Stepwise Add-On and Endotype-informed Targeted Combination Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is an effective treatment for many people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, OSA pathogenesis is heterogeneous, and, in ∼50% of cases, OAT does not fully control OSA. This study aimed to control OSA in individuals with an incomplete response to OAT alone by using additional targeted therapies informed by OSA endotype characterization.

Australasian Malignant PLeural Effusion (AMPLE)-3 trial: study protocol for a multi-centre randomised study comparing indwelling pleural catheter (±talc pleurodesis) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for management of malignant pleural effusion.

Introduction: Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are common. MPE causes significant breathlessness and impairs quality of life. Indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) allow ambulatory drainage and reduce hospital days and re-intervention rates when compared to standard talc slurry pleurodesis.

Effect of Cytisine vs Varenicline on Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cytisine is more effective than placebo and nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. However, cytisine has not been tested against the most effective smoking cessation medication, varenicline, which is associated with adverse events known to lead to discontinuation of therapy.

Objective: To examine whether standard cytisine treatment (25 days) was at least as effective as standard varenicline treatment (84 days) for smoking cessation.

Sagittal Measurement of Tongue Movement During Respiration: Comparison Between Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The tongue makes up the anterior pharyngeal wall and is critical for airway patency. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to study pharyngeal muscle function in pharyngeal disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea. Tagged MRI and ultrasound studies have separately revealed ∼1 mm of anterior tongue movement during inspiration in healthy patients, but these modalities have not been directly compared.

Aggressive versus symptom-guided drainage of malignant pleural effusion via indwelling pleural catheters (AMPLE-2): an open-label randomised trial.

Background: Indwelling pleural catheters are an established management option for malignant pleural effusion and have advantages over talc slurry pleurodesis. The optimal regimen of drainage after indwelling pleural catheter insertion is debated and ranges from aggressive (daily) drainage to drainage only when symptomatic.

Methods: AMPLE-2 was an open-label randomised trial involving 11 centres in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Influence of respiratory mechanics and drive on genioglossus movement under ultrasound imaging.

Methods: Twenty healthy subjects (10 males, age 28±5 years [mean ± SD]) lay supine, awake, with the head in a neutral position. Ventilation was monitored with inductance bands. Real-time B-mode ultrasound movies were analysed.

Effect of an Indwelling Pleural Catheter vs Talc Pleurodesis on Hospitalization Days in Patients With Malignant Pleural Effusion: The AMPLE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Indwelling pleural catheter and talc pleurodesis are established treatments for malignant pleural effusions among patients with poor prognosis.

Objective: To determine whether indwelling pleural catheters are more effective than talc pleurodesis in reducing total hospitalization days in the remaining lifespan of patients with malignant pleural effusion.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This open-label, randomized clinical trial included participants recruited from 9 centers in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong between July 2012 and October 2014; they were followed up for 12 months (study end date: October 16, 2015).

Protocol of the Australasian Malignant Pleural Effusion-2 (AMPLE-2) trial: a multicentre randomised study of aggressive versus symptom-guided drainage via indwelling pleural catheters.

Introduction: Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) can complicate most cancers, causing dyspnoea and impairing quality of life (QoL). Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are a novel management approach allowing ambulatory fluid drainage and are increasingly used as an alternative to pleurodesis. IPC drainage approaches vary greatly between centres.

A novel ultrasound technique to measure genioglossus movement in vivo.

Upper airway muscles are important in maintaining airway patency. Visualization of their dynamic motion should allow measurement, comparison, and further understanding of their roles in healthy subjects and those with upper airway disorders. Currently, there are few clinically feasible real-time imaging methods.