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Child's personal medical hlstory
Current or past history
of respiratory illness
Current or past history of asthma
Current or past history of atoPY
(eczema, allergic rhinitis)
Current medications
Family and environmental history
Fami[ history of atoPY
presence of smokers in the household
Presence of Pets (and tYPe)
in the household
The child had abstained from food and drink for two hours prior to the experiment'
Height was measured on a Harpenden stadiometer (Harpenden Portable Stadiometer'
Crosswell, Crymych, Pembrokeshire, UK) and weight was measured on a digital Seca scale
(Seca 770 medical scales, Seca Ltd, 4802 Glenwood Rd, Brooklyn NYl1234)' Lung function
was measured via spirometry and in accordance to the ATS criteria (American Thoracic
Society and Association lgg4) and the best of three reproducible flow volume loops was
recorded using a Compact Vitalograph (Vitalograph Limited, Buckingham, United Kingdom)'
The results are presented as percent predicted for age, sex and height as defined by the Polgar
reference equation. All measurements were conducted by myself (predominantly taking care
of the NO readings) or Dr Senka Dinarevic (predominantly taking care of the lung function
testing). All results were then worked out by using the calibrations on the chart recording
system by both and entered into the SPSS database by myself and checked by Dr Senka
Dinarevic.
The experiments were made if the ambient level of NO was less than 10ppb and all inhalation
was done from ambient air. The procedures as described in the previous section (Section 6.5)
for setting up and calibrating all equipment were made before and after every two subjects'
The procedure listed below is re-presented exactly as it was designed and placed on the wall
adjacent to the analysers. It is therefore in the present tense and with numerical rather than
written designation of numbers.
Direct to analYsers method:
o The child sits at rest for at least 5 minutes
r Each child inhales to total lung capacity then performs a slow vital capacity manoeuvre to
residual volume or for as long as possible
o 5 exhalations are made consecutively at 3-minute intervals
. Nose clips are worn 5 seconds before the exhalation, and taken off between measurements
. Measurements of NO, mouth pressure and COz are made
o Mouth pressure is standardised to 4 mmHg by a fixed restriction
o The combined analysers sampled at 44Omls/min
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