Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing For The Evaluation Of Unexplained And Complex Multifactorial BREATHlessnEss (i-BREATHE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
Breathlessness is a common symptom that can be caused by diseases of the heart, lungs or muscles. It is not uncommon that the cause is undiagnosed either because conventional tests do not yield a diagnosis, or because an individual suffers from multiple diseases. This research aims to use invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, a highly specialised test which simultaneously measures breathing, heart and muscle function, to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with breathlessness.
Targeted Approaches To Improve Health Outcomes In Severe Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Despite receiving optimal treatment, people with severe lung disease experience distressing symptoms, reduced quality of life and wellbeing, and poor health outcomes. This transformational research will investigate new treatment approaches: an integrated palliative care program and Nasal High Flow therapy at home, to identify benefits for people with lung disease. Additionally this research will examine how patients’ attitudes to illness distress and mental health affect wellbeing and health
Multi-centre RDBC Trial Of Oxygen Vs Air For Relief Of Breathlessness In Terminally-ill Patients With Intractable Dyspno
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,701.00
Summary
This study will compare the effects of oxygen and air in the relief of breathlessness in patients at the end of life who do not currently qualify for home oxygen. This landmark study will provide accurate information about any benefits that oxygen offers for breathlessness in this setting. This international multi-site study will ask 226 people to participate using either oxygen or air for 7 days while keeping a diary. We will measure breathlessness, quality of life, anxiety and side effects exp ....This study will compare the effects of oxygen and air in the relief of breathlessness in patients at the end of life who do not currently qualify for home oxygen. This landmark study will provide accurate information about any benefits that oxygen offers for breathlessness in this setting. This international multi-site study will ask 226 people to participate using either oxygen or air for 7 days while keeping a diary. We will measure breathlessness, quality of life, anxiety and side effects experienced.Read moreRead less
Studies On The Effects Of Endogenous And Exogenous Opioids In Modulating Exercise-induced Dyspnoea In People With Moderate / Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Two Double-blind Randomised, Placebo Controlled Trials.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$197,086.00
Summary
There is evidence that morphine-like chemicals made by the body itself help reduce breathlessness. It is not clear whether this response is because of the effects of these morphine-like chemicals on the brain, in the lung or both. This study will help understand where these chemicals act to reduce breathlessness in people with emphysema during exercise. Subsequently, it will also help to understand whether small, regular doses of morphine safely further reduce breathlessness during exercise.
Improving The Treatment Of Breathlessness – A Phase III Randomised, Controlled Trial Of Sustained Release Morphine For The Symptomatic Treatment Of Chronic Refractory Breathlessness. A Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$902,732.00
Summary
More than 300000 Australians are chronically short of breath at rest or on minimal exertion despite optimal treatment of the underlying causes of their breathlessness, of whom 70000 cannot leave home. No medication in the world is registered to treat this. There is evidence that regular, low dose morphine safely helps breathlessness. This study will help clinicians adjust doses more effectively and understand whether using an additional medication to reduce anxiety helps relieve breathlessness.
Management Of Breathlessness. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (BREVE RCT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,875.00
Summary
For people with chronic lung disease, breathlessness is common, distressing and difficult to relieve. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs have been demonstrated to improve exercise capacity and quality of life. This study will determine whether changing the way people think about the sensation of breathlessness while completing pulmonary rehabilitation, further reduces distress/anxiety and health service use and improve exercise capacity, disability related to breathlessness and quality of life.
A Double-blind Randomised Controlled Multi-site Study Of Sertraline Compared With Placebo For Refractory Breathlessness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,517.00
Summary
People with optimally treated emphysema often have breathlessness at rest or with little effort (dressing, preparing a meal). No medications are registered to reduce this breathlessness. This 3 year project will study whether a commonly used anti-depressant, sertraline, can reduce this breathlessness even if people are not depressed. Across Australia, 150 people will take part for at least 4 weeks to rate the unpleasantness of their breathlessness on sertraline or an identical sugar tablet.
Evaluating A Program For Developing Specialist Cancer Nurse Competencies For Effective And Sustainable Self-management Of Dyspnoea In Lung Cancer Patients.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$123,143.00
Summary
Breathlessness is a common, distressing symptom of lung cancer and adds substantially to the disease burden. This study aims to develop and evaluate a specialist cancer nurse competencies program to support patients in breathlessness self-management strategies. This study will assume a key role in instituting person-centred models of integrated cancer service delivery in adding to the limited knowledge about what skills and abilities are required of nurses to support patient self-management.???
Actions Of Vanilloids In The Nucleus Of The Solitary Tract
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,527.00
Summary
Capsaicin, the active ingredient of hot chillies, and other pungent plant extracts have been used for millennia to relieve minor pain. We now know that these agents produce pain relief (analgesia) by numbing the very nerve cells (neurons) which transmit pain signals to the brain. The unique analgesic properties of vanilloids may have a place in modern medicine, giving relief to sufferers of certain types of chronic pain (e.g., neuropathic pain) which are not responsive to morphine-like analgesic ....Capsaicin, the active ingredient of hot chillies, and other pungent plant extracts have been used for millennia to relieve minor pain. We now know that these agents produce pain relief (analgesia) by numbing the very nerve cells (neurons) which transmit pain signals to the brain. The unique analgesic properties of vanilloids may have a place in modern medicine, giving relief to sufferers of certain types of chronic pain (e.g., neuropathic pain) which are not responsive to morphine-like analgesics. Indeed, the promise of more potent and less pungent vanilloid analgesics has led to the discovery of numerous naturally-occurring and synthetic vanilloids. However, although the neurons which convey information regarding blood pressure and the oxygen content of arterial blood to control centres in the brain stem are also stimulated by vanilloids, the central (brain stem) actions of vanilloids on blood pressure and respiration have not been investigated in detail. Thus, the aim of this project is to describe the characteristics of vanilloid receptors in the brain stem, determine the acute and chronic effects of naturally-occurring and synthetic vanilloids on blood pressure and respiration, and elucidate the role played by other neurotransmitter chemicals in the actions of vanilloids. The results of these studies will have major implications in the future use of vanilloids as analgesics.Read moreRead less