Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Improves Lung Function and Asthma Control through Immune Regulation in Childhood Asthma

Table 2

The laboratory and lung function tests and questionnaires of the Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) and control group at baseline.
 TCC (n = 25)Control (n = 15) value
Leukocytes (/μL)9083.6 ± 491.7 (7480–10430)8006.7 ± 385.3 (6960–9200)0.204
Eosinophils (/μL)552.8 ± 81.4 (295.4–663.5)347.1 ± 72.4 (118.8–510.6)0.067
Treg percentage of CD4 (%)1.95 ± 0.16 (1.30–2.40)2.07 ± 0.41 (1.41–2.39)0.824
IgE (IU/mL)577.4 ± 131.4 (133.3–755.0)503.4 ± 111.2 (50.2–861.0)0.966
FEV1 (L)1.38 ± 0.06 (1.22–1.48)1.39 ± 0.08 (1.20–1.67)1.000
FEV1 predicted (%)89.9 ± 3.1 (80.0–98.6)92.3 ± 3.3 (83.0–101.5)0.564
PEFR (L/min)306.4 ± 13.8 (265.5–349.0)321.1 ± 17.5 (280.5–352.5)0.447
PEFR predicted (%)78.2 ± 4.0 (64.5–82.6)81.2 ± 3.0 (75.1–90.0)0.329
FVC (L)1.60 ± 0.08 (1.32–1.78)1.63 ± 0.12 (1.26–2.12)0.952
FVC predicted (%)87.7 ± 3.0 (77.5–96.8)92.0 ± 5.3 (77.0–101.0)0.627
FeNO (ppb)13.8 ± 2.1 (6–19.5)14.3 ± 3.7 (4–26)0.595
C-ACT20.6 ± 0.9 (18–24)23.5 ± 0.4 (23–24)0.045
PAQLQ(S)139.3 ± 3.9 (130.5–156)150.0 ± 2.2 (141–158)0.065
Data shown are mean ± SE (interquartile range). Treg, regulatory T cells; IgE, immunoglobulin E; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; predicted (%), the percentage of predicted value according to the age, sex, body weight, and height with reference from the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan; PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; FVC, forced vital capacity; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; C-ACT, childhood asthma control test; PAQLQ(S), the standardized pediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire. Reference range: leukocytes, 4000–10500/μL; eosinophils, 50–250/μL; IgE, <100 IU/mL; FeNO, a higher level correlates with airway inflammation: <20 ppb as low, 20–30 ppb as moderate, and >35 ppb as high concentration; C-ACT, a higher score reflects better controlled asthma: ≥20 as well controlled and ≤19 as not well controlled; PAQLQ(S), a higher score reflects better quality of life.