Clarifying The Pathogenic Role Of Arousal-hyperventilation In Obstructive And Central Sleep Apnoea: Testing Fundamental Pathophysiological Mechanisms And A Strategic New Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,717.00
Summary
This project is designed to understand the mechanisms underpinning much more stable breathing during deep sleep in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). A newly developed analytical technique will be used to examine breathing effort changes across sleep, and interactions with respiratory-induced awakenings in OSA patients. In addition, a new treatment designed to stabilise breathing will be tested and refined towards a new treatment option for OSA and for central sleep apnoea.
Pathophysiological Correlates In Smokers And Smoking-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$283,500.00
Summary
Smoking-related chronic airway narrowing (COPD) is a common and major illness. Research on the characteristics of the actual pathological process in the airways in smokers and COPD using direct tissue sample is relatively new. Data is currently limited and rather contradictory. In this grant we will recruit a spectrum of smokers and COPD patients typical of those in the Australian community and will be undertaking a detailed analysis of the cellular and some vascular structural changes in the ai ....Smoking-related chronic airway narrowing (COPD) is a common and major illness. Research on the characteristics of the actual pathological process in the airways in smokers and COPD using direct tissue sample is relatively new. Data is currently limited and rather contradictory. In this grant we will recruit a spectrum of smokers and COPD patients typical of those in the Australian community and will be undertaking a detailed analysis of the cellular and some vascular structural changes in the airway wall. Both cellular and vascular changes will be related to the fixed and reversible component of airway obstruction. Reversible changes with smoking cessation will be studied. A very novel feature will be a preliminary assessment of the utility of proteomics for assessment of airway pathology.Read moreRead less
Morphometric Analysis Of Normal Airway Structure In Childhood And The Influence Of A History Of Asthma On This Structure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$186,113.00
Summary
The architectural structure of the airways of the lung is thought to have profound effects on airway function. Changes in this structure are believed to be partly responsible for limiting the flow of air into the lung in conditions such as constant wheezing, bronchitis and asthma. Pathological studies carried out on adult lungs have shown that the structure of the airways is indeed altered in patients with lung disease when compared with patients with no history of breathing difficulties. For ex ....The architectural structure of the airways of the lung is thought to have profound effects on airway function. Changes in this structure are believed to be partly responsible for limiting the flow of air into the lung in conditions such as constant wheezing, bronchitis and asthma. Pathological studies carried out on adult lungs have shown that the structure of the airways is indeed altered in patients with lung disease when compared with patients with no history of breathing difficulties. For example, the walls of the airways are much thicker in patients with lung disease. This thickening means that the airways are much narrower and therefore not able to carry as much air as in people with healthy lungs. In addition, the muscle within the airway wall, which is normally very sparse, is much denser in people with asthma and bronchitis. Thus, the airways can be squeezed closed more easily. It is not known if these changes are present in children who have lung disease. X-rays and sophisticated breathing tests suggest that these children may also have thicker walls and more muscle in their airways. The major difficulties in assessing whether such changes are present in children, is the lack of information on the normal structure in infants; how this changes as they grow to adulthood; or if there are any gender differences. This project aims to obtain this information from the airways of male and female children from 0-18 years. This information can then be used as a basis for comparison with the structure found in children with lung disease, in particular asthma, and therefore assist in making assessments as to the cause of their breathing difficulties. With more knowledge about these causes, we will be in a better position to design new and better treatments and produce ways of preventing them ever occurring.Read moreRead less