The Diagnosis Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$295,075.00
Summary
The gold standard method for diagnosis of sleep apnea is the overnight sleep study. These tests are expensive, have long waiting lists and are hard to access outside larger cities. We aim to determine if general practitioners can combine information from questionnaires and a simple home diagnostic test, to confirm or rule out sleep apnea. The results of this study will eventually lead to more accessible and efficient diagnosis and treatment of this common condition.
Preventing Complications Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,914.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a devastating lung disease that affects smokers. Lung complications and complications in other organs occur commonly. This study will examine factors that lead to exacerbations of COPD, and test the effectiveness of early diagnosis of coronary artery disease using CT scans.
Mechanisms Of Pharyngeal Collapse In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Defined By Optical Coherence Tomography
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,764.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea is characterised by intermittent collapse of the upper airway (throat) resulting in episodes of decreased blood oxygen levels, increased blood pressure and sleep disruption. Obstructive sleep apnoea is common, affecting 5% of middle-aged adults, and is associated with worsening health, increased motor vehicle accidents and increased risk of heart disease. However the mechanisms responsible for obstructive sleep apnoea are not well understood. One reason for this lack of ....Obstructive sleep apnoea is characterised by intermittent collapse of the upper airway (throat) resulting in episodes of decreased blood oxygen levels, increased blood pressure and sleep disruption. Obstructive sleep apnoea is common, affecting 5% of middle-aged adults, and is associated with worsening health, increased motor vehicle accidents and increased risk of heart disease. However the mechanisms responsible for obstructive sleep apnoea are not well understood. One reason for this lack of understanding is that current diagnostic techniques can not accurately measure changes in the size and shape of the upper airway during sleep. Such information is vital for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea. This project proposes to use a technique called endoscopic optical coherence tomography (eOCT), recently developed by ourselves, to measure the changes in upper airway size and shape in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea during wakefulness and, importantly, during sleep. A prototype of the system has been developed. Preliminary in vivo studies have been performed in the human upper airway and the results from these preliminary trials have been published. To our knowledge, world-wide, this is the only such system capable of making these measurements. The studies proposed in this application will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying obstructive sleep apnoea and may lead to the development of greatly improved and more specific treatments that are tailored to the exact needs of the individual patient.Read moreRead less
A New Non-invasive Diagnostic Technique Based On Detection Of Exhaled Respiratory Pathogens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$179,300.00
Summary
We developed a special collection mask and showed that the breath of people with colds or flu contains a tiny amount of virus. Currently, diagnostic samples are collected by putting a tube into the airways - this is very uncomfortable. Our masks may provide a new and more comfortable way to diagnose lung infections. We want to build better masks and ways to detect viruses and bacteria to test out this method. This may create a new test that will improve diagnosis and treatment.
Is MUC1 A Viable Therapeutic Target For Patients With The Asbestos-induced Tumour Malignant Mesothelioma?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,068.00
Summary
The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of people each year. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. We are investigating the use of a specific marker, called MUC1, to improve mesothelioma diagnosis. Improved diagnosis will reduce the time taken to commence treatment. It will also reduce hospital costs and the number of surgical procedures a patients must undergo.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Simplified Management Strategy Versus Standard Care In Moderate To Severe OSA
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,400.00
Summary
Currently breathing difficulties during sleep known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are undertreated in our community. This reflects an inability of the current diagnostic and treatment strategies to deal with the high clinical burden of OSA. As a result, in particular in rural and remote areas, many have long waits for treatment, or no access to therapy at all. The purpose of this project is to evaluate a simplified protocol for the management of OSA. This will be done using diagnostic devices ....Currently breathing difficulties during sleep known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are undertreated in our community. This reflects an inability of the current diagnostic and treatment strategies to deal with the high clinical burden of OSA. As a result, in particular in rural and remote areas, many have long waits for treatment, or no access to therapy at all. The purpose of this project is to evaluate a simplified protocol for the management of OSA. This will be done using diagnostic devices and treatment strategies that are more widely available than the current approaches to the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea. This will involve measurement of the numbers of falls in oxygen levels in a patient via a device to measure oxygen levels called an oximeter. These falls in oxygen levels correlate well with breath holding episodes during sleep characteristic of OSA. Treatment can be commenced in the patient's home depending on these results. We intend to compare these new approaches with the current best practice in OSA. If the outcomes are good these stategies could be applied to reduce the waiting times for to diagnose and manage OSA and make therapy more widely available throughout the community.Read moreRead less
Use Of Advanced Bronchoscopic Techniques In The Diagnosis And Staging Of Suspected Primary Lung Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$118,796.00
Summary
Lung cancer is common in Australia. Multiple diagnostic procedures may be used, thought they have never been directly compared. Our study will determine the optimal path of investigation of patients with suspected lung cancer, examining safety, diagnostic accuracy, cost, and the ability to provide essential information required in lung cancer care. Work will focus on use of CT-guided tests, or bronchoscopy (examination of the inside of the airways), the two most commonly used diagnostic methods.
Factors Determining Collapsibility Of The Human Upper Airway During Sleep And General Anaesthesia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$259,625.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common, affecting between 2-4% of middle-aged adults. It is characterised by repetitive partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Each episode is accompanied by transient hypoxemia, hypertension and arousal. The repetitive arousals disrupt sleep resulting in excessive daytime tiredness and lethargy, which have major consequences for social well-being and productivity in our community. OSA is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. C ....Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common, affecting between 2-4% of middle-aged adults. It is characterised by repetitive partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Each episode is accompanied by transient hypoxemia, hypertension and arousal. The repetitive arousals disrupt sleep resulting in excessive daytime tiredness and lethargy, which have major consequences for social well-being and productivity in our community. OSA is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. Central to understanding OSA is knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for vulnerability to upper airway collapse. It remains unclear to what extent this vulnerability relates to abnormalities in the underlying structure and passive physical characteristics of the upper airway, versus abnormalities in activity of upper airway muscles. Making this distinction has been problematic because current methods of testing upper airway collapsibility in sleeping humans tend to result in changes in muscle activity and-or sleep state, affecting the measurements. It is, however, possible to suppress upper airway muscle activity and eliminate measurement-related changes in muscle activity and state with general anaesthesia, while maintaining normal spontaneous breathing. We have developed and refined this method and propose to use it in novel investigations to (a) relate the behaviour of the flaccid airway (no muscle activity) under anaesthesia to its behaviour during sleep (when muscle activity is variable but quantifiable), and (b) determine the effect of changes in body habitus (posture and lung volume) on airway collapsibility. These studies will allow examination of the exciting possibility that measurements made under brief general anaesthesia could be used to define propensity to obstruction during sleep. They will also allow examination of the contribution of common changes in body habitus toward vulnerability to upper airway collapse.Read moreRead less
Exploring The Role Of Respiratory Virus Infections In Childhood Asthma Exacerbations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,649.00
Summary
The PEAK study will explore the reasons children get worse asthma symptoms when they get colds. These reasons examined include the asthma medications taken (or not taken), allergies and exposure to allergens and the type of virus involved. The study follows the children over the whole school term and uses a new way to sample virus by collecting it in the breath, this is more comfortable than old methods and can be done at home.