Weight and metabolic effects of cpap in obstructive sleep apnea patients with obesity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) rapidly mitigates OSA in obese subjects but its metabolic effects are not well-characterized. We postulated that CPAP will decrease IR, ghrelin and resistin and increase adiponectin levels in this setting.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a pre- and post-treatment, within-subject design, insulin and appetite-regulating hormones were assayed in 20 obese subjects with OSA before and after 6 months of CPAP use. Primary outcome measures included glucose, insulin, and IR levels. Other measures included ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin and resistin levels. Body weight change were recorded and used to examine the relationship between glucose regulation and appetite-regulating hormones.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CPAP effectively improved hypoxia. However, subjects had increased insulin and IR. Fasting ghrelin decreased significantly while leptin, adiponectin and resistin remained unchanged. Forty percent of patients gained weight significantly. Changes in body weight directly correlated with changes in insulin and IR. Ghrelin changes inversely correlated with changes in IR but did not change as a function of weight.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Weight change rather than elimination of hypoxia modulated alterations in IR in obese patients with OSA during the first six months of CPAP therapy.</p

The role of leptin in the respiratory system: an overview

Since its cloning in 1994, leptin has emerged in the literature as a pleiotropic hormone whose actions extend from immune system homeostasis to reproduction and angiogenesis. Recent investigations have identified the lung as a leptin responsive and producing organ, while extensive research has been published concerning the role of leptin in the respiratory system. Animal studies have provided evidence indicating that leptin is a stimulant of ventilation, whereas researchers have proposed an important role for leptin in lung maturation and development. Studies further suggest a significant impact of leptin on specific respiratory diseases, including obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome, asthma, COPD and lung cancer. However, as new investigations are under way, the picture is becoming more complex. The scope of this review is to decode the existing data concerning the actions of leptin in the lung and provide a detailed description of leptin's involvement in the most common disorders of the respiratory system

The skin prick test - European standards

Peer reviewe

Evaluation of sleep bruxism by polysomnographic analysis in patients with dental implants

Purpose: The aims of the present study were to use polysomnographic analysis to confirm sleep bruxism (SB) and to evaluate clinical findings of dental implant treatment in SB patients. Materials and Methods: The present study comprised the retrospective analysis of 368 patients with a total of 838 endosseous implants. Nineteen patients who experienced mechanical complications, such as implant or abutment fractures, loosened gold screws, or occlusal surface wear or damage, were selected for polysomnographic analysis to monitor sleep symptoms. Six patients in the study group were identified as having SB, and this was confirmed by polysomnographic analysis. Results: The SB electromyographic episodes were at least 20% of the patients' maximum voluntary contractions while awake and were scored. Most of the bruxism episodes (80%) were seen in light sleep stages. Only 5% of bruxism episodes were detected during rapid-eye-movement sleep. Sleep stage recordings were similar in all individuals. Bruxism episodes did not cause arousals. Patients were unaware of their nocturnal parafunctional habits. Despite protection with night guards, all patients were reported to have continued bruxism. Discussion: Since possible occlusal parafunctional habits may be evident in any stage of dental treatment, treatment outcome risks must be considered. Conclusions: Polysomnographic study was evaluated as an effective, low-cost method to confirm occlusal parafunctional habits during sleep. Precautions against SB in patients having dental implant treatment have not been properly clarified. However, night guard protection appears to have some validity in patients having sleep bruxism

The frequency of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Infection, pulmonary embolism caused by mostly deep venous thrombosis (DVT), hypoxaemia and drugs, used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), related arrhythmia, aspiration are mostly responsible for acute exacerbations of COPD. The incidences of DVT and pulmonary embolus were investigated in 56 hospitalised cases with acute exacerbation of COPD. DVT was diagnosed in six (10.7%) cases with coloured doppler ultrasonography (CDU) and in two cases whose examinations were not sufficient enough to diagnose or refuse DVT Diagnosis of pulmonary embolus was investigated with ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy in eight cases of clinically medium-high-probable pulmonary embolus. Pulmonary embolus was determined in five cases (8.9%). Age, weight, height, disease course, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases and haematocrit values of the cases did not predict the diagnosis of DVT and pulmonary embolus in our cases. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Pulmonary artery aneurysm in Behcet's disease: a case report

The pulmonary artery is the second most common site of arterial involvement in Behcet's disease. A 32-year-old man presented with bilateral ankle edema, abdominal discomfort, and hemoptysis. He had a history of recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcerations for 1 year. The diagnosis of Behcet's disease was made on the basis of the criteria published by the International Study Group for Behcet's Disease. His chest X-ray revealed left hilar enlargement. A helical computed tomography (CT) scan showed a pulmonary aneurysm with intramural thrombosis in the left pulmonary artery and enlarged hepatic veins. Treatment with colchicine and cyclophosphamide was given for 24 months, and helical thoracic CT was performed again. Helical CT showed that the pulmonary aneurysm was reduced by treatment. Helical CT could be used in Behcet's disease for the diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary involvement

Increased risk of tuberculosis in health care workers: A restrospective survey at a teaching hospital in Istanbul, Turkey

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an established occupational disease affecting health care workers (HCWs). Determining the risk of TB among HCW is important to enable authorites to take preventative measures in health care facilities and protect HCWs. This study was designed to assess the incidence of TB in a teaching hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. A retrospective study of health records of HCWs in our hospital from 1991 to 2000