Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV, and syphilis infections among engaged couples

Objectives: To evaluate seroprevalences of hepatitis B and C viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections among engaged couples

Investigation of the Roles of New Antiepileptic Drugs and Serum BDNF Levels in Efficacy and Safety Monitoring and Quality of Life: A Clinical Research

Objective: We aimed to determine the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) features and the relation to Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) of frequently used new antiepileptic drugs (NADs) including lamotrigine (LTG), oxcarbazepine (OXC), zonisamide (ZNS) and lacosamide (LCM). Moreover, we investigated their effect on the quality of life (QoL)

Aortic stiffness increases in proportion to the severity of apnoea-hypopnea index in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

WOS: 000379940400007PubMed: 25401950Background and AimsObstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) and aortic stiffness are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although aortic stiffness increased in patients with OSA, the relationship between severity of OSA indicated with apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) and aortic stiffness was not investigated in previous studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the severity of OSA and aortic stiffness. MethodsIn the present study, 90 consecutive OSA patients definite diagnosed with sleep test were prospectively included (mean age 54.511.6 years). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were calculated using the single-point method via the Mobil-O-Graph (R) ARCsolver algorithm. Aortic distensibility (AD) was calculated from the echocardiographically derived ascending aorta diameters and haemodynamic pressure measurements. Overnight full-laboratory polysomnography examination was conducted on each subject. Patients were classified into two groups according to their median AHI values (AHI(low) and AHI(high) groups). ResultsPWV values were higher and AD values were lower in AHIhigh group compared with AHIlow group (P<0.05, for all). AHI was associated with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, aortic diameter, AD, AIx and PWV in bivariate analysis (P<0.05, for all). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that AHI was independently associated with BMI (=0.175, P=0.047), PWV (=0.521, P<0.001) and aortic distensibility (=-0.223, P=0.020). ConclusionsAortic stiffness is associated both with the presence and the severity of OSA