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Peter Kunc,1,2 Michal Pokusa,2,3 Dominika Hajduchova,2 Jaroslav Fabry,1 Marek Samec,2 Martina Neuschlova,2 Renata Pecova2 1Clinic of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis/ National Institute of Pediatric Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Dolny Smokovec/ Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic; 2Department of Pathological Physiology/Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic; 3Biomedical Centre Martin /Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak RepublicCorrespondence: Renata Pecova, Email renata.pecova@uniba.skBackground: Bronchial asthma, the most prevalent chronic inflammatory airway disease in children, exhibits a concerning rise in both incidence and prevalence. Asthma biomarkers hold promise for stratifying patients into distinct clinical phenotypes, paving the way for targeted and personalized treatment approaches.Aim of Study: This study aimed to evaluate the association between novel and non-established semi-invasive circulating and well-known exhaled inflammatory biomarkers in two distinct pediatric asthma populations stratified by disease severity.Materials and Methods: Forty-four asthmatic children aged 8– 12 years meeting inclusion criteria were recruited from hospitalized patients. The first group (n=15, mean age 9.8 years) consisted of patients with mild persistent asthma who did not require regular inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The second group (n=29, mean age 9.8 years) consisted of children with moderate to persistent asthma who received regular ICS treatment. Serum levels of interleukins (IL-13, IL-1β), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), and surfactant protein D (SPD) were measured by ELISA in all participants. In addition, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and blood eosinophil counts were evaluated.Results: No significant differences were observed in the baseline plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers (IL-13, IL-1β, SPD, and EDN) or exhaled FeNO between the ICS-treated and non-ICS-treated groups. Further inter-individual analysis confirmed significant positive correlations between IL-13, SPD, and IL-1β (Pearson’s r = 0.591– 0.781) in both groups of patients. Interestingly, the ICS-treated group compared to the nontreated group showed an exclusive moderate negative correlation between FeNO and IL-1β. In contrast, FeNO exhibited a positive correlation with EDN and a strong association with eosinophil count in all the study groups.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the complex and unresolved role of asthma biomarkers in routine clinical practice for the management of childhood asthma, particularly in predicting exacerbations. By comparing the relationships of carefully selected biomarkers, we can achieve a greater clinical predictive value.Keywords: bronchial asthma, asthma biomarkers, children, childhood asthma, asthma severity

Abstract Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with variable symptoms especially in children. Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) has proved to be a marker of inflammation in the airways and has become a substantial part of clinical management of asthmatic children due to its potential to predict possible exacerbation and adjust the dose of inhalant corticosteroids. Objectives We analyzed potential factors that contribute to the variability of nitric oxide in various clinical and laboratory conditions. Materials and methods Study population consisted of 222 asthmatic children and 27 healthy control subjects. All children underwent a panel of tests: fractioned exhaled nitric oxide, exhaled carbon monoxide, asthma control test scoring, blood sampling, skin prick tests, and basic spirometry. Results FeNO and other investigated parameters widely changed according to clinical or laboratory characteristics of the tested children. Asthmatics showed increased levels of FeNO, exhaled carbon monoxide, total serum IgE, and higher eosinophilia. Boys had higher FeNO levels than girls. We found a significant positive correlation between FeNO levels and the percentage of blood eosinophils, %predicted of forced vital capacity, total serum IgE levels, and increasing age. Conclusions Various phenotypes of children's asthma are characterized by specific pattern of the results of clinical and laboratory tests. FeNO correlates with total serum IgE, blood eosinophilia, age, and some spirometric parameters with different strength. Therefore, the coexistence of atopy, concomitant allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis, and some other parameters should be considered in critical evaluation of FeNO in the management of asthmatic children.

Copyright of Studia Pneumologica et Phthiseologica is the property of TRIOS, spol. sr.o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Pneumologica et Phthiseologica is the property of TRIOS, spol. sr.o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bronchial asthma is the most frequently diagnosed chronic respiratory disease in children. Treatment approaches should aim to achieve the disease control, reduce limiting symptoms, and improve the quality of life. Routine treatment of patients with asthma relies on assessment of symptoms and spirometry results. These diagnostic and therapeutic strategies do not consider the level of inflammation in the airways as a fundamental pathognomonic feature of the disease. The use of biomarkers is increasing in the context of efforts to better understand individual asthma pathways (asthma endotyping), with the potential for personalized treatment with innovative biologics. Elevated levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) represent an indirect marker of T2 inflammation in airways. FENO is one of the few biomarkers that have been applied in routine clinical practice. High levels predict a good therapeutic response to treatment with corticosteroids and selected biologics (Omalizumab, Dupilumab, Mepolizumab, Tezepelumab), or an increased risk of asthma exacerbation. The aim of this review is to evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications of this test in relation to new treatment options using biologics for asthma.

In an attempt to contribute to understanding of structure-property relationship in ferroelectric relaxor SrBaNbO, we studied X-ray diffuse scattering for compositions with x = 0.35 and x = 0.81 at room temperature. Within signal-rich reciprocal-space images, features related to (i) local deformation due to chemical inhomogeneity, (ii) incommensurate modulation and (iii) fluctuation of polarization have been identified. There are substantial differences between the two compositions, some of which can be straightforwardly attributed to different states of ferroelectric ordering in these materials. In the Sr-rich composition, we have observed additional features in the form of -oriented streaks on planes. They indicate that transverse correlation of uniaxial polarization is anisotropic. At the same time, the fact that streaks appear also on the superlattice planes raises the question whether the modulation and polarization order parameter are interrelated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Czecho-Slovak Pediatrics / Česko-Slovenská Pediatrie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Czecho-Slovak Pediatrics / Česko-Slovenská Pediatrie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Czecho-Slovak Pediatrics / Česko-Slovenská Pediatrie is the property of Czech Medical Association of JE Purkyne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)