A Novel Optical Stimulation Method For Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,913.00
Summary
This project aims to develop and characterize a novel optogenetic pharyngeal stimulation system to dilate the upper airway using a light stimulus. This will provide proof-of-concept for a new minimally invasive treatment option for obstructive sleep apnoea.
Chronotherapy For Hypertension In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$57,921.00
Summary
This randomised, double blind placebo controlled cross-over trial aims to determine whether evening ingestion of blood pressure medication results in superior blood pressure control as compared to morning ingestion in patients with high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Sleep Disordered Breathing In Pregnancy: Frequency And Impact.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,034.00
Summary
Sleep disordered breathing (SDB)affects up to 15% of women during pregnancy. There is some evidence that it may have adverse effects on both mother and baby, particularly it may be associated with a 7-8 fold increase risk of developing hypertension during pregnancy. This study aims to measure breathing during sleep in pregnant women to determine its role in pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes, then treat the SDB to assess its effect on maternal and foetal outcomes.
Revolution Of Sleep Diagnostics And Personalized Health Care Based On Digital Diagnostics And Therapeutics With Health Data Integration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Almost 1 billion people suffer from sleep apnoea. Unfortunately, the current diagnostic metric relates poorly to the symptoms and comorbidities of sleep apnoea merely measuring the frequency of breathing cessations. We aim to develop machine learning techniques to better estimate sleep apnoea severity. These techniques are implemented to high-end wearables developed in this project. Finally, we aim to design a digital diagnostic platform and create new standardised guidelines for sleep medicine.
The Role Of Arousal And Respiratory Control Factors In The Pathogenesis Of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,924.00
Summary
Sleep apnoea (OSA) is a very common breathing disorder in sleep characterized by repetitive closure of the collapsible portion of the throat with serious effects on sleep quality and health. Basic causes of OSA are still largely unknown. We will investigate waking responses to breathing load and related respiratory control factors that we believe may be fundamental causes of OSA, and potentially explain many features of OSA including worsening in light sleep and with increasing age.
Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Using 3D Craniofacial Photography
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,715.00
Summary
Sleep Apnoea is a common medical condition associated with snoring and collapse of the throat during sleep. Diagnosis of sleep apnoea involves an overnight sleep study in a specialised laboratory, which is expensive and time consuming. It is possible that sleep apnea could be diagnosed from a 3-dimensional photograph of the face. This study will define the relationships between sleep apnea and 3D face photographs in 956 young adults and 1,200 of their parents, and 3,000 sleep clinic patients.
Regulatory Control Of The Upper Airway Muscle Genioglossus During Sleep
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$329,855.00
Summary
Difficulty breathing during sleep is a major health problem. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the most frequently occurring of these disorders, being found in approximately 4% of males and 2% of females. In OSA the upper airway (UA) collapses during sleep preventing airflow and causing a fall in oxygen levels in the blood. The airway collapses because during sleep muscles in the UA are unable to offset the negative pressure generated within the airway by the effort of inspiring. If the negative ....Difficulty breathing during sleep is a major health problem. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the most frequently occurring of these disorders, being found in approximately 4% of males and 2% of females. In OSA the upper airway (UA) collapses during sleep preventing airflow and causing a fall in oxygen levels in the blood. The airway collapses because during sleep muscles in the UA are unable to offset the negative pressure generated within the airway by the effort of inspiring. If the negative pressure is too great and the airway collapses the person has to wake up to reopen the airway. As the UA collapses again on the return of sleep, the cycle becomes repetitive, causing sleep disruption. OSA is a significant health risk causing heart disorders, increased mortality, daytime sleepiness, reduced daytime performance and increased risk of accidents. OSA is due to two interacting factors. First, people with a narrow airway have to generate a greater negative pressure during inspiration. Second, and critically, sleep reduces activity in the UA muscles. The importance of this sleep effect is indicated by the observation that OSA patients do not obstruct while awake. Thus, a respiratory abnormality during sleep is a necessary component of the disorder. However, progress in understanding motor control of UA muscles has been slow. We argue that this is in part because research has concentrated on analysing the activity of the UA muscles, rather than measuring the individual motor units that make up the muscles. In this project we propose to investigate the sleep related activity of individual motor units in the UA muscle, genioglossus (GG). GG plays a critical role in the UA as it keeps the tongue from collapsing backwards into the airway. We anticipate that this approach will provide insights into motor control of the tongue and the role of GG in the development of OSA.Read moreRead less
Evaluating The Effect Of Morphine On Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,303.00
Summary
Prescription opiate poisoning deaths have increased substantially in recent years which may be worsened by population increases in obesity and related obstructive sleep apnea. However, no proper clinical trial has ever investigated the effect of an opiate on obstructive sleep apnea, which is the aim of the proposed trial. The study will be important in understanding ways to reduce opiate realted deaths and may also provide insights into new treatment methods for snoring and sleep apnea.
The Influence Of Sleep On The Behaviour Of The Upper Airway Muscles, Genioglossus And Tensor Palatini
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$295,880.00
Summary
The human airway has limited bone or cartilage support and muscular activity is required to keep the airway open. Central activation of these muscles is reduced during sleep, resulting in the disorder Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Potential treatments include pharmocological or electrical stimulation of upper airway muscles. However, this is hampered by a lack of understanding of the control of upper airway muscles. This project will study two critical muscles, genioglossus and tensor palatini.
Prediction Of Oral Appliance Treatment Outcome In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$280,200.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a very common disorder, affecting approximately 2% of women and 4% of men in the middle-aged workforce . It is characterised by repetitive, complete or partial closure of the throat passage during sleep, resulting in sleep disturbance and low oxygen levels. OSA is recognised as a serious public health problem. There is growing evidence supporting the use of oral appliances to treat OSA. It is thought that these work by enlarging the throat passage, but this rema ....Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a very common disorder, affecting approximately 2% of women and 4% of men in the middle-aged workforce . It is characterised by repetitive, complete or partial closure of the throat passage during sleep, resulting in sleep disturbance and low oxygen levels. OSA is recognised as a serious public health problem. There is growing evidence supporting the use of oral appliances to treat OSA. It is thought that these work by enlarging the throat passage, but this remains uncertain. The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of how such appliances work, so as to be able to predict which patients will particularly benefit from this form of treatment.Read moreRead less