Current positive airway pressure devices cost NZ$800-$2500, posing a financial barrier for the estimated 1 billion individuals worldwide with sleep apnea and those researching respiratory diseases. Increasing diagnoses and research interest in the area necessitate a low-cost, easily accessible alternative. Thus, the mePAP, a high-quality, multipurpose, low-cost (∼NZ$250) positive airway pressure device, was designed and prototyped specifically for respiratory disease research, particularly for sleep apnea. The mePAP allows user customization and provides researchers with an affordable tool for testing positive airway pressure algorithms. Unlike typical commercial devices, the mePAP offers adaptability with open-source data collection and easily modifiable software for implementing and analysing different control and diagnostic algorithms. It features three control modes: constant; bilevel; and automatic; and provides pressures from 4 to 20 cmH2O, controlled via a phone app through Wi-Fi, with a mini-sensor added at the mask for increased accuracy. Validation tests showed the mePAP\'s performance is comparable to a gold-standard Fisher & Paykel device, with extremely similar output pressures. The mePAP\'s low cost enhances accessibility and equity, allowing researchers to test ventilation algorithms for sleep apnea and other respiratory conditions, with all data openly available for analysis. Its adaptability and multiple applications increase its usability and usefulness across various research and clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE: our study aimed to characterize the lung ultrasound (LUS) patterns noted immediately after delivery in term and near-term neonates, and to investigate whether the LUS scores or patterns observed at that point could anticipate the need for respiratory support in the sample of patients studied.
METHODS: We performed two ultrasound examinations: one in the delivery room and the second at one hour of age. The anterior and lateral regions of both lungs were examined. We assessed the correlation between the LUS scores or patterns and the gestational age, umbilical arterial blood gases, the need for respiratory support (CPAP or mechanical ventilation), the presence of respiratory distress, and the need for the administration of oxygen.
RESULTS: LUS scores were significantly higher in the delivery room examination (8.05 ± 1.95) than at 1 h of age (6.4 ± 1.75) (p < 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences between the LUS patterns observed in different lung regions between the delivery room exam and the exam performed at 1 h of age (p values between 0.001 and 0.017). There were also differences noted regarding the LUS patterns between different lung regions at the exam in the delivery room (the right anterior region LUS patterns were significantly worse than the right lateral LUS patterns (p < 0.004), left anterior LUS patterns (p < 0.001), and left lateral LUS patterns (p < 0.001)). A statistically significant correlation was found between LUS scores and the gestational age of the patients (r = 0.568, p < 0.001-delivery room; r = 4.0443, p < 0.001-one hour of age). There were statistically significant associations between LUS scores, patterns at delivery (p < 0.001) and 1 h of age (p < 0.001), and the need for respiratory support (CPAP or mechanical ventilation).
CONCLUSIONS: LUS in the delivery room offers important information regarding lung fluid elimination and aeration of the lungs, and early LUS features are significantly associated with the risk of respiratory distress and the need for respiratory support.

UNASSIGNED: The efficacy of non-pharmacotherapeutic treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, a highly prevalent condition with serious cardiometabolic and neurocognitive health consequences, is well established. Supplementing traditional treatment strategies with medications can improve symptoms and reduce side effects. Efforts to identify medications that target the causes of sleep apnea have met with mixed success. However, this remains a worthwhile objective for researchers to pursue, given the potential benefit pharmacotherapy could bring to those patients who reject or struggle to adhere to existing treatments.
UNASSIGNED: This article presents the case for obstructive sleep apnea pharmacotherapy including drugs that reduce the occurrence of apnea events, such as weight loss agents, ventilation activators and muscle and nervous system stimulants, drugs that alleviate symptoms, such as wake-promoting agents for excessive daytime sleepiness, and drugs that improve adherence to existing treatments, such as hypnotics. Literature was accessed from PubMed between 1 March 2024 and 18 April 2024.
UNASSIGNED: Exciting recent advances in both our understanding of obstructive sleep apnea pathology and in the techniques used to identify therapeutic agents and their targets combine to embolden a positive outlook for the expanded use of drugs in tackling this consequential disease.

BACKGROUND: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a major comorbidity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is associated with a poor outcome. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the impact of SDB treatment on IPF. We assessed at one year: (1) the effect of CPAP and/or nocturnal oxygen therapy on IPF regarding lung function, blood mediators, and quality of life; (2) adherence to SDB treatment and SDB changes.
METHODS: This is a prospective study of consecutive newly diagnosed IPF patients initiating anti-fibrotic treatment. Lung function, polysomnography, blood tests and quality of life questionnaires were performed at inclusion and after one year. Patients were classified as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), central sleep apnoea (CSA), and sleep-sustained hypoxemia (SSH). SDB therapy (CPAP and/or nocturnal oxygen therapy) was initiated if needed.
RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled (36% had OSA, 22% CSA, and 12% SSH). CPAP was started in 54% of patients and nocturnal oxygen therapy in 16%. At one-year, polysomnography found improved parameters, though 17% of patients had to add nocturnal oxygen therapy or CPAP, while 33% presented SDB onset at this second polysomnography. CPAP compliance at one year was 6.74 h/night (SD 0.74). After one year, matrix metalloproteinase-1 decreased in OSA and CSA (p = 0.029; p = 0.027), C-reactive protein in OSA (p = 0.045), and surfactant protein D in CSA group (p = 0.074). There was no significant change in lung function.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of SBD with CPAP and NOT can be well tolerated with a high compliance. IPF patients may exhibit SDB progression and require periodic re-assessment. Further studies to evaluate the impact of SDB treatment on lung function and serological mediators are needed.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. Floppy Eye Syndrome (FES) is a condition in which the upper eyelids easily evert with upward traction due to underlying tarsal plate laxity and is associated with chronic, reactive papillary conjunctivitis; this causes the eye to be vulnerable to discomfort and visual symptoms. A 49-year-old man with an 8-year history of snoring, sleep fragmentation, and daytime sleepiness was admitted as an outpatient in our sleep clinic. The patient had complied ocular symptoms such as burning eyes, redness, and irritative ocular symptoms in the past five years, arising upon waking up. The symptoms did not regress with the use of artificial tears and proper ointment. The patient was diagnosed with OSA and began using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP therapy significantly corrected the symptoms of FES associated with OSA . This would help to sensibilize ocular findings in patients with OSA and identify hidden sleeping diseases needing a more appropriate investigation and possible treatment. We must look beyond our approach to sleep clinic patients and avoid being kept to the common symptoms patients represent.

In South Africa, prematurity stands as one of the foremost causes of neonatal mortality. A significant proportion of these deaths occur because of respiratory distress syndrome of prematurity. The implementation of non-invasive respiratory support, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), has demonstrated both safety and efficacy in reducing mortality rates and decreasing the need for mechanical ventilation. Given the absence of blood gas analysers and limited radiological services in many district hospitals, the severity of respiratory distress is often assessed through observation of the infant\'s work of breathing and the utilisation of bedside scoring systems. Based on the work of breathing, non-invasive therapy can be commenced timeously. While evidence supporting the use of high-flow nasal cannula as a primary treatment for respiratory distress syndrome remains limited, it may be considered as an alternative, provided that CPAP machines are available. The purpose of this article is to advocate the use of non-invasive therapy in low resource-limited settings and describe the indications, contraindications, complications, and application of CPAP therapy. This would benefit healthcare workers, especially in low-care settings and district hospitals.

UNASSIGNED: Prematurity is the highest risk for under-five mortality globally. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of antenatal dexamethasone on neonatal mortality in early preterm in a resource-constrained setting without assisted ventilation.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective (2008-2013) cohort study in clinics for refugees/migrants on the Thai-Myanmar border included infants born <34 weeks gestation at home, in, or on the way to the clinic. Dexamethasone, 24 mg (three 8 mg intramuscular doses, every 8 hours), was prescribed to women at risk of preterm birth (28 to <34 weeks). Appropriate newborn care was available: including oxygen but not assisted ventilation. Mortality and maternal fever were compared by the number of doses (complete: three, incomplete (one or two), or no dose). A sub-cohort participated in neurodevelopmental testing at one year.
UNASSIGNED: Of 15,285 singleton births, 240 were included: 96 did not receive dexamethasone and 144 received one, two or three doses (56, 13 and 75, respectively). Of live-born infants followed to day 28, (n=168), early neonatal and neonatal mortality/1,000 livebirths (95%CI) with complete dosing was 217 (121-358) and 304 (190-449); compared to 394 (289-511) and 521 (407-633) with no dose. Compared to complete dosing, both incomplete and no dexamethasone were associated with elevated adjusted ORs 4.09 (1.39 to 12.00) and 3.13 (1.14 to 8.63), for early neonatal death. By contrast, for neonatal death, while there was clear evidence that no dosing was associated with higher mortality, adjusted OR 3.82 (1.42 to 10.27), the benefit of incomplete dosing was uncertain adjusted OR 1.75 (0.63 to 4.81). No adverse impact of dexamethasone on infant neurodevelopmental scores (12 months) or maternal fever was observed.
UNASSIGNED: Neonatal mortality reduction is possible with complete dexamethasone dosing in pregnancies at risk of preterm birth in settings without capacity to provide assisted ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obesity are at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. CPAP has been used successfully to prevent and treat acute respiratory failure, but in many clinical scenarios, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy is emerging as a possible alternative. We aimed to compare HFNC and CPAP in a sequential study measuring their effects on gas exchange, lung volumes, and gas distribution within the lungs measured through electrical impedance tomography (EIT).
METHODS: We enrolled 15 subjects undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Postoperatively they underwent the following oxygen therapy protocol (10 min/step): baseline air-entrainment mask, HFNC at increasing (40, 60, 80, and 100 L/min) and decreasing flows (80, 60, and 40 L/min), washout air-entrainment mask and CPAP (10 cm H2O). Primary outcome was the change in end-expiratory lung impedance (ΔEELI) measured by EIT data processing. Secondary outcomes were changes of global inhomogeneity (GI) index and tidal impedance variation (TIV) measured by EIT, arterial oxygenation, carbon dioxide content, pH, respiratory frequency, and subject\'s comfort.
RESULTS: Thirteen subjects completed the study. Compared to baseline, ΔEELI was higher during 10 cm H2O CPAP (P = .001) and HFNC 100 L/min (P = .02), as well as during decreasing flows HFNC 80, 60, and 40 L/min (P = .008, .004, and .02, respectively). GI index was lower during HFNC 100 compared to HFNC 60increasing (P = .044), HFNC 60decreasing (P = .02) HFNC 40decreasing (P = .01), and during 10 cm H2O CPAP compared to washout period (P = .01) and HFNC 40decreasing (P = .03). TIV was higher during 10 cm H2O CPAP compared to baseline (P = .008). Compared to baseline, breathing frequency was lower at HFNC 60increasing, HFNC 100, and HFNC 80decreasing (P = .01, .02, and .03, respectively). No differences were detected regarding arterial oxygenation, carbon dioxide content, pH, and subject\'s comfort.
CONCLUSIONS: HFNC at a flow of 100 L/min induced postoperative pulmonary recruitment in bariatric subjects, with no significant differences compared to 10 cm H2O CPAP in terms of lung recruitment and ventilation distribution.

Expiratory central airway collapse (ECAC) comprising excessive central airway collapse (EDAC) and tracheobronchomalacia. Treatment is challenging for severe cases that are not candidates for surgical management. We report a case of severe ECAC successfully managed with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. A 75-year-old female patient status post right pneumonectomy, presented with chronic cough. Dynamic bronchoscopy evaluation showed severe EDAC which improved with intraprocedural noninvasive positive pressure (NIPPV) therapy. Due to patients\' comorbidities, she was not a candidate to surgical tracheobronchoplasty. Therefore, we attempted pneumatic stenting with long-term CPAP therapy resulting in improvement of symptoms and functional capacity. The long-term efficacy of pneumatic stenting has not been clearly established yet. Literature review of management of ECAC with NIPPV consist primarily of case reports and there is only one clinical trial being conducted to assess the efficacy of CPAP therapy in ECAC. While NIPPV arises as a sufficient alternative for management of severe ECAC, larger scale studies are needed to prove the real efficacy of NIPPV in this setting.

UNASSIGNED: Early sensory experiences have a significant impact on the later life of preterm infants. The NICU soundscape is profoundly influenced by various modalities of respiratory support or ventilation, which are often mandatory early in the care. The incubator, believed to shield from external noise, is less effective against noise originating inside. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sound levels and characteristics of frequently used respiratory support and ventilation modalities, taking into consideration the developing auditory system of premature infants.
UNASSIGNED: To evaluate sound dynamics inside and outside an incubator during respiratory support/ventilation, experimental recordings were conducted at the Center for Pediatric Simulation Training of the Medical University Vienna. The ventilator used was a FABIAN HFOI®.
UNASSIGNED: Jet CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure), whether administered via mask or prongs, generates significantly higher sound levels compared to High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and to High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) delivered through an endotracheal tube. Upon evaluating the sound spectrum of jet CPAP support, a spectral peak is observed within the frequency range of 4 to 8 kHz. Notably, this frequency band aligns with the range where the hearing threshold of preterm infants is at its most sensitive.
UNASSIGNED: Non-invasive HFNC and invasive HFOV generate lower sound levels compared to those produced by jet CPAP systems delivered via masks or prongs. Moreover, HFNC and HFOV show a reduced acoustic presence within the frequency range where the preterm infant\'s hearing is highly sensitive. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that the potential for auditory impairment might be more pronounced in preterm infants who require prolonged use of jet CPAP therapy during their time in the incubator.