Low-grade urinary albumin excretion in normotensive/non-diabetic obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Previous studies have indicated that high levels of urinary albumin excretion (UAE) are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study examined the association between UAE and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The study included 35 newly diagnosed OSAS patients and 11 nonapneic controls.

[The evaluation to relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level, metastases and other tumor markers in patients with lung cancer].

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mediator of angiogenesis. Increased expression of VEGF may be associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. We investigated the relationship between serum VEGF level and lung cancer stage.

[Homocysteine levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

The exact mechanism of development of cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) remains to be unknown. The role of homocysteine in atherosclerotic disease process has become well established over the past ten years. Our aim was to study to compare homoscysteine levels between OSAS and control levels.

Relief from sleep apnea after radiation and chemotherapy.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) can result from extrinsic compression by a primary tumor, mediastinal lymph nodes metastases, benign lesions, or intraluminal thrombosis. The association between obstructive sleep apnea and SVCS has not been extensively evaluated. To our knowledge, only 5 cases of obstructive sleep apnea in SVCS have been reported in the literature.

Self-reported snoring, maternal obesity and neck circumference as risk factors for pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.

Background: Physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy alter breathing patterns of pregnant women. It is possible that occult disordered breathing during sleep may be a risk factor for the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and preeclampsia.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the incidence of self-reported snoring in pregnant women, and to investigate the relationship of snoring, obesity and neck circumference to PIH and preeclampsia.

Low level of IGF-1 in obesity may be related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The aim of this study was to compare serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with those of nonapneic controls and to determine the risk factors of low IGF-1 levels in patients with OSAS. The study included 39 newly diagnosed moderate-to-severe OSAS patients and 36 nonapneic controls. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) was performed in all patients.

Breast and osteoarticular tuberculosis in a male patient.

Breast tuberculosis is an uncommon illness. It is predominant in young women. To our knowledge, only 7 cases of tuberculous mastitis in men have been reported in the English literature since 1945.

Relationship between serum substance P levels and daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: We hypothesized that intermittent hypoxia might influence serum substance P levels, and that this effect might in turn contribute in excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-five patients with newly diagnosed OSAS and 15 age-matched nonapneic control subjects were enrolled in this study. Full polysomnography was performed in all patients.

Can clinical factors be determinants of bone metastases in non-small cell lung cancer?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations among symptoms, laboratory findings of bone metastasis and whole body bone scanning (WBBS) and the frequency of occurrence of bone metastases

Materials And Methods: Hundred and six patients who were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between June 2001 and September 2005 were investigated retrospectively. Bone pain, detection of bone tenderness on physical examination, hypercalcemia and increased serum alkaline phosphatase were accepted clinical factors of bone metastases. Presence of multiple asymmetric lesions in WBBS was also accepted as bone metastases.

Circulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)-induced hypoxic stress modulates circulating inflammatory mediators causing accelerated atherogenesis.

Objectives: We hypothesized that OSAS-induced hypoxia might result in cardiovascular disease due to increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on the endothelial surface.

Methods: Thirty-nine subjects with moderate-to-severe OSAS and 34 non-apneic controls matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, and cardiovascular disease were included in this prospective study.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) elevated in serum but not in bronchial lavage fluid in patients with lung cancer.

Aims And Background: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family member MMP-9 degrades type IV collagen, which is one of the main constituents of the basement membrane. MMP-9 is closely associated with the invasive and metastatic potential of most types of lung cancer. In this study we investigated the levels of MMP-9 in serum and bronchial lavage fluid from lung cancer patients and compared them with the levels in patients with nonmalignant lung disease.