• Briefly explain what cystic fibrosis is and how dornase alfa acts to solve the problem.

Cytsic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the lungs, digestive system and sweat glands. Dornase alfa acts like scissors by cutting up the long DNA strands contained in WBCs. By cutting these strands into shorter pieces, dornase alpha helps break up thick, sticky mucus that often leads to lung infections.

• Briefly explain what neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is, what the general treatment strategies involve and how cortisone and exogenous surfactants solve the problem.

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a breathing disorder in newborns caused by immature lungs. Corticosteroid are given prophylactically to the mother before labour to initiate baby's surfacant production.

• What is the role of oxygen therapy in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome?  What do the dangers of oxygen toxicity involve?

Babies with heart or lung problems may need to breathe increased amounts of oxygen to get normal levels of oxygen in their blood. Oxygen therapy provides babies with extra oxygen.

Increased oxygen over long-term leads to retinal damage and blindness

• Briefly explain what neonatal apnoea is and how the methylxanthines solve the problem.  Which methylxanthine is used?

Neonatal apnoea is a pause in breathing that lasts 20 seconds or longer in infants.  A pause in breathing lasts less than 20 seconds and makes the baby's heart beat more slowly (bradycardia).

Methylxanthines block the phosphodiesterase enzyme , which results in relaxation of smooth muscle in the lungs, dilation of pulmonary blood vessels, elimination of excess fluid through diuresis, and stimulation of the central nervous system.

Caffeine and Theophylline are used.