Intradermal electrical stimulation of sudomotor nerves and local sweat rate.

The local sweat rate (LSR) response to intradermal electrical stimulation generates a sigmodal stimulus-response curve with a peak sweat rate generated during a 30-s period of continuous stimuli at a frequency of 16-32 Hz. However, the in vivo firing pattern of the sudomotor nerve resembles more of a bursting pattern. We tested the hypothesis that a bursting pattern during intradermal electrical stimulation would result in a greater sweating response than the regular continuous stimulus pattern.

Experimental coral reef communities transform yet persist under mitigated future ocean warming and acidification.

Coral reefs are among the most sensitive ecosystems affected by ocean warming and acidification, and are predicted to collapse over the next few decades. Reefs are predicted to shift from net accreting calcifier-dominated systems with exceptionally high biodiversity to net eroding algal-dominated systems with dramatically reduced biodiversity. Here, we present a two-year experimental study examining the responses of entire mesocosm coral reef communities to warming (+2 °C), acidification (-0.

"We are still tired": staff and administrators' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic within California residential care facilities for older adults.

Background: Extensive research has been conducted on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term care workers in specialized care facilities. However, little is known about the impacts faced by facilities that provide generalized long-term support and care, such as residential care facilities for older adults (RCFs). This study describes the challenges experienced by staff and administrators of RCFs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ready or not: Emergency preparedness in residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) in California.

This study examined the results of an electronic survey of residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) in California in 2021 to provide insight on key elements of emergency plans and facility preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies. Surveys were distributed to RCFE administrators using publicly available emails found on the California Health and Human Services Open Data Portal. Responses from 150 facility administrators included data on their perception of current and future facility preparedness for COVID-19 and other emergency scenarios, items included in facility evacuation/shelter-in-place plans, and hazard vulnerability analyses and training practices of facility staff.

Tinnitus and Its Relation to Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Tinnitus is a common symptom reported in otolaryngologic practice. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus has not been fully understood, clinical studies suggest that psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization are increased in tinnitus patients. However, patients seeking medical treatment for tinnitus may be especially vulnerable.

Accumulating Comorbidities May Promote Increasing Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Aging in Males but Not in Females.

Evidence suggests an increasing apnea−hypopnea index (AHI) with aging. However, the effect of aging on sleep-related metrics, especially AHI, has been less frequently investigated within different gender-specific subpopulations by taking prominent confounding factors, e.g.

Short-Term Outcome of Unilateral Inspiration-Coupled Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) is a therapeutic option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and intolerance of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Most reported data are based on multicentre pivotal trials with selected baseline core clinical features. Our aim was to investigate polysomnography (PSG)-based outcomes of HGNS-therapy in a patient cohort with higher average AHI and BMI than previously reported.

The Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Provision With Hearing Aids in the Gutenberg Health Study.

Background: Hearing is a basic ability that is needed for participation in daily life. Hearing loss often greatly reduces a person's quality of life. Nevertheless, epidemiological data on the prevalence of hearing disorders in Germany are sparse.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Disrupts Glycemic Control in Obese Individuals.

The link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, and their common comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM) or cardiovascular diseases, is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of OSA severity in obese individuals with polysomnography-based sleep parameters, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) serum levels. Polysomnographic recordings and blood samples were retrospectively compared between a group of 23 adult obese individuals with mild OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) = 7.

A Narrative Review of the Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Glaucoma in Adults.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder, primarily of the upper airway, which not only has a significant impact on quality of life but is also associated with various systemic diseases. Several ophthalmological diseases are also associated with OSA, especially glaucoma. The purpose of this review is to take a closer look at the causality and mutual influence.

Ecological succession of the sponge cryptofauna in Hawaiian reefs add new insights to detritus production by pioneering species.

Successional theory proposes that fast growing and well dispersed opportunistic species are the first to occupy available space. However, these pioneering species have relatively short life cycles and are eventually outcompeted by species that tend to be longer-lived and have lower dispersal capabilities. Using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) as standardized habitats, we examine the assembly and stages of ecological succession among sponge species with distinctive life history traits and physiologies found on cryptic coral reef habitats of Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i.

Agent based simulation with data driven parameterization for evaluation of social acceptance of a geothermal development: a case study in Tsuchiyu, Fukushima, Japan.

Development of geothermal power plants and local geothermal energy initiatives have lagged due to the social problems such as conflicts with stakeholders such as Onsen (Hot Spa) owners, despite the abundant geothermal resources. Study area was Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima prefecture, Tohoku (Northeast) District, Japan, where the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima Nuclear Accident occurred in 2011, and the reconstruction and local initiatives of geothermal energy were still unclear. Agent-based modeling is an effective methodology for modeling and analysis of opinion formation.

The Snoring Index Identifies Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Background: The aim of this observational cohort study was to explore the severity of liver disease in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea in Germany.

Methods: Patients undergoing polysomnography or home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) as an evaluation for the presence of OSA were screened using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and continuous attenuation parameter (CAP) with a Fibroscan ® Mini 430. Clinical and laboratory data were collected following the overnight exam.

Hearing Loss and Its Burden of Disease in a Large German Cohort-Hearing Loss in Germany.

Objectives/hypothesis: Hearing loss is the most common sensory impairment worldwide. It restricts patients in many aspects of their daily lives and can lead to social exclusion. Understanding this burden is a mandatory requirement for the care of those affected.

Biodiversity of coral reef cryptobiota shuffles but does not decline under the combined stressors of ocean warming and acidification.

Ocean-warming and acidification are predicted to reduce coral reef biodiversity, but the combined effects of these stressors on overall biodiversity are largely unmeasured. Here, we examined the individual and combined effects of elevated temperature (+2 °C) and reduced pH (-0.2 units) on the biodiversity of coral reef communities that developed on standardized sampling units over a 2-y mesocosm experiment.

[Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children].

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has a high prevalence in the general population. Risk factors are adenotonsillar hyperplasia, preterm birth, obesity, and craniofacial dysmorphia. A special feature of pediatric OSAS is that it can manifest in behavioral problems.

Intensity of Respiratory Cortical Arousals Is a Distinct Pathophysiologic Feature and Is Associated with Disease Severity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients.

Background: We investigated whether the number, duration and intensity of respiratory arousals (RA) on C3-electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings correlate with polysomnography (PSG)-related disease severity in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. We also investigated if every patient might have an individual RA microstructure pattern, independent from OSA-severity.

Methods: PSG recordings of 20 OSA patients (9 female; age 27-80 years) were analyzed retrospectively.

Increasing comparability among coral bleaching experiments.

Coral bleaching is the single largest global threat to coral reefs worldwide. Integrating the diverse body of work on coral bleaching is critical to understanding and combating this global problem. Yet investigating the drivers, patterns, and processes of coral bleaching poses a major challenge.

Bariatric Enhanced Recovery Protocol: a Community Quality Perspective.

Introduction: Bariatric enhanced recovery protocols can decrease length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs without compromising patient safety. Increased data is needed to compare patient outcomes before and after application of enhanced recovery pathways. We present a bariatric enhanced recovery protocol (BERP) at a community hospital.

Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in a monocentric pilot study.

Background: Both glaucoma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are widespread diseases. OSA may presumably partly cause or worsen glaucoma, although the etiopathogenesis is unclear. Here we analyze for the first time the possible association between different glaucoma phenotypes and OSA.

OSA in patients with head and neck cancer is associated with cancer size and oncologic outcome.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with severe daytime sleepiness and reduced quality of life. These symptoms are also present in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) before, during and after treatment, so that comorbidity cannot be excluded. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of OSA and its impact on the quality of life in patients with oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and lateral tongue SCCHN in a prospective study.

Corticoperipheral neuromuscular disconnection in obstructive sleep apnoea.

The roles of central nervous mechanisms and cortical output in obstructive sleep apnoea remain unclear. We addressed corticomuscular coupling between cortical sensorimotor areas and lower facial motor units as a mechanistic pathway and as a possible surrogate marker of corticoperipheral motor control in obstructive sleep apnoea. In this exploratory cross-sectional retrospective study, we analysed EEG (C3 and C4 leads) and chin EMG from polysomnography recordings in 86 participants (22 females; age range: 26-81 years): 27 with mild (respiratory disturbance index = 5-15 events/h), 21 with moderate (15-30 events/h) and 23 with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (>30 events/h) and 15 control subjects (<5 events/h).

Evaluation of optimal education level to implement structured reporting into ultrasound training.

Aims: Reporting of head and neck ultrasound (HNU) has been outlined to be a major obstacle during ultrasound training due to a lack of standardized structure, content and terminology. Consequently, overall report quality differs significantly between various examiners posing a severe risk factor for information loss and miscommunication. Therefore, the present study's purpose is to compare the overall quality of free text reports (FTR) and structured reports (SR) of HNU at various stages of training in order to determine the optimal educational level to implement SR.

A Cross-Sectional Study Using Health Behavior Theory to Predict Rapid Compliance With Campus Emergency Notifications Among College Students.

Objective: Compliance with college emergency notifications can minimize injury; however, time is often wasted in alert verification. Building on prior research, this study assesses using health-behavior theory to predict rapid compliance to emergency notifications across a range of scenarios and within a diverse college population.

Methods: Cross-sectional, student data were collected in 2017-2018 ( = 1529).