Bi-level Nasal Positive Airway Pressure(BiPAP)versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(CPAP)for Preterm Infants with Birth Weight Less Than 1500g and Respiratory Distress Syndrome Following INSURE Treatment:A Two-center Randomized Controlled Trial

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP)versus continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)in preterm infants with birth weight less than 1500 g and respiratory distress syndrome(RDS)following intubation-surfactant-extubation(INSURE)treatment.A two-center randomized control trial was performed.The primary outcome was the reintubation rate of infants within 72 h of age after INSURE.Secondary outcomes included bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD),necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC),retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)and incidences of adverse events.Lung function at one year of corrected age was also compared between the two groups.There were 140 cases in the CPAP group and 144 in the BiPAP group.After INSURE,the reintubation rates of infants within 72 h of age were 15%and 11.1%in the CPAP group and the BiPAP group,respectively(P>0.05).Neonates in the BiPAP group was on positive airway pressure(PAP)therapy three days less than in the CPAP group(12.6 d and 15.3 d,respectively,P<0.05),and on oxygen six days less than in the CPAP group(20.6 d and 26.9 d,respectively,P<0.05).Other outcomes such as BPD,NEC,ROP and feeding intolerance were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no difference in lung function at one year of age between the two groups(P>0.05).In conclusion,after INSURE,the reintubation rate of infants within 72 h of age was comparable between the BiPAP group and the CPAP group.BiPAP was superior to CPAP in terms of shorter durations(days)on PAP support and oxygen supplementation.There were no differences in the incidences of BPD and ROP,and lung function at one year of age between the two ventilation methods.

Sildenafil versus continuous positive airway pressure for erectile dysfunction in men with obstructive sleep apnea： a comparat-ive study of their efficacy and safety and the patient＇s satisfaction with treatment

Aim： To assess the efficacy of sildenafil and continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） in the treatment of concurrent erectile dysfunction （ED） with obstructive sleep apnea （OSA）, and to gauge the level of treatment satisfaction in patients and their partners. Methods： Forty men were treated for 12 weeks with sildenafil 100 mg （20 men） or CPAP during nighttime sleep （20 men）. Treatment efficacy was assessed by the rate of successful intercourse attempts, and satisfaction with treatment was assessed by patients＇ and partners＇ answers to question 1 of the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction. Results： Under sildenafil, 128 of 249 （51.4%） intercourse attempts were successful; under CPAP, 51 of 193 （26.9%） attempts were successful （^cp 〈 0.001）. Erectile function was improved in both groups. After sildenafil and CPAP treatment, the mean International Index for Erectile Function domain scores were 14.3 and 10.8, respectively （^bp = 0.025）, compared to 7.8 and 7 at baseline, respectively. CPAP and sildenafil were well tolerated. Sporadic episodes of nasal dryness under CPAP and transient headache and flushing under sildenafil were not significant. Fifty percent of patients treated with sildenafil and 25% with CPAP were satisfied with the treatment, and their partners were equally satisfied. The satisfaction scores for both patients and partners under sildenafil were superior to those under CPAP （^cP 〈 0.002）. Conclusion： Both sildenafil 100 mg and CPAP, used separately, had positive therapeutic impact but sildenafil was superior. Patients and their partners were more satisfied with sildenafil for the treatment of ED. However, because of the high proportion of dissatisfied men and partners, new therapeutic agents or a combination of the two methods must be studied further.

Impact of continuous positive airway pressure therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)has been suggested as an independent risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),and continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)is the first-line therapy for OSA.AIM To clarify the efficacy of effective CPAP therapy on NAFLD of OSA patients by serum markers and transient elastography(TE)using FibroScan®(Echosens,Paris,France).METHODS We prospectively enrolled 123 consecutive patients with OSA who met the indications for CPAP.Liver fibrosis and steatosis were assessed using TE.Before and after 6 mo of CPAP therapy,serum markers and TE were assessed for all patients.The mean usage rate of CPAP therapy for 6 mo was arbitrarily calculated in each patient and expressed as“mean compliance index”(m-CI).RESULTS In 50 OSA patients with NAFLD,both aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels were significantly decreased after 6 mo of CPAP therapy.Univariate analysis showed that decreased body weight(BW),decreased body mass index(BMI),decreased AST level,decreased hemoglobin A1c,and high m-CI were significantly related with improved ALT level.In multivariate regression model adjusted for quantities of BW change during 6 mo of CPAP therapy,high m-CI tended to improve ALT level(P=0.051).All 17 OSA patients with NAFLD,high m-CI and no BMI changes showed significant improvements in AST and ALT levels.Meanwhile,no significant changes in TE data or serum fibrosis markers were seen.CONCLUSION Some NAFLD could be associated with chronic intermittent hypoxia due to OSA independent of BW changes.In those cases,adequate reoxygenation from effective CPAP therapy may improve NAFLD.

Relationship between intubation rate and continuous positive airway pressure therapy in the prehospital setting

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the prehospital use of continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) therapy is associated with a reduced rate of endotracheal intubation in patients with an acute respiratory disorder brought to the emergency department(ED).METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients with acute respiratory distress who had been treated with CPAP in the Mobile Intensive Care Unit(MICU) from January 2010 to December 2011. These records were compared with those of patients who received standardized care without CPAP in the MICU from January 2004 to December 2004. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and compared between groups using Fisher's exact test or the Chi-square test. Continuous variables were summarized as medians(interquartile range), and comparison between the groups was made using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test. The relationship between CPAP and intubation rate was determined using multivariable logistic regression analysis of propensity scores. The results were presented as odds ratio(OR), 95% confidence interval(CI), and P value for test effect. The adequacy of the model was calibrated using Hosmer and Lemeshow's goodness-of-fit test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS: The records of 785 patients were reviewed. Of the 215 patients treated with CPAP in the MICU, 13% were intubated after admission. In contrast, of the 570 patients who did not receive CPAP, 28% were intubated after ED admission. Unadjusted logistic regression analysis showed that patients who had been treated with CPAP were less likely to be intubated than those without CPAP treatment(OR=0.37, 95% CI, 0.24–0.57, P<0.0001). With propensity scores adjusted, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CPAP treatment was associated with a 62% reduction of intubation(OR=0.384, 95%CI, 0.25–0.60, P≤0.0001).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute respiratory disorder, there was a relationship between CPAP therapy and the decreased intubation rate. CPAP therapy was feasible in prehospital management of patients with respiratory distress.

Continuous positive airway pressure for treating hypoxemia due to pulmonary vein injury:A case report

BACKGROUND Vascular injury during thoracoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer is a rare but life-threatening complication that can lead to severe hypotension and hypoxemia.Anesthesiologists need to provide rapid and effective treatment to save patients'lives.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old male patient was scheduled to undergo a thoracoscopic-assisted radical resection of esophageal cancer through the upper abdomen and right chest.While dissociating the esophagus from the carina through the right chest,unexpected profuse bleeding occurred from a suspected pulmonary vascular hemorrhage.While the surgeon attempted to achieve hemostasis,the patient developed severe hypoxemia.The anesthesiologist implemented continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)using a bronchial blocker(BB),which effectively improved the patient’s oxygenation and the operation was completed success-fully.CONCLUSION CPAP using a BB can resolve severe hypoxemia caused by accidental injury of the left inferior pulmonary vein during surgery.

A Deep Learning-Based Continuous Blood Pressure Measurement by Dual Photoplethysmography Signals

This study proposed a measurement platform for continuous blood pressure estimation based on dual photoplethysmography(PPG)sensors and a deep learning(DL)that can be used for continuous and rapid measurement of blood pressure and analysis of cardiovascular-related indicators.The proposed platform measured the signal changes in PPG and converted them into physiological indicators,such as pulse transit time(PTT),pulse wave velocity(PWV),perfusion index(PI)and heart rate(HR);these indicators were then fed into the DL to calculate blood pressure.The hardware of the experiment comprised 2 PPG components(i.e.,Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and analog-todigital converter[MCP3008]),which were connected using a serial peripheral interface.The DL algorithm converted the stable dual PPG signals acquired from the strictly standardized experimental process into various physiological indicators as input parameters and finally obtained the systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP)and mean arterial pressure(MAP).To increase the robustness of the DL model,this study input data of 100 Asian participants into the training database,including those with and without cardiovascular disease,each with a proportion of approximately 50%.The experimental results revealed that the mean absolute error and standard deviation of SBP was 0.17±0.46 mmHg.The mean absolute error and standard deviation of DBP was 0.27±0.52 mmHg.The mean absolute error and standard deviation of MAP was 0.16±0.40 mmHg.

THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE PRESSURE AND VACUUM CONTINUOUS CONTROL SYSTEM BASED ON HYBRID PUMP

A novel pressure and vacuum continuous control system, which adopts a hybrid pump as pressure and vacuum source, is presented. The mathematical model of the system is developed. The theoretical simulation and analysis on the system are implemented in order to study the relationships among the characteristics, parameters and working points of the system. The experimental investigations on the system characteristics are presented with the adoption ofa fuzzy-PID controller. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the pressure and vacuum continuous control system based on hybrid pump has good dynamic and static performance, strong robustness and satisfactory adaptability to various system parameters. According to the results, system can successfully gain high accuracy and fast response signal. Also, the mathematical model of system is also testified by the experimental results.

Effects of Continuous Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring on Intraoperative Hemodynamics and Postoperative Myocardial Injury in Craniotomy:Comparison Between Groups Based on Self-Control and Propensity Score Matching

Objective:To explore the effect of continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring on intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative myocardial injury in craniotomy.Methods:120 cases of elective craniotomy were divided into the self-control group(continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring and intermittent cuff non-invasive blood pressure monitoring,CNAP group)and propensity score matching group(only intermittent cuff non-invasive blood pressure measurement in previous craniotomy,PSM group);Goal-directed hemodynamic management in CNAP group included heart rate(HR),blood pressure(BP),stroke volume(SV),stroke variability(SVV),and systemic vascular resistance index(SVRI).The main index is to compare the troponin level within 72 hours after operation between the CNAP group and the PSM group;The secondary indicators are the comparison of the hemodynamic conditions between the CNAP group and the PSM at 10 specific time points.Results:The incidence of postoperative myocardial injury in the CNAP group was significantly lower than that in the PSM group(12%vs.30%,P=0.01);in the CNAP group hypotensive episodes(6 vs.3,P=0.01),positive balance of fluid therapy(700 vs.500 mL,P<0.001),more use of vasoactive drugs(29 vs.18,P=0.04),more stable hemodynamics medical status(P=0.03)were recorded.Conclusion:The hemodynamic management strategy based on continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring can reduce the incidence of myocardial injury after elective craniotomy and maintain a more stable hemodynamic state.

Changes in Brachial and Central Blood Pressure after Short Term Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Impaired Renal Function

Background: Previous studies of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have shown conflicting results on the effect on blood pressure (BP), and patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been included in these studies. As OSA is a frequent comorbidity in patients with CKD, it is of relevance to evaluate the effect of CPAP treatment on BP in this population. Aim: In this prospective follow-up study, we measured the effect of short term CPAP treatment of moderate-to-severe OSA on brachial and central BP, plasma level of syndecan-1 and vasoactive hormones, renal handling of sodium, subjective sleepiness, and quality of life in patients with impaired renal function. Methods: From December 2015 until March 2017, 25 patients were invited to participate in the study at the University Clinic in Nephrology and Hypertension, Aarhus University and Holstebro Hospital. At baseline and at follow-up after three to four months of CPAP treatment, we performed 24 h brachial and central ambulatory BP measurement, blood sampling measurements of plasma concentrations of syndecan-1, renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, vasopressin, creatinine, haemoglobin A1c, and cholesterol, cardio respiratory monitoring, 24 h urine collection for measurement of urinary excretion of albumin, aquaporin-2, and epithelial sodium channel, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and SF-36 (quality of life). Results: At follow-up, the 17 included patients with mean baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate 66 mL/min/1.73 m2 had a significant decrease in systolic office-, 24 h- and daytime-BP (13, 7, and 8 mmHg, respectively, p Conclusion: Short-term CPAP treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe OSA and reduced renal function decreased 24 h- and daytime-BP significantly and reduced urinary albumin excretion. Our results underline the importance of treatment of OSA in hypertensive patients with impaired renal function.

Changes in Plasma Angiotensin II and Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients with Sleep Apnea Syndrome Before and After Treatment

Objective To explore the changes in plasma angiotensin II （Ang Ⅱ） and circadian rhythm of blood pressure among hypertensive patients with sleep apnea syndrome （SAS） before and after continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） or surgical treatment. Methods A total of 180 essential hypertension patients were enrolled in our study. The determination of plasma Ang Ⅱ concentration, ambulatory blood pressure （ABP）, and polysomnography （PSG） monitoring were performed before and 3 months after CPAP or surgical treatment. Results Patients were classified into three groups by their apnea-hypopnea index （AHI）： essential hypertension group （EH group, n=72; AHI〈5）, essential hypertension with mild SAS group （EH＋mild SAS group, n=60, 5≤AHI〈20）, and essential hypertension with moderate and severe SAS group （EH＋moderate-severe SAS group, n=48, AHI_〉20）. The concentrations of plasma AngⅡ in the above three groups were 13.42±3.27, 16.17±3.82, and 18.73±4.05 ng/mL respectively before treatment, and AngⅡ concentration in EH patients combined with SAS was significantly higher than that in EH group （all P〈0.05）. After treatment the values in the latter two groups significantly decreased to 14.67±2.56 and 15.03±3.41 ng/mL respectively （P〈0.05）. The incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in EH patients was 31.9%, and those in hypertensive patients with mild SAS and moderate-severe SAS were 51.7% and 58.3%, respectively before treatment. The incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in the EH patients with mild SAS was significantly higher than that of patients with EH alone （P〈0.05）. After CPAP treatment or surgery, the incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in the two SAS groups was significantly decreased to 38.3% and 39.6%, respectively （P〈0.05）. Conclusions Ang Ⅱ might play a role in blood pressure variability in patients with obstructive SAS. CPAP or surgical treatment can improve blood pressure disorder and decrease plasma Ang Ⅱ level in patients with obstructive SAS.

持续气道正压通气治疗重症阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征伴黏多糖病患儿1例

1临床资料患儿,男,6岁,因“睡眠打鼾2年余,加重伴憋气2 d”于2022-09-09就诊于甘肃省人民医院。患儿自幼体格生长和智力发育较同龄儿落后,面容特殊;入院前2年无明显诱因出现鼻塞、睡眠时张口呼吸,打鼾憋气,感冒时鼻塞、打鼾症状尤为明显,有时伴有耳痛。入院前1周患儿感冒后鼻塞加重,近两日夜间睡眠打鼾加重,伴明显憋气,夜间口唇青紫。患儿父母非近亲婚配,其家族中未发现类似情况。查体:身高63 cm,体重22 kg,特殊面容.

Recent advances in managing obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)is a rapidly increasing global concern.If it remains untreated,it can lead to cardiovascular,metabolic,and psychiatric complications and may result in premature death.The efficient and effective management of OSA can have a beneficial effect and help reduce the financial burden on the health sector.There has been constant development in OSA management,and numerous options are available.The mainstay of therapy is still the conventional measures and behavioral modifications.However,in cases of failure of these modalities,surgical therapy is the only option.Numerous studies have shown that proper management of OSA has beneficial effects with good long-term outcomes.

Noninvasive Ventilation Interfaces in the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Insufficiency: A Critical Review

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an important therapeutic modality for the treatment of acute respiratory failure (ARF). In this review, we critically analyze randomized controlled trials on the most used NIV interfaces in the treatments of ARF. Methods: The searches were conducted in the Medline, Lilacs, PubMed, Cochrane, and Pedro databases from June to November 2021. The inclusion criteria were Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from 2016 to 2021 in Portuguese, Spanish, or English and involving adults (aged ≥ 18 years). The eligibility criteria for article selection were based on the PICO strategy: Population—Adults with ARF;Intervention—NIV Therapy;Comparison—Conventional oxygen therapy, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy, or NIV;Outcome—improvement in ARF. The search for articles and the implementation of the inclusion criteria were independently conducted by two researchers. Results: Seven scientific articles involving 574 adults with ARF due to various causes, such as chest trauma, decompensated heart failure, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and postoperative period, among others, were included. The interfaces cited in the studies included an oronasal mask, nasal mask, full-face mask, and helmet. In addition, some favorable outcomes related to NIV were reported in the studies, such as a reduction in the rate of orotracheal intubation and shorter length of stay in the ICU. Conclusions: The most cited interfaces in the treatment of ARF were the oronasal mask and the helmet.

持续气道正压通气对睡眠呼吸暂停患者疗效及C-反应蛋白和血沉的影响

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）主要表现为睡眠时打鼾并伴有呼吸暂停和呼吸表浅，夜间反复发生低氧血症、高碳酸血症和睡眠结构紊乱，导致白天嗜睡，心、脑、肺、血管并发症乃至多脏器损害，严重影响患者生活质量和寿命。OSAHS是心血管疾病的一个独立危险因素。OSAHS患者伴有炎症性过程，其体内的炎性因子可发生不同程度的改变，炎性因子改变对心脑血管疾病发病率有一定的促进作用，可通过各种机制参与血管病变。

Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Glycemic Excursions and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-hypopnea Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes

Background： For patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） and type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）, the night sleep interruption and intermittent hypoxia due to apnea or hypopnea may induce glycemic excursions and reduce insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） therapy in patients with OSAHS and T2DM. Methods： Continuous glucose monitoring system （CGMS） was used in 40 patients with T2DM and newly diagnosed OSAHS. The measurements were repeated after 30 days of CPAP treatment. Subsequently, insulin sensitivity and glycohemoglobin （HbAlc） were measured and compared to the pretreatment data. Results： After CPAP therapy, the CGMS indicators showed that the 24-h mean blood glucose （MBG） and the night time MBG were significantly reduced （P 〈 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively）. The mean ambulatory glucose excursions （MAGEs） and the mean of daily differences were also significantly reduced （P 〈 0.05 and P = 0.002, respectively） compared to pretreatment levels. During the night, MAGE also significantly decreased （P = 0.049）. The differences between the highest and lowest levels of blood glucose over 24 h and during the night were significantly lower than prior to CPAP treatment （P 〈 0.05 and P = 0.024, respectively）. The 24 h and night time durations of high blood glucose （〉7.8 mmol/L and 〉 11.1 mmol/L） decreased （P 〈 0.05 and P 〈 0.05, respectively） after the treatment. In addition, HbA 1 c levels were also lower than those before treatment （P 〈 0.05）, and the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance was also significantly lower than before CPAP treatment （P = 0.034）. Conclusions： CPAP therapy may have a beneficial effect on improving not only blood glucose but also upon insulin sensitivity in T2DM patients with OSAHS. This suggests that CPAP may be an effective treatment for T2DM in addition to intensive diabetes management.

Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Cognitive Deficits in Middle-aged Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome： A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background： Current views on continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） treatment to improve the cognitive deficits of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome （OSAS） are controversial, so we performed a meta-analysis. Methods： A comprehensive literature search was undertaken in PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Psyclnfo, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBMdisc for studies published from June 1971 to July 2014. The outcome measures included neuropsychological tests of the 7 cognitive domains detailed below. Results： After screening the titles and abstracts and thoroughly reading the fuU text, we obtained 13 studies with little risk of bias that incorporated 1744 middle-aged obese participants with mild to severe OSAS. The studies were published from 1994 to 2012. Treatment durations varied from 1 to 24 weeks. The effect sizes of attention, vigilance, processing speed, working memory, memory, verbal fluency, and visuoconstructive skills domains were -0.10 （P = 0.24）, -0.12 （P = 0.04）, -0.08 （P = 0.16）, 0.00 （P = 0.95）, -0.04 （P = 0.30）, -0.06 （P = 0.34）, and -0.01 （P = 0.92）, respectively. Conclusions： Cognition partially improved in patients with OSAS after CPAP treatment. The only domain with significant improvement was vigilance. Rigorous randomized controlled trials need to be performed to obtain clear results.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on serum adiponectin level and mean arterial pressure in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Background Recent research suggested that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome （OSAS） might be independently associated with hypoadiponectinemia, which was linked to some complications of OSAS, such as hypertension, diabetes etc. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） treatment on changes of both serum adiponectin levels and mean arterial pressure and their possible links in male OSAS patients. Methods Twenty-three adult male patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS but without obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes were recruited. Their blood samples were collected and morning mean arterial pressure （MAP） was measured before CPAP treatment and on day 3, 7, 14 of CPAP treatment respectively. The serum adiponectin concentration was tested with radioimmunoassay. Results Compared with the serum adiponectin level before CPAP treatment, no significant change was found in OSAS patients on day 3 and day 7 of CPAP treatment （P〉0.05）. It was not until day 14 of CPAP treatment did a significant elevation in serum adiponectin level occur （P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, the MAP showed no statistically significant difference among its levels before CPAP, on day 3 and day 7 of CPAP treatment （P〉0.05）. However, on day 14 of CPAP treatment, a significantly lower MAP than that obtained before treatment was observed （P〈0.05）. Conclusions CPAP treatment can gradually reverse hypoadiponectinemia and reduce MAP in OSAS patients. Hypoadiponectinemia might be involved in the pathogenesis of OSAS-mediated hypertension.

Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is an emerging liver disease and currently the most common cause of incidental abnormal liver tests.The pathogenesis of NAFLD is multifactorial and many mechanisms that cause fatty liver infiltration,inflammation,oxidative stress and progressive fibrosis have been proposed.Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)may be linked with the pathogenesis and the severity of NAFLD.AIM To study the association between NAFLD and OSA considering also the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)treatment.METHODS A Pub Med search was conducted using the terms"non-alcoholic fatty liver disease AND(obstructive sleep apnea OR obstructive sleep disorders OR sleep apnea)".Research was limited to title/abstract of articles published in English in the last 5 years;animal and child studies,case reports,commentaries,letters,editorials and meeting abstracts were not considered.Data were extracted on a standardized data collection table which included:First author,publication year,country,study design,number of patients involved,diagnosis and severity of OSA,diagnosis of NAFLD,patient characteristics,results of the study.RESULTSIn total,132 articles were initially retrieved on Pub Med search and 77 in the last five years.After removal of irrelevant studies,13 articles were included in the qualitative analysis.There was a total of 2753 participants across all the studies with a mean age between 42 and 58 years.The proportion of males ranged from21%to 87.9%and the mean body mass index ranged from 24.0 to 49.9 kg/m2.The results of this review showed an increased prevalence of NAFLD in patients with diagnosis of OSA,even in the absence of coexisting comorbidities such as obesity or metabolic syndrome.Furthermore,the severity of NAFLD is associated with the increase in OSA severity.Effective CPAP treatment,although not always decisive,may stabilize or slow NAFLD progression with benefits on metabolic and cardiovascular functions.CONCLUSION In NAFLD patients,although asymptomatic,it is recommended to systematically perform polysomnography in order to early and better treat them before the development of potentially life threatening systemic dysfunctions.

Significance of depression in obstructive sleep apnea patients and the relationship between the comorbidity and continuous positive airway pressure treatment

Obstructive sleep apnea （OSA）, which is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and characterized by recurrent collapse of the upper airway, causes repeated arousals from sleep, decreased oxygen saturation of the blood, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Patients with OSA are at increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease,

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on vascular endothelial function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and coronary artery disease

Background Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment has been proven to be effective in improving the symptoms of coexisting coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). However,it is still unclear whether such improvements are linked to changes in vascular endothelial function. This research was carried out to investigate the effects of CPAP treatment on vascular endothelial function in patients with OSAHS and CHD.Methods Thirty-six patients with moderate or severe OSAHS and CHD undergoing three months of CPAP treatment were recruited for this study. The changes in their morning plasma nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) levels,NO/ET ratio,total ischemic burden (TIB) of the myocardium,apnea hypopnea index (AHI),and minimal and mean pulse oxygen saturation (SpO_2) were compared and analyzed before and during CPAP treatment. Results Compared with the plasma levels of ET [(51.39±11.69) ng/L] and NO [(36.67±11.86) μmol/L],NO/ET (0.71±0.14),AHI (32.4±7.9),minimal SpO_2 [(68.9±11.4)%],and myocardial TIB [(66.29±16.37) mm·min] before treatment,there were significant decreases in ET [(33.41±10.03) ng/L] ( P <0.05),increases in NO [(59.89±10.26) μmol/L] and NO/ET (1.79±0.38) ( P <0.01),decreases in AHI (1.9±0.5),and increases in minimal SpO_2 [(90.6±1.8) %] (all P <0.01) and myocardial TIB [(36.42±10.87) mm·min] ( P <0.05) after three months of CPAP treatment.Conclusion CPAP treatment may play an important role in the improvement and protection of vascular endothelial dysfunction and myocardial ischemia in OSAHS patients with CHD.