Online Patient Information on Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy: An Evaluation of Quality, Suitability, Reliability, Readability, and Content.

Background: Domiciliary oxygen therapy (DOT) is a complex intervention and has significant impact on patients' daily activities, quality of life, and mental well-being. Suitable education is pertinent in improving patients' understanding and use of DOT, because those receiving appropriate education have a better knowledge of their prescription, clearer expectations, and improved adherence to DOT.

Research Question: Do currently available online patient resources on DOT provide high-quality information for patients?

Study Design And Methods: We evaluated the first 100 results of three major search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing) using the terms home oxygen therapy and information or education.

Lung abnormalities do not influence aerobic capacity in school children born preterm.

Purpose: Children born preterm have impaired lung function and altered lung structure. However, there are conflicting reports on how preterm birth impacts aerobic exercise capacity in childhood. We aimed to investigate how neonatal history and a diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) impact the relationship between function and structure of the lung, and aerobic capacity in school-aged children born very preterm.

Telehealth spirometry for children with cystic fibrosis.

Aim: We assessed the feasibility of telehealth spirometry assessments for children with cystic fibrosis (CF) living in a regional setting.

Method: Patients with acceptable computer hardware at home were provided with a SpiroUSB (Vyaire) spirometer. Spirometry was performed during 'home admissions' or for ongoing home monitoring in children living outside metropolitan Melbourne.

Increased prevalence of expiratory flow limitation during exercise in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Evidence regarding the prevalence of expiratory flow limitation (EFL) during exercise and the ventilatory response to exercise in children born preterm is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of EFL as well as contributing factors to EFL and the ventilatory response to exercise in preterm children with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Preterm children (≤32 weeks gestational age) aged 9-12 years with (n=64) and without (n=42) BPD and term controls (n=43), performed an incremental treadmill exercise test with exercise tidal flow-volume loops.

Lung function trajectories throughout childhood in survivors of very preterm birth: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Data on longitudinal respiratory follow-up after preterm birth in the surfactant era are scarce and of increasing importance, with concerns that preterm survivors are destined for early onset chronic obstructive airway disease. We aimed to comprehensively assess lung function longitudinally from early childhood to mid-childhood in very preterm children (≤32 weeks gestation), and to explore factors negatively impacting on lung function trajectories.

Methods: Preterm children (with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia) and healthy term children as controls were studied.

Altered lung structure and function in mid-childhood survivors of very preterm birth.

Rationale: Survivors of preterm birth are at risk of chronic and lifelong pulmonary disease. Follow-up data describing lung structure and function are scarce in children born preterm during the surfactant era.

Objectives: To obtain comprehensive data on lung structure and function in mid-childhood from survivors of preterm birth.

Lung CT imaging in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: A systematic review.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common respiratory complication of preterm birth and associated with long-term respiratory sequelae. Chest computed tomography (CT) is a sensitive tool to obtain insight in structural lung abnormalities and may be a predictor for later symptoms.

Objectives: To give an overview of chest CT scoring methods that are used to evaluate chest CT scans of BPD patients.

Lung MRI and impairment of diaphragmatic function in Pompe disease.

Background: Pompe disease is a progressive metabolic myopathy. Involvement of respiratory muscles leads to progressive pulmonary dysfunction, particularly in supine position. Diaphragmatic weakness is considered to be the most important component.

Air trapping on chest CT is associated with worse ventilation distribution in infants with cystic fibrosis diagnosed following newborn screening.

Background: In school-aged children with cystic fibrosis (CF) structural lung damage assessed using chest CT is associated with abnormal ventilation distribution. The primary objective of this analysis was to determine the relationships between ventilation distribution outcomes and the presence and extent of structural damage as assessed by chest CT in infants and young children with CF.

Methods: Data of infants and young children with CF diagnosed following newborn screening consecutively reviewed between August 2005 and December 2009 were analysed.

Exhaled breath temperature in healthy children is influenced by room temperature and lung volume.

Background: Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has been proposed for the non-invasive assessment of airway inflammation. Previous studies have not examined the influence of room temperature or lung size on the EBT.

Objective: This study aimed to address these issues in healthy children.

Identifying peroxidases and their oxidants in the early pathology of cystic fibrosis.

We aimed to determine whether myeloperoxidase (MPO) is the main peroxidase present in the airways of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to assess which oxidants it produces and whether they are associated with clinical features of CF. Children with CF (n=54) and without CF (n=16) underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for assessment of pulmonary infection and inflammation. BAL fluid was analyzed for MPO, halogenated tyrosines as markers of hypohalous acids, thiocyanate, and protein carbonyls.