The breathing difficulty experienced by asthmatics occurs because of excessive narrowing in the bronchial tubes or airways. These airways are normally held open by the pressures in the chest during breathing. It is possible that the excessive airway narrowing in asthma occurs because these pressures are no longer effective. This may be due to changes in the airway stiffness which occurs during asthma. The project will involve experts Canada and Australia who have developed new techniques which a ....The breathing difficulty experienced by asthmatics occurs because of excessive narrowing in the bronchial tubes or airways. These airways are normally held open by the pressures in the chest during breathing. It is possible that the excessive airway narrowing in asthma occurs because these pressures are no longer effective. This may be due to changes in the airway stiffness which occurs during asthma. The project will involve experts Canada and Australia who have developed new techniques which allow the airways to be seen so that these changes can be measured.Read moreRead less
Airway Smooth Muscle Contribution To Remodelling In Asthma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,320.00
Summary
Asthma is an airway disease that affects more than 10% of adults and 25% of children in Australia and in 1998 caused 675 deaths. The cost to the community is in excess of $720 million a year. The abnormality in asthma is not fully understood, however inflammation, changes to the structure of the airways and excessive airway narrowing are key factors. Inflammation and the allergic reactions which accompany asthma cause fluid to leak from tiny blood vessels in the lung. This fluid and the inflamma ....Asthma is an airway disease that affects more than 10% of adults and 25% of children in Australia and in 1998 caused 675 deaths. The cost to the community is in excess of $720 million a year. The abnormality in asthma is not fully understood, however inflammation, changes to the structure of the airways and excessive airway narrowing are key factors. Inflammation and the allergic reactions which accompany asthma cause fluid to leak from tiny blood vessels in the lung. This fluid and the inflammation are linked to changes in the airway which include structural protein deposition - breakdown and an overgrowth of the smooth muscle that lines the walls of the airway. Our work is focussed on understanding the relationship between the structural protein deposition - breakdown and excess muscle growth. We also hope to gain a better understanding of the way asthma treatments combat these changes in the asthmatic airways.Read moreRead less
Intrinsic Response Of Airways To Cyclical Dilation And Elongation In Breathing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,014.00
Summary
Variations in lung pressures during breathing produce cyclical expansion of the airway tubes. These respiratory movements provide one of the most powerful protective mechanisms for the lung. The protective mechanism fails in asthma so that cyclical expansion of the airway tubes can make breathing more difficult. Current belief is that protective and harmful effects of lung expansion occur by either relaxation or contraction of the muscles lining the airway tubes. Findings from this laboratory su ....Variations in lung pressures during breathing produce cyclical expansion of the airway tubes. These respiratory movements provide one of the most powerful protective mechanisms for the lung. The protective mechanism fails in asthma so that cyclical expansion of the airway tubes can make breathing more difficult. Current belief is that protective and harmful effects of lung expansion occur by either relaxation or contraction of the muscles lining the airway tubes. Findings from this laboratory suggest that the above dogma needs reconsideration. The project will utilize a novel model of the lung to enable us to determine the mechanisms producing both the protective effect, and in asthmatics the harmful effects of cyclical lung expansion. Once the part of the lung that 'fails' in this aspect of asthma has been detected then therapeutic strategies can be put in place to reverse the defect.Read moreRead less
Epidemiology Of Middle-age BHR: A Prospective Study From Childhood To Middle Age
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,840.00
Summary
Increased airway reactivity (BHR) in middle-age increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in old age, which are recognised as a major public health problem. Knowledge on the causes of these conditions is currently limited. This project will improve our understanding of the childhood and adult causes of increased reactivity of the airways in middle-age. Such knowledge will help in identifying preventive strategies for middle age BHR and thereby CRDs in old age.