Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome immunological relationship

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)is a complex disorder cha-racterized by symptoms resulting from intermittent hypoxia and hypopnea,with research indicating a crucial role of immune system dysregulation and genetic variations in its pathogenesis.A recent Zhao et al study utilizes Mendelian ran-domization analysis to explore the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and OSAHS.The study identifies specific lymphocyte subsets as-sociated with OSAHS,providing valuable insights into the disease's pathophy-siology and potential targets for therapeutic intervention.The findings underscore the significance of genetic and immunological factors in sleep disorders,offering a fresh perspective on OSAHS's complexities.Compared to existing literature,Zhao et al's study stands out for its focus on genetic markers and specific immune responses associated with OSAHS,expanding upon previous research primarily centered on systemic inflammation.In conclusion,the study represents a signi-ficant advancement in the field,shedding light on the causal role of immune cells in OSAHS and paving the way for future research and targeted treatments.

Causal role of immune cells in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome:Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Despite being one of the most prevalent sleep disorders,obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome(OSAHS)has limited information on its immunologic foundation.The immunological underpinnings of certain major psychiatric diseases have been uncovered in recent years thanks to the extensive use of genome-wide association studies(GWAS)and genotyping techniques using highdensity genetic markers(e.g.,SNP or CNVs).But this tactic hasn't yet been applied to OSAHS.Using a Mendelian randomization analysis,we analyzed the causal link between immune cells and the illness in order to comprehend the immunological bases of OSAHS.AIM To investigate the immune cells'association with OSAHS via genetic methods,guiding future clinical research.METHODS A comprehensive two-sample mendelian randomization study was conducted to investigate the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and OSAHS.Summary statistics for each immune cell feature were obtained from the GWAS catalog.Information on 731 immune cell properties,such as morphologic parameters,median fluorescence intensity,absolute cellular,and relative cellular,was compiled using publicly available genetic databases.The results'robustness,heterogeneity,and horizontal pleiotropy were confirmed using extensive sensitivity examination.RESULTS Following false discovery rate(FDR)correction,no statistically significant effect of OSAHS on immunophenotypes was observed.However,two lymphocyte subsets were found to have a significant association with the risk of OSAHS:Basophil%CD33dim HLA DR-CD66b-(OR=1.03,95%CI=1.01-1.03,P<0.001);CD38 on IgD+CD24-B cell(OR=1.04,95%CI=1.02-1.04,P=0.019).CONCLUSION This study shows a strong link between immune cells and OSAHS through a gene approach,thus offering direction for potential future medical research.

Risk factors and management countermeasures for obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome in children

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome(OSAHS)in children is a sleep respiratory disorder characterized by a series of pathophysiologic changes.Statistics in recent years have demonstrated an increasing yearly incidence.AIM To investigate the risk factors for OSAHS in children and propose appropriate management measures.METHODS This study had a case–control study design.Altogether,85 children with OSAHS comprised the case group,and healthy children of the same age and sex were matched at 1:1 as the control group.Basic information,including age,sex,height,weight and family history,and medical history data of all study participants were collected.Polysomnography was used to detect at least 8 h of nocturnal sleep.All participants were clinically examined for the presence of adenoids,enlarged tonsils,sinusitis,and rhinitis.RESULTS The analysis of variance revealed that the case group had a higher proportion of factors such as adenoid grading,tonsil indexing,sinusitis,and rhinitis than the control group.CONCLUSION A regression model was established,and glandular pattern grading,tonsil indexing,sinusitis,and pharyngitis were identified as independent risk factors affecting OSAHS development.

Forced Inspiratory Flow Volume Curve in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSA) is a disease of obstructive apnea or hypopnea caused by a repeated partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The inspiratory part of the flow-volume curve (F-V curve) can be used as an auxiliary means to evaluate upper airway obstruction in adults. This study is to evaluate the ability of the F-V curve to predict the OSA and explore inspiratory indicators related to airway obstruction during sleep. Methods: There were 332 patients included in this cross-sectional study, who were accompanied by snoring, daytime sleepiness and other symptoms, with suspicion of OSA. According to the nocturnal polysomnography, the subjects were distributed into mild to moderate OSA group, severe OSA group and non-OSA group. A pulmonary function test was used to collect the subjects’ spirometry and F-V curves. Results: There was no significant difference in a variety of indices derived from the F-V curve between OSA and normal subjects, including 25% inspiratory flow rate, middle inspiratory flow rate, 75% inspiratory flow rate, peak flow rate, and forced inspiratory flow rate in the first second. The pulmonary function parameters were significantly correlated with the weight, age and sex of the subjects. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the inspiratory curve of pulmonary function cannot evaluate the upper airway abnormalities in patients with obstructive apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Evaluation of Airway Obstruction at Soft Palate Level in Male Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome:Dynamic 3-Dimensional CT Imaging of Upper Airway

This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS） by using dynamic 3-Dimensional（3-D） CT imaging.A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms,i.e.,daytime sleepiness and fatigue,frequent snoring,and apnea with witness,were diagnosed as having OSAHS.They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller＇s maneuver.The soft palate length（SPL）,the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region（mXSA-RP）,and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid（hhL） were compared between the two breathing states.These parameters,together with hard palate length（HPL）,were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups.Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index（AHI） and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen（LSaO2）] was examined.The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS,and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS.All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level.mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller＇s maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state.There were no significant differences in these airway parameters（except the position of the hyoid bone） between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups.And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found.The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group.The patients in group with body mass index（BMI）≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP,greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller＇s maneuver than those in group with BMI26（P0.05 for all）.It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients.All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level.But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS.The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI26.

Intermittent hypoxia is involved in gut microbial dysbiosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)has been recognized as a comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM);more than half of T2DM patients suffer from OSAHS.Intermittent hypoxia(IH)plays an important role in metabolic diseases,such as obesity and OSAHS,through various mechanisms,including altering the gut microecological composition and function.Therefore,it is important to study the role of gut microbiota in T2DM patients with OSAHS,which has a high incidence and is prone to several complications.AIM To assess whether IH is involved in altering the fecal microbiome in T2DM patients with OSAHS.METHODS Seventy-eight participants were enrolled from Henan Province People’s Hospital and divided into healthy control(HC,n=26),T2DM(n=25),and T2DM+OSA(n=27)groups based on their conditions.The fecal bacterial DNA of the research participants was extracted and subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.The clinical indices,such as insulin resistance index,homocysteine(HCY)concentration,and the concentrations of inflammatory factors in the peripheral blood,were assessed and recorded.RESULTS Group T2DM+OSA had the highest apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)(2.3 vs 3.7 vs 13.7),oxygen desaturation index(0.65 vs 2.2 vs 9.1),HCY concentration(9.6μmol/L vs 10.3μmol/L vs 13.81μmol/L)and C-reactive protein(CRP)concentrations(0.3 mg/L vs 1.43 mg/L vs 2.11 mg/L),and lowest mean oxygen saturation(97.05%vs 96.6%vs 94.7%)among the three groups.Twelve and fifteen key differences in amplicon sequence variants were identified when comparing group T2DM+OSA with groups T2DM and HC,respectively.We found progressively decreased levels of Faecalibacterium,Eubacterium,and Lachnospiraceae,and an increase in the level of Actinomyces,which strongly correlated with the HCY,CRP,fasting plasma glucose,and hemoglobin A1c concentrations,AHI,mean oxygen saturation,and insulin resistance index in group T2DM+OSA(P<0.05).CONCLUSION For T2DM patients with OSAHS,IH may be involved in selective alterations of the gut microbiota,which may affect the pathophysiological development of T2DM and DM-related complications.

Clinical observation of soft palate-pharyngoplasty in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome in children

BACKGROUND Childhood obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)is a common clinical disease that can cause serious complications if not treated in time.The preferred treatment for OSAHS in children is surgery.AIM To observe the effects of soft palate-pharyngoplasty on postoperative outcome,pharyngeal formation,and possible complications.METHODS A total of 150 children with snoring,hernia,and mouth breathing were selected.A polysomnography test was performed to confirm the diagnosis of OSAHS.The children were randomly divided into experimental and control groups.The experimental group underwent adenoidectomy,tonsillectomy,and soft palatepharyngoplasty.The control group underwent adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy.The t-test and chi-square test were used to compare conditions such as postoperative fever,postoperative hemorrhage,and pharyngeal reflux.Postoperative efficacy and complications were interrogated and observed in the form of outpatient follow-up and telephone follow-up at 6 mo and 1 year after surgery.The curative effects were divided into two groups:Cure(snoring,snoring symptoms disappeared)and non-cure.RESULTS The effective rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The incidence of postoperative bleeding was lower in the experimental group.There was no postoperative pharyngeal reflux in either group.In the experimental group,the incidence of hyperthermia(body temperature exceeded 38.5°C)was lower than that in the control group.The difference in postoperative swallowing pain scores between the experimental and control groups was significant.CONCLUSION Soft palate-pharyngoplasty can more effectively enlarge the anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter of the isthmus faucium.Compared with surgery alone,it can better treat OSAHS in children,improve the curative effect,reduce the risk of perioperative bleeding,close the surgical cavity,reduce the risk of postoperative infection,reduce the proportion of postoperative fever,and accelerate healing.Although this process takes more time,it is simple,safe,and effective.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Ssyndrome and Hearing in Children

Objective To explore the relationship between hypoxemia and hearing in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. Methods Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded in 68 ears and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in 60 ears in children with OSAHS and type "A" tym-panograms, and in 30 ears in normal children. Results ABR latencies of waves I, III and V, and I-III, III-V and I-V intervals were not statistically different between OSAHS and normal children. Wave I latency was delayed in children with OSAHS compared to normal children3 (P < 0.05). DPOAE amplitudes in children with mild OSAHS were lower than normal children at 8 kHz (P < 0.05). DPOAEs were lower at 6 kHz and 8 kHz in children with moderate/severe OSAHS than normal children (P < 0.05). Conclusion Cochlear function was affected when AHI was at or greater than 10/hour. ABR and DPOAE can be used to detect early changes in auditory function in children with OSAHS.

Relation between Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome and Glaucoma in a Sub-Saharan African Population

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a frequent pathology worldwide whose main mechanism is a complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway. One of the pathophysiological mechanisms described in primary open-angle glaucoma is that hypoxia in the optic nerve progressively destroys the retinal cells leading to the onset and/or aggravation of glaucoma. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of OSA in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methodology: An analytical study was conducted from January to May 2020 at the UHC. After obtaining ethical clearance, 112 patients including 50 glaucoma patients (44.64%) and 62 in the control group were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from the medical records of the participants, with or without glaucoma, and a questionnaire was administered and a clinical examination performed. The STOP BANG score was used to determine the risk level of OSAHS. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info version 7.2. Results: A female predominance was found (60%) in the glaucoma group with a mean age of 55 ± 17 years against 49 ± 18 years in the control group. The high risk of OSAHS was more associated with glaucoma patients. In glaucoma patients, an association was found between high risk of OSAHS and snoring (OR = [1.43 - 849.53];p = 0.029) as well as insomnia (OR = [1.36 - 482.86];p = 0.030). Conclusion: High risk of OSAHS was found in participants with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Signs of OSAHS should be sought in chronic open-angle glaucoma as it may be a factor in its progression.

Burdened breaths:The influence of depression on obstructive sleep apnea

Depression and metabolic syndrome could exacerbate the risks of the other,leading to a series of severe coexisting conditions.One notable comorbidity that must be mentioned is obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).Current studies suggested that depression increases susceptibility to OSA.As the prevalence of depression rises,it becomes critical to prevent and manage its complications or comorbidities,including OSA.Predictive models,non-invasive electroencephalogram moni-toring,genetic research,and other promising technologies are being applied to the prevention,diagnosis,and personalized treatment of depression and OSA.

Investigation on Risk Factors of Cerebrocardiac Vascular Thrombotic Diseases in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

Objective: To observe the risk factors of thrombosis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods: From February 2001 to April 2003, 24 patients with moderate and severe OSAHS (OSAHS group) and 19 healthy adults (control group) were recruited. Their blood samples were drawn at 6∶00 and 16∶00 respectively for testing hemocrit, platelet aggregation (PAG), whole blood viscosity (WBV), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), plasma fibrinogen (Fng) and endothelin (ET).Results: There was a significantly higher hemocrit, WBV, Fng and ET as well as a significant shortening of PT and APTT at 6∶00 than that at 16∶00 in OSAHS group. However, there was no significant difference in all testing items between 6∶00 and 16∶00 in control group. The hemocrit, WBV, PAG, plasma Fng and ET were significantly higher, and PT and APTT were obviously shorter at 6∶00 in OSAHS group than those at 6∶00 in control group. A higher hemocrit, PAG, plasma Fng and ET, a longer PT and APTT were observed at 16∶00 in OSAHS group, compared with those at 16∶00 in control group.Conclusion: In OSAHS patients there were striking risk factors of thrombosis, which is more remarkable in the early morning than in the afternoon.

Relationship between brain—derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive function of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome patients

Objective:To determine the relationship between the blood serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF） level and cognitive function deterioration in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS）,and to explore the possible mechanism of cognitive impairment. Methods:Twenty-eight male OSAHS patients and 14 normal males（as controls） were enrolled in the study.Polysomnography and the Montreal cognitive assessment（MoCA） were conducted. The blood serum BDNF levels were measured using ELISA.Results:The OSAHS group had significantly decreased blood serum BDNF levels compared with the control group（t=-10.912, P=0.000）.The blood serum BDNF level of the subjects was significantly positively associated with the MoCA score（r=0.544,P=0.000）,significantly negatively associated with the apneahypopnea index（AHI） and shallow sleep（S1+S2）（AHI:r=-0.607,P=0.000;S1+S2:r =-0.768,P= 0.000）,and significantly positively associated with the lowest SaO2（LSO）,slow wave sleep（S3+S4）, and rapid eye movement sleep（REM）（LSO:r=0.566,P = 0.000;S3+S4:r=0.778,P=0.000;REM: r=0.575,P=0.000）.Conclusions:OSAHS patients have significantly decreased blood serum BDNF levels compared with the control.Nocturnal hypoxia as well as the deprivation of slow wave sleep and REM may lead to the decreased serum BDNF level of OSAHS patients.This decreased blood serum BDNF level may contribute to the cognitive impairment in OSAHS.

Association between Serum Homocysteine and Oxidative Stress in Elderly Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea/hypopnea Syndrome

Objective Elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） has a higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. However, changes of homocysteine （Hey） as markers of cardiovascular and eerebrovascular disease associated with OSAHS and their mechanism have not been elucidated so far. This study aims to investigate the changes of both serum Hcy and oxidative stress and their possible links with OSAHS in elderly patients. Methods Based on polysomnogram （PSG） and age, 83 patients with OSAHS were recruited and divided into elderly-OSAHS （n=32） and non-elderly OSAHS groups （n=51）. Fifty two subjects without OSAHS were divided into elderly control （n=29） and non-elderly control groups （n-23）. A total of 135 subjects were included in the present study. All subjects were recorded for PSG variables and the contents of homocysteine （Hcy）, malonaldehyde （MDA）, and glutathione （GSH） which were detected after sleep. Serum homocysteine was measured by cyclophorase. MDA and GSH were measured by speetrophotometer. Results （1） The serum levels of Hcy showed significant difference among the four groups （P〈0.05）. The concentrations of Hcy in elderly OSAHS patients were higher than in other groups, while those in the elderly control group were higher than in the non-elderly control; the concentrations in the non-elderly OSAHS group were higher than in the non-elderly control. （2） The concentrations of MDA and GSH changed at an equal pace with Hcy in the four groups. （3） Multielement linearity regression analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between Hcy concentration and age, MDA, GSH, and apnea hypopnea index （AHI）. Conclusions （1） The concentrations of Hcy and oxidative stress have increased with advancing age. （2） The concentrations of Hcy and oxidative stress have further increased in the elderly patients with OSAHS. （3） Oxidative stress might cause high-level serum Hcy in the elderly patients with OSAHS.

Detection of cognitive impairment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome using mismatch negativity

In this experiment, 97 patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome were divided into three groups （mild, moderate, severe） according to minimum oxygen saturation, and 35 healthy subjects were examined as controls. Cognitive function was determined using the mismatch negativity paradigm and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The results revealed that as the disease worsened, the mismatch negativity latency was gradually extended, and the amplitude gradually declined in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Importantly, mismatch negativity latency in severe patients with a persistent time of minimum oxygen saturation 〈 60 seconds was significantly shorter than that with a persistent time of minimum oxygen saturation 〉 60 seconds. Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between minimum oxygen saturation latency and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. These findings indicate that intermittent night-time hypoxemia affects mismatch negativity waveforms and Montrea Cognitive Assessment scores. As indicators for detecting the cognitive functional status of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients, the sensitivity of mismatch negativity is 82.93%, the specificity is 73.33%, the accuracy rate is 81.52%, the positive predictive value is 85.00%, the negative predictive value is 70.21%, the positive likelihood ratio is 3, and the negative likelihood ratio is 0.23. These results indicate that mismatch negativity can be used as an effective tool for diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients.

The Change of Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

The levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced interleukin 6 (IL 6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) expression in culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the plasma levels of IL 6 and TNF α in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were measured and the relationship between OSAS and IL 6 or TNF α expression studied. Both IL 6 and TNF α were detected by using ELISA in 22 patients with OSAS and 16 normal controls. The levels of LPS induced IL 6 (787.82±151.97 pg/ml) and TNF α (4165.45±1501.43 pg/ml) expression in the supernatant of the culture of PBMC and plasma level of IL 6 (50.67±4.70 pg/ml) and TNF α (299.09±43.57 pg/ml) in the patients with OSAS were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (in the supernatant of the culture of PBMC: 562.69±197.54 pg/ml and 1596.25±403.08 pg/ml respectively; in the plasma: 12.69±2.75 pg/ml and 101.88±21.27 pg/ml respectively). There were significantly positive correlation between the levels of IL 6 and TNF α and the percentage of time of apnea and hyponea, as well as the percentage of time spending at SaO 2 below 90 % in the total sleep time. It was concluded that LPS induced IL 6 and TNF α levels as well as plasma IL 6 and TNF α levels in the patients with OSAS were up regulated, which may be associated with the pathogenesis of OSAS.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness changes in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: one year follow-up results

·AIM: To investigate the retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) for one year follow-up. To discuss the possibility of detecting tendency of glaucoma in this population by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography(3D-OCT-2000 Spectral domain).·METHODS: After polysomnographic study, all subjects(64 OSAS patients and 40 controls) underwent detailed ophthalmological examination. After these examinations,patients with glaucoma and patients who had ophthalmological and/or systemic disease were excluded from the study.Totally, 20 patients in OSAS group and five patients in controls were excluded from the study in the first examination and follow-up period. The RNFL thickness was assessed with OCT. Forty-four OSAS patients and 35 control subjects were followed up for12 mo. RNFL thickness change and OSAS patients were evaluated for severity of disease by Apnea-Hypopnea Index(AHI).·RESULTS: Forty-four OSAS patients and 35 controls were enrolled in the study. Statistically significance was found between OSAS patients and controls at the 12 thmo.Average RNFL thickness was found to be significantly lower in last measurements in OSAS patients when compared with first measurements and control subjects(P 【0.001, 0.002, respectively). There was a statistically significant correlation among AHI, and RNFL thickness(P 【0.05).·CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the patients with OSAS were related with a proportional decrease in the RNFL thickness. These patients should be followed up regularly for glaucomatous changes. Detecting more RNFL thinning in severe OSAS was important.

Diurnal changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome

AIM： To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer （RNFL） thickness in the morning and evening in Thai patients with varying degrees of obstructive sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS）. METHODS： In this cross-sectional study, potential OSAHS patients at Siriraj Hospital underwent polysomnography to determine the severity of OSAHS and an eye examination （including best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, and Goldmann applanation tonometry）. RNFL thickness was recorded once in the morning and once in the evening, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Thickness was expressed as an average and given for each quadrant. Patients with ocular or systemic diseases that might affect RNFL thickness were excluded. RESULTS： Forty-one eyes of 41 patients were classified into 40SAHS groups. The average and mean RNFL thickness in most of the four quadrants of the severe OSAHS group trended toward being less than those in the comparable quadrants of the other groups in both the morning and evening. In the moderate OSAHS group, the average RNFL thickness and temporal and superior quadrant thickness in the morning were significantly higher than in the evening （P=0.01, P=0.01, and P=0.03, respectively）. In the severe OSAHS group, the inferior quadrant thickness in the morning was significantly higher than in the evening （P =0.03）. CONCLUSION： The RNFL thickness in the morning was higher than in the evening in moderate OSAHS.

Electrical Stimulation Therapy Improves Sleep Respiratory Parameters in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Meta-analysis

Recent clinical trials have shown that electrical stimulation has beneficial effects in obstruc- tive sleep apnea syndrome （OSAS）. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of electrical stimulation therapy for OSAS with a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis of all relative studies was per- formed through searching international literature, including PUBMED, CNKI, and EMBASE databases. This literature analysis compared all patients undergoing electrical stimulation therapy with respect to the respiratory disturbance index （RDI） and changes in sleep structure. Six studies were selected in- volving a total of 91 patients. The meta-analysis indicated that electrical stimulation therapy reduced RDI, longest apnea time, and improved the minimum SaO2. Based on the evidence found, electrical stimulation may be a potential therapy for OSAS, warranting further clinical trials.

Correlation of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome with metabolic syndrome in snorers

Though obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS） and metabolic syndrome（MS） are correlated;the contributing factors for the occurrence of MS in Chinese snorers remain largely undefined.We aimed to investigate the associated pathogenesis of coexistence of OSAHS and MS in Chinese snorers.A total of 144 Chinese habitual snorers were divided into 3 groups,the control group（simple snorers）（n = 36）,the mild OSAHS group（n= 52）and the moderate-to-severe OSAHS group（n = 56）.The incidence of MS in the moderate-to-severe OSAHS group（26.8%） was significantly higher than that in the control group（8.3%）,the mild OSAHS group（11.1%） and all the OSAHS patients（19.45%）（all P 〈 0.05）.Homeostatic model assessment（HOMA） index and proinsulin（PI） were negatively correlated with nocturnal meanSpO2 and miniSpO2.Meanwhile,nocturnal SpO2 were negatively correlated with body mass index,waist and neck circumferences and diastolic blood pressure,but positively correlated with total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.The study indicated that in Chinese snorers,moderate-to-severe OSAHS was closely associated with MS via nocturnal hypoxemia.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a comparative study

AIM: To assess choroidal thickness in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) and compare them with healthy controls, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography(OCT).METHODS: In this observational, cross-sectional study,choroidal thicknesses of 23 newly severe OSAS patients and 23 body mass index- age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were measured using a high-speed, high-resolution frequency domain- OCT device( λ = 840 nm,26 000 A-scans/s, 5 μm axial resolution). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination before the measurements. OCT measurements were taken at the same time of day(9:00 a.m.), in order to minimize the effects of diurnal variation.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in median choroidal thickness between the OSAS patients(201 μm; range 145-237 μm) and the controls(324 μm; range 296-383 μm;P 【0.001). There were significant differences at all measurement points(P 【0.001 for all). The apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)values were more than 30 in all OSAS patients and the mean AHI was 48.57 ±6.54. The interexaminer intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) for the mean choroidal thickness was 0.938(95% CI, 0.908-0.985) and ICC was greater than 0.90 for all measurement points.CONCLUSION: The decreased choroidal thickness of patients with severe OSAS might be related to the the autonomic disregulation associated with this disease.Further studies are needed to evaluate the etiopathologic relationship between choroidal thickness and OSAS.