Cognitive Improvement Through Early Restoration Of CirCADian Rhythms In Very Preterm Infants Via Environmental Modification: The CIRCA DIEM Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,077,039.00
Summary
When very premature infants are born, they no longer receive important signals from their mother about whether it is daytime or night-time, and are cared for in hospital environments that are noisy and brightly lit all day. The absence of the maternal signals and the constant light and noise may interfere with normal brain development. We will determine if wearing eye masks and ear muffs at night in hospital will improve brain development and general health in premature babies.
Cerebral Circulation In Sleep: Impact Of Endothelial Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,026.00
Summary
Prolonged, repetitive episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep (known as obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or OSA) is a common medical problem that afflicts both children and adults. As many as 200,000 Australian adults and 300,000 children are affected. OSA has major medical consequences, amongst the most serious being cognitive deficits in children and vascular disease and stroke in adults. This experimental study investigates blood flow to the brain in normal sleep, and in sleep disrupte ....Prolonged, repetitive episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep (known as obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or OSA) is a common medical problem that afflicts both children and adults. As many as 200,000 Australian adults and 300,000 children are affected. OSA has major medical consequences, amongst the most serious being cognitive deficits in children and vascular disease and stroke in adults. This experimental study investigates blood flow to the brain in normal sleep, and in sleep disrupted OSA, as many of the problems associated with OSA may have their origin in disturbance of blood flow to the brain.Read moreRead less
Developmental Changes In Cerebral Oxygenation After Term And Preterm Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,306.00
Summary
Approximately 10% of all births are preterm and the numbers of infants surviving are increasing. We have previously found that infants born preterm have lower blood pressure over the first 6 months after term equivalent age than infants born at term. We will use new technology to examine how preterm birth affects brain oxygenation and how this is altered with gestational age, sleep states and sleeping position, to provide insights into their increased risk for SIDS.
I am a physiologist working in the area of paediatric sleep and its disorders to elucidate mechanisms involved in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the consequences of preterm birth for later development of cardiovascular compromise and the consequences of sleep disordered breathing in children for disturbance of the cardiovascular system.
Foetal Determinants Of Sleep Disordered Breathing In Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$174,691.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified and recorded in infants, however the factors that lead to the development of OSA and its prevalence in infants is unknown. We have recorded OSA in some infants and we demonstrated that the severity of apnea was at its peak at approximately 2 months of age and then resolved by 1 year. We hypothesised that these infants possibly had a maturational delay of breathing control during sleep. This project is designed to examine the development and preva ....Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified and recorded in infants, however the factors that lead to the development of OSA and its prevalence in infants is unknown. We have recorded OSA in some infants and we demonstrated that the severity of apnea was at its peak at approximately 2 months of age and then resolved by 1 year. We hypothesised that these infants possibly had a maturational delay of breathing control during sleep. This project is designed to examine the development and prevalence of sleep and breathing disorders in infants. The prenatal factors that possibly influence development of sleep and breathing disorders in infants, in particular, the effects of maternal smoking will be determined. Pregnant women will be recruited for the study during their third trimester. The foetal movements, foetal breathing movements, heart rate and sleep state will be monitored continuously overnight in the patients home between 32 and 36 weeks gestation using a newly developed foetal movement monitor. The infants will be subsequently studied using overnight polysomnography at 2 months of age to assess their breathing, sleep patterns, arousal behaviour, and the presence and severity of central and obstructive apnea. A group from these infants will be selected and studied longitudinally to examine the development of sleep and breathing disorders more closely. These infants will undergo overnight sleep studies during the first week of life, then at 2 and 6 months of age. A detailed medical history will also be collected regarding the pregnancy, the perinatal history of the infant, exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy and postnatally, and the medical history of other family members. We will examine the quality and quantity of foetal movements and its association with the development of OSA. The occurrence of sleep and breathing disorders in the infants will be correlated with the foetal behaviour and, the prenatal and postnatal factors.Read moreRead less