Obstructive sleep apnea and road traffic accidents: a Danish nationwide cohort study.

Study Objectives: In this nationwide study, we investigate the risk and severity of all road traffic accidents in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: We used the unique Danish registries to identify all Danish citizens receiving a diagnosis of OSA between 1995 and 2015. As a reference cohort, we randomly selected 10 sex- and age-matched citizens for each patient.

Cardiopulmonary dysfunction in adults with a small, unrepaired ventricular septal defect: A long-term follow-up.

Background: There are increasing reports of cardiac and exercise dysfunction in adults with small, unrepaired ventricular septal defects (VSDs). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function in adults with unrepaired VSDs, and secondly to assess the effects of 900 μg salbutamol on lung function and exercise capacity.

Methods: Young adult patients with small, unrepaired VSDs and healthy age- and gender-matched controls were included in a double-blinded, randomised, cross-over study.

Expression of Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) is caused by the extension of the polyglutamine tract within the androgen receptor (AR) gene, and results in a multisystem presentation, including the degeneration of lower motor neurons. The androgen receptor (AR) is known to modulate the expression of endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK), a pathogenic viral genomic symbiont. Since ERVK is associated with motor neuron disease, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), we sought to determine if patients with SBMA exhibit evidence of ERVK reactivation.

Impact of PReOperative Midazolam on OuTcome of Elderly patients (I-PROMOTE): study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Premedication of surgical patients with benzodiazepines has become questionable regarding risk-benefit ratio and lack of evidence. Though preoperative benzodiazepines might alleviate preoperative anxiety, a higher risk for adverse events is described, particularly for elderly patients (≥ 65 years). Several German hospitals already withhold benzodiazepine premedication from elderly patients, though evidence for this approach is lacking.

Venom composition of adult Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) maintained under controlled diet and environmental conditions shows only minor changes.

Many species of snakes produce venom as a chemical means of procuring potentially fractious prey. Studies have increasingly focused on venom compositional variation between and within individual snakes of the same species/subspecies, with significant differences often being observed. This variation in composition has been attributed to differences in age, season, diet, and environment, suggesting that these factors could help explain the inter- and intra-specific variation found in some snake venoms, perhaps via some type of feedback mechanism(s).