Methods:
Enrolled children were subjected to full history taking with paying
particular attention to intermittent cough attacks, expectoration,
wheezy dyspnea and chest tightness. In order to detect tachypnea, signs
of hyperinflation, extended expiratory phase and expiratory rhonchi
thorogh physical examination was carried out. lung functions assessment
by Spirometry (performed by Erich jaejre 95 GmbH 1992-1997 for
measurement of pulmonary function) were performed before and after
bronchodilator therapy (administrating of total of 400 mcg of short
acting B2-agonist salbutamol in four puffs at 30-second intervals by
using a spacer device) 11 and measurement of
Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st second
(FEV1) and FEV1/FVC and post bronchodilator change in FEV1 automatically
displayed by the apparatus.
Laboratory investigations were carried out including complete blood
count analyzed by Sysmex Kx-21N with microscopic manual differential
count and total serum IgE level measurement by ELISA (DiaMed Eurogen,
Turnhout, Belgium). Nasal epithelial cells were collected by brushing
the inferior turbinate using a CytoSoft Brush (medical packaging co,
Camarillo, Calif, USA). The collected brush was submerged in
Nuclease-free H2O and frozen at-80°C until extraction.