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Background: Currently, the longitudinal validity (validity over time) and responsiveness (ability to measure change over time) of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF), the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form (FAQLQ-TF), and the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Child Form (FAQLQ-CF) are unknown. Additionally, the self-reported impact of a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adults (≥18 years of age), adolescents (13-17 years of age), and children (8-12 years of age) is unknown., Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the longitudinal validity and responsiveness of the FAQLQ-AF, FAQLQ-TF, and FAQLQ-CF and to assess the impact of a DBPCFC on HRQL., Methods: Two hundred twenty-one participants suspected of food allergy were included from Dutch allergy centers. Participants undergoing a DBPCFC (experimental group) completed the FAQLQ and Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) 1 month before (baseline) and 6 months after (follow-up) a DBPCFC. Participants not undergoing a DBPCFC (control group) completed the questionnaire package twice with a 7-month interval., Results: HRQL scores improved after a DBPCFC, with greater improvements in HRQL scores after a negative outcome (food allergy ruled out) than a positive outcome (food allergy confirmed), demonstrating responsiveness of the FAQLQs. Significant correlations were shown between the change (follow-up minus baseline) in FAQLQ and FAIM scores supporting longitudinal validity of these questionnaires: FAQLQ-AF (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.71, P < .001), FAQLQ-TF (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.35, P = .018), and FAQLQ-CF (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.51, P < .001)., Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the longitudinal validity and responsiveness of the FAQLQs. Greater improvements in HRQL scores were shown after a negative outcome than after a positive outcome., (Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Food allergy can affect health-related quality of life (HRQL). Currently, no validated, self-administered, disease-specific HRQL questionnaire for adolescents with food allergy exists., Objective: We sought to develop and validate the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form (FAQLQ-TF) in the Dutch language., Methods: Ten adolescents (13-17 years) with food allergy were interviewed and generated 166 HRQL items. The most important items were identified by 51 adolescents with food allergy by using the clinical impact method, resulting in the FAQLQ-TF containing 28 items (score range: 1 "no impairment" to 7 "maximal impairment"). The FAQLQ-TF, the Food Allergy Independent Measure, and a generic HRQL questionnaire (CHQ-CF87) were sent to 98 adolescents with food allergy for cross-sectional validation of the FAQLQ-TF., Results: Construct validity was assessed based on the correlation between the FAQLQ-TF and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (rho = 0.57, P < .001). The FAQLQ-TF had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = .92) and discriminated between adolescents who differed in number of food allergies (1 vs >2 food allergies: total FAQLQ-TF score, 4.3 vs 3.5; P = 0.037) but did not discriminate between those who did or did not have reported anaphylaxis. The FAQLQ-TF correlated weakly with 6 of the 11 CHQ-CF87 scales, demonstrating convergent/discriminant validity., Conclusion: The FAQLQ-TF is the first self-administered, disease-specific HRQL questionnaire for adolescents with food allergy. It has good construct validity and excellent internal consistency and discriminates between adolescents who differ in the number of food allergies. The FAQLQ-TF is short and easy to use and might therefore be a useful tool in clinical research.

Objective: To investigate the respiratory health of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) at preschool age and to determine whether lung function (measured by forced oscillation technique (FOT) and interruption technique (Rint) is affected by BPD in preterm infants compared with preterm infants without BPD., Participants: 3 to 5 years of age born preterm with BPD (N = 40, mean gestational age 28 weeks, mean birth weight 1051 g), and without BPD (N = 36, mean gestational age 29 weeks, mean birth weight 1179 g)., Outcome Variables: prevalence of symptoms determined by European Community Respiratory Health Survey and lung function measured by FOT and Rint., Results: A large percentage of infants in both preterm groups reported respiratory symptoms during the last 12 months. Lung function measurements showed higher resonant frequency (Hz) in BPD compared with non-BPD (mean 26.8 vs 22.7, P < .001) and lower mean reactance X(4-24) (hPa.s/l)(-3.0 vs -1.9, P = .005). No differences were found in respiratory resistance between the groups, although the mean values of both groups were increased compared with reference values., Conclusion: Preterm birth affects respiratory health at 3 to 5 years of age. Children with BPD could be distinguished from children without BPD based on a higher resonant frequency and a lower mean reactance.

Background: The use of double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of food allergy. Despite this, materials and methods used in DBPCFCs have not been standardized., Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate recipes for use in DBPCFCs in children by using allergenic foods, preferably in their usual edible form., Methods: Recipes containing milk, soy, cooked egg, raw whole egg, peanut, hazelnut, and wheat were developed. For each food, placebo and active test food recipes were developed that met the requirements of acceptable taste, allowance of a challenge dose high enough to elicit reactions in an acceptable volume, optimal matrix ingredients, and good matching of sensory properties of placebo and active test food recipes. Validation was conducted on the basis of sensory tests for difference by using the triangle test and the paired comparison test. Recipes were first tested by volunteers from the hospital staff and subsequently by a professional panel of food tasters in a food laboratory designed for sensory testing. Recipes were considered to be validated if no statistically significant differences were found., Results: Twenty-seven recipes were developed and found to be valid by the volunteer panel. Of these 27 recipes, 17 could be validated by the professional panel., Conclusion: Sensory testing with appropriate statistical analysis allows for objective validation of challenge materials. We recommend the use of professional tasters in the setting of a food laboratory for best results.

To evaluate the dose-effect relationship of a controlled-release theophylline in preschool children, 20 patients with asthma (mean age 4.8 years, range 2 1/2 to 7 years) were given three different dose levels (13.4 +/- 1.4, 18.4 +/- 1.6, and 23.5 +/- 2.0 mg/kg/day, mean +/- SD) at 12-hour intervals for 2 weeks. Subjective variables, peak expiratory flow rate, and co-medications were recorded daily; clinical condition, serum theophylline levels, and lung function measured with a multiple forced oscillation technique were assessed at the end of each period. The morning predose (through) and 4-hour postdose (peak) serum theophylline concentrations increased in an approximately linear fashion with increasing dose. In the majority of patients, dose levels of 20 to 25 mg/kg/day maintained serum concentrations within a clinically effective range, with an acceptable level of fluctuation. However, wide interindividual variations in serum theophylline concentrations were observed, indicating that for optimal treatment individualization of dosage is preferable. Efficacy was related to serum concentration and, less closely, to the dose administered. Symptom scores for night cough, wheeze, and activity showed small improvements between 5 and 10 mg X 1(-1) and marked improvements above 10 mg X 1(-1), whereas lung function values improved in a linear fashion across the serum concentration range. The serum theophylline concentration-response curves varied in an approximately parallel manner between individuals.