Publications by authors named "Bittencourt L"

The circadian system coordinates internal events in a daily schedule to make sure that the body systems are synchronized to environmental time and internal cues. One important behavioral aspect of the circadian system is the chronotype. It is usually assessed through subjective questionnaires, being the Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) one of the most used.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sleep duration varies among individuals and may result from stable differences in sleep processes.
  • A study analyzed three datasets, involving healthy adults and obstructive sleep apnea patients, highlighting that those with longer total sleep time (L-TST) experienced better sleep continuity compared to those with shorter sleep time (S-TST).
  • The findings suggest that the mechanisms governing sleep continuity could explain individual differences in sleep duration, despite no significant performance differences observed between the two groups.
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Study Objective: To synthesize evidence from available studies on the relative efficacies of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), mandibular advancement device (MAD), supervised aerobic exercise training, and dietary weight loss in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Design: Network meta-analysis of 80 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) short-listed from PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of science, and Cochrane register (inception - September 8, 2015).

Patients: Individuals with OSA.

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Objective: To verify the association between c.1083T>C polymorphism in the adenosine receptor A gene (ADORA2A) and objective sleep, as well as the correlation between caffeine consumption, sleep parameters, and electroencephalographic spectral power in a large, population-based sample from São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods: This study was conducted in participants of the São Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study (EPISONO), a large, population-based survey consisting of a representative sample of the inhabitants of the city from São Paulo, Brazil, according to sex, age (20-80 years), and socioeconomic status in the year 2007.

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by episodes of pharyngeal collapse during sleep. Craniofacial alterations such as retrognathia are often found in OSA patients. Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgeries increase the pharyngeal space and are a treatment option for OSA.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the presence of concomitant widespread pain could influence the polysomnographic characteristics of patients with Sleep Bruxism(SB) and chronic masticatory muscle pain(TMD).

Methods: 20 SB/TMD patients (17 women and 3 men) were evaluated according to the RDC/TMD questionnaire; and were divided into two groups according to the absence (Group A) or presence (Group B) of widespread pain. They were evaluated in a one night polysomnography paradigm.

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Purpose: Few studies have investigated myofunctional therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of myofunctional therapy on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence.

Methods: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.

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Depression (DEP) is one of the main disabling diseases and is considered a contributor factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). Both of these conditions may be associated with hormonal changes and sleep disturbances. We aimed to evaluate the interaction between ED complaints and depression symptoms on sleep parameters, hormone levels and quality of life in men.

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This study focused on whistles produced by Guiana dolphin under different noise conditions in Guanabara Bay, southeastern Brazil. Recording sessions were performed with a fully calibrated recording system. Whistles and underwater noise levels registered during two behavioral states were compared separately between two areas.

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Aging is associated with an increase in the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) as well as the shortening of telomeres. It is known that OSAS-related factors are stimuli that can contribute to the acceleration of cellular senescence. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the leukocyte telomere length (LTL) between OSAS patients and controls, as well as to verify the correlation between LTL and sleep parameters.

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although inflammatory markers may mediate this association, it is unknown the influence of gender in this mechanism. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the interaction effects between OSA and gender on metabolic and inflammatory profile in a population sample.

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Objective: This trial's objective was to investigate the effect of an exercise program with and without cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), compared by a control group, on weight, functional capacity, and cardiometabolic profile of morbidly obese individuals while waiting for bariatric surgery.

Materials And Methods: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of a 4-month low-intensity exercise program (two weekly sessions of 25 min each) on 66 morbidly obese individuals awaiting bariatric surgery. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: EXER, exercise program; EXER + CBT, exercise program plus support group sessions for lifestyle modification, with a CBT; and CONTROL, routine treatment.

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Hypocapnia and endothelial dysfunction might impair microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity to CO (CVR). Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characteristically associated with chronic alveolar hyperventilation and microvascular endothelial dysfunction. We therefore determined CBF (pre-frontal blood flow index (BFI) by the indocyanine green-near infrared spectroscopy methodology) during hypocapnia and hypercapnia in 25 PAH patients and 10 gender- and age-matched controls.

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Background: Diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing requires overnight recordings, such as polygraphy or polysomnography. Considering the cost and low availability of these procedures, preselection of patients at high risk is recommended. We aimed to develop a screening tool allowing identification of individuals at risk of sleep-disordered breathing.

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The present study evaluates variations in frequency and duration parameters of whistles of four dolphin species (Sotalia guianensis, Steno bredanensis, Stenella frontalis, and Tursiops truncatus), recorded in the Rio de Janeiro State Coast, Southeastern Brazil. A total of 487 whistles were analyzed. Acoustic parameters of the whistles were classified to species by discriminant function analysis.

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Purpose: To compare sleep quality and sustained attention of patients with Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and normal individuals.

Methods: UARS criteria were presence of excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale-ESS-≥ 10) and/or fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale-MFIS-≥ 38) associated to Apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) ≤ 5 and Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) > 5 events/hour of sleep or more than 30% of total sleep time with flow limitation. Mild OSA was considered if the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS ≥ 10) and/or fatigue (MFIS ≥ 38) associated to AHI ≥ 5 and ≤ 15 events/hour.

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Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the agreement between examiners who were or were not trained in the physical examination of the upper airway (UA) and the craniofacial skeleton of individuals with obstructive sleep disorders (OSD).

Method: A systematic assessment of the UA and craniofacial skeleton was performed on 55 individuals with OSD. The participants were consecutively assessed by three otorhinolaryngologists who specialized in sleep medicine for at least 1 year (trained examiners) and two doctors who were attending a residency program in otorhinolaryngology (untrained examiners).

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Detection and staging of prostate cancer (PCa) based on digital rectal examination, prostate-specific antigen levels, and systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies show notorious limitations in light of the current needs of PCa management. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has emerged as a useful noninvasive imaging technique for detection, staging, assessment of aggressiveness, and treatment monitoring of PCa, combining anatomic high-resolution T2-weighted images with functional techniques, such as diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast enhancement evaluation. In this article, the authors review the technical aspects and the current clinical role of mpMRI for detection and locoregional staging of PCa.

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Menopause occurs gradually and is characterized by increased susceptibility to developing mood disorders. Several studies have suggested treatments based on the antioxidant properties of vitamins and herbal compounds as an alternative to hormone replacement therapies, with few or none reporting toxicity. The present study was performed to explore the effects of curcumin oral supplementation on anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress parameters in different central nervous system (CNS) areas of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

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Objectives To investigate the association between reproductive life stage, pain perception and musculoskeletal pain complaint in a representative sample of women from São Paulo, Brazil. Methods A population-based survey was carried out with 574 women who were classified as being in the premenopausal or postmenopausal stage. They answered questions about pain perception and musculoskeletal pain.

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Glioblastoma multiforme is the main and most frequent tumor in adults' central nervous system. With a survival average of 5% two years after diagnosis, this type of cancer is a main health problem. Substances like the chalcones have been tested in order to develop new treatments.

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A new species of Tripartiella is described from the gills of the wild saddle cichlid Aequidens tetramerus in north Brazil. Wet smears of skin and gills of examined fish were air-dried at room temperature and impregnated with Klein's dry silver method for examination of the adhesive disc's structures and denticles. Total prevalence of parasitism was 65%.

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