Impact of pulmonary vein isolation on obstructive sleep apnea in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified as associated with the onset and propagation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and predicts recurrences of AF after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Vice versa, it has never been investigated whether PVI influences OSA. However, it has been controversial whether a restored atrial function can affect the course of OSA. There­fore, we have assessed whether PVI procedure modulates the prevalence and severity of OSA. Methods and Results: We included 23 individuals with AF that were assigned to undergo PVI into this study. Patients were 65 ± 7 years old, obese (BMI 29.9 ± 5.4 kg/m2), white (100%) and had a normal left ventricular function (LVEF 64 ± 9%). Polygraphic assessment was carried out before and 6 months after PVI. The prevalence of OSA, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 per hour of sleep, was 74% before PVI compared to 70% 6 months after the procedure (p > 0.05). Severity of OSA did not differ (AHI before vs. after: 18 ± 18/h vs. 15 ± 17/h, p > 0.05) as well as further polygraphic parameters did not differ before and after the procedure. Conclusions: Prevalence and severity of OSA are not affected by PVI in patients suffering from AF.

Urban Factories – Establishing resource-efficiency in production logistics systems in cities

Cities are a hotspot for resource consumption and related impacts. This is induced, among others, by transportation, production and the use of products and services. Industrial production is commonly associated with negative impacts, e.g. on the environment or traffic. Through positive integration of production sites into urban surroundings, negative impacts can be eliminated, and even positive impacts achieved. To reach a higher degree of integration of different utilizations in cities, resource-efficiency, new conceptual approaches are required for urban factories, city authorities and further stakeholders. For this purpose, a methodology has been developed that describes the planning processes of the involved disciplines and their interdependencies concerning content and timing. Subsequently, an analysis of Urban Factories within a reference framework called the factory-city-system and its key resources is carried out in an exemplary case study. Measures to enhance resource-efficiency are thus dentified, exemplarily described and examined regarding their potential to raise resource-efficiency