Beclin-1 increases with obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common chronic disorder that leads to chronic intermittent hypoxia described as an important factor contributing to the pathogenesis of OSA-related comorbidities. Besides, recent data suggest that intermittent hypoxia can induce adaptative cardiovascular pathways inducing a relative resistance to ischemic insults. Adaptative pathways induced by hypoxia could implicate autophagic processes and Beclin-1, one of the first mammalian autophagy effectors.

OSA treatment with CPAP: Randomized crossover study comparing tolerance and efficacy with and without humidification by ThermoSmart.

Objectives: Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains an issue, as adverse effects (AE) such as rhinitis, dry/congested nose, dry mouth or throat are commonly experienced. The aim of the study was to compare CPAP efficacy and tolerance in severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with or without (w/o) heated humidification using the ThermoSmart system.

Methods: Multicenter RCT study in which CPAP-naive patients with severe OSA and meeting one or more of the following criteria: >65 years, using >1 drying medication, previous nasal symptoms or nasal surgery, were included.

Telomere Shortening in Middle-Aged Men with Sleep-disordered Breathing.

Rationale: Sleep disorders may lead to stress-induced premature aging and telomere shortening.

Objectives: To determine whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome causing intermittent hypoxemic episodes was associated with telomere shortening independently from the comorbidities associated with this syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 161prospectivelly enrolled, untreated, middle-aged men free of known comorbidities related or unrelated to sleep apnea.

Prevalence, Severity, and Prognostic Value of Sleep Apnea Syndromes in Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Study Objectives: To assess prevalence, severity, and prognostic value of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), in the three main cardiac amyloidosis (CA) types, i.e., light-chain (AL), transthyretin-related familial (m-TTR), or senile (WT-TTR).

Apnea-hypopnea and desaturations in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Are we aiming at the right target?

Background: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). An increased apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is associated with poor outcomes. We examined whether an analysis of nocturnal desaturations (NDs) can improve the risk stratification.

Sleep-disordered breathing in chronic heart failure: development and validation of a clinical screening score.

Aims: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is highly prevalent and of adverse prognostic significance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Polygraphy is used for diagnosing SDB but polygraphy resources fall short of needs. Here, our aim was to develop a score for SDB screening in patients with CHF.

Aging-related systemic manifestations in COPD patients and cigarette smokers.

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often associated with age-related systemic abnormalities that adversely affect the prognosis. Whether these manifestations are linked to the lung alterations or are independent complications of smoking remains unclear.

Objectives: To look for aging-related systemic manifestations and telomere shortening in COPD patients and smokers with minor lung destruction responsible for a decline in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) corrected for alveolar volume (KCO).

Ventricular orexin-A (hypocretin-1) levels correlate with rapid-eye-movement sleep without atonia in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Patients with Parkinson's disease frequently complain of sleep disturbances and loss of muscle atonia during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep is not rare. The orexin-A (hypocretin-1) hypothalamic system plays a central role in controlling REM sleep. Loss of orexin neurons results in narcolepsy-cataplexy, a condition characterized by diurnal sleepiness and REM sleep without atonia.

Daily administration of the TP receptor antagonist terutroban improved endothelial function in high-cardiovascular-risk patients with atherosclerosis.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: • Terutroban is a selective TP receptor antagonist, i.e. a specific antagonist of the thromboxane A(2) and prostaglandin endoperoxide receptors, shown to improve endothelial function after a single administration in patients with coronary artery disease.

Effects of polycythemia on systemic endothelial function in chronic hypoxic lung disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Polycythemia, a common complication of hypoxic COPD, may affect systemic vascular function by altering blood viscosity, vessel wall shear stress (WSS), and endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) release. Here, we evaluated the effects of hypoxia-related polycythemia on systemic endothelial function in patients with COPD.