Correlation between Apnea Severity and Sagittal Cephalometric Features in a Population of Patients with Polysomnographically Diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background and Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder featuring a repeated closure of the upper airway during sleep. Craniofacial anatomy is a potential risk and worsening factor for OSA. This study aims to assess the relationship between cephalometric features of craniofacial morphology and OSA severity in a population of patients with OSA. Material and Methods: A sample of forty-two patients (n = 42, M = 76%, mean age = 57.8 ± 10.8) with a polysomnographically (PSG) confirmed diagnosis of OSA were recruited and underwent cephalometric evaluation of 16 cephalometric variables. In addition, the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation (SatMin), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Then t-tests were performed to compare the values of all cephalometric variables between two AHI severity-based groups (mild-to-moderate = AHI ≤ 30; severe = AHI > 30). Single- and multiple-variable regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between AHI scores and cephalometric features. Results: Mean AHI, SatMin, and BMI were 31.4 ev/h, 78.7%, and 28.1, respectively. The cephalometric variables were not significantly different between the two OSA-severity groups (p > 0.05). Multiple-variable regression analyses showed that gonial angle and nasopharynx space were negatively associated with AHI, explaining 24.6% of the total variance. Conclusion: This investigation reported that severity of AHI scores in patients with OSA showed a negative correlation with gonial angle and nasopharynx space. As a general remark, although maxillofacial anatomy can be a predisposing factor for OSA, disease severity depends mainly upon other variables

Correlates and genetics of self-reported sleep and awake bruxism in a nationwide twin cohort

Background Sleep bruxism (SB) and awake bruxism (AB) have been considered different entities, although co-occurrence between them has been shown. While genetic factors have a marked influence on phenotypic variance in liability to SB, this remains unclear for AB. Aim To examine the degree of co-occurrence of SB and AB, and whether they have common correlates and also twin similarity of SB and AB bruxism traits by zygosity and sex. Methods A questionnaire was mailed to all twins born 1945-1957 in Finland in 2012 (n = 11 766). Age and sex adjusted logistic regression models were used. Twin similarity was assessed using polychoric correlations, and crosstwin-crosstrait correlations were computed. Results The response rate was 72% (n = 8410). Any SB was reported by 14.8% and >= 3 nights weekly by 5.0%. Percentages for any AB were 18.4% and 6.3%, respectively. There was substantial co-occurrence (29.5%) between SB and AB, and several shared correlates were found. For SB, the polychoric intra-class correlation was 0.366 in monozygotic (MZ) and 0.200 in dizygotic (DZ) pairs, without gender difference. A twofold crosstwin-crosstrait correlation was observed in MZ twins compared to DZ twins. Conclusions The risk factor profiles of SB and AB were largely but not entirely similar. The higher correlation in MZ than in DZ pairs suggests the influence of genetic factors on both SB and AB. The higher crosstwin-crosstrait correlation in MZ than in DZ pairs suggests some degree of genetic influences shared by SB and AB.Peer reviewe

Monitoring Charge Exchange in P3HT-Nanotube Composites Using Optical and Electrical Characterisation

Charge exchange at the bulk heterojunctions of composites made by mixing single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) and polymers show potential for use in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and optical sensors. The density/total area of these heterojunctions is expected to increase with increasing SWNT concentration but the efficiency of solar cell peaks at low SWNT concentrations. Most researchers use current–voltage measurements to determine the evolution of the SWNT percolation network and optical absorption measurements to monitor the spectral response of the composites. However, these methods do not provide a detailed account of carrier transport at the concentrations of interest; i.e., near or below the percolation threshold. In this article, we show that capacitance–voltage (C–V) response of (metal)-(oxide)-(semiconducting composite) devices can be used to fill this gap in studying bulk heterojunctions. In an approach where we combine optical absorption methods withC–Vmeasurements we can acquire a unified optoelectronic response from P3HT-SWNT composites. This methodology can become an important tool for optoelectronic device optimization

Comparison of Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Moroccan Date Fruits

ABSTRACT: The present study investigates the correlation between phenolic, Flavonoid compound content and antioxidant activity of date fruits. Phenolic content values range from 1.5 to 4.5 mg /100 g fresh weight exprimed as Galic acid equivalent (GAE). Total flavonoids content (TFC) of studied date varies significantly (p < 0.05) from 0.010mg to 0.38 mg/100g fresh weight exprimed as quercetin equivalents (QE). The antioxidant activity of methanol extract evaluated using the DPPH method, and examined by comparison to controls (BHT and Vitamin C). The highest inhibition of oxidation was attained in Bouskri variety, which was 88.88% at 40μg/mL concentration of phenolic compounds. Correlation (R 2 ) between Phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity range from 0,8 to 0,9. However lower correlation was obtained in Deglet Baida variety with (R 2 = 0.6). The high correlation coefficient indicates that phenolics are one of the main compounds responsible for the scavenging effect of date varieties. The date fruit could be a good source of antioxidants, which may have healthy benefits for humans

Facteurs de risque de l’inobservance thérapeutique chez les patients schizophrènes: étude cas- témoins

Les progrès réalisés dans le traitement de la schizophrénie n'ont jusqu'ici pas modifié de manière radicale l'importance de l'adhésion des patients à leur médication. L'objectif de ce travail est d'identifier les facteurs de risque de l'abandon du traitement sur un échantillon marocain de malades  schizophrènes. C'est une étude transversale menée au centre   psychiatrique universitaire de Fès sur une période de 4 mois. Les malades inclus présentaient une schizophrénie ou un trouble schizo-affectif,  sélectionnés en deux groupes observant et non observant. L'évaluation de l'observance a été faite par un hétéro-questionnaire comprenant une liste de causes d'abandon du traitement avec des réponses par oui ou non et à l'aide de l'échelle MARS (Medication Adherence Rating Scale).Le traitement statistique des résultats a été réalisé par le logiciel Epi Info version 3.5.1. On a recruté 164 participants, 112 étaient des malades non observants à leur traitement (cas) et 52 patients bien observants (témoins). L'âge  moyen est 31 ans, avec une prédominance masculine. Les facteurs de risque d'inobservance thérapeutique sont: l'âge jeune, le sexe masculin, le célibat, les troubles addictifs. Les principales raisons d'abandon du   traitement sont le changement fréquent du médecin, le manque   d'informations sur la maladie, un mauvais insight et les effets secondaires des antipsychotiques. Le groupe de schizophrènes non adhérents à leur traitement pharmacologique avait un score élevé à l'échelle MARS dans 80% cas. Ces résultats doivent être pris en considération par le personnel soignant pour optimiser l'observance thérapeutique chez les patients souffrant de schizophrénie