Asthma, environmental health

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D in asthmatic children and its relation to disease severity

Background: Asthma is a chronic immunological disorder of the lungs. Vitamin D has several effects on the innate and adaptive immune systems. Little is known about vitamin D level and its impact on severity of asthma in children. This study aimed to determine vitamin D levels in asthmatics versus control children; studying the relation if any between these levels and asthma severity.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 asthmatic children and 20 apparently healthy children as controls. Asthma patients were divided into 3 groups (mild, moderate, severe; 20 each). Asthma severity was based on GINA criteria. Vitamin D level was measured to all study group.Results: The difference between the mean values of vitamin D level in control and asthmatic patients was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). This difference between control group and each asthma subgroup and between asthma subgroups versus each other were statistically significant being highest in control and lowest in patients with severe asthma (p&lt;0.001). Differences in vitamin D status in control and all asthmatic patients were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). The difference between control group and each asthma subgroup according to vitamin D status were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). Concerning asthma subgroups the difference in vitamin D status between severe versus mild and moderate asthma were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001), while between mild and moderate asthma it was not.Conclusions: Significantly lower vitamin D level in asthmatic children compared to controls and a differential decrease in vitamin D levels in asthmatic children being lowest in severe asthma was confirmed.

Study of serum interleukin 5 level and factors that impact on this level in Iraqi asthmatic children

Background: Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a cytokine associated with the cause of several allergic diseases such as asthma due to their function in growth, activation, and maturation of eosinophils and stimulates B-cell growth and increases immunoglobulin E (IgE) secretion. The study aims to measure the IL-5 level in asthmatic children and detect the relationship between IL-5 level with eosinophils, total serum IgE level, and asthma severity. Methods: Eighty asthmatic children, including 55 males and 25 females with asthma who aged between 1 and 16 years collected at Kerbala Teaching Hospital for Children, were measured IL-5 level using Elabscience ELISA kit and measured total IgE level using EUROIMMUN IgE ELISA kit. However, absolute eosinophils count was examined by peripheral blood smear. In addition, the clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded by a questionnaire. Results: There was a significant difference in IL-5 level in asthma patients depending on sex, absolute eosinophil count, and use of treatment (P = 0.046, 0.046, and 0.001, respectively). However, there was no effect on the IL-5 level at asthmatic children depending on the age, body mass index, resident, exposure to cigarette smoking, family history of asthma/allergic diseases, asthma severity, and total serum IgE (P = 0.936, 0.769, 0.154, 0.898, 0.614, 0.550, and 0.874, respectively). Conclusions: IL-5 level had a positive correlation with absolute eosinophils count but not with total serum IgE. In addition, IL-5 level was a poor indicator of asthma severity.