Efficacy of Noninvasive Ventilation With Expiratory Washout in Stable COPD Patients.

Background: A noninvasive ventilation (NIV) mask has been designed to deliver NIV with expiratory washout to improve efficacy of ventilation by optimizing clearance of expired gases from the anatomic dead space. This study compared the performance and comfort of a novel investigational mask with expiratory washout with a conventional mask during NIV therapy.

Methods: In this pilot crossover study, participants with severe stable COPD attended a single visit to receive bi-level NIV through 2 masks; the investigational mask with expiratory washout and a conventional mask.

Automated oxygen titration with non-invasive ventilation in hypoxaemic adults with cardiorespiratory disease: a randomised cross-over trial.

Background: Closed-loop oxygen control systems automatically adjust the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) to maintain oxygen saturation (SpO) within a predetermined target range. Their performance with low and high-flow oxygen therapies, but not with non-invasive ventilation, has been established. We compared the effect of automated oxygen on achieving and maintaining a target SpO range with nasal high flow (NHF), bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in stable hypoxaemic patients with chronic cardiorespiratory disease.

DIGIPREDICT: physiological, behavioural and environmental predictors of asthma attacks-a prospective observational study using digital markers and artificial intelligence-study protocol.

Introduction: Asthma attacks are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality but are preventable in most if detected and treated promptly. However, the changes that occur physiologically and behaviourally in the days and weeks preceding an attack are not always recognised, highlighting a potential role for technology. The aim of this study 'DIGIPREDICT' is to identify early digital markers of asthma attacks using sensors embedded in smart devices including watches and inhalers, and leverage health and environmental datasets and artificial intelligence, to develop a risk prediction model to provide an early, personalised warning of asthma attacks.

START CARE: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial of step-wise budesonide-formoterol reliever-based treatment in children.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic childhood respiratory condition globally. Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-formoterol reliever-based regimens reduce the risk of asthma exacerbations compared with conventional short-acting β-agonist (SABA) reliever-based regimens in adults and adolescents. The current limited evidence for anti-inflammatory reliever therapy in children means it is unknown whether these findings are also applicable to children.

COVID-19 vaccination and the skin to deltoid MUSCLE distance in adults with diabetes.

Objectives: To estimate the proportion of adult diabetics with a skin to deltoid muscle distance (SDMD) of > 25 mm, representing a distance greater than the standard needle length used for intramuscular COVID-19 vaccination, and to assess whether anthropometric measurements predict ultrasound SDMD measurements.

Design: Non-interventional cross-sectional study.

Setting: Single site, non-clinical setting, Wellington, New Zealand.