Day-to-day variability indices improve utility of oscillometry in paediatric asthma.

Background: Oscillometry may provide the feasible and sensitive tool for objective remote monitoring of paediatric asthma.

Methods: Observational study of school-aged healthy, well-controlled and poorly-controlled asthma performing daily home-based oscillometry for 3-4 months, alongside objective measures of asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire weekly and Asthma Control Test monthly), medication use and exacerbations. Day-to-day variability calculated as coefficient of variation (CV) for resistance at 5 Hz (R5), reactance at 5 Hz (X5) and area under reactance curve (AX).

Comparative sensitivity of early cystic fibrosis lung disease detection tools in school aged children.

Background: Effective detection of early lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) is critical to understanding early pathogenesis and evaluating early intervention strategies. We aimed to compare ability of several proposed sensitive functional tools to detect early CF lung disease as defined by CT structural disease in school aged children.

Methods: 50 CF subjects (mean±SD 11.

In utero smoking exposure induces changes to lung clearance index and modifies risk of wheeze in infants.

Background: Fetal exposure to tobacco smoking throughout pregnancy is associated with wheezing in infancy. We investigated the influence of in utero smoking exposure on lung ventilation homogeneity and the relationship between lung ventilation inhomogeneity at 7 weeks of age and wheezing in the first year of life.

Methods: Maternal smoking was defined as self-reported smoking of tobacco or validated by exhaled (e)CO > 6 ppm.

Clinical and Experimental Determination of Protection Afforded by BCG Vaccination against Infection with Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria: A Role in Cystic Fibrosis?

is a nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) of particular concern in individuals with obstructive lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Treatment requires multiple drugs and is characterised by high rates of relapse; thus, new strategies to limit infection are urgently required. This study sought to determine how Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination may impact NTM infection, using a murine model of infection and observational data from a non-BCG vaccinated CF cohort in Sydney, Australia and a BCG-vaccinated CF cohort in Cape Town, South Africa.

Implementation and evaluation of ultra-low dose CT in early cystic fibrosis lung disease.

https://bit.ly/3Wi8MLr

Changes in the Presence of Nonnutritive Sweeteners, Sugar Alcohols, and Free Sugars in Australian Foods.

Background: In parallel with growing consumer interest in reducing sugar intake, manufacturers have increased availability of food and beverage products containing nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs). However, emerging evidence indicates that specific NNS types have differential effects on cardiometabolic health.

Objective: This study examined overall changes in the presence of NNSs, sugar alcohols, and free sugars in the Australian food supply and the use of specific NNS types.

'Life-changing surgery': English-language news media representation of selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Background: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical intervention to reduce spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Parents researching SDR for their child may be influenced by framing of SDR in news media articles they read. This study examined framing of SDR in English-language news media.