Objective To evaluate the correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin) in serum with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and explore their clinical value in OSA. Methods A total of 90 patients with OSA admitted to the Sleep Monitoring Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from April 2023 to June 2024 were prospectively selected. Based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the patients were divided into a mild group (5 - 15 times/hour, n=30), a moderate group (>15 - 30 times/hour, n=28), and a severe group (>30 times/hour, n=32). Thirty healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period were included as a control group. The levels of serum VEGF and soluble VE-Cadherin (sVE) in all subjects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The differences in serum VEGF and sVE levels among the groups were compared, and the correlations between serum VEGF and sVE levels and sleep parameters were explored. The moderate and severe OSA patients were given 3 months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, and the changes in sleep parameters and serum VEGF and sVE levels before and after treatment were compared. Results The levels of serum VEGF and sVE in the OSA patients increased with the severity of the disease; the levels of serum VEGF and sVE in the moderate and severe OSA groups were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group and the mild OSA group (P<0.05). The levels of serum VEGF and sVE in the severe OSA group were significantly higher than those in the moderate OSA group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression levels of serum VEGF or sVE between the mild OSA group and the healthy control group (P>0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of serum VEGF in diagnosing OSA were 65.6% and 93.3%, respectively, with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.845. The sensitivity and specificity of serum VE-Cadherin in diagnosing OSA were 64.4% and 96.7%, respectively, with an AUC value of 0.835. After 3 months of CPAP treatment, AHI, longest apnea time, serum VEGF and sVE levels in the moderate and severe OSA groups decreased significantly, mean arterial oxygen saturation and lowest arterial oxygen saturation increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusions The levels of VEGF and VE-Cadherin in serum of OSA patients are significantly elevated and positively correlated with the severity of OSA. Monitoring the changes in the levels of VEGF and VE-Cadherin in serum of OSA patients is helpful for evaluating the therapeutic effect of CPAP.
Objective To explore effects of edaravone on apoptosis and expressions of apoptotic proteins Smac and XIAP in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell of rats under intermittent hypoxia. Methods A total of 96 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, 5% intermittent hypoxic group and edaravone group, and each group was divided into 4 time groups at 7 d, 14 d, 21 d and 28 d, respectively, with 8 rats in each subgroup. The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hippocampal tissues of the experimental rats was detected by the reactive oxygen species detection kit. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of Smac and XIAP protein in hippocampal CA1 region. The Tunel method detected the apoptosis of neurons. Results Compared with the control group, the content of ROS, the expressions of Smac and XIAP proteins and the neuronal apoptosis index in the hippocampus were increased in the 5% intermittent hypoxia group and the edaravone group at each time point (all P<0.05). The content of ROS, the Smac protein expression and the neuronal apoptosis index in the edaravone group were significantly lower than those in the 5% intermittent hypoxia group (all P<0.05). The expression of XIAP protein in the edaravone group was significantly higher than that in the 5% intermittent hypoxia group (P<0.05). Conclusion Edaravone may improve the antioxidant capacity of the body by scavenging oxygen free radicals and regulate Smac and XIAP- mediated apoptosis, thus playing a protective role on neurons.
Objective To evaluate the subjective outcomes of sleepiness behavior and mood status applying continuous positive airway pressure（CPAP） in adults of elderly and middle-aged with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome（OSAS）. Methods Nine randomized controlled trails comparing nocturnal CPAP with inactive control appliances in adults with OSAS with the use of computerized search in related medical databases（MEDLINE，EMBASE，CBMdisk，etc） were included.The quality of literature was reviewed，and all data were extracted by two reviewers independently.Meta analysis was conducted used RevMan 4.2 software.Results 9 RCT involving 665 patients of elderly and middle-aged met the inclusion criteria.Meta analysis indicated that the score of Epworth sleepiness scale（ESS） and general health questionnaire-28（GHQ-28） declined significantly after CPAP treatment on effectiveness with WMD（random） －2.94，95 %CI －4.68 to －1.20，or WMD（fixed） －2.26，95 %CI －3.79 to －0.72，Plt;0.01.Nevertheless，hospital anxiety and depression scale（HADS） was not significantly different between CPAP and control with WMD（random） －0.89，95%CI －1.98 to 0.20，Pgt;0.05.Conclusion Current clinical evidence suggested that CPAP was effective in improving day-time subjective outcomes of sleepiness behavior and general mental health status in OSAS patients of elderly and middle-aged，although evidence of improving emotion disorder of anxiety and depression was not confirmed.
Objective To investigate the relationship between adipocyte fatty acid binding protein ( A-FABP) and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) . Methods A total of 120 patients were recruited and underwent polysomnography. The groups were allocated according severity of OSAHS and obesity. Plasma A-FABP ( ng/mL) levels were measured by ELISA. The associations between A-FABP and AHI, BMI, LSaO2 , MSaO2 , neck collar, waist /hip ratio, insulin resistance index were analyzed. Results Plasma A-FAPB levels were significantly higher in the OSAHS group than in the non-OSAHS group of same weight, independent of age and gender. In the non-OSAHS group and the severe OSAHS group, plasma A-FABP levels of obesity persons were significantly higher than those without obesity, independent of age and gender. Plasma A-FAPB level was positively correlated with AHI, BMI, insulin resistance index, neck collar, SLT90% , and waist/hip ratio, but negatevely correlated with LSaO2 and MSaO2 in the OSAHS group. In the non-OSAHS group, plasma A-FAPB level was positively correlated with BMI and insulin resistance index. Conclusions Plasma A-FABP level is higher in patients with severe OSAHS. Plasma A-FABP level is positively correlated with BMI and insulin resistance index both in OSAHS and non-OSAHS patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with its typical symptoms (snoring and daytime sleepiness) by using Mendelian randomization (MR). MethodsThe inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main analysis method to assess the causal effect. Sensitivity and pleiotropy analyses were carried out using leave-one-out and MR-Egger analysis, and then heterogeneity tests were conducted. ResultsIn the MR analysis, genetically predicted GERD was associated with a greater risk of OSA (IVW: OR=1.528, 95%CI 1.374 to 1.699, P=5.315E‒15). Additional MR results were consistent with the IVW results, and no pleiotropy or heterogeneity was found. We also discovered a significant causal relationship between GRED and snoring (IVW: OR=0.959, 95%CI 0.949 to 0.969, P=1.507E‒15), and daytime sleepiness (IVW: OR=1.024, 95%CI 1.021 to 1.036, P=4.580E‒5), with no evidence of pleiotropy. ConclusionThe MR study supports a causal effect between GERD and OSA with its typical symptoms (daytime sleepiness and snoring).
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in lung tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxia rats, and explore the intervention effect of edaravone and its possible mechanism.MethodsA total of 120 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal control group (UC group), a chronic intermittent hypoxia group (CIH group), an edaravone intervention group (NE group), and a normal saline group (NS group). The above four groups were also randomly divided into five time subgroups of 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days, respectively, with 6 rats in each time subgroup. The histopathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and the expression of CHOP in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method.ResultsHE staining results showed that there was no obvious pathological change in UC group. The epithelial cells of lung tissue in CIH group showed edema, hyperemia, widening of alveolar septum and inflammatory cell infiltration. The pathological injury was more serious with the prolongation of intermittent hypoxia time. There were also pathological changes in NE group, but the degree of lung tissue injury was significantly lower than that in CIH group. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of CHOP in CIH group was significantly higher than that in UC group. The expression of CHOP in NE group was higher than that in UC group, but it was still significantly lower than that in CIH group.ConclusionsThe expression of CHOP protein in lung tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxic rats is enhanced and the high expression of CHOP protein plays a certain role in the lung injury of chronic intermittent hypoxia rats complicated with lung injury. Edaravone may protect lung tissue from chronic intermittent hypoxia by inhibiting the expression of CHOP.
Objective To investigate the correlation between serum level of visfatin and obesity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) . Methods Forty-seven patients with OSAHS and 20 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Polysomnography was performed in all subjects to detect apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI) . The serumlevels of cisfatin, C-reactive protein ( CRP) , TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The body mass inex ( BMI) was calculated.The level of cisfatin was compared between the OSAHS patients with different severity and the controls, and its relationship with the levels of AHI, BMI, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 was analyzed. Results The serumlevel of visfatin in the OSAHS patients was higher significantly than that in the controls ( P lt;0. 01) and increased by the severity of OSAHS. There were positive correlations between the serum level of visfatin and AHI,BMI, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 in the OSAHS patients ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion The expression of visfatin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OSAHS.
Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) . Methods Critically ill patients with OSAHS admitted in intensive care unit from January 2003 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Seventy-nine critically ill patients were diagnosed as OSAHS. The initial diagnosis of OSAHS was made by history requiring, physical examination, and Epworth sleepiness score evaluation. The final diagnosis was comfirmed by polysomnography thereafter. Base on the treatment of primary critical diseases, the patients were given respiratory support either with continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP) or with bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation ( BiPAP) . Two cases died and the remaining 77 patients were cured anddischarged. Conclusions Timely diagnosis of OSAHS is important to rescue the critically ill patients. Respiratory support combined with treatment of primary critical diseases can improve the outcomes of these patients.
Objective To investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) and its clinical significance. Methods Sleep quality and breathing disorders were measured by polysomnography and the relationship with lung function was analyzed in 20 IPF patients. Results Thirteen of 20 subjects ( 65% ) had OSAHS as defined by an AHI ≥5 events per hour. Three subjects ( 15% ) had mild OSAHS ( AHI,5 to 20 events per hour) , and 10 subjects ( 50% ) had moderate-to-severe OSAHS ( AHI≥20 events per hour) . The sleep architecture in these patients showed a reduction in sleep efficiency, rapid eye movement ( REM) sleep and slow wave sleep, and a marked sleep fragmentation due to an increased arousal index. The AHI was negatively correlated with FVC% pred ( r =-0.672, P=0.001) and FEV1% pred ( r =-0.659, P=0.002) , and positively correlated with body mass index ( BMI) ( r=0.791, Plt;0.0001) . Conclusions OSAHS is a common comorbidity in IPF. Early treatment of OSAHS may improve quality of life and the prognosis of patients with IPF.
Sleep apnea causes cardiac arrest, sleep rhythm disorders, nocturnal hypoxia and abnormal blood pressure fluctuations in patients, which eventually lead to nocturnal target organ damage in hypertensive patients. The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is extremely high, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. This study attempts to extract features associated with OSAHS from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure data and identify OSAHS by machine learning models for the differential diagnosis of this disease. The study data were obtained from ambulatory blood pressure examination data of 339 patients collected in outpatient clinics of the Chinese PLA General Hospital from December 2018 to December 2019, including 115 patients with OSAHS diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) and 224 patients with non-OSAHS. Based on the characteristics of clinical changes of blood pressure in OSAHS patients, feature extraction rules were defined and algorithms were developed to extract features, while logistic regression and lightGBM models were then used to classify and predict the disease. The results showed that the identification accuracy of the lightGBM model trained in this study was 80.0%, precision was 82.9%, recall was 72.5%, and the area under the working characteristic curve (AUC) of the subjects was 0.906. The defined ambulatory blood pressure features could be effectively used for identifying OSAHS. This study provides a new idea and method for OSAHS screening.